What does it take to lead real digital transformation—while keeping food on shelves across the globe?

At Schreiber Foods, that question isn’t theoretical. It’s the work of SriRaj Kantamneni, EVP & Chief Information and Digital Officer at Schreiber and the architect behind an ambitious digital overhaul in one of the most critical global industries — food and ag.

But Sri didn’t come up through Silicon Valley. He grew up under the hood of his family’s auto shop in Iowa. That beginning shaped everything: how he leads, what he builds, and why he believes transformation isn’t about chasing shiny tools. It’s about solving the hard stuff: Making food more affordable, more accessible, and more reliable on a global scale.

In this episode of Real Leadership, Sri walks us through how Schreiber is building a digital system that doesn’t break the business—and why food and ag is quietly becoming one of the most advanced tech fields on the planet.

How to balance transforming the core and disrupting through digital without losing focus or breaking the business
What it takes to turn internal tools into market-ready products
How AI is becoming the great equalizer, helping food and ag leapfrog entire tech cycles instead of playing catch-up
Why culture is the make-or-break factor in innovation and how curiosity, hackathons, and fusion teams drive lasting change
Plus: facial recognition for cows and shrimp that signal when they’re hungry—the unexpected edge of food tech that’s getting very real, very fast.

Time Stamps

02:50 - Digital Transformation Vision and Strategy

08:53 - Future of the Food Industry

11:58 - Local vs Global Food Production

15:01- Innovations at Schreiber Foods

17:47 - The Hive: A User-Friendly Software Solution

20:52 - Digital Adoption in Agriculture

23:47 - AI and Technology in Agriculture

26:54 - Fostering a Problem-Solving Mindset

29:59 - AI's Impact on Workforce Dynamics

32:48 - Upskilling and Navigating AI Transition

Show Notes

SriRaj on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sriraj/
Schreiber Foods Website: schreiberfoods.com/
Schreiber Horizon: schreiberhorizon.com
Contact Schreiber Foods LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/schreiber-foods/
Jim’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jim-weaver-36457418
Real Leadership Podcast: realleadership.oningroup.com
Real Leadership LinkedIn :https://www.linkedin.com/company/104897916/
The Ōnin Group: oningroup.com/clients

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