67: Unfiltered Leadership: Maria Villablanca on the Modern Supply Chain CSCO

Mar 2
2 min read

What if the biggest barrier to supply chain transformation isn’t technology—but people, culture, and leadership?

In this episode, we sit down with Maria Villablanca, a respected voice in the supply chain industry whose journey began unexpectedly at a winery in Chile. What started as an accidental entry into the field evolved into a career focused on transformation, strategy, and amplifying the voice of supply chain leaders.

Maria shares her perspective on why so many transformation initiatives fail, emphasizing that technology alone is never the solution—successful transformation requires alignment between people, processes, and purpose.

Maria dives into the realities of scaling innovation, explaining how many organizations fall into “pilot purgatory,” where promising initiatives stall without a clear path to implementation. She highlights the need for cross-functional collaboration and strategic leadership, especially as organizations navigate evolving technologies, workforce shifts, and global disruptions. Throughout the conversation, Maria also stresses the importance of networking and mentorship, encouraging professionals to start small, reach out, and build authentic relationships across the industry.