Supply chain, manufacturing, and procurement leaders now sit at the center of nearly every major decision a company makes, from how products get sourced and built to how growth gets fueled. This opening session looks at the forces reshaping the next 18 months and how today's leaders are turning expanded influence into measurable impact. Attendees will leave with a sharper sense of where to focus attention, capital, and talent in the year ahead.

With tariffs, shifting trade agreements, export controls, and geopolitical uncertainty continuing to reshape global supply chains in 2026, procurement leaders are being forced to rethink long-held sourcing strategies. This panel will examine the policy changes driving today's environment, why the "new normal" has emerged, and how organizations are adapting their procurement playbooks to respond with greater agility and resilience.