What Supply Chain Leaders Can Learn from Contemporary Art

On a rainy spring day in Zurich, I found myself inside Vontobel’s iconic building, surrounded by its signature green stone walls and powerful contemporary art. What began as a mid day break visiting Art Vontobel amazing contemporary photographers art exhibition quickly turned into an unexpected moment of clarity: supply chain leaders and contemporary artists face remarkably similar challenges.

Artists and supply chain leaders both interpret complex signals, work within constraints, and create meaning from uncertainty. The best in both fields don’t just react — they anticipate. They spot subtle shifts early, adapt with agility, and respond with creativity.

Contemporary artists show us how to navigate ambiguity, use limitations as inspiration, and view the world through a systems lens. That’s exactly what resilient supply chain leadership demands today — especially in a world where disruption is no longer the exception but the norm.

Resilience isn’t about resisting change. It’s about absorbing it, shaping it, and using it to lead forward. Or as Picasso put it:

“Every act of creation is first an act of destruction.”

Let’s start painting the future — one bold stroke at a time.