Clarisa Madilao spent most of her education and working life in North America and was curious to explore Singapore from a supply chain perspective. She took up the MSc in Supply Chain Management programme at NUS as the programme seemed comprehensive and aligned with her goal of expanding her skill sets and knowledge as a supply chain professional. Through the programme, she gained exposure to different types of supply chains, such as humanitarian supply chains, which helped her appreciate the complexities involved in running a well-functioning supply chain.

Clarisa received the Lee Loo Hay Memorial Prize recipient as the top graduate of the Class of 2024. She expresses her gratitude, “I feel very honoured and proud to have won the SCM Lee Loo Hay Memorial Prize. The programme was incredibly rewarding academically, and receiving the award was truly the cherry on top. It feels great to be recognized for my efforts and contributions.”

Currently, Clarisa is a Digital Procurement Lead in the maritime and port sector, where she focuses on embedding Generative AI, automation, and innovation into procurement processes. She explains, “We are rethinking traditional procurement by leveraging new technologies to streamline operations, empower our frontline teams, and pursue more strategic contract and category management, all with the goal of extracting and protecting value for our stakeholders. Being at the forefront of digital transformation in procurement—interacting with and testing cutting-edge technology—is incredibly exciting, as it allows us to shape the future of how procurement operates.”

Clarisa is passionate about continuing to develop and grow within the supply chain sector. In three years, she sees herself expanding her leadership role and driving innovation in the industry. She also aspires to be a positive influence and role model for women leaders in supply chain, championing inclusivity and empowerment in the field.