Women in supply chain: Chutian Li

August 9, 2024

Chutian Li, a consultant within SCNO at Deloitte Consulting LLP, has a unique career trajectory that is as insightful as it is inspiring.

Growing up in Guangzhou, China, Li had her first taste of international exposure while studying abroad. Initially interested in law, she completed an internship working for the New York State Attorney General in the Consumer Fraud Bureau while attending SUNY Buffalo. However, her desire for a career with diverse challenges led her to a networking event that exposed her to APICS (American Production and Inventory Control Society), sparking her interest in the intricacies of the supply chain.

Upon completing her undergraduate degrees in supply chain management and international business, she also completed her MBA at the University of Tennessee. From there, she moved through her career in supply chain following her 2x2x2 plan: Gaining experience in two different functions, two product lines, and two locations in each company she worked for.

Prior to Deloitte, Chutian worked in a procurement rotation program in the global supply network division at Caterpillar and then as senior process leader, senior sales and operations planner, and product owner at Mars. She’s a certified scrum product owner, citizen development business architect, Six Sigma Green Belt, and a licensed realtor. Chutian has always been a natural mentor and even supplemented her role in operations at Mars by starting a support group to help production associates and leads promote DEI and educate leaders on-site. These roles and certifications were instrumental in the rich breadth of experience she gained before landing at Deloitte.

A multifaceted experience
Her roles prior to Deloitte involved broad exposure to various functions, including sales, marketing, manufacturing, procurement, and product development. Chutian recalled, “learning about the classic supply chain tension between manufacturing and marketing was interesting; but living the real-world issue was mind-blowing”. She recalled it as a “fascinating experience”, observing how different functions' priorities intersect or compete within the business. “For example, changing the graphic on a product package based on market research led to massive breakdowns in the production line”, said Chutian. This immersive experience prepared her for the next chapter in her career.

Chutian's desire to integrate her diverse skillset into various roles led her to consulting and Deloitte. The prospect of solving different, complex puzzles across diverse work locations was a compelling reason to join Deloitte.

Transitioning to Deloitte
The initial transition to consulting from the industry was challenging for Chutian as she adapted to working with colleagues in a hybrid co-location arrangement. She devised a systematic approach to help the transition by growing her network and initiating coffee chats with at least one professional at each level every month. Her turning point came when she landed a project for a life sciences client with a supportive team in her interest area: digital manufacturing. Chutian explained, “I have a lot of great mentors at Deloitte that have helped me grow and gain confidence…with all the support and guidance from across the organization, I am given opportunities to take on challenging and fun projects”.

Since then, she has worked on several projects with her network in the life sciences and automotive sectors. The contrast between the academic nature of healthcare and the more direct, result-oriented auto industry has been an exciting experience that offers varying types of collaboration.

From industry to consulting: a different ballgame
Transitioning from industry to consulting can take adjusting to new ways of working. Chutian noted a career in consulting takes balancing priorities and stakeholders, which can be trickier than in industry since the way you spend your time contributes to defining your personal brand. The roles you get staffed in can vary based on the personal brand you created for yourself and your experience. Once Chutian learned how to best prioritize her time in a way that communicated her personal brand, she thrived in consulting.

Another adjustment Li noted when moving from industry to consulting is that the professional services culture at Deloitte necessitates consistent value creation and high performance. Li adjusted by stepping out of her comfort zone and driving her teams toward results above an individual contributor role. Now, she is sought out by leaders and her network due to her ability to balance a full and diverse workload, create client value, and manage cross-functional teams.

Overcoming challenges as a woman in supply chain
Being a woman in supply chain, especially of Asian descent, has not been without its challenges for Chutian. For example, early in her career, she received comments like “go back to where you came from” and implications that her entry-level position made her involvement less valuable. Being told these things made her feel inadequate. Chutian is grateful to her mentors at Deloitte for showing her that she has earned her seat at the table, her insights are valuable, and her diverse experiences are welcome in any client conversation. With support, Chutian has learned to overcome challenges by bringing her authentic self to work, fostering personal connections, and encouraging an inclusive culture within every team she leads and is a part of. Lastly, she always works her hardest to show she has the best intentions to help the organization and her colleagues within it.

Words of wisdom
Chutian's unique career journey illustrates the potential for a fulfilling career in Supply Chain & Network Operations. Her advice to women in the field is simple yet powerful: Be authentic, get to know your colleagues personally, and work hard to not only advance your own career but also support others in their professional growth. Above all, don't be afraid to forge your own path and follow your interests.

Discover your impact at Deloitte

Learn more about supply chain and network operations at Deloitte, and read another women in supply chain story.  

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