From Scoop to Strategy: Decoding Leadership with Heleen du Toit, Unliever's SVP, Procurement Chief Member [Speaker Spotlight]

In a volatile global marketplace, managing complex supply chains is paramount to ensure product availability, competitive cost structures, and ultimately, business resilience. Heleen du Toit, Senior Vice President at Unilever's Ice Cream division, offers a valuable case study for senior executives to consider.

Her extensive experience across raw material sourcing, procurement strategy, and operational execution across a team of 80 global professionals provides a unique perspective on the challenges facing CPG (Consumer Packaged Goods) industry leaders.

These challenges include navigating geopolitical disruptions, fluctuating commodity prices, and ever-evolving consumer demands. This blog delves into Heleen's strategies for optimizing complex supply chains while promoting innovation within a dynamic market landscape.

Her insights on driving efficiency through data-driven decision-making, leveraging automation to streamline processes, and navigating evolving regulatory requirements will resonate with executives seeking to future-proof their own operations and ensure a sustainable competitive advantage.

Please introduce yourself, your professional background and describe your duties at Unilever!

I'm Heleen du Toit, the Senior Vice President of our global Ice Cream business at Unilever. In my role, I lead the comprehensive strategic procurement activities for our business unit, encompassing everything from initial sourcing to operational execution.

This includes managing direct purchases, such as raw materials, and indirects, such as office supplies and services, ensuring that every aspect of our procurement strategy aligns with our global objectives.

I oversee a team of over 80 talented procurement professionals worldwide. We're dedicated to exceeding our operational goals through innovative procurement practices.

Our team's expertise and collaborative spirit are key to driving efficiency and success across our expansive network, making every decision count towards the betterment of our business.

How do you balance your career, personal life, and passions? Is there such a thing as balance?

The myth of perfect balance is just that—a myth. True success lies in mastering the art of ruthless prioritization and cultivating a circle of exceptional individuals. It's about zeroing in on what genuinely impacts you and entrusting your skilled team and supportive family to fill in the gaps when you need to step back.

Indeed, this approach might mean missing a game, skipping a meeting, or not responding to every email.

Yet, by making these choices, you ensure that your presence is felt where it counts the most—where it truly matters.


What would you say has been a highlight of your career so far? And what would you say your most valuable contribution has been in the supply chain world?

Throughout a career filled with numerous highlights, it's challenging to single out just one without overlooking others. Yet, for the sake of this spotlight, I'd like to focus on a pivotal project: the Resilience Framework. In 2015, amidst a series of challenging supply crises, I was tasked with devising a strategic solution to fortify our company's supply chain against unpredictable disruptions.

The initiative, aptly named "Resilience," was not just a theoretical concept but a comprehensive tool that I had the privilege to lead in design and global implementation.

This framework was strategically developed to enhance our adaptability and response to supply chain crises. Later, it became one of our four cornerstone global supply chain pillars, proving its enduring value.

The robustness of the Resilience Framework was particularly evident years later during the tumultuous period following the COVID-19 pandemic. Its effectiveness in those critical times played a crucial role in preventing a potential turnover loss of approximately $2 billion.

The success of this framework not only strengthened our company's supply chain resilience but also earned us the prestigious Procurement Leaders Risk and Resilience Award in 2023.

This accolade was a testament to our foresighted planning and the hard work of our dedicated team, underscoring the lasting impact of the Resilience Framework on our operational stability and strategic prowess.

What is the central component to building a thriving supply chain?

In today’s rapidly evolving world, the ability to be responsive, agile, and resilient is paramount for any supply chain. It's essential to adapt swiftly to the changing environment to stay competitive and relevant.

At the core of our strategy is data-driven decision-making, which enables us to continuously refine our processes and develop robust foresight. This proactive approach is crucial as we transform our operations into a future-fit model.

The pace of change in the global landscape is accelerating, making it untenable for supply chains to remain static. Instead, they must evolve, anticipate market shifts, and prepare for future challenges.

By leveraging advanced analytics and insights, we can predict trends and adjust our strategies dynamically, ensuring our supply chain is not only responsive but also a step ahead. This readiness and adaptability are what allow us to thrive in a world where change is the only constant.

How do you push for systemic change around ideas that are new or not that popular?

It’s important to be able to simulate the outcome, in order to influence for pursuit of the idea vs not pursuing the idea. People are driven by incentives and if they can successfully visualize the incentive for the change, then it’s easier to bring people along on the journey.  We underestimate the ability of great storytelling in influencing for change.

The ability to simulate outcomes is a powerful tool in decision-making, particularly when it comes to determining whether to pursue an idea.

By projecting potential results, we can effectively weigh the benefits against the risks and guide strategic choices. This simulation process is crucial for influencing stakeholders, as people are inherently driven by incentives. If they can clearly visualize the rewards of a change, they are more likely to support and engage with the initiative.

Moreover, we often underestimate the impact of compelling storytelling in driving change. A well-crafted narrative can transform abstract concepts into relatable stories, making the potential benefits of a new idea tangible and vivid. This is not just about presenting data but weaving it into a narrative that resonates on an emotional level, making it easier to bring people along on the journey.

Through storytelling, we can inspire, motivate, and ultimately facilitate the adoption of new ideas, fostering a culture that embraces innovation and change.

What is the next key opportunity you foresee in the Supply Chain world?

The pace at which the digital world is advancing is staggering, and within this rapid evolution, the full potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in our supply chains remains largely untapped. AI is akin to a sophisticated programming code—a powerful tool whose capabilities we have only begun to explore.

As leaders in the supply chain industry, we must deepen our understanding of AI's mechanisms and possibilities to harness its full power effectively.

To truly unlock AI’s potential, we must prioritize comprehensive education and skill development in digital technologies for our teams.

This involves not merely training them to use these tools but fostering a deeper comprehension of how AI can be strategically integrated into our processes to enhance decision-making, efficiency, and adaptability.


The future of our supply chains depends on our ability to blend this cutting-edge technology with the nuanced expertise of our human workforce.

Therefore, the task ahead involves more than just adaptation; it requires a fundamental shift in how we perceive and interact with digital technologies. By equipping our professionals with the skills to program, manipulate, and innovate with AI, we can unlock the collective intelligence of our teams and leverage these insights for strategic advancements.

This holistic approach will not only keep us at the forefront of industry innovation but also ensure we are prepared to meet future challenges with agility and informed confidence.

As a Supply Chain leader, what would you say is a key factor in keeping your team motivated?

To truly energize and engage a team, it's essential to help each member understand their worth and the critical role they play in the bigger picture. By acknowledging and valuing their unique contributions, you foster a sense of ownership and purpose.

Empowering individuals to discover and utilize their personal methods for delivering results not only boosts innovation but also enhances job satisfaction and productivity.

As a leader, it's equally important to make your energy contagious. Your enthusiasm and commitment can inspire your team and create a dynamic, motivating work environment. This can be transformative, influencing your team's outlook and work ethic profoundly.

Furthermore, cultivating a workplace culture that is fun, innovative, and fearless is vital. Encouraging a mindset that embraces diverse thinking and bold ideas can lead to groundbreaking innovations and significant advancements.

By promoting a culture where fun and fearlessness are valued, you ensure that creativity and courage are not just encouraged but celebrated, driving your team to achieve remarkable things.

How has AI and the evolution of Industry 4.0 shaped the supply chain world? What is the most significant opportunity and challenge you foresee?

While it hasn't yet reshaped the supply chain world, the potential for transformative impact is on the horizon. The most significant opportunities lie in leveraging powerful optimization capabilities.

These include improving the accuracy of planning processes, enhancing overall productivity, reducing cycle times, and accelerating operations. Moreover, the ability to lower costs, quicken decision-making, and foster smarter, continuous improvements are all within reach.

Ultimately, the real magic will happen when we master the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) with the engine of human intelligence. The combination of AI as a tool and human insight promises to unlock unprecedented efficiency and effectiveness.

This synergy will not only enhance how we operate but also revolutionize the outcomes we can achieve. The future of the supply chain will be defined by our ability to harness this powerful duo for maximum results, driving innovation and excellence across the board.

What is the best advice you have received in your career that has brought you to where you are today?

In the dynamic landscape of business and life, there are no challenges—only opportunities!

Each crisis, failure, or difficulty presents a unique chance to respond with creative solutions, groundbreaking actions, and expanded boundaries. It's through these so-called challenges that we are compelled to innovate and pioneer new ideas.

Every obstacle is an invitation to think differently, to innovate, and to transform potential setbacks into stepping stones for success. This perspective fuels the drive to not only solve problems but to turn them into transformative achievements.

Embracing challenges as catalysts for innovation encourages us to continuously push the envelope, leading to significant breakthroughs and advancements. This mindset turns every challenge into a valuable opportunity to advance and refine our approaches, proving that the heart of progress is in turning obstacles into opportunities.

If you were to go back in time to the moment you first got into the world of supply chain– what do you wish you knew then that you know now?

Honestly? Reflecting on the past five years, there were moments when bypassing a career in supply chain seemed like a tempting option, especially considering the myriad macro challenges we faced—it certainly would have spared me a few grey hairs!

However, on a more serious note, I wouldn't change a thing. Life is an ever-evolving journey, and every experience, whether challenging or rewarding, contributes to our growth and understanding.

Having foreknowledge of what was coming might have made some aspects easier, but it would only lead to other unknowns I'd wish I had anticipated earlier.

The true value lies in living through each moment and learning from it.

 We are, after all, here for the full experience of the journey. Embracing every twist and turn is what enriches our lives and hones our abilities to navigate the future, no matter how unpredictable it may be.

For more insights on the American Supply Chain Summit visit supplychainus.com!