Supply Chain Revolution

"Be careful about trying to solve 2050 problems with 2025 technology," says James Mnyupe, former Namibia Senior Economic Advisor and Green Hydrogen Commissioner. Join Sheri Hinish, the Supply Chain Queen®, and co-host James George for Big Idea 9 of the Supply Chain Revolution podcast exploring how clean energy actually powers industrialization in practice. This episode is part of the 10 Big Ideas to Transform Supply Chains for a Regenerative Future series and reveals the structural choices, systems thinking, and policy frameworks that determine how African nations own the value chains they create in clean industrialization revolution happening now in the global south. Featuring James Mnyupe, Senior Vice President for Sub-Saharan Africa at ThyssenKrupp Uhde. James brings rare perspective having architected Namibia's green industrialization blueprint from the government side and now scaling the model across 49 African nations through a European industrial platform. His work spans everything from fertilizer and food security to mineral beneficiation, mobilizing fit-for-purpose capital while ensuring African ownership of technology, data, and manufacturing capacity. His TED Talk on economic diplomacy and industrial policy has inspired leaders globally to rethink development partnerships. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction to Clean Energy and Industrialization 00:15 - Navigating Geopolitical Tensions in Clean Energy 06:45 - Blueprint for African-Led Clean Industrialization 14:19 - Redefining Bankability in African Terms 25:22 - African Sovereignty and Global Partnerships 29:11 - Looking Ahead: The Future of African Industrialization Connect with the Supply Chain Revolution Subscribe for the full "10 Big Ideas" series exploring how to transform supply chains for a regenerative future. Follow the Supply Chain Queen on LinkedIn for additional insights and resources.

Join the Supply Chain Queen® and James George with Namuun Purevdorj—a leader who bridges two powerful knowledge systems that together can create transformation neither achieves alone.  Namuun brings an extraordinary blend of experiences: born and raised in Mongolia's deeply communal, nature-centered culture, MIT-trained in supply chain management, and seasoned across consulting, Amazon operations, and retail leadership. As someone who grew up learning that wellbeing depends on the wellbeing of people and nature around you - persevering through -40°C winters and seasonal apprenticeships—she offers a unique lens on building regenerative organizations.  Currently leading the eyewear category at Amazon Retail US, Namuun's journey spans sourcing, supplier development, packaging sustainability, network design, and procurement decarbonization. Throughout her career, she's discovered that Mongolian worldviews of interdependence, stewardship, and dialogue pair naturally with analytical training and technical skills. One helps understand people, relationships, and long-term impact. The other helps design mechanisms and make data-driven decisions.  For anyone feeling the pressure to find perfect AI-powered answers, Namuun's story is permission to progress without perfection, to trust in timely human action, and to see supply chains as living networks. Key Insights:  The Bridge Between Worlds: How indigenous wisdom about community resilience and long-term stewardship complements modern capabilities in data, AI, and digital transformation Progress Over Perfection: The Mongolian saying "even muddy water can put out fire"—why timely human action matters more than waiting for perfect solutions Seasonal Discipline as Systems Thinking: How growing up with nomadic rhythms—spring for growth, fall for preparation, winter for protection—builds natural understanding of adaptive networks Building Capability, Not Just Output: Why the most regenerative solutions focus on strengthening people and systems, not just delivering projects Co-Creation at Scale: How to build solutions with the people who will own them after implementation—from Amazon's supplier-facing teams to retail operations The Interdependence Question: "Who else needs to thrive for this work to succeed?"—a frame that widens perspective and reveals the true system Cultural Translation in Corporate Settings: Navigating the tension between communal, nature-based values and P&L-driven global logistics operations Resilience as Foundation: How harsh climates and seasonal adaptation build the perseverance required for systems transformation  About Namuun Purevdorj:  Namuun is Category Leader for Eyewear at Amazon Retail US. Previously, she led procurement decarbonization initiatives at Amazon, building tools and training for thousands of supplier-facing teams. Her background spans consulting, logistics, and procurement, an MIT master's in supply chain management, and early career work in international economics. Connect with the Supply Chain Revolution:  Subscribe for the full "10 Big Ideas" series exploring how to transform supply chains for a regenerative future. Follow the Supply Chain Queen on LinkedIn for additional insights and resources. 

Join Sheri Hinish, the Supply Chain Queen®, and co-host James George for Big Idea 7 of the Supply Chain Revolution podcast all about Forest Positive Supply Chains. This episode is part of the 10 Big Ideas to Transform Supply Chains for a Regenerative Future series and explores how global supply chains can evolve from deforestation free compliance to forest positive regeneration. Featuring Sophie Beckham, Chief Sustainability Officer of International Paper and one of the world’s most respected leaders in forestry and biodiversity stewardship, this conversation reframes forests as living infrastructure that underpins long term business resilience, economic value, and climate stability. Drawing on decades of experience across forest management, conservation partnerships, and large scale industrial operations, Sophie shares how supply chains that depend on forest systems must move beyond short term optimization toward multi generational regeneration. Forests are not interchangeable inputs. They are place based systems that require trust, data, collaboration, and long horizon thinking. In this episode, you will learn why deforestation free is only the starting point, how forest positive supply chains actively enhance biodiversity, water quality, and ecosystem health, and why nature must be treated as a core stakeholder rather than an externality. The discussion spans landowner trust, regulatory uncertainty on EUDR, data and GIS enabled transparency, climate volatility, and the role of fiber based packaging in keeping forests standing. Key themes include how forests function as living infrastructure that cannot be relocated, why regenerative forestry does not require economic tradeoffs, how early data driven interventions create positive outcomes on the ground, and why nature is the silent guarantor of all other forms of capital. This is not a theoretical sustainability discussion. It is a practical, business grounded exploration of how supply chains can become regeneration catalysts that strengthen operations, protect assets, support communities, and restore biodiversity at scale. Perfect for supply chain leaders, sustainability and ESG executives, risk and resilience leaders, operations and procurement teams, and anyone responsible for long term sourcing, infrastructure, or climate adaptation strategies. What You Will Learn Supply chains can act as catalysts for forest regeneration.The European Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) poses challenges for businesses.Technology is essential for bridging gaps in forestry management.Understanding the interconnectedness of forest ecosystems is crucial.Nature should be viewed as a key stakeholder in supply chains.Balancing commercial viability with sustainability is a complex challenge.Adapting to climate change is vital for forestry management.Consumers play a significant role in promoting sustainable packaging.Forests have the potential to contribute to climate change mitigation.The future of forestry lies in sustainable and regenerative practices. Sound Bites "We should lean into unsentimental valuation.""What can the average consumer do?""How do we deliver sustainable outcomes?" Chapters 00:00 - Introduction to Supply Chains and Regeneration 02:07 - Understanding the European Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) 06:08 - Technology Bridging Gaps in Forestry Management 09:32 - The Interconnectedness of Forest Ecosystems 12:04 - Nature as a Stakeholder in Supply Chains 15:01 - Balancing Commercial Viability with Sustainability 18:14 - Adapting to Climate Change in Forestry 21:22 - Consumer Responsibility in Sustainable Packaging 25:36 - Looking Ahead: Future of Forestry and Sustainability Keywords supply chain, forest regeneration, sustainability, EUDR, technology in forestry, biodiversity, climate change, consumer responsibility, packaging, carbon sequestration

What if the most transformative infrastructure for regenerative supply chains was the one you never notice?  In this episode of the Supply Chain Revolution podcast, hosts Sheri Hinish (Supply Chain Queen) and James George sit down with Sandra Leyva Martinez, Head of Sustainability for CHEP Americas at Brambles—the world's largest circular asset pooling company. Sandy brings extraordinary experience from leading transformation at Amazon, managing sustainability across 40,000 suppliers, and building the first sustainability hub for Amazon's 2.5 million selling partners.  Together, they explore how circular distribution infrastructure serves as the invisible backbone for regenerative communities, moving beyond basic sustainability to systems that actively restore ecosystems and create distributed economic opportunity.  Key insights from this conversation:  Why seamless integration makes circular supply chains invisible—and why that's exactly the point How data analytics and traceability enable collaborative decision-making across stakeholders The strategic shift from planting trees by units to measuring impact by hectares for biodiversity Why creating your own sustainable timber source makes business sense in a world of certified forest scarcity How "infrastructure as a service" forces companies to rethink ownership and access The role of local repair hubs in decentralizing logistics and creating community employment Why the best use of AI combines data processing with human quality oversight Sandy's "nothing is stopping us" philosophy—it's about strategic timing, not barriers How to reduce empty miles and pilot alternative fuels through partnership models The urgent need for innovation hubs to address electronic waste infrastructure gaps  Sandy shares CHEP and Brambles' journey from pioneering circular economy models in 2017-2018 to today's regenerative ambitions, revealing how efficiency, resilience, and business continuity create the perfect conditions for transformation.  This is Big Idea 6 in our series on transforming supply chains for a regenerative future. The message is clear: start now.  Connect with the Supply Chain Revolution: Subscribe for the full "10 Big Ideas" series exploring how to transform supply chains for a regenerative future. Follow the Supply Chain Queen on LinkedIn for additional insights and resources.  Guest: Sandra Leyva Martinez, Head of Sustainability, CHEP Americas (Brambles)  Hosts: Sheri Hinish & James George  Series: 10 Big Ideas to Transform Supply Chains for a Regenerative Future 

The next transformation in global trade isn’t being written in boardrooms — it’s being built in the Global South. In this episode of The Supply Chain Revolution®, host Sheri Hinish (The Supply Chain Queen) and co-host James George are joined by Professor Gautam R. Desiraju, one of India’s most distinguished scientists and co-author of India’s Supply Chains in a World at War. Together, they uncover how supply chains — once designed for efficiency and control — have become tools of conflict and power. But within this chaos lies a blueprint for regeneration. Through stories spanning semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, energy, and even extraterrestrial logistics, this conversation explores how nations like India are leveraging strategic autonomy, capability building, and cultural wisdom to create supply chains that regenerate economies, ecosystems, and communities. 💡 What You’ll Learn: • Why “decolonizing resilience” may be the most important shift in global supply chain strategy • How the Global South is rewriting the rules of economic power • The emerging science and policy behind regenerative development • What companies can learn from India’s approach to sovereignty, cooperation, and innovation This is more than an episode — it’s a journey from conflict to cooperation, from extraction to regeneration, and from efficiency to equity. 🎧 Tune in to learn how the future of global supply chains will be written by collaboration, capability, and regeneration.  Order his new book here - https://www.amazon.in/dp/9365479908

Join the Supply Chain Queen and James George with Julia Armstrong D'Agnese, Co-Founder and CEO of Earth Knowledge, for a groundbreaking discussion about making nature a measurable stakeholder in business operations.  In this episode of the Supply Chain Revolution's "10 Big Ideas" series, you'll learn how Julia's team has pioneered Integrated Planetary Intelligence™—a platform that translates the complexity of Earth's natural systems into actionable business insights to build regenerative supply chains. As a top Microsoft partner serving Fortune 500 companies and now featured on NASDAQ DataLink with 800,000 users, Earth Knowledge is transforming how companies understand their planetary dependencies.  Key Insights:  The Five Critical Planetary Dependencies: Water availability, soil health, biodiversity, energy demands, and agriculture/food vulnerabilities—and why supply chains are blind to these risks until crisis hits Digital Twin Technology: How Global Twins (1km resolution, forecasts from 1900-2100) and Regional Twins (250m resolution with daily forecasts) enable both strategic planning and real-time operational decisions From Compliance to Competitive Advantage: Why planetary intelligence transforms environmental data from reporting burden to profit driver Real-World Applications: How companies use daily forecasts to optimize inventory, protect infrastructure, and adapt agricultural sourcing ahead of climate impacts The $7 Trillion AI Opportunity: Balancing data center growth with water and energy availability—why site selection now requires planetary intelligence California's Climate Whiplash: How atmospheric rivers delivering "two Amazon rivers" require 10-day forecasts for emergency preparedness and groundwater recharge Integration Strategy: Why Earth Knowledge plugs into existing platforms (Microsoft Fabric) rather than requiring new infrastructure  What You'll Learn:  How extreme weather events costing $1 billion+ now occur every three weeks instead of every four months Why $44 trillion of economic value (over half of global GDP) depends on nature's services How Fortune 500 companies are shifting from transition risk to physical asset risk assessment The difference between managing water like a "bank account" vs traditional approaches Why inventory decisions based on last year's sales are being replaced by planetary forecasts How wine and agriculture companies use long-term forecasts to identify optimal growing regions decades in advance  Julia shares compelling examples of companies discovering that planetary intelligence isn't just for compliance—it's needed across risk management, real estate, site selection, business continuity, supply chain operations, and strategic planning.  This isn't theoretical sustainability—it's practical guidance on using Earth systems data to build resilient, regenerative supply chains while improving business outcomes.  Perfect for: Supply chain leaders, sustainability executives, risk managers, operations professionals, and anyone responsible for long-term business resilience.  About Julia Armstrong D'Agnese: Co-Founder and CEO of Earth Knowledge, Julia brings decades of entrepreneurial experience including scaling a company from trailers to IPO in four years. Earth Knowledge's team includes five IPCC/National Climate Assessment authors, President Obama's former White House climate director, and pioneers in Earth systems science. Founded in 2003, Earth Knowledge was ahead of the market in understanding that businesses need integrated planetary intelligence to make decisions that serve people, profits, and planet.  Connect with the Supply Chain Revolution: Subscribe for the full "10 Big Ideas" series exploring how to transform supply chains for a regenerative future. Follow the Sheri Hinish on LinkedIn for additional insights and resources.  Episode Length: 28 minutes 

Join the Supply Chain Queen and James George with Teesee Murray, Group President of Turtle | CEO of TurtleX, for an eye-opening discussion about transforming manufacturing through AI-powered regenerative systems.    In this episode of the Supply Chain Revolution's "10 Big Ideas to Transform Supply Chains for a Regenerative Future" series, discover how companies are leveraging AI and exponential technologies to create regenerative manufacturing outcomes. Teesee, leading a fourth-generation, family-owned Certified Women's Business Enterprise with over 100 years of history, shares insights from navigating multiple industrial revolutions—from electrification through automation to today's AI transformation.    Key Insights:  How to turn "transformation into trust" by inspiring people to embrace AI-driven change at the individual level Why growing power demands from AI data centers are driving innovation in sustainable energy solutions The role of microgrids, atmospheric water generation, and advanced battery technologies in creating regenerative systems How digital twins and IoT enable comprehensive Scope 3 emissions reporting across supply chains Why new market mechanisms are financing the energy transition beyond government subsidies The critical importance of systemic thinking: changes must benefit individuals, teams, companies, and customers    What You'll Learn:  Practical approaches to enterprise-wide AI transformation that creates sustainability benefits How to manage cultural resistance when implementing exponential technologies Real examples of innovative solutions like utility-grade water-from-air generation coupled with renewable energy Why successful transformation requires augmenting individual skill sets and building appetite for change Technology solutions making regenerative manufacturing tracking and optimization possible The business case for resilience: how microgrids and energy independence create competitive advantage  Teesee shares compelling stories from the frontlines of AI transformation, including how companies are solving the "juice problem" in the grid through market-driven innovation and why the biggest risk with AI is ignoring it rather than embracing it thoughtfully.  This isn't theoretical sustainability talk – it's a practical guide to using AI and exponential technologies to build regenerative manufacturing systems while creating business value.  Perfect for supply chain leaders, manufacturing executives, sustainability professionals, and anyone interested in leveraging AI for regenerative transformation.    Connect with the Supply Chain Revolution: Subscribe for the full "10 Big Ideas" series exploring how to transform supply chains for a regenerative future. Follow the Supply Chain Queen on LinkedIn and James George for additional insights and resources.    About Teesee Murray: Teesee Murray is Group President of Turtle | CEO of TurtleX. Turtle is a global leader in electrical distribution, industrial MRO, automation, technology, supply chain solutions, and energy management. As a fourth-generation, family-owned Certified Women's Business Enterprise (WBE) with over 100 years of history, Turtle delivers mission critical solutions through radical collaboration, technical expertise, innovation, and sustainability. Visit www.turtle.com.   

Join the Supply Chain Queen and Dr. Garry Cooper, neuroscientist-turned-circular economy pioneer, for an eye-opening discussion about transforming the trillion-dollar waste economy into business value through circular materials practices.  In this episode of the Supply Chain Revolution's "10 Big Ideas to Transform Supply Chains for a Regenerative Future " series, discover how companies are moving beyond recycling to create true circular materials economies. Dr. Cooper, CEO and Founder of Rheaply, shares insights from 10 years of building one of the country's largest reuse networks, revealing why the global circularity rate has actually declined despite increased awareness.  Key Insights:  Why there's literally a trillion-dollar economy of unused materials beneath our feet How businesses can generate immediate ROI from materials they're currently throwing away The infrastructure gap preventing circular economy adoption and how technology is solving it Why reuse and repair should come before recycling in the circular hierarchy The critical importance of designing products for multiple lifecycles from the start The mindset shift from seeing "waste" as problems to recognizing valuable assets  What You'll Learn:  Practical KPIs that matter for circular materials implementation How leading companies are capturing value from products across multiple lifecycles Why designing for reuse from the start is essential for true circular materials economy Technology solutions making circular materials tracking and verification possible The business case beyond sustainability: faster sourcing, reduced costs, supply chain resilience Future trends: take-back programs, carbon accounting integration, and mainstream adoption  Dr. Cooper shares compelling stories from the frontlines of circular economy implementation, including how Northwestern University labs sparked a reuse revolution and why companies are paying millions to throw away materials that other projects desperately need.  This isn't theoretical sustainability talk – it's a practical guide to unlocking hidden value in your supply chain while building a regenerative future.  Perfect for supply chain leaders, procurement professionals, sustainability executives, and anyone interested in turning waste streams into revenue streams.  Connect with the Supply Chain Revolution: Subscribe for the full "10 Big Ideas" series exploring how to transform supply chains for a regenerative future. Follow the Supply Chain Queen on LinkedIn for additional insights and resources.  About Dr. Garry Cooper: Dr. Cooper is the CEO and Founder of Rheaply, a technology platform that enables organizations to track, manage, and exchange resources to reduce waste and create value. With a background in neuroscience and a passion for systems thinking, Cooper has spent over a decade building one of the country's largest reuse networks. 

In Season 2, Episode 2 of the Supply Chain Revolution podcast, hosts Sheri Hinish and James George delve into the concept of regenerative sourcing as a transformative approach to supply chains. They discuss the shift from traditional sustainability practices to a regenerative mindset that aims to leave ecosystems better than they found them. The conversation covers systemic thinking, practical applications in agriculture and textiles, the role of technology in enabling regenerative practices, and future trends in supply chain sustainability. The episode concludes with a call to action for listeners to be curious and engage in learning about these critical topics. Takeaways -Regenerative sourcing represents a fundamental shift in supply chain thinking. -The focus should be on creating net positive outcomes rather than just reducing harm. -Systemic thinking is essential for understanding the interconnectedness of supply chain elements. -Practical examples of regenerative sourcing can be found in agriculture and textiles. -Technology plays a crucial role in enabling regenerative practices and data transformation. -Future supply chain strategies must integrate regenerative principles to remain competitive. -Consumer demand is shifting towards brands that prioritize sustainability and regeneration. -Long-term strategies are necessary for meaningful change in supply chains. -Engagement and collaboration are key to advancing regenerative practices. -Being aggressively curious is vital for understanding and implementing regenerative sourcing. Sound Bites "We need to think about new and radical ideas." "We need to think about it very differently." "Be aggressively curious." Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Regenerative Sourcing 03:33 The Shift from Sustainability to Regeneration 06:27 Understanding Regenerative Sourcing 09:32 Practical Applications in Agriculture 12:34 Innovative Practices Across Sectors 15:35 The Role of Technology in Regenerative Sourcing 18:43 Future Trends in Supply Chain Practices 21:29 Closing Thoughts and Call to Action About The Supply Chain Revolution® isn't just a top-ranked podcast—it's a movement reimagining global networks as pathways of restoration. Host Sheri Hinish (Supply Chain Queen), a globally recognized thought leader in sustainability and supply chain innovation, challenges the notion that we can only be "less bad." Instead, she explores how supply chains can actively regenerate our world. In our groundbreaking new series "10 Big Ideas to Transform Supply Chains for a Regenerative Future," co-hosted with James George, former Ellen MacArthur Foundation leader, we move beyond incremental sustainability to explore transformative approaches that regenerate natural and social systems. From Regenerative Sourcing to Transparent Value Chains, each episode unpacks revolutionary concepts with world-class experts and provocative voices disrupting the status quo. As a recognized pioneer and leader with a distinct point of view, Sheri brings unparalleled expertise in technology-enabled transformation, circularity, sustainability innovation and the most advanced 'sustainable' supply chain practices. This podcast delivers actionable insights where innovation meets impact—equipping professionals to design supply chains that heal rather than harm. Join our vibrant community of Rebels who are forward-thinking practitioners and leaders committed to disrupting the status quo for positive transformation. Subscribe now to architect a world where business success and environmental prosperity grow together. Engage other Rebels in our community who share your passion and vision for a new world where people, planet, and business can thrive.

Welcome to the new season of the Supply Chain Revolution podcast, where hosts Sheri R. Hinish and James George discuss the launch of '10 Big Ideas to Transform Supply Chains for a Regenerative Future'. As they reflect on their previous conversations and emphasize the need for actionable change in the industry. The episode serves as an introduction to the new season, highlighting the personal motivations behind their work and the legacy they wish to leave for future generations. They outline the upcoming episodes focused on transformative ideas that can reshape supply chains for a better future. Takeaways The conversation around sustainability is still lacking in action.Personal motivations, like family, drive the urgency for change.Supply chains can be a conduit for global change.It's essential to operationalize ambitious sustainability goals.Building resilience in supply chains is crucial for future success.The upcoming season will explore ten transformative ideas.Legacy and future generations are central to the discussion.Economic opportunities can arise from sustainable practices.The focus should be on doing more good, not just less bad.Innovation in sourcing is a key theme for the first episode. Sound Bites "It's a legacy conversation." About The Supply Chain Revolution® isn't just a top-ranked podcast—it's a movement reimagining global networks as pathways of restoration. Host Sheri Hinish (Supply Chain Queen), a globally recognized thought leader in sustainability and supply chain innovation, challenges the notion that we can only be "less bad." Instead, she explores how supply chains can actively regenerate our world. In our groundbreaking new series "10 Big Ideas to Transform Supply Chains for a Regenerative Future," co-hosted with James George, former Ellen MacArthur Foundation leader, we move beyond incremental sustainability to explore transformative approaches that regenerate natural and social systems. From Regenerative Sourcing to Transparent Value Chains, each episode unpacks revolutionary concepts with world-class experts and provocative voices disrupting the status quo. As a recognized pioneer and leader with a distinct point of view, Sheri brings unparalleled expertise in technology-enabled transformation, circularity, sustainability innovation and the most advanced 'sustainable' supply chain practices. This podcast delivers actionable insights where innovation meets impact—equipping professionals to design supply chains that heal rather than harm. Join our vibrant community of Rebels who are forward-thinking practitioners and leaders committed to disrupting the status quo for positive transformation. Subscribe now to architect a world where business success and environmental prosperity grow together. Engage other Rebels in our community who share your passion and vision for a new world where people, planet, and business can thrive. Follow Supply Chain Revolution: https://www.linkedin.com/company/supply-chain-revolution + supplychainqueen.com/podcast Follow Sheri Hinish: https://linktr.ee/Supplychainqueen Follow James George: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-a-george/

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: 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.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.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.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.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 anshu@leaflogistics.com, 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