Supply lessons from Genghis Khan

Genghis Khan didn't conquer half the world by accident.

Before his armies crossed into new territory, he sent forward scouts months ahead—not just to assess threats, but to secure supply lines, establish cache points, and build relationships with local traders.

When his considerable forces arrived, water sources, hunting grounds and fresh pasture had been secured. His scouts had already negotiated, prepared, and solved the logistics puzzle.

800 years later, the principle hasn't changed: You can't manage supply chains from a conference room.

When managing an international supply chain, there's no substitute for boots on the ground at origin.

Your people need to be embedded in the ecosystem—building relationships with suppliers, understanding local conditions, and solving problems before they become crises.

Remote management has its place. But when it comes to complex supply operations at origin, the companies that win are the ones who invest in local presence, cultural understanding, and relationship capital.