I would like to introduce our latest initiative: Women in Sourcing for Health Systems, or the WISH Council (www.wishcouncil.org). I have been publishing this magazine for more than 20 years, and each year we feature a section called Women Leaders in Supply Chain. Year after year, our online analytics show it is one of our most-read features.
While it has always been gratifying to see such strong engagement, it also led me to ask: are we doing enough? Is there an opportunity to do more to support women in sourcing roles within health systems? To explore that question, I reached out to several Chief Supply Chain Officers at some of the largest and most prestigious IDNs in the country with a simple question: What percentage of your team is women?
The responses were quite interesting. Most estimated between 35% and 40%. One leader initially said 40% and followed up the next morning via email to correct himself – he had reviewed the data and realized the actual figure was 41%. By all accounts, sourcing departments are composed of a significant proportion of women.
As we have shared the WISH Council initiative with women working in sourcing across health systems, the reaction has been overwhelmingly positive. Many have expressed a sentiment along the lines of, “Why hasn’t someone already done this?”
During a Zoom call, Jane Pleasants, President of Strategic Marketplace Initiatives, shared research showing that 65% of middle management roles in IDN procurement are held by women, yet only 11% of Chief Supply Chain Officers are women. Closing this gap is the goal of The WISH Council.
On a personal note, I am especially excited about this initiative because my daughter, Mary, is leading it. It may very well become the defining mark of her professional career.
In the weeks ahead, we will share more of our vision for what lies ahead for the WISH Council. For now, we want to answer one important question – for both men and women:
How do you get involved?
It’s simple. Visit www.wishcouncil.org, read the blog content, explore upcoming webinars (which are free), and most importantly, sign up for the free newsletter to stay informed about WISH.
— John Pritchard