A CEO’s Action Plan for Supply Chain Resilience in 2025

The concept of a stable global economy feels like a distant memory. With tariff hikes, election-year posturing, ongoing supply chain gridlock, and regional conflicts, CEOs today are navigating a permanent state of trade turbulence. The leaders who will truly succeed are not those who wait for clarity, but those who actively build resilience before they critically need it.

And here’s the crucial insight: resilience extends beyond just logistics; it’s now fundamentally about strategic foresight.

The Cost of Waiting

If you’ve spent the past year hoping tariffs would simply settle down or that global volatility would ease, consider this your urgent wake-up call. The time for passive hope is over; the time for decisive action is unequivocally now.

Here’s a snapshot of what’s unfolding:

• U.S. tariffs on goods from China are sharply increasing across critical categories, including EVs, batteries, solar products, and steel.
• In response, other countries are implementing their own trade barriers.
• Supply chains are no longer purely global; they have become inherently political.

The cost of inaction is clearly escalating. Furthermore, the risk and cost of relying on a single supplier, one country, or just one option are also rising significantly.

The CEO’s New Mandate

This challenge isn’t merely a supply chain problem; it is a fundamental C-suite strategic issue.

In my Vistage Florida CEO groups, our discussions go deeper than just container costs or vendor lead times. We’re actively exploring questions like:

• What is your contingency if your Tier 2 vendor faces sanctions?
• What steps will you take if your primary supplier is located in a country experiencing political unrest?
• What is your immediate pivot plan if tariffs unexpectedly double next quarter?

Most importantly, we ask: Do you already have these critical scenarios mapped out and discussed, or will you find yourself scrambling only when the immediate need arises?

3 Moves to Start Building Resilience Today

1. Diversify Sourcing – Now

Start by identifying every single point of dependency within your supply chain. Ask your operations team, “If this key vendor were to go offline tomorrow, what is our immediate backup plan?” It’s essential to look beyond just the lowest cost. Begin building relationships in multiple low-risk regions, even if you don’t require them for immediate use.

2. Map Your Trade Exposure

Gain a precise understanding of how tariffs impact your entire cost structure. Break it down by individual product, specific category, and geographic region. Collaborate with trusted advisors or trade specialists who can help you model various trade scenarios. Don’t just analyze historical 2024 data; project forward with intelligent, well-informed assumptions. You might find this article on understanding global trade dynamics helpful.

3. Create a Strategic Tariff Playbook

This isn’t merely a document for your procurement team; it’s a vital tool for the entire boardroom. Your playbook should include clear action steps, such as specific supplier swap plans, windows for contract renegotiation, and pre-defined re-shoring triggers. Where feasible, integrate advanced AI tools. Some of our CEOs are already leveraging AI engines to reconfigure their global supply chains in the most tax-efficient ways possible. For more on this, check out how AI is transforming supply chain management.

Why Peer Groups Matter More Than Ever

Navigating this level of complexity is not something you should do alone. That’s precisely why, within Vistage, we proactively engage in scenario planning. We pressure test ideas and ask each other the tough questions before the stakes become critically high. Your peers may have already encountered the very challenges you are about to face, and learning from their experiences can save you months of costly blind spots.

Up Next:

In part 2, “Protecting Margins & Reputation Amid Trade Uncertainty“, we explore how CEOs are effectively managing costs, reshaping pricing models, and maintaining competitiveness while simultaneously safeguarding their brand.

If you need help putting together your action plan, let’s connect. I’m happy to work with you to put together your strategy for making your business truly resilient.

Georganne Goldblum,
CEO of Coach4Execs

About Georganne

Georganne Goldblum is a seasoned executive coach with over 20 years of experience, specializing in coaching senior executives to outperform their goals and competition. Drawing from her impressive background as a Fortune 500 executive, management consultant, entrepreneur, and private investor with over 25 years of management experience, Georganne brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her coaching. She helped 7 companies optimize their business exits in the last 5 years, netting over $1.1 billion. Over the last 9 years, assisted 13 companies in achieving exits totaling over $2 billion.

An MBA graduate from the renowned NYU Stern School of Business, her impact and influence in the industry are evident through the numerous accolades and awards she has received, including the prestigious Charles “Red” Scott Award. She has been recognized as one of the Most Influential Businesswomen in South Florida. Connect with her on LinkedIn.