Supply Chain Revolution

Sheri Hinish, SupplyChainQueen

Episodes

Mentioned books

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Aug 24, 2020 • 20min

Exploring Digital Supply Chain, Measuring Sustainability, Digital Transformation on Steroids, and Scaling B2B Enterprise Software w/ Suuchi Ramesh of Suuchi Inc.

Supply chains power the world and companies realize planning and execution is a competitive weapon in the modern, digital economy. Advanced supply chain capabilities like agility, transparency, and visibility can support efficient, effective, and sustainable approaches that connect the digital landscape into business performance that is tangible and measurable. In Episode 33, Suuchi Ramesh joins the SupplyChainQueen to chat about the Age of Digital and sustainable supply chain. In this episode, we explore digital supply chains and the importance of connectivity, communication, and predictive data analytics in world-class supply chains. The convergence of tech has provided many options, yet are we closer to sustainability at scale in digital supply chain? What is the cost of trust and compliance? How do you build digital trust? How do you best solve for problems in the flow of goods and services? How do you scale B2B enterprise software and which investments should you consider? Technology provides accelerated benefits in both digital transformation and proactively managing risk hotspots in sustainability. Yet, when we imagine the autonomous supply chain in design to distribution, do outcomes and value derived meet expectations? Suuchi explores low-hanging fruit in digital supply chain, including the importance of traceability and accountability in global supply chains.  This is a 2-part lightning talk series. In part 2 (Episode 34), we explore where humans add the most value in the future of work, understanding the role of UI & UX in inclusive design, and Suuchi’s journey as a woman in STEM, woman in technology, and an immigrant in the start-up world. She shares her story on building the right team and leading for diversity in supply chain and tech.  Reach out, connect, and learn more... Find Suuchi Ramesh, Suuchi Inc at https://www.linkedin.com/in/suuchi-ramesh-219480111/ & https://www.linkedin.com/company/suuchi/ Find us, connect, and explore at https://www.supplychainrevolution.com/
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Aug 13, 2020 • 15min

Exploring the Future of Fashion with Supply Chain Technology, Monetizing Waste Streams and How to Turn Pollution Into Profit w/ Stephanie Benedetto, the "Queen of Raw,” MIT Solve Global Challenge Winner and Google Women Who Tech Rising Star

Two Queens talk tech! Episode 32 is PART 2 of a 2-part lightning talk series exploring Stephanie Benedetto’s journey from corporate attorney, to sustainability tech entrepreneur. She is the co-founder of the Queen of Raw solution: a B2B platform for businesses to recapture value from their wasted materials and touts an impressive list of recents awards including MIT Solve Global Challenge Winner, LVMH Innovation Award, Google Women Who Tech Fashion Group International Rising Star, and thredUP Circular Fashion Fund Recipient. Technology and the future of fashion includes assuring brand identity and ethical supply chains with provenance. How does technology like blockchain, AI, deep ML, analytics, and digital supply chains bring us closer to sustainability and circularity in fashion? This episode explores the nitty-gritty of fashion supply chains and technology, including predictions for the future of fashion. Most notably, we break down how to monetize waste streams and optimize fashion supply chains from acquisition to manufacturing, to creating a brand that meets the triple bottom line: people, planet, profit. Learn about entrepreneurship in an age of Amazon: the Queen of Raw saw an opportunity in the B2B space and created a private portal to cater to large volume buyers and sellers and launched a partnership with SAP. And for Queen of Raw, fashion and textiles is just the beginning. Looking across industries and around the world, it has found the $1 trillion thread to solve the world’s water crisis.   Learn about using blockchain to rescue fashion’s dead stock: the Queen of Raw uses blockchain technology to provide transparency around wasted inventory and turn that pollution into profit by integrating with its global marketplace. Queen of Raw secures and verifies supply chain data to help companies save significant time and money. Blockchain is the new reality for wholesale and retail. Learn more about Stephanie here -  http://www.queenofraw.com  Industry: SaaS Software, Supply Chain, Textiles, Blockchain, Machine Learning/AI, Marketplace Launched: Q3 2018 Find us, connect, and explore at https://www.supplychainrevolution.com/
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Aug 13, 2020 • 10min

Exploring Fashion Supply Chains and Technology with Stephanie Benedetto, the "Queen of Raw”

This is Part 1 of a 2 part lightning talk series. "Are you naked right now? You’re not…because you’re using fabric. It’s everywhere! It’s where it’s supposed to be, covering things like us, and where it’s not supposed to be.” This was the opening 10 seconds of Stephanie’s award-winning pitch to Ashton Kutcher, Sean “Diddy” Combs, & Gary Vaynerchuk in 60 seconds at the WeWork Creator Awards where she scored a grand prize of $360,000. Queen of Raw then closed a $1.5M priced seed round led by True Wealth Ventures with minority investor MIT Solve. You’ll hear it in this episode along with insights on how to get funding for your tech start up with a winning pitch. Episode 31 is a 2-part lightning talk series exploring Stephanie Benedetto’s journey from corporate attorney, to sustainability tech entrepreneur. Her family has been in the fashion supply chain business for over 100 years! Benedetto saw the problem first hand and together they built the Queen of Raw solution: a B2B platform for businesses to recapture value from their wasted materials rather than burning them.  This episode provides: an overview of the fashion supply chain, its impact on the world we share and why textile production is the second biggest polluting industry in the world. Did you know that one tee shirt takes 700 gallons of water to produce? Bringing $120 billion worth of unused textiles back to life, the Queen of Raw has already saved over one billion gallons of water while saving businesses millions of dollars with supply chain efficiency. Why is an optimized supply chain the solution for people, for planet, and for profit? You’ll learn why sustainability and circularity are the answer in the future of fashion.  We also explore Stephanie’s journey including her advice to women-owned technology start-ups! Some of Stephanie’s awards include: Grand Prize WeWork Creator Awards, Cartier Women’s Initiative, Laureate MIT Solve Global Challenge Winner, LVMH Innovation Award, NASA/NIKE/IKEA/DELL Innovator Finalist, Google Women Who Tech Fashion Group International Rising Star, thredUP Circular Fashion Fund Recipient Learn more about Stephanie here -  http://www.queenofraw.com  Industry: SaaS Software, Supply Chain, Textiles, Blockchain, Machine Learning/AI, Marketplace Launched: Q3 2018 Find us, connect, and explore at https://www.supplychainrevolution.com/
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Aug 3, 2020 • 8min

Exploring The Business Case for Sustainable Supply Chains and Circular Economy, Ocean Plastics, and the Sea Change in Circular Products in Footwear & Apparel w/ John Holm of Pyxera Global

There is a misconception that sustainability and circular economy is philanthropy... that it's a project or an initiative. Circular thinking can be compared to Lean; it's a mindset, it's a space where you're able to connect a vision, a product to the individuals inside and outside your organization, across your supply chain. The truth is that there is a business case for change and the transition toward a circular world is a fiscal argument. For example, there are companies like Adidas, Nike, Puma, and Reebok doing cool things in footwear using plastic waste as a feedstock and creating new, innovative products with a circular/sustainable bend. In Episode 30 (part 3 of a lightning talk series), John Holm from Pyxera Global explores the business case for sustainability and circular economy including product innovation, culture, and legislation. In the US, there simply isn't enough happening in regulatory environments around single-use plastics and extending producer's responsibility. However, there are bright spots and John describes the sea-change happening when you get it right using the apparel/footwear industry. COVID is impacting everything we do, including organizations in the social impact sectors. John touches on how PPE is impacting our oceans and why we should think about micro-plastics, how supply chains can help. Lastly, we describe how you can get involved and champion the work being done. If you like this series, please subscribe and share a review. We thank John and the Pyxera Global team for all their work to make the world a better place. Reach out, connect, learn more, and get started... Find John Holm, Pxyera Global at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnholm/ & https://www.pyxeraglobal.org/ Find us, connect, and explore at https://www.supplychainrevolution.com/
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Aug 2, 2020 • 13min

Exploring Supply Chains Using Sustainable Development & SDGs To Unlock Local Leadership for Global Progress In Circular Initiatives, Women's Rights and Building an Equitable Society with ESG Leadership w/ John Holm of Pxyera Global

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the Global Goals, were adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030. It is a bold vision referred to as the 2030 agenda and includes 17 interconnected goals, and 169 targets. The SDGs also position the roadmap for sustainable supply chains. However, many argue that the vision lacks local context and has failed the global development community. In Episode 29, one of our most provocative episodes to date, we explore this topic with John Holm from Pxyera Global. Episode 29 answers: have we failed the global development community by positioning a broken vision, is the top of the food chain motivated to build an equitable society, how to influence success in reduce/reuse/recycle initiatives at the community level, and how do we forge tri-sector partnerships in social/public/private sectors? We unpack women's rights, and how companies like 3M and BASF have clear line of sight using ESG frameworks, making sustainability everyone's priority (not a department). Achieving the SGDs requires investments and policies that affect specific places, and there is increasing realization that overall global progress will depend in significant measure upon local leadership and action. These local leaders, the people who care deeply about community issues, who implement initiatives and who shape local development, represent a huge window of opportunity for global social change.Using their direct contact with communities, local leaders are uniquely positioned to push forward ideas, galvanize others and create immediate social impact. Mayors and local government officials are forming the frontlines of SDG implementation, translating the agenda’s lofty and sometimes abstract aspirations into progress felt by real people living in real communities. Reach out, connect, learn more, and get started... Find John Holm, Pxyera Global at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnholm/ & https://www.pyxeraglobal.org/ Find us, connect, and explore at https://www.supplychainrevolution.com/
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Aug 1, 2020 • 11min

Exploring Supply Chain Partnerships For Sustainability, Circular Cities, Scaling Circular Economy, and Zero Plastic-Waste Communities w/ John Holm of Pyxera Global

Helen Keller said, "Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” Building a better world is almost impossible without industry-wide collaboration, cooperation, and consensus. Circularity, like supply chain, is becoming more popular in business discussions. However, we are at an inflection point where there are no good choices in a bad system. It’s powerful because we inadvertently make decisions that are “less bad” rather than designing solutions that proactively solve wicked problems 100 years from NOW. How do we get the public, private, and social sectors to collaborate? How do make the transitions real for marginalized communities and shift the paradigm that circular economy is a siloed “project”? How do we design solutions that fit the world proactively? "It takes courage to forge a true partnership. It takes compromise. It takes respect for one another’s goals, experiences, knowledge, processes, and approaches. It takes courage, if you are a donor institution or an NGO, to accept that your private sector partner has a goal, even an obligation, to drive business value—that is, to ultimately profit from this work. And that is a valid goal, and should be embraced as part of the partnership.” (Deidre White of Pyxera Global) Episode 28 is a 3 part series of lightning talks with John Holm from Pyxera Global. In this episode he explores how public, private, and social sector organizations engage to address global challenges to solve the world’s biggest problems, including the low hanging fruit in circular transition. He also describes the circular cities model and zero waste communities (btw he LOVES waste pickers and is a huge advocate)! As cities embrace the concept of the circular economy by reducing the amount of waste and working to decouple economic activity from the consumption of finite resources, making it real and accessible for consumers becomes critical. We also discuss the lack of recycling infrastructure in the United States and how mayors can help influence circular models. How can we shift business to service contracts versus selling more products? We unpack a few examples and the benefits of using P-a-a-S (product as a service). Part 2 - Episode 29 explores "Sustainable Development & the SDGs, Have We Failed the Global Development Community with the Wrong Context, Womens Rights and Building an Equitable Society" Part 3 - Episode 30 explores "How to Frame and Lead the Business Case for Sustainability and Circular Economy, Ocean Plastics & PPE, and the Sea Change in Circular Products in Footwear & Apparel" Reach out, connect, learn more, and get started... Find John Holm, Pxyera Global at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnholm/ & https://www.pyxeraglobal.org/ Find us, connect, and explore at https://www.supplychainrevolution.com/
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Jul 26, 2020 • 17min

Exploring Supply Chain Resilience in Navigating COVID and Beyond & The Wicked Debate of Sustainability Versus Circular Economy w/ James George of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation

We are facing unprecedented social, economic, and environmental crises. We've lost many lives to COVID and as unemployment reaches new highs, businesses and supply chains must navigate a new, never normal world. The business as usual operating model of globalization versus localized/shorter supply chains, lowest price versus value, opportunity versus obligation has created the status quo. Is incremental improvement or doing things "less bad" actually helping or hurting business and our planet? How do we connect the dots and show leadership during crisis using circularity? In Episode 27, James George from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation discusses that COVID has accelerated conversations for circular economy. Two distinct groups are emerging: 1) those who've been disrupted and don't know where to go or where to start, and 2) the businesses who are successful are prioritizing doing things differently, innovation, doubling down on circular economy grounded in the business case for change including agility, supply assurance, and designing risk out of your supply chain. Supply chain resilience is critical and how do you ensure the right work gets done? Lastly, we debate how sustainability and circularity may not exist in the same sentence. Is optimizing for "less bad" the right pivot to navigate COVID and beyond? How do you get started? Find James George, EllenMacArthur Foundation at https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-george-20995b75/ Find us, connect, and explore at https://www.supplychainrevolution.com/
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Jul 20, 2020 • 16min

Exploring Supply Chain Innovation & Disruptive Design: How Lego and IKEA Use Creativity, Technology & the Human Experience to Build a Circular Economy w/ James George (Ellen MacArthur Foundation)

As competition intensifies, the need for creative thinking increases. It is no longer enough to do the same thing better. It’s no longer enough to be efficient and solve problems. There is no doubt that creativity is the most important human resource of all. Without creativity, there would be no progress, and we would be forever repeating the same patterns. (Edward de Bono)  The concept of a circular economy is a hot topic in the midst of COVID, not only because of its positive social, environmental, financial impacts but also the assuring of supply, mitigation of raw material price fluctuation, reduction of waste, and innovative revenue streams. As circular design ambitions grow, current advances in technology have made it possible for companies like Lego and IKEA to lead the transition to a circular economy. Lego is answering this question: how do we use creativity and play to help children reimagine and rebuild the world? And how do we engage AFOLs (adult fans of Lego) for current design ideas? Technology alone cannot achieve CE at scale, so what role do humans and creativity play in the world achieving a true circular economy? In Episode 26, James George from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation describes the importance of purpose, leadership, courage and risk in the Circular Economy. Using concrete examples of ingenuity, technology, and the human experience, we unpack Lego’s Circular & Sustainable journey “RePlay”…inspiring bold moves through play, creativity, and powerful leadership. IKEA is solving the wicked problem of food waste using AI, process optimization, demand planning. They pilot circular disruption at the store level and iterate to scale. Want to learn more? This is the episode for you.  Circular economy is an investment lever many companies are pulling to weather long term disruption and build sustainable supply chains. Human and creativity play a role in achieving innovation at scale to build a better, healthier planet and economy. How do you get started? Find James George, EllenMacArthur Foundation at https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-george-20995b75/ Find us, connect, and explore at https://www.supplychainrevolution.com/
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Jul 13, 2020 • 32min

Exploring the Green Revolution: Climate Change and Shifts in Industry, Technology, & Supply Chain, Sources of Renewable Energy, Green ‘'Cloud" Data Centers, EVs, and Sustainable Development Goal 13 for Climate Action with Tom Raftery (SAP)

Global carbon dioxide emissions have increased by nearly 50 per cent since 1990, and 2019 was the warmest year on record. Climate change touches everything we do and for the 1st time, the World Economic Forum has named climate change as a leading risk facing business and our survival. Episode 25 discusses the Green Revolution and all its glorious, wicked, complexities. Climate action requires rapid changes that must take place in four key parts of society: energy generation, land use, consumer behavior, and industry. Tom Raftery, Global VP and SAP Innovation Evangelist joins Sheri Hinish, and both have a deep-rooted passion for sustainability and sustainable development.  This episode touches on everything from SDG 13, to a comparison of renewable energy sources, how to build a green data center, why Google and Microsoft cloud environments are more sustainable than AWS, and the business case for transition to EVs (electric vehicles). What is the social cost of carbon? How do we trust businesses and suppliers to be sustainable in environmental stewardship? How can reporting and pricing carbon can reduce emissions and enable smarter planning in supply chains? According to conservation.org, the Price tag for climate change in the US is $ 140​ billion per year. This is what it would take to make the changes humanity needs to adapt to a warming world. It may sound like a lot, but it’s less than 0.2% of global GDP. And the cost will only increase the longer we take to act ambitiously. Supply Chains, technology, and Industry 4.0 are a conduit for climate action using environmental risk management, the cost of carbon, and understanding consumer behavior where shifts like purchaser-to-participant and “shades of green” meet the consumer in their green journey. There are natural climate pivots like the “flexitarian diet” and small behavior shifts that pay dividends. There is a fiscal argument for climate action that is unpacked in this episode, inlacing SAP’s new Climate 21 initiative. Climate change impacts natural and human systems globally through the increase globally averaged surface temperature, extreme weather events, changing precipitation patterns, rising sea levels and ocean acidification. These risks will ultimately impact people’s livelihoods, particularly marginalized groups such as women, children, and the elderly, as resources, food and water become more scarce. If you think about the SDGs, the lasting effects of climate change tied to SDG 13 makes it very difficult to achieve other goals. The green revolution starts with you. Learn more about how we can design a better future with zero waste, equality, and transition to carbon neutrality, and carbon negative solutions to unite people and our planet. This is a longer discussion than other episodes but worth the listen! Find us, connect, and explore at https://www.supplychainrevolution.com/
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Jun 28, 2020 • 17min

Exploring Short Supply Chains, Urban Agriculture, and the Future of Circular Cities and Food to Rethink Commercial Food Systems

Imagine a world where city and suburban agriculture takes the form of backyard, roof-top and balcony gardening, community gardening in vacant lots and parks, roadside urban fringe agriculture and livestock grazing in open space. From bio-walls, to edible landscapes, and “gardens-as-a-service,” the transition to a circular economy and sustainable world includes leveraging Urban Agriculture and regenerative farming techniques. In Episode 22 (Part 2 of the discussion), we explore the principles of regenerative agriculture in the circular transition, including the tension of going local, integrating food education in public schools, the benefits of urban agriculture and holistic design, the importance of communities in agriculture and circularity, and how you can get started in your journey rethinking food and food security. The revolution starts at the bottom. Learn more about how we can design a better future with zero waste, equality, and transition to soil-to-soil approaches to unite people and our planet. PS: This is the 2nd part of a long discussion. Part 1 is Episode 21, so if you haven’t listened to it yet it’s a good primer for this episode. It’s about 17 mins. Find us, connect, and explore at https://www.supplychainrevolution.com/

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