When most young professionals dream of making a mark, their ambitions often point toward the top, the CEO’s office. But according to Jim Farley, the man who actually sits in that chair at Ford Motor Company, real change happens somewhere else entirely.
Speaking on an upcoming episode of “Office Hours: Business Edition” with Monica Langley, Farley shared advice that might reshape how future leaders think about their careers. “I would say of all the C-suite jobs that people should aspire to, if you want to make a difference in our society, I would pick one — supply chain,” said Farley.
As reported by Business Insider, in Farley’s view, the people who manage supply chains do not just move goods, they move the world. At a company like Ford, he said, these leaders need to understand everything from technology and logistics to geopolitics.
“It’s no surprise to me that Tim Cook and many of the CEOs in great companies today come from a supply chain background,” Farley added, referring to Apple’s chief executive. “No surprise at all to me, because the leadership required to be world-class at supply chains is the same capability you need to run a company.”
His words ring true across industries. Some of the biggest names in business, from Tim Cook at Apple to Mary Barra at General Motors, began their journeys in supply chain roles before taking the helm. Their ability to balance global networks, manage crises, and anticipate disruptions has proven essential in today’s unpredictable world.
The global wake-up call
Farley’s comments come at a time when the auto industry and much of the global economy has been forced to rethink its production systems. Recent trade tensions and tariffs have disrupted traditional manufacturing routes, costing automakers billions. Ford itself expects a $1 billion hit, while GM forecasts up to $4.5 billion in tariff-related costs.
For Farley, these shocks are not just corporate headaches; they are signs of deeper structural risks. He has often warned that America’s overreliance on foreign manufacturing and limited domestic training could threaten long-term stability.
“The country is in deep trouble compared to China,” he told Office Hours, requesting for renewed focus on manufacturing and vocational skills. In a TIME op-ed, he called for more technical education programs to fill gaps in essential sectors like construction and production.
A lesson in dependence
The Ford chief also raised alarms about the US dependency on imports for rare earth materials, key components used in electric vehicles and advanced technologies. When China restricted exports earlier this year, it triggered chaos across the supply chains of global automakers.
“I don’t think most Americans have any idea how scary our dependency is on certain countries,” Farley warned in the episode of office hours. Farley admitted he was “humbled” after examining electric vehicles from Tesla and emerging Chinese brands, experiences that inspired him to overhaul Ford’s own operations.