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The persistent challenges facing women in the workforce – from the “motherhood penalty” costing them an estimated $500,000 too dwindling portrayal in top leadership positions – are realities keenly felt by Tamera Fenske, chief supply chain officer at Kimberly-Clark. She is one of a small, but growing, number of women breaking barriers in a field still largely dominated by men.
Tamera Fenske leads a global team of 22,665 employees – roughly 58% of the consumer packaged goods company’s total workforce – and is responsible for overseeing the end-to-end supply chain, from sourcing raw materials to delivering finished products to customers. She joined Kimberly-clark in 2021 after a 21-year career at 3M, where she held various leadership positions in manufacturing and supply chain. Her appointment as CSCO (chief supply chain officer) reflects a broader trend of companies recognizing the value of diverse leadership in driving innovation and resilience in their supply chains.
However,the path to the CSCO role remains uneven. Despite the growing importance of the position, women hold only about 18% of these roles, with just 12% represented by individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic backgrounds. This makes the CSCO position one of the least diverse in the C-suite, alongside chief financial officer, chief operating officer, and CEO roles. In fact, Fenske is among only 76 women currently serving as a chief supply chain officer at a Fortune 500 company.
Despite acknowledging these statistics, Fenske maintains a forward-looking outlook. “Anytime someone tells me I can’t do something, it makes me want to work that much harder to prove them wrong,” she stated. This determination has been a constant throughout her career.
early Awareness of Disparity
Fenske’s awareness of gender imbalance in traditionally male fields didn’t emerge until her college years. Growing up in a household steeped in STEM – her father, aunts, uncles, and grandfather all worked for Dow Chemical – she naturally gravitated towards mathematics and science. She pursued a bachelor’s degree in environmental chemical engineering at Michigan Technological University, where she first encountered the stark reality of the disparity.
“It definitely was going to Michigan Tech, where I first realized the disparity,” Fenske recalled, noting an approximate eight-to-one male-to-female ratio. “As you continue through the higher levels and the grades, it becomes even tighter, especially as you get into your specialized engineering.”
Upon entering the professional world, Fenske found that her gender was frequently enough a focal point, sometimes explicitly acknowledged by superiors. After graduating from Michigan Tech, she began her career at 3M in 2000 as an environmental engineer. As she progressed through the ranks over two decades, eventually becoming the SVP of 3M’s U.S. and Canada manufacturing and supply chain, she encountered comments highlighting her gender.
“It would come to light when I moved relatively quickly through the ranks,” Fenske remembers. “Some of my bosses would say, ‘You’re the age of my daughter,’ and different things like that. ‘You’re the first woman that’s had this role at this plant or in this division.'” Rather than being deterred, Fenske consistently responded by redirecting the conversation. “I would always try to spin it a little bit and ask them questions like, ‘Okay, so what is your daughter doing?’…I always try to seek to understand where they are coming from, but then also reinforce what brought me to where I am.”
Paying it Forward – For Everyone
Now in her third year as Kimberly-Clark’s CSCO, the 47-year-old executive is committed to fostering a more inclusive environment. Fenske doesn’t define herself as a “ground-breaker pioneer,” but recognizes the meaning of her position. She is dedicated to mentorship, extending her support to both women and men.
“I tried to give back to women and men, to be honest,” Fenske explained.”Because I think men [are] one of the strongest advocates for women as well. So I think we have to teach both how to have that equal lens and diverse perspective.” Her approach underscores the importance of allyship in dismantling systemic barriers and creating a truly equitable workplace.
