From gaining her degree in Organizational Psychology & Human Resources Management, Sangna has gone on to achieve huge success in her field. With an interest in technology and engineering, leadership roles at companies like Flextronics, Solectron and Meggitt have led her to her current role at Apex. She’s the Vice President of Human Resources for the Americas and has been doing some incredible work there for the past five years.
Today Sangna will be talking to us about her long-standing HR career, her passion for people and the future of business.
[07.32] Sangna’s background and how she sidestepped from clinical psychology to HR.
“Instead of one person at a time, I get to have an impact on a whole workforce.”
[09.21] How Sangna began at Apex, and her role building their HR structure.
[10.42] A closer look at Sangna’s responsibilities at Apex.
[11.51] The impact of working in employee relations.
“You are the facilitator – you are the hub of the company, between employees and management.”
[15.37] Apex’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, and what makes them so special.
“In today’s polarized atmosphere, being part of an organization that values you, is more important than ever.”
[20.18] What drew Sangna to technology and engineering, and how she ended up in logistics.
[23.25] How the face of HR has changed over the years.
[25.11] From remote working to the impact of COVID-19, the HR trends to watch out for.
[27.11] The future, and the relationship between people and technology.
“Their job might look a little different, but people are still the future.”
[29.55] What finding your voice as a woman means to Sangna.
“Finding your voice, for me, has been about building credibility with confidence.”
[32.18] What Sangna has learned about herself along the way.
[34.00] Credibility and passion, Sangna’s words of advice for the next generation.
Head over to LinkedIn to connect with Sangna and find out more.
Check out our other podcasts HERE.
This is the second episode of Let’s Talk Supply Chain’s brand-new show, Blended.
Blended is all about opening up conversations and giving the mic to all of the underrepresented voices in our industry – women, the LGBTQIA community, people of color, those with disabilities, whether they’re visible or hidden, and many more.
Today in Episode 2, ‘Story of my Life,’ we’re going to be delving into our guest’s personal stories: the experiences that made them who they are today and the impact, both positive and negative, that those experiences have had on their lives and careers.
[03.23] Introductions to our Blended panelists.
[09.35] Martin’s story; from serious ill health to harnessing his courage, finding his voice and following his own path.
“Our experiences propel us forward.” Martin
[12.18] How minorities can find themselves the butt of the joke and often find themselves joining in, in order to fit in and not rock the boat.
“I’m a black Mormon (which is rare!) so I’d get a lot of those ‘jokes;’ and if I don’t stand up and speak out, I’m doing not only myself a disservice but also anybody else that's at a disadvantage.” Lamont
[17.40] Madison’s experience as a black woman growing up in the suburbs, and the panelists reflections on language.
"Forums such as this, where we’re telling stories and educating each other around all the different flavors of humanity, are so important. And the more we do this, the more visibility we have into one another’s real life experiences - and then you can begin to adjust how we speak to one another." Madison
[19.37] Claudia’s story, the boardroom experience that opened her eyes and the groups reflections on the power of words.
“It said to me that women are not valued in financial transactions.” Claudia
[30.03] Madison’s story, how it led to her passion for humanitarianism and the panelists reflections on background, privilege and self-improvement.
[51.55] Angie’s story, facing misogyny in the workplace and the groups reflections on behaviors and encouraging change.
“As women we’re in a dichotomy: on one side we have to be assertive and confident, and on the other side we have to be very mindful that we’re being watched, in terms of our reactions.” Claudia
[70.13] The one piece of advice the panelists would share from their personal stories:
You can connect with all of our amazing panelists on LinkedIn - Madison, Claudia, Lamont, Martin and Angie - if you'd like to find out more.
Check out our other podcasts HERE.
This is the first episode of our latest mini-series in partnership with Fastenal. Over the next four episodes, our “Not Just Nuts and Bolts” series is going to take a closer look at Fastenal, their global reach and the many different ways they serve the industry; their resilience and innovation in response to the COVID-19 crisis, and why they’re putting a focus on the importance of data in bettering supply chains.
Today in Episode 1, Innovation at Work, I’m talking to Dan Florness, President and CEO at Fastenal. We’ll be finding out exactly who Fastenal is, what they do and how they’ve evolved to become a global company, with a local focus, who are much more than just nuts and bolts.
[01.26] Dan’s background, his role at Fastenal and how Fastenal is both a provider and its own customer.
“Our secret ingredient is agility and problem-solving.”
[4.14] Fastenal’s history and growth.
[06.18] What Fastenal stands for.
“We go out and find great people – we’re about opportunity, freedom to operate and mutual trust.”
[08.13] Exactly what Fastenal does, and its different business areas.
[10.15] How and why Fastenal came to manage supply chains for their customers.
[14.14] How Fastenal was ahead of the game when it comes to the issue of stock.
[16.21] The benefits that come from Fastenal’s decentralized model.
“A local team knows their customer really well.”
[19.12] A closer look at Fastenal’s local approach: how it works, the ethos behind it and the benefits.
[21.49] How Fastenal responded to the COVID crisis, and its commitment to customers.
[28.30] From Government to Universities, the variety of businesses Fastenal works with.
“The ideal customer for us is someone who’s willing to look at the ideas we bring to the table, and change the way they’ve been doing things.”
[32.07] How visibility and partnerships are the future of supply chain.
Head over to Fastenal’s website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too.
Check out our other podcasts HERE.
I’m so sad to say that this is the final episode in our ‘You Won’t Believe What We’ve Seen’ mini-series, in partnership with SQA services. But over the course of these four episodes we’ve had a blast! We’ve chatted to some inspirational people, learned a lot and heard some amazing stories – we really can't believe what they’ve seen! I hope you’ve enjoyed the series just as much as I have and don’t forget, you can still catch up on any episodes you might’ve missed HERE.
In last week’s episode ‘High Stakes’, we were joined by father and son team Jim and Mike McKay to tackle the ever-changing landscape of technology. We talked about the latest technological advances in the industry and really did a deep dive into the importance of quality, right from the outset, and how it’s achieved through honesty, communication, collaboration and partnership.
And today, last but definitely not least, we’re headed to the multi-billion-dollar world of beauty. Mike McKay is joining us one last time alongside the incredible Ashley Goldberg, Executive Director of Quality and Operational Excellence at Merz North America. We’re taking a closer look at the changing face of the beauty industry, the rise of social media and the impact of influencers, and why quality is more important than ever.
IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:
[01.03] Introducing Mike McKay.
[02.19] Introducing Ashley Goldberg.
[03.46] SQA’s key beauty industry partnerships, from Estee Lauder to Colgate-Palmolive.
[04.18] An introduction to Merz.
[05.32] How SQA’s early partnership with Colgate-Palmolive helped the business take off.
“I went from zero sales to several hundred thousand, by employing two or three hundred people in three different cities and shipping over 38,000 tubes of toothpaste!” (MMK)
[11.40] The importance of relationship-building in every stage – from raw materials to manufacturing to supply chain – to ensure quality, particularly in the start-up space.
[15.26] The relationship between Merz and SQA, and the importance of teamwork.
“They’re going to come in as an honest partner… to support it, augment it, and ultimately make sure you have the ability to build a robust supply chain.” (AG)
[19.36] Why it’s essential to ensure quality at source.
“Ensuring that your entire supply chain and all of your partners have the same values and integrity you have for your product is so important, because ultimately your customer is what matters.” (AG)
[23.14] Why cost-cutting strategies aren’t always the best approach, particularly for quality.
“Is the risk really worth it? What’s the cost of customer dissatisfaction?” (MMK)
[26.25] How consumer behavior is driving supply chain optimization.
[29.30] How social media, communication speed and influencer impact can have a very positive, or negative, effect on your brand – making quality even more important.
[31.29] SQA’s ‘Quality Is’ campaign and how it helps customers to ensure quality is an accessible and better understood topic.
[35.08] Why designing quality into the supply chain from the beginning is going to be vital to the future of the beauty industry.
You can connect with Mike on LinkedIn, or head over to SQA’s website now to find out more, meet the team and discover how they could help you too.
You can also connect with Ashley on LinkedIn or find out all about the different facets to Merz on their website.
Check out our other podcasts HERE.
Development of the Omnae Platform began fairly recently, in 2016, with a small team and a big vision. Harnessing over 30 years of deep industry experience, Omnae’s mission was to build a network and service that was bigger than just manufacturing; to create a technology that was both industry and country agnostic, with the goal of connecting every facet of global production.
Omnae’s founders saw the potential – and necessity – for a global supply web, and knew they had the know-how to build it. And it’s safe to say Omnae has gone from strength to strength, proving that their mission, and unique approach, is spot on.
Today I’m joined by CEO Dan Lionello to talk more about the global supply web, the need for improved transparency, resilience and communication in supply chain and how Omnae’s platform has the potential to transform supply chain for everyone.
Welcome Back Listeners!
Traditional forwarders will soon have little choice but to go digital and that is what Kontainers is hoping for. They are the dominant player in helping to make digitizing a reality for most forwarders and creating new and innovative ways for everyone to win.
In this episode, Graham Parker CEO of Kontainers takes us on a journey of how he got started in the industry building a successful forwarding company that led to the creation of Kontainers. Graham will share how they are helping to digitize the industry and announce some exciting news about a new initiative they are launching to help small to mid sized forwarders. The future of forwarding is in digitization, collaboration, consolidation and marketplaces that will ONLY have room for the digital. You wont want to miss this episode as we take you into the future of the industry.
Welcome back Let's Talk listeners!
If you aren't familiar with FreightWaves you should be, Recently listed on CNBC's 2018 upstart 100 list as the brightest, most intriguing young start ups promising to become one of the great companies of tomorrow, FreightWaves is a company to watch. In less than a year, FreightWaves grew to the second most trafficked news site in all of freight, globally.
In this episode, Craig Fuller CEO of FreightWaves joins me to talk about the story behind the brand. Craig's journey started in the family business and as his passion for the industry grew so did his vision for the future. Join me as he tells us the story behind the brand, gives us a glimpse into his journey to success, Craig also predicts the future of supply chain and logistics as well as the reasons behind starting BITA (Blockchain Assoc).
Hello Listeners!
In this EXCLUSIVE Women in Supply Chain episode, I am live at JDA ICON 2019 and I sit down with CMO, Karen Leavitt of Locus Robotics.
Her journey in technology since the 70s has recently lead her into supply chain industry and she is excited to help drive innovation in this space. Karen talks about how mentorship and collaboration helps to overcome challenges and creates allies that will help amplify messages and encourage others to find their voice.
Karen ends with some advice for the next generation that includes a nugget about career success - find different perspectives and really look to see how you can incorporate them into your career
Enjoy!
Welcome back Let's Talk listeners!
A tariff is a tax imposed by a government on goods and services imported from other countries that serves to increase the price and make imports less desirable, or at least less competitive, versus domestic goods and services. Tariffs are generally introduced as a means of restricting trade from particular countries or reducing the importation of specific types of goods and services.
These days there are so many rules and regulations to moving products from country to country and with the US leading the most influential changes we have seen in a long time, many are scrambling to keep up.
In this episode, Graham Robins CEO of Borderbuddy and my resident expert is back to talk about this game changing subject rocking industries and the business world right now (right Andy Polk - FDRA?). Graham talks to me about asking the question why, being intentional, some of the biggest mistakes you will make with your tariff database, what your responsibility is and what you can do today to get a handle on costs and compliance.
Welcome back Lets Talk listeners!
"Go with your gut!" is the mantra Michelle is truly living by, from following her gut to Boston to placing hundreds of hard working supply chain professionals on their career paths.
Michelle also loves what she does and encourages everyone to live your passion because it is what drives you, it is what will bring opportunity and help you to live your best life.
In this episode I will introduce you to Michelle Devevo, VP of Talent acquisition in Part 18 of my Women in Supply Chain Series. Michelle tells us the story of how she moved to Boston on a whim, how she was recruited for her current position, how she has helped hundreds of supply chain professionals find their way, why employer branding is so important and why Linkedin should be your best friend as an employer and as talent. You will be inspired by this story of passion, instinct and pure will.
Welcome back Lets Talk listeners!
Traditionally Supply Chain has been viewed as a cost centre because the majority of a business' cost are associated with sourcing, procurement, transportation, distribution and last mile. That view is changing and supply chain professionals are now viewing it as an investment centre but that doesn't mean we stop trying to keep the costs down.
How do you do keep the costs in check? Some are diligent internally, some are so cash rich it gets over looked and most keep the company in check by hiring the experts like Spend Management Experts.
In this episode, Melissa Runge, VP of analytical solutions takes us on a journey of collaboration, winning together in the spend column, why your company needs to partner with someone like SME and how Spend Management Experts keeps your customer experience in mind and that is what sets them apart from their competition.
Questions I Ask:
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
Welcome back Lets Talk listeners!
The industry is bursting with new ideas, new innovation and start ups seem to be popping up everywhere. But, what exactly does it mean to be a supply chain start up?
Supply Chain is a Trillion dollar industry, that is complex, intoxicating, fascinating and has been stuck in the traditional. Most can see the need the need for change, some vets are looking to change the way we do business and some newcomers are looking to change the world but what are the key ingredients to finding success as a start up in supply chain.
In this episode, Nino Lo Lacono, a tech entrepreneur from Italy is here to talk about creating new and disruptive innovations in supply chain. Nino and I will talk about the challenges of starting a business in supply chain, suggestions of how to navigate, The importance of negotiation and passion, as well as the future of supply chain. Share this episode with other supply chain professionals, your teams and your colleagues!
Welcome back Lets Talk listeners!
What if I told you something BIG was coming to the supply chain community, something that would bring together real people talking about real supply chain topics?
Today, I am revealing one of the secret projects I have been working on for my YouTube channel called "The SC, Supply Chain TV". It is a cross between "The View" and "Sportscenter" where we will debate the hot topics in supply chain today.
In this episode, you will get to know Audrey Ross and Leah Goold-Haws my co-hosts for the show and then we will be joined by a different guest each episode. We are setting the stage for the first episode due out the end of April and giving you a sneak peak into what to expect from the show! They may also just give us their half crazy, counter-intuitive prediction for what the next 5 years in the industry will look like!
Questions I Ask:
Hello Listeners!
This is the last Exclusive from TPM 2019, in this brief episode I am asking Peder Winther, Global Head of OceanFreight at Panalpina your most pressing questions that you sent to me on Linkedin back in February.
Find out what he thinks of Uber Freight and Flexport and how freight forwarders are looking at innovation in the industry.
Enjoy!
Welcome back Lets Talk listeners!
There are a lot of new innovations and platforms to help you with various supply chain functions but where do you start and how do you find the right one for your team?
Mercado Labs is shining light into the dark corners of supply chain, their platform speaks "fluent import"' and has been designed by International trade experts for supply chain professionals and their teams.
In this episode, I am speaking to Rob about his new venture called Mercado Labs and we will take you on a journey of leading innovation, bringing sourcing, procurement and logistics together in a collaborative environment and what you should consider when looking to partner with a new innovative platform like Mercado Labs. Find out more about how to find the right solution and platform for your organization.
Hello Listeners!
You asked and John answered!
I recently caught up with John McCauley, VP of Transportation and Logistics at Cargill, a global player in the shipping industry at TPM 2019 to ask him your questions!
Back in February you posted the questions you would have if you had 5 minutes with a VP of a large BCO, pay attention because your question might have been asked!
Enjoy!
Welcome back Lets Talk listeners!
"What do you mean exactly?" is a very powerful question when you are trying to find your voice and gain the knowledge you need to succeed. In my newest Women in Supply Chain Episode you will meet Denise MacDonell, CTO at Flash Global and a powerhouse woman in the industry who believes that this question will contribute to your success.
It takes a lot of self discipline and flexing that muscle to find your voice in technology and supply chain, so besides asking questions Denise did exactly that and to this day flexing her discipline muscle also helps with work life balance and keeping her on track.
Join me in this episode to learn more about the Denises' journey to success, how she found her voice, real life struggles and how she overcame them, how Denise keeps from getting overwhelmed by doing mental health checks and so much more! In part 17 of my Women in Supply Chain series, you will laugh, learn and be inspired throughout this episode.
Hello listeners!
Remember a while back on listeners corner you commented with questions you have for the CEO of an ocean carrier. Well, I had the chance to briefly chat with Jeremy Nixon, CEO of ONE and asked him a lot of your most pressing questions.
7 minute Sundays are exclusive episodes that I will be sharing sporadically as I travel the world and speak with some of the least accessible figures in supply chain!
Enjoy!
Welcome back Lets Talk listeners!
Only 6 percent of the largest ocean carriers and freight forwarders have end-to-end online booking capabilities. Some 38 percent of the former and 5 percent of the latter do not even offer online quotes, while most of those that do merely log an online request for a quote, which has to be followed up by e-mail or a phone call, often a day or more later.
So what happens when you have been so focused on your own internal innovation that when you look up to implement with the others in your supply chain, they are not even close to keeping up?
In this episode, Graham Robins of Borderbuddy, my resident industry expert is back to debate this topic with me. We talk about the consequences of moving faster then your chain, we share some possible solutions and wonder if collaboration could be one of those answers and we share insights into what will happen to service providers if they don't get with the times and up their game.
Welcome back Lets Talk listeners!
The term "'Customer Experience" gets thrown out and tossed around on the daily these days but what does it really mean to your business?
Its all about the perception a customer has of your brand. You may think you are on point and have it handled but if the customer gets a broken product, delivery doesnt meet their expectations or they have one bad customer service experience you may lose them forever or worse yet they complain on social or to their friends.
With Customer experience, there is a fine line between the cost to ship vs the cost to serve the customer. In this episode, Jonathan Briggs, Director of e-commerce fulfillment at DHL explains to us why we need to find the balance and quickly. Jonathan will take us into the depths of customer experience, challenges most online retailers are facing, the value of speed, where you should invest your time and money, the future of deliveries and how your company can increase delivery times and stay reliable.
Welcome back Lets Talk listeners!
The Port of Long Beach is the premier U.S. gateway for trans-Pacific trade and a trailblazer in innovative goods movement, safety, environmental stewardship and sustainability. As the second-busiest container seaport in the United States, the Port handles trade valued at more than $194 billion annually and supports 2.6 million trade-related jobs across the nation, more than 575,000 in Southern California.
Known as the Gateway to North America, the west coast ports provide a pivotal role in global trade for North America and the Port of Long Beach is playing a huge role in future proofing their port to keep up with increasing demand.
In this episode find out how much they are investing, where they are investing, what they are doing in sustainability, how they are working to collaborate with more with carriers and BCO's, plus gain insights into their innovation strategy and what they are doing to increase transparency, efficiencies, visibility and reliability. Dont miss my conversation with Dr Noel Hacegaba as he takes us on a journey of the port's mission and vision of the future.
Welcome back Lets Talk listeners!
In this Women in Supply Chain episode we are going Global, to South Africa to be exact. A land where not only Supply Chain is male dominated but the culture is too and Nozuko Mayeka has brought hope, inspiration and guidance to other women in supply chain in her community.
It took courage and blind faith for Nozuko to start her company, Tulsawiz Logistics in challenging times, but now she is being recognized for the impact and fresh perspective she is bringing to the industry
Join me in this episode as I interview Nozuko Mayeka, trailblazer, entrepreneur, mother, thought leader, logistics expert, advocate for women in business, women in supply chain and overall someone who inspires. In part 16, Nozuko speaks to me about the industry in South Africa, adversity she overcomes daily, how she supports women in the industry, how we can support each other globally, advice and how things have changed to the point where industry leaders are coming to her for advice.
Welcome Back Lets Talk Listeners!
Collaboration is the process of two or more people or organizations working together to complete a task or achieve a goal. Collaboration is similar to cooperation. Most collaboration requires leadership, although the form of leadership can be social within a decentralized and egalitarian group.
With the dominance of e-commerce and the competitive marketing landscape to capture views and dollars, every edge counts. consumer demands change daily and the customer experience means the difference between success and failure for all retail companies today. What will give you the edge?
Join me in this episode as Warren Richmond, CEO of Olivan SCM tells us why it is so important for our marketing and supply teams work more closely together, what end to end efficiency means for customer experience, 3 ways your teams can start collaborating today and who Olivan SCM is and their vision of the future.
Welcome back Lets Talk Listeners!
Digital economy refers to an economy that is based on digital computing technologies, although we increasingly perceive this as conducting business through markets based on the internet and the World Wide Web.
So what does the digital economy really mean for your business and your supply chain? I think for most us we are still trying to figure out that sweet spot between technology and success. Lets face it there a number of providers claiming they can help you with this, but today SAP who is a large innovator in supply chain is here to tell you why you should consider them in your strategy.
Join me in this episode as Richard Howells from SAP tells us who SAP really is, what the digital economy actually means and why you should pay attention, How all shapes and sizes of companies can work with SAP and how you can make the most out of your strategy by working with SAP.
Welcome back Lets Talk Listeners!
One U.S. study found that lost productivity from presenteeism was at least 7.5 times greater than productivity loss from absenteeism. Presenteeism occurs when employees are physically present, but due to an unaddressed physical or emotional issue, distracted to the point of reduced productivity.
For Graham Robins, this is only one of the many important reasons why mental health is a focus for him and his organization. Being healthy is not just about your physical well being but about your mental health as well, and most employers are now recognizing that this is not just the responsibility of the individual but up to the organization and their employees to be more supportive so we can all live healthier.
Join me in this episode as Graham of Borderbuddy returns to tell us why mental health is important to both employee and employer, th top 3-4 things companies can implement to get started on awareness, what a mental health day looks like, how time management can help manage stress, how to use technology and social platforms to reduce stress and what supply chain professionals and business leaders can start doing today to make a difference.