From Possibility to Purpose — And Why Cyber Threats Should Be on Your Supply Chain Radar

Hi, I’m Clint, founder of C-Sure Consulting, supply chain specialist, homeschooling parent, creative type, and someone who recently took the leap to start my own business.

C-Shorts will be a weekly space where I share personal reflections, supply chain insights, and timely tips that I hope will inspire or support you on your own journey, whether you’re a business leader, a fellow consultant, or just curious about what goes on in my world! 🙃

🛣️ A Journey of Discovery

This past year has been packed with change and excitement. I’ve had the chance to travel (New Zealand, you were amazing!), launch my own company, become a homeschooling parent, and I even started writing my first novel.

It’s been a rollercoaster since leaving the company where I spent 24 years building my career. I’m genuinely grateful for everything that my time at Trouw Nutrition gave me. I’d recommend them to anyone, whether as an employer, customer, or supplier. Fantastic people!

But somewhere along the way, I realised that true happiness doesn’t come from climbing ladders — it comes from helping others. There’s real joy in making someone’s day a bit easier or helping them sidestep a problem you’ve already tackled. I’ve found that sharing what I know, even the messy bits, is easily one of the most rewarding parts of what I do.

I think this entire process has brought me closer to my raison d’être, or what the Japanese call ikigai — a sense of purpose that comes from bringing together what you love, what you're good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for. I’m not claiming to have it all figured out (not at all) but I know I must be getting closer when my work feels meaningful, useful, and energising — not just for me, but for the people I work with too.

Being my own boss definitely has its perks, but it’s taken time to adjust to a very different structure. Juggling work, life, and homeschool is still a challenge, but I’m starting to find my stride.

What I love most is the autonomy. It allows me to prioritise the work that truly resonates with me and focus my energy where I feel I can make the biggest difference. For me, that’s what it’s all about: adding value with intention and purpose.

I recently completed the ASCM Supply Chain Resilience course, and I would highly recommend it if you're curious about practical ways to build flexibility into your supply chain. One takeaway was a simple but powerful way to check how resilient your company is right now: run a disaster drill. There’s nothing quite like a realistic scenario to expose weak points and spark the kind of conversations that strengthen your response before a real crisis hits.

Each week, I will zoom in on one current topic, share some of my own insights, and offer some useful tips that you can take away and try for yourself. One area of concern that seems to keep on cropping up in my conversations with other business leaders is cyber attacks. They can be absolutely devastating for businesses, and they’re becoming impossible to ignore…

⚠️ Cyber Attacks Are Evolving — Are You Ready?

If you’ve been paying attention to the news lately, you’ll have noticed a sharp rise in cyber attacks hitting retailers, manufacturers, and logistics firms alike.

With the rise of AI and ever-increasing use of cloud systems, today’s cybercriminals have access to more powerful tools than ever before. We’re no longer dealing with a lone hacker in a hoodie — we’re up against organised networks, sophisticated scams, and deepfake technologies.

Scammers are getting smarter; it’s even possible now to get a video call from someone who looks and sounds just like someone you know — far more believable than a fake email with the odd typo. They might even have some of your personal data, making them sound even more convincing. And these scams are working. Social engineering, where attackers pose as legitimate employees or support staff to trick people into handing over login credentials or moving money, is now one of the leading causes of customer losses across all sectors, from banks and brokerage apps to online shopping and social media platforms. Your personal data is everywhere, and breaches are becoming more common. While individuals need to protect themselves, companies also have a clear legal obligation to safeguard any data they hold. If you’re storing personal information, it’s essential to understand the risks, stay on top of regulations, and be ready to act if something goes wrong. I was concerned to read that only one-third of data breaches are detected internally by company security teams. That means the majority are discovered by outsiders, often after damage has already been done.

[Source: IBM Security Cost of a Data Breach Report]

Supply chain cyber threats are growing fast. In today’s world, the question isn’t if a cyber threat will hit your business, but when. And with supply chains more connected now than ever, even one breach can send shockwaves through your entire operation.

🔐 That’s Why We’re Developing a Cyber Attack Simulation

At C-Sure Consulting, we’re currently building a Cyber Attack Simulation — an interactive PowerPoint scenario-based walkthrough designed to test your responses, stress-test your processes, and highlight any gaps in resilience within your company.

We’re offering early access for free while we’re still in the development phase, in exchange for your feedback. If you're interested in being part of this pilot group and helping shape a tool that could protect your business, now’s the time to get involved.

It’s a great opportunity to engage your team in a realistic scenario and build confidence before the real thing hits.

👉 Click here to register your interest

🤝 Let’s Keep Connected

So that’s me: supply chain supporter, family man, homeschooler, and now an official blogger!

I genuinely believe that the best way to build resilience in business and in life is through sharing knowledge, staying curious, and moving forward with an open mind.

Thanks for reading my very first blog!

I’d love to hear from you — whether it’s your thoughts on cyber threats, your homeschooling journey, or even just where to find the best coffee in Queenstown ☕

Until next week…

💡 C-Sure Shortcut of the Week

You wouldn’t leave your warehouse wide open, so don’t do it with your data!

Cybersecurity is key to shoring up supply chain resilience.