Let's Talk Supply Chain

Welcome back to Blended! It's episode 31, I'm joined by a brand new panel of inspirational professionals and, today, we're talking about education and bias. It's a topic that's close to my heart, with my own educational and career journey. And, it's a topic that has increasingly come under the spotlight recently in light of the labor shortages and trending workplace changes we've seen industry-wide. So now is the perfect time to really explore what's going wrong, or right, with the way we think about education in the workplace. Today, our guests will be diving into education and sharing their own experiences; exploring the hiring practices that often continue to support bias; reflecting on what the next generation are doing and thinking about when it comes to education and their careers; and sharing their words of advice for how organizations can tackle education bias and create more diverse workplaces. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:   [00.44] Introductions to our Blended panellists. Rose – CEO and Principal Consultant at The Opening Door Jennifer – Executive Director at TMSA (Transportation Marketing and Sales Association) Stella – Professor at Towson University "Education bias is somebody being treated differently, or unfavorably, based on their educational background, where they went to school and what level of education they have." Rose [02.32] The group give an overview of education bias, and what it means to them. "It was instilled in me from the second I was born: education, education, education… When I finished my degree, I felt that if I wanted to make more money, if I wanted to really excel in the corporate world, I had to have an MBA. And it took me a long time to think deeper about why I felt that way, and if I really needed it to be successful. " Rose [05.09] The panel share their personal experiences, their level of education and how important it has been to their professional career. Sarah's experience of 'only' gaining a high school diploma; then studying at night school, trying different things, and gaining certifications whilst working, in order to boost her professional career Different types of education, eg. degree vs industry certifications, high school vs. higher education Stella's experience of switching fields from her degree to her master's; how a previous employer allowed her flexibility to pursue a PhD; and why she ultimately changed career, from the pharmaceutical industry to academia Stella's experience of opportunity in America versus in India, and her parents encouragement of higher education Rose's experience of being raised with the importance of education, and finally coming to terms with the fact that it might not be as important as she was raised to believe The assumption that additional education equals money and success The cost of education Jennifer's experience of teaching at a community college, and as a parent of a child with ADHD Continued education in the workplace Responsibility "Companies say 'we want to retain more employees, what can we do?' Well, help develop them! Develop them, make them want to stay with you. Sometimes simple questions have simple answers, we just have to take the time." Jennifer [23.14] The group discuss education bias within industry, and the age-old debate of experience vs education. "To be on a tenure track, you typically have to have a PhD. And then once you get into your field, then it becomes rank – are you an assistant professor, associate professor or professor – so you still have a PhD, but rank becomes an issue." Stella Stella's experience working in academia Differing ranks and salaries within the workplace, even with the same level of education Stereotypes and judgements about different types of PhD, eg 'they're just liberal arts' Elitism Ego Affinity bias Importance of diversity "It's hard to acknowledge and recognize your ego… but if we build more self-awareness, we can start to realise when our ego is leading things in the wrong direction, and the more we address that, we would see less bias." Rose [38.57] The panel reflect on what they're seeing in the market around education bias and hiring practices. Job descriptions Expectations The importance of not dismissing people if they don't have the 'perfect' educational background Using technology to pre-filter applications Asking the right questions Role of HR – who is hiring/writing job descriptions? Input from the team who will work with new hires The pace of evolving technology – education getting out of date The structure of a resume How many years' experience equals a degree? What do you actually want out of your career? Self-taught knowledge Power of self-belief "I think we put too much emphasis on education and not experience, but there is a catch 22. Because the requirement for an entry level job is 5 years – that doesn't make sense!" Jennifer [54.13] The group put the spotlight on the next generation, and what they're thinking about when it comes to education and ongoing learning. Need for more authenticity in the workplace Young people building personal brands Exploration of self-employment and entrepreneurship Greater understanding of new technologies Giving people a chance Parents, educational institutions and communities working together   [1.04.57] The panel sums up their thoughts from today's discussion.   RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED:   You can connect with Rose, Jennifer and Stella over on LinkedIn. If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more, why not check out 328: Blended – Breaking the Class Ceiling, or 265: Blended – DEI in the Workplace – Not Just The Smart Thing To Do, But The Right Thing To Do. Check out our other podcasts HERE.

Today I'm joined by Envase Technologies, a game-changing TMS provider that is on a mission to guide the freight industry into a more sustainable and profitable future. Envase bring together everything you need to gain visibility and control over your operations, expose inefficiency, and de-clutter your system, including industry-leading TMS options to fit your needs, business intelligence, rate management tools, an integrated mobile driver app, and a complete marketplace. Today Larry Cuddy, CEO of Envase Technologies, joins me to chat all about the company; the power of strategic mergers and acquisitions; putting a focus on optimization, as well as visibility; and the importance of industry-wide collaboration.   IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:   [06.32] An overview of Envase Technologies – what they do and how they help their customers. "Envase is a digital drayage intermodal platform... and we're helping optimize terminals." [07.25] Larry's founder journey, and why he decided to tackle a fragmented market by establishing Envase and taking a proactive approach to mergers and acquisitions. "We all got along as competitors, and now we're all on the same team!" [09.00] Why Larry is passionate about 'getting his hands dirty' in business, and the importance of collaboration. "It gets back to culture… so we lead by example. I would never ask anybody to do anything that I haven't attempted." [10.33] Larry announces some breaking news, and explains the impact it will have on the industry, and Envase customers. "It's so exciting, because nothing has been attempted like this!" [12.16] The landscape of the current market, and Larry's reflections on the key challenges and trends. "There's a real big spotlight on visibility and transparency… but ultimately where everyone wants to get to is optimization, and that's the thing that everybody overlooks." [14.47] Larry's advice for organizations starting their digital transformation journey; how they can identify the available options; and the conversations Envase have with their own clients to discover the best solutions for them. [17.53] The challenges facing Envase's customers, and how Envase can help. "We still fight the fight every day about collaboration… people want to be protective of their data, they don't want to share, they don't want to be friends – so we take a very different approach." [19.27] From collaboration to data, the future for the industry. "We've got air, we've got ocean, we've got LTL, we've got truckload. We've got all these different modes, but nobody shares the same DNA in order to say 'hey, this is how we do this better!'" [21.23] The future for Envase Technologies. "We're never happy with the status quo!" RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED:   Head over to Envase Technologies' website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Envase and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube or Twitter, or you can connect with Larry on LinkedIn. If you enjoyed this episode, and want to hear more from Envase Technologies, check out episode 311 featuring Allen Thomas, Chief Commercial Officer at Envase. Allen told me all about the company and what they do; the importance of digitizing drayage; how simplicity empowers growth; and why the freight industry is vital to the future of the nation. This episode was filmed at Manifest 2023. If you want to hear another fantastic episode filmed at the event, why not check out episode 322, Innovative Asset Tracking Made Easy, with Blackberry Radar. Check out our other podcasts HERE.

Today I'm joined by Nipendo, a forward-thinking software brand that is on a mission to improve how buyers and suppliers work together to combat Source-to-Pay inefficiencies and costs. The Nipendo platform is an intelligent intermediator between buyers and suppliers, using technologies like Robotic Process Automation, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, to streamline interactions and benefit all trading partners. The Nipendo platform is used by cross-vertical medium-sized and large companies across the globe, helping them reduce costs and improve procurement and supply chain efficiencies, as well as supporting their competitive strength. Today Paul Noel, Chief Revenue Officer at Nipendo, joins me to chat all about the company and what they do; their recent acquisition by Amex; changing the game in a flooded SaaS market; helping brands to embrace digital transformation processes; and the importance of bringing buyers and suppliers together in mutually beneficial partnerships.   IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:   [06.38] How and why Nipendo was founded, and what attracted Paul to the brand. "It was that approach – much more additive than disruptive – that really intrigued me as the new age of spend management." [10.34] An overview of Nipendo – what they do and how they help their customers. [12.55] Buyers: their key challenges, how the Nipendo platform works for them, and the benefits it delivers. [15.02] Suppliers: their unique set of obstacles, and what the Nipendo platform looks like from a seller's perspective. "As buyers get their act together more, it forces more requirements on the suppliers… the big saving for suppliers is having one place where they can work with multiple customers." [17.45] The impact of facilitating buyers and suppliers to work more successfully together, at a business and industry level. "People stop doing tedious things!... The pandemic gave everyone a shot in the arm - people started thinking 'what am I doing that's value add, what am I doing that can be automated?'" [21.15] Paul's thoughts on digitization and what he thinks organizations have been doing wrong, and right. [23.56] What integration and onboarding look like with Nipendo. "The availability of your IT can be a block, but when you've figured that out, the rest of is pretty easy. We're going to do the heavy lifting, because we'll make sure that message is going to flow through whatever pipe you open up, it's just a matter of opening that pipe." [27.44] The ideal client for Nipendo. [29.46] Several case studies showing how Nipendo helped key clients improve efficiency, collaboration and communication, ultimately supporting overall business growth, optimization and cost reduction. [34.06] The future for Nipendo. "2023 you'll see our name out there for a more holistic approach that a mid-market company can use, so they can leverage technology to walk and talk like a big guy, without having to be a big guy." RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED:   Head over to Nipendo's website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Nipendo and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter, or you can connect with Paul on LinkedIn. If you're in the mood for a good read, check out our Women In Supply Chain blog interview with good friend of the show Sarah Scudder - she talks all about how, in the early days of her career, learning that procurement and marketing weren't collaborating led to her breakthrough moment. Check out our other podcasts HERE.

Today I'm joined by Paccurate, a forward-thinking logistics tech brand that is on a mission to make shipping more sustainable for your business, and the planet – all through packing. Paccurate is the only patented cartonization solution that optimizes for transportation costs directly. Designed to save you cost and waste, and deliver impactful efficiency gains, the Paccurate API is fast, flexible and smart. Today James Malley, CEO and co-founder at Paccurate, joins me to chat all about the company: what they do; tackling the challenge of rising fulfilment costs; why right-sizing isn't enough; and making a commitment to sustainable solutions.   IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:   [05.51] James' career journey and how, and why, he came to co-found Paccurate. [07.12] Some of the key challenges Paccurate customers are facing right now, when it comes to packing, fulfilment and logistics. "The costs associated with fulfilment went up extremely fast during the pandemic, and the problem is that the pandemic has started to wane, but the costs have not slowed down – they keep rising." [08.45] An overview of Paccurate – what they do and how they help their customers. "We help shippers figure out which sized cartons they need to keep in their warehouses and stores, and then we provide a fast API that helps them generate packing plans in real time." [12.15] James explains exactly what cartonization means. [13.08] Common packing mistakes, how Paccurate are different, and some of the benefits that brands can expect when they work with them, from cost savings to risk mitigation. "Typically people try to make the boxes smaller, but you can go further than that – you can optimize the boxes for the journey that they're going to take." [15.57] The Paccurate algorithm, and how it uses AI to model a space and simulate the best solutions. "Everything with packing is really about finding the balance." [17.22] Why sustainability is so important to Paccurate, and how they are helping their customers to meet key ESG goals. "People have to be mindful that there is an emissions cost to paper as well… so we try to put numbers to that for our customers." [19.11] The quick and easy onboarding and implementation process with Paccurate. [20.09] Paccurate's ideal client. [21.02] From taking additional trucks off the road to improving carrier relationships, a closer look at the positive impacts of utilizing Paccurate's cartonization solution. "In the average package, that looks OK if you eyeball it, there's actually a huge amount of potential." [22.53] The future for Paccurate.   RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED:   Head over to Paccurate's website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Paccurate and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn or Twitter, or you can connect with James on LinkedIn. If you want to find out more about packaging, why not check out episode 216, Sustainable Packaging Trends, featuring Sarah Scudder, President & CRO at Real Sourcing Network and a superstar in the packaging space, who is helping to change the way we think about how the products we sell, and use, are packaged. She chats all about single vs multi-use plastics, recycling vs reusing, innovations in the packaging space, and the impact more sustainable packaging can have on both businesses and the environment. And if you're thinking about how you can tackle your own sustainability goals, why not read Achieving Sustainability Goals in Supply Chain Delivery, in which FarEye CEO Kushal Nahata talks more about addressing CO2 emissions, and the ripple effects of the COP26 conference on supply chain delivery. Check out our other podcasts HERE.

Today I'm joined by SEKO Logistics, a global, market-leading provider of logistics services who are small enough to care, but big enough to scale, for shippers around the world. SEKO provides complete supply chain solutions, specializing in transportation, logistics, forwarding and warehousing. Powered by their innovative and customizable IT solutions, SEKO provide a seamless flow of information, giving their ever-growing customer base true supply chain visibility. With over 120 offices in 40 countries worldwide, the SEKO model enables customers to benefit from global implementation experience, coupled with vital in-country knowledge and service at the local level. Today Brian Bourke, Chief Growth Officer at SEKO Logistics, joins me to chat all about the company and exactly how they help their customers; supply chain visibility; the importance of customer satisfaction; and the increasing trend for using supply chain as a competitive advantage.   IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:   [07.30] Brian's career journey, and the huge growth that he's helped to drive at SEKO. "We doubled in a size [within a year]… it's a testament to our investment and expansion in ecommerce, ecommerce logistics, international ecommerce shipping, home delivery and last mile!" [09.29] An overview of SEKO Logistics – what they do and how they help their customers. "Wherever our clients are sourcing from, we can help them bring it into their home market. And, from there, it's all about connecting to ecommerce." [15.31] The exponential growth that SEKO experienced during the pandemic, and what they learned. "It used to be, clients in the same industry followed similar patterns. Well that's no longer the case. Everyone is unique: everyone's implementing different things at different times, launching new sourcing in new countries, slowing down their supply chain, speeding it up… all of these things are happening in real time." [19.53] SEKO Live's easy onboarding and implementation process, and the solutions' ideal customer. "It's a disjointed process. We want to create a seamless, integrated, on-brand and ultimately easy process." [22.15] A case study showing how SEKO Live helped a key customer to identify which vendor was causing the most service issues with their deliveries, so that they could be laser-focused in creating solutions that reduce returns and ultimately save money. "Having agile, nimble, flexible, responsive partners that can help you pivot has been ever more critical." [24.01] From strategic partnerships and acquisitions to the growth of e-commerce, the future for SEKO Logistics. "There's an ecosystem out there, and we should all leverage it… it's so important to partner with, and purchase from, best-in-class providers. Technology is critically important – but you don't need to do it all on your own anymore!" RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED:   Want to dive in a little deeper? Head over to SEKO Logistics' website now to learn more and discover how they could help you. You can also connect with SEKO Logistics and keep up to date with everything they have going on over on LinkedIn, Twitter or Facebook, or you can connect with Brian on LinkedIn. You have your option, so take control of your demand chain today. If you enjoyed this episode, and are interested in learning more about the challenges and opportunities to be found in shipping, why not check out No Bullshipping with Hope White, one of our incredible live shows, that regularly features the key players, and their suppliers, that support both the global and domestic supply chain. And if you're thinking about how ecommerce has changed as we head into 2023, why not listen to 238: Year In Review, featuring journalist and logistics tech expert Eric Johnson - what a year 2022 has been! Check out our other podcasts HERE.