Redefining Procurement: Insights from Women Shaping Industry

While over 50% of procurement professionals say their workplace embraces gender equity, 66% of women in the profession are still experiencing some form of gender-based bias, ranging from being overlooked in meetings to being paid less than male peers.

Behind that disconnect lies a policy gap – according to Procurious, 42% of organisations have no gender equity strategy at all, and more than half have no supplier diversity policies in place to support women-owned businesses. 

But momentum is building. Women's representation in the overall supply chain industry has risen to 41% in recent years (Gartner & AWESOME), with women in senior procurement expected to reach one-third in 2026, up from 26% in 2023. 

And the leaders driving that shift are increasingly visible, vocal and influential. The conversation is no longer just about closing a gap. It's about what procurement looks like when the people shaping it reflect the world it serves.

Alisa Bornstein, Chief Procurement Officer at Visa

Alisa Bornstein has more than 25 years of international procurement experience, most recently as CPO at Visa Europe.

Her career is a example of building things and building them better. It began on the floor of Ericsson's repair centre, where, over eight years at the company, she worked her way up to Global Indirect Sourcing Lead of Ericsson Group Sourcing. 

From there, she accumulated leadership roles across telecoms, technology and emerging markets, at companies including BT, Telia, Millicom and IHS Towers, before CPO at Arm that would define her reputation for transformation. 

At Arm, she orchestrated a significant overhaul, introducing a category-driven strategy, establishing a Centre of Excellence, implementing supplier management and deploying SAP Ariba globally, achieving high levels of digitalisation and automation to enhance the internal customer experience.

Since joining Visa, Alisa has been unambiguous about what she believes procurement is for: "This is not about having a seat at the table," she said in an interview with Sustainability Magazine, "but to ensure that we, as procurement professionals, listen, understand and support the business and use the power of the supply chain to deliver value to our organisations." 

That philosophy extends to supplier diversity. Alisa has spoken openly about the importance of supporting businesses that are owned or led by women and minority-owned businesses across Europe and around the world.

Alexandra Tarmo, Vice President, Procurement Centre of Excellence at Kenvue

Alexandra Tarmo has served as VP of the Procurement Centre of Excellence at Kenvue since June 2023, stepping into the role at a pivotal moment for the company. 

Kenvue was spun out of Johnson & Johnson in 2023, making it one of the world's largest standalone consumer health businesses overnight, responsible for brands including Neutrogena, Listerine and Tylenol. 

Building a procurement function that could match that scale, from scratch, is exactly the kind of challenge Alexandra’s career has been built for. 

Alexandra spent twelve years at Unilever, serving as Head of Partnerships and Social Procurement, where she drove global commitments around living wages and supplier diversity, as well as having a seat on the boards of WEConnect International and MSDUK – two organisations that exist specifically to connect women-owned and minority-owned businesses to global supply chains.

On LinkedIn, Alexandra describes herself as a "passionate procurement leader embracing ED&I every day, aiming to make the world a better place,” a commitment that runs throughout her professional track record.

Women in Procurement at Procurement LIVE

A celebration of the contributions of women in procurement leadership, these vital conversations on progress, bias, policy gaps, momentum and representation will be brought to the Procurement LIVE Stage on Day 1 of Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE. 

Leaders in procurement will share their insights on career developments, fostering inclusive teams and driving innovation while shaping the future of the profession. 

Procurement LIVE, part of the wider Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE, will be co-located with Sustainability LIVE, and returns to London on 8–9 September 2026.

With Supply Chain LIVE and Sustainability LIVE running alongside, the audience in the room will span the top procurement, supply chain and sustainability leaders. These are the people who set hiring strategies, build teams and shape the cultures that either accelerate or stall progress for the next generation of women in the profession.

What to Expect & Why It Matters

The panel will run from 10:45 to 11:30 on Day 1, and it promises more than a conversation about careers. Alisa Bornstein and Alexandra Tarmo, between them, represent something significant: two senior women who have each, in their own way, treated procurement as a vehicle for something larger.

To hear from Alisa, Alexandra, and the further speakers still to be announced, get your tickets for Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE 2026.