Marian Miner Cook
Athenaeum

A distinctive
feature of social and
cultural life at CMC

 

How New Balance Stays Ahead: Strategy, Supply Chains, and What the Future Demands from Leadership

Thu, September 18, 2025
Dinner Program
Duncan Scott and Ryan Patel, in conversation

Duncan Scott, senior vice president of Strategic Sourcing & Quality at New Balance and Ryan Patel, William F. Podlich Distinguished Fellow at CMC, will discuss how to lead a brand that is globally recognized and built to last. From navigating factory floors and geopolitical tension to balancing authenticity with innovation, they will explore the real-world decisions and leadership strategies to power a global company.

 

Duncan Scott is senior vice president of Strategic Sourcing & Quality for New Balance Athletic Shoe, a leading manufacturer of branded athletic footwear, apparel and equipment since 1906. 

Currently based in Boston, Scott started his career in the industry in 1986 and has held global leadership roles in footwear & apparel sourcing and manufacturing in Korea, Taiwan, China, Brazil, and Hong Kong. He was Country Manager of China for Reebok, Head of Social & Environmental Compliance at Adidas, and subsequently Head of Global Footwear Sourcing for Adidas and VP of Sourcing for Sportswear at VF. Scott also served as Head of Latin American Sourcing for adidas, based in Sao Paulo, Brazil before joining New Balance in 2010. 

Scott has been active in corporate social responsibility forums and organizations during his career and has represented New Balance since 2017 in the Industry Summit initiative, a coalition of 13 global brands focused on social and environmental issues. He currently serves on the advisory board of the Global Labor Institute, which drives new conversations about work in global supply chains powered by quantitative research and action. Scott also serves as Vice Chair of the ESG Committee for the World Federation of Sporting Goods

He is a 1981 graduate of Cornell University, where he was an English major in the College of Arts & Sciences and ran for the varsity Cross Country & Track Teams.

Ryan Patel is currently a William F. Podlich Distinguished Fellow at CMC. Patel is an expert in scaling businesses and has served both startups and publicly traded firms. Listed as one of the “Creators to Follow” by LinkedIn Editor in Chief and recognized as a “Top Voice” on Linkedin, Patel is a news commentator Board Director. Patel also hosts "The Moment with Ryan Patel," featuring conversations with top innovators and executives. 

 

Registration

Meal reservations now open to everyone in the Claremont Colleges.

Marian Miner Cook Athenaeum

Claremont McKenna College
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Claremont, CA 91711

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