The Zero100 Podcast

The Zero100 Mailbag: Who Owns AI's Bad Calls – and What’s Happening to Entry-Level Jobs?

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 08:00:00 -0400

Should you fix broken planning processes before automating them, or does that just delay progress? When an AI agent makes a bad decision, who's actually accountable? And how do junior employees build expertise when AI handles the foundational work they used to learn from? This week, Cody Stack (VP, Research Analytics) sits down with Kelly Coutinho (VP, Research & Advisory) and Lauren Acoba (VP, Head of Research & Advisory) to tackle these questions and others from Zero100’s supply chain and operations community.

How On Built Supply Chain as Its Competitive Edge

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 08:00:00 -0400

At 16 years old, On has a rare advantage: young enough to be agile, mature enough to scale globally. This week, Chief Supply Chain Officer Craig Jones tells Kelly Coutinho (VP, Research & Advisory) how the company’s using this window to build supply chain as a competitive advantage, not a cost center – from the development of LightSpray’s three-minute shoe uppers to AI built on obsessively clean data. His philosophy? Automate the mundane to liberate the magnificent, finish the race together, and build the company you want to be in five years, not the one you are today.

Build to Adapt, Not to Last: Church & Dwight's Manufacturing Evolution

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 08:00:00 -0400

When Carlos Ruiz joined Church & Dwight as Chief Supply Chain Officer, he realized the company's biggest asset – rigid, built-to-last manufacturing lines – was actually holding it back. His solution: stop building equipment for 15-year depreciation schedules and start building for speed and flexibility. But the real challenge isn't the technology or capital approval – it’s convincing people to let go of what worked yesterday. This week on the podcast, Carlos tells Zero100's Jenna Fink (Senior Director, Research & Advisory) how he’s tackling change management, navigating board expectations, and leading Church & Dwight's evolution from Lean foundations to end-to-end operational excellence.

What Everyone Gets Wrong About Humanoids

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 08:30:00 -0400

Backflips and kung fu routines make great viral videos, but what's the actual business case for humanoid robots? Zero100’s Lauren Acoba (VP, Head of Research & Advisory), Kevin O'Marah (Chief Research Officer), and Jenna Fink (Senior Director, Research & Advisory) cut through the hype to explain why we predict a 1000% jump in real humanoid workflows this year. Turns out, the biggest advantage isn’t the robot itself – it’s that humanoids can drop into existing workflows without expensive facility redesigns, cutting integration costs by 80%. The team explores lessons from BMW’s approach in Spartanburg, why China's robotics lead matters, what makes a use case worth pursuing, and how to tell when a demo is operationally credible or just impressive theater.

Zero100 Forum 2026: Scaling AI in a Fragmenting World

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 08:00:00 -0400

Zero100’s Forum brought CSCOs and COOs to the Arizona desert to tackle the question keeping operations leaders up at night: how do you scale AI when insights outpace execution? Caroline Chumakov and Justin Gillebo (Senior Directors, Research & Advisory) sit down with Sophia Pouzyrev (Account Executive) to unpack the candid conversations that defined the event – from the Rt Hon Sir Tony Blair’s insights on the unwinding of 30 years of globalization to Scott Galloway's challenge on designing work for Gen Z. The verdict: leaders have moved past pilots. 2026 is about production, orchestration, and building talent that can keep pace with technology. If you're stuck between insight and action, this debrief captures what's actually working.

The Strait of Hormuz Crisis: Inside Maersk’s Operational Response

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 08:00:00 -0400

As war in the Middle East disrupts one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints, container shipping networks face unprecedented operational challenges. Rabab Boulos, Chief Operating Officer at A.P. Moller - Maersk, joins Kevin O’Marah, Chief Research Officer at Zero100, to discuss how the company is managing through extraordinary disruption in the Gulf – from suspending bookings and rerouting vessels to redesigning fuel supply chains in real time. Rabab shares Maersk’s crisis management framework, how technology enables visibility when conditions change by the hour, and what it will take to restore normal service.

Think It, Build It, Scale It: Vibe Coding Lessons from the Zero100 Team

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 10:15:00 -0400

Two years ago, building an app required an engineering team and weeks of back-and-forth. Now, it can be done in two and a half hours using plain English. In this episode, VP, Research & Advisory Kelly Coutinho, Data Analyst Andreas Arghyrou, and Head of Digital Member Experience Ryan Mahoney dive into the wonderful world of vibe coding. None of them are developers, yet all three are using tools like Replit and Lovable to create prototypes, dashboards, and monitoring systems without writing a line of code. From prompt patterns and early demos to the guardrails needed to move from MVP to production, this conversation offers a practical lens on what leaders should do now as the tech–ops gap narrows fast.

The Zero100 team’s first “Wait – I just built that?” moments (01:29)
Ops, meet your new superpower: building MVPs without engineers (03:03)
First vibe coding faceplants and why iteration beats “failure” (04:52)
Prompting that works: context, clarity, and a little finesse (07:07)
Getting buy-in fast – bring a demo, not a deck (09:35)
When prototypes need to graduate to production (11:18)
Separating experimentation from enterprise rigor (13:22)
The supply chain future where everyone codes (but the real skill is knowing what to build) (15:20)

Data First, AI Second: The Roadmap to a Digitally Mature Supply Chain

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 09:45:00 -0400

Companies are running tons of AI pilots, yet most struggle to move from experimentation to scaled impact. Zero100’s latest research reveals why: only 15% of organizations say their data foundation is ready to support AI at scale, while the rest wrestle with fragmentated data and meetings where teams spend more time debating which numbers to trust than making decisions. This week, Kelly Coutinho (VP, Research & Advisory), Julia “JD” Dahlgren ( Director, Data Science), and Justin Gillebo (Senior Director, Research & Advisory) explore what “decision safe data” actually means, why agentic systems raise the bar on clarity, and working from one source of truth.

The data cleanliness issue that gave 500,000 free gas and electricity (01:11)
Why 85% of companies aren’t ready for “decision-safe” AI (02:18)
How humans and AI fail differently (07:40)
How "good enough" data can lead to misaligned metrics and escalating operational costs (10:04)
The human in the loop – from training a replacement to becoming a collaborator (13:57)
The “decision agreement” test: How to know when your AI is ready for production (15:49)
The ultimate prize? Compressing the time between signal and response (17:37)

Beyond Circularity: How Asia's Manufacturers Turn Sustainability Into Strategy

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 11:30:00 -0400

Circularity is climbing the agenda in fashion, but what actually drives results? Former Puma Chief Sourcing Officer Anne-Laure Descours has spent 30 years working across Asia’s supply chains, seeing firsthand which sustainability efforts stick… and which stall. In this episode, she joins Senior Director, Research & Advisory Jenna Fink to explore how manufacturers are embedding sustainability into real business performance. From the limits of textile recycling to the coalitions and production decisions shaping material innovation, Anne-Laure explains why the competitive edge sits upstream, and why suppliers often see the commercial logic more clearly than brands.

When “doing it right” became a competitive edge (01:10)
China’s “Two Mountains” philosophy: green growth = real growth (02:43)
Metrics matter… but the real work happens in factories (05:42)
The unsung heroes: machinery and suppliers driving the backstage innovation (07:33)
RE:FIBRE, circularity hype, and why we can’t recycle 150B garments a year (08:17)
The waste-to-energy pivot (because sorting doesn’t scale) (11:38)
Making the business case for sustainability: wins, fails, and supplier-led change (14:03)
Boardroom perspectives, DNA traceability, and giving makers their due (18:06)

The Paradox of Legacy and Digital Transformation

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 06:00:00 -0400

Toyota practically wrote the book on continuous improvement. But can the plays that won championships before still win them today? This week, Kevin Austin, Group Vice President, Supply Chain at Toyota North America, tackles one of the hardest leadership challenges: transforming a company built on discipline and proven systems without losing what made it great. In conversation with Zero100 Chief Research Officer Kevin O'Marah (yes, two Kevins), he reveals why TPS is the foundation that makes transformation possible, and what happens when AI meets craftspeople who've spent 30 years building cars.

The tension between pride, legacy, and a world that got way more complex (01:20)
How to know when digital transformation isn’t working (and you’re the bottleneck) (03:37)
Early missteps and why noble missions beat shiny tools (05:37)
Fixing friction from forecasting all the way to customer delivery (08:20)
When customers can track a $10 pizza but not a $50,000 vehicle (12:37)
How TPS creates a stable backbone for experimentation (15:17)
When AI meets craftsmanship: Amplifying 30 years of judgment with technology (17:07)
What stays Toyota, what must change, and Kevin's north star (22:24)

The COO Decade: Why Operations Leaders Own AI's Future

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 05:15:00 -0400

For every bold AI vision from a CEO, there's a COO thinking: “That's not happening on your timeline.” Zero100’s new survey reveals the scale of the disconnect: 83% of COOs see a significant gap between what’s being promised and what’s operationally feasible. But COOs aren't skeptics – they’re realists who know what execution actually takes. Chief Research Officer Kevin O’Marah and VP, Research & Advisory Services Lauren Acoba reveal how top COOs are bridging the gap: targeting specific workflows, building on existing tech stacks, and playing the long game while delivering near-term wins.

Inside the data: What 100 COOs told us about AI (01:45)
Closing the loop and creating value beyond the sale (05:32)
Why COOs want to move from execution to strategy (and why CEOs should be relieved) (09:16)
Stop! Don’t rip out your tech stack: Why layering AI is the smarter play (14:31)
The Goldilocks approach to placing successful AI bets (17:50)
The COO decade and why ops leaders are built for what’s next (21:11)

The Zero100 Mailbag: Data, Agents, and Transforming Without Burning Out

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 08:15:00 -0400

The Zero100 mailbag is open – and the questions inside reveal what's really keeping supply chain leaders up at night. With a little help from our own agentic AI sorting system, Chief Content Officer Matt Davis, Principal, Research Jenna Fink, and VP, Research Geraint John tackle what they've been hearing from the community. How do you move logistics from dashboards to execution? How do you orchestrate multiple AI agents on the same process? And how do you transform operations when the same people driving change are also keeping everything from falling apart?

How to sell a data cleanup project (and the CPG that cut 192 hours of downtime) (02:12)
Why procurement is having its AI moment (05:37)
The transformation paradox: how do you change while keeping the wheels turning? (08:20)
Orchestration: Zero100's word of the year (12:05)
The visibility-to-execution gap (and why logistics is lagging) (16:26)
Getting agents to actually work together (20:37)

Reimagining Supply Chain Careers in the AI Era

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 07:30:00 -0400

After 25 years at L’Oréal, Vanessa Clemendot made the leap from beauty to biopharma – and into a workforce being redefined by AI. Now SVP, Global Supply Chain at Sanofi, Vanessa sits down with Caroline Chumakov, Principal, Research at Zero100, to unpack the shift from siloed execution to cross-functional orchestration, the rise of judgment over computation as agents handle the heavy lifting, and why data literacy is now table stakes.

Vanessa Clemendot’s career across 25 years, 10+ roles, and 3 continents (00:55)
The first 90 days at Sanofi (03:58)
Working with AI: where computation ends and judgment begins (06:12)
Who owns the tech stack? It’s not one team (09:34)
One dataset + real time decisions = planning in orchestration (11:23)
M&A and divestitures across newly split supply chains (13:55)
Day one advice: trusting your gut (19:08)

Download from Davos: Optimism, Confusion, and the Real COO Agenda

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 12:30:00 -0400

While Davos headlines focused on Trump and tariffs, Zero100’s CEO Olly Sloboda and Chief Research Officer Kevin O'Marah came back with a different perspective. Fresh from four days of meetings with CEOs, COOs and heads of supply chain, they debrief on what they heard on the ground: why leaders are surprisingly optimistic in a time of turbulence, how the AI conversation has evolved from pilots to full workflow redesigns, and why cybersecurity emerged as a top threat to business continuity – even above geopolitical uncertainty.

Welcome to Davos: The vibe on the ground (01:02)
What supply chain leaders were actually focused on (02:56)
Why leaders are surprisingly optimistic despite uncertainty (04:58)
From AI pilots to redesigning workflows for an agentic world (08:54)
Cybersecurity: The uncomfortable truth COOs see (12:22)
What now? Practical moves for operators (15:57)
Final thoughts: Why human connection still matters (18:41)

How Inflation Woke Up the Supply Chain-Aware Consumer

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 06:30:00 -0400

Think consumers just don’t get supply chain? Think again. Nearly half belong to personas that see its impact – and that awareness is changing how price increases land, how trust holds, and what “value” really means. On this episode, VP, Data & Analytics Cody Stack sits down with Chief Research Officer Kevin O’Marah and Director, Data Science Julia Dahlgren to break down what Zero100 learned from our survey of 14,000 shoppers across seven countries. For leaders still anchored to shelf price alone, this conversation offers a clearer view of what shapes consumer decisions as prices rise – and practical moves to use now.

The big question: Can supply chains under pressure keep customer trust? (01:15)
Inside Zero100’s 14,000-consumer survey – and where the data surprised us (02:23)
Breaking the myth of “the customer”: five emerging personas (04:21)
What shoppers are trading off and what’s keeping them loyal (11:54)
Keeping customers in a higher-price world: High-impact moves for supply chain leaders (18:36)
Where supply chain awareness goes next (22:27)

Why Every Enterprise Needs Continuous Planning Now

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 06:15:00 -0400

Is your annual planning cycle obsolete before it's approved? This week, Zero100 VP, Research & Advisory Services Lauren Acoba, VP, Research, Kelly Coutinho, and Principal, Research, Justin Gillebo break down Continuous Planning, a new operating model that shortens the distance between signal and response. They explore what Continuous Planning is (and what it isn’t), where AI genuinely helps, and why coordination matters as decision cycles compress. A practical guide to spotting bottlenecks, evolving planning roles beyond spreadsheets, and knowing where to start.

So… what is Continuous Planning? (01:53)
The Covid inflection point – and why legacy planning struggles under faster cycles (03:22)
Continuous Planning as a system, not a tool (04:57)
AI: The magic ingredient for modern planning (06:12)
Why planning speed needs orchestration (07:13)
The evolution of the planner: From spreadsheet mechanic to orchestrator (13:10)
How Novartis is making Continuous Planning work in the wild (17:40)
A practical path to Continuous Planning (18:50)
What changes next (and what won’t) (21:45)

Year in Review: How New Balance Navigated Disruption and Transformation in 2025

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 05:45:00 -0400

Tariffs dominated headlines. AI moved from pilot to production. Automation got real. But what did 2025 actually look like for operators on the ground? New Balance COO Dave Wheeler joins Lauren Acoba, VP, Research Advisory Services at Zero100, to reflect on a year of “unpredictable disruption” – and reveal why the companies that thrived weren't chasing efficiency at all costs. From 806,000 square feet of robotic warehousing to the irreplaceable value of human craftsmanship, this is the 2025 year in review you need to hear.

2025 in two words: “Unpredictable disruption” (00:54)
Made in USA for 75 years – validation or new challenges? (1:41)
Private ownership's long-term advantage in a quarterly-obsessed world (3:19)
AI moves from pilots to real wins in supplier complexity and sourcing (05:49)
Staying the course on sustainability as the pendulum swings (07:51)
Robots, AVs, and 100K units per day: Inside New Balance’s new Salt Lake City DC (10:35)
What New Balance will never automate: the craftsmanship that defines the brand (13:06)
The skills gap reality check (14:38)
The 2026 defining move? Breaking out of operations’ four walls (20:00)

The ROI of IoT: How Visibility Tech Is Finally Delivering on Its Promise

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 06:00:00 -0400

For over a decade, IoT failed to live up to the hype. Now? It's quietly become one of the most transformational forces in operations — not because the buzz came back, but because sensors got cheap, 5G arrived, and edge computing actually works. Join Zero100's VP, Research Advisory Services Lauren Acoba and Principals, Research Caroline Chumakov and Jenna Fink as they unpack why visibility tech is suddenly delivering ROI, where companies are still collecting data they'll never use, and how the best operators are moving from "find this thing" to preventing problems before they happen.

Why IoT endured when other hyped tech faded (1:01)
RFID vs BLE: When 4 cents beats $30 (03:36)
How edge computing finally unlocked IoT's promise (07:11)
IoT wins from Caterpillar, Maersk and Walmart (9:41)
Why connectivity is now a strategic differentiator (13:49)
"Instrumentation without intention": The expensive data trap (15:08)
Measuring ROI — beyond visibility (17:55)

Zero100 Predictions 2026: AI Agents, Nuclear Energy, and Vanishing Jobs

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 05:30:00 -0400

What did Zero100 get right about 2025 — and what's coming in 2026? Chief Content Officer Matt Davis sits down with VP, Research Advisory Services Lauren Acoba and Principal Research Caroline Chumakov to grade last year's boldest predictions before mapping the forces that will reshape supply chains over the next 12 months. From AI agents moving into planning and sourcing, to clean energy as competitive advantage, to India's manufacturing rise and humanoid robots entering the workforce— this is your annual roadmap of trends worth watching and moves to make now.

Grading 2025: How Zero100's predictions held up (01:43)
Can AI move faster without cleaner data? Spoiler: probably not (05:25)
Nuclear's next mission: Powering the data center boom (06:29)
How AI agents are reshaping planning, sourcing, and orchestration roles (10:31)
Could India be manufacturing’s next superstar? (16:34)
Humanoids find their footing in real-life operations (18:36)

From Delivery to Dine-In: How DoorDash Is Reinventing Small Business Commerce

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 08:30:00 -0400

DoorDash isn't just delivering dinner – it's transforming how small businesses run. This week, VP, Strategy & Operations Parisa Sadrzadeh joins Zero100 Chief Content Officer Matt Davis to take us inside the systems powering the restaurant experience today. From the new Going Out feature blending digital and in-person moments to partner-first design principles that work across thousands of kitchens, Parisa reveals what supply chain leaders can learn from frontline food ops.

Inside the DoorDash playbook: delivery, dine-in, and everything between (01:22)
Building for the moments that matter: why restaurant tech must respect craft over complexity (04:13)
How Gen Z is pushing commerce and omnichannel into new territory (07:09)
Why great tech starts with understanding your partner's operating "heartbeat" (10:05)
How working the floor leads to better tech solutions (11:55)
On Shake Shack, growth, and meeting customers where they want to be (17:32)
Earning trust without authority: aligning incentives and building for partners (23:36)

The Zero100 Mailbag: Your Biggest AI Questions, Answered

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 05:30:00 -0400

The best questions come from the messy middle of transformation. Join Zero100’s Principals, Research Caroline Chumakov and Jenna Fink, and Chief Research Officer Kevin O'Marah as they answer the questions keeping supply chain leaders up at night in our first mailbag episode: How do you balance quick AI wins with paradigm-shifting transformation? What actually measures Copilot's impact? And to what degree can organizational resistance slow change? Real questions, actionable answers.

Introducing the Zero100 Mailbag (00:05)
Balancing incremental vs transformational AI strategy (1:06)
Manufacturing transformation: task automation or systems redesign? (5:00)
Measuring Copilot productivity and AI ROI (10:02)
How to manage organizational resistance and the quintile problem (13:42)
What data improvements are needed before AI implementation? (18:10)

Zero100 Live 2025: The AI Agent Reality Check

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 04:30:00 -0400

The hype is high for agentic AI – but what's the reality on the ground? Fresh off Zero100’s Live 2025 events in London and San Diego, the Zero100 team reveals what's actually working in supply chain transformation. Spoiler alert: it’s not about deploying AI and declaring victory. It's about the unsexy fundamentals – data ownership, fusion teams, and the Translators who bridge tech and ops. Featuring: VP, Data & Analytics Cody Stack, VP, Research Advisory Services Lauren Acoba, and Account Executive Jen Smith.

Live in a nutshell: Bold vision meets pragmatic action (00:53)
Taking Live international: Impressions from London and San Diego (2:10)
Content that resonated: Translators, fusion teams, and scaling AI pilots (5:00)
What is “data readiness” really? (7:11)
Sustainability meets efficiency: The cost-carbon connection (9:02)
Real-world AI use cases, from document parsing to personal leadership development (11:07)
Key takeaways: Unconstrained thinking, hard work, and why humans aren't going anywhere (20:09)

The Executive Edge: Storytelling Secrets to Win Board Buy-In

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 01:00:00 -0400

In a world drowning in data and AI hype, the leaders who win aren't the ones with the best algorithms – they're the ones who can tell the best stories. Join Zero100’s Chief Research Officer Kevin O'Marah and Principal Research Caroline Chumakov as they explore storytelling as a critical leadership strategy for digital supply chain transformation and provide practical tips for winning over skeptical boardrooms.

The neuroscience of storytelling (02:53)
Why storytelling matters more than ever in the age of AI (04:18)
The essential ingredients: Conflict, emotion, and a hero at the center (05:50)
What we can learn from Indra Nooyi, Sara Blakely, Paul Polman, and Jim Rowan (08:44)
The Golden Nugget: How to win over boardrooms with data and narrative (14:10)
Understanding storytelling as a change management strategy (19:10)
Amazon's PR/FAQ framework: A practical tool for driving multi-year transformations (22:25)
Making it stick: How to practice storytelling and build it into your leadership development (24:29)

APAC's Digital Revolution: Leaders, Innovations, and Strategies to Try Now

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 01:00:00 -0400

Once known for low-cost production, the Asia-Pacific region now sets the global pace in digital integration, real-time orchestration, and AI-powered operations. From China’s consumer-driven factories to Singapore’s strategic investment in talent, APAC has created supply chains where data, decisions, and execution move as one. On this week’s episode of the podcast, the Zero100 team unpacks what’s driving this momentum – and why leaders everywhere can’t afford to ignore it. Featuring: Principal Research, Suzanne Lindsay, Senior Research Analyst, Jalen Thibou, and VP, Research, Kelly Coutinho.

What’s driving APAC’s digital edge in supply chain? (00:50)
Inside the factories syncing data and decisions at speed (03:19)
How real-time orchestration is pushing the region ahead (04:23)
Cross-industry collaboration wins in policy, tech, and talent (07:22)
The infrastructure powering APAC’s smart production model (10:20)
When AI meets skilled labor on the factory floor (15:31)
The big lessons global supply chain leaders can’t afford to miss (18:59)

Fusion Teams and How to Build Them

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 05:15:00 -0400

In the age of AI, the most powerful investment you can make has nothing to do with technology – and everything to do with your org chart. Enter fusion teams: cross-functional powerhouses that combine tech and ops expertise to deliver digital products at scale. In this episode, the Zero100 team looks at the personas that drive success and unpacks how to build, empower, and measure the success of these teams across the supply chain. Featuring: VP, Data & Analytics Cody Stack, Principal Analyst Caroline Chumakov, and VP, Research Lauren Acoba.

What are fusion teams, exactly? (00:58)
Meet the key players: Citizens, Translators, and Wizards (01:32)
How to spot and grow Translators in your organization (05:50)
Fusion team archetypes in action (08:48)
From pilot to practice: making fusion teams stick (12:19)
How to spot success, and why “failure” is a key ingredient (14:37)
What’s next for fusion teams in the age of AI? (19:42)

Preparing Your Team for a Digital-First World with Bonnie Fetch

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 04:00:00 -0400

The recent digital tech boom has reshaped how supply chains operate – and the skills that powered the last era aren’t the ones that will define the next. This week, Bonnie Fetch, EVP and President, Operations at Cummins, sits down with Caroline Chumakov, Principal Analyst at Zero100, to explore how leaders can develop and empower the supply chain talent of tomorrow and build fusion teams that drive the best tech solutions.

The role of humans in an automated world (03:05)
Spotting and developing tech-ops “Translators” (05:36)
Why fusion teams are crucial for innovation (10:11)
The human skills that matter most in a tech-driven era (12:47)
Learning and development in the age of AI (15:31)
Data cleanliness, the limits of AI, and knowing where to scale (18:36)
Building a fulfilling supply chain career for the future (21:02)

Is Trump’s Tariff Strategy Paying Off?

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 01:00:00 -0400

Six months after Trump declared “Liberation Day,” tariff revenues are up, and major US investment pledges are rolling in. But at the same time, costs are rising, and global sourcing strategies are shifting fast. This week, the Zero100 team explores reshoring readiness, friendshoring alternatives, and the role of AI and robotics in turning volatility into opportunity, outlining the steps supply chain leaders must take to build resilience in a reshaped global market. Featuring: Chief Research Officer Kevin O’Marah, VP, Research, Geraint John, and Principal Analyst Caroline Chumakov.

Breaking down Trump’s tariff playbook (00:05)
What the numbers really say about trade deficits and tax revenue (02:01)
Moving manufacturing back to the US: Political theater or a real shift? (03:38)
The roadblocks slowing a reshoring push (10:17)
Non-stop negotiation: How global trade partners are reacting (15:44)
Inflation, resilience, and what supply chain leaders must prepare for next (19:14)
Trump’s tariffs: a win or a miss? (25:01)

What Can the West Learn from China’s EV Disruptors?

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 01:00:00 -0400

China's electric vehicle manufacturers are changing the game with seamless ecosystems that blend digital and physical production – and they're scaling without friction. This week, the Zero100 team explores how companies like BYD and Xiaomi are producing high-quality EVs faster and cheaper than Western competitors, and breaks down the operating lessons every supply chain leader needs to know. Featuring: Principal Analysts Suzanne Lindsay and Jenna Fink, and VP, Research Kelly Coutinho.

The three waves of China’s EV innovation (00:51)
How robotics help Xiaomi produce 1,000 cars a day with just 2,000 workers (02:28)
Unpacking BYD's battery advantage (04:26)
How STEM talent powers China's automotive transformation (06:03)
Understanding China’s EV glut and export strategy (08:54)
What Western supply chains can learn from China’s “seamless scale” approach (12:10)

The Next Big Thing: 3 Tech Breakthroughs to Watch (That Aren’t Agentic AI)

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 01:00:00 -0400

The hype around agentic AI is real, but it’s not the only tech worth watching. This week, the Zero100 team shares the innovations they’re most excited about, including vibe coding, simulation, and AI-enhanced wearables. Tune in to find out how they're being leveraged to cut costs, boost safety, and empower problem solving across supply chain. Featuring: Chief Research Officer Matt Davis, VP, Research Lauren Acoba, and Principal Analyst Caroline Chumakov.

Simulation, digital twins, and ”hacking uncertainty” (05:40)
How vibe coding is revolutionizing supply chain innovation (09:26)
The AI wearables that could transform human capability (14:14)
All together now: Building the next supply chain stack (17:18)
“Innovation just got cheaper”: First steps and takeaways (19:20)

What CEOs Need from Operations Leaders Now with Jim Rowan

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 01:00:00 -0400

Join Jim Rowan, former CEO and President of Volvo Cars, and Kevin O’Marah, Chief Research Officer at Zero100, as they discuss how supply chain leaders can navigate today's business environment. Jim shares his framework of six interconnected technologies for future relevance, explains how AI is reshaping organizations into dynamic neural networks, and offers practical advice for leaders seeking to become strategic partners to their CEOs.

CSCO/COO evolution: From support to strategic partners (01:00)
The six game-changing technologies that will drive future relevance (03:27)
Agentic AI’s potential impact on strategy and the org chart (08:20)
How software-first thinking transforms supply chain strategy (11:31)
What’s next for Big Tech’s big players? (15:39)
US-China tensions and Europe’s role in the tech ecosystem (20:06)
How ops leaders can be effective partners to their CEOs (30:46)

Workforce 2030: Critical Skills for a Digital Future

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 01:00:00 -0400

AI is here. Your job is changing. But what skills will actually keep you ahead of the curve? This week, El Iza Mohamedou, Head of the OECD Centre for Skills, shares her insights on the most critical skills needed to thrive in an increasingly automated world, and the role executives must play in developing the workforce of tomorrow.

Three critical skill categories Fortune 500 CEOs can’t ignore (00:56)
The “soft skills” origin story (06:40)
How countries and companies are tackling rapid skills development (09:10)
What Singapore’s SkillsFuture policy gets right (12:01)
What it takes to lead a true AI skills transformation (14:29)
Emerging goldmines for AI-ready supply chain talent (18:41)
The workplace preparation watch-out executives are missing (21:46)

Risky Business: Cybersecurity, Sustainability, and Ethics in the Age of AI

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 01:00:00 -0400

AI can accelerate a fully digital supply chain, but it can also bring cyberattacks, ethical dilemmas, and sustainability risks. Zero100 Principal Analyst Suzanne Lindsay and VPs, Research Geraint John and Kelly Coutinho explore the threats faced by leaders today and what they can do to protect their organizations.

Why cybersecurity is the CSCO’s problem after all (02:47)
Fighting AI threats with AI (06:29)
A blueprint for cyber-resilient supply chains (09:10)
Can AI power true sustainability? (12:01)
Safeguarding the human workforce in the agentic AI era (18:01)
The dark side vs the gains: Striking the AI balance (20:24)

Is Tim Cook Still the Leader Apple Needs?

Mon, 25 Aug 2025 01:00:00 -0400

Tim Cook has generated more than $3 trillion in shareholder value as Apple’s CEO, yet tariff pressures and the AI arms race are putting his operational rigor to the test. On the Zero100 Podcast, Chief Research Officer Kevin O’Marah and VP, Research Geraint John dissect whether Cook’s “balanced excellence” can keep Apple relevant and resilient in a morphing trade landscape.

Tim Cook vs Steve Jobs: Who was the better CEO? (00:35)
From leader to laggard: Apple's product innovation downturn (02:42)
 Trade, tariffs, and Trump (06:42)
The plausibility of a US-made iPhone (09:26)
Reflections of Cook’s big bet on China (11:59)
What aspiring COOs can learn from Cook’s legacy (14:09)
Is it time for Cook to pass the baton? (19:18)

Inside Pfizer's Evolving Pharma Supply Chain

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 01:00:00 -0400

The COVID pandemic was a stress test for Pfizer’s vaccine supply chain – and a powerful catalyst for change. This week, Barbara Garcia (VP, Americas Supply Chain) and Fiona Ardagh (VP, EMEA Supply Chain) tell Zero100 Principal Analyst Jenna Fink how they built a more agile, integrated, and resilient supply chain to meet surging demand and prepare for future challenges.

What it was like working at Pfizer during the pandemic (0:52)
How the business adapted to meet new challenges (2:43)
Addressing global supply chain weak spots (5:11)
Powered by people: How talent kept Pfizer moving (7:17)
Redefining customer experience and delivering breakthroughs (12:35)
How AI and new tech are optimizing Pfizer's supply chain today (16:20)
What’s next for Pfizer (19:40)

Unlocking the Hidden Cash in Your Supply Chain

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 09:30:00 -0400

Caught between margin pressures and looming price hikes? The Zero100 team reveals how supply chain leaders can free up cash and boost profitability without sacrificing customer experience or revenue. Featuring: Research Analyst Jalen Thibou and Principal Analysts Jenna Fink and Suzanne Lindsay.

Why companies are struggling to hit cost and growth targets (1:54)
Nailing the elusive balance between cost and growth (3:18)
How Unilever and Gap model long-term cash flow leadership (4:32)
Replicable cost optimization plays from Samsung and Lenovo (6:44)
Your best reinvestment bets (8:41)
Making the cost optimization mindset stick (12:46)

In the Age of Automation, How Do You Rightsize Your Workforce?

Mon, 04 Aug 2025 01:00:00 -0400

Given the productivity wins AI and AI agents offer, cutting headcount might seem like an obvious strategic move. But real efficiency, org success, and long-term growth hinge on rightsizing, not downsizing. VP, Research Lauren Acoba and Principal Analysts Jenna Fink and Caroline Chumakov explore why end-to-end workflow reinvention, redefining roles, and reskilling talent are a necessity in the agentic age.

The critical difference between downsizing and rightsizing (00:40)
Avoiding the trap of short-termism in workforce planning (2:50)
Lessons in building human-agent workflows (6:41)
How leadership paradigms shift in the agentic era (8:41)
Shaping the supply chain worker of the future (12:30)
Roles that are growing and declining in the face of AI (14:28)
Strategies to cultivate more Translators in your supply chain (16:34)
Balancing headcount reduction with mindful reinvestment (18:47)
What comes next: culture keepers and skills-based orgs (22:21)

Freedom to Spend Smartly: Unpacking Bayer's Procurement Power Play

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 01:00:00 -0400

In procurement, tight control over external spend is a golden rule for cost savings. But what would happen if leaders loosened the reins? Malik Akhtar, Chief Procurement Officer at Bayer Consumer Health, tells Zero100 VP, Research Geraint John how the company’s "Freedom to Spend Smartly" strategy is putting buying power in the hands of non-procurement users while keeping spend and supplier numbers in check.

The why and the how of Freedom to Spend Smartly (00:56)

Initial concerns and selling the policy to the CFO (3:20)

Managing governance and non-compliance (4:24)

How AI is helping procurement leaders and rookie requisitioners (5:22)

Decreasing costs, frictionless service, and other early benefits (7:09)

Rethinking procurement skills, responsibilities, and incentives (11:28)

What’s next for Freedom to Spend Smartly (15:18)

New Tariffs, New Tech, New Remit: Reflections from Off the Grid 2025

Mon, 21 Jul 2025 11:30:00 -0400

What's keeping today’s top supply chain leaders up at night? And what opportunities are they most excited about? The Zero100 team shares their biggest takeaways from Off the Grid 2025, our recent gathering of 50+ CSCOs and COOs in Ireland, exploring everything from the future of tariffs and agentic AI to the power of fusion teams and the expanding COO remit. Featuring: Content Director Allyssia Alleyne and VPs, Research Kelly Coutinho and Geraint John.

First things first: What is Off the Grid? (1:50)
Key themes: New rules of global trade and the rise of agentic AI (02:48)
How supply chain leaders are thinking about tariffs now (06:12)
Evolving perspectives on the ROI of AI (10:20)
China’s digital innovation advantage (11:28)
Visibility, agility, and cross-functionality: CSCO and COO priorities for the rest of 2025 (13:53)

Novo Nordisk & Eli Lilly: Manufacturing Lessons from the GLP-1 Giants

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 01:00:00 -0400

As GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Zepbound took the world by storm, Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly faced a massive question: how do you fill the need at maximum speed? This week, we pull back the curtain on the strategies that allowed both companies to scale their manufacturing and cement market dominance, offering takeaways for any leader navigating unprecedented demand. Featuring: Principal Analysts Caroline Chumakov and Jenna Fink.

Contextualizing the appetite for GLP-1s (0:46)
Build, buy, acquire: How Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are meeting demand (04:05)
The implications of Novo Nordisk’s $16.5 billion Catalent acquisition (05:53)
How to decide whether to acquire or outsource (07:23)
Where in the world is GLP-1 manufacturing going next? (10:36)
DTC, telehealth, and the future of GLP-1 channel strategy (13:16)
How AI is driving pharma innovation at Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly, Johnson & Johnson, and Merck (17:13)

The COO's Guide to Agentic AI

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 01:00:00 -0400

Last year, we predicted that 1 in 5 supply chains would adopt AI agents by the end 2025 – and six months in, the data suggests we’re already there. This week on the podcast, Chief Content Officer Matt Davis and VP, Research Lauren Acoba discuss how we got here and provide an adoption framework for COOs trying to realize the opportunity ahead.

Zero100's prediction: 1 in 5 supply chains adopt AI agents by the end 2025 (00:37)
What sets agentic AI apart from other forms of automation? (3:47)
Agentic AI hotspots across operations (6:15)
How Alibaba leverages agents for supplier selection and negotiation (7:34)
Porsche's innovative approach to quality management using agentic AI (9:45)
Unpacking the COO's 5-Point Agentic Adoption Framework (11:53)

Decoding Unilever’s AI Advantage

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 01:00:00 -0400

When it comes to tech innovation, one topic has dominated the first half of 2025: the meteoric rise of AI agents. And at Unilever, this tech isn’t just “coming soon” – it’s already here. This week, Willem Uijen (Chief Supply Chain and Operations Officer, Unilever) and Lauren Acoba (VP, Research, Zero100) discuss how the company is leveraging agents, as well as its broader AI strategy.

Looking back at the evolution of AI, from Deep Blue to autonomous agents (1:17)
Unilever’s approach to AI implementation and ROI (03:29)
The key drivers for agentic success: upskilling and guardrails (05:50)
Where agentic AI is delivering value within operations at Unilever (09:30)
“Choose the race that you want to run”: An investment litmus test for CSCOs and COOs (11:21)
Tackling governance and data quality infrastructure (14:46)
How Unilever is modernizing and standardizing its digital core (16:47)
The decision Willem would never let AI make – and the one he happily would (18:50)

The Data Diaries: What We Learned Building Our Own LLM

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 01:00:00 -0400

ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot – LLMs are everywhere. But how do you integrate them into your operations? After a year spent developing our own LLM, the Zero100 team shares hard-won lessons and a primer on getting LLM design right. Featuring: VP Data & Analytics Cody Stack, Senior Manager, Data Science Julia Dahlgren, and Data Scientist Prajwal Bn.

Why we built our own LLM (1:37)
Key considerations for your build vs buy decision (2:55)
How we leveraged open-source components (5:39)
The promise – and challenge – of knowledge graphs (7:42)
Encouraging adoption and winning buy-in from leadership (9:38)
Why prompt engineering and quality training data are underrated (12:44)
The business case for building a small language model (14:46)

Europe Is Closing In on Its Climate Targets. What Does That Mean for Supply Chain?

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 01:00:00 -0400

Despite recent pushback against green policy, the EU is on track to score a major environmental win. The Zero100 team dives into what supply chain leaders and policymakers can learn from this success, and how companies are still fulfilling their sustainability pledges. Featuring: Principal Analysts Jenna Fink and Caroline Chumakov and Chief Research Officer Kevin O’Marah.

Why we're not surprised by a European climate win (1:00)
Key lessons for all following the EU's climate success (5:17)
PepsiCo and Mars' win-win sustainability strategies revealed (6:53)
Why green policy rollbacks shouldn't stall supply chain action (8:35)
Getting practical with emissions reductions: Stories from Kimberly-Clark and ODP (13:34)
Is the energy use of large language models a true environmental risk? (16:41)

What’s Next for the Supply Chain Tech Stack?

Mon, 02 Jun 2025 01:00:00 -0400

GenAI and autonomous agents are catapulting supply chains into a future that was unimaginable just five years ago, and the pace of innovation is only accelerating. Join Zero100 Chief Content Officer Matt Davis and Principal Analyst Suzanne Lindsay as they reflect on the last 20 years of digital supply chains and how to navigate today’s tech landscape.

How Amazon amassed an incredible human sentiment dataset (2:01)
New challenges, opportunities in evaluating the world of solution providers (4:04)
Unilever's approach to breaking down functional siloes for tech breakthroughs (8:32)
The new (and eternal) decision parameters for tech selection (13:37)
Top tips for future-proofing your tech stack (18:13)

Bot Bosses and Digital Teammates: Designing the Agentic AI Org Chart

Mon, 26 May 2025 01:00:00 -0400

AI agents could make up a significant part of company org charts within the next five years, supercharging human productivity. This week, we look at the roles, org structures, and leadership approaches needed to drive these teams forward. Featuring: Chief Content Officer Matt Davis and Chief Research Officer Kevin O’Marah.

Unpacking Microsoft’s 2025 Work Trend Index and the coming agent shake-up (01:00)

Moderna’s fusion of HR and IT (02:30)

Supply chain hiring trends for agentic AI (4:10)

“The Path to 40” and bot boss leadership (07:43)

Amazon’s two-pizza teams, Spotify guilds, and other models for functional organization (10:34)

Moving forward with imperfect data (14:40)

Teaching ethics to AI teammates… (18:32)

… and readying human employees to work with them (20:30)

“Bigger Than ChatGPT”: What Agentic AI Means for Supply Chain

Mon, 19 May 2025 01:00:00 -0400

Autonomous AI agents have gone from sci-fi fodder to the stuff of TikToks and celebrity-fronted commercials. Amid the building buzz, the Zero100 team delivers a primer on the tech and how to implement it in supply chain. Featuring: Principal Analysts Jenna Fink and Caroline Chumakov and Research Analyst Jalen Thibou.

AI agents have infiltrated the mainstream media (00:52)
The promise of AI agents as teammates, not tools (04:53)
What’s the difference between genAI and agentic AI? (05:13)
Agentic in action: Supply chain use cases from Dow, C.H. Robinson, Yum! Brands, and Klarna (06:48)
A primer on agent orchestration and why it matters (12:08)
First steps and watch-outs for agent implementation (14:00)
Building team trust and managing worker anxiety around agents (17:01)
How Novartis and ExxonMobil are hiring to enable agents (20:00)

Sustainable, Innovative, Collaborative: PepsiCo's Supercharged SRM

Mon, 12 May 2025 01:00:00 -0400

In today's volatile trade environment, how can you ensure your supplier relationships not only endure but flourish? PepsiCo's Chief Procurement Officer Marcelo Stefani tells Zero100 VP, Research Geraint John about how the company has revamped its SRM strategy.

The secret ingredient: Why SRM is a non-negotiable at Pepsico (1:03)
Marcelo's key learnings along the SRM journey (1:53)
Beyond cost savings: How stronger supplier relationships offer tangible value (4:08)
How Pepsico creates "one voice, one team" for suppliers (8:56)
What's next for Pepsico's SRM superpower? (11:28)

The Psychology of Virality: Zero100’s Cheat Codes for Tech Adoption

Mon, 05 May 2025 01:00:00 -0400

What if, instead of pushing change onto people, we could design it to spread itself? The Zero100 team breaks down how to use the psychological hacks that fuel memes and movements to spread new ideas within supply chain organizations. Featuring: VP Research Lauren Acoba, Principal Analyst Caroline Chumakov, and VP Research Analytics Cody Stack.

Tariffs, agentic AI, and deeper disruption ahead (3:17)
The reason change needs to spread faster? Creative destruction (5:51)
Why the old playbook for change no longer works (8:07)
What viral change looks like in a work setting (11:01)
How Unilever avoids the dilution effect (13:19)
The secret to getting your idea to spread (16:34)
How to lay the foundation for social proof (19:49)
Tips for embracing a new way of thinking (24:47)

The State of Supply Chain: 100 Days of Trump 2.0

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 01:00:00 -0400

Since Trump's return to office, supply chain leaders have been scrambling to adapt to new tariffs and a culture of uncertainty. This week, Chief Research Officer Kevin O'Marah, VP Research Geraint John, and Principal Analyst Caroline Chumakov reflect on the first 100 days of the President's new term and unpack what comes next.

Panic or pause? Leaders' immediate reactions to tariffs (00:45)
Next steps for navigating the new trade landscape (4:11)
What an impending recession could mean for supply chain (7:51)
Product pricing strategies amid inflation (13:45)
Is the death of the Trans-Pacific Partnership the reason we're in this situation? (16:15)
The implications of China's critical mineral monopoly (19:00)
Why it might be harder for US companies to build green supply chains (20:40)
The essential change every supply chain should invest in now (23:45)

Omni-Innovation: How Walmart Is Reimagining Retail

Wed, 23 Apr 2025 01:00:00 -0400

Walmart has long set the bar for omnichannel innovation, with breakthroughs connecting store operations, e-commerce, logistics automation, and sourcing. Ahead of 3xOmni – an event co-hosted by Zero100 and Walmart – Andrea Albright (EVP, Sourcing, Walmart; Operating Partner, Massmart) and Lauren Acoba (VP Research, Zero100) discuss how the retailer’s strategy has evolved with consumer expectations and what comes next.

Unpacking the evolution of omnichannel shopping (1:04)
Inside Walmart's next-gen omni playbook (3:35)
How AI powers ethical sourcing and strategy at Walmart (4:55)
Breaking down siloes to deliver on hyper-personalization (7:07)
The secrets to optimizing supply networks using AI (11:02)
Overcoming cultural inertia: the power of psychological safety (12:59)
Omni lessons for everyone (not just retail!) (17:33)
Why there's no substitute for being with your customers (18:55)

It’s Not You, It’s Tariffs: Can Your Supplier Relationships Survive a Trade War?

Mon, 14 Apr 2025 01:00:00 -0400

As global trade volatility soars, many supplier relationships could be headed for a rough patch. Zero100 discusses how leaders can not only maintain those relationships but strengthen them for mutual benefit. Featuring: Chief Content Officer Matt Davis, VP Research Geraint John, and Principal Analyst Jenna Fink.

The best relationship advice the team has ever received (00:49)
How trade shifts and regulation are putting supplier relationships under strain (1:58)
Why strong supplier relationship management (SRM) is so important – and why it’s not been prioritized (3:13)
Preferred pricing and premium service: The financial incentives for strong SRM (6:55)
The Zero100 STEER framework for becoming a customer of choice (9:56)
Lessons in SRM from SHEIN (13:13)
How Proctor & Gamble, Johnson & Johnson, and BMW are driving supplier co-innovation (15:26)
The supply chain skills and roles needed to push SRM forward (20:56)

Too Much, Too Soon? Unpacking Retail's Digital Rollback

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 01:00:00 -0400

When it comes to customer service automation, have we gone too far, too fast? The Zero100 team ponders how to balance human interaction and self-service in retail and elsewhere in supply chain. Featuring: Chief Content Officer Matt Davis and Chief Research Officer Kevin O’Marah.

Is Simulation Supply Chain's Next Digital MVP?

Mon, 31 Mar 2025 07:30:00 -0400

You don’t have to imagine a world where you can create a virtual replica of your physical supply chain – the tech is already here. This week, the Zero100 team discusses how leaders can use simulation to pre-model risk, test scenarios, and optimize operations. Featuring: VP Research Strategy Steve Hochman, Chief Research Officer Kevin O’Marah, and Head of Research Analytics Cody Stack.

Mind the Automation Gap: Building Toward a Human-Machine Future

Mon, 24 Mar 2025 01:00:00 -0400

Automating a desk-based process is one thing. Installing legions of robots on the frontline is another. This week, the Zero100 team unpacks the unique challenges and opportunities of automating factories and warehouses. Featuring: VP Research Strategy Steve Hochman, Principal Analyst Jenna Fink, and Chief Research Officer Kevin O'Marah.

Fact vs fiction: the future of frontline automation (00:48)
Unpacking the automation gap between laptop and physical work (4:31)
Presenting automation to the C-suite: a new business case (8:24)
Secrets to accelerating your automation journey (11:27)
Are design constraints holding back innovation? Medtronic thinks so. (13:32)
How Coca-Cola and Renault use simulation to change the cost equation (16:02)
Humanoid robots: are they hype or truly useful? (19:03)
Where humans fit into this more autonomous future (22:44)

Forum in Focus: Tariffs, Change, and Next Wave Digital

Mon, 17 Mar 2025 01:00:00 -0400

What happens when you get 100 of the world’s most influential CSCOs and COOs in a room together? This week, the Zero100 team shares a behind-the-scenes look at Forum 2025, revealing how supply chain leaders are preparing business to cope in troubled times. Featuring: VPs Research Lauren Acoba and Geraint John, and VP of Membership, Daria Crane.

What is Zero100 Forum? (1:46)
Defining “Next Wave Digital” in three key themes (02:52)
Attendee attitudes on change, talent, and Trump’s tariffs (4:52)
Insights on relocation, lobbying, and more from Zero100’s Tariff Playbook (7:52)
How leaders are responding to shifting trade dynamics (12:04)
AI whiplash and the end of tech for tech’s sake (13:50)
Key challenges for the year ahead (15:30)
Vinyl, magicians, and more off-stage Forum highlights (17:50)

Who Sets AI’s Moral Compass?

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 01:00:00 -0400

Governments, corporations, disruptive startups – when it comes to AI, who gets to decide what’s right and wrong? On the Zero100 Podcast, the team waxes philosophical (and then gets practical) about the ethical implementation and regulation of AI for the betterment of supply chain and society. Featuring: Chief Research Officer Kevin O’Marah and Senior Manager, Data Science Julia Dahlgren.

Differentiating between AI agents, AGI, and "sentient" AI (00:34)
What we talk about when we talk about “ethical” AI (3:14)
What the Industrial Revolution can teach us about AI’s potential impact (6:12)
The implications of the global power struggle over AI (9:00)
DeepSeek and AI innovation under political constraint (9:50)
Could the democratization of AI solve our ethical dilemma? (15:04)
The role of leadership (and human goodness) in keeping AI on track (16:10)

C-Suite in Focus: What’s Driving Decisions Now

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 01:00:00 -0400

Amid tariff drama, AI developments, and geopolitical uncertainty, supply chain leaders are being pulled in all directions – but tapping into C-suite priorities provides some much-needed clarity. On the latest episode of the podcast, the Zero100 team cut through the noise and pull out key lessons for leaders. Featuring: VPs Research Geraint John and Lauren Acoba and Head of Research Analytics Cody Stack.

The making of our latest report, “The C-Suite Agenda: How Boardroom Priorities Are Reshaping Operations” (4:12)
How C-suite leaders are responding to tariffs and geopolitical uncertainty (6:01)
Resilience on offense and the case for lobbying (8:02)
Why executives are getting serious about partner relationships (11:01)
How supply chain leaders are wielding AI in the quest for cost savings (13:08)
Zooming in on IKEA’s AI-powered omnichannel fulfillment system in South Korea (14:20)
AI agents: What they are and why they matter (15:36)
Unpacking the C-suite’s labor blind spot and the workforce of the future (17:33)
How supply chain leaders will need to lead differently (21:37)

Unravelling Supply Chain’s Scope 3 Data Conundrum

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 01:00:00 -0400

Between the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and California’s Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act (CCDAA), supply chain leaders are in for a regulatory wake-up call. But is the challenge of compliance an opportunity in disguise? On the podcast, Zero100 VP Research Steve Hochman and Principal Analyst Jenna Fink discuss how leaders can seize this opportunity to secure a supplier information advantage over competitors.

Members, check out our latest report for me: https://members.zero100.com/the-scope-3-data-revolution/

Non-members, check out a preview here: https://zero100.com/the-scope-3-data-revolution/

Setting the stage for the looming Scope 3 wake-up call (00:43)
What makes tracking Scope 3 emissions so challenging (3:26)
Why specific calculations trump general assumptions (6:16)
Is enforceability even possible? (8:57)
The competitive benefits of tracking Scope 3, beyond compliance (10:00)
Organizing teams for Scope 3 action (11:30)
Supplier collaboration stories from Unilever and IKEA (12:56)
Zooming in on automated tech solutions from Muir.ai, Terralytiq, and Terrascope (15:15)
Next steps for leaders (20:27)

Trump, Tariffs, and Trade Wars: What to Expect and What to Do

Wed, 22 Jan 2025 01:00:00 -0400

As President Donald Trump begins his second term, leaders are bracing themselves for sweeping tariffs on goods from China, Mexico, and Canada. At face value, this doesn’t look good for global supply chains. But are disruption and inflation inevitable? In the latest episode of the podcast, Chief Content Officer Matt Davis, VP Research Steve Hochman, and Head of Research Analytics Cody Stack unpack the implications of these proposed policy shifts.

For more insights, visit: https://zero100.com/

How supply chain leaders are reacting to the threat of more tariffs (0:44)
A summary of Trump’s promised tariffs and their potential impact (2:58)
Are trade wars with Canada, China, and Mexico inevitable? (3:44)
What we've learned from Trump’s first term (5:28)
New procurement strategies for the year ahead (7:24)
Where companies are looking to diversify their operational footprint (11:39)
Alternative scenarios that might unfold (15:15)
Why it’s time for companies to get serious about lobbying (17:10)

2024 in Review: Moments that Defined Supply Chain

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 01:00:00 -0400

From tariff threats and inflation to labor disputes and genAI, it’s been a big year for supply chain. To close out 2024, Zero100 Advisory Board members Stephanie Pullings Hart (EVP, Global Head of Operations at Nestlé) and Karin Shanahan (EVP, Global Product Development and Supply at Bristol Myers Squibb), and VP Research Lauren Acoba, dive into the year’s top stories, the tech of tomorrow, and their supply chain priorities for the year ahead.

Reminiscing about our beloved holiday traditions (0:49)
Encapsulating 2024 in one word (2:33)
Addressing the elephant in the room: sustainability (4:52)
What it really means to be resilient amidst geopolitical tensions (9:30)
The secrets to building a happy, future-ready workforce (14:18)
The promise and struggle of implementing AI in supply chain (19:25)
Some sage wisdom for C-level leaders (24:44)

10 For ’25: Zero100's Supply Chain Predictions

Mon, 09 Dec 2024 01:00:00 -0400

We may not have a crystal ball, but Zero100's data analysis has identified 10 major shifts supply chain leaders need to watch out for in 2025. This week, the team reveals the rationale behind their predictions and breaks down what they mean for you. Featuring: VP Research Lauren Acoba, Head of Research Analytics Cody Stack, and Content Director Allyssia Alleyne.

Members, get the full rundown of our predictions on the Member’s Hub: https://members.zero100.com/10-for-25/

Non-members, check out a preview here: https://zero100.com/10-for-25/

The Zero100 approach to predicting the future (0:49)
What’s up next for AI adoption (3:10)
Our wild card prediction for sustainability (4:29)
Where we think supply chain roles will disappear – and where they'll grow (5:13)
The org model that’ll separate winners from losers (9:14)
Our forecast for the growing AI vendor landscape (13:22)
The secret ingredient for Scope 3 progress (16:22)

Sourcing's Digital Revolution is Long Overdue. Will AI Be the Catalyst?

Mon, 25 Nov 2024 01:00:00 -0400

Sourcing has been last in line for tech investment and innovation for quite some time. But AI and a wave of new digital technology have the potential to turbocharge the function – if leaders seize the moment now. On this week's podcast, the Zero100 team discuss frameworks and use cases to inspire leaders ready to take the leap. Featuring: VP Research Lauren Acoba, and VP Research Geraint John.

Why sourcing has lagged in tech innovation (2:10)
Inside Zero100’s latest report, “Reinventing the First Mile: AI Powers a New Generation of Digital Sourcing” (4:45)
How Tesco, Siemens Energy, Unilever, and Maersk are using AI in sourcing (6:00)
The key sourcing “job to be done” during Trump’s second term (9:05)
Using data mining, process mining, and AI to strengthen your data foundation (11:17)
The three main approaches to tech stack building (13:59)
From art to science: The new sourcing skill set (18:05)
Key imperatives for sourcing leaders in 2025 (21:23)
What sourcing leaders can learn from contemporary artists (23:13)

Zero100 Live 2024: AI Takes The Mainstage

Mon, 11 Nov 2024 01:00:00 -0400

Zero100 Live 2024 didn’t just explore AI’s future impact. It delivered a bold blueprint for supply chain leaders ready to harness the AI revolution. This week on the podcast, the team unpacks the moments that made waves and the insights that left our audience buzzing (plus a few behind-the-scenes stories.) Featuring: VP Research Steve Hochman, Principal Research Jenna Fink, and Senior Account Director Jack Polikoff.

Unpacking the vibe at Zero100 Live (00:41)
The topics that got people talking (2:37)
What supply chain leaders really think about fusion teams and sustainability (7:23)
Recapping the winner's formula for AI ROI (11:29)
Our favorite moments beyond the mainstage (including an update on the swag shop) (14:51)

Omnichannel Is Everywhere. So What Comes Next?

Wed, 30 Oct 2024 08:00:00 -0400

There’s more to omnichannel strategy than DTC shipping and BORIS policies. The Zero100 team discuss the next evolution of omnichannel supply chains, sharing success stories from across industries and new opportunities enabled by AI and other advanced tech. Featuring: Chief Content Officer Matt Davis, VP Research Lauren Acoba, and VP Research Steve Hochman.

What does omnichannel mean in 2024? (1:13)
Why supply chain leaders struggle to get omnichannel right (2:33)
How T-Mobile turns demand and attribute analysis into B2B success (4:46)
Identifying product attributes – and how AI can help (6:40)
How to convert customer needs into practical strategies (8:55)
Omnichannel opportunities before the last mile (13:01)
How chemical and pharma companies are embracing personalization and segmentation (15:38)
Using AI, machine learning, simulation, and automation to turbocharge omnichannel strategy (16:32)

How to Win at Supply Chain AI: Zero100’s Safe Bets

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 01:00:00 -0400

Feeling lucky? On the latest episode of the podcast, the Zero100 team reveal where supply chain leaders are investing in AI to see the greatest business rewards across planning, sourcing, manufacturing, and logistics, and identify areas with untapped potential. Featuring: Co-Founder and Chief Research Officer Kevin O’Marah and VP Research Geraint John.

Zooming in on digital as a competitive differentiator (00:25)
Introducing Zero100’s AI Maturity Survey and investment categories (3:13)
Where companies like HP, Komatsu, and Henkel are investing and seeing returns in planning (5:36)
What’s stalling sourcing’s AI revolution? (8:16)
The one safe bet for AI investment in sourcing (10:32)
Zero100’s four core data management principles (12:20)
What logistics leaders should be – but aren’t yet – doing with AI (15:24)
The biggest AI opportunities in manufacturing (17:21)
First steps for companies trying to decide where to place their AI bets (19:11)
What could the rise of AI mean for supply chain talent? (20:21)

Follow Zero100 on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/zero100inc/

Members, read the full Supply Chain Rewired report here: https://members.zero100.com/supply-chain-rewired/

Non-members, check out a preview: https://zero100.com/supply-chain-rewired/

What Does the 2024 US Election Mean for Supply Chain?

Mon, 30 Sep 2024 01:00:00 -0400

This year has seen a slew of high-profile elections worldwide. And now, all eyes are on the US as Kamala Harris and Donald Trump vie for the presidency. On the podcast, the Zero100 team breaks down what a victory for either candidate could mean for supply chain, translating policy into priorities for global operations. Featuring: Chief Content Officer Matt Davis, Co-Founder and Chief Research Officer Kevin O’Marah, and VP Research Lauren Acoba.

How a Trump or Harris presidency could influence global trade flows (especially with China) (3:21)
What a Harris win could mean for trade unions, wages, and the nature of work (7:27)
Green light, red tape, and supply chain’s sustainability goals (11:53)
Why the US election is a global concern – in supply chain and beyond (14:51)
Separating feasible campaign promises from political theater (16:40)
Key priorities for supply chain leaders in the lead-up to November 5 (21:04)

Human-Machine Teams Are the Future. But How Do They Work?

Mon, 16 Sep 2024 01:00:00 -0400

From autonomous agents to specialized robotics, AI is transforming supply chain. But next-gen tech requires a next-gen workforce to maximize its potential. In the latest episode of the podcast, the Zero100 team discuss the mechanics of building human-machine teams and a skills profile for the supply chain worker of tomorrow. Featuring: Chief Content Officer Matt Davis and VP Research Lauren Acoba.

Reflecting on one year of ChatGPT Enterprise (1:51)
AI’s swift transition from tool to teammate (3:35)
The logic of divvying up tasks on hybrid human-machine teams (5:17)
How AI is changing roles and helping employees at Unilever, BMW, and Walgreens (7:16)
The risks of letting an AI agent do a supply chain novice’s work (9:19)
Introducing Andi: the “new-collar” supply chain worker of the future (11:00)
Supply chain’s most in-demand skills (11:54)
How the APAC region and the West stack up on digital skill (14:47)
The rise of the product manager and data manager in supply chain (15:43)
How to integrate AI into your team and grow AI literacy (19:48)

Rewriting the Resilience Playbook for Supply Chain

Fri, 30 Aug 2024 01:00:00 -0400

Olympic medalists and supply chain leaders have something in common: an obsession with resilience. But is it time for us to rethink our approach? In the latest episode of the podcast, the Zero100 team discusses how resilience strategies – from dual sourcing supply to predictive analytics – can help companies turn threats into opportunities. Featuring: Chief Content Officer Matt Davis, VP Research Geraint John, and VP Research Lauren Acoba.

What leaders get wrong when it comes to resilience (3:49)
Why companies are diversifying their supply bases beyond China (8:53)
The challenge of balancing short-term costs with potential long-term benefits (12:36)
How “frugal resilience” can deliver value for cash-conscious companies (14:04)
Who should really “own” resilience? (16:53)
The most impressive AI uses cases in resilience strategy (18:20)
Why Walmart, Schneider Electric, and VF Corporation deserve gold medals in this arena (21:13)

APAC Leads the World on Supply Chain Digitization. Can the West Catch Up?

Fri, 16 Aug 2024 01:00:00 -0400

New Zero100 research reveals that the APAC region is the sleeping giant of supply chain digitization. Now, it’s time for the West to wake up. In this episode, the team explores the growing divide between East and West when it comes to digital skills, tools, and processes, and provides guidance for leaders looking to level up their own global teams. Featuring: Zero100 VP, Research Geraint John, and Co-Founder and Chief Research Officer, Kevin O’Marah.

The markers of APAC's digital supply chain dominance (1:59)
Four reasons the East is leapfrogging the West on digital (4:06)
How India became the rising star of the APAC region (7:52)
Digital success stories from LG, Toyota, Flipkart, and Huawei (9:30)
The secrets behind Temu’s low prices (15:27)
Strategies for connecting global teams that span the East and West (17:14)
Lessons from APAC supply chains to tap into now (20:24)

Welcome to the New Era of Robotics

Fri, 02 Aug 2024 01:00:00 -0400

For those of us raised on Star Wars, our expectations of robots have often outstripped reality. But as genAI infiltrates factories and warehouses, operations leaders have been given new hope. In this episode, the Zero100 team unpacks supply chain’s robotics revolution and the tech, talent, and mindset needed to capitalize on this moment. Featuring: Zero100's VP, Research, Geraint John; Co-Founder and Chief Research Officer Kevin O’Marah; and VP, Research, Lauren Acoba.

Why are we talking about robotics in supply chain now? (1:53)
The data implications when it comes to using AI in robotics. (3:14)
GenAI: net job creator or job destroyer? (7:33)
The new skills that factory and warehouse employees will need. (09:53)
How the fast food, hi-tech, and pharma industries are experimenting with robotics. (13:30)
The geographical impact of automation on nearshoring and reshoring. (15:15)
How can CSCOs and COOs build the business case for investment in new-age robotics? (17:53)
Our predictions on what the automation of operations looks like in 10-20 years. (21:07)

Why Do We All Suck at AI?

Fri, 12 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Looking to shift to an AI-powered supply chain? Easier said than done. Leaders everywhere are struggling to move AI past the pilot phase or are suffering embarrassing public blunders. In this conversation, the Zero100 team breaks down the challenges stalling supply chain’s AI revolution, and shares tips for success from the companies doing it right. Featuring: Chief Content Officer Matt Davis, VP Research Lauren Acoba, and VP Research Steve Hochman.

How operations leaders are doing when it comes to AI. (2:02)
The leadership skills needed to bridge the AI say-do gap. (6:23)
Supply chain’s data readiness conundrum. (7:40)
How Amazon and Procter & Gamble develop successful AI solutions. (10:47)
The recipe for workforce success in the age of AI. (13:58)
How to win board buy-in. (16:14)
The coolest AI use cases in operations today. (19:18)

SHEIN is Bigger than Ever - Should Global Brands Follow Their Lead?

Fri, 21 Jun 2024 01:00:00 -0400

Is SHEIN a supply chain role model or a cautionary tale? In the latest episode of the Zero100 Podcast, Chief Research Officer Kevin O’Marah, VP Research Geraint John, and VP Research Steve Hochman dissect the AI breakthroughs and red flags embedded in the fast-fashion brand’s operating model, offering both lessons and warnings for leaders across industries.

SHEIN’s impact on the retail industry. (00:40)
What supply chain leaders across industries can learn from SHEIN. (04:02)
The secrets of SHEIN’s revolutionary operating model. (07:47)
The red flags in SHEIN’s supply chain and the fast-fashion industry at large. (11:12)
How APAC companies got the leg-up on supply chain resilience. (16:33)
What the future holds for SHEIN. (19:06)

Navigating the Future of Supply Chain Talent: Zero100 x The Estée Lauder Companies Case Study

Wed, 24 Apr 2024 01:00:00 -0400

At Zero100 we’re obsessed not just with the technology to reinvent supply chains, but also the talent that will power the reinvention. So, we sat down with four leaders at The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. to get into the nuts and bolts of their supply chain talent strategy and find out how they’re future-proofing their workforce.

From Barley to Bytes: Navigating HEINEKEN’s Digital Supply Chain

Wed, 13 Mar 2024 01:00:00 -0400

In this episode, we speak to Magne Setnes, Chief Supply Chain Officer at HEINEKEN. He shares how HEINEKEN is deploying genAI at scale, the importance of diversity of thought alongside functional expertise within teams, and his belief in the fact that supply chain and IT are intertwined, depending on each other to meet the demands of customers today.

Modernizing a Global Supply Chain: Cummins’ Mario Guerendo

Thu, 29 Feb 2024 00:00:00 -0400

In this episode, we delve into the details of Cummins’ supply chain transformation journey.

Mario Guerendo, Executive Director – Head of Global Supply Chain IT at Cummins sits down with Zero100 to share his experience of digitally integrating a historically decentralized supply chain.

We hear about the processes powering this transformation, and the challenges and successes they’re facing on their journey. Mario also gives his view on the emerging technology that could change supply chains in the years to come.

Searching for Supply Chain’s Big Data Unlocks: Google’s Paula Natoli

Thu, 18 Jan 2024 04:00:00 -0400

Today’s episode welcomes Paula Natoli, Director of Strategic Industries, Supply Chain, and Logistics at Google Cloud. Paula shares her insights on a data-driven approach to solving supply chain challenges, using digital customer insights to enhance demand forecasting, and applying AI in the context of manufacturing defects. She also talks about supply chain as her “family business” and how her career path has always been intertwined with digital technology.

4 Predictions for 2024: Zero100’s Kevin O’Marah and Lauren Acoba on AI & Globalization

Wed, 13 Dec 2023 04:00:00 -0400

In our last episode of the year, Zero100’s own Kevin O’Marah, Co-Founder and Chief Research Officer, and Lauren Acoba, Principal Research, share their top predictions for supply chain and operations in 2024.

From the untapped potential of generative AI to resiliency in the context of globalization, Kevin and Lauren go deep on the developments they believe will impact strategy in the boardroom next year.

Bold, action-oriented, and grounded in Zero100 proprietary data, listen now for the specifics of their predictions and to consider how you can use them as part of your 2024 strategy.

Building the World’s Leading Digital Factories: Unilever’s Jennifer Han

Wed, 06 Dec 2023 04:00:00 -0400

Today's episode welcomes Jennifer Han, Chief Product Supply Officer of Nutrition at Unilever. In the interview with host Mike Silverman, Jennifer shares her experience managing their supply network in China during COVID, her achievements including getting WEF Lighthouse certification for three factories, and her work applying AI technology and regenerative agriculture practices to Unilever's global nutrition business.

Doing Sourcing Differently: Walmart’s Andrea Albright

Fri, 17 Nov 2023 10:15:00 -0400

We’re diving into Walmart’s supply chain, speaking to their Executive Vice President of Sourcing, Andrea Albright. Lauren Acoba, Principal Research at Zero100, interviews Andrea about her experience overseeing Walmart's private brand labels. They discuss everything from rethinking sourcing's impact across the value chain to bringing in outside perspectives to fuel innovation.

Planning as the Central Nervous System: Under Armour’s Leila Jalai

Thu, 09 Nov 2023 12:00:00 -0400

Season 2 of our podcast kicks off with guest Leila Jalai, SVP of Global End-to-End Planning and Go-To-Market for the sportswear company Under Armour. The company's mission is to make athletes better… and Leila's mission is to make planning better.

Unilever’s Global Supply Chain Reboot: Zero100 Case Study

Wed, 27 Sep 2023 04:00:00 -0400

Looking for a truly global supply chain case study, we visited London and spoke with leaders in Manila, Durban and Mexico City, delving into the details of Unilever’s transformation when it comes to Customer Operations. We interviewed Juan Carlos Parada (Global Head of Customer Operations), Simon Smith (VP of Customer Experience), Navdeep Singh (VP for Customer Operations in Southeast Asia), Peter Lamplough (Head of Customer Operations in Africa), and Regina Montes (Lead for Customer Experience in Mexico). This episode is hosted by Mike Silverman, Zero100 Research Director.

For the full story visit: https://zero100.com/unilever-global-supply-chain-reboot/

Procurement’s evolving role in the future of supply chain – In Conversation with John Dickson, former Chief Procurement Officer at AstraZeneca

Wed, 09 Aug 2023 04:00:00 -0400

The Covid-19 pandemic shook global supply chains and woke up both the public and business world to their critical value. For our latest In Conversation episode, Mike Silverman interviews John Dickson just before retiring as Chief Procurement Officer at AstraZeneca. Dickson shares his perspective as he closes a chapter on 30+ years in procurement across pharma, consumer goods, and auto industries.

New Tech Brings New Strategies: How Planning and Execution Are More Connected

Wed, 26 Jul 2023 01:00:00 -0400

In today's episode, we're talking about supply chain planning and execution, and how they are driving new levels of agility and resilience, with three unique perspectives. First, Zero100 Research VP Steve Hochman shares our new Regenerative Business Planning strategic framework. Next, Juan Carlos Parada, Global Head of Customer Operations discusses Unilever’s transformation with a new tech stack that's evolving how they plan and execute across their global supply chain. And finally, we'll speak with Aera Technology CEO, Fred Laluyaux about how AI-powered decision intelligence connects the dots between insights and execution. The episode is hosted by Catherine Parry, Head of Communications at Zero100.

AI-Powered Delivery Logistics: Zero100 x Deliveroo Case Study

Wed, 12 Jul 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Hungry for a supply chain AI case study, we visited global food delivery company Deliveroo in London to delve into their machine-learning-powered logistics technology and go behind the scenes at a Deliveroo HOP dark store to share insights back with our Zero100 Community. We interviewed senior leaders at Deliveroo: Devesh Mishra (Chief Product & Technology Officer), Charles Wren (VP of Delivery Product & Global Operations), Mahana Mansfield (VP of Science) and Suzy McClintock (VP of Grocery & Retail). This episode is hosted by Mike Silverman, Zero100 Research Director.

For the full story visit: https://zero100.com/deliveroo-ai-powered-delivery-logistics/

Designing a Digital & Sustainable Strategy for a Global Packaging Powerhouse: In Conversation with WestRock’s Peter Anderson and Peloton’s Angel Mendez

Thu, 29 Jun 2023 04:00:00 -0400

Today’s episode is a conversation with Peter Anderson, the Chief Supply Chain Office of WestRock, one of the largest paper and packaging companies globally. Our guest host is Angel Mendez, 30-year supply chain veteran, who sits on the Peloton board of directors and the Zero100 board. Together they discuss a strategic breakdown of how WestRock is making its supply chain more sustainable, applying digital technology, sharing more data, and rethinking supply chain education and leadership.

Increasing visibility across the supply chain with new tech, from planning to logistics

Wed, 31 May 2023 04:00:00 -0400

Tech-enabled solutions, including real-time logistics visibility, demand sensing and forecasting, programmatic logistics, and data transparency, are increasing visibility that is needed in supply chain planning.

In this episode, Colin Gilbert, Head of Research Science at Zero100, talks with three leaders of supply chain technology companies: Chakri Gottemukkala, CEO and Co-Founder of o9 Solutions, Karl Siebrecht, Co-Founder and CEO of Flexe, and Tim Bertrand, President of Worldwide Field Operations at Project44.

SHOW NOTES:

The Future of the Supply Chain Workforce with Professor Marianne Wanamaker

Wed, 24 May 2023 04:00:00 -0400

Digitization, technology and shifting population trends are creating dramatic changes in the global workforce. So, how can supply chain organisations navigate them? Join us as Kevin O’Marah, Co-Founder of Zero100, dives into labour economics with Professor Marianne Wanamaker, Executive Director of the Howard Baker Centre for Public Policy at the University of Tennessee and Colin Gilbert, Head of Research Science at Zero100, to explore how next-generation supply chains will transform ways of working and workforce requirements, creating the need for new skills, roles and responsibilities.

SHOW NOTES:

How can agility redefine supply chains in this time of economic uncertainty?

Wed, 10 May 2023 04:00:00 -0400

Uncertainty and disruption have become the new normal for supply chains worldwide. To maintain agility despite economic instability, digital initiatives are critical in both predicting and reacting to disruptions. Today’s episode is hosted by Marc Engel, Independent Board Member and Zero100 board member. Marc speaks with Mario Rivera, Chief Supply Chain & Logistics Officer for CVS Health, Javier Varela, COO of Volvo and Jiahui Yin, COO of On Running about the importance of agile mindsets, AI and data analytics, and overcoming scarcity in supply while modernizing warehouse systems.

SHOW NOTES:

In Conversation: Volvo Cars CEO Jim Rowan on the technology that’s enabling an EV future

Wed, 03 May 2023 04:00:00 -0400

Today’s episode is part of our In Conversation series and features Jim Rowan, CEO of Volvo Cars. Volvo has long been a pioneer in the automotive industry, setting standards for safety and technological advancement. Jim chats with Zero100’s Head of Communications, Catherine Parry about his career learnings so far, Volvo’s commitment to EVs, and the importance of technology and leadership in the pursuit of sustainability.

SHOW NOTES:

Why is democratization of technology critical to achieving successful and sustainable supply chains?

Wed, 26 Apr 2023 04:00:00 -0400

Digitization is now essential for the success of almost any supply chain, but the disparity of access to technology and expertise is restricting millions of businesses, and in turn, the overall advancement of the supply chain industry. In today’s episode, Matt sits down with Teresa Carlson, president and chief commercial officer at Flexport, Pervinder Johar, CEO of Blume Global, and John Sicard, CEO of Kinaxis, to discuss the importance of democratizing supply chain technology.

SHOW NOTES:

What are responsible supply chains and what role does trust, transparency and technology play in achieving them?

Wed, 19 Apr 2023 04:00:00 -0400

Now more than ever, supply chains live at the nexus of the global economy, sustainability and technology. As a result, supply chains have never been more critical to economic, environmental and social progress around the world. In today’s episode, recorded live from Zero100’s annual Forum conference, Kevin unpacks the meaning of responsible supply chains – and what it takes to actually achieve them – with Anne-Laure Descours, chief sourcing officer at PUMA, Reginaldo Ecclissato, chief business operations and supply chain officer at Unilever, and Dave Clark, CEO of Flexport.

SHOW NOTES:

What's a TikTok supply chain? How social media and Gen Z are changing the balance of power in supply and demand

Wed, 05 Apr 2023 04:00:00 -0400

Digital innovation and investment in social media and e-commerce has created an imbalance in the balance of power in supply and demand, while supply chain digitization lags significantly in comparison. This bullwhip effect, which is being amplified by social media, is getting louder and increasingly more complex as consumers demand more transparency from manufacturers. In today’s episode, recorded live from Zero100’s annual Forum conference, Matt chats about the impact of TikTok and Gen Z on sustainable supply chains with climate communicator, influencer and lecturer Nicole Loher and Zero100 research director Mike Silverman.

SHOW NOTES:

Why are supply chains at the center of water security and safety issues – and how can digitization provide solutions?

Wed, 22 Mar 2023 04:00:00 -0400

Water is critical to both mitigating and adapting to the effects of climate change. It’s also essential to supply chains – from growing crops to manufacturing, to how consumers use products. In recognition of World Water Day, Kevin is joined by Emilio Tenuta, the SVP and chief sustainability officer at Ecolab, and Carmen de Miguel, the strategic marketing manager for the water and wastewater segment at Schneider Electric, for a conversation about the digital solutions at the heart of tackling increasing global water insecurity.

Show notes:

Women in Supply Chain: How is the face of leadership changing as more women are breaking the mold in supply chains – and what is their impact?

Wed, 08 Mar 2023 05:00:00 -0400

In celebration of International Women’s Day, we're joined by a panel of senior leaders in supply chain who reflect on the challenges and opportunities of being women in our field: Sarah Bonnaud, the vice president of supply chain transformation for the Estée Lauder Companies, Jennifer Han, the chief product supply officer of nutrition for Unilever, and Sheri Hinish, host of the Supply Chain Revolution podcast. They share candid insights about why they are drawn to their work, how their work aims to pave the way for other women, and what they hope the future looks like for women in supply chain.

How can we use tech and data solutions to end food waste?

Wed, 22 Feb 2023 04:00:00 -0400

With at least one third of food in the US going to waste every day (despite 34 million people nationwide living with food insecurity) and acting as the third largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in landfills, we need urgent solutions when it comes to food waste. In today’s episode, Victoria talks with two people whose work uses digital solutions to tackle this issue: Giulia Stellari, director for ESG and impact at Fall Line Capital, and Jackie Suggitt, director of capital, innovation and engagement at ReFED. Zero100 head of research, Colin Gilbert, joins Victoria to help synthesize what these insights mean for the future of zero percent carbon, 100% digital supply chains.

Show notes:

What Does Reshoring Sneaker Manufacturing While Digitizing a Global Supply Chain Look Like? A Zero100 Case Study: New Balance

Wed, 15 Feb 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Reporting from the factory floor in Massachusetts for our very first case study episode, Mike sat down with three of the operations leaders of global apparel brand New Balance: Dave Wheeler, the Chief Operations Officer, Gabriella Wortmann, the VP of global planning and operations, and Kevin McCoy, the VP of MADE, the company’s domestic manufacturing program.

Show notes:

In Conversation: Haleon CSCO Bart Derde on using AI-enabled accessibility and decarbonized production methods to reimagine ingredients, manufacturing and packaging

Thu, 02 Feb 2023 01:00:00 -0400

Our guest today is Bart Derde, the Chief Supply Chain Officer at Haleon, who’s joining us for the very first episode of our new In Conversation series. Haleon, a consumer healthcare company that recently spun out from GSK and is based in the UK, is home to household brands like Sensodyne toothpaste, Theraflu, and Advil. Bart talks with Kevin about some of Haleon’s big initiatives in artificial intelligence and carbon reduction, along with insights on what he believes the future of responsible supply chains looks like.

Show notes:

Why is digital innovation so critical to supply chains in 2023 – and what does it look like in vision and in practice?

Thu, 12 Jan 2023 05:00:00 -0400

We’re kicking off the new year with some supply chain forecasting: what will 2023 mean for the profession? Kevin invites Angel Mendez, a 30 year supply chain veteran and the executive chairman on the board of LevaData, and Zero100 head of research, Matt Davis, on to discuss the year ahead, including insights on the digital transformations they hope and expect to see in the coming months.

Show notes:

What were the most defining supply chain moments of 2022?

Thu, 29 Dec 2022 05:00:00 -0400

Ongoing pandemic woes, inflation and geopolitical turmoil have put supply chains at the top of headlines nonstop for the past three years, and 2022 was no exception. In today’s episode, Kevin unpacks the biggest supply chain stories of the year with Marc Engel, the former CSCO at Unilever who currently sits on the boards of Zero100, Unilabs and Maersk, and Deborah Dull and Mike Silverman, two senior researchers at Zero100.

Show notes:

How can we create resilient and responsible global supply chains using digital roadmaps?

Thu, 15 Dec 2022 05:00:00 -0400

Global supply chains are still recovering from pandemic disruptions, while also trying to evolve toward sustainable operations. As we plan for the new year, supply chain leaders must ensure the right priorities and strategies are baked into their 2023 digital roadmaps. In today’s episode, Kevin dives into digital roadmap strategies and some real world examples with guests Willem Uijen, Chief Procurement Officer at Unilever, and Colin Gilbert, Head of Research Science at Zero100.

Amidst looming energy and climate crises, what are the keys to decarbonizing supply chains?

Thu, 01 Dec 2022 05:00:00 -0400

The energy that powers global supply chains is also the biggest source of carbon emissions on our planet. But what exactly does that mean? In today’s episode Deborah works to demystify the relationship between energy and carbon in supply chains with Sandra MacQuillan, chief supply chain officer at Mondelez International, Dr. Julio Friedmann, chief scientist at Carbon Direct, and Nalin Agarwal, co-founder of Climate Collective. Research manager Shelby Newsome also joins Deborah to share how digital threads could help decarbonize supply chains along with a few case studies of companies currently using them.

SHOW NOTES:

Can transformative "weird science" save supply chains?

Wed, 16 Nov 2022 23:30:00 -0400

Supply chains need to be transformed, not just optimized, to survive the climate crisis. In this episode, Deborah explores the “weird science” behind cutting-edge concepts with Tom Van Aken, CEO of Avantium, a plant-based plastics manufacturer, Dr. Anthony Atala, Director of the Wake Forest Institute of Regenerative Medicine and a bioengineering pioneer, Eben Bayer, CEO of Ecovative, a company that grows mushrooms as an alternative materials source, Tyler Cole, an electrofuels expert and the host of the Net-Zero Carbon podcast, and Zero100 research science director Colin Gilbert. Could the innovations we’re exploring today completely change how supply chains source materials, manufacture goods, and ship products?

Episode links:

What do today's labor shortages mean for tomorrow's automation?

Mon, 31 Oct 2022 08:00:00 -0400

For our very first episode we’re tackling the ongoing labor shortages that continue to threaten the health of the supply chain with Saru Jayaraman, the President of One Fair Wage, Jasmine Donovan, the President and CFO of Dick's Drive-In, and Zero100 researchers Colin Gilbert and Eddie Toledo. Despite massive job openings, positions are going unfilled. So what’s it going to take to get folks back to work? Kevin says the key is increasing wages – big time. And increased wages, he predicts, will be followed by increased investment in automation. So what does all that mean for workers and businesses?