Let's Talk Supply Chain Sarah Barnes-Humphrey

Patrick Lo talks about Trakking; bringing predictability to container management; & the importance of working together to remove waste from supply chains.

Last month, we shared one of my favorite recent episodes of Thoughts and Coffee with you - and we got such great feedback that we decided to do it again!
And in this episode, I’m joined by founder, CEO and author Steve Ferreira. Steve wants to bring vivaciousness to the shipping industry and he’s certainly doing that! Tune in for his take on why students are flocking to supply chain; why FMC offers false hope to shippers; and the big question on everyone’s lips: exactly what is happening in the ocean market?!
There is so much to get your teeth into in this episode so grab a cup of coffee, and enjoy!
 
IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:  
[07.00] From the latest episode of Women In Supply Chain to an introduction to the brand new private network, The Secret Society of Supply Chain, an update on the latest at Let’s Talk Supply Chain.
[09.37] An introduction to Steve Ferreira; his vivacious approach to social media; and his business, Ocean Audit.
“My claim to fame is helping importers and exporters recover lost costs from the container get-in period… it only takes 50 containers to produce a $100,000 dollar refund.”
[12.31] Sarah shares the responses to her question of the week: “What characteristics or skills do you admire in a leader?”, and Steve reflects on the importance of a mindset shift towards empathy in the workplace.
[14.30] Steve gives us an update on the ocean market, sharing insights on rates, carrier strategies, and why more deals are getting done.
[16.50] The concept behind the video that won Steve the very first pair of limited edition Let’s Talk Supply Chain custom Air Force Ones in our five-year anniversary contest; and what’s coming up for Steve and his own industry brand.
“I’m a free spirit in the industry.. so I created ocean freight TV… and it’s geared towards bringing some excitement and enthusiasm into the ocean industry!”
[20.53] Sarah and Steve discuss why students are flocking to supply chain; and Steve shares his thoughts on the so-called industry talent shortage, the lack of mentors across the industry, and his words of advice for the next generation.
“Our lives are so different… we never experience the same thing. The cadence, the pace and the opportunities in the supply chain are one of the top areas of opportunity, and that’s why we have so many young people flocking to the industry.”
[26.38] Steve discusses his recent article: Why FMC Offers False Hope To Shippers.
“The problem is that the FMC is not an auditing agency. They’re looking for violations… where they can penalize an ocean vendor. They weren’t set up to repatriate money back to clients.”
[33.06] Sarah and Steve discuss a recent Freight Waves article suggesting that, despite the current turbulent market, the container shipping industry is not behaving like an industry facing an imminent crisis.
 
RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED:  
You can find out more about Ocean Audit over on their website, or you can connect with Steve on LinkedIn.
If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more from ‘the best 30 minutes on a Tuesday, check out Thought’s and Coffee – where the best industry players discuss breaking supply chain news over a good old cup of Joe!
Check out our other podcasts HERE.

Welcome back to Blended! It’s episode 32, I’m joined by a brand new panel of fantastic professionals and, today, we’re talking about introverts vs extroverts.
Most of us, in our lives and careers, have considered what personality type we are. You might be a self-identifying Type A personality (which I know one or two of my guests today are!) In many workplaces you might even have undergone a personality test, so leadership can get a greater idea of individuals strengths and weaknesses.
And one factor that’s at the core of many personality assessments is whether you are introverted or extroverted. But the introverts vs extroverts question is pretty complex – it’s about way more than if you’re quiet or chatty. And since understanding introversion and extroversion can help you understand yourself and others better, we thought it was a really interesting topic to discuss here on Blended.
So today, our guests will be diving into what these words actually mean and the qualities we associate with them; sharing their own experiences; reflecting on why society values extroversion so highly; and sharing their words of advice for how organizations can better support all personality types in the workplace.
 
IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:  
[01.09] Introductions to our Blended panellists.
Jennifer – Owner and CEO at The MJW Group Elouise – Partner at Kearney Cathy – Vice president of Women’s Leadership and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at American Bankers Association [03.48] The group discuss the definitions of introvert and extrovert, and reflect on what the words mean to them.
The qualities or personality traits we associate with each Are introverts actually shy? Introverts are impacted, whereas extroverts are activated, by stimuli Combining introvert and extrovert qualities Differing lengths of time you can maintain extroversion Control Small talk Playing the game Exhaustion from social situations “I’m an introvert… but I’m a public speaker and I love it! But there’s a difference, because it’s a situation that I control… and it’s one-directional.” Elouise
[16.05] The panel talk about labels, and whether there is still value in personality testing in the workplace.
Personalities are a journey Pidgeon-holing people Moving beyond labels Self-discovery People first Bias Time, patience and compromise Safe spaces How Elouise’s transition led her to seeming more extroverted, but in reality it was happiness Empathy Flexibility “Education around how different people communicate in different ways is important. We make assumptions about people based upon how we communicate, our world vision, and we may be inaccurately assessing someone’s confidence, competence or leadership skills because they’re communicating in a different way and we’re interpreting that incorrectly.”  Cathy
[38.21] The group share their personal experiences of introversion and extroversion, and how those experiences have impacted them professionally and personally.
Societal celebration of extroversion Feeling self-conscious or ashamed if you don’t speak in a group setting Using note-taking as a safe way to insert your voice Becoming comfortable with not speaking if there’s nothing that needs to be said Putting people on the spot Understanding your own limits [50.57] The panel reflect on why society values extroversion so highly, and the unseen value of introverts.
Not encouraging people to change who they are Acceptance Education Visibility Authenticity Confusing speaking with value Hidden value of introverts Personal energy “It comes down to politics… he who speaks the loudest gets heard, and that’s encouraged.” Jennifer
[01.01.54] The group share advice for managing introverts and extroverts in the workplace, and being a better colleague.
Education Strategies for running meetings Time for quiet reflection Balance Encouragement Boundaries Taking help or opportunities that are

Today I’m joined by Flexport, an exciting and innovative software brand that is on a mission to make global trade easy for everyone.
Flexport is building the platform for global logistics, empowering buyers, sellers and their logistics partners with the technology and services to grow and innovate. Companies of all sizes – from emerging brands to Fortune 500s – use Flexport technology to move more than $10B worth of merchandise across 112 countries every year.
Today Will Urban, Chief Revenue Officer at Flexport, joins me to chat all about the company and what they do; making sustainability a priority; the importance of providing visibility and control in a fragmented industry; and why global trade is a force for good.
Guest bio: Will Urban is Chief Revenue Officer at Flexport, where he’s responsible for driving go-to-market strategy and maximizing the value Flexport delivers to clients. Will is a 25+ year freight forwarding and logistics industry veteran; prior to Flexport, Will was the Regional Vice President of Northwest USA, Expeditors, one of the largest territories for the company. He oversaw all sales and operations, sponsored Fortune 500 global accounts and led an organization with nearly 1,000 full time employees under his leadership. Will is a licensed U.S. Customs Broker and holds an IATA/FIATA certificate.
 
IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:  
[06.55] The current landscape, and challenges, of global trade; how Flexport are helping their customers to tackle those challenges; and their vision to create a seamless experience in a fragmented industry.
“The last 6 months… has shown two things: that our infrastructure in the US is over-taxed, and that visibility is not where it needs to be, when that system is taxed.”
[10.19] Flexport’s recent leadership changes; and what they mean for the company, and for the industry.
“Dave [Clark] is all about scale and using technology to enhance what we’re doing, so he’s making the bridge between traditional freight forwarder and digital supply chain company.”
[14.43] An overview of Flexport, what they do and how they help their customers; their mission to improve the supply chain industry; and what sets them apart.
“What’s really different is that we think about our competitors as our partners… we want to give our customers the very best experience, visibility and tools to help optimize their supply chain, end-to-end.”
[19.00] Flexport’s commitment to collaboration; and why harnessing the power of third-party partnerships is the way to better serve customers.
“It’s invisible to our clients, they don’t have to worry about looking at a different system, receiving different reporting or updates in a different manner – it’s that consistency that really drives the value.”
[23.04] Why Flexport.org was established; how it's making a difference with sustainability and humanitarian work; and why global trade is a force for good.
“We can be a very profitable business, and at the same time make a really great impact on the world.”
[25.50] Teresa Carlson’s appointment as head of Flexport.org, and exactly how her role will increase its positive global impact.
[28.20] The importance of sustainability; what Flexport customers are doing, and asking for, when it comes to ESG goals; and how Flexport supports them.
[33.19] Flexport Capital: how it has helped to keep small and medium-sized businesses afloat; and the importance of offering a holistic suite of solutions, all under one roof.
[38.01] A case study detailing how Flexport helped a client analyze their supply chain to identify key areas to optimize, diversify and reduce cost.
[41.15] The future for Flexport.
“We’re doubling down on technology… to make the platform the most meaningful, easy to use customer-centric supply chain tool.”
RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED:  
Head over to Flexport’s website now to find out more and discover how they could hel

Today I’m joined by Esker, a long-standing software brand that is on a mission to build a foundation that promotes positive-sum growth, increased productivity, improved employee engagement, and greater trust between organizations.
Esker is a global cloud platform built to unlock strategic value for finance and customer service professionals and strengthen collaboration between companies by automating the cash conversion cycle. By developing AI-driven technologies and automating the order-to-cash and procure-to-pay cycles, Esker frees up finance and customer service professionals from time-consuming tasks, helps them be more efficient, and enables them to develop new skills.
Today Daniel Reeve, US Director of Sales and Business Development at Esker, joins me to chat all about the company and what they do; the power of positive-sum growth; bringing people and technology together in harmony; and why not all cloud platforms are created equal.
 
IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:  
[07.02] An introduction to Esker – who they are, what they do and how they help their customers.
“Folks are turning to us when they’re trying to free up their staff to be rockstars!”
[08.17] Esker’s mission, what sets them apart from the competition and why they’re ‘more than just another cloud platform.’
“We’ve often been seen as best-of-breed… but, increasingly, companies are realizing “wow, you guys are best of suite”… Companies are looking to put technology in place that leverages and enhances their ERP and improves the experience for the customers, suppliers and staff.”
[10.47] Esker’s commitment to ‘positive-sum growth,’ and what that means for brands, their employees, customers, suppliers – and for the planet.
“The concept is 'how do I put technology in, that brings efficiency and automation within my enterprise, without making it painful for my customers and suppliers?'”
[15.14] Why digital transformation projects are often unsuccessful, and Esker’s refreshing approach to providing close and ongoing customer support and training.
“Technology promises great outcomes, great efficiencies, great savings, great visibility – but there’s work involved to make that happen.”
[16.53] A closer look at Esker’s Procure-To-Pay solution, named in the 2022 Gartner Magic Quadrant report for P2P suites.
[19.29] Esker’s Order-to-Cash solution, and how their technology facilitates collaboration and optimization to bring people and processes together and enhance customer experience.
[26.54] What integration looks like with Esker.
[29.24] Why Esker’s range of technology includes robotic process automation, AI and mobile functionality, but also supports traditional tech like fax and Excel; and the importance of finding the balance between helping to drive innovation and digitization in the industry, and meeting customers where they are.
“Quite often, when you put technology in, there’s a dip… I don’t think people are resistant to technology just because they’re resistant. A lot of the time, they’re so busy and everything is so pressured… you need to hold their hand and guide them and make it super easy for them to adapt that technology.”
[31.36] The ideal client for Esker.
“If folks care about a user experience and a workflow that's easy... they will often choose Esker over others.”
[36.04] A case study detailing how Esker’s technology helped a key client to reduce order entry time from 10 minutes to 10 seconds, which allowed them to free up their people to better serve customers and ultimately achieve high levels of growth.
[39.04] The future for Esker.
 
Guest Bio:  
Dan Reeve is a Sales Director, approaching 22 years with Esker. Dan works to help companies free up front-line troops to be finance and customer service rockstars through the application of machine learning and AI.
Dan was fortunate to serve 10 years as a Combat Engineer in the British A

In today’s episode of Women In Supply Chain™, I’m joined by Liz Decker, a truly passionate and dynamic leader at one of Inc’s Best Workplaces in America.
Liz has a decade of broad experience across supply chain, having honed her expertise in all modes of logistics, covering international import/export, domestic truckload, drayage, customs brokerage, LTL, and air freight. From leading continuous improvement projects for Fortune 500 companies to leading SMB entrepreneurs through their first-ever international shipment, Liz is as versatile as she is dedicated. And she’s currently bringing her expertise and passion to her role as Director of Client Success at NorthPoint Logistics.
Today Liz will be talking to us about her career so far; her passion for social causes; the importance of putting a focus on client success; and why she’s proud to say that she’s a jack-of-all-trades when it comes to supply chain. Plus, she’ll be sharing her experiences as a woman in supply chain, as well as her words of advice for all of the women following in her footsteps.
 
SHOW SPONSOR:  
Women fuel the success of some of the world’s most successful businesses, yet barriers still exist. SAP is committed to supporting and elevating a new generation of women to profoundly lead and impact global supply chains and are proud to support the Women in Supply Chain™ Series and its efforts.
Supply chains need to evolve from low-cost and optimized to risk-resilient and sustainable and SAP can help.
SAP Digital Supply Chain solutions connect the entire process — design, planning, manufacturing, logistics, maintenance, and service; connecting your supply chains to the rest of your business and all your contextual data; supporting your efforts in alleviating risk in your supply chains.
SAP is the market leader in enterprise application software and for the last 50 years has been helping companies to run better. Find out more at sap.com/scm
 
IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:  
[06.45] Liz’s early years: how her first job exposed her to a variety of different people and taught her to be adaptable, and how networking opened the door to supply chain.
“I’m a Mid-West girl – I’m the youngest of three, so I learned quickly that I needed to advocate for myself!”
[09.08] How the pandemic threw Liz into the deep end of supply chain; the highs and lows; and what she learned along the way.
“In 2022, I was having conversations with clients that were ‘I don’t care what it takes. I need my product, and I need it now.’… so it forced me to be creative, and learn the different aspects of our business.”
[14.43] Liz’s current role as Director of Client Success at NorthPoint Logistics; her experience of building a team from the ground up; and why she loves building relationships.
“There’s no playbook of what client success looks like in the logistics industry – an industry that has traditionally been transactional.”
[17.58] The biggest challenges that Liz's client success team face, and the importance of tackling obstacles with strategic thinking.
“My team's role is to advise. Here’s what we’re seeing, here’s what we’re hearing, here’s some data we can provide.”
[23.24] Liz’s thoughts on the cyclical nature of supply chain trends, and what the next few years might bring for the industry.
“It’s a people industry. As technology gets better, and as people adopt technology (because we are lagging), our scope will change… but no matter how much technology we have, someone has to be there.”
[26.22] The importance of good workplace culture, and what Liz has learned working at NorthPoint Logistics - one of Inc’s Best Workplaces in America.
“Culture isn’t something that you just check a box and it’s there. You have to make a conscious effort every single day… but it’s so easy for culture to slip away. Being vulnerable and transparent has been so important for me.”