What does it take to lead the global supply chains that keep the world moving? Supply Chain Uncut, from Supply Chain Digital, answers this and more each week. Through honest and insightful conversations with the world’s biggest supply chain leaders, we dissect the intricacies of successful end-to-end global strategy. Our guests discuss the full scope of modern operations from change management and technology to AI integration, mitigating risk and leadership philosophy, to help position modern supply chain leaders for success. Discover more at www.supplychaindigital.com
Returns are no longer just a cost. They're becoming one of retail's biggest competitive advantages. In this episode of the Supply Chain Digital Podcast, Aaron McMillan sits down with Juan Hernandez Campos, Chief Operating Officer at Happy Returns, a UPS company, to explore how returns are reshaping retail operations, customer experience and supply chain strategy. Drawing on leadership experience spanning Happy Returns, Gap, McKinsey and SanDisk, Juan explains why returns should no longer be viewed as an operational burden, how AI is improving decision-making across supply chains and why great operations always begin with understanding the customer.
Rick McDonald led Clorox's supply chain through COVID, hyperinflation and a five-month cyber attack. Now a supply chain advisor and digital transformation leader, he joins the Supply Chain Podcast to discuss with host Ella Wilkinson why most AI strategies start in the wrong place, how change management determines whether digital transformation succeeds and why curiosity and digital fluency will separate the next generation of supply chain leaders from everyone else. Over the 30 minutes he delivers a frank conversation on why business should stop buying AI and start solving real problems, what people get wrong about transformation programmes and the early lessons that have underpinned his career.
AI is accelerating. But are your people keeping up? Lorraine Gavin, Senior Principal Analyst at Gartner, joins host Aaron McMillan live from Barcelona to explore why organisations are getting AI readiness half right, why supply chain leaders need to change their story at board level and why misinformation is an emerging supply chain risk that nobody has a framework for yet. Get ready for an honest and frank discussion on human readiness, storytelling, talent pipelines and why a fabricated video could one day shut down your warehouse.
Standalone AI tools aren't always connected to your supply chain reality, and that can present real problems. Fabienne Cêtre, EVP EMEA at Kinaxis, joins host Aaron McMillan live from Barcelona to discuss why enterprise AI is the only sustainable path forward, how organisations can build more adaptive supply chains and why customer outcomes should drive every technology decision. Plus why celebrating small wins matters as much as closing big deals and a deep-dive into the future of real human leadership.
What does good AI actually look like in supply chain? Gabriel Werner, VP of Supply Chain Advisory at Blue Yonder, joins host Aaron McMillan live from Gartner's Supply Chain Symposium in Barcelona to discuss why specialised AI outperforms generic models, how Blue Yonder's NVIDIA partnership is shaping the AI Agent Factory, and why the organisations winning with AI right now started with the business problem, not the technology. From governance and context to the future of human and AI collaboration, this is a grounded, practical conversation about where supply chain AI is really heading.
AI is transforming supply chain planning. But without the right foundations underneath it, the technology is working against you, not for you. Megha Gupta, SVP of Manufacturing Strategy and Transformation at o9 Solutions, joins host Aaron McMillan live from Gartner's Supply Chain Symposium in Barcelona to discuss what separates organisations genuinely getting value from AI and those still talking about it. Data quality, scenario planning, governance and the human-AI partnership - it's all here and makes for essential listening.
Is your supply chain plan already out of date? In this episode, Fraser Ironside, Senior Director of Business Consulting at Kinaxis, joins host Aaron McMillan to discuss how AI is transforming supply chain planning and where the real barriers to adoption still lie. Recorded live at Gartner's Supply Chain Symposium in Barcelona, Fraser covers agentic AI, data quality, human decision making and what agent-to-agent communication means for the enterprise by 2030. Key takeaways: speed wins, trust your data before you trust the AI and the plan is dead the moment it's issued.
Global supply chains facing disruption is nothing new. But what’s the one thing supply chain leaders can do right now to start driving resilience for their teams and organisations? In this week’s episode Blue Yonder’s Vice President of Supply Chain Advisory Shirell James answers this question with host Aaron McMillan. Shirell explains why visibility is no longer about preparing for every possible disruption but, rather, about having visibility to identify risks as they occur. She discusses why this helps leaders tackle growing unpredictability, respond more flexibly and improve decision-making, planning and strategic continuity. Key takeaways: now is the time to connect your data; use control towers, if you’re not already; and don’t forget the importance of leadership, relationships and trust.
In this episode of the Procurement Magazine and Supply Chain Digital Podcast, host Aaron McMillan sits down with procurement industry titan Heidi Banks, VP of Global Supply Chains at Jabil. Celebrating her 25th anniversary with the company, Heidi shares her incredible journey from an entry-level rotation program to leading a massive digital transformation that manages $6 billion in indirect spend for a $30 billion manufacturing giant. Heidi breaks down her philosophy on modern leadership, emphasizing why she challenges her global team of 400 people to focus on being just "1% better every day". She shares practical insights on balancing rigid global standards with local agility, navigating the rapidly expanding era of AI, and why clean supplier data and trust-based relationships are the true cornerstones of supply chain resiliency in a volatile global market. Tune in for a masterclass on career growth, building empathetic teams, and why Heidi believes Excel might finally become obsolete in the very near future.
In this episode of the Supply Chain Digital Podcast, host Aaron McMillan sits down with Dean Bain, Senior Vice President of Supply Chain at Coupa, to explore the intersections of leadership, macroeconomic volatility, and cutting-edge technology. Bain shares his unconventional career trajectory—transitioning from childhood dreams of being a pilot to leading supply chain software divisions —and discusses how transparency and trust form the bedrock of his leadership philosophy. The conversation dives deep into the evolution of Artificial Intelligence at Coupa, specifically highlighting their always-on agentic AI framework. Bain explains how AI has compressed data processing timelines from weeks to hours , allowing organisations to simulate scenarios and flag supply chain disruptions before they impact the bottom line. Bain tackles the challenges of driving tech investments during cost-heavy global crises , shares his perspective on utilising AI to combat the climate crisis , and challenges a common industry misconception by explaining why modern supply chain networks are not as inherently resilient as we think.
Welcome to Episode 4 of the Supply Chain Podcast! In this episode, host Aaron McMillian sits down with Gregor Stuhler, a leading procurement technology expert and the visionary behind Scoutbee. Following Scoutbee's acquisition, Gregor has taken his mission to Coupa, leveraging their massive scale to transform the global supply chain.
In the third episode of the Supply Chain Podcast, Aaron McMillan, Senior Editor of Procurement Magazine and Supply Chain Digital, sits down with Rathna Sharad, the CEO and founder of FlavorCloud. As a visionary leader with decades of experience at the intersection of logistics and technology, Sharad shares her journey from building the foundational infrastructure of global trade to launching an AI-driven platform that simplifies cross-border shipping. The conversation delves into the necessity of seamless international commerce and how technology can bridge the gap between brands and global consumers.
The evolution of procurement from a back-office function to a strategic powerhouse requires a unique blend of curiosity and technical rigor. In the second episode of the Supply Chain Podcast, host Aaron McMillan sits down with Rob Turner, Director of Procurement and Supply Chain at Deliveroo (now part of the DoorDash group), to discuss his twenty-five-year journey through the industry. From his early days in manufacturing at PepsiCo to leading high-stakes digital transformations, Turner shares his philosophy on why standing still is never an option for modern leaders.
Host Aaron McMillan speaks with Abhijit Supekar, Senior Director of Global Supply Chain at Aeva, whose extensive cross-sector experience spans automotive, healthcare, industrial and advanced technology. With more than two decades of leadership in transformative operations, Supekar offers a clear-eyed perspective on what it truly means to build resilient supply chains in a world shaped by volatility.
In this episode, we dive into the evolving intersection of AI, machine learning, and the human element in global supply chains. Join John Ham, Global VP of Planning and Logistics at JTI, as he shares insights on how JTI has successfully integrated AI/ML into its operations while ensuring the human aspect remains central to driving success. From sales forecasting transformation to building trust in AI systems, John discusses the key leadership and change management strategies that have empowered JTI to improve forecasting accuracy, productivity, and supplier relationships, all while maintaining a human-centered approach. Tune in for a candid conversation on how technology and people can work hand-in-hand to navigate the complexities of modern supply chains.
Hello and welcome back to Episode 34 of the Supply Chain Podcast. Thank you for tuning in, don’t forget to come back every Friday for new episodes featuring leaders in the supply chain! On this week's episode, we are joined by Katya Hall, Director of Enterprise Analytics at McKesson Corporation. For those who aren’t familiar, McKesson is a global healthcare company with the responsibility of pharmaceutical distribution in supply chains, health IT systems and care management tools. Listen along to hear us discuss the importance of advanced data analytics in order to pandemic proof supply chains to avoid the challenges we faced due to COVID-19. Don't forget to subscribe! Check out our socials: LinkedIn: @Supply Chain Digital Twitter: @SupplyChainD
Hello and welcome to Episode 33 of the Supply Chain Podcast. Thank you for joining us today, and don’t forget to come back every Friday for new episodes featuring leaders in the supply chain. On this week's episode, I am joined by Colin Earl, founder and CTO of Agiloft. Agiloft is a product and solution provider for organisations in the supply chain, ranging from small enterprises to U.S. government agencies. Agiloft provides products for Contract Management Software, Service Desk, Custom Workflow all with the goal to assist automating operations. Don't forget to subscribe! Check out our socials: LinkedIn: @Supply Chain Digital Twitter: @SupplyChainD
Hello and welcome to the Supply Chain Podcast. Thank you for tuning in, don’t forget to come back every Friday for new episodes featuring leaders in the supply chain. On this week's episode, I am joined by Bruce Dahlgren, CEO of MetricStream. MetricStream is the independent market leader in enterprise and cloud applications for Governance, Risk, Compliance and Quality Management. We discuss risk and disruption management as part of everyday business considerations as we move into the recovery stage of the COVID-19 pandemic. Don't forget to subscribe! Check out our socials: LinkedIn: @Supply Chain Digital Twitter: @SupplyChainD
Hello and welcome to the Supply Chain Podcast. Thank you for joining us today, and don’t forget to come back every Friday for new episodes featuring leaders in the supply chain. On this week's episode, I am joined by Mohneesh Saxena, the Senior Vice President of Product Strategy and Management at Locus. Locus is a global decision-making platform that automates human decision-making in the supply chain to provide efficiency, transparency and consistency in logistics operations. Don't forget to subscribe! Check out our socials: LinkedIn: @Supply Chain Digital Twitter: @SupplyChainD
Hello and welcome to episode 30 of the supply chain podcast! Thank you for tuning in, don't forget to come back every Friday for new episodes featuring leaders in the supply chain. On this week's episode, we are joined by Denis King, CEO of Solace. Solace helps enterprises become real-time by giving them everything they need to make their business operations event-driven. On this week's episode we discuss how event driven architecture can assist in digitising the supply chain. Don't forget to subscribe! Check out our socials: LinkedIn: @Supply Chain Digital Twitter: @SupplyChainD
