Women in Global Sourcing: Karina Swette

Published January 23, 2019

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Written by: Karina Swette
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Karina Swette

Karina Swette is a Partner in Oliver Wyman’s Operations and Consumer and Industrial Products Practice. She has a specialty in procurement, strategic sourcing, supply chain, operational cost reduction, and due diligence and operational due diligence. Karina’s focus is on Private Equity clients and their holding companies with a specialty in distributors, manufacturers, and retailers.  Karina has also advised oil and gas majors, national oil companies, and global and regional airlines. She has worked in the US, Mexico, Latin America, Canada, Europe, South East  Asia, Middle East, Brazil, and South Africa.

Karina received a B.S.E from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania with a concentration in marketing and management.

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Tell us about your career path. How did you get into this field? Was it purposeful or by accident? 
 
I started management consulting at Oliver Wyman after graduation. With both marketing and finance internships, it was the best fit for my skill set and opportunity to make the biggest impact. I quickly gravitated toward our operations and procurement teams where I found the utilization of complex (and incomplete!) data to solve business-critical issues fascinating and rewarding. My first big project was helping a major airline renegotiate all its maintenance contracts as part of a bankruptcy exit and I was hooked.   
 
Would you follow that same path again if you had the choice? 
 
Absolutely. Working within procurement in professional services has allowed me to learn and apply best practices from a wide range of industries, companies and categories from all over the globe.   
 
What has been the single most significant development to impact your profession or area of business during your career and why?  
 
The biggest impact on my career has been sponsorship — having the right sponsors, getting them early in my career and having several of them. It was critical not just for guidance and pushing me but also for helping me get great opportunities and singing my praises (something I am not as good about). It was harder to find great female sponsors as all my managers have been men and people tend to sponsor those that remind them of themselves. But with a little extra effort to connect and ask for help, I am always surprised by how supportive everyone is.  
 
What do you think are the best characteristics of a strong leader? 
 
The most effective leaders I have worked with have genuine passion for their area of expertise. They are invested in the success of their teams. They lead by example, especially around values. They have positive demeanors and inspire those around them to be their best – and then they give appropriate credit and reward when they succeed.   
 
What’s the biggest mistake, workwise, you’ve ever seen – and what were the consequences?  
 
The biggest mistake I have seen is when people approach a negotiation as a battle. I hate the phrase “beat up suppliers.”  By the time I am pulled in, often the easy stuff is already done and I am pushing the envelope in creativity. I am building strategic partnerships with new approaches that should benefit all parties. Don’t get me wrong, I am tough as nails, but you catch more flies with honey (aka, strong analytics, a robust process and strategic thinking).  
 
What three words do you think your colleagues and peers would use to describe you? 
 
  1. Results-driven – I am very high energy, organized and focused on getting it done.  
  2. Competitive – if it is not a game, I find a way to make it one and always aim to win. I was an athlete when I was younger, and have applied many parallels to my career. Aim for first place, working as a team, and always sprint to the finish line.
  3. Generous – I am very focused on the development of my teams. It is important that everyone participates, shows off their skills and learns something new. I care about their professional and personal happiness. I also give a lot of energy to charity, utilizing my business skills to help further the efforts of non-profits.  
Do you think it’s possible to “have it all”— e.g., career, family — and be successful everywhere? How do you make it work? 
 
I plan to do my best to find out. I had my two biggest promotions this year – to a Partner at Oliver Wyman and to Mommy. My darling eight-month-old has changed my whole world (for the better!). It is certainly a balancing act but it is all worth it. I am making it with work by 1) having the perfect partner who is proud of all that I do and shares in the responsibilities at home; 2) working somewhere I love with people who are supportive and understanding; and 3) saying no sometimes. 
 
Finally, what piece of advice would you give to young women starting their careers in the field of sourcing, outsourcing and procurement? 
 
Find a great mentor (someone that gives you good advice) but also make sure you have a great sponsor (someone who advocates for you and helps find you opportunities). It can be hard to ask for help but frankly you need to do it to maximize your career potential. Assuming if you work hard that good opportunities will just come your way (which I did for many years!) is misleading.   
 
Don’t forget to sing your praises—and use your sponsors to help you. I find that women are more likely to credit the team and don’t often speak of their own successes.

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