Leigh Barnard Wants More Women In Supply Chain™
Welcome to 2026—it’s a new year, ripe with tremendous disruption and opportunities that have been the hallmark of the 2020’s so far. Gender diversity is more important than ever for companies to navigate the latest sea changes and drive business success. Why? Businesses with women on their executive committees earn a return on equity almost 50% higher than those without. Organizations in the top 25% for gender diversity are 27% more likely to outperform the industry average in profitability.
While women are rising in the ranks—up to 29% in the C-suite, up from 17% a decade earlier—men still hold 66% of management roles. And women still receive less advocacy and sponsorship, meaning fewer promotions and less representation at the top.
But there’s good news, too: recent reports show that women now make up 40% of the supply chain workforce. At Let’s Talk Supply Chain, our Women In Supply Chain™ series aims to increase that number and expand mentorship, career growth, and advancement opportunities for women who are as qualified as their male counterparts.
Our Let’s Talk Supply Chain Women In Supply Chain™ program, blog, and podcast series showcase the importance of greater gender representation. This month’s featured leader is an outspoken advocate for women entering the industry and advancing in their careers.
We are honored to highlight Leigh Barnard, the Chief Operating Officer at Cooler Logistics. Leigh boasts 15 years of experience in leading operational growth strategies for supply chain organizations and building critical relationships with customers, shippers, and receivers. She has a Master’s in Library and Information Science from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations and Advertising from DePaul University.
Meet Our Sponsors
The Women In Supply Chain™ Forum™ was co-created by Marina Mayer, Editor-in-Chief of Food Logistics and Supply & Demand Chain Executive, to bring female logistics professionals together to network, learn, and build lasting bonds beyond traditional conferences. It’s about strengthening pipelines, creating a community of advocates, mentors, and trusted peers and branding yourself, both personally and professionally. Similarly, the Women In Supply Chain™ Award was born from a need to recognize female leaders navigating challenges and driving change. Since its inception five years ago, it has grown to nearly 400 submissions, celebrating the achievements of women shaping the future of supply chain. Go to https://www.
About the Author
Naomi Sylvian is a content marketing leader with more than 17 years of experience, and the editor of Let’s Talk Supply Chain™’s Women In Supply Chain™ series. Her works have appeared on Forbes, Mashable, Business Insider, The Muse, and Yahoo, and have been mentioned by The New York Times Online. Naomi mentors at-risk teens to fight recidivism and contribute on a local level, working with the Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections.
