Let's Talk Supply Chain

Kendra Tanner talks about her career journey; what she's learned about leadership, making an impact on boards and conference stages; & inspiring women.     IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:   [02.35] An introduction to Kendra and her company, Allstates WorldCargo. [03.40] Kendra's education and how her marriage to her high school sweetheart impacted her career path. "I wanted to get my business finance degree, but I was adamant that I was not taking one more accounting class – so I switched to marketing!" [05.47] How a family connection led Kendra to Consolidated Freightways, and why she stayed for 12 years. "Nobody wakes up and says 'I want to be in logistics.' I wanted to be a dentist!" [09.10] Kendra's experience as a woman, building a career in logistics, in the 90's. "I found the men to be mostly supportive. Consolidated Freightways were great at allowing women to have the same opportunities, but there were less of us – a lot of women didn't show interest in our industry back then. And nor would I, had the opportunity not have presented itself." [11.29] Why Kendra always wanted to make a difference, what she's learned about leadership, and her advice for others. [14.34] Kendra's growth at Allstates WorldCargo, her focus stepping into the President and CEO role in 2020, and her biggest highlights along the way. [17.28] What Kendra is focused on for 2026, and why it's so important to block out industry noise and keep your finger on the pulse of your own business if you want to achieve success. [19.56] Kendra's experience on the Board of Directors at The Airforwarders Association, the impact she wants to make, and why industry collaboration is so important. "You have to get back to your industry. If I have knowledge and can bring value, it's my responsibility to share it. You foster relationships – a lot of my competitors are on the board, but it's a friendly environment." [22.45] Getting more women on industry stages and why pushing yourself to take opportunities, even if you're uncomfortable, is key in paving the way for others. "You have to say yes, you have to have a voice. If you don't, it's never going to change." [26.01] Why sharing stories is crucial to inspiring others and bringing women into the industry. "Starting as a customer service working nights, filing bills of lading and delivery receipts, to president and CEO – that's quite a journey." [28.22] What being an industry trailblazer means to Kendra. [29.42] The future for Kendra.   RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED:   You can connect with Kendra over on LinkedIn. If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear from more industry trailblazers, check out 509: Women In Supply Chain™, Nermine Saad or 433: Women In Supply Chain™, Annie Torikian. Check out our other podcasts HERE.

Kris Orlowski of Amazon Web Services talks about their recent survey and what it reveals about data, trust, decision-making and AI readiness in supply chain.   IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:   [04.12] An introduction to Kris, his background, and his role at Amazon Web Services. "A good part of my role right now, as we're continuing to innovate, is understanding what supply chain practitioners actually want and need." [05.17] An overview of AWS – who they are, what they do, and how they help their customers. [06.20] An overview of Amazon Web Services' recent industry survey, who they spoke to, and what they were trying to understand. "We were really trying to understand the gap between aspiration and reality – because there's a lot of hype!" [08.12] The challenges businesses are currently facing when it comes to data and decision-making. "85% of supply chain teams take two or more weeks to resolve urgent issues… And it's partly because of the 'data gathering tax.'" [14.14] From engaging in less strategic work to the creation of a risk aversion culture, the business impact of slow and inaccurate decision-making. "When you spend your time firefighting, you're not doing strategic work." "The cost of a delayed decision can exceed the cost of an imperfect one." [17.20] The surprising results revealed by the AWS survey around how supply chain practitioners envision AI as part of their operations, and what the three-step 'execute, adapt, advise' approach could mean for businesses. "Organizations are envisioning AI as an operational partner, not just a tool… An assistant that can work alongside them." [21.21] The 'double barrier phenomenon' organizations see when trying to implement AI, and what those barriers to both adoption and utilization look like. "57% said the top barrier to realizing AI's full potential was a limited understanding of its capabilities, followed by a lack of trust in AI recommendations." "Organizations are buying AI technology, but they're not building AI readiness." [27.17] What businesses are looking for to help them build trust in new technology and AI-powered decision-making. [31.00] How vendors and developers should be thinking about partnership, trust and building the type of AI that businesses are actually looking for. "There's a trust paradox. Organizations want AI that is simultaneously autonomous, but controllable; intelligent, but explainable; proactive, but compliant. The vendors that understand this will build AI that organizations actually use, not just purchase." [35.02] The big opportunities for organizations that are able to make real strides in their decision-making, and how listeners can access the report. [37.36] The survey results that surprised Kris most, and what they might mean for businesses and AI adoption. [41.15] The practical next steps businesses can take to ensure their AI journeys are a success in 2026.   RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED:   Head over to Amazon Web Service's website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with AWS and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram or X (Twitter), or you can connect with Kris on LinkedIn. If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more from AWS, check out 489: Time To Swap Your Axe For A Chainsaw: The Power of Agentic AI. Check out our other podcasts HERE.

Nermine Saad talks about her career journey; fostering a culture of learning; moving from Egypt to Canada; mentorship; & the future of digital transformation.     [03.48] What sparked Nermine's interest in logistics, and how it led her to seek out a career that connected strategy, people, and operations. "I realized there's an entire industry behind the movement of goods, and it involves shipping lines, airlines, ports, and so much more. The more I read, the more I was fascinated." [05.46] The early years of Nermine's career in Egypt and the big lessons she learned, from building credibility to the importance of resilience and consistency. "It was a rough experience... I was the only woman, and it added a lot of pressure." [08.53] Nermine's experience of moving from Egypt to Canada, and rebuilding her life, career and network. "Moving to Canada gave me whole new perspective on diversity." [12.49] The differences between building a career in Egypt and Canada, and why stepping out of your comfort zone and embracing risk leads to the biggest opportunities. [15.52] Nermine's commitment to education, from pursuing qualifications outside of work to fostering a culture of learning at Tecsys, and why it's so important. "Learning has been the driving force of my career. Education doesn't stop the moment you earn your degree – its just the beginning." "A culture of learning naturally becomes a culture of leadership." [19.42] Nermine's role as Application Services Manager at Tecsys, and what a day in her life looks like. [22.47] The importance of digital transformation, where businesses go wrong, and what a transformation journey should look like. "Digital transformation is not just implementing technology. It's really about people, processes, and a mindset… But when people start, they often get overwhelmed." "Waiting for a disruption to implement a change can be really risky. The organizations that are proactive and stay ahead of the game are the ones that have a competitive edge and keep their operations steady." [25.04] Nermine's advice for leaders focusing on digital transformation in 2026. [27.01] Nermine's experience of collaboration, mentorship and empowerment – how others have supported her, and how she pays it forward. "Collaboration is so powerful – when people feel supported, seen and heard, they produce their best work." [29.52] What being named as an industry trailblazer means to Nermine, as a woman and as an Egyptian living, working and thriving in North America. [32.32] The future for Nermine. "Supply chain never stops evolving, and that's energising. There's always an opportunity for you to make an impact, inspire others and keep pushing." RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED:   You can connect with Nermine over on LinkedIn. If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear from more award-winning women, check out 447: Women In Supply Chain™, Nikki Driskill, 438: Women In Supply Chain™, Maria Madrigal or 506: Women In Supply Chain™, Zera Zheng. Check out our other podcasts HERE.

Rob Finch talks about Rapid Link Repairs, boosting customer satisfaction with response times; a fresh approach to cost; safety; & reducing downtime for drivers.   IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:   [02.11] An introduction to Rob, his background, and his role at DCLI and RapidLink Repairs. "Most of my career has been figuring out how to bring commercial and operations together." [03.09] An overview of RapidLink Repairs – who they are, what they do, and how they help their customers. "It's about three things: we want to improve productivity, be cost-effective, and drive high levels of customer satisfaction." [04.18] The biggest challenge for businesses right now. "Reducing cost profile is top of mind – the market has been less than ideal..!" [04.55] RapidLink Repair's origin story. "You want to have a solution that people are actually asking for." [07.00] RapidLink Repairs 'anytime, anywhere' service, and the most common repairs they solve for. [09.26] The ideal client for RapidLink Repairs, and why businesses want a nationwide solution. "We leverage the size and scale of DCLI to provide cost savings." [10.44] RapidLink Repair's approach to cost, fighting 'surprise fees,' and why they don't mark up parts. "Our approach to the market has been to provide a service people can rely on." [13.26] The importance of efficiency and customer experience, and how RapidLink's response times are delivering competitive advantage. "We're maniacal about customer satisfaction! If your customers aren't happy, you don't have a good product." [17.21] A case study exploring how RapidLink Repairs helped a key client eliminate extra fees and enhance communication, allowing them to plan consistently and boost productivity. [19.59] Why safety is crucial, and the impact RapidLink Repairs are making on the industry. [22.07] How to work with RapidLink Repairs.   RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED:   Head over to RapidLink Repairs' website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with RapidLink Repairs and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram or X (Twitter), or you can connect with Rob on LinkedIn. If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more from DCLI, tune into 360: Deliver A Great Trucker Experience, with DCLI or Marketing Leader Stacy Kirincic on Dominating Male-Dominated Industries like Supply Chain. Check out our other podcasts HERE.    

Steven Delperdang of Google Cloud talks about trust; evolution of visibility; & and the big opportunities for logistics providers taking an AI-first approach. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:   [03.08] After years spent at Caterpillar and Penske, how Steven is now using the 'One Google' approach to run Google's own internal supply chain and solve the legacy pain points he faced in his past roles, and exactly what's so transformative about this approach. "In my previous roles, many of the frustrations stemmed from fragmented systems and data siloes. You have a warehouse management system here, a transportation management system there, various auxiliary 1P and 3P systems – and often a lot of manual effort to stitch it all together." "Siloes are a major barrier, and consolidating data is critical. Logistics is simply a chain of interconnected events… so without that centralized view, you're only seeing a piece of the puzzle." "It's this centralized access that means we can perform more sophisticated analysis and our AI tools can draw on a much richer data set." [07.00] Why trust is such a big hurdle for providers who are already drowning in data, and the areas Google Cloud focus on to build that trust. [10.44] The evolution of visibility, why consolidating disparate data is so critical, and how Google is tackling disparate data problems to achieve true centralized access. "Everybody has basic visibility now, but that leap from dots on a map to true actionable insights is crucial. Basic visibility tells us what's happening. Our target for visibility tells you why it's happening, what's likely to happen next, and what you should do about it." [13.33] How Steven's experience of using Google Cloud to power Google's own global supply chain helps him strategize, and the business outcomes Google has achieved that other organizations can replicate. [16.12] The practical, day-to-day logistics problems Steven's team is currently solving with AI. "AI can help us cut through the noise." [21.21] How integrating Gemini AI has changed Steven's tools, and why he's seeing faster, better quality insights. [23.13] How the day-to-day work of Google Cloud's own analysts and developers has shifted with the addition of new AI capabilities. "For us, it's been a really significant shift up the value chain. Three years ago, a large proportion of my teams time was consumed by manual data extraction, cleansing, building bespoke reports for leaders. Today, we have less firefighting and the team can focus on more strategic work, more complex and impactful problems." [26.40] How Google is making high-powered AI tools usable for everyday logistics operators. [29.57] How Steven's past award-winning work at Caterpillar would have been different if he had had the Google Cloud tools that exist today. [32.47] From hyper-personalized insights to AI-driven collaboration, the biggest untapped opportunity for logistics providers ready to embrace an AI-first approach.   RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED:   Head over to Google Cloud's website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Google Cloud and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, X (Twitter) or YouTube, or you can connect with Steven on LinkedIn. Check out our other podcasts HERE.