In the latest installment of our Women in Supply Chain series, we sat down with Carolina Azar, Supply Chain Strategist at Moody’s. Raised in Argentina, Azar’s career path spans public finance, economic research, and global risk analysis, before bringing her experience to the United States and joining Moody’s. Today, she leads supply chain and supply risk strategy for a global organization, while also mentoring younger professionals and advocating for women in the workplace.
What’s Related
In the Q&A below, Azar talks about how her early career shaped her work ethic, why confidence and empathy matter in leadership, and what she has learned about building strong teams and speaking up along the way.
Growing up in Argentina
SC247: Tell us a little about where you grew up and what your early years were like.
CA: I’m from Argentina, in South America. I grew up in a very loving family with my parents and my older sister. I would say I had a pretty normal childhood. My parents encouraged me to try different things and follow what felt right for me. I think that openness gave me confidence early on. It made me feel like my future was up to me and no one else.
SC247: What kind of student were you growing up?
CA: In elementary school, I was actually a terrible student. I think I was bored. Everything changed when I got into a very strong high school, one of those schools you have to test into. It was challenging, and I loved it. I became an A student, and it gave me confidence. It was one of those moments where you think, “Okay, I’ve got this. What’s next?”
The importance of interning
SC247: What was next after high school?
CA: I went to college and studied finance. I actually double-majored in economics and finance. While I was in college, I took an internship very seriously, more seriously than most of my peers. I was placed at Argentina’s Ministry of Finance, in the National Accounting Office. I worked extremely hard. While others treated it as just an internship, I was observing everything, asking questions, and trying to connect the dots. That effort paid off. My manager offered me a full-time job while I was still in college. When I graduated, I was already ahead of the competition.
SC247: What was the biggest lesson from that experience?
CA: You never know who’s watching. You never know who’s paying attention. I had no expectation of being offered a full-time role while still in school. It wasn’t even on my radar. That experience taught me that effort matters, even when you think no one is noticing.
Starting over in the U.S.
SC247: What led you to move to the United States?
CA: I wanted to continue studying and earn a master’s degree. I also loved traveling and languages, and I knew there was more for me to explore outside my home country. I’m very much a planner. Doing a master’s degree gave me a clear structure and a solid path forward. In a way, it felt like starting the second chapter of my life.
SC247: How did Columbia shape your career direction?
CA: My interests have always centered on international politics, economics, and global risk. Columbia gave me the ability to move fully into the private sector and away from public finance. I realized that economic and political research, combined with risk analysis, was where all my interests came together. That path eventually led me to Moody’s.
What leadership looks like now
SC247: How did your early management experiences influence your leadership style?
CA: They shaped it completely. I’m very much on the nurturing side as a leader. I believe in building relationships with my team. Leadership can’t be transactional. I need to understand who people are, what motivates them, and what challenges they’re dealing with. I’m very transparent, very authentic, and very empathetic. I think that builds trust, and it pays off every time.
SC247: Have you faced challenges as a woman in the industry?
CA: Yes. I don’t think you’ll find many women who would say no. Early in my career, I had to speak up and make sure my voice was heard. Over time, experience, confidence, and job title help. Now, if I see it happening to someone else, I step in. Not everyone feels comfortable doing that, so I try to use my voice for others when I can.
Life beyond work
SC247: What does your role at Moody’s look like today?
CA: I’m a strategist. I lead Moody’s supply chain and supply risk strategy. Anything the company does in supply chain risk management comes through my team. My team is global. My manager is in another country, and my direct reports are spread across different locations. Travel is a big part of the job, and so are meetings. Everything is built on consensus.
SC247: What do you enjoy most about the role?
CA: The creative side. Turning research and analysis into tools and products that clients actually use has been incredibly rewarding. I never imagined I would end up in product development, but I love it.
SC247: What does life look like outside of work?
CA: I have three kids. My oldest is 16, and my twins are 14. Being a mother has been one of the most meaningful parts of my life. As a family, we love to travel. My husband and I also try to spend one-on-one time with each of our kids, doing things they love.
SC247: And if you had a weekend to yourself?
CA: I’d stay in my pajamas, make coffee, go to yoga, read a book, and take a long walk near the water. Then I’d end the day with a good movie and a bottle of wine.
