2 Babes Talk Supply Chain

Omar Abuhashish of Reform talks about scaling without increasing operational overheads; why AI isn’t just a tool; & redefining what’s possible in supply chain.  IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:   [04.23] Omar’s background and his journey of discovery in supply chain. “I’m a builder at heart, and I love solving very challenging problems. I went to school and studied the hardware AND the software to see what’s possible and what solutions I can build.” “I really wanted to go after a foundational industry with a lot of room for improvement, but at the forefront of innovation, where there’s room for opportunity and challenges that can be solved with the best technologies.” [07.28] The big challenges Omar saw as he became increasingly interested in global transportation networks, and how they led him to establish Reform. “I really noticed how operationally intensive a lot of the workflows are. There a lot of people doing the same job, the data is siloed, things are living on paper… I just felt there was a clear w

Lina Castaneda talks about her career journey; being an industry rising star, the importance of staying coachable; & why our differences are our superpowers.   IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:   [05.00] Why Lina emigrated from Colombia to Canada, and what the move taught her. “It was a big change, but I saw it as a chance for growth on my own journey. I’ve always believed that stepping outside of your comfort zone is where real growth happens.” [06.35] How Lina found supply chain, and why she fell in love with the industry. “I quickly fell in love with the complexity and the impact of the industry. Supply chain touches every single part of our lives – it’s a behind-the-scenes powerhouse that keeps the world moving!” [07.59] Lina’s journey moving through operations and customer service, and how each role added a new layer to her expertise and developed her leadership style. “It’s been quite a journey. Tons of learning, tons of growth – and a few surprises along the way!” [11.41] Lina’s role as Chief Custo

Rob Norlander of Circle K Pro talks about the difference between a fleet card and a credit card, industry challenges, driver satisfaction; & saving you money. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:   [04.12] Rob and his career journey, and how Circle K has evolved over the past 60 years. “What drives the business is a focus on the customer… Our mission is to make their lives easier every day.” [08.09] Circle K Pro’s unique view of the industry and the biggest challenges they see, from cost to efficiency. “Businesses are under pressure to do more with less… They’re having trouble with keeping costs in check and making sure their employees are taken care of. Fuel is one of the largest variables for fleets and how they manage that, and try to keep it as low as possible, is more important than ever.” [11.55] An overview of the Circle K Pro fleet card and how it works. [14.08] How the Circle K Pro fleet card differs from a traditional business credit card, and how businesses should decide what’s right for them. “Wit

Daragh Mahon talks about driving competitive advantage, the importance of cybersecurity, real-time visibility & their 'Cloud First, Cloud Now' strategy. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [04.26] An overview of Werner, what they do, and how they help their customers. “We run all modes of transportation… And we’ve proven over and over again that we’re excellent at every single one of them.” [05.24] Daragh’s reflections on the first half of the year, why 2025 is the year of AI, and how Werner’s digital transformation journey has positioned them for the future. “The first half of the year has been tough, we’re still in this freight recession… There’s a lot of volatility, but it does feel like it’s leveling out a bit.” [12.22] From demand predictability and labor issues to sustainability and cyber security, the biggest challenges faced by Werner customers, the types of technologies they’re looking for to tackle them, and why Werner tech is built around what their customers need most. “You combine all those things, a

John Conrad of Evans Transportation talks about tariffs, navigating challenges, the importance of partnerships; technology; & their customer-centric approach. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [02.10] John’s reflections from the show floor at Home Delivery World. [02.56] An introduction to John, his 20-year career history, and his role as Chief Revenue Officer at Evans Transportation. “We’ve experienced some pretty athletic growth over the last five years… I’m responsible for our team finding and keeping revenue, it’s a big job. And when your President and CEO wants to double in the next five years, it’s a really big job!” [04.08] Evan’s roots as one of the country’s first 100 freight brokers 40 years ago, their evolution, and how they helped pioneer the transportation management system. “There’s about 30,000 registered 3PL’s and maybe about 30,000 that aren’t, working out of their basement or garage. There’s no shortage of competition in this space! So it makes it really hard to differentiate.” [06.43] An

Chris Mazza of Shippeo talks about their obsessive focus on data quality, visibility, and how current geopolitical disruptions are impacting shippers. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:   [03.08] An introduction to Shippeo, who they are, and what they do. “We answer two foundational, practical questions that almost every supply chain, transportation or logistics manager wants to know: where is my stuff, and when will it arrive?” [06.21] How current geopolitical disruptions are impacting shippers, and why real-time visibility is crucial in navigating challenges. “If you don’t have a good understanding of where your cargo is, what ship it’s on, how it’s routed, you can’t credibly predict how you’re going to manage things like buffer stock, real lead-time or real customer service expectation – without that data, you’re lost.” [09.29] From an obsessive focus on data quality to an investment in integration options, what sets Shippeo apart in a very competitive and rapidly evolving market. “We spend a lot of time edu

Michael Falls of Reveel & Jennifer Mitchell of GOAT Group talk about tariffs, network design, SKU analysis, carrier negotiation and decision intelligence.  IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:   [02.22] An introduction to Michael, his background, and what excites him about supply chain. “Work smarter, not harder – that’s what I’m passionate about. There’s great technology out there that shippers can leverage, but so many people are still working out of spreadsheets. That hasn’t changed as rapidly in our industry as it has in others.” [03.49] An overview of Reveel, who they are, and what they do. “Our CEO always says that modeling is the hill we’re going to die on. We have a lot of tools in our repertoire that are different to a lot of the other analytics tools on the market.” [04.36] An introduction to Jennifer, her background, and her company GOAT Group. [05.58] An overview of the current tariff landscape, and how businesses are approaching adaptability and cost impacts. “We’re now in a period where shippers

Stephanie Dominguez talks all about the Port of New York and New Jersey, big infrastructure projects, collaboration, sustainability & preparing for the future.    IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:   [04.30] An overview of the Port of New York and New Jersey, who they are and what they do. “We have a long history… Containerization started at our port.” [05.40] Why organizations should choose the Port of New York and New Jersey, the many factors that give them their competitive edge and how, in turn, that can give companies doing business with them their own competitive edge. “We’re a world-class gateway port… We’re focused on efficiency and reliability… Today we have 45 weekly ocean carrier services, and we’re the first port of call on 75% of them.” [11.36] Some of the biggest challenges of the last few years, and why resiliency, communication and collaboration Is key. [15.43] The Port of New York and New Jersey’s ‘Master Plan’, and how a predicted increase in volume will impact the port and local community,

Neil Fisher of Birdseye Security Solutions talks about cargo theft, leveraging AI for proactivity & why security solutions drive business-wide improvements.   IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:   [02.28] An introduction to Neil, his background, and role at Birdseye Security Solutions. [03.12] How a shifting approach to security led Mike Grabovica to establish Birdseye. “There was this shift in security in general, from being reactive to having proactive solutions. And our founder identified early on that trucking and logistics companies have really specific needs when it comes to security.” [03.57] The ongoing issue of yard security and cargo theft. [04.47] An overview of Birdseye – who they are, what they do, and how they help their customers. [05.11] The ideal client for Birdseye Security Solutions. [05.50] The biggest factors influencing the rapid rise in cargo theft. “There’s some economic uncertainty out there and, with that, comes all sorts of challenges… And criminals are getting smarter and bolder.”

Kristin Kay of Manhattan Associates talks about their Active TMS, continuous innovation & automated testing, & why transportation is more complex than ever. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:   [04.20] An introduction to Kristin, and Manhattan Associates. “We don’t view supply chain as a cost center – it can be a competitive advantage, if you start to remove some of the siloes between your solutions.” [06.18] The biggest impacts on the transportation industry right now, and why the industry is more complex than ever before. “It’s a whirlwind! We have a lot of different things coming into play. Macro economic shifts, sky high customer expectations, pressure to hit sustainability targets… Depending on the industry, the days of just managing your transportation are gone.” [09.17] Why Transportation Management Systems often come with their own set of problems, and the biggest TMS challenges Manhattan see with their customers. “Whatever challenge comes up, sometimes that challenge isn’t the biggest problem.

Melodie Van Der Baan talks about her career journey; juggling motherhood & entrepreneurship; positivity; and the intricate dance between supply and demand. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:   [04.04] The early years of Melodie’s career, why she fell in love with retail, and how her experiences laid the groundwork for her entrepreneurial journey. “I loved every store, every city, every boutique owner I visited and sold to. But, without fail, they would point out what didn’t sell from the season before, and say ‘Mel, what are you going to do about it?’ And so I had to find a solution to their problem.” “My husband said: ‘This isn’t a you problem, it’s an industry problem. It’s a lack of a network that needs to exist, and you should create it!’ But this was before Amazon, Shopify wasn’t a thing yet, Point of Sales were server-based, not cloud-based. So even though the problem was real, the industry wasn’t ready for the solution.” [08.31] Why Melodie chose not to go to college, her Mother’s words of advice, and w

Megan Keith & Shawn Piper talk about Uber Freight; bridging tech & service; bringing product & design together; automation; & the future of freight technology. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:   [04.00] Introductions to Megan and Shawn, and their roles at Uber Freight. “I was drawn to logistics because of its complexity and impact. It’s a space where smart, intuitive tools can really make a difference, and I love simplifying that complexity so transportation teams can move faster and make better decisions.” [05.21] An overview of Uber Freight, the evolution that brought together deep industry expertise from Transplace with Uber’s tech DNA, and how that combination is driving the way they approach logistics today. “That fusion means that we’re not just building smart tools or interesting technology, we’re building tools that work in the real world. Our approach is to really get that balance of being tech-forward but operationally-grounded, to make customers more agile, resilient and informed.” “U

Anthony & Lyle of ProcurementIQ talk about client collaboration, leveraging data, the growth of procurement & the biggest challenges impacting teams in 2025.  IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:   [06.08] Lyle’s background and the journey that led him to co-found ProcurementIQ. [09.00] How ProcurementIQ has evolved over the last decade, and where they are now. “We were learning – and so was procurement in its own right. The concept of category intelligence wasn’t really a thing in 2013... Back then there was market intelligence so what we really had to learn about was that evolution.” [11.13] Anthony’s background, how it sparked a passion for supply chain and why, after years in the industry, he decided to go to school for supply chain. “It’s never a bad time to invest in yourself and develop your skillset.” [14.08] The biggest supply chain challenges and disruptions, and the impact they’re having on procurement practitioners and their ability to plan ahead and do their jobs effectively. “It’s creating a

Craig Barth of Premier Trailer Leasing talks about understanding if your business needs to buy, rent or lease; & leveraging fleet management for success. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:   [05.31] An overview of Premier Trailer Leasing – who they are, what they do, and how they help their customers. [06.07] What sets Premier apart, and the secret to their success as they celebrate 20 years in business. “There are several companies that will rent or lease you a semitrailer. So why do people come to Premier? The reality is: it’s the people. It’s the partnerships we form, the services we provide – we take a very personal approach, and we look to help the customer solve a problem first.” [07.57] From economic issues to continued overcapacity, the biggest challenges in the transportation industry right now. “It’s one of the most challenging environments we’ve ever been in. The transportation industry, depending on your measurement, is between two to three years into a recession… And now we have mass uncertainty.

Alexia McLaughlin talks about making an impact through innovation; her commitment to cultures of excellence; & her big achievement as an industry rising star.   IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:   [03.52] An introduction to Alexia and her role at Veho. “If Uber and UPS had a baby, it would be Veho!” [05.08] How Alexia began her career in sales, and her journey through roles at Oracle and Jebbit to her current position at Veho. “I never thought I was going to be in sales! That used car salesman connotation springs to your mind… But, when I was coming out of college, a lot of mentors who’s careers I admired started in sales. So I thought: ‘OK, I’m going to give this a try! I don’t know if I’ll love it, but I’ll learn a lot.’” [09.07] Alexia’s experience moving from a big, corporate environment to a smaller, start-up culture. “When you’re working for a big company, there’s a lot of layers, it’s very bureaucratic, there’s a lot of structure and process. But I wanted ambiguity. Both of my roles after Oracle you

Dexter Weber of TGW Logistics talks about the trends, challenges & opportunities in warehouse logistics; building strategic partnerships; and TGW's new brand.   IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:   [05.31] TGW’s 50+ year journey from small fitters shop in Austria to global manufacturing leader. “Part of our journey was becoming a foundation-owned company... We reinvest our profits into our solutions and capabilities, and to charity. We’re not chasing goals and pleasing shareholders – we’re focused on that long-term vision.” [09.07] Where TGW are now, their vision for the future, and a why they’re unveiling a new brand for a new era. [12.21] The ideal client for TGW Logistics. “What we’re really looking for is someone that wants to build a true partnership. We need to be an extension of their team and share a vision to really accomplish the goals they want to achieve. Being collaborative makes sure we’re both successful.” “Building relationships and trust is the foundation of any good, solid business project.”

Beverly Steele talks about her journey, making a big change mid-career; what it means to be a workforce innovator; and her take on work-life balance. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [04.29] An introduction to Beverly and her role at Inmar. [05.11] Beverly’s career journey, and her decades of varied experience. “I’ve been in reverse logistics well over 20 years. I actually stopped saying how long because I realized I’d been in it longer than some of my colleagues have been alive!” [07.15] Beverly’s 20-year tenure at CORT, and an overview of the roles she took on as she climbed the ranks. [08.07] Inmar’s joint venture with Blue Yonder to create a returns drop network that reduces costs for brands and makes life easy for consumers. [09.46] Why Beverly made a big change mid-career, what she was looking for in her next step, and her advice for other mid-career professionals considering making a change. “I’d moved up in the ranks and there weren’t many places for me to go to make the money I wanted to make and have

Phillip Lechter of CXT Software talks about challenges in last mile; building a people-first culture; & how they're helping customers grow, compete & thrive.   IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:   [05.45] How CXT innovated over the past 25 years to meet the changing needs of an evolving logistics landscape. “25 years is a long time in the software space!… In maturation of software, it’s easy to want to 'set it and forget it', and live off the benefits. But you can’t do that today. Supply chain is changing so rapidly, and our focus is on innovation, connectivity, and our ability to make it easy for our clients to do what they want to do - and not be hamstrung by the business we’ve created.” [09.13] Where CXT is now, what they do, and how they help their customers. “It’s about making ourselves as configurable as possible to our clients... our ability to serve multiple workflows based on the business our clients are doing for their own customers.” [11.08] The ideal client for CXT. [13.25] From the uniquenes

Carlos Perico of ProcureAbility talks about sourcing best practices in a tariff-driven world & how to turn procurement from cost center to competitive advantage   IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:   [04.29] An introduction to Carlos and ProcureAbility. “All we do is procurement! It’s our speciality, it’s what we’re passionate about. And that’s key.” [05.59] Tariffs: what they are, and why supply chain professionals need to pay attention. [07.07] Diversification: Some of the strategies companies can employ to build agile supply chains for long-term resilience, the big challenge with long-term strategies, and why your supply chain is like Tetris. “Diversification is the name of the game. You don’t want to have all your eggs in one basket – but the challenge now is that the baskets are getting very complex!!” “For those long-term strategies to pay off, you have to start now.” [14.08] How companies can utilize scenario planning or future-proofing to prepare for further tariff fluctuations. “You need to know yo

Bill Catania of OneRail and Anna Farberov of PepsiCo talk all about their strategic partnership, how it works & the benefits it drives for Pepsi customers. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:   [03.42] Introductions to Bill and OneRail, and Anna and PepsiCo Labs. [06.22] Why PepsiCo reached out to OneRail to explore partnership opportunities. “They have the solution and we have the problem; they have an entrepreneurial mindset and can move fast, and we have the business expertise and deep industry understanding. And when we’re able to feed that back, that’s where the magic happens.” [06.48] The PepsiCo Labs model, and how the team proactively seek out companies to partner with. “We want to solve problems in the business versus having shiny toys, saying a lot of buzzwords and ticking boxes.” [08.52] The impact of their strategic partnership for PepsiCo and their customers, and OneRail’s business. [11.24] From expanding capacity to maintaining service levels across different customer sizes, the business challen