Aditi Pany Wins Future Leader at Global P&SC Awards
Aditi Pany has won the Future Leader Award at The Global Procurement & Supply Chain Awards.
"[Winning this award] is very encouraging. I do want to give a shout-out to Team Qalara because I think it's not just me, it's my entire team that's been behind this and also a lot of the manufacturers and artisans that we work with. There are a lot of challenges to overcome in running and scaling a business, and I think these are moments when it allows you to take a momentary pause," said Aditi Pany, Founder and CEO of Qalara.
Aditi Pany, Founder and CEO of Qalara, is emerging as a transformative force in the global sourcing landscape. With an MBA from Stanford and over 17 years of experience in lifestyle retail, Pany has leveraged her expertise to create India's leading B2B sourcing platform, championing sustainability and ethical practices.
Pany's vision for Qalara addresses critical supply chain challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The platform offers solutions for vendor reliability, transparency, quality assurance and secure door-to-door delivery.
Notably, Qalara's catalogue exclusively features products that align with core values of eco-friendliness, artisanal craftsmanship, fair trade and organic materials.
As an early advocate for India as a competitive sourcing alternative to China, Pany has shared her insights through various media channels, including the Future of Sourcing and Retail TouchPoints. Her perspectives have been validated by subsequent studies from Reuters, Maersk and Qima.
Pany's commitment to social impact is evident in Qalara's support for over 125,000 artisans, providing employment opportunities and reviving traditional techniques. The platform has onboarded over 1,000 ethical suppliers from India and Southeast Asia, offering them a cost-free gateway to global markets.
In her efforts to promote India's sourcing potential, Pany has engaged with international business leaders through webinars and award sponsorships.
She is currently spearheading the development of a comprehensive research publication on sourcing from India, aimed at providing valuable insights for businesses worldwide.
Pany's forward-thinking approach and dedication to sustainable, ethical sourcing practices position her as a rising star in the procurement and supply chain sector, driving innovation and positive change on a global scale.
The awards
Launched in 2024, The Global Procurement & Supply Chain Awards 2024 debuted at Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE London on 24, September.
The comprehensive programme acknowledges companies, professionals and projects that have demonstrated exceptional performance, innovation and strategic thinking in a multitude of categories.
The awards celebrate the best companies, professionals and projects in procurement and supply chain, and offer free entry for charities and NGOs.
“It was an honour to spotlight such a wide range of incredible companies at the inaugural Global Procurement & Supply Chain Awards,” said Glen White, CEO of BizClik, Procurement Magazine and Supply Chain Digital.
“At a time where it is crucial that companies are getting their global sourcing, risk & resilience and technology strategies right, it's important to celebrate the successes of those who have implemented and developed the key supply chain, procurement and logistics programs, especially when it has a positive impact on sustainable supply chains in the future.
“To host the awards during Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE London is an incredible moment for the sector to celebrate, we encourage many more companies to enter our Awards for 2025.
“Thanks to every company that entered - it's important that you stay focused, motivated and continuously innovative and I am excited to see so much more of Generative AI when we meet again in a year.
“And a Big Congratulations to every company who entered, those that are highly commended and of course to our 14 winners – we appreciate your input more than you know.”
The Future Leader Award
Recognising individuals who exhibit exemplary leadership, vision and innovation in shaping the future of procurement and supply chain management.
- How has the nominee demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities and potential for future success in the procurement and supply chain field?
- In what ways has the nominee shown a deep understanding of industry trends and a forward-thinking mindset towards evolving procurement and supply chain practices?
- How has the nominee successfully implemented innovative strategies or initiatives that have yielded significant results, positioning them as a future leader in the field?
- How has the nominee actively engaged in professional development, knowledge sharing and industry collaboration to enhance their skills and contribute to the advancement of procurement and supply chain practices?
The shortlisted individuals included:
- Aditi Pany, Founder & CEO of Qalara
- Dan Jones, Senior Product Supply Manager of Huel
- Daniyar Zhantilessov, Head of Procurement at Exness
- Faris Hattar, Director of Supply Chain at Hikma Pharmaceuticals
- Michelle Riber, Senior Director of Expansion at KlearNow.AI
Highly Commended: Dan Jones & Daniyar Zhantilessov
In the competitive world of procurement and supply chain management, two rising stars have emerged as standout candidates for the Future Leader Award: Daniyar Zhantilessov of Exness Global Ltd and Dan Jones of Huel.
Zhantilessov, Global Head of Procurement at Exness, has demonstrated exceptional leadership by establishing and managing a global procurement team across Cyprus and Malaysia.
His strategic approach has yielded significant cost savings and continuous improvements within the procurement function.
Notably, Zhantilessov has shown a forward-thinking mindset by implementing best practice RFP/RFT processes and forging partnerships with leading technology vendors like Google and Salesforce.
Meanwhile, Jones, Senior Product Supply Manager for UK and EU at Huel, has played a pivotal role in the company's rapid growth. He successfully navigated supply constraints for Huel's fastest-growing product line, Ready-to-Drink, by onboarding a new strategic bottling partner.
This initiative not only secured critical supply chain capacity but also delivered cost savings exceeding US$3.8m annually.
Both candidates have shown a commitment to professional development and industry advancement. Zhantilessov has taken the initiative to create a procurement and supply chain community in Cyprus, collaborating with CIPS to promote high standards and sustainable practices.
Jones, on the other hand, has focused on developing his team's capabilities and implementing innovative planning techniques, such as scenario planning for new product launches.
Their achievements in managing complex supply chains, driving cost efficiencies and fostering team development underscore their potential as future leaders in the field. As the industry continues to evolve, professionals like Zhantilessov and Jones will be instrumental in shaping the future of procurement and supply chain management.
The Global Procurement & Supply Chain Awards 2024
Thanks to our esteemed panel of industry leaders who judged the awards:
- Jim Townsend, VP of Property & Procurement at Asda
- Alisa Bornstein, Chief Procurement Officer at Visa
- Daniel Weise, Managing Director and Senior Partner at Boston Consulting Group
- Benn Godfrey, Vice President of Procurement at Rolls Royce
- Roger Waring, Head of Procurement at UK Power Networks
- Jacqui Rock, Chief Commerical Officer at NHS England
- David Loseby, Professor of Research Impact in Supply Chain Management at Leeds University Business School
- Sheri Hinish, Principal/Senior Partner, Global Consulting Sustainability Technology and Ecosystems Leader at EY
- Brooke DiNatale, SVP of Global Treasury Solutions at Mastercard
The full list of awards categories for 2024 is:
- Procurement Transformation Award
- Digital Supply Chain
- Global Logistics Award
- Supplier Diversity Award
- Supply Chain Innovation
- Supply Chain Sustainability
- Procurement Technology
- Procurement Consultancy
- Future Leader
- Executive of the Year
- Project of the Year
- Lifetime Achievement
- Social Enterprise
- Start-Up
Essential diary dates for 2024 and 2025…
Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE continues to expand its repertoire of events, with more to come in 2024 and 2025. Discover our essential diary dates below.
2024 diary dates:
- Manufacturing & Mobility LIVE | 6 November 2024
2025 diary dates:
- Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE Singapore | 11 February 2025
- Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE: Scope 3 | 5-6 March 2025
- Manufacturing & Mobility LIVE | 5-6 March 2025
- Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE Dubai | 29 April 2025
- Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE Chicago | 4-5 June 2025
- Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE London | 23-24 September 2025
- Procurement & Supply Chain Awards | 24 September 2025
- Manufacturing & Mobility LIVE Chicago | 4 November 2025
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