In today’s episode we chat with Charles Brewer, all the way from Singapore! Charles is a supply chain expert, leader and since he’s worked in the industry for over 34 years we thought who better to answer this hot topic brought to us by the listeners.
You will hear from our listeners about their challenges in working in a collaborative environment with supply chain teams and Charles will share with us his insights and amazing stories of how we need to change the narrative to bring together collaboration. So where does one start with all this? Charles gives us some helpful tips and it all starts with the leadership. Good leadership behavior trickles down and will mirror a collective approach within the team. Make sure all employees understand what every department does, and the importance of every individual’s efforts. He gives us another nifty tip: get every department to focus on the impact they have on the customer, and the role that supply chain has in the business.
From his experience working with great project managers, Charles tells us that it’s important that both departments and individuals find common ground. Instead of thinking of all the work you have to do next time you go into the office, why not go over to your co-worker in the next department over and shake their hand? Find out about their job, get to know them and figure out what makes them tick. A great first step towards building that collaborative environment we all strive for!
In this episode we discuss:
[2.15] The history of supply chain and where it is now
[4.13] The departments that feed into supply chain
[11.28] How to align departments
[18.23] Creating a collaborative environment
[32.13] What you can do as an individual
Lets looks at our promotional products differently....
In this episode Sarah speaks with Tim Brown, executive director of QCA, the association responsible for holding this 24 billion dollar industry accountable. All those pens, tote bags and stickers you hand out at trade shows? That is the industry we are talking about, promotional products. They are a core part of brand awareness and business today but what do you know about those your purchase and hand out?… If your company accidentally chooses a promotional goods supplier that does not meet regulations, hurts someone or has connections with slave labour, the impact on your brand can be devastating!
How can you make sure you source your promotional products come from an ethical supplier? Meet QCA, an accreditor that offers a program certifying promotional goods companies to make sure they meet regulations, are environmentally friendly and keep your brand safe. QCA offers you an opportunity to be proactive with your brand and only connect with companies that are aligned with your mission and values.
Tim gives us some tips when it comes to choosing a supplier; ask them if they have a documented compliance program, a code of conduct and whether they source from overseas. At the moment, fewer than 1% of promotional products companies are accredited. The process is thorough and demanding - but in return your brand is guaranteed to be protected!
In this episode we discuss:
Resources and links mentioned:
In today’s episode Sarah talks to Brandon Adams, an Emmy Award Winning TV producer and supply chain advisor who started his career shipping ice in the family business. After realizing he didn’t want to sell ice for the rest of his life, he became a TV show producer and motivational speaker plus he is also on the board of advisors for one of the newest supply chain disruptors, ShipChain.
Brandon had to deal with some unique obstacles when managing his ice supply chain - but this is what gave him all the experience and expertise that got him on the board of ShipChain, a company that makes shipping logistics simple. They solve the problem of human error through tracking and tracing systems. He explains that the supply chain industry is more than ready for ShipChain and will make the industry much more efficient.
As an entrepreneur, Brandon advises other entrepreneurs to always pay attention to the little things. Smaller problems can quickly become bigger ones. He also recommends finding people who will support you no matter what. As more disrupting technologies come to the market, he emphasizes how important it is to be able to adapt quickly and get out of your comfort zone.
In this episode we discuss:
[1.04] How Brandon got started in supply chain
[5.09] The obstacles that come with managing an ice business
[12.43] Working as an advisor for ShipChain
[20.31] Advice for entrepreneurs in the supply chain industry
[23.01] What is next for Brandon
Resources and links mentioned:
Brandon’s TV Show: Success in Your City
ShipChain
In today’s episode we talk to Pauline Caballero, a startup founder who started out in the supply chain industry. Like many others, Pauline stumbled into the supply chain industry by accident and decided to stay. But she did find it challenging to move up the ranks as a woman, and combined with stress, a lot of travelling and a young family she decided to leave the industry and found her own yoga studio along with her business partner.
Pauline turned to yoga and meditation to work on her mental health and help her cope with her day job. This led to her founding a yoga studio which offered classes for those with very busy schedules. Her supply chain skills came in useful when managing her startup; she knew how to create something scalable, the importance of starting from the bottom and which systems she had to put in place for business success. Her startup is now thriving and now has grown to 10 yoga studios across Ontario.
The supply chain industry needs a shift away from tradition. Pauline is now back in supply chain helping out other companies improve their culture and leadership strategies. She believes that there are a lot of roles in the supply chain that still need fulfilling, and she knows both companies and customers are hungry for an innovation shift. For this reason she believes that companies with more collaboration and innovation will be the ones who stand out and succeed in the next 5 years.
In this episode we discuss:
Resources and links mentioned:
Pauline on LinkedIn