Why supply chains matter, and how Lerato Sebata ensures they function smoothly

Stephen Grootes speaks to Lerato Sebata, a procurement and supply chain expert and CEO of ROI Group, about the work she does and why supply chains are central to how goods move from producers to consumers.

Listen to the interview in the audio player below.

Most people don’t think much about supply chains, until something goes wrong.

When shelves are empty, deliveries are late, or prices suddenly jump, that’s usually a supply chain problem.

For Lerato Sebata, understanding how these systems work, and how to fix them has become her lifelong career.

With more than 17 years of experience across Africa, Sebata has worked in both the public and private sectors, helping organisations figure out how to buy smarter, move goods better, and avoid costly disruptions.

Today, she is the CEO of ROI Group, where she focuses on using digital tools and skills development to help small and medium-sized businesses grow and compete.

Sebata is also a trainer, speaker and mentor, passionate about opening doors for entrepreneurs and professionals who are often excluded from big business opportunities.

She runs courses that help small businesses gain access to markets that once felt out of reach.

Speaking to Stephen Grootes on The Money Show, Sebata says the importance of supply chain is only noticeable, when it stops working. 

"Supply chain is basically the invisible economy. When things work, people don't tend to notice. But if anything actually starts affecting you as a customer, then you start noticing."

- Lerato Sebata, CEO - ROI Group

"For simplicity...think of it like a relay on a field. One person passes the baton to another person, unto the finish line. one, you start sourcing manufacturers. How do those products move from one place to the next, which is now logistics planning."

 - Lerato Sebata, CEO - ROI Group

"They're all interconnected. It's not singularly managed. Remember a business operates with other functions that should make it work."

- Lerato Sebata, CEO - ROI Group

Scroll to the top of the article to listen to the full interview.