Masters of Digital Transformation

According to PwC, nearly 80% of American consumers say that speed, convenience, knowledgeable help, and friendly service are the most important elements of a positive customer experience. The increasingly sophisticated consumer, along with these heightened expectations, is changing the way business leaders think about how to approach growth strategies. Simply relying on the traditional levers of promotion is not enough to win the customer’s attention. With Ernst and Young reporting that around 70% of trade promotions lose money, it is clear that as business becomes increasingly complex and unpredictable, the separation of planning and execution functions can help provide clarity through a more holistic view of growth for promotional activities, pricing strategies, and assortment planning. How can businesses untangle planning from execution to reach consumer expectations and achieve their growth targets in the new year? In this episode, host Caleb Masters is joined by Francisco Crespo, former Chief Growth…

In today’s dynamic business environment, successful collaboration with suppliers is essential. However, this is no small feat. According to McKinsey & Company, auto manufacturers, on average, have around 250 tier-one suppliers and up to 18,000 total suppliers across the entire value chain. Aerospace manufacturers have an average of 200 tier-one suppliers and 12,000 across all tiers, and technology companies have an average of 125 tier-one suppliers and more than 7,000 across all tiers. How should you approach aligning and collaborating with your suppliers to ensure a resilient supply chain? In this episode, host Caleb Masters and Joerg Hellwig, an investor and the former Chief Digital Officer at LANXESS, discuss: His career journey to becoming Chief Digital Officer at LANXESS and his latest ventures as an investor Why it’s important to align production plans across suppliers and multiple tiers The importance of including suppliers and customers in the IBP process How to filter relevant risk signals from…

According to McKinsey, 67% of businesses that attempt digital transformations fail to achieve the maximum financial benefits from their original goals. Forbes cites a lack of shared vision, accountability, and innovation as key contributors to these failures. Ensuring that large-scale digital transformations deliver the desired long-term impact remains an immense challenge. How can today’s technology leaders ensure their digital and cultural transformations stick? In this episode of Masters of Digital Transformation, Robert Weltevreden, the former head of technology at Novartis, joins host Caleb Masters to discuss: His career journey to becoming a member of the Novartis Exec Team as Head of Customer & Technology Solutions (responsible for Business Services & Digital Transformation) The common hurdles to achieving a successful digital transformation and widespread new tech adoption How design thinking and the “pyramid of change” can enhance the end-user experience and enable successful implementations The…

According to a recent study by Gartner, through 2024, more than 80% of digital strategies will fail to deliver value because of a lack of alignment and collaboration between IT and business units. There's a clear leadership opportunity for technology executives to step up and enable their businesses to achieve successful digital transformations. However, separate research by Gartner reports that 63% of CIOs and CTOs find it challenging to articulate the business value of IT within their organizations. How can CIOs and CTOs demonstrate their value and transform the perception of their position from order takers into more strategic roles in the eyes of the board? In this episode of Masters of Digital Transformation, Rhonda Vetere joins host Caleb Masters to discuss: Her career journey to becoming one of the most powerful women in technology from CTO at Estée Lauder to CIO of Herbalife, including her critical work as a Global STEM Ambassador and prolific triathlete. How IT leaders can position themselves as…

According to a recent study conducted by PwC, 41% of consumers stated they are willing to pay additional fees. With consumer expectations further shifting to an always-on virtual e-commerce experience, same day delivery expenditure is expected to reach $15.6 billion by 2025 in the U.S. alone. Additional research from McKinsey & Company recently reported that mature integrated business planning (IBP) processes increased sales opportunities by as much as 50%, improved service levels up to 20%, and lowered freight costs by 10 to 15%. How can companies leverage the next generation of IBP technology to win in the marketplace and simultaneously optimize cost and service? In this episode, host Caleb Masters is joined by Darrell Edwards, the former COO of La-Z-Boy, to discuss: Why today’s consumer expectations have increased complexity for supply chains How next-generation IBP technology is reshaping the way supply chain delivers results Leading teams through the adoption of new IBP technologies

Building a supply chain workforce equipped for major industry evolutions—or for the innovations emerging seemingly overnight—can be a complex challenge. Consider generative AI, for instance. We're currently witnessing an AI boom that could potentially reshape the way employees work across various. A recent CNBC survey found that 47% of top technology —including chief information security officers and chief technology officers—state that artificial intelligence is their number one budget priority for the coming year. Just five years ago, the results produced by generative AI were unimaginable for 2023. Yet, a recent study by Accenture reveals that only 38% of supply chain executives believe their workforce is mostly or completely prepared to adopt the technological tools already available to them. Thus, the demand for tech-savvy, innovative supply chain professionals has never been higher. How can supply chain leaders anticipate the roles they'll need in five years and start hiring and developing talent…

According to a PWC survey from 2020, 34 percent of CFO’s indicated that “supply chain issues were among their top three concerns.” Another 30 percent indicated that they were considering making changes to the existing supply chain due to the pandemic. Simultaneously, McKinsey & Company conducted a survey reporting 92% of supply chain executives had successfully made their supply chains more flexible, agile, and resilient. Supply chain leaders had the ears of their c-suite and board to achieve operational changes and reshape how businesses work. How can supply chain leaders leverage to retain their influence in their organization? In this episode of Masters of Digital Transformation, Radu Palamariu, the managing director of Alcott Global and the Global Head of the Supply Chain & Logistics Practice, joins the show to discuss: His career journey to becoming managing director at Alcott Global The role talent management plays in the ongoing pain points felt by supply chains How supply chain executives can…

The world of today and the years ahead presents a cocktail of unprecedented challenges to business leaders. Sustained delivery of growth and profitability has become more complex considering challenges of climate, inflation, geo-political risks, and the imperative to drive sustainability while building resilience and agility. The good news – this sets the ideal stage for supply chains to rise to the occasion and operate at their full potential as strategic differentiators that impact the triple bottom line. But realizing this state requires supply chain leaders to move beyond “a seat at the table.” Instead, they need to lead it. In this episode, host Caleb Masters is joined by Vineet Khanna, former SVP and Global Head of Supply Chain at Nestlé, to explore: His career journey, progressing from management trainee to Global Head of Supply Chain at Nestlé. The pivotal role of supply chain leaders in driving high-performing teams to surmount today's unique business challenges and satisfy customer demand. The…

According to the EPA, 90% of a company’s environmental impact comes from its Supply Chain. Despite a majority of senior Supply Chain executives stating they are putting an increased emphasis on establishing and delivering against net-zero targets, nearly 1 in 5 do not have a net-zero strategy or know where to begin, and half of the executives don’t have an integrated scorecard to measure supply chain sustainability results. Organizations need to understand, measure and reduce their environmental impact. Unfortunately, most of it occurs in the far corners of their supply chains, spanning suppliers and logistics providers. But the visibility of their extended networks is a must if companies are to make better decisions for the planet. According to Montse Montaner, the former Chief Sustainability Officer at Novartis, “It is imperative for the business to take action. Businesses need to transform their supply chain and operations to make it sustainable.” But how do you use visibility to deliver against your…

Supply chain organizations are losing talent—fast. While most departments suffered high levels of attrition during the Great Resignation period of the pandemic, “turnover is 33% higher in supply chain organizations compared to pre-pandemic levels,” according to Gartner, With nearly half of employees saying they are open to leaving their jobs in a recent Gallup survey, the market for highly qualified talent remains tight. As supply chain functions struggle to attract, hire and retain the uniquely skilled talent required to operate world-class networks, how should leaders adapt their approach to building the high-performing teams required to drive digital transformation success? In this episode, we sit down with Tracey Allen, Vice President of IT Procurement at Nokia, to discuss how she’s developed the teams, leadership and talent uniquely suited to drive digital transformations in procurement throughout her career. Tracey joins host Caleb Masters to cover: How she built her IT procurement team and unlocked…

At the end of 2022, we examined the biggest supply chain pain points we expected to see across the globe and how organizations might address them, from diversifying supply sources to ease the pain from global shortages to leveraging planning technology to make networks more resilient. The demand for enterprise planning technology has not slowed down since. A recent Gartner survey reported that 87% of senior business leaders say making digital investments remains a priority this year. With 2023 now halfway over, it’s the perfect time to step back and do a pulse check on the main digital transformation challenges supply chain leaders are facing. In this episode, we sit down with Matt Gabriel, Vice President of Supply Chain Global Consulting at Genpact, to discuss the state of supply chain digital transformations in 2023 based on what the global professional services firm has seen amongst their clients. Matt joins host Caleb Masters to explore: Why data is the most critical topic (no one wants to talk about)…

Gregory Polcer shares his experience shaping company culture through change management to achieve successful digital transformations. According to Peter Drucker, “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” Executing a digital transformation strategy without the correct culture, employee buy-in, and subsequent behavior is impossible. Related, a recent study from Gallup reported that just 23% of employees surveyed strongly agree that they can apply their organization's values to their work every day, and only 27% strongly agree that they believe in their organization's values. Two questions can help organizations gauge their cultural readiness for digital transformation: Can your employees clearly articulate the “What it’s in it for me?” of the transformation? Are there changemakers or coaches at every level of the organization who are tapped into employee sentiment and can influence the organization? In this episode of Masters of Digital Transformation, Gregory Polcer, former EVP and CSCO at Estée Lauder, weighs…

By 2026, Statista estimates that spending on digital transformation will reach $3.4 trillion. And yet, according to a recent study by McKinsey, around 70% of these initiatives fail. And while each initiative may fail for its own reason — resistance to change, lack of a clear vision and strategy, or insufficient executive buy-in — there tends to be commonalities across those that succeed. One such commonality, according to Gustavo Ghory, former CSCO of Kimberly-Clark, is that the leaders of these programs continually revisit two crucial questions that act as the “heartbeat” of transformation, keeping the whole organization in rhythm and working together toward the same goal: Is our digital transformation progressing at the right pace? Are we making incremental progress toward our goals? In this episode of Masters of Digital Transformation, Gustavo joins us to share his experiences cutting through the fog of supply chain transformation and his perspective on leadership's role in setting the right pace for…

Maximizing efficiency through strategic technology investments is crucial for supply chain organizations in 2023. In fact, a recent Gartner survey reveals that 61% of respondents view technology as a key competitive advantage. Join us on Masters of Digital Transformation as we welcome Francesco Tinto, former CIO of Walgreens Boots Alliance, to share his insights from his three-decade-long career journey in enterprise technology. He'll delve into the intricacies of evaluating tech stacks, emphasizing the significance of the technology user experience in ensuring successful adoption and driving stronger business results. In this episode, host Caleb Masters and Francesco Tinto explore: Francesco's path to becoming CIO of Walgreens Boots Alliance The criticality of comprehending the relationship between individual use cases and your tech stack The necessity of choosing flexible and extensible technology solutions The impact of UI/UX on technology adoption and usage rates Discover how to future-proof your…

The past four years have sparked a profound shift in how we think about supply chains and business. Geopolitical conflicts, trade wars, macroeconomic uncertainty, and extreme demand and supply volatility have forced companies to take a hard look at the vulnerabilities of their operations, driving the discussion on enterprise planning and decision-making all the way to the boardroom. Leading this movement is a group of forward-thinking companies challenging the status quo of planning and decision-making and embracing advanced technologies to enable more resilient, agile, and sustainable operations. aim10x global 2023—o9 Solutions’ flagship virtual event—showcases the innovative spirit of these organizations. What pressing topics and ideas were discussed? In this special episode of Masters of Digital Transformation, host Caleb Masters takes a look at the major aim10x global 2023 highlights, including: How Pirelli simulates supply chain scenarios with full visibility into how potential decisions will impact…

According to a study conducted by McKinsey & Company, research estimates disruptions lasting a month or longer are occurring every 3.7 years on average, costing consumer goods companies one-third of a year’s earnings every decade. To remain competitive, CPG companies must be more agile than ever in responding to shifting consumer behavior, quickly evolving macroeconomic conditions such as inflation, and supply chain constraints such as global shortages. Few companies have adapted to the change better than Resideo, a $5+ billion business that puts people in charge of their home comfort, safety, security, and energy efficiency and is a top global distributor of security, fire, and low-voltage products. Resideo’s Global IBP & Data Analytics Director, Gerard Couderc, says, “the key to success was embracing both top-down and bottom-up approaches to change management at the same time.” What other lessons can be gleaned from Resideo’s transformation journey? In this episode of Masters of Digital Transformation,…

According to digital transformation visionary Sanjiv Sidhu “A large percentage of digital transformations fail because people are not clear about what they are trying to do.” Sidhu is the inspirational co-founder of i2 Technologies and o9 Solutions: Two multi-billion dollar companies. Throughout his career, he has consistently aimed to revolutionize the supply chain with technology to help global companies across a variety of industries transform their planning and decision-making capabilities in an age of volatility and complexity. What are the secrets he’s gleaned from his wealth of experience? In this episode, Sidhu joins host Caleb Masters to discuss: His career progression from Texas Instruments to o9 Solutions. The early, groundbreaking impact of AI on supply chain planning. Effective change management and the steps to scaling up. The power of prioritization: The Pareto Principle. The role talent and processes play in successfully scaling digital transformation within a business. Learn more about how…

Forecasting is a critical activity enabling companies to predict future demand, mitigate potential risks, and capitalize on emerging opportunities. With today’s leaders having more data than ever at their fingertips, traditional forecasting methods, siloed processes, and legacy technologies without the capabilities to provide insights are holding organizations back. According to data recently reported by Forrester, “46% of data and analytics business and technology decision-makers are seeking out partners to implement AI critical to the business.” How can emerging next-generation platforms powered by AI/ML help supply chain leaders navigate today’s volatile landscape? In this episode of Masters of Digital Transformation, host Caleb Masters is joined by Knut Alicke, Partner, McKinsey & Company, and Umesh Arasu, Chief Product Officer, o9 Solutions, to discuss: How artificial intelligence helps businesses significantly increase their demand forecast accuracy to navigate a volatile supply chain landscape. The…

The global supply chain has arguably experienced more challenges in the past five years than it has in the past fifty. Geopolitical conflict, materials sourcing issues, and rising inflation have made supply chain planning and decision-making an even more complex and uncertain task for global enterprises. At the same time, clients, employees, and governments have been putting more pressure on companies to deliver against their sustainability targets and operationalize their ESG initiatives, with a recent EY study reporting that in 2022, 82% of CEOs see ESG as a critical value driver—a significant increase compared to 2019 (42%). As 2022 closes, many business leaders are asking themselves what the top supply chain challenges will be in 2023 and how they can leverage data, analytics, and software to proactively address them. In this episode, Maria P. Villablanca, Co-Founder and CEO of Future Insights Network, and Tanguy Calliet, SVP of Global Industry Solutions at o9 Solutions, join host Caleb Masters to…

It’s clear that S&OP matters to businesses, but it’s not always clear who should be in charge of this process. According to Richard Markoff, supply chain researcher, lecturer, and co-author of The Digital Supply Chain Challenge: Breaking Through, companies with a robust S&OP process “won” the pandemic. But while many companies' S&OP processes carried them through the pandemic, many organizations’ S&OP governance is murky at best, leading to unnecessary tension, failure to achieve alignment across key functions, and value leakage in the form of poorer customer service, higher inventory, longer lead times, and less stable production rates. How can business leaders ensure their S&OP processes set every function up for overall success? In this episode of Masters of Digital Transformation, Richard joins Patrick Lemoine, VP of Industry Solutions at o9 Solutions, and host Caleb Masters to explore which function(s) should own the S&OP process, as well as: The true meaning of S&OP (hint: it’s not a deliverable). Why…

Whether a leader is guiding an organization through a digital transformation or keeping a team of Blue Angel pilots in a precise formation for a 53-minute flight, one necessary leadership skill can make all the difference both in a military or corporate scenario: building trust is paramount to a team’s success. In fact, organizations that build high-trust levels are more productive, outperforming low-trust organizations by 186%, according to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). So what can leaders do to set a strong foundation to build high-performing, cohesive teams? In this episode of Masters of Digital Transformation, host Caleb Masters is joined by David Koss, Leadership and Values Coach at o9 Solutions, to discuss: The leadership lessons David has learned from his 30-year career in the United States Navy and how he applies them in his role in the corporate world. Why it’s important to educate teams on why changes are necessary in order to gain their buy-in. How to lead teams through change.…

McKinsey projects that “worldwide demand for electric vehicles (EVs) will grow sixfold from 2021 through 2030, with annual unit sales going from 6.5 million to roughly 40 million over that period.” This level of growth calls for a massive amount of innovation and investment in the automotive industry. With new regulations, emerging technologies, and shifting consumer preferences, industry leaders must be ready for what is to come. From the rupture of the past two years, supply chain crisis after supply chain crisis, and the stubborn semiconductor issue, what can the automotive industry learn from the recent past to find success in the future? In this episode, host Caleb Masters is joined by Beda Bolzenius, former President and CEO of Marelli, and they discuss: The shift from global to regional focus in automotive manufacturing during the supply chain crisis, The lead time production hangover from the pandemic, The inherent need for data and the software with the capacity to digest it and turn it into…

Over the past 15 years, consumer technology has advanced incredibly fast and also has changed our expectations of how technology can enhance our lives. With a few taps on our smartphones, we can access apps where we can place an order that arrives within days or hours, re-route us past a traffic jam on our commute home, or listen to a highly personalized music playlist. On the enterprise side, software innovation hasn't been as fast. Legacy enterprise resource planning (ERP) platforms have been the standard technology for four decades, but emerging technologies are now beginning to innovate and evolve the enterprise planning landscape. So, how are today’s emerging technologies transforming enterprise planning? In this episode of Masters of Digital Transformation, host Caleb Masters is joined by Rafael Calderon, Principal at Deloitte Consulting, and Patrick Lemoine, Vice President of Industry Solutions at o9 Solutions, to discuss: How new data platforms can facilitate innovation and new business processes…

In this final episode of Season 2, Tony Saldanha reflects on the past two seasons of Masters of Digital Transformation before doing his final sign-off as host. Tony has kept his finger on the pulse of digital transformation trends, interviewed incredible guests with keen business insights, and helped listeners navigate a business environment that has experienced significant turbulence while always reminding us to find opportunities to grow and transform our businesses. In this episode, Tony shares his favorite insights from hosting the podcast. Key Takeaways In times of rapid change, take a big-picture view As a society, we are in the midst of the fourth industrial revolution. Unlike the previous transitions that were driven by innovations in steam power and inventions like electricity, our current revolution is driven by digital technology. It may feel like we’ve been living in an uncertain world for the past few years, but this period has forced businesses (and individuals) to view challenges from a…

In this episode, Tony hosts Angela Qu, Senior Vice President and Chief Procurement Officer at Lufthansa Group. Angela’s more than 25 years of experience have focused on organizational transformation, people development, supply chain management, procurement, and management consulting. Angela was recently named one of the most powerful women working in supply chain by SupplyChainDigital.com and was featured on the Procurement Power List for 2021 by the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply. As CPO of Lufthansa Group, her vision is to transform the procurement function to further enable the company’s success and create value for the customers, employees, and society as a whole. Key Takeaways Be a humble empathetic leader According to Angela, workforce transformations related to innovation in ESG and sustainability always start with the people. In her over two decades working at Siemens, ABB, and Lufthansa Group, Angela has remained focused on leading with empathy and empowering her teams by hiring people…

In this special episode of Masters of Digital Transformation, we are celebrating International Women’s Day. Guest host o9’s Vice President of Product Management, Stacie Immesberger is highlighting the experiences of three women, Rachael Clark, Meiling Chen, and Nina Anttila, from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Supply Chain and Logistics Excellence (SCALE) Network, who share what brought them into supply chain, what they see as the biggest challenges in the future of supply chain, and what they hope to achieve in their respective careers. This is an inspiring episode where women in supply chain—each at different stages in their career—reflect on their journeys in the industry, discuss their perspectives on the future of supply chain, and share insights on the career moments that continue to resonate with them. Key Takeaways The “aha” moment While pursuing their respective degrees, Rachael, Meiling, and Nina each had that “aha” moment where they understood the power and potential that supply…

In this episode of Masters of Digital Transformation, Tony hosts Chris Tyas OBE, former Senior VP of Supply Chain at Nestle, SA, and acting Food Supply Director for DEFRA, and Stanton Thomas, Senior VP of Sustainability Solutions at o9 Solutions. Both Chris and Stanton have championed sustainability throughout their respective careers and share their perspectives on issues like traceability, transparency, and how supply chain planning plays a significant role in developing supply chains that are truly sustainable. Key Takeaways Accountability is Imperative Today’s consumers expect transparency in how products are produced or grown and aren’t afraid to call out greenwashing when they see it. Corporations that embrace transparency not only within their own organization but throughout each node of their supply chain will be able to show exactly how their products are produced and create a stronger sense of accountability among each tier of suppliers and work towards building a truly sustainable supply chain.…

From witnessing corporate mergers and acquisitions after the fall of the Berlin Wall to hedging business constraints during the COVID-19 pandemic, Philippe Lambotte brings unique experience to the digital transformation process. In this episode of Masters of Digital Transformation, Philippe, former VP Planning at Johnson & Johnson, speaks about his experience in facilitating transformation across multiple organizations including Kraft Heinz, Merck, Johnson & Johnson, Mattel, and Tonal Systems. Philippe offers great insights in facilitating transformation across a variety of industries, explains how globalization trends have come full circle, and shares why making transformation relevant at the employee level is a necessary component of change leadership. Key Takeaways From Global Back to Local In the 1990s and 2000s, many companies globally outsourced their manufacturing processes to reduce costs. But in recent years, supply chain disruptions fueled by climate change (e.g., extreme weather, etc.) are causing…

In this special edition of Masters of Digital Transformation, we invite supply chain enthusiasts from o9, Alison Crawford and Patrick van Hull, to look into the future of digital transformation and predict what’s coming up in 2022. Sitting in for host Tony Saldanha, Caleb Masters will drive the discussion on the top digital transformation trends of 2022. We gathered the thoughts and predictions of nine cross-industry experts across o9 Solutions. Join us today to learn about 2022 trends including: The expected increase in cyber attacks How organizations and supply chains will react to the United Nations' 2021 climate change report The digital approach to tackling the talent gap And more Want to learn more from industry leaders or your peers? Join the aim10x movement.

In this episode, Tony hosts Katherine Ross, former President of Health Care Services and SVP of Worldwide Customer and Logistics Services at Johnson & Johnson. Katherine’s 35-year career in supply chain and operations leadership spans all supply chain functions in the healthcare and CPG industries and includes time at Johnson & Johnson, PepsiCo, and McKinsey. Her varied roles and leadership experience have given her a unique perspective on connecting the dots across the supply chain as well as building diverse global teams. Key takeaways: There is always ROI in building a resilient supply chain Allocating investment towards developing a resilient supply chain creates significant long term value. It may be tempting to make tradeoffs that prioritize boosting cost performance over building a robust, responsive supply chain, but when a crisis happens this decision could put a company at a competitive disadvantage. Being proactive about building stronger customer and supplier relationships, as well as investing…

Glean perspective from a world-renowned digital transformation leader. In this episode, Tony is joined by guest Dr. Carsten Linz, who probably needs no introduction. He is a board member, co-author of the best-selling book Radical Business Model Transformation, a member of the World Economic Forum Expert Network on Digital Economy and New Leadership, and serves as an advisor to boards and CxOs around the world. In nearly 20 years in leadership roles focused on software, data, and digital growth, he has built multiple 100 million euro businesses and led enterprise-wide transformation programs impacting more than 60,000 employees. His most recent roles include Group Digital Officer at BASF, Business Development Officer at SAP and Global Head of the Centre for Digital Leadership. Dr. Linz teaches in executive programs at the European School of Management & Technology Berlin, Mannheim Business School, University of St. Gallen and Stanford Graduate School. In this “Masters of Digital Transformation” episode,…

From a daily wage worker to now running the show… In this episode Helen Davis, Head of Supply Chain North America for Beauty & Personal Care and Home Care at Unilever, speaks about her career in supply chain. Helen has worked in the US, Middle East, India, China, and Germany, driving digital transformation in some of the biggest CPG companies in the world. She is an inspirational mentor and a powerful voice for women in the industry. Helen breaks down the dos and don’ts of digital transformation, the ‘pulling the string’ method and why you’ve got to show your customer value early and act fast to build trust in the project. Key takeaways: Pulling the String If a customer pulls too much inventory, there will be a domino effect across the supply chain. In the 1990s it was all about demand-driven supply chains whereas today, planners throw their forecast out the window as they realise it will never be right. There is too much volatility. Agile supply chains backed up with data and AI/ML are now the go-to. Change…

In this episode, Tony hosts Yemi Adefulu, General Manager Global Supply Chain at Shell. Yemi's 14 year career journey at Shell allowed him to not only acquire a broad experience across new business development, acquisitions, divestitures, and supply chain management, but also develop a love of driving change and generating solutions to complex problems. In this episode, Yemi shares the factors that drive successful change and insights about creating a more intelligent inbound supply chain. Key takeaways: Accept Change: Companies need to embrace the challenges involved in driving transformational change within their organizations. Yemi says that in order for change to gain momentum, those responsible for driving change need to have the tenacity to sustain the process through all phases and accept the successes and failures along a company’s transformation journey. Find The Secret Sauce: Understand how top supply chain companies are operating and find ways to incorporate this “secret sauce” into a company’s…

Some leaders innately understand how to inspire transformation, both in organizations and in people. In this episode, Tony hosts Chris Gaffney, former VP Global Strategic Supply Chain at Coca-Cola Company and current Principal at ECG. Chris built a strong career focused on distribution, logistics, and supply chain, as well as mentorship, and shares his knowledge of digital transformation, with an emphasis on planning. Key takeaways: Seek outside perspectives to inspire your digital transformation It can be a challenge for established companies to embrace change--especially digital advancements. To help facilitate and accelerate digital transformation within Coca-Cola, Chris looked to his industry peers and leaders to see how their organizations’ were implementing digital strategies. Another challenge companies may face in implementing digital transformation is gaining buy-in from executives and key stakeholders. Coca-Cola’s executives were encouraged to meet with their peers at companies that were leaders in…

Few career paths lead from toys to cannabis… In this episode, Tony hosts Cheri Mara, former Chief Commercial Officer at Ontario Cannabis Store. Cheri shares her retail career journey from Canadian Tire, to Walmart, to Ontario Cannabis Store, and highlights the omnichannel lessons learned along the way. Cheri discusses her thoughts on the importance of knowing customers’ buying behaviors, becoming an early adopter and finding like-minded peers, learning from other business models and not being afraid to venture into an emerging industry. Key takeaways: Understand what motivates your customer: Customer sales can be driven by many factors, and it’s not always price. Cheri stresses the importance of understanding why and how the customer chooses to buy, especially during the holiday season when product availability often matters more than price (especially in the toy segment). Digging into customer behavior and seeing that they were interacting seamlessly between in-store and online, built a strong case for…

In this episode, Tony hosts Vikram Agarwal, former Avon CSCO with over 32 years of international experience in FTSE 100 companies. Vikram shares his learnings in driving growth and giving businesses a competitive edge through purpose-driven supply chains and digital transformations. Besides, he talks about managing cross-culturally after working 15 years as an international executive for Unilever. Before leaving Unilever to become Avon’s CSCO, Vikram led its business leadership team in Africa, responsible for an end-to-end supply chain across 15 countries with 25,000 employees. Key takeaways: Intercultural management and authentic leadership: Throughout his time in India, Singapore, UK, Africa, and then back in the UK, Vikram developed a global perspective in managing people from various backgrounds, gaining a deep understanding of what moves, incentivizes, and motivates people. Authentic Leadership is the one that cuts across this cultural diversity- purposeful, values-driven and building personal…

In this episode, Tony hosts Filippo Catalano, former Global CIO at Nestlé, and upcoming EVP/Chief Information and Digitisation Officer at RB—Reckitt Benckiser. During his time as head of digital and later global CIO of Nestlé, Filippo oversaw the global digital and tech transformation of the world’s largest Food, Beverages, and Nutrition company. Filippo shares his affinity and thoughts on data utilization, its transformative impact, the F.A.I.R. data concept, ethics principles in data and AI, and advice on leaders' role in driving their organizational data strategy forward. Key takeaways: Data for Good: Data is itself neutral and can be used for either good or bad causes. Filippo advised that companies need to take a stance and utilize them not just for their bottom-line interests but also for more purposeful societal or environmental impact. Moreover, they need to partner with the other players, even competitors, to advance fundamental priorities such as sustainability. F.A.I.R. data: To gain the most…

In this episode, Tony sits down with Ivanka Janssen, CSCO of Royal Phillips, while she shares the learning curve her organization is going through while working to make her forecasting 80% AI-driven and completely touchless. From making diversity a top priority to setting up to Python workshops open to all employees, Ivanka’s organization is working to prepare employees for the future of automation, robotization, and digitalization. Key takeaways: · Diversity: Diversifying talent and blending teams of experienced professionals with more traditional views on supply chain with younger employees is crucial to success. · COVID Learnings: COVID has taught us many valuable lessons to be carried with us into the “new normal”. For Ivanka, this is investing in data platforms that can help ensure correct lead times, collaboration along the supply chain, and making decisions based on real-time data. · Humans vs Robots: Ivanka explains that robotization is not about the replacement of humans, but rather the re-skilling…

In this episode, Tony sits down with Pat Murzyn, former Director of Global Supply Excellence at Caterpillar, and Raghav Ranganathan, SVP at o9 Solutions. They discuss what it takes to make a digital transformation journey successful, including change management, executive buy-in, and the concept of a “value network.” Here's what you will learn in this episode: Change management: Pat shares his personal change management success story. He created a collegial accountability network, which enhanced collaboration and helped his team improve supplier performance. Executive buy-in: Be supported along your transformation journey. Measure stages of success. Showcase results. Value network: The term “supply chain” is more a “value network” with interconnected semi-autonomous nodes and distribution links. Hardwiring change is crucial to mastering the future of planning. Breaking it down: To make a digital transformation successful, you need to first define your project scope, scale, authority, and accountability.…

In this episode, Tony sits down with Dirk Holbach, SVP Global Supply Chain of the Laundry and Homecare Division at Henkel, to give a behind-the-scenes look into what it takes to digitally transform a supply chain of over 30 factories, 50 warehouses, and moving 12 million pallets each year. They'll also be diving into sustainability and eco-efficiency; the trigger for Dirk's digital transformation journey back in 2011 was to reduce his division's overall energy consumption. Listen to the episode to learn how, since then, he and his team quickly began to leverage these digital technologies and connect applications systematically to drive value to the organization. Want to learn more about digitally transforming planning and decision-making processes and connect with your peers? Join the AIM10x movement at www.o9solutions.com/aim10x!

From retailers to consumer brands, industrial manufacturers to suppliers, global companies with traditional operating models are under pressure to accelerate their digital transformation. In this episode, Tony sits down with Chakri Gottemukkala, CEO and co-founder of o9 Solutions, to discuss a) what he's hearing as digital transformation priorities from CXOs of global companies b) how the o9 platform is transforming Integrated Business Planning (IBP) capabilities into the "digital brain" of the enterprise c) advice for transformation-minded executives on how to make it happen faster. Join the AIM10x movement at www.o9solutions.com/aim10x!

In this episode of Masters of Digital Transformation, Tony sits down with Bob Masching, EVP Global Supply Chain at Trident Seafoods, and Fred Baumann, VP Industry Strategy at o9 Solutions. They discuss the stages of disruption organizations face due to the COVID-19 pandemic and how advanced technologies are being used to manage them. Bob draws from his experiences working in the CPG industry to explain how to effectively align commercial and supply chain planning with sensing and mitigating risks, become more agile, and embrace good complexity.

In this episode of Masters of Digital Transformation, Tony sits down with Chris Tyas, former Head of Global Supply Chain at Nestlé, and Stephan de Barse, EVP at o9 Solutions. They discuss how to create a best in class Integrated Business Planning process and address key opportunities such as: How to use real-time market data to spot demand risks and opportunities faster? How to create more accurate forecasts and make better decisions based on prescriptive analytics? How to do gap closure and real-time scenario planning in a smarter way?

In this episode of Masters of Digital Transformation, Tony sits down with Dr. Das Dasgupta, Chief Data Officer of ad agency Saatchi & Saatchi, to discuss how data is made to mimic reality and create the digital twin that allows for the most efficient and value-driving enterprise planning models.

To kick off the first episode of Masters of Digital Transformation, we take a peek inside the mind of Sanjiv Sidhu, Co-Founder and Chairman of o9 Solutions. In this episode, Sanjiv discusses how he has spent his career optimizing planning processes for some of the world’s largest companies by shifting away from traditional supply chain management to a hands-free, and fully integrated business planning (IBP) model.

Curious about what you will learn from this podcast? Listen to the trailer and subscribe to Masters of Digital Transformation.