The key attributes for supply chain leadership are patience, diplomacy and financial literacy. And this is a very rare combination of skills.

Once again, ChainLink Research and SupplyChainBrain are conducting research into the business challenges companies are confronting and what strategies and solutions they plan to use to address those issues.

Eight years into a career in supply chain, Susie Conley, program specialist with Caterpillar Inc., talks about her experience, the opportunities that exist for new entrants into the job marketplace, and the attributes that make a modern-day supply-chain professional successful.

The overall shortage of supply chain talent is particularly critical in demand management, says Jason Breault of LifeWork Search. He explains reasons and remedies.

Five years from now, the global work environment will look a lot different than it does today. But many companies aren't prepared to deal with the change.