The Gartner Supply Chain Podcast

Helen Davis, Senior VP at Kraft Heinz with over 27 years in global supply chain management, dives into the company's journey towards a fully autonomous supply chain. She discusses the importance of mastering manual processes before integrating digital tools. Helen emphasizes servant leadership in overcoming barriers for digital projects and shares innovative use cases for generative AI that enhance efficiency. Lastly, she offers valuable insights for chief supply chain officers aiming to drive their own digital transformations.

Noha Samara, a Gartner senior director analyst and expert in supply chain planning, shares her insights on evolving decision-making processes. She introduces the concept of 'decision shapers' and their three crucial personas: the codebreaker analytically sifting through data, the alchemist translating it into actionable insights, and the storyteller who communicates effectively with diverse audiences. They discuss the pivotal role of AI in enhancing these processes and offer essential recommendations for supply chain leaders aiming to foster robust decision-making.

This episode explores:Supply chain’s role in navigating volatility associated with digital technology, changing customer needs and sustainability. (1:12)How Unilever redesigned its supply chain by fusing it with IT and enterprise services to drive change and address volatility. (5:10)Three real-world Unilever programs that leverage this fusion to build competitive advantage and business growth. (9:14)Practical recommendations for CSCOs who want to undertake similar redesigns in their own supply chains. (15:34)Host Thomas O’Connor explores the ins and outs of Unilever’s supply chain redesign with Reginaldo Ecclissato, Unilever’s Chief Business Operations and Supply Chain Officer. Reggie’s dual title speaks to Unilever’s new approach to its supply chain: transforming supply chain operations into a source of competitive advantage and business growth by combining it with IT and global business services. Thomas and Reggie discuss the key tenets at this redesign’s heart, including an accelerated digitalization effort and a talent-first outlook. The pair close the show with recommendations for CSCOs who want to pursue similar redesigns in their own supply chains.Editorial note: Since the recording of this podcast, Reginaldo Ecclissato has been appointed to the role of president for One Unilever Markets.About the Guest:Reginaldo Ecclissato has been appointed to the role of president for One Unilever Markets. At the time of recording for the December 2024 Supply Chain Podcast, Reginaldo’s role was Chief Business Operations and Supply Chain Officer. He became a member of the Unilever Leadership Executive in January 2022. Reginaldo has a rich history at Unilever spanning more than 30 years with extensive supply chain experience in both developed and emerging markets.

Nick Ashton, Executive Vice President at Zoetis, shares insights on how a positive culture fuels supply chain success. He discusses empowering teams through transparency and access to data, which fosters trust and collaboration. The conversation highlights the shift from rigid communication to real-time interactions, enhancing data accuracy and boosting employee satisfaction. Ashton also provides actionable recommendations for CSCOs aiming to leverage culture for organizational transformation, proving that a strong culture drives measurable business impacts.

Sam Burt, a Gartner senior director of research, dives into the evolving role of generative AI in supply chains. The conversation highlights how AI impacts productivity differently for desk-based versus frontline workers, exploring both time savings and potential job reductions. Burt discusses the 'productivity paradox' and how leaders can strategically invest in AI tools. Recommendations for chief supply chain officers aim at maximizing team creativity through collaborative approaches, ensuring that innovation and employee experience are prioritized.

Wade McDaniel, a Gartner Vice President and supply chain veteran, shares insights on Chief Supply Chain Officers' (CSCOs) evolving priorities for 2025. The discussion highlights a wave of optimism among CSCOs, driven by clearer strategies and positive economic trends. They explore how inflation and post-pandemic changes are steering focus towards cost control, digital strategies, and talent recruitment. Wade also dives into the cautious optimism surrounding generative AI’s potential impact, alongside actionable recommendations for achieving commercial growth while managing disruptions.

This episode explores:Strategic misalignment and the impact on the efficacy of traditional supply chain tools. (2:58)The status quo contributes to strategic misalignment for the majority of surveyed supply chain organizations. (4:56)How CSCOs can address the short-term issues at the root of strategic misalignment. (6:59)The counterintuitive organizational design that helps CSCOs create strategic alignment. (11:31)Recommendations for CSCOs to maintain their newly secured strategic alignment. (15:14)In this episode of the Supply Chain Podcast, host Lindsay Azim sits down with Gartner Senior Director Analyst Suzie Petrusic to discuss the myriad impacts strategic misalignment has on supply chains. They explore the damage strategic misalignment inflicts on profit margins and supply chain capacity, as well as how CSCOs can approach the issue through counterintuitive organizational design.About the GuestSuzie Petrusic, Ph.D., is the Gartner Senior Director Analyst serving chief supply chain officers in all the areas of supply chain related to strategy leadership and execution. She has authored and co-authored research and case studies on topics such as risk, supply chain maturity, the future of the supply chain, customer enablement, inflation and recession, and supply chain constraints. Suzie also leads Gartner’s research agenda for chief supply chain officers.Learn more about Gartner Supply Chain Planning Summit 2024, the premier destination for supply chain planning leaders.Visit Gartner.com to learn more about Gartner for Supply Chain.

Alan O’Keeffe, a Senior Research Director at Gartner, shares his insights on the wave of supply chain reorganization. He reveals that 90% of professionals are currently planning changes to enhance efficiency. O'Keeffe discusses designing supply chains to achieve balance, strength, and speed, while cautioning against common pitfalls like oversimplification and mimicking others. He emphasizes a tailored approach that centers on people and capabilities, ultimately guiding leaders to navigate the complexities of modern supply chains.

This episode explores:What it takes to lead a supply chain organization in 2024, and how Dow CSCO Nestor de Mattos’s background helps him do so. (1:08)How CSCOs can help their teams adapt to changing realities around risk and driving business value. (5:08)The impact that evolving talent profiles have on hiring net-new supply chain employees. (7:40)Potential opportunities for CSCOs to hire from new talent pools in the wake of a slowing economy and a softening job market. (10:04)Recommendations for CSCOs to effectively lead their organizations in the face of challenging economic conditions. (12:02)Supply Chain Podcast Host Thomas O’Connor sits down with guest Nestor de Mattos, Corporate Vice President and Chief Supply Chain Officer of Integrated Supply Chain (ISC) for Dow. The pair leverage Nestor’s non-traditional career background as a lens to discuss best practices for CSCOs leading organizations through challenging times. Topics include leveraging new or unexpected talent pools and profiles, driving upskilling throughout the supply chain and the opportunities that challenging economic conditions can provide. Nestor de Mattos is Corporate Vice President and Chief Supply Chain Officer of Integrated Supply Chain (ISC) for Dow. He oversees the global end-to-end supply chain, including (but not limited to): planning and scheduling, international trade, sustainability, systems solutions and innovation to advance Dow’s strategic growth. He also co-chairs a team of executive leaders responsible for setting the strategic direction and implementing digital and end-to-end transformation for Dow. In his role, Nestor is responsible for driving an integrated end-to-end customer fulfillment experience across more than 150 countries to more than 35,000 delivery locations, all in coordination with more than 1,800 logistics service providers. Integrated Supply Chain supports Dow’s market-driven, industry-leading portfolio of advanced materials, industrial intermediates and plastics businesses. Together, these functions deliver a broad range of differentiated technology-based products and solutions for customers in high-growth markets that include packaging, infrastructure, and consumer care.Learn more about Gartner Supply Chain Planning Summit 2024, the premier destination for supply chain planning leaders.Visit Gartner.com to learn more about Gartner for Supply Chain.

This episode explores:The growing demand for CSCOs to take a proactive approach to risk management. (1:47)Why there’s no perfect answer to how much resilience organizations “really need.” (2:22)How (and why) investments in capabilities like resilience, visibility and agility are failing to provide better proactive mitigation. (6:47)What CSCOs can do to address misalignment and siloing in their risk management activities. (8:08)Key takeaways for CSCOs to apply these practices in their own organizations. (15:45)In this episode of the Supply Chain Podcast, host Lindsay Azim and guest Suzie Petrusic, Gartner Senior Director Analyst, discuss the significant misalignment between supply chain’s risk mitigation activities and investments with the ROI they should drive. Suzie’s recent research into the topic revealed how factors like siloed capabilities and general disagreement on mitigation priorities are resulting in wasted time and resources — in some cases creating pure overhead instead of ROI. Lindsay and Suzie explore these challenges’ root causes and impacts, as well as how CSCOs can address them in their own organizations.Suzie Petrusic, Ph.D., is the Gartner Senior Director Analyst serving chief supply chain officers in all the areas of supply chain related to strategy leadership and execution. She has authored and co-authored research and case studies on topics such as risk, supply chain maturity, the future of the supply chain, customer enablement, inflation and recession, and supply chain constraints. She also leads Gartner’s research agenda for chief supply chain officers.Learn more about Gartner Supply Chain Planning Summit 2024, the premier destination for supply chain planning leaders.Visit Gartner.com to learn more about Gartner for Supply Chain.