AI to Free Employees for Strategic Work

In this episode of Supply Chain Now, host Karin Bursa welcomes a powerhouse panel of women supply chain leaders who are rewriting the rules in today’s “never normal” world. Joining the discussion are Stephanie Beal, Chief Supply Chain Officer at Hasbro; Tamera Fenske, Chief Supply Chain Officer at Kimberly-Clark; Eliza Simeonova, Vice President of Global Supply for Mars Pet Nutrition; Whitney Shlesinger, Vice President of Global Planning and Logistics at McCormick; and Sylvia Wilks, Chief Supply Chain Officer at Lamb Weston.

Together, they share defining moments that shaped their careers, from early plant leadership to global transformation initiatives. They explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping supply chain performance: driving operational discipline, improving demand planning, enhancing knowledge management, and freeing teams to focus on creative, strategic work. The panel also reflects on the importance of clean data, talent development, and building integrated value chains that deliver measurable business results.

Looking back, each leader offers advice to their younger selves, highlighting the power of mentorship, confidence, and learning from failure while encouraging the next generation to own their careers and pay it forward. 

Jump into the conversation:

(00:00) Intro

(02:45) Panel introduction

(13:56) Defining career moments

(25:13) AI’s impact on supply chains

(27:19) Data’s role in AI success

(29:25) AI for employee efficiency

(31:11) AI in inventory and demand forecasting

(32:33) AI in decision making and strategy

(33:39) Personal productivity and AI

(36:33) AI in knowledge management

(37:41) Career advice for supply chain leaders

(47:47) Connecting with supply chain experts

Additional Links & Resources:

• Connect with Stephanie Beal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniebeal/ 
• Connect with Tamera Fenske: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamera-fenske-08121a7/ 
• Connect with Eliza Simeonova: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eliza-simeonova-787999151/ 
• Connect with Whitney Shlesinger: https://www.linkedin.com/in/whitney-shlesinger/ 
• Connect with Sylvia Wilks: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sylvia-wilks-7658513/ 
• Learn more about Hasbro: https://corporate.hasbro.com/en-us 
• Learn more about Kimberly-Clark: https://www.kimberly-clark.com/ 
• Learn more about Mars Pet Nutrition: https://www.mars.com/ 
• Learn more about McCormick: https://www.mccormickcorporation.com/ 
• Learn more about Lamb Weston: https://www.lambweston.com/ 
• Connect with our hosts: https://supplychainnow.com/our-team-and-hosts/
• Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.com 
• Watch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here: https://supplychainnow.com/on-demand-programming/
• Subscribe to Supply Chain Now on your favorite platform: https://supplychainnow.com/join  
• Work with us! Download Supply Chain Now’s NEW Media Kit: https://bit.ly/3XH6OVk
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This episode was hosted by Karin Bursa and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/supply-chain-leadership-never-normal-power-panel-women-rewriting-rules-1484