2 Babes Talk Supply Chain

For today’s episode of Women In Supply Chain, I’m joined by Deborah Kotulich. Skilled in supply chain, operations management, Government, U.S. Department of Defense, Strategic Planning, and Business Process Improvement, Deborah is an experienced and successful military leader. From earning her degree in engineering from the United States Military Academy, she’s served her country, nurtured an impressive logistics career and is now Chief of Staff at US Transportation Command: she is one incredible woman. Today Deborah will be talking to us about her career in the military, how she balances it with family life, and she’ll be sharing her words of wisdom for the upcoming generations of ambitious young women following in her footsteps. SHOW SPONSOR: As a company focused on supply chain partnerships, Fastenal is proud to sponsor this piece of Women In Supply Chain. With more than 100,000 point-of-use vending machines around the world, Fastenal is dedicated to helping organizations lower their total cost of ownershi

Today I’m talking to Lean Staffing Solutions, one of Inc. Magazines ‘Top 500 Fastest Growing Private Companies.’ Providing satellite offices in South America, Lean Staffing makes scaling easy, providing you with the best team to improve your processes and lower your operational costs. With the right combination of talent, culture and price, and with solutions across staffing, tech, marketing and sales, Lean Staffing are going from strength to strength in the market. I’m joined by Trey Griggs, Vice President of Lean Sales, to talk about exactly what they do, how their model works and the benefits to be found in broadening your reach through nearshore staffing services. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [08.08] An introduction to Trey and his take on how the pandemic has altered the culture of sales. [09.49] How Lean Staffing was founded, and its growth journey. “Customers started asking for more and more services… specifically when it comes to tech and sales.” [13.10] A closer look at exactly what Lean Staffing So

Today I’m joined by one of Canada’s top sustainability professionals. In her role as Head of Sustainable Impact at HP Canada, Frances Edmonds is responsible for driving business from sustainability leadership and, focusing on Canada’s sustainable procurement practices, she’s working to change how Canada buys. Frances has founded sustainability and environmental education programs, given TedX talks and sits on sustainability boards – this award-winning woman is truly using her platform to change the world. Today we’ll be talking about her long-standing career, her passion for sustainability, why it’s so important – and the changes we can all start making in our businesses right now. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [08.11] Frances’s background, and her journey to sustainability. [09.42] Frances’s role at HP, and her responsibilities both internally and externally. “We realised that not many businesses are going to try and become a leader in sustainability because there’s no recognition for that in the marketplace

Logistics Titans really pride themselves on delivering forward-thinking, results-driven solutions for their customers. As the largest specialized and asset-based carrier in the US, they cast a wide net and empower their clients with new possibilities, locations and accessibility. And as a business, Logistics Titans believe in being bold, brave and impactful; so much so, they were named after powerhouses of Greek mythology. Working mainly across healthcare, technology and retail, their combination of award-winning customer service, 250 project warehouse locations and leading logistics technology makes them true industry titans. Wes Struebing, the Founder & President at Logistics Titans, was on the show in July last year and he’s back today to talk specifically about the last mile – the challenges, how it's linked to customer experience, and exactly how the team at Logistics Titans are using new technology to elevate their service.   IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [07.26] A reminder of exactly what Logistics T

For today’s episode of Women In Supply Chain, I’m joined by Isabel Tapia. From Mexico, she’s currently the Head of Ford of Mexico’s Indirect Purchasing department, leading a team with an annual spend of just shy of 2 billion USD. An experienced procurement executive with a long history in the automotive industry, she’s an expert in Supply Chain Management, sourcing and team growth and development. Today Isabel will be talking to us about her roots in engineering, her passion for procurement and her words of wisdom as a successful woman in a male-dominated industry. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [07.38] Isabel’s background and her long-standing interest in engineering. [10.17] Isabel’s current role at Ford. [11.33] Her 16 year career with Ford and what makes them such a good company to work for. “Ford is a great company: I’ve always felt comfortable, supported and challenged.” [13.19] A reflection on what’s changed over the course of Isabel’s career so far. “The automotive industry is in constant evolution.”

This is the fourth and final show in our “Give your business a fresh start” series, in partnership with BluJay Solutions. Last week in Episode 3 “Your Global Impact,” we were joined by Patrick Maley, the Chief Marketing Officer at BluJay, to talk about the hugely important topic of sustainability. We discussed the impact of international shipping, how we can use technology to help us with our eco commitments and exactly how BluJay are helping us to facilitate them. And today in Episode 4, “Managing Risk: The Ultimate Balancing Act,” we’re joined by Bill Madden, Group Vice President, Logistics as a Service at BluJay Solutions, to talk about risk. How we can better prepare ourselves for the unknown, how we can utilize technology in risk management and why having a partner there when you need them, can really help you share that burden of risk.   IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [01.24] Bill’s background, his career at BluJay and the one thing that might surprise people about the idea of risk. [02.50] Quality, compli

Today I’m joined by the number one international shipping carrier for e-commerce. With customer experience at its core, Passport Shipping is putting the ‘care’ back in ‘carrier.’ They believe that a great international experience demands a considered approach to strategy, software and customer experience, as well as great logistics. So with their end-to-end solution, you can tailor experiences for your customers worldwide. I’m joined by Alex Yancher, the Co-Founder and CEO at Passport Shipping to chat about the company’s unique offering and all about international shipping: the benefits, the challenges and what we can expect in the coming year. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [04.36] Alex’s background, the personal experiences that have driven his career – and one surprising stat about shipping. [07.30] Alex’s previous business, Lynks, what he learned and how he took those learnings forward to found Passport Shipping. “It made me realize that international shipping is a whole lot more than just the logistics.”

This is the third show in our “Give your business a fresh start” series, in partnership with BluJay Solutions. In Episode 2, “Simulation: The Future is Here” we talked to Pam Reeber, Director of Solution Consulting at BluJay Solutions, to talk all about simulation, and using AI to model scenarios within the supply chain so we can predict the future and stay ahead of the game. Today in Episode 3 “Your Global Impact,” we’re joined by Patrick Maley, the Chief Marketing Officer at BluJay, to talk about the hugely important topic of sustainability. We’ll be discussing the impact of international shipping, how we can use technology to help us with our eco commitments and exactly how BluJay are helping us to facilitate them.   IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [01.04] Patrick’s background, his role at BluJay and one thing that would surprise people about sustainability. “Businesses often think about sustainability as an added cost, but they’re not thinking about the true business benefits.” [03.23] A global network – th

Today’s episode is a very special crossover episode, in honour of collaboration, featuring Mercado and Shipz Inc. Mercado strive to deliver transparency, collaboration, automation and predictability across supply chain. From product creation and tracking, to document management and shipment, to order collaboration and smart tagging, their platform has everything you need for the first mile of your supply chain. And when it comes to the middle mile, you need Shipz Inc; the innovative new bid-and-ship freight platform. Working to simplify the complexity often found in logistics, the Shipz platform closes the gap between mid-market shippers and forwarders, creating an accessible and hassle-free logistics solution for all. From quick and accurate quotes, selecting the right partners that fit your business, secure documentation all in one place and even lines of credit, shippers and forwarders will see a variety of benefits by connecting with the Shipz platform. I’m joined by Rob Garrison, CEO at Mercado, to talk

This is the second show in our “Give your business a fresh start” series, in partnership with BluJay. In Episode 1, “Visibility, Unchained” we talked to Bryant, Senior Global Product Manager at BluJay Solutions, about data and visibility: why it’s so important, the impact of last year and how BluJay is innovating in this area, to create unparalleled levels of visibility for their customers. Today in Episode 2, “Simulation: The Future is Here,” we’re joined by Pam Reeber, Director of Solution Consulting at BluJay Solutions, to talk all about simulation, and using AI to model scenarios within the supply chain so we can predict the future and stay ahead of the game. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [01.04] Pam’s role at BluJay, and the one thing that might surprise people about AI. [02.44] Exactly what simulation is and how it works. [04.10] How, and why, BluJay became the first TMS Provider to build a modelling solution on the LLamasoft Cloud Platform. “We wanted to provide a hands-on, self-service tool that was ea

In today’s episode I’m excited to be joined by Dan Deigan, a man with nearly 25 years’ experience in the logistics industry under his belt. His passion, dedication and talent has led him to become the go-to for the transportation & logistics sectors’ coaching and sales training. He began selling transportation & logistics services in 1994, quickly climbing the ranks, winning sales competitions and growing businesses, before the impact of the recession in 2008 led him to confront his mentality and approach to business. In 2012, he established High-Performance Logistics Sales and has become a sales and coaching guru, in demand across the logistics industry. Today Dan will be talking to us about his business, his journey to success and why freight providers need to get on board with high level sales performance, fast!   IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [04.43] Dan’s background, how he fell into supply chain and discovered a love for sales. [10.15] The highs and lows of the journey that led Dan to establish Hi

This is the first episode of our latest mini-series in partnership with BluJay Solutions. Over the next four episodes, our “Give your Business a Fresh Start” mini-series is going to take a closer look at BluJay, and how we can harness the power of new technology and machine learning to help us tackle key pain points within our businesses, from managing risk to improving our commitment to sustainability. Today in Episode 1, “Visibility, Unchained,” Bryant Smith, Senior Global Product Manager at BluJay Solutions, joins me to talk all about data and visibility. Why it’s so important, the impact of last year and how BluJay are innovating in this area to create unparalleled levels of visibility for their customers. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [01.46] Bryant’s background and his role at BluJay. [03.16] Who BluJay are and what they do. “What sets us apart is the BluJay way – our unique blend of philosophy, culture and services.” [05.38] Why data and visibility is so important, and why it’s been THE key talking poi

May Shu, today’s woman in supply chain, has nurtured an impressive career with our friends over at Fastenal. Originally from China, she’s now making waves in the logistics industry state-side. A dynamic and innovative supply chain professional with over 15 years of experience with Fastenal, May has a focus on people development, driving process efficiencies, and developing scalable solutions for tomorrow’s business needs in collaboration with multiple departments across the globe. Today May will be talking to us about her career so far, her approach to self-improvement and why she stays so loyal to Fastenal. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [03.30] May’s background and how she went from a degree in forestry to a career in logistics. “The more I got into it, the more excited I was with the opportunities – as soon as I accomplished one thing, there was another thing waiting!” [05.29] May’s role at Fastenal. [06.37] Why May moved from Shanghai to a small town in the USA – and how the stability of Fastenal’s culture

This is it – we’ve finally reached the end of 2020! I think it would be an understatement to say that it’s been a difficult year for many; but there have also been plenty of positives that we can take note of as well. So in this very special episode, I’m joined by Graham Robins from Border Buddy, who is a great friend of the show, to reflect on some of the things we’ve seen and done, to round out the year on a high and approach 2021 with a really positive mindset. We talk about COVID, collaboration, data, diversity and inclusion, and our plans for 2021. What a year! IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [04.56] An introduction to Graham, his background and his role at Border Buddy. [07.28] The impact of COVID and the valuable lessons we’ve learned this year, from the effect on mental health to the importance of the workers on the front line of supply chain. “Its been a transformative year for us. But we’ve learned that remote work is well suited for logistics!” [17.46] What we can practically take from these lessons

Founded in 2015, Convoy started a movement in efficient freight. Through their customer-centric approach, ethical commitment and unique technology, that creates smarter ways to connect shippers with carriers, they’re helping to solve problems, reduce waste and create a better future. Today, I’ll be talking to Lorin Seeks to find out a bit more about the Convoy network and how it’s utilising machine learning to solve the challenge of quality and compliance for small and midsize shippers. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [06.59] Lorin’s background, his career in the army and how he fell in love with logistics. [11.08] A closer look at Convoy, what it does and how it works. “Convoy is the nation’s most efficient digital freight network.” [12.34] The four core areas of risk and compliance that every shipper needs to consider. “Shippers are facing legal, financial, service and reputational risks every time they ship freight.” [19.27] Why these areas can present real challenges for small and mid-market shippers. [23

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. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [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 m

Adebayo Adeleke is a supply chain enthusiast, businessman, social entrepreneur, retired U.S Army Officer and global thought leader all rolled into one. From Jordan to Japan, Africa to Afghanistan, he’s gathered his impressive knowledge and expertise from around the world. Retired from the U.S Army after an impressive 20 year career, Adebayo is now Managing Partner at Pantote Solutions LLC, President and CEO of Adebayo Adeleke LLC, a Principal Partner and Senior Supply Chain Consultant for Epot Consulting Limited and a Lecturer in Supply Chain Management at the Sam Houston State University. Today Adebayo will be talking to us about his career so far, his many inspirational achievements and his passion for driving immigration reform.   IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [06.47] Adebayo’s background and how he fell into supply chain by chance. [10.22] What led Adebayo to join the army, and why he fell in love with it. [11.38] Adebayo’s experience of war, and what he learned. “When I came back, I was transformed – the

This is the fourth and final show in our “Not Just Nuts and Bolts” series, in partnership with Fastenal. Last week in Episode 3, ‘Powered by Proximity,’ I was joined by Sam Nafe, Senior VP for National Account Sales Teams at Fastenal, and Jim DeMarco, Category Manager at PGT Innovations. We talked about their successful business partnership and the topic of glocality – what it means, why it’s so important and exactly how Fastenal deliver it across the world. Today in Episode 4, ‘Wait! Don’t Order,’ we’re talking to John Soderberg, EVP of IT at Fastenal, to talk about data and analytics: why is data so important, what kinds of data should we be focusing on and how can we use it to better our supply chains. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [01.04] John’s long-standing career at Fastenal, his current role and how Fastenal truly has a decentralized model. [03.00] Why data is so important. “It’s the basis for making better informed decisions.” [04.49] The types of data that supply chain professionals should be lookin

SIMOS provides more than just basic contingent labor: they deliver customized strategic labor solutions, with the end goal of reducing cost, increasing productivity and ensuring budget certainty - without compromising on quality standards. Their consultative partnership philosophy means that they design solutions from inside your facility, aligning with your KPI’s and offering a level of support that means you can step back and focus on the bigger picture, leaving your workforce in safe hands. Today, I’m joined by Harold Baro, Senior Vice President and General Manager, to talk all about SIMOS, the importance of collaboration and some of the challenges that businesses are currently facing with their workforces.   IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [07.39] How SIMOS was founded, and the story behind the name. “Our Founder wanted to provide more value to his clients and give more accountability.” [09.04] A closer look at exactly what SIMOS does. [10.53] The trusted partnerships that SIMOS enjoys with its customers.

This is the third show in our “Not Just Nuts and Bolts” series, in partnership with Fastenal. Last week in Episode 2, ‘Bring Us Your Problems,’ I spoke to Kris Van Dalen and we took a closer look at Fastenal’s onsite solutions, their response to the COVID-19 crisis and how we can prepare our businesses and supply chains for the future. Today in Episode 3, ‘Powered by Proximity,’ we’re talking with Sam Nafe, Senior VP for National Account Sales Teams at Fastenal, and Jim DeMarco, Category Manager at PGT Innovations. We’ll be talking about their successful partnership and the topic of glocality – what it means, why it’s so important and exactly how Fastenal deliver it across the world. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [01.09] Sam’s career at Fastenal, his current role and why the percentage of Fastenal’s customer-facing staff might surprise you. [02.22] PGT’s history, and Jim’s current role. [03.40] What is glocality, and what does it mean for Fastenal and its customers. “It allows the team to be creative… to achie