Martin Lew talks about Commtrex and what they do; the challenges and opportunities in rail; empowering shippers through choice and connectivity; and why transloading is the future of the industry.
[06.00] Martin’s background and his vision for Commtrex.
[08.34] Why businesses move freight by rail and the key opportunities within this mode.
[11.18] The evolution of Commtrex; the major shift happening in the workforce; how these generational changes impact rail; and the importance of technology in bridging the gap.
[17.24] The ideal client for Commtrex.
[22.18] How Commtrex helps their clients to move into new markets and diversify, saving one brand 18-22% across each lane and giving leverage to shippers struggling with carrier service levels.
[29.22] What onboarding and integration look like with Commtrex, and the infrastructure fundamentals to consider when using rail.
[35.08] A closer look at Commtrex’s consulting services.
[38.35] Sustainability and the positive impact of rail.
[41.24] The future for Commtrex.
Rik Walters tells us all about GoFreight; visibility, and its impact on margins; creating memorable customer experiences; and leveling the playing field for SMBs
[07.34] An overview of GoFreight – who they are, what they do, and how they help their customers.
[09.05] The ideal client for GoFreight.
[10.43] How GoFreight was founded with small and medium-sized businesses in mind, and why it’s so important to empower smaller brands to make it easier to start, run and grow businesses.
[14.47] A closer look at GoFreight’s freight forwarding management software, and the key customer benefits.
[19.03] GoFreight’s container tracking system, the visibility it brings for its customers and customers’ customers, and the impact of that visibility at a business level.
[22.52] The impact of demurrage, detention, and per diem fines on squeezed margins, and how GoFreight can help reduce fines and maximize this area of opportunity.
[24.57] Why GoFreight values ‘customer obsession’ and ‘customer trust’, why focusing on customer experience is so important, and what success can look like when businesses have a genuinely customer-centric approach.
[27.42] What freight forwarders should be thinking about and the strategies should they be adopting, to bolster their supply chain management, as we enter the second half of 2023.
[29.13] What onboarding and integration look like with GoFreight.
[32.12] A case study showing how GoFreight helped a key client to move away from a system that wasn’t working, helping them save time and money, and improve efficiency.
[34.59] The future for GoFreight.
The panel discusses what seniority means to them; how it differs from leadership; the importance of job titles; & their experiences of good and bad leadership.
Bill Catania talks about OneRail; the challenges & opportunities around capacity; & why he believes that technology can’t change all outcomes, but people can[06.16] Bill’s entrepreneurial journey and the shopping experience that led him to establish OneRail.
[08.30] The concept behind the name ‘OneRail,’ and the expertise and fresh perspectives being injected into supply chain by people coming in from other industries - just like Bill.
[11.18] The ideal client for OneRail.
[13.54] The key challenges OneRail customers are facing, and how OneRail develops solutions to tackle them.
[15.13] A closer look at OneRail’s integrated network and its benefits.
[16.04] The challenges and #opportunities around capacity; building partnerships that meet a need; and how OneRail operates as a true extension of its customers.
[22.18] What visibility means to OneRail; the importance of creating the best customer experiences; and how OneRail is helping clients to evolve their fulfillment infrastructures to provide an Amazon-level experience.
[23.58] OneRail’s approach to exception management, and the benefit to be found in empowering people with #technology.
[25.21] A case study showing how OneRail helped a key customer that was struggling to offer expedited delivery across their network. Within one year, OneRail got them live with a 98% on-time rate, in all 120 warehouses, and with a 20% reduction in transportation costs.
[28.18] What onboarding and #integration look like with OneRail.
[30.45] The future for OneRail.
Brian Bourke talks about how the pandemic changed last mile delivery – the challenges; opportunities; & how SEKO is enhancing customer experience
[06.49] An introduction to Brian and SEKO.
[08.20] How the pandemic impacted supply chain, boosted #e-commerce, and changed #last-mile delivery forever.
[10.32] The importance of real-time feedback, like reviews and star ratings; and how that customer experience data is pulling supply chain teams together with other business areas, such as marketing and finance, to enhance collaboration and improve strategy.
[12.56] A closer look at the emerging market trends for 2023, and the reverse bullwhip effect the industry is experiencing as it settles, post-pandemic.
[16.53] From diversifying sourcing to improved #collaboration, what companies can do to prepare themselves for the unexpected.
[21.02] The power of #partnership; why it can bring benefits across multiple business areas other than just supply chain; and what it’s like to partner with SEKO.
[26.18] The importance of offering different delivery options, and using that data to test and experiment.
[30.02] Why the word ‘visibility’ is over-used, and what it means for last-mile delivery.
[34.51] The future for SEKO.
Seretha Willingham talks about her career; swapping the corporate world for entrepreneurship; scaling a business during a pandemic; & the secret to her success
[06.49] An introduction to Brian and SEKO.
[08.20] How the pandemic impacted supply chain, boosted #e-commerce, and changed #last-mile delivery forever.
[10.32] The importance of real-time feedback, like reviews and star ratings; and how that customer experience data is pulling supply chain teams together with other business areas, such as marketing and finance, to enhance collaboration and improve strategy.
[12.56] A closer look at the emerging market trends for 2023, and the reverse bullwhip effect the industry is experiencing as it settles, post-pandemic.
[16.53] From diversifying sourcing to improved #collaboration, what companies can do to prepare themselves for the unexpected.
[21.02] The power of #partnership; why it can bring benefits across multiple business areas other than just supply chain; and what it’s like to partner with SEKO.
[26.18] The importance of offering different delivery options, and using that data to test and experiment.
[30.02] Why the word ‘visibility’ is over-used, and what it means for last-mile delivery.
[34.51] The future for SEKO.
Richard White talks about WiseTech; his entrepreneurial journey; visibility; growth through acquisition; and his vision for the industry
[07.23] An introduction to WiseTech and its vision for the industry.
[09.10] The ideal customer for WiseTech, and why scale breeds success.
[10.57] An overview of Richard’s entrepreneurial journey, how he founded WiseTech, and why he decided that this brand would be his “forever job.”
[14.11] How Richard created WiseTech’s credo, and why workplace culture is so important.
[18.18] How the pandemic changed the industry, why WiseTech were so quick to adapt, and how they are helping customers to navigate the current challenges of the ‘new normal.’
[23.07] A closer look at CargoWise, and the many and varied ways it is helping customers.
[26.43] How CargoWise helped DHL to reduce their Information Systems costs by around 200 million euros per year, and DSV to dramatically grow their company through quick and successful mergers and acquisitions.
[31.03] Why the CargoWise Partner Program was developed, and the benefits of industry collaboration.
[34.34] The complexity of visibility – why it means different things to different people, and why visibility might not be as valuable as you think.
[39.46] WiseTech's tactical acquisition strategy, why that approach is key to building a global business, and the recent acquisitions of Envase and Blume.
[47.00] The future for WiseTech.
The panel discusses emotional recovery; share their experiences & words of advice; and reflects on how we can open up conversations to better support others.
Sharon Manker talks about her career; finding community through education; advocating for change unapologetically; and successful supplier diversity programs
[07.29] Sharon’s childhood career ambition, and how she inherited her impressive drive and passion from her mother.
[08.59] Sharon’s ongoing learning journey, the importance of education, and how it led her to supply chain.
[15.10] Sharon’s role as Director of Supplier Diversity at Radian, and her plans to bring data-driven, innovative initiatives to the industry.
[15.56] The current challenges within supplier diversity, and the importance of advocates in bridging the gap to bring large corporates and small diverse businesses together.
[22.41] How Sharon became a contributing author to Drexel University Black Alumni Council’s unique book "A Legacy to Share," and a sneak peek at her upcoming book.
[25.10] Sharon discusses Juneteenth – what it is, why it’s so important, and what she’s doing to mark the occasion this year.
[30.36] Why Sharon is so passionate about pursuing roles on boards and committees and championing women and under-represented voices.
[34.04] Sharon’s experience as a woman across her 20 years in supply chain, how important other women have been to her career, and how the landscape of the industry is changing.
[35.53] The difference between mentors and sponsors, and the many and varied mentors that continue to play an important role in Sharon’s career development.
[39.04] Sharon’s advice for companies looking to better support women and diverse voices in the industry.
[40.30] The future for Sharon.
Jonas Krumland chats about Logward; improving relationships through integration; and the importance of changing mindsets, as well as building great software
[07.24] Jonas's background, and why he founded Logward in 2018.
[09.56] What has, and hasn’t, changed in the last five years, and a look at today’s key challenges and trends.
[12.03] An overview of Logward – what they do, how they help their customers, and their approach to technology integration and onboarding.
[18.22] The ideal customer for Logward.
[22.23] A closer look at Logward’s Sourcing Solutions - what they do, the key features, and benefits.
[25.17] From #capacity to forecasting, how Logward’s Procurement Solutions are addressing some of the industry’s trending concerns.
[31.33] An overview of Logward’s Transport Solutions, and the visibility it provides.
[33.59] How Logward works with customers to understand their unique needs and develop strategic, customized control towers.
[37.28] How the lack of transformational resources across many businesses is impacting change and #digitization across the industry; and why it is so important to change mindsets as well as build great software.
[41.10] What does and doesn’t work when it comes to digitizing supply chains in the real world.
[44.17] The future for Logward.
Juliette Samson talks will about her career; hyper-collaboration; how tech is changing; and helping to raise the influence of women on boards
[07.53] Juliette’s background; her education and early years; and where she found her incredible drive at such a young age.
[10.36] Juliette’s long career at AT&T; her experiences; and her approach to embracing #opportunity.
[13.31] An overview of Juliette’s career highlights, as she explored new markets and moved from Fortune 50’s to smaller companies; her biggest achievements; and what she’s most proud of.
[20.47] Why Juliette took a chance on supply chain, despite a lack of experience, and her words advice of advice for other young people.
[24.01] Juliette’s role as CIO of Genpro Inc; her perspective on how technology is changing; and why tech is an enabler to work smarter, not harder.
[26.47] Juliette’s position at Targatek; how it’s leading the way in hyper-collaboration; and why that approach is increasingly important in business.
[30.20] Why Juliette is on the board of the National Kidney Foundation, and the importance of giving back to the #community.
[33.41] Juliette’s experience as a woman in a male-dominated industry; her advice; and why she wants to help all young people do the right thing.
[36.28] A look at Extraordinary Women on Boards (EWOB), and what they’re doing to help increase the presence and influence of women on boards.
[39.49] From putting yourself out there to embracing change, Juliette’s advice for girls and women looking to follow in her footsteps.
[44.19] The future for Juliette.
Patrick Lo talks about Trakking; bringing predictability to container management; & the importance of working together to remove waste from supply chains
[07.40] Patrick’s background, and how a long career in #logistics led him to establish Trakking.
[08.51] The current landscape of the industry, and the challenges and bottlenecks that Patrick sees as we head towards the second half of 2023.
[11.34] An overview of Trakking – what they do, how they help their customers, and a look at their three core solutions.
[15.10] The ideal client for Trakking.
[17.03] How Trakking’s ‘Empty Container Release’ product is drastically reducing dead runs and improving #efficiency for clients.
[19.47] From quicker turnarounds to decreased carbon emissions, the benefits of Trakking’s ‘Street Turn’ solution.
[20.50] A closer look at the benefits of Trakking’s ‘Empty Container Return’ product.
[26.15] The impact that Trakking’s services will have on the industry, and how solutions like theirs can solve key challenges and start to reshape the face of the industry.
[29.15] How Trakking is helping to reduce carbon emissions, and how organizations can leverage Trakking #technology to meet their own ESG goals.
[31.40] What onboarding and #integration looks like with Trakking.
[34.38] Patrick and Sarah discuss whether self-driving trucks or even containers, are the future of transportation.
[36.56] The future for Trakking, and the port community in Canada.
Last month, we shared one of my favorite recent episodes of Thoughts and Coffee with you - and we got such great feedback that we decided to do it again!
And in this episode, I’m joined by founder, CEO and author Steve Ferreira. Steve wants to bring vivaciousness to the shipping industry and he’s certainly doing that! Tune in for his take on why students are flocking to supply chain; why FMC offers false hope to shippers; and the big question on everyone’s lips: exactly what is happening in the ocean market?!
There is so much to get your teeth into in this episode so grab a cup of coffee, and enjoy!
[07.00] From the latest episode of Women In Supply Chain to an introduction to the brand new private network, The Secret Society of Supply Chain, an update on the latest at Let’s Talk Supply Chain.
[09.37] An introduction to Steve Ferreira; his vivacious approach to social media; and his business, Ocean Audit.
“My claim to fame is helping importers and exporters recover lost costs from the container get-in period… it only takes 50 containers to produce a $100,000 dollar refund.”
[12.31] Sarah shares the responses to her question of the week: “What characteristics or skills do you admire in a leader?”, and Steve reflects on the importance of a mindset shift towards empathy in the workplace.
[14.30] Steve gives us an update on the ocean market, sharing insights on rates, carrier strategies, and why more deals are getting done.
[16.50] The concept behind the video that won Steve the very first pair of limited edition Let’s Talk Supply Chain custom Air Force Ones in our five-year anniversary contest; and what’s coming up for Steve and his own industry brand.
“I’m a free spirit in the industry.. so I created ocean freight TV… and it’s geared towards bringing some excitement and enthusiasm into the ocean industry!”
[20.53] Sarah and Steve discuss why students are flocking to supply chain; and Steve shares his thoughts on the so-called industry talent shortage, the lack of mentors across the industry, and his words of advice for the next generation.
“Our lives are so different… we never experience the same thing. The cadence, the pace and the opportunities in the supply chain are one of the top areas of opportunity, and that’s why we have so many young people flocking to the industry.”
[26.38] Steve discusses his recent article: Why FMC Offers False Hope To Shippers.
“The problem is that the FMC is not an auditing agency. They’re looking for violations… where they can penalize an ocean vendor. They weren’t set up to repatriate money back to clients.”
[33.06] Sarah and Steve discuss a recent Freight Waves article suggesting that, despite the current turbulent market, the container shipping industry is not behaving like an industry facing an imminent crisis.
You can find out more about Ocean Audit over on their website, or you can connect with Steve on LinkedIn.
If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more from ‘the best 30 minutes on a Tuesday, check out Thought’s and Coffee – where the best industry players discuss breaking supply chain news over a good old cup of Joe!
Check out our other podcasts HERE.
Welcome back to Blended! It’s episode 32, I’m joined by a brand new panel of fantastic professionals and, today, we’re talking about introverts vs extroverts.
Most of us, in our lives and careers, have considered what personality type we are. You might be a self-identifying Type A personality (which I know one or two of my guests today are!) In many workplaces you might even have undergone a personality test, so leadership can get a greater idea of individuals strengths and weaknesses.
And one factor that’s at the core of many personality assessments is whether you are introverted or extroverted. But the introverts vs extroverts question is pretty complex – it’s about way more than if you’re quiet or chatty. And since understanding introversion and extroversion can help you understand yourself and others better, we thought it was a really interesting topic to discuss here on Blended.
So today, our guests will be diving into what these words actually mean and the qualities we associate with them; sharing their own experiences; reflecting on why society values extroversion so highly; and sharing their words of advice for how organizations can better support all personality types in the workplace.
[01.09] Introductions to our Blended panellists.
[03.48] The group discuss the definitions of introvert and extrovert, and reflect on what the words mean to them.
“I’m an introvert… but I’m a public speaker and I love it! But there’s a difference, because it’s a situation that I control… and it’s one-directional.” Elouise
[16.05] The panel talk about labels, and whether there is still value in personality testing in the workplace.
“Education around how different people communicate in different ways is important. We make assumptions about people based upon how we communicate, our world vision, and we may be inaccurately assessing someone’s confidence, competence or leadership skills because they’re communicating in a different way and we’re interpreting that incorrectly.” Cathy
[38.21] The group share their personal experiences of introversion and extroversion, and how those experiences have impacted them professionally and personally.
[50.57] The panel reflect on why society values extroversion so highly, and the unseen value of introverts.
“It comes down to politics… he who speaks the loudest gets heard, and that’s encouraged.” Jennifer
[01.01.54] The group share advice for managing introverts and extroverts in the workplace, and being a better colleague.
[01.08.09] The panel sum-up their thoughts from today’s discussion.
“Whether you’re an introvert or an extrovert, find the person that you vibe with.” Jennifer
You can connect with Jennifer, Elouise and Cathy and over on LinkedIn.
If you enjoyed this episode, why not check out 247: Blended – The Difference Between Culture and Community: What Can We Learn? or 210: Blended – Don’t forget the ‘T’: Talking Trans.
Check out our other podcasts HERE.
Today I’m joined by Flexport, an exciting and innovative software brand that is on a mission to make global trade easy for everyone.
Flexport is building the platform for global logistics, empowering buyers, sellers and their logistics partners with the technology and services to grow and innovate. Companies of all sizes – from emerging brands to Fortune 500s – use Flexport technology to move more than $10B worth of merchandise across 112 countries every year.
Today Will Urban, Chief Revenue Officer at Flexport, joins me to chat all about the company and what they do; making sustainability a priority; the importance of providing visibility and control in a fragmented industry; and why global trade is a force for good.
Will Urban is Chief Revenue Officer at Flexport, where he’s responsible for driving go-to-market strategy and maximizing the value Flexport delivers to clients. Will is a 25+ year freight forwarding and logistics industry veteran; prior to Flexport, Will was the Regional Vice President of Northwest USA, Expeditors, one of the largest territories for the company. He oversaw all sales and operations, sponsored Fortune 500 global accounts and led an organization with nearly 1,000 full time employees under his leadership. Will is a licensed U.S. Customs Broker and holds an IATA/FIATA certificate.
[06.55] The current landscape, and challenges, of global trade; how Flexport are helping their customers to tackle those challenges; and their vision to create a seamless experience in a fragmented industry.
“The last 6 months… has shown two things: that our infrastructure in the US is over-taxed, and that visibility is not where it needs to be, when that system is taxed.”
[10.19] Flexport’s recent leadership changes; and what they mean for the company, and for the industry.
“Dave [Clark] is all about scale and using technology to enhance what we’re doing, so he’s making the bridge between traditional freight forwarder and digital supply chain company.”
[14.43] An overview of Flexport, what they do and how they help their customers; their mission to improve the supply chain industry; and what sets them apart.
“What’s really different is that we think about our competitors as our partners… we want to give our customers the very best experience, visibility and tools to help optimize their supply chain, end-to-end.”
[19.00] Flexport’s commitment to collaboration; and why harnessing the power of third-party partnerships is the way to better serve customers.
“It’s invisible to our clients, they don’t have to worry about looking at a different system, receiving different reporting or updates in a different manner – it’s that consistency that really drives the value.”
[23.04] Why Flexport.org was established; how it's making a difference with sustainability and humanitarian work; and why global trade is a force for good.
“We can be a very profitable business, and at the same time make a really great impact on the world.”
[25.50] Teresa Carlson’s appointment as head of Flexport.org, and exactly how her role will increase its positive global impact.
[28.20] The importance of sustainability; what Flexport customers are doing, and asking for, when it comes to ESG goals; and how Flexport supports them.
[33.19] Flexport Capital: how it has helped to keep small and medium-sized businesses afloat; and the importance of offering a holistic suite of solutions, all under one roof.
[38.01] A case study detailing how Flexport helped a client analyze their supply chain to identify key areas to optimize, diversify and reduce cost.
[41.15] The future for Flexport.
“We’re doubling down on technology… to make the platform the most meaningful, easy to use customer-centric supply chain tool.”
Head over to Flexport’s website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Flexport and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, Twitter or Facebook, or you can connect with Will on LinkedIn.
If you enjoyed this episode, and want to hear more about the recent changes at Flexport, check out episode 320: Going Inside The Mind of Anthony Miller.
Check out our other podcasts HERE.
Today I’m joined by Esker, a long-standing software brand that is on a mission to build a foundation that promotes positive-sum growth, increased productivity, improved employee engagement, and greater trust between organizations.
Esker is a global cloud platform built to unlock strategic value for finance and customer service professionals and strengthen collaboration between companies by automating the cash conversion cycle. By developing AI-driven technologies and automating the order-to-cash and procure-to-pay cycles, Esker frees up finance and customer service professionals from time-consuming tasks, helps them be more efficient, and enables them to develop new skills.
Today Daniel Reeve, US Director of Sales and Business Development at Esker, joins me to chat all about the company and what they do; the power of positive-sum growth; bringing people and technology together in harmony; and why not all cloud platforms are created equal.
[07.02] An introduction to Esker – who they are, what they do and how they help their customers.
“Folks are turning to us when they’re trying to free up their staff to be rockstars!”
[08.17] Esker’s mission, what sets them apart from the competition and why they’re ‘more than just another cloud platform.’
“We’ve often been seen as best-of-breed… but, increasingly, companies are realizing “wow, you guys are best of suite”… Companies are looking to put technology in place that leverages and enhances their ERP and improves the experience for the customers, suppliers and staff.”
[10.47] Esker’s commitment to ‘positive-sum growth,’ and what that means for brands, their employees, customers, suppliers – and for the planet.
“The concept is 'how do I put technology in, that brings efficiency and automation within my enterprise, without making it painful for my customers and suppliers?'”
[15.14] Why digital transformation projects are often unsuccessful, and Esker’s refreshing approach to providing close and ongoing customer support and training.
“Technology promises great outcomes, great efficiencies, great savings, great visibility – but there’s work involved to make that happen.”
[16.53] A closer look at Esker’s Procure-To-Pay solution, named in the 2022 Gartner Magic Quadrant report for P2P suites.
[19.29] Esker’s Order-to-Cash solution, and how their technology facilitates collaboration and optimization to bring people and processes together and enhance customer experience.
[26.54] What integration looks like with Esker.
[29.24] Why Esker’s range of technology includes robotic process automation, AI and mobile functionality, but also supports traditional tech like fax and Excel; and the importance of finding the balance between helping to drive innovation and digitization in the industry, and meeting customers where they are.
“Quite often, when you put technology in, there’s a dip… I don’t think people are resistant to technology just because they’re resistant. A lot of the time, they’re so busy and everything is so pressured… you need to hold their hand and guide them and make it super easy for them to adapt that technology.”
[31.36] The ideal client for Esker.
“If folks care about a user experience and a workflow that's easy... they will often choose Esker over others.”
[36.04] A case study detailing how Esker’s technology helped a key client to reduce order entry time from 10 minutes to 10 seconds, which allowed them to free up their people to better serve customers and ultimately achieve high levels of growth.
[39.04] The future for Esker.
Dan Reeve is a Sales Director, approaching 22 years with Esker. Dan works to help companies free up front-line troops to be finance and customer service rockstars through the application of machine learning and AI.
Dan was fortunate to serve 10 years as a Combat Engineer in the British Army, then was attached to the Wisconsin Army National Guard. He traveled the world, served alongside Americans and many others, and learned everyone has a good idea, every Army unit thinks they are better, and what can you learn and apply so that you are indeed better prepared and more professional next time.
Head over to Esker’s website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Esker and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook or YouTube, or you can connect with Dan on LinkedIn.
If you enjoyed this episode, why not listen to 257: Creating Supply Chain Stability with Dual Sourcing and S&OP or read The Three Biggest Challenges For Procurement – And What To Do About Them.
Check out our other podcasts HERE.
In today’s episode of Women In Supply Chain™, I’m joined by Liz Decker, a truly passionate and dynamic leader at one of Inc’s Best Workplaces in America.
Liz has a decade of broad experience across supply chain, having honed her expertise in all modes of logistics, covering international import/export, domestic truckload, drayage, customs brokerage, LTL, and air freight. From leading continuous improvement projects for Fortune 500 companies to leading SMB entrepreneurs through their first-ever international shipment, Liz is as versatile as she is dedicated. And she’s currently bringing her expertise and passion to her role as Director of Client Success at NorthPoint Logistics.
Today Liz will be talking to us about her career so far; her passion for social causes; the importance of putting a focus on client success; and why she’s proud to say that she’s a jack-of-all-trades when it comes to supply chain. Plus, she’ll be sharing her experiences as a woman in supply chain, as well as her words of advice for all of the women following in her footsteps.
Women fuel the success of some of the world’s most successful businesses, yet barriers still exist. SAP is committed to supporting and elevating a new generation of women to profoundly lead and impact global supply chains and are proud to support the Women in Supply Chain™ Series and its efforts.
Supply chains need to evolve from low-cost and optimized to risk-resilient and sustainable and SAP can help.
SAP Digital Supply Chain solutions connect the entire process — design, planning, manufacturing, logistics, maintenance, and service; connecting your supply chains to the rest of your business and all your contextual data; supporting your efforts in alleviating risk in your supply chains.
SAP is the market leader in enterprise application software and for the last 50 years has been helping companies to run better. Find out more at sap.com/scm
[06.45] Liz’s early years: how her first job exposed her to a variety of different people and taught her to be adaptable, and how networking opened the door to supply chain.
“I’m a Mid-West girl – I’m the youngest of three, so I learned quickly that I needed to advocate for myself!”
[09.08] How the pandemic threw Liz into the deep end of supply chain; the highs and lows; and what she learned along the way.
“In 2022, I was having conversations with clients that were ‘I don’t care what it takes. I need my product, and I need it now.’… so it forced me to be creative, and learn the different aspects of our business.”
[14.43] Liz’s current role as Director of Client Success at NorthPoint Logistics; her experience of building a team from the ground up; and why she loves building relationships.
“There’s no playbook of what client success looks like in the logistics industry – an industry that has traditionally been transactional.”
[17.58] The biggest challenges that Liz's client success team face, and the importance of tackling obstacles with strategic thinking.
“My team's role is to advise. Here’s what we’re seeing, here’s what we’re hearing, here’s some data we can provide.”
[23.24] Liz’s thoughts on the cyclical nature of supply chain trends, and what the next few years might bring for the industry.
“It’s a people industry. As technology gets better, and as people adopt technology (because we are lagging), our scope will change… but no matter how much technology we have, someone has to be there.”
[26.22] The importance of good workplace culture, and what Liz has learned working at NorthPoint Logistics - one of Inc’s Best Workplaces in America.
“Culture isn’t something that you just check a box and it’s there. You have to make a conscious effort every single day… but it’s so easy for culture to slip away. Being vulnerable and transparent has been so important for me.”
[30.13] Liz’s passion for volunteering and charity work, and why more organizations should be supporting social causes and local communities.
“We talk about advocating for ourselves as women… and here’s my chance to advocate for someone who maybe can’t for themselves, or has some obstacles that I don’t have.”
[34.20] Why people are Liz’s passion and daily inspiration.
[35.08] Liz’s experience as a woman in supply chain; the power of social media; and her words of advice for women in the industry.
“I never had a mentor, but social media is a great thing.”
[39.30] The future for Liz.
You can connect with Liz over on LinkedIn.
If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more from women who are passionate about client success, check out 305: Driving Your Parcel Performance: Check Engine Light, featuring Elle Brown, Senior Client Success Manager at Sifted, or 255: Women In Supply Chain, featuring Mardi Tegmeyer, Customer Success Manager at Emerge.
Check out our other podcasts HERE.
Today I’m shaking things up and sharing one of my favorite recent episodes of Thoughts and Coffee. In this episode, I’m joined by exciting industry writer and former Managing Editor of Payload Space, Ryan Duffy, to talk space logistics. Ryan is passionate about bringing us the scoop on the future of logistics, from emerging tech to the final frontier, and I loved finding out more.
So if you’ve ever wondered about the incredible world of space logistics, then this is the episode for you. We talked all about NASA's plans to start the first Gateway logistics mission later this year; we reflected on the stats that show the market is already expected to generate nearly $20 billion by 2040; and we explored the possible impact on GEO shipping due to the loss of Antonov planes.
You need to stay updated on the rapidly evolving space logistics sector, so – get ready to launch!
[07.12] An introduction to Ryan Duffy and leading publication Payload Space, and an overview of space logistics.
“Behind the scenes there’s a lot of logistics, manufacturing, testing, integrating… there’s a lot more than meets the eye when you see a shiny rocket launch!”
[10.15] Sarah shares the responses to her question of the week, “what is the best supply chain management software,” and Ryan reflects on the software that’s essential to space logistics right now.
“Surprisingly, with space there’s groundbreaking technology in science, but for a lot of missions it’s still managed in a very analogue fashion, with pen and paper or Excel!”
[13.03] Ryan explains GEO satellites and discusses a recent news article that details how a loss of Antonov planes may impact GEO shipping.
[19.09] Sarah and Ryan discuss the news that NASA plans to start work on the first Gateway logistics mission this year.
“The space industry loves to make logistical analogies – they’re called orbital transfer vehicles… but it’s tough to beat space trash truck!”
[24.42] Ryan answers an audience question: “What innovative solutions are in space logistics right now?” and explains the current opportunities within the industry.
[26.31] Ryan and Sarah discuss the research that indicates the space logistics market will generate $19.8 billion by 2040, and Ryan explains last-mile space logistics.
[28.38] An update on what’s coming up on Let’s Talk Supply Chain.
You can find out more about Payload Space over on their website, or you can connect with Ryan on LinkedIn.
If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more from ‘the best 30 minutes on a Tuesday,' check out Thoughts and Coffee – where the best industry players discuss breaking supply chain news over a good old cup of Joe!
Check out our other podcasts HERE.
Welcome back to Blended! It’s episode 31, I’m joined by a brand new panel of inspirational professionals and, today, we’re talking about education and bias.
It’s a topic that’s close to my heart, with my own educational and career journey. And, it’s a topic that has increasingly come under the spotlight recently in light of the labor shortages and trending workplace changes we’ve seen industry-wide. So now is the perfect time to really explore what’s going wrong, or right, with the way we think about education in the workplace.
Today, our guests will be diving into education and sharing their own experiences; exploring the hiring practices that often continue to support bias; reflecting on what the next generation are doing and thinking about when it comes to education and their careers; and sharing their words of advice for how organizations can tackle education bias and create more diverse workplaces.
[00.44] Introductions to our Blended panellists.
“Education bias is somebody being treated differently, or unfavorably, based on their educational background, where they went to school and what level of education they have.” Rose
[02.32] The group give an overview of education bias, and what it means to them.
“It was instilled in me from the second I was born: education, education, education… When I finished my degree, I felt that if I wanted to make more money, if I wanted to really excel in the corporate world, I had to have an MBA. And it took me a long time to think deeper about why I felt that way, and if I really needed it to be successful. ” Rose
[05.09] The panel share their personal experiences, their level of education and how important it has been to their professional career.
“Companies say ‘we want to retain more employees, what can we do?’ Well, help develop them! Develop them, make them want to stay with you. Sometimes simple questions have simple answers, we just have to take the time.” Jennifer
[23.14] The group discuss education bias within industry, and the age-old debate of experience vs education.
“To be on a tenure track, you typically have to have a PhD. And then once you get into your field, then it becomes rank – are you an assistant professor, associate professor or professor – so you still have a PhD, but rank becomes an issue.” Stella
“It’s hard to acknowledge and recognize your ego… but if we build more self-awareness, we can start to realise when our ego is leading things in the wrong direction, and the more we address that, we would see less bias.” Rose
[38.57] The panel reflect on what they’re seeing in the market around education bias and hiring practices.
“I think we put too much emphasis on education and not experience, but there is a catch 22. Because the requirement for an entry level job is 5 years – that doesn’t make sense!” Jennifer
[54.13] The group put the spotlight on the next generation, and what they’re thinking about when it comes to education and ongoing learning.
[1.04.57] The panel sums up their thoughts from today’s discussion.
You can connect with Rose, Jennifer and Stella over on LinkedIn.
If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more, why not check out 328: Blended – Breaking the Class Ceiling, or 265: Blended – DEI in the Workplace – Not Just The Smart Thing To Do, But The Right Thing To Do.
Check out our other podcasts HERE.
Today I’m joined by GateHouse Maritime, a market-leading ocean tech brand that is using its expertise and deep industry knowledge to make ocean visibility simple.
GateHouse Maritime delivers next-generation data insights for end-to-end ocean visibility. Founded in 1992, they help global supply chains, offshore industries, maritime providers and surveillance companies gain easy access to ocean data insights for resilient operations, value to end-customers and efficient, safe navigation for a profitable business.
Today Morten Bols, Market Development Director at GateHouse Maritime, joins me to chat all about the company; the power of good data; using technology to support sustainability; and their vision to optimize supply chains, and change the working lives of freight forwarders and visibility providers.
[06.53] An overview of the challenges for Gatehouse in the current climate, and for the maritime industry.
[08.04] An introduction to GateHouse Maritime – who they are, what they do and how they help their customers.
“We’ve been tracking vessels for more than 20 years, we have a lot of history and a lot of data.”
[08.44] How Gatehouse helps to keep freight moving and tackle disruption; how technology is rapidly changing, as organizations try to keep up; and Morten’s vision for optimizing supply chains and changing the lives of freight forwarders and visibility providers.
“What’s important is that you try to plan better! The industry hasn’t done that, and is still struggling to do it. The industry is struggling to work with technology and optimize the options they have available.”
[10.56] Gatehouse’s tracking product OceanIO, its benefits, and how clients use it.
“If you don’t have any tracking, you trust the carriers. And it’s not to say that all carriers are bad, but many are missing key components and key milestones to do this.”
[12.19] A closer look at Gatehouse’s port intelligence solution, why it’s so unique in the market, and the 20 years’ worth of data and detailed port surveillance that sits behind the product.
[15.24] The wide breadth of industries that can work with Gatehouse Maritime.
“There’s so many people to work with, and that’s so exciting!”
[16.20] Why Gatehouse doesn’t offer user platforms, and focus on what they’re good at – the data.
[17.26] The ideal client for Gatehouse Maritime.
[18.56] A closer look at onboarding and integration with Gatehouse.
[20.18] Why sustainability is a key pillar at Gatehouse, and how they’re helping the industry meet key ESG goals.
[21.34] Why Morten enjoys surprising industry brands with Gatehouse’s robust solutions.
[23.53] The future for Gatehouse Maritime.
Head over to Gatehouse Maritime’s website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Gatehouse Maritime and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook or Vimeo, or you can connect with Morten on LinkedIn.
If you enjoyed this episode, and want to hear from some amazing women in the maritime industry, why not read Lauren Beagen on Protecting and Empowering Women in the Maritime Industry, or listen to episode 185: Chart a Course for Shipping Success, where Alison Cusack chats all about her business Cusack and Co, her career as a lawyer in the maritime industry, the importance of empowering shippers, and of driving better business.
This episode was filmed at Manifest 2023. If you enjoyed it, and want to explore some of the other great content filmed at the event, why not check out episodes:
Check out our other podcasts HERE.
Today I’m joined by Renewal Logistics, a high-volume, high-throughput, collaborative and sustainability-focused woman-owned logistics company.
Renewal Logistics are an e-commerce fulfillment and third party logistics company with a specialty in apparel and consumer goods, partnering with eco-friendly brands that have outgrown in-house fulfillment and require flexible and scalable, on-demand solutions.
Today Courtney Folk, CEO and co-founder of Renewal Logistics, joins me to chat all about the company; how fulfillment and logistics are changing; creating exceptional brand experiences; and how they are leading the circular movement, through processing returns from your favorite national retailers.
[08.01] Courtney’s background, how her husband’s family dry cleaning business led her to co-found Renewal logistics and an overview of the company’s growth.
“As women… you have to be careful not to turn down opportunities, and not turn down people that are willing to help.”
[16.12] How the landscape of e-commerce, fulfillment, logistics and sustainability has changed, and the current industry challenges.
“The thing that’s different now is returns. Returns is what most e-commerce brands are struggling with. If you don’t have a solid sustainability and reverse logistics program in place, you end up ditching a lot of product, and not receiving the value out of it.”
[18.55] A closer look at Renewal’s services, and how they’re helping customers tackle key industry challenges.
“A lot of companies just never really think about how much agility they could have in the marketplace, if they had a really good option when it comes to that repackaging piece.”
[24.30] The ideal client for Renewal Logistics.
[27.40] How Renewal manages the popular trend of subscription boxes.
[31.34] The importance of building circular supply chains, and how a focus on returns and sustainability can give businesses a competitive advantage.
“It’s amazing how much money companies are leaving on the table!”
[41.43] The future for Renewal Logistics.
Head over to Renewal Logistics website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Renewal Logistics and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube or Instagram, or you can connect with Courtney on LinkedIn.
If you enjoyed this episode, and want to hear more from Courtney, check out 328: Blended – Breaking the Class Ceiling, where Courtney joins a panel of industry leaders to discuss the sometimes controversial subject of classism.
And if you're interested in hearing more about the fashion and apparel industries, why not listen to 223: Women in Supply Chain, Tara St James, featuring Tara St James: fashion designer, sustainable design strategist and responsible supply chain consultant, or 239: Women in Supply Chain, Joanna MacDonald, featuring entrepreneur, fashion designer, communications and training specialist and philanthropist, Joanna MacDonald.
Check out our other podcasts HERE.
In today’s episode of Women In Supply Chain, I’m joined by the multi-talented Sylena Urbanoski: veteran, business founder, supply chain leader and start-up advisor.
Sylena Urbanoski is a strategic and dynamic operations leader with over seven years’ experience at the chief executive level, where she built profitable start-up divisions, grew business lines, managed deals, and streamlined operations. A veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces, Sylena also co-founded a company that sold at 10 times valuation within 24 month to Flexport.
Today Sylena will be talking to us about her career so far; her entrepreneurial success; her long-time business partnership; and why she’s so passionate about scaling start-ups. Plus, she’ll be sharing her experiences as a woman in supply chain, as well as her words of advice for all of the women following in her footsteps.
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[10.16] Sylena’s career journey and how a road trip with a friend led to a life-changing business and lifelong partnership.
“We went on a road trip and by the end of the trip we had the whole business plan sorted, and a vision about what we wanted to build. We found some investment backing, and jumped into it!”
[13.26] The vision behind Sylena’s first business, and its successful sale to Flexport.
“Customs in Canada are so far behind, and we went through the journey of what would it take to start digitizing and creating an environment where we could re-employ amazing women who weren’t staying in the industry, because it didn’t support their family and work/life balance.”
[17.46] Sylena’s experience working with Flexport, the next steps in her career journey, and her long-time business partnership with Cindy Christensen.
“I love building start-ups, I’m passionate about scaling them.”
[19.59] How and why supply chain has changed for women in the last decade, and the work that still needs to be done.
“Women in the supply chain industry spend so much of our careers fighting for any breath in the room… and it used to be that there were so few women in that room that it was so hard to partner up with other women because there was so little air to take.”
[22.26] From finance to the military to supply chain, Sylena’s experience across multiple male-dominated environments, and her experience of strong, supportive women.
“Every room I’ve ever been in as an adult has been male-dominated… it’s better now, but it’s nowhere near as good as it needs to be.”
[25.15] The industry areas that Sylena would like to see changed for women.
“The industry doesn’t create opportunities… there is no unifying place where continued education and promotion opportunities exist.”
“We spent so long finding any available space in that room, we really haven’t, as women in this industry, embraced the opportunity to step in and take the space we deserve.”
[30.40] What the future holds for Sylena.
“If you look at everybody else that’s trying to solve supply chain from a tech perspective, they’re all looking at it from a freight perspective. But the only one unifying factor about supply chain… is that every shipment touches a customs broker.”
[32.49] Sylena’s words of advice for leadership, and women in the industry.
“Find community first, and lean into it.”
[35.35] What excites Sylena the most about the future of supply chain, and her advice for jumping in.
[38.11] Sylena’s biggest top tip for women in supply chain.
You can connect with Sylena over on LinkedIn.
If you'd like to hear more from Sylena, check out episode 26 of Blended – Veterans Voices: Inspiring Stories from Those Who Serve. And if you want to hear even more veteran voices, listen to episode 14 of Blended – Veterans and Civil life: Winning the Battle of Workplace Discrimination.
Check out our other podcasts HERE.
Today I’m joined by Blume Global, a market-leading, sustainability-focused software brand that is removing a huge $1 trillion of waste from the global supply chain, and making logistics processes more agile, dependable, and sustainable with innovative execution and visibility solutions.
Blume Global is a technology provider committed to an ethical, purpose-driven supply chain ecosystem; and to creating a more sustainable environment through providing an open, neutral platform across all trading partners to drive asset optimization, predictive visibility and traceability.
Today Pervinder Johar, CEO at Blume Global, joins me to chat all about the company and what they do; why digitization is now a requirement, not a preference; putting sustainability at the heart of everything they do; and helping businesses to utilize the power of visibility to manage their biggest business impacts in real-time.
[07.24] Pervinder’s background, the entrepreneurial journey that led him to found Blume, and the importance of bringing innovation and inspiration from other industries together to solve complex problems.
“I’m a computer science graduate, and I wanted to only work on large, complex problems… I started making control systems for nuclear power plants!”
[10.51] An overview of Blume – what they do and how they help their customers.
“Supply chain is a highly distributed environment… how do you connect all of those dots, and then optimize it?”
[11.59] The impact of supply chain on the environment, why Blume puts sustainability at the heart of everything they do, and why businesses need to stop making decisions just based on time and cost and consider modes that are more environmentally friendly.
[18.28] How Blume orchestrates an intermodal supply chain, and works as a competitive advantage for its customers.
“It’s not about visibility alone… it’s about: how do you guarantee that all the stuff is going to show up at the same time?… So having a large number of options, and an understanding of what needs to expedited, and what needs to be slowed down is key. And slowing down is equally as important from an environmental perspective… Speed is bad for the environment!”
[21.52] A closer look at the Blume platform, and how it can help with risk management.
[24.48] Blume’s R&D arm, and the importance of fostering innovation in supply chain.
[27.19] The ideal client for Blume Global.
[28.56] Two case studies showing how Blume services were used to connect small businesses, with no tech infrastructure, to larger ones; and to help shippers ensure quality sourcing and collaboration.
[32.00] The future for Blume.
“We want the ecosystem to continue to evolve in an organic fashion – and that’s what Blume means... a blooming ecosystem.”
Head over to Blume Global’s website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Blume and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram or Twitter, or you can connect with Pervinder on LinkedIn or Twitter.
This episode was filmed at Manifest 2023. If you enjoyed it, and want to explore some of the other great content filmed at the event, why not check out episodes:
Check out our other podcasts HERE.
Today I’m joined by Orderful, a collaborative and forward-thinking software brand that are building the future of EDI. With a pre-connected network, they’re aiming to move the needle from months to trade down to minutes.
Orderful is a complete cloud EDI platform for manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and technology companies. With an API that enables companies to connect once and trade EDI data with their supply chain, Orderful customers are able to consolidate their EDI software integration complexity and quickly enable trading partners as self-service to reduce costs.
Today Erik Kiser, CEO and founder of Orderful, joins me to chat all about the company; the challenges involved with traditional EDI solutions; bringing supply chains together; achieving visibility and addressing risk; and the future of EDI.
[05.59] A reminder of who Orderful are, and how they help their customers.
“We’re a modern EDI platform focused on making EDI onboarding fast, affordable, and easy.”
[07.14] An overview of EDI, its place in the industry alongside API, and why it’s ‘the plumbing of today’s supply chain.’
“It’s become the standard of trade… so we turned this whole legacy experience into a modern software experience for modern developers and modern teams.”
[10.08] The importance of good data in onboarding, and how Orderful helps to solve some of supply chain’s typical data challenges.
“We’ve been able to make it very simple for a company to start trading with a new partner, because we go right into validation and data. Most providers will only validate the structure of a file, but Orderful… can not only check the structure, but we also validate the data that’s in that transaction, so they can solve problems in real time.”
[14.31] What visibility means to Orderful, why it’s so important, and how visibility services like notifications can help companies solve challenges in real time.
[18.27] How Orderful empowers customers to confidently manage risk, and creates a smoother experience for teams across businesses.
[20.51] The ideal client for Orderful.
“We’re winning with 3PLs, 4PLs and SaaS platforms!”
[22.15] A case study showing how Orderful helped a major client to reduce its onboarding time and proccesses for new carriers from 90 steps and 12 weeks down to 30 steps in nine days, and how Orderful sits apart from its competition
[26.17] The future for Orderful.
Head over to Orderful’s website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Orderful and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube or Twitter, or you can connect with Erik on LinkedIn.
If enjoyed this episode and want to hear more from Orderful, check out episode 281, where Erik talks all about why it’s so important to help the small guys get to market; why existing EDI software infrastructures can’t keep up; and Orderful’s mission to create a world where data trading is not a barrier. Or, you can read their blog A New Cloud EDI Platform: 5 Ways to Simplify EDI, or even watch Erik on a special live episode of Thoughts and Coffee, where Erik and Sarah dive into more issues around EDI and trending industry news.
This episode was filmed at Manifest 2023. If you enjoyed it, and want to explore some of the other great content filmed at the event, why not check out episodes:
Check out our other podcasts HERE.
It’s episode 30 of Blended: I’m joined by a brand new panel of inspirational professionals and, today, we’re talking about classism.
Now, some people believe that we’ve left classism behind. But, sadly, studies show that it’s alive and well – and its impacts are huge. The bottom 80% of the United States holds only 12% of its wealth; the bottom 60%, is just 3% of its wealth. And despite this huge disparity, little is being done to drive change.
In a world where we’re working hard to tackle issues around gender, race, sexuality, religion and more – why are conversations around socioeconomic groupings still so often missing from the conversation? Surely it’s high time we address class barriers, build bridges and work harder to become a more equitable society.
So today, our guests will be diving into classism and what it means to them; sharing their personal experiences; reflecting on education, privilege and pedigree; and discussing what organizations can do to tackle classism in the workplace and create more truly diverse communities.
[01.01] Introductions to our Blended panelists.
“When I think about classism, it’s really class discrimination. We live in a system where people are valued and treated differently based on their perceived class…. It’s so systemic and it reaches every single part of our system.” Elise
[05.27] The group discusses classism, the complex issues that feed into it, and what classism means to them.
“It goes beyond how others perceive you – classism is also about how you perceive yourself. You grow up in a particular socio-economic group, and often you can self-limit.”
“We would be so much further along as a society if everyone was comfortable talking to other people with an open mind, more like ‘what can I learn from this conversation’ rather than ‘what am I going to disagree with.’” Courtney
[47.17] The panel shares their experiences of classism in the workplace, and the impact of pedigree and education.
“I didn’t think I was enough, I’m not good enough, I don’t have the pedigree – I never saw myself being someone that could be at an elite level. And it wasn’t because intellectually I wasn’t enough, it was because of that class that I was born in and what I saw all around me.” Christine
[58.02] The group share their ideas for how organizations can help to tackle classism in the workplace.
“It’s the subtle shift from looking for culture fit, to looking at culture add… we want someone to both support and challenge.”
[1.22.37] The panel sums up their thoughts from today’s discussion.
You can connect with Elise, Courtney, Amanda and Christine over on LinkedIn.
If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more, why not check out 215: Blended – Shining a light on social inequality, or 323: Blended – How to Foster an Inclusive Workplace.
Check out our other podcasts HERE.