Breaking into the winner’s circle once more, Edona Kurtolli has snagged another accolade at the 2026 Women in Supply Chain Forum™ Award. Recognized in the Trailblazer category, she continues to wield her expertise in customer success at Exiger, an AI powerhouse for supply chain and procurement automation. When you’ve got someone like Kurtolli leading the charge, it’s no wonder they’re innovating at a breakneck pace.
From Rising Star to Trailblazer
Back in the day, Kurtolli had already made waves by earning recognition as a Rising Star. Fast forward to 2026, and she’s now stamped as a Trailblazer. Don’t let the shiny title fool you—this is a role that demands elbow grease and vision, and Kurtolli’s got both in spades.
Playing the Long Game with AI
Erika Peters, Exiger’s Head of Customer Success for Strategic Accounts, puts it plainly: “Our pace of innovation hinges on feedback from those working with AI day to day.” And there’s Kurtolli again, crucial in shaping that all-important feedback loop. If you’re looking for ROI from your tech investments, she's the guide you want steering the ship.
“Every engagement is an opportunity to help organizations realize greater value from cutting-edge AI.” – Edona Kurtolli
Kurtolli’s work isn’t just about making deals or hitting targets—it's steering a strategic function within a company as reliant on its supply chain solutions as Exiger. In today’s supply chain landscape, where volatility is practically the norm, adding quantifiable value through AI is a superpower.
The Importance of Female Leadership
This award is more than a nod to an individual’s accomplishments. It’s part of a larger push for recognition of female leaders in a traditionally male-dominated industry. Marina Mayer, editor-in-chief at Food Logistics, views the awards as a celebration of progress and growth. A record number of submissions, including those by male colleagues, shows an evolving appreciation for contribution regardless of gender.
Setting Examples, Creating Opportunities
The Women in Supply Chain Forum™ plays a crucial role as a platform to share these journeys. The awards highlight contributions yet shine a brighter light on the existing gender disparities in sectors like supply chain. Having a forum to mentor and network amplifies the voices and stories of those driving the industry forward.
With over 300 submissions and an increasing number of women and men championing females in the sector, the narrative is changing. Female leaders, like Kurtolli, are laying the track for newcomers to follow, ensuring that supply chains not only become more efficient but more inclusive, too.
Exiger: Innovating with a Mission
At its core, Exiger is about leverage—turning what could be just another task in supply chain management into a strategic advantage. Their 1Exiger platform is doing precisely that, with advanced AI that not only highlights risks and automates compliance but also paves pathways for cost-saving opportunities.
With Kurtolli and the broader team at the helm, Exiger is not just making noise. It's setting the gold standard. Being recognized two years running in Gartner’s Magic Quadrant for Supplier Risk Management indicates the kind of clout they wield among industry stiff-necks.
This feather in their cap, thanks to executives like Edona Kurtolli, bolsters Exiger’s reputation. They’re driving operational excellence in a market so unpredictable, it's practically riding a bull. But with their continuous drive for innovation, buoyed by smart leadership, the future looks as solid as it's promising.
