The Zero100 Podcast

In today's volatile trade environment, how can you ensure your supplier relationships not only endure but flourish? PepsiCo's Chief Procurement Officer Marcelo Stefani tells Zero100 VP, Research Geraint John about how the company has revamped its SRM strategy. The secret ingredient: Why SRM is a non-negotiable at Pepsico (1:03)Marcelo's key learnings along the SRM journey (1:53)Beyond cost savings: How stronger supplier relationships offer tangible value (4:08)How Pepsico creates "one voice, one team" for suppliers (8:56)What's next for Pepsico's SRM superpower? (11:28)

What if, instead of pushing change onto people, we could design it to spread itself? The Zero100 team breaks down how to use the psychological hacks that fuel memes and movements to spread new ideas within supply chain organizations. Featuring: VP Research Lauren Acoba, Principal Analyst Caroline Chumakov, and VP Research Analytics Cody Stack.Tariffs, agentic AI, and deeper disruption ahead (3:17)The reason change needs to spread faster? Creative destruction (5:51)Why the old playbook for change no longer works (8:07)What viral change looks like in a work setting (11:01)How Unilever avoids the dilution effect (13:19)The secret to getting your idea to spread (16:34)How to lay the foundation for social proof (19:49)Tips for embracing a new way of thinking (24:47)

Since Trump's return to office, supply chain leaders have been scrambling to adapt to new tariffs and a culture of uncertainty. This week, Chief Research Officer Kevin O'Marah, VP Research Geraint John, and Principal Analyst Caroline Chumakov reflect on the first 100 days of the President's new term and unpack what comes next.Panic or pause? Leaders' immediate reactions to tariffs (00:45)Next steps for navigating the new trade landscape (4:11)What an impending recession could mean for supply chain (7:51)Product pricing strategies amid inflation (13:45)Is the death of the Trans-Pacific Partnership the reason we're in this situation? (16:15)The implications of China's critical mineral monopoly (19:00)Why it might be harder for US companies to build green supply chains (20:40)The essential change every supply chain should invest in now (23:45)

Walmart has long set the bar for omnichannel innovation, with breakthroughs connecting store operations, e-commerce, logistics automation, and sourcing. Ahead of 3xOmni – an event co-hosted by Zero100 and Walmart – Andrea Albright (EVP, Sourcing, Walmart; Operating Partner, Massmart) and Lauren Acoba (VP Research, Zero100) discuss how the retailer’s strategy has evolved with consumer expectations and what comes next. Unpacking the evolution of omnichannel shopping (1:04)Inside Walmart's next-gen omni playbook (3:35)How AI powers ethical sourcing and strategy at Walmart (4:55)Breaking down siloes to deliver on hyper-personalization (7:07)The secrets to optimizing supply networks using AI (11:02)Overcoming cultural inertia: the power of psychological safety (12:59)Omni lessons for everyone (not just retail!) (17:33)Why there's no substitute for being with your customers (18:55)

As global trade volatility soars, many supplier relationships could be headed for a rough patch. Zero100 discusses how leaders can not only maintain those relationships but strengthen them for mutual benefit. Featuring: Chief Content Officer Matt Davis, VP Research Geraint John, and Principal Analyst Jenna Fink.The best relationship advice the team has ever received (00:49)How trade shifts and regulation are putting supplier relationships under strain (1:58)Why strong supplier relationship management (SRM) is so important – and why it’s not been prioritized (3:13)Preferred pricing and premium service: The financial incentives for strong SRM (6:55)The Zero100 STEER framework for becoming a customer of choice (9:56)Lessons in SRM from SHEIN (13:13)How Proctor & Gamble, Johnson & Johnson, and BMW are driving supplier co-innovation (15:26)The supply chain skills and roles needed to push SRM forward (20:56)

When it comes to customer service automation, have we gone too far, too fast? The Zero100 team ponders how to balance human interaction and self-service in retail and elsewhere in supply chain. Featuring: Chief Content Officer Matt Davis and Chief Research Officer Kevin O’Marah.

You don’t have to imagine a world where you can create a virtual replica of your physical supply chain – the tech is already here. This week, the Zero100 team discusses how leaders can use simulation to pre-model risk, test scenarios, and optimize operations. Featuring: VP Research Strategy Steve Hochman, Chief Research Officer Kevin O’Marah, and Head of Research Analytics Cody Stack.

Automating a desk-based process is one thing. Installing legions of robots on the frontline is another. This week, the Zero100 team unpacks the unique challenges and opportunities of automating factories and warehouses. Featuring: VP Research Strategy Steve Hochman, Principal Analyst Jenna Fink, and Chief Research Officer Kevin O'Marah. Fact vs fiction: the future of frontline automation (00:48)Unpacking the automation gap between laptop and physical work (4:31)Presenting automation to the C-suite: a new business case (8:24)Secrets to accelerating your automation journey (11:27)Are design constraints holding back innovation? Medtronic thinks so. (13:32) How Coca-Cola and Renault use simulation to change the cost equation (16:02)Humanoid robots: are they hype or truly useful? (19:03)Where humans fit into this more autonomous future (22:44)

What happens when you get 100 of the world’s most influential CSCOs and COOs in a room together? This week, the Zero100 team shares a behind-the-scenes look at Forum 2025, revealing how supply chain leaders are preparing business to cope in troubled times. Featuring: VPs Research Lauren Acoba and Geraint John, and VP of Membership, Daria Crane. What is Zero100 Forum? (1:46)Defining “Next Wave Digital” in three key themes (02:52) Attendee attitudes on change, talent, and Trump’s tariffs (4:52)Insights on relocation, lobbying, and more from Zero100’s Tariff Playbook (7:52) How leaders are responding to shifting trade dynamics (12:04)AI whiplash and the end of tech for tech’s sake (13:50)Key challenges for the year ahead (15:30)Vinyl, magicians, and more off-stage Forum highlights (17:50)

Governments, corporations, disruptive startups – when it comes to AI, who gets to decide what’s right and wrong? On the Zero100 Podcast, the team waxes philosophical (and then gets practical) about the ethical implementation and regulation of AI for the betterment of supply chain and society. Featuring: Chief Research Officer Kevin O’Marah and Senior Manager, Data Science Julia Dahlgren. Differentiating between AI agents, AGI, and "sentient" AI (00:34)What we talk about when we talk about “ethical” AI (3:14)What the Industrial Revolution can teach us about AI’s potential impact (6:12)The implications of the global power struggle over AI (9:00)DeepSeek and AI innovation under political constraint (9:50)Could the democratization of AI solve our ethical dilemma? (15:04) The role of leadership (and human goodness) in keeping AI on track (16:10)Further reading from Zero100: The Signal: Will AGI Reflect the Best or Worst of Human Nature?The Signal: AI and the New Gilded Age