In Episode 77, Dr. Yossi Sheffi, iconic thought leader and professor at MIT, innovator, and author of a new book ‘ The Magic Conveyor Belt’ chats with host Sheri Hinish about the future of supply chain including the people, exponential technology, and disruptive themes that will shape the future of the profession. This book offers explanations to pressing supply chain topics and much more, with historical perspectives and modern examples. It covers contemporary issues of outsourcing and re-shoring, sustainability, resilience, regulations and the social, managerial, and policy issues resulting from technological innovations.

Additional topics covered in this episode include: how tech adoption has shaped and helped humanity, how technology has repurposed jobs, the digital divide, the impact of AI and ChatGPT on the future of work and automation, and freeform flow on sustainability, quantum, nuclear, and many other political, provocative topics!

In the Magic Conveyor Belt, Professor Sheffi lays the foundation for understanding supply chains and the characteristics that make them complex. In Part 1 of the book “The Global Dance,” he delves into the often-hidden intrinsic structure of supply chains to ground the reader in the challenges of managing the mammoth networks involved.

Part 2, “Further Complexity and Challenges,” shows how the last 50 years have added even more complexity to supply chains. This part covers the rising demand for goods, as well as the increasing consumer expectations for fast, perfect delivery services.

The relevance on technology creates a sobering thought around the digital divide. The digital divide is multifaceted and includes many factors such as access, affordability, quality, and relevance. As Michael Kende wrote, “the digital divide is not a binary.” These gaps in availability, affordability, interest, and digital literacy. The UN’s Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development estimates that nearly 3.6 billion people remain totally unconnected to the Internet by any measure. This means there are around 4.1 billion people online, about 53.6% of the global population. 

What does the future hold for global supply chains and countries, economies, marginalized communities left behind in a technology infused world? 

The capabilities and future roles of automation, robotics, and artificial intelligence are changing and augmenting the jobs held by workers—covered in Parts 3 and 4. Elements of the book trace the implications of multiple trends in the operating environment for tomorrow’s global supply chains, as they change and augment the jobs held by workers.

While many of the new skills require technical knowhow, it is social skills, ironically, that may be a key for future human employment in an economy dominated by technology.

To learn more about The Magic Conveyor Belt, visit https://a.co/d/0mUVNYq

To connect with Yossi Sheffi on linkedin, visit https://www.linkedin.com/in/yossi-sheffi-b38b731/

To connect with Host Sheri Hinish, visit https://www.linkedin.com/in/supplychainqueen/

In an exclusive Earth Day Special, Jim Massey lays out the case for why all progress in sustainability depends on trust - the basis of successful selves, teams, and systems. Sustainability is the path to prosperity for humanity and businesses alike. Every April 22nd, stakeholders of all backgrounds come together to advance sustainability and climate action in commemoration of Earth Day.

Companies who’ve developed strong Environment Social Governance (ESG) standards are seeing better profitability, stronger financial performance, and happier employees. But this transformation isn’t just about transforming our economies, operating models, and supply chains, it is about transforming lives by putting people and trust at the heart of decisions we anchor in sustainable development.

When Can, Care, and Do come together, something interesting happens: trust is formed. Across regions, cultures, and languages, trust is a common currency - the connective tissue that makes all positive action possible. In an exclusive Earth Day Special, Jim Massey lays out the case for why all progress in sustainability depends on trust - the basis of successful selves, teams, and systems. In a time when many are rapidly losing trust in our institutions – whether in government, society, or finance – it’s more critical than ever that leaders cultivate their ability to build trust. 

Episode 76 is the 3rd Earth Month feature celebrating provocative themes and people in sustainability, supply chain innovation, and circularity. Jim Massey is a Chief Sustainability Officer, Global ESG Expert, and former VP of ESG Sustainability, Ethics, and Compliance at AstraZeneca. 

In our chat, Jim unpacks wisdom from Trust in Action, including:

* where will leaders have the greatest impact

* what is the “breakthrough” proven trust model for sparking action

* how can folks listening drive positive change in their organization

* what are some of the actionable repeatable approaches for working with teams to tackle today's toughest problems 

* what words of wisdom can you give others leading or have the ambition to lead in sustainability?

This year, we rally behind the Earth Day theme “Invest In Our Planet”, which highlights the importance of dedicating our time, resources, and energy to solving climate change and other environmental + social issues. Our world needs transformation. Solving the environmental crisis calls for bold, creative, and innovative solutions and leadership. This will require action at all levels, from business and investment to city and national government. Investing in our planet is necessary to protect it and the best way to pave a path towards a prosperous future. When we Invest In Our Planet together, we are supporting healthy, happy, and thriving communities worldwide.

To learn more about Jim Massey and Trust in Action, visit https://www.jimmassey.co/

Earth Month Exclusive featuring Steve Pratt (CEO of Noodle Al, Co-Founder of Infosys and Regenerative Ranch aficionado) + Supply Chain Revolution podcast to explore how better math and Al can enable circularity in a new supply chain planning paradigm.

The way supply chain planning has been done for the last 30 years has been under the assumption that computers were slow and data was expensive, and so they needed to make a lot of simplifying assumptions.. Very importantly, they ignore probabilities and complex pattern recognition that are all allowed by this more advanced mathematics.

To Learn more about Steve - visit https://noodle.ai/ or https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-pratt-094b5916/

Circular economy is increasingly recognized as a better alternative to the dominant linear (take, make, and dispose) economic model. Circular Supply Chain Management (CSCM), which integrates the philosophy of the circular economy into supply chain management, offers a new and compelling perspective to the supply chain sustainability domain.

Two aspects that make a CSCM unique: 1) its restorative and regenerative cycles designed based on circular thinking; 2) the vision of a zero-waste economy that is inherent in the CE philosophy. This is CEO Steve Pratt + Noodle AI's mission - to build and design a world without waste. Steve also walks the talk as a farmer and student of nature, where he brings inspiration like the Noodle culture mantra BCHILL, and planting seeds of innovation for long-term value creation.

Steve is an O.G. Rebel and friend of the podcast, one of the original supporters. He is an incredible technical background and at every turn has pushed boundaries with tenacity and a 'people and planet first' north star. His journey in consulting started at Deloitte. He went on to start Infosys, had a brief stint at IBM, then founded Noodle with a lingering nudge 'there has to be a better way' and a vision of a world where nothing is wasted where technical, natural, and human systems exist in harmony.

About Noodle: Noodle.ai software uses some of the most advanced math on the planet to tame global supply chain chaos—so the right stuff gets to the right place at the right time with less drama. More importantly, Noodle's 'Value at Risk' shows you the hard money costs of each of the millions of errors made by your planning stack, for both demand and supply, across raw materials, production, and distribution.

This episode is packed full of lessons in big transformation, inspirational messages, and pragmatic reasons why circular supply chains provide the conduit for marrying the environmental, social, and economic benefits for change. Sectors and client examples highlighted are from CPG, Industrial and automotive. Everything we need exists NOW to build and empower better decisions for a circular and inclusive world.

Sustainable marketing is a hot topic as many lean in to position their brand, product, service and persona as being sustainable, responsible, and ethical. Join host Sheri Hinish as she explores with returning guest James George (ex-Ellen MacArthur Foundation, Strategist at Pyxera Global) in episode 74 the parameters of sustainable marketing, and the types of greenwashing, pressure testing ChatGPT real time + unpacking Planet Tracker's "Greenwashing Hydra" or different dimensions of greenwashing (source - https://planet-tracker.org/greenwashing-growing-increasingly-sophisticated-says-planet-tracker/ )

What is sustainable marketing? Sustainable marketing is a marketing approach that emphasizes the long-term health and well-being of the environment, society, and economy. It involves creating and promoting products, services, and business practices that are environmentally responsible, socially equitable, and economically viable.

Sustainable marketing aims to minimize the negative impact of business activities on the environment and society while promoting positive social and environmental outcomes. This approach often involves integrating sustainability principles into all aspects of a company's operations, from product design to manufacturing processes to marketing and advertising.

Sustainable marketing also seeks to educate consumers about the benefits of sustainable products and services and encourage them to make more environmentally and socially responsible purchasing decisions. This can include highlighting the eco-friendly or socially responsible features of products or services, as well as providing information and resources to help consumers reduce their environmental impact.

What is Greenwashing and why should you care? Greenwashing is a marketing technique in which a company makes misleading or exaggerated claims about the environmental benefits of its products or services. There are several types of greenwashing, including:

1. Hidden trade-offs: This is when a company promotes a product as environmentally friendly while ignoring other environmental impacts. For example, a product may be advertised as eco-friendly because it is made from recycled materials, but the company may ignore the fact that the product was transported long distances, resulting in a high carbon footprint.
2. Vague or misleading claims: This is when a company makes vague or ambiguous claims that are difficult to verify. For example, a product may be labeled as "all natural" or "chemical-free," but these claims are meaningless without further explanation or context.
3. Irrelevant claims: This is when a company makes environmental claims that are technically true but are irrelevant to the product. For example, a company may promote a product as "CFC-free," even though CFCs have been banned for decades and are no longer used in the product.
4. Lesser of two evils: This is when a company promotes a product as environmentally friendly when compared to a similar product that is even worse for the environment. For example, a company may promote a car as "eco-friendly" because it gets better gas mileage than other cars in its class, even though it is still a gas-powered vehicle with a high carbon footprint.
5. Fibbing: This is when a company outright lies about the environmental benefits of its products or services. For example, a company may claim that its product is certified by an independent third party when in fact it is not.

This is an action-packed and provocative dialogue that will not disappoint as James and Sheri discuss solutions and best practice to ensure you don't fall prey or misstep in a world of greenwashing,

To learn more about James George, visit https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-george-20995b75/

In Episode 73, host Sheri Hinish delves into bestseller, "From Source to Sold” and offers an inside look at the real-world experiences and valuable lessons of supply chain experts, industry leaders, and disruptive innovators. The book delves into the career paths and strategies of 26 Supply Chain Leaders who have propelled businesses of all sizes, from large multinationals to startups, to the forefront of their industries. It provides listeners with a unique perspective on the specific techniques and smart business practices employed by today’s top supply chain leaders to achieve success and reach the C-suite level.

Why now and what's packed in this episode? Transformation is tough and we are at a crossroads. The leadership stories offer important insights into what it takes to be a successful supply chain leader and these themes have been neatly summarized through what the authors call the CHAIN Model for Supply Chain Leadership, or Chain (C-H-A-I-N), which stands for: Collaborative, Holistic, Adaptable, Influential, Narrative.

A winning combination of entertaining stories about life at the top, how to get there, and rigorous business insights. The book features some of the most successful global operations and supply chain business leaders.

Learn more about From Source to Sold here: https://sourcetosold.com/

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

RADU PALAMARIU https://www.linkedin.com/in/radupalamariu/  Managing director of Alcott Global, the leading global executive search firm focused on operations and supply chain. He works on C-level assignments with Fortune 500 companies and local conglomerates in manufacturing, logistics, transportation, supply chain management and eCommerce.

KNUT ALICKE  https://www.linkedin.com/in/knut-alicke/  Partner at McKinsey & Company, part of the global supply chain leadership team, and a visiting professor of supply chain at the University of Cologne. He advises clients on a variety of topics around supply chain, including digital supply chains, risk and resilience, advanced analytics, and supply chain transformations.

FEATURED CONTRIBUTORS

Yossi Sheffi, Director, MIT Center for Transportation & Logistics

Ivanka Janssen, Chief Supply Chain Officer/EVP, Philips

Ernest Nicolas, Chief Supply Chain Officer, HP Inc.

Sandra MacQuillan, Ex - EVP and CSCO, Mondelēz International

Jim Rowan, CEO and President, Volvo Cars

Tan Chong Meng, Group Chief Executive Officer, PSA International (PSA)

Thomas Netzer, Global COO, Wayfair

Lynn Torrel, Chief Procurement and Supply Chain Officer, Flex

Pier Luigi Sigismondi, President (Worldwide Food & Beverage Group), Dole Sunshine Company

Sami Naffakh, Chief Supply Officer, Reckitt

Tommy Rahbek Nielsen, Executive Vice President & COO, Vestas

Essa Al-Saleh, CEO and Board Member, Volta Trucks

Deepak Garg, CEO & Founder, RIVIGO

Ken Allen, Chair of the Supervisory Board, ProGlove, Ex CEO DHL Express

Vikram Agarwal, Chief Operations Officer, Danone

Beatrix Praeceptor, Ex - Chief Procurement Officer, Mondi Group

Michael Corbo, Ex - Chief Supply Chain Officer, Colgate-Palmolive

Andres Krinninger, President Industrial Trucks & Services EMEA, KION Group

Jay Lee, Former Foxconn Vice Chair

Bonnie Fetch, VP and Head of Global Supply Chain and Manufacturing, Cummins Inc.

Achim Duennwald, COO GLS Germany

Dirk Holbach, CSCO Beauty/Laundry & Home Care, CSVP, MD, Henkel

Donna Warton, CVP Supply Chain and Sustainability, Microsoft

This year's International Women's Day theme is, “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality,” which highlights the role of innovative technology in promoting gender equality and meeting the health and developmental needs of women and girls.

Women and girls remain underrepresented across the creation, use and regulation of technology. In the face of escalating global crises, we stand at a crossroads. I wanted to share insights from UN Women released today.

-63% of women have access to the internet, compared to 69% of men. And women are 12% less likely to own a mobile phone, a figure virtually unchanged since before the pandemic.

-Women remain a minority in both STEM education and careers, representing only 28% of engineering graduates, 22% of artificial intelligence workers and less than 1/3 of tech sector employees globally. 

-Women in tech often face an actively hostile environment, with a significant pay gap of 21% and considerably lower rates of promotion (52 women for every 100 men). Nearly half (48%) report experiencing workplace harassment and 22% say they are considering leaving the workforce altogether due to the treatment they’ve received in the sector.

What are some key pathways to create and build a safer, more sustainable, more equitable future?

1. Close all gaps in digital access and skills, whereby race, age, disability, socioeconomic status and location all play a role in determining women’s digital access and use.

2. Support women and girls in STEM. Providing universal broadband access for teachers, students and schools—and ensuring digital literacy for its users—can increase girls’ exposure to STEM. Digital learning provides new opportunities to adapt educational environments and curricula to the needs of girls and students from marginalized groups.

3. Create tech that meets the needs of women and girls. The importance of cognitive diversity can not be understated. Technology reflects its creators. Digital access gaps mean women produce less data than men, and a lack of data disaggregation leads to unequal representation in data sets. A global analysis of 133 AI systems from 1988 to today found that 44% displayed gender bias, with 25.7% exhibiting both gender and racial bias—which led to lower service quality, unequal resource distribution and the reinforcement of harmful stereotypes.  

4. Address technology-facilitated gender-based violence. There is continuum between real-world and online violence, with technology helping to perpetuate and heighten surveillance, trafficking and other forms of abuse especially impacting intersecting forms of discrimination for women of color, LGBTIQ+, and women with disabilities.

These are conversations I hope we have every day, not just on March 8th. What would you add as a key pathway to create a safe and equitable world for women and girls?

To learn more about the podcast, please visit supplychainqueen.com or pod.co/supplychainrevolution

#IWD2023 #sustainability #supplychain #technology #diversityandinclusion

Sustainable supply chains can address the key drivers of forest and biodiversity loss in the agriculture and forestry sectors, fueling biodiversity conservation and responsible sourcing of commodities like palm oil, soy, timber, and much more. Episode 71 introduces Gen Z for the Trees, a powerful youth movement aiming for net zero deforestation by 2030 using supply chain mapping + modeling techniques, GIS, and environmental science knowledge to uncover what's REALLY happening in some of the biggest brands' supply chains...and all while attending university full time.

Deforestation in the supply chain is bad for several reasons. First and foremost, deforestation has a significant negative impact on the environment, leading to loss of biodiversity, soil erosion, and carbon emissions. Deforestation also contributes to climate change by reducing the number of trees that can absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

In addition to the environmental impact, deforestation can also have negative social and economic consequences. Forests are often home to indigenous and local communities who rely on the forest for their livelihoods, including hunting, fishing, and gathering of forest products. Deforestation can displace these communities and disrupt their way of life.

From a business perspective, deforestation can also pose a risk to companies that source products from areas affected by deforestation, such as palm oil, soy, beef, and timber. Consumers are increasingly aware of the impact of deforestation and may choose to avoid products that contribute to it. In addition, regulatory frameworks aimed at reducing deforestation are being put in place in many countries, and companies that fail to comply with these regulations may face legal and reputational risks.

As part of the Rainforest Partnership, the goal of Gen Z for the Trees is to inform the world about sustainable living, stakeholders in the rainforest, and current grassroots efforts to mitigate climate change. They also commit to promoting the work of indigenous rainforest communities while celebrating these communities’ deep and unique understanding of the rainforest.

Gen Z is the generation of change: many of these changes, like climate change, were set in place generations ago but threaten our future on this planet. As temperatures climb, sea levels rise, and natural disasters intensify each year, Gen Z must grapple with the inevitability of change. As the most connected, diverse, and largest generation in the history of the world, Gen Z is driven by immediate action and near instant togetherness. Gen Z makes up 40% of consumers both in the United States and globally. By 2026, Gen Z will be over 40% of the workforce with influence far-reaching, they are poised to create a more sustainable future.

If you like to learn more about Gen Z for the Trees, visit and follow the links below: https://www.rainforestpartnership.org/gen-z-for-the-trees

https://www.rainforestpartnership.org/blog/gen-z-for-the-trees-brings-hope-for-the-future

https://www.instagram.com/genzforthetrees/?hl=en

https://twitter.com/genzforthetrees?lang=en

https://www.rainforestpartnership.org/blog/call-for-volunteers-gen-z-for-the-trees

‍

Happy Earth Day 22! In episode 70 (yes) host Sheri Hinish (SupplyChainQueen) joins Chief Evangelist Tom Raftery (SAP) for an EARTH WEEK discussion that zeros in on the Sustainability Imperative across climate, social equity, and responsible business.

Key topics include:

🔹 The world is changing – the global economy is about to become the climate economy

🔹 Business decisions will not only be weighed by financial implications, but climate implications

🔹 Both employees & customers have high expectations around the sustainability

agenda set by companies

🔹 Actions Organizations Should Take to set targets, measure and report, and convert

🔹 2020s & ‘The Decade of Action’ - What the 2030s & 2040s will look like as it relates to climate

🔹The social impact of climate

🔹How this shows up in responsible business

To learn more about Tom Raftery and his podcasts: visit https://www.climate21podcast.com/

To learn more about the Supply Chain Revolution podcast: visit supplychainqueen.com

Today, the transportation industry operates in silos that lead to a lack of coordination and waste. 30% of the trucks on the road drive empty. This directly leads to massive excess carbon emissions that can be significantly reduced through better planning and network coordination. Not to mention a 90% driver turnover, uncovering well-being, safety, and social sustainability opportunities in the logistics industry.

Have you wondered how to drastically reduce your corporate carbon footprint by filling the empty miles driven by your carriers?

According to Leaf:

— 30% of truck carbon emissions are not associated with material utility for value-added goods delivery 

— Independent drivers spend 30% of travel time without a paid load 

— Companies spend 30% of their logistics budgets on non-value-added services 

In episode 69, host Sheri Hinish chats with Anshu Prasad, CEO of Leaf Logistics and Transportation-Tech extraordinaire who is building a more transparent industry-wide network that reveals exponentially more opportunities for people and planet positive network coordination. When shippers, carriers, brokers, and other partners coordinate across the Leaf platform, over $100 Billion in efficiencies can be identified in this $1 Trillion industry. 

Learn more about why sustainable logistics and transportation planning/execution is a key driver in CO2e reductions toward SBTi and net-zero targets.

To reach out to Anshu directly, visit [email protected], https://www.linkedin.com/in/anshuprasad/ or https://www.leaflogistics.com/

Read more about IBM's alliance with Leaf https://www.ibm.com/blogs/services/2022/01/12/the-profitable-journey-to-sustainable-logistics-operations/

While environmental sustainability goals have become a high priority for consumers and businesses with a global call to action on climate change, other ESG issues haven’t gotten as much attention. For many organizations advocating for human rights in the supply chain is a material priority, and one of the most pressing issues involves ensuring there is no forced labor and child labor in supply chains. But how do you know?

-In its 2016 study, the International Labour Organization (ILO) estimated that 40.3 million people worldwide were victims of modern slavery at any given time, 25 million of whom were in forced labor.

-To narrow the focus further, an estimated 16 million people were exploited in the private sector. A few years earlier, in 2014, the ILO estimated that forced labor generated annual profits estimated at USD 150 billion.

-Women and girls are disproportionately affected, accounting for 71% of those affected by modern slavery. Children represent one-quarter of the total number of victims.

President Biden on Dec 23, 2021 signed into law the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, a bipartisan bill that bans imports from China’s Xinjiang region unless the importer can prove they were not made with forced labor.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/biden-uyghur-labor-law/2021/12/23/99e8d048-6412-11ec-a7e8-3a8455b71fad_story.html

In Episode 68, Justin Dillon, CEO of FRDM shares that, “The COVID-19 pandemic has taught us how broken and opaque supply chains truly are. Supply chain operations and oversight has lagged far behind the innovation curve. Companies today are expected to solve bigger and deeper problems in their supply chains, such as environmental and human rights risks.”

➡️ I am proud to have Justin back as a retuning guest on MLK day to kick off 2022 and to help organizations ensure human rights are protected across global networks by:

– Understanding and mapping your network

-Organizing your company’s supplier and spend data

– Creating a predictive bill of materials for everything you buy and applying estimates about environmental, social and business continuity risks

– Helping you engage with suppliers, using its toolkit to reduce risk and increase your resilience

– Producing helpful reports for your team, stakeholders and regulators

– Helping you track improvements to your supply chain and constantly improving your resilience

FRDM is the next wave in predictive and proactive ESG risk resilience to realize sustainable outcomes. Organizations that lead on sustainability and impact do not approach them as secondary objectives. They integrate the related objectives into their core motivation, radically altering the corporate equation for success. Companies face numerous barriers to addressing modern slavery, but technology can be an enabler for change. Modernizing the supply chain for greater transparency can create a more visibility and equity for all.

FREE WHITE PAPER ➡️ https://lnkd.in/eEr_hWv7

Learn more FRDM and Justin here - FRDM.co

Sending a big shout out to everyone for your support and it's been TWO YEARS! This episode is a holiday takeover. Since we released the 2020 holiday takeover last year, it's received thousands of downloads. We're coming back again with a bolder, Rebel take on what's hot in 2022.

2021 has been another "Year of the Pledges". From setting 2030 to 2050 goals and claiming carbon-neutrality, one thing is for sure...you can pull up to many tables, but which ones? Has this been the year of social and green washing and what can we expect in the new year?

James George from the Pyxera Global has taken over the Supply Chain Revolution® in this special holiday edition - Episode 67. We explore BOLD topics and trends in 2021 and what is front of mind in circularity, sustainability, and supply chains in 2022, including:

How can you get people to care, more, about sustainability? And an inspirational message in the rise of empowerment where how you show up in the world matters. Do people ever go back and check build sustainability commitments?

Lastly, how can we actually get people to care? 2021 has been the rise of empowerment in many ways. Where and how you show up in the world matters. You have control over what you do and mobilizing can be transformative.

We all have a sphere of influence. How will you use yours in 2021?

To Learn more about James please visit the link below:

James: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-george-20995b75/

Find us, connect, and explore at supplychainqueen.com & https://www.supplychainqueen.com