2 Babes Talk Supply Chain

Wouldn’t it be amazing if we could predict the future? Well, with Sifted, you kinda can… We wrapped up our first mini-series with Sifted a few months ago, released the first episode of our second mini-series last week and you all still want more–so of course, we delivered. So, over the course of our new “Driving Your Parcel Performance” series, we’re going to dive even deeper. This time, we’ll be putting the spotlight on their Carrier Management Suite and taking a closer look at how it can help you to take a proactive approach to contract management, from ensuring compliance and negotiating rates, to controlling spend and improving relationships. Today in Episode 2, Better Performance, I’m joined by Caleb Nelson, Chief Growth Officer at Sifted, to talk all about some of the big challenges happening in the industry right now and where carrier relationships fit in; analyzing and scoring contract performance; and how you can tackle the complexities of your agreements, to drive performance-enhancing outcomes   I

In today’s episode of Women In Supply Chain, I’m joined by Charlie Saffro – entrepreneur, industry expert, master networker and mindful leader. Charlie began her career as a marketing account manager, working on big name accounts like Procter & Gamble, PepsiCo and Gatorade. But, as a connector by heart, Charlie found her true calling when she embraced a career in supply chain recruitment. Charlie founded her own firm, CS Recruiting in back in 2010 and has gone from strength to strength, growing the business from a team of one to 40 and boasting an impressive client list, whilst earning some top industry accolades along the way. Today Charlie will be talking to us about her career so far; tackling supply chain labor shortages; creating a culture of connectivity; and why recruitment is both a science, and an art. 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.   SHOW SPONSOR:   This Women in Supply Chain feat

You asked, and we are delivering – with another brand new mini-series, featuring the logistics expert, tech innovator and firm Let’s Talk Supply Chain favorite… Sifted! We wrapped up our “Tomorrow’s Insights Delivered Today” mini-series with Sifted back in September and it was a real success. I got to talk to some new faces, and old friends, and start to really get under the skin of who Sifted is and what they do. So, over the course of our new “Driving Your Parcel Performance” series, we’re going to dive even deeper. This time, we’ll be putting the spotlight on their Carrier Management Suite and taking a closer look at how it can help you to take a proactive approach to contract management, from ensuring compliance and negotiating rates, to controlling spend and improving relationships. Today in Episode 1, Contract Monitoring, I’m joined by Jeremy Lee, VP of Business Solutions, at Sifted, to take a closer look at Sifted’s contract monitoring solution: how it works; avoiding surprise costs; switching from a r

Halloween is a notoriously scary time, and what could be more spooky than hearing about some of the nightmares that have befallen supply chain professionals? Join us for a panel discussion with some of the industry's best and brightest as they share their scariest logistics stories. You'll hear more tales than just woes from suppliers who couldn't deliver on time, warehouses that went up in flames, and shipments that were lost (or never even made it to their destination!). This is sure to be a frightfully fun event - so don't miss out on some of the nightmares that have befallen supply chain professionals first-hand. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:   [05.56] Introduction to the guests Judd Marcello Hope White Dyci Sfregola Eric Johnston [08.50] Sharing of supply chain horror stories and personal experiences collected from various roles over the years. [10.01] Financial Nightmares Supplier relationships Maintaining cash flow Being a good human "I say it as a bad boyfriend relationship at this point or a bad b

Today I’m joined by Paccurate, a forward-thinking logistics tech brand that is on a mission to make shipping more sustainable for your business, and the planet – all through packing. Paccurate is the only patented cartonization solution that optimizes for transportation costs directly. Designed to save you cost and waste, and deliver impactful efficiency gains, the Paccurate API is fast, flexible and smart. Today James Malley, CEO and co-founder at Paccurate, joins me to chat all about the company: what they do; tackling the challenge of rising fulfilment costs; why right-sizing isn't enough; and making a commitment to sustainable solutions.   IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:   [05.51] James’ career journey and how, and why, he came to co-found Paccurate. [07.12] Some of the key challenges Paccurate customers are facing right now, when it comes to packing, fulfilment and logistics. “The costs associated with fulfilment went up extremely fast during the pandemic, and the problem is that the pandemic has started to

Today I’m joined by SEKO Logistics, a global, market-leading provider of logistics services who are small enough to care, but big enough to scale, for shippers around the world. SEKO provides complete supply chain solutions, specializing in transportation, logistics, forwarding and warehousing. Powered by their innovative and customizable IT solutions, SEKO provide a seamless flow of information, giving their ever-growing customer base true supply chain visibility. With over 120 offices in 40 countries worldwide, the SEKO model enables customers to benefit from global implementation experience, coupled with vital in-country knowledge and service at the local level. Today Brian Bourke, Chief Growth Officer at SEKO Logistics, joins me to chat all about the company and exactly how they help their customers; supply chain visibility; the importance of customer satisfaction; and the increasing trend for using supply chain as a competitive advantage.   IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:   [07.30] Brian’s career journey, an

In today’s episode of Women In Supply Chain, I’m joined by one of the Let's Talk Supply Chain family - a woman who is helping leaders discover the value of connected planning, with supply chain best practices and stories that matter: it’s Naomi Sylvian. Naomi has 16 years of experience in telling brand stories, powering sales enablement, and increasing brand exposure and online lead generation. Naomi’s marketing career has seen her assume leadership roles at a number of healthcare and technology brands, before taking on her current role in supply chain solution marketing at IT firm, Anaplan. Naomi is passionate about empowering women, and also has a decade of experience in mentoring other marketing and creative professionals. Today Naomi will be talking to us about her career so far; embracing a career in supply chain; collaborating with me on my women in supply chain blog series; and the importance of mentors. Plus, she’ll be sharing her experiences as a woman in supply chain, as well as her words of advice

Today I’m joined by Locus Robotics, a super innovative technology brand that is creating ground-breaking robotics technology, with the right mix of power and flexibility, to improve warehouse productivity. Locus design and build innovative autonomous mobile robots, that work collaboratively alongside people in the fast paced logistics and fulfilment industries. With Locus’s powerful and intelligent autonomous solutions, workers can pick 2x-3x faster with near-100% accuracy and less labor, delivering higher productivity and a better workplace. Today Kait Peterson, Senior Director of Product Marketing at Locus Robotics, joins me to chat all about the company: what they do; the importance of flexibility in supply chain; using robots to empower people; and how automation can drive a competitive advantage. With Locus’s powerful and intelligent autonomous solutions, workers can pick 2x-3x faster with near-100% accuracy and less labor, delivering higher productivity and a better workplace. Get your business the com

It’s the fourth and final episode of our Sifted mini-series! Last week in episode three, I was joined by Caleb Nelson, Chief Growth Officer, to talk all about Sifted’s Parcel Audit solution for shippers; how it can identify and recover lost revenue; how the boom in ecommerce has impacted shippers; and the power of strategic automation. And today in episode four, we’ll be turning our attention to Sifted’s Contract Management Suite. I’m joined by Adam Moulding, Chief Innovation Officer, to talk all about the platform; helping customers to go beyond a one-and-done negotiation mindset; the importance of strengthening business relationships; and the role of innovation in the future of supply chain.   IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:   [01.43] Some of the big challenges around contract management in the current climate. “Contracts have become even more difficult, there are a lot more vendors… and figuring out all of the supply chain components – contracts, what’s active, what discounts are expiring – has become a real

Today I’m joined by MODIFI, a forward-thinking global financial services technology brand who are on a mission to reinvent global commerce – despite supply chain disruption. MODIFI is a one stop platform for business payments and trade management, founded with the aim to make trade seamless and transparent for businesses around the globe. Designed to challenge the status quo, MODIFI allows exporters and importers alike to gain full control of their cross-border trade. Today Nelson Holzner, CEO and Co-Founder of MODIFI, joins me to chat all about the company: what they do; pushing boundaries in the world of finance; how flexible payment terms can help businesses scale quickly; and why it’s so important to bring simplicity and control to global trade.   IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:   [06.25] Nelson’s founder journey, and how a corporate law career led him to become a successful fintech entrepreneur. “My Dad was a sea captain on large container ships, so shipping is deep in my DNA!” [08.10] How, and why, Nelson

It’s episode three of our Sifted mini-series! Last week in episode two, I was joined by Kevin Miller, VP of Data Insights at Sifted, to talk all about what simulation and modeling means; common misconceptions; the benefits of using simulation to make smart supply chain adjustments; and how predictive modeling has the potential to revolutionize your business’s sustainability goals. And today in episode three, it is operational automation’s turn under the Sifted spotlight. I’m joined by Caleb Nelson, Chief Growth Officer, to dive into Sifted’s Parcel Audit solution for shippers; how it can identify and recover lost revenue; how the boom in ecommerce has impacted shippers; and the power of strategic automation.   IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:   [01.37] The changing landscape of the industry over the last few years, and how the rise in ecommerce, accelerated by the pandemic, has shifted the entire market. “The carriers are really built to handle a certain number of shipments at a given time, and COVID and the boom

Today I’m joined by unique global freight forwarder, Estes Forwarding Worldwide (EFW). EFW is one of the leading domestic and international freight forwarders in the US, providing customized logistics solutions for clients around the world and across all industries including retail, government, automotive, health services and technology. Whether it’s air, ground, or ocean freight, they take a personal approach, and are passionate about fostering the best customer relationships possible, and exceeding expectations each and every time. A subsidiary of Estes Express Lines, and with over 400 employees nationwide, the company earned its billionth dollar in revenue in 2017. Today Michael Campese, Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Estes Forwarding Worldwide, joins me to chat all about the company: what they do; the rising focus on home delivery; moving from fixed to flexible; and why everyone needs to be thinking about capacity.   IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:   [07.29] The evolution of EFW, and on ove

It’s episode two of our brand new Sifted mini-series! Last week on episode one, we took a closer look at the Sifted Score. I was joined by Chief Experience Officer Ami to explore exactly how the Sifted Score works; how it helps to deliver categorized insights for quick actions; and how Sifted are empowering shippers to make confident and future-proof decisions. Today in episode 2, we’re turning our attention to predictive modeling. I’m joined by Kevin Miller, VP of Data Insights at Sifted, to talk all about what simulation and modeling means; common misconceptions; the benefits of using simulation to make smart supply chain adjustments; and how predictive modeling has the potential to revolutionize your business’s sustainability goals.   IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:   [01.36] Exactly what modeling and simulation means, and the differences between the two. “People bucket modeling and simulation together quite often, but they’re quite different… most of the tools that people have can’t process the amount of dat

In today’s episode of Women In Supply Chain I’m joined by Jolene Peixoto, a powerhouse who is as passionate about championing female leadership as she is about bringing stories to life. Jolene launched her career in high tech PR 20 years ago, and has never looked back. Working at leading brands including Emulex, Blue Yonder and now FarEye, Jolene has driven global corporate communications strategies, encompassing brand awareness, public relations, social media, customer and content marketing, to great success. And, during this time, Jolene has always put a focus on empowering women, as a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion. Today Jolene will be talking to us about her career so far; her love of storytelling; lifting women up to leadership roles; and some of the evolving trends in supply chain marketing. 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.   SHOW SPONSOR:   This Women in Supply Chain feat

We’re kicking off another brand new mini-series! For this four-part special, I’m joined by Sifted: the number one logistics intelligence platform, who are empowering shippers to make smart, data-powered business decisions. Over the next four episodes, our “Tomorrow’s Insights Delivered Today” series is going to take a closer look at Sifted: their market-leading products; the customers they’re helping to thrive in times of disruption; the trends, insights and predictions they’re seeing in the industry right now; and exactly how they’re setting shippers up for success, today and tomorrow. Today in Episode 1, Empowering Confident Decisions, we’ll be taking a closer look at the Sifted Score: how it works; how it helps to deliver categorized insights for quick actions; and exactly how Sifted are empowering shippers to make confident and future-proof decisions.   IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:   [02.53] For anyone who missed the last show, a reminder of who Sifted are and what they do. “We help shippers revolutionize

Today I’m joined by Cargo Chief and Hubtek, not one but two leading technology companies, working in the transportation space, who often partner together to provide the best results for their customers. Cargo Chief enables 3PLs and freight brokers to expand their carrier network, gain visibility into real-time pricing, and streamline their processes. And Hubtek is a tech-enabled talent and automation solutions provider for transportation companies across North America. Today Chris Arredondo, Co-Founder and VP of Customer Success at Cargo Chief, and Andrew Gulovsen, Chief Marketing Officer, at Hubtek, join me to chat all about their respective companies: what they do; how real-time data is helping to drive down costs; why you need to put a focus on collaboration and strategic partnerships; and the importance of customer success.   IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:   [06.39] A introduction to Chris, Cargo Chief and how they help their customers. “We solve some of the industry’s biggest issues…. And we serve everythi

Today we’re bringing you a little treat, in the shape of one of our most-viewed videos on YouTube. No Bullshipping with Hope White is one of our most popular live content series, and this episode has really gone down a storm. So whether you’re in the ocean freight market or global supply chain, the trucking industry or drayage, make sure you pay attention! In this episode, Hope is joined by special guest Seretha Willingham, CEO at SJW Logistics, to teach you how you can grow your minority-owned business, even if there is a pandemic! Hope and Seretha will talk all about support for vertical integration, warehousing and drayage; direct fulfillment and trucking; and nourishing a unique clientele.   IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:   [04.16] A warm welcome from Hope. [05.55] An introduction to Seretha and her business, SJW Logistics. [06.38] How SJW Logistics set itself apart in a crowded market. “We’re able to provide a personalized service… our speciality is the customer service that we provide.” [07.54] How SJW L

It’s episode 23 of Blended: I’m joined by another amazing panel of guests and, today, we’re tackling another really tough issue – Asian disscrimination. Now this is something that many of us, outside of the Asian community, had probably not thought too much about. But when the pandemic hit, putting in some cases a potentially negative light on China, the world saw an eruption of hate and anger towards Asian people that was quite shocking to see, and which has really taken its toll on communities worldwide. Today, our guests will be exploring exactly what Asian discrimination means and why it happens; sharing their personal experiences; taking a closer look at some of the new initiatives being put into place across America; and discussing how we can start to tackle the issue of Asian discrimination and discrimination in the workplace. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:   [00.48] Introductions to our Blended panelists. Sharon – Inventory Optimization Consultant Naomi – Senior Manager for Supply Chain Solutions Market

Today I’m joined by Cavallo, a powerhouse software company that is on a mission to drive efficiency in every stage of the distribution process. Brought to you by the designers of SalesPad, Cavallo offers distribution management software with all the power of an ERP solution, and all the functionality of the industry’s biggest tech powers - with none of the bottlenecks, frustrating interface, or difficult-to-access data. Founded by experienced distributors and perfected over two decades spent optimizing distribution supply chains, no company is better positioned to guide your growth. Today Alex Schelhaas, Senior Product Manager at Cavallo, joins me to chat all about the company: what they do; the power to be found in putting a focus on innovation, data and visibility; and their commitment to people and community.   IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:   [06.40] Cavallo’s history and evolution, from being established as SalesPad in 2003 by Pete Eardley, to where it is today. “ERP systems are really good at making sure

Today I’m joined by Orderful, a forward-thinking EDI software provider, that is on a mission to modernize contemporary supply chains. 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, founder and CEO at Orderful, joins me to chat all about the company: what they do; 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.   IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:   [06.41] Erik’s founder story, and the journey that led him to “experience the tension between small suppliers and giant buyers” first hand, and establish Orderful. “I saw what the larger enterprise in