Pencils and Pistons

Rashmeet Kaur

Welcome to Pencils and Pistons 🎙️ Your school of sustainability and supply chain excellence, hosted by soon-to-be Dr. Rashmeet Kaur, whose research revolves around inspiring behaviours for sustainable transformation. Join inspiring conversations with industry pioneers and changemakers transforming supply chain management—from circular economy strategies to green logistics, ethical sourcing to carbon-neutral operations. Whether you're a supply chain professional, sustainability practitioner, or business leader, discover actionable insights driving meaningful behavioural change.

  1. 09/11/2023

    Outliers : Supply Chain Excellence and Business Development at DHL

    Nikitha Angela Fernandes is a dynamic Business Development & Program Management professional in Service Logistics at DHL Supply Chain. As a recent graduate of Indian School of Business's Advanced Management Program in Logistics and Supply Chain Management (AMPOS Co'24), she combines industrial engineering fundamentals with strategic management principles to deliver effective supply chain solutions. With nearly 7 years at DHL Supply Chain, Nikitha has progressed through several roles, demonstrating her expertise in program management and business development. In her current manager position, she focuses on sales growth and business development within DHL's Service Logistics division. Nikitha holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Industrial Management from Dayananda Sagar Institutions and is a Certified Sales Specialist through DHL. Her educational foundation is complemented by specialized training, including Harvard Business Publishing's Mathematics for Management certification. Beyond her professional accomplishments, Nikitha is committed to community service as a long-term volunteer teacher with Teach For India since 2021. Her career achievements include recognition as "Employee of the Year" at DHL Supply Chain in 2020 and "Achiever of Quarter" in 2019. Nikitha is an advocate for women in logistics, having participated in podcasts and professional development programs focused on empowering women in the industry. She emphasizes the importance of inclusivity and bringing one's unique skills and talents to the table regardless of gender. Her professional interests include sustainable supply chain solutions, efficient logistics implementation, and mentoring in STEM fields.

    28 min
  2. 04/01/2023

    Outliers : Award-Winning Business Sustainability Consultant

    Rondi Allan is an award-winning Business Sustainability Consultant and Director at Sustainable X, a company she founded in August 2020. Based in St Albans, England, she helps businesses transform sustainability from a perceived cost or compliance burden into a strategic business advantage. As the leader of Sustainable X, Rondi works with organizations at all stages of their sustainability journey, from those just beginning to consider sustainability to those striving to become purpose-led, socially and environmentally responsible businesses. Her approach emphasizes practical, business-focused sustainability strategies that deliver measurable value. Rondi brings extensive corporate experience to her consultancy, having spent over 14 years at Henkel in various leadership roles, including Head of IT for UK, Ireland, and Nordics, and Beauty Care Retail executive responsible for field sales and key account teams. Her expertise has earned her multiple recognitions, including being named one of the Top 100 female entrepreneurs in the f:Entrepreneur #ialso community for 2023, winning the Gold Award for Sustainability at the National Business Women's Awards, and receiving an award at the Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce Inspiring Herts awards. Beyond her consultancy, Rondi serves as an Advisory Council Member for Harvard Business Review, an Advisory Board Member for The Global Chamber, and an Associate at The Supply Chain Academy. She is also deeply committed to education, serving as Chair of Governors at Cunningham Hill Junior School since 2012 and as a mentor for The Institute of Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability. Rondi's approach to sustainability consulting emphasizes collaboration, adaptability, practical examples, and awareness-building. Her work focuses on helping businesses build sustainable business cases, recognize existing sustainable practices, prioritize strategic next steps, and effectively communicate their impact through certification programs.

    34 min
  3. Outliers : Pioneering Sustainable Diet Research

    12/05/2022

    Outliers : Pioneering Sustainable Diet Research

    Dr. Emma Garnett is a sustainability researcher at the University of Oxford, where she investigates approaches to reduce meat consumption and promote sustainable diets. Her research focuses on understanding and overcoming the economic, social, and political barriers to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and conserving natural ecosystems. Currently working in the Health Behaviours Team at Oxford's Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, Dr. Garnett examines various interventions to reduce meat consumption across different contexts. Her previous role as Research Fellow in Sustainable Consumption at the Cambridge Institute of Sustainability Leadership (2020-2022) involved working on sustainability in supermarket supply chains through a project funded by Sainsbury's. Dr. Garnett completed her PhD at the University of Cambridge (2016-2020), where she researched effective interventions to reduce the environmental impact of diets and change consumer behavior. Her doctoral work spanned natural and social sciences, public health, and behavioral psychology, with a particular focus on encouraging plant-based food choices. Her research has been published in prestigious journals including PNAS, Nature Food, and the Journal of Environmental Psychology, with notable papers examining strategies to increase vegetarian sales in cafeterias and reduce meat consumption. These publications have contributed valuable insights to the field of sustainable consumption. Dr. Garnett's academic background includes a European Master in Applied Ecology from Kiel University (with distinction) and a BA in Zoology/Natural Sciences from the University of Cambridge (First Class). She has also gained practical experience through positions at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and The Nature Conservancy. Beyond her research, Dr. Garnett maintains an active interest in marine conservation, serving as a volunteer marine researcher at Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre since 2010, where she monitors dolphin and seal populations.

    31 min
  4. Outliers : Global Procurement Leader and Supply Chain Innovator

    12/05/2022

    Outliers : Global Procurement Leader and Supply Chain Innovator

    Maryna Trepova is the CEO and Founder of IPSM Procurement, a consulting firm that specializes in optimizing procurement processes and supply chain management. Currently based in Portugal after relocating from Ukraine, she brings 16+ years of procurement and supply chain expertise to her role. With dual MBA degrees from Edinburgh Business School and Kyiv National Economics University, Maryna has built an impressive career focused on procurement transformation, cost reduction, and transparent business practices. Throughout her career, she has generated over $170 million in savings for clients through procurement audits, portfolio analysis, category management, and supplier relationship management strategies. As a recognised thought leader in her field, Maryna has founded or co-founded several influential initiatives in Ukraine, including the CPO Club, NGO "Transparent Procurement," and NGO "Procurement & Supply Chain Future." She also established CIPS educational programs in Ukraine as the CIPS Academic Leader and Approved Tutor, helping to elevate procurement standards across the country. Her extensive client portfolio includes major international companies such as Japan Tobacco International, Vodafone, SoftServe, and DTEK. Her work spans multiple countries including Ukraine, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Switzerland, Singapore, UAE, USA, UK, Germany, and others across Africa and Asia. Beyond her consulting work, Maryna is an accomplished speaker and educator. She has organized three International Procurement and Supply Chain Conferences, presented at 15 industry conferences, authored 40 articles, and conducted 50+ webinars. In 2021, she was recognized as "The bravest entrepreneur in Kyiv region" by MC.Today. Despite the challenges faced by Ukrainian businesses during wartime, Maryna continues to advocate for procurement excellence and transparent business practices while sharing Ukraine's unique experiences with the global business community. She remains dedicated to rebuilding Ukraine's future and developing world-class procurement professionals.

    43 min

About

Welcome to Pencils and Pistons 🎙️ Your school of sustainability and supply chain excellence, hosted by soon-to-be Dr. Rashmeet Kaur, whose research revolves around inspiring behaviours for sustainable transformation. Join inspiring conversations with industry pioneers and changemakers transforming supply chain management—from circular economy strategies to green logistics, ethical sourcing to carbon-neutral operations. Whether you're a supply chain professional, sustainability practitioner, or business leader, discover actionable insights driving meaningful behavioural change.