Alexia McLaughlin talks about making an impact through innovation; her commitment to cultures of excellence; & her big achievement as an industry rising star.

[03.52] An introduction to Alexia and her role at Veho.

“If Uber and UPS had a baby, it would be Veho!”

[05.08] How Alexia began her career in sales, and her journey through roles at Oracle and Jebbit to her current position at Veho.

“I never thought I was going to be in sales! That used car salesman connotation springs to your mind… But, when I was coming out of college, a lot of mentors who’s careers I admired started in sales. So I thought: ‘OK, I’m going to give this a try! I don’t know if I’ll love it, but I’ll learn a lot.’”

[09.07] Alexia’s experience moving from a big, corporate environment to a smaller, start-up culture.

“When you’re working for a big company, there’s a lot of layers, it’s very bureaucratic, there’s a lot of structure and process. But I wanted ambiguity. Both of my roles after Oracle you were building as you were steering the ship… It was exciting, and every day was different.”

[11.08] Making impact through innovation, the importance of ‘selling in’ to internal stakeholders, and how Alexia successfully led a new business opportunity, navigating the complexity of managing risk, expectation, and leadership buy-in.

“When you’re on the front line selling, and then coming back to the business to help inform the products and the offerings that we build, that’s a role that drives impact – and that’s exactly what I wanted.”

[15.31] From working with mentors to backing your approach with data, Alexia’s advice for building career confidence.

[17.23] Alexia’s biggest career achievement, and why it’s vital for women to understand their impact and to share and celebrate their successes.

[20.54] The challenges Alexia has faced during her career, and the turbulent nature of sales.

“I’ve had so many times of doubt, thinking: ‘I’m done with sales!’… It’s an up and down rollercoaster… There have been a thousand little failures along the way.”

[22.06] How to foster a culture of excellence, and why that’s so important.

“You have to lead by example… With new hires there’s only so much you can do in the training and onboarding process. The rest has to come from them seeing excellence throughout the organization. If everyone is operating at a high bar, you start to learn from observing the actions that are celebrated, the calibre of the team – and if you hire great, hungry people that want to operate at that level, then there’s a nice healthy stimulating environment.”

[24.29] What Alexia’s Rising Star award at this year’s Women in Supply Chain Awards means to her, and her advice for young women looking to follow in her footsteps.

[26.02] The future for Alexia, and her ambition for Veho over the next five years.

You can connect with Alexia McLaughlin over on LinkedIn.

If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear from more inspirational women, check out 444: Women In Supply Chain, Gina Anderson, 429: Women In Supply Chain, Kameel Gaines or 410: Women In Supply Chain, Julie Tilenius.

Dexter Weber of TGW Logistics talks about the trends, challenges & opportunities in warehouse logistics; building strategic partnerships; and TGW's new brand.

[05.31] TGW’s 50+ year journey from small fitters shop in Austria to global manufacturing leader.

“Part of our journey was becoming a foundation-owned company... We reinvest our profits into our solutions and capabilities, and to charity. We’re not chasing goals and pleasing shareholders – we’re focused on that long-term vision.”

[09.07] Where TGW are now, their vision for the future, and a why they’re unveiling a new brand for a new era.

[12.21] The ideal client for TGW Logistics.

“What we’re really looking for is someone that wants to build a true partnership. We need to be an extension of their team and share a vision to really accomplish the goals they want to achieve. Being collaborative makes sure we’re both successful.”

“Building relationships and trust is the foundation of any good, solid business project.”

[15.03] The landscape of warehouse logistics and, from service level agreements and inventory to skill shortages and temperature control, the biggest challenges in the industry right now.

[19.56] From improving fulfilment speeds to facilitating more frequent small shipments from stores, the biggest opportunities in warehouse logistics and ecommerce, and why automation is increasingly important in helping organizations pursue those opportunities.

“Automation, at its core, is all about process improvement. The goal is to eliminate multiple non-value-add manual touches, boosting speeds… You can take manual efforts, that may take hours or days, to pick orders – and move it up to minutes.”

[23.44] Robotics, conveyor, automatic storage and retrieval systems – the different types of automation TGW uses within their solutions.

[25.19] How TGW work with customers to understand their challenges and develop customized solutions, using their warehouse automation technologies, to help customers achieve smarter, more efficient intralogistics.

“We have experts in different areas, so we can understand the industries a lot better: what do their typical supply chain setups look like? What are some common challenges?… Then we look at each process in the warehouse, from receiving to outbound.”

[29.24] The warehouse management software that sits behind TGW’s products, and how that tech pulls everything together.

“The WMS is the backbone of your warehouse operations.

[31.18] How TGW support both equipment and software with their range of lifetime services, and how they build strategic bonds with customers to empower them to meet their short-term goals as well as plan and prepare for long-term success.

[35.28] A case study showing how TGW helped a key client tackle big issues to create a network of 650,000 storage locations, managing 125,000 SKUs, with the ability to handle more than 300,000 order lines per day during peak season, ultimately helping them to achieve the best cost per unit in their entire network.

[40.09] From mobile and palletizing robotics to robotic picking, the trends and technologies shaping the future of the warehouse logistics sector.

Head over to TGW Logistics’ website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with TGW and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram or YouTube, or you can connect with Dexter on LinkedIn.

If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more about warehousing, listen to 412: Maximize Warehouse Efficiency and Profitability, with CargoWise or read The Warehouse of the Future.

Beverly Steele talks about her journey, making a big change mid-career; what it means to be a workforce innovator; and her take on work-life balance.

[04.29] An introduction to Beverly and her role at Inmar.

[05.11] Beverly’s career journey, and her decades of varied experience.

“I’ve been in reverse logistics well over 20 years. I actually stopped saying how long because I realized I’d been in it longer than some of my colleagues have been alive!”

[07.15] Beverly’s 20-year tenure at CORT, and an overview of the roles she took on as she climbed the ranks.

[08.07] Inmar’s joint venture with Blue Yonder to create a returns drop network that reduces costs for brands and makes life easy for consumers.

[09.46] Why Beverly made a big change mid-career, what she was looking for in her next step, and her advice for other mid-career professionals considering making a change.

“I’d moved up in the ranks and there weren’t many places for me to go to make the money I wanted to make and have the challenges that I wanted… It was scary, but sometimes I think: why didn’t I leave sooner?!’”

[12.33] From sales to reverse logistics technology – why Beverly transitioned to a different space in the industry, and the benefits of pivoting.

[14.41] Beverly’s Woman in Supply Chain Forum award, what being a ‘workforce innovator’ means to her, and the importance of increasing support and success for work from home teams.

“I’ve always had a passion for women in supply chain, and giving them the tools and opportunities to move into leadership.”

[15.46] As a part of multiple organizations and a champion for women, the big issue Beverly hears women in the workplace raise, time and again.

“Women don’t want to complain, it’s hard to find a voice without being looked at as angry or difficult.”

[17.49] What her ‘workforce innovator’ award means to Beverly, and why forums and awards for women are so important.

[20.05] Beverly’s experience of being a working Mom, the bias and discrimination still in play, and what needs to change to improve workplaces and cultures for working mothers.

“I spent most of my life hiding the fact that I was a Mom at work, I never wanted to talk about my kids in case people thought I was less dedicated. Then I dropped my kids off at school and, to my Mom friends who didn’t work, I was hiding the fact that I was a working Mom because they would say: ‘oh she’s leaving her kids.’ It was lonely.”

[23.03] Beverly’s take on work-life balance, and why it’s crucial to build a lifestyle that works for you.

“You need to be really clear on what’s important to you. And if you’re in a work environment where you’re not able to live the life you want, maybe it’s time for a change. Because not every company is going to have a culture that you’ll thrive in.”

[26.05] The future for Beverly.

You can connect with Beverly Steele over on LinkedIn.

If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more from Inmar, check out 372: Women in Supply Chain, T.J. Kragenbrink or SEA 2, EP 87 – Are you getting the most out of your returns?

Carlos Perico of ProcureAbility talks about sourcing best practices in a tariff-driven world & how to turn procurement from cost center to competitive advantage

[04.29] An introduction to Carlos and ProcureAbility.

“All we do is procurement! It’s our speciality, it’s what we’re passionate about. And that’s key.”

[05.59] Tariffs: what they are, and why supply chain professionals need to pay attention.

[07.07] Diversification: Some of the strategies companies can employ to build agile supply chains for long-term resilience, the big challenge with long-term strategies, and why your supply chain is like Tetris.

“Diversification is the name of the game. You don’t want to have all your eggs in one basket – but the challenge now is that the baskets are getting very complex!!”

“For those long-term strategies to pay off, you have to start now.”

[14.08] How companies can utilize scenario planning or future-proofing to prepare for further tariff fluctuations.

“You need to know your risk. It sounds simple… but you need to go deeper. You need to dive deeper into understanding your supply chain at different levels, your supplier network – and data becomes even more important.”

[19.17] Dual-sourcing: what it is, and the impact that implementing dual-sourcing strategies can have on risk mitigation.

“Communicate to your stakeholders, because we human beings have a tendency to forget the risk when it’s not present... Communicate the risk you’re trying to mitigate in advance, build that relationship with the business.”

[24.57] How to effectively work with suppliers: How fluctuating tariffs are impacting supplier pricing and contract stability, and how businesses can think about strengthening long-term partnerships whilst retaining the need for short-term agility.

[31.19] Working with technology: How businesses can leverage AI and data analytics to predict and mitigate tariff impacts.

“Live data visibility is critical right now… Technology is allowing us to be immediately alert… So you can prepare and be more educated.”

[37.09] How AI helps businesses to shift the focus from damage control to proactivity, and turn procurement into a competitive advantage rather than a cost center.

“Everybody wants to mitigate cost… But you need to continuously evolve your procurement organization to become more of a business support and value driver, as opposed to just one cost center.”

[39.49] The key lessons to learn from this discussion.

[42.01] How Let’s Talk Supply Chain listeners can benefit from a limited-time discount with ProcureAbility.

Head over to ProcureAbility’s website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with ProcureAbility and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn or YouTube, or you can connect with Carlos on LinkedIn.

If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more about procurement, read The Three Biggest Challenges For Procurement – And What To Do About Them or listen to 243: Reinventing Freight Procurement with Emerge or 211: Transform Your Procurement Process, with Zip.

Bill Catania of OneRail and Anna Farberov of PepsiCo talk all about their strategic partnership, how it works & the benefits it drives for Pepsi customers.

[03.42] Introductions to Bill and OneRail, and Anna and PepsiCo Labs.

[06.22] Why PepsiCo reached out to OneRail to explore partnership opportunities.

“They have the solution and we have the problem; they have an entrepreneurial mindset and can move fast, and we have the business expertise and deep industry understanding. And when we’re able to feed that back, that’s where the magic happens.”

[06.48] The PepsiCo Labs model, and how the team proactively seek out companies to partner with.

“We want to solve problems in the business versus having shiny toys, saying a lot of buzzwords and ticking boxes.”

[08.52] The impact of their strategic partnership for PepsiCo and their customers, and OneRail’s business.

[11.24] From expanding capacity to maintaining service levels across different customer sizes, the business challenges PepsiCo were looking to solve.

[12.19] How OneRail approached the relationship with PepsiCo.

“It comes down to being a good listener… There have been a lot of operational changes that had to happen that weren’t easy… But we’ve perfected the model.”

[13.54] How OneRail worked flexibly with PepsiCo to achieve strategic alignment and become a true extension of their team.

[16.19] The importance of transparency, and the ability to positively give and receive feedback, in building successful partnerships.

[17.15] From an increased top line to improved customer experience, the benefits PepsiCo are realizing through their partnership with OneRail.

“The vastness of PepsiCo is unbelievable! I get excited when I think about the path forward, because there are so many different things we can do together and problems we can solve.”

[18.38] What 2025 is going to bring for the PepsiCo and OneRail partnership.

Head over to OneRail’s website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with OneRail and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook or X (Twitter) or you can connect with Bill or Anna on LinkedIn.

If you enjoyed the show and want to hear more from OneRail, we have plenty more great content for you. Check out:

• 440: Level Up Your Fulfillment Capabilities, with OneRail
• 419: Discover OmniPoint Inventory Visibility and Tackle Shrinkage, with OneRail
• 349: Deliver a Frictionless Last Mile, with OneRail
• 393: Get 100% Visibility Over Your Final Mile, with OneRail

Eric Downing of Werner talks about dedicated freight solutions, the benefits, and the landscape of freight shipping and logistics in 2025.

[05.54] Eric’s background and transition from US Air Force to supply chain, and the different business areas he’s moved through in his 27-year tenure at Werner.

[08.57] The landscape of freight shipping and logistics and the biggest challenges in 2025, from tariffs to navigating seasonal disruption.

“Most carriers are glad to put 2023 and 2024 in the rear-view mirror. 2025 is better, we’re seeing more robust bid activity, better engagement with customers… Are we out of the woods? No. But are we seeing some good things? Yes!”

[11.39] Why an increasing number of shippers are turning to outsourced dedicated solutions instead of managing their own private fleets.

“Customers want to focus their resources, time, and people on what they do – their primary business. Because it’s a competitive world… And, let’s be honest, running your own trucking company takes a ton of capital investment.”

[13.34] The challenges of tracking and visibility when working with multiple third-party providers and the benefit of having a single dedicated outsourced solution.

[15.45] The Werner approach and how they work with clients to understand their fleet challenges and opportunities and deliver customized solutions.

“The first step is actually listening to your customer! Dedicated providers can get caught up in “I know how to do this, I’ve done this business before” – but you’ve got to start out by learning your customer’s business… Every business is unique, and you’ve got to treat it that way.”

[18.34] Werner’s investment in new equipment, sustainability initiatives, and maintenance programs, and how it’s helping to ensure the highest levels of reliability and efficiency for shippers.

[23.04] The critical role of driver training, compliance, and proactive safety measures in dedicated fleet operations, and how companies can leverage safety as a competitive advantage.

[27.03] The technology that supports Werner’s dedicated solutions, and where they are on their own digital transformation journey.

“Everybody has limited resources, so how you do not chase every shiny bauble? How do you focus and vet what’s going to make the biggest difference?”

[32.57] The value in dedicated freight solutions and the impact they have on teams at a business level and at a wider industry level.

[35.04] A case study showing how Werner worked with one of their most long-standing clients to optimize their business, from reducing fleet on the road and boosting productivity to improving service and visibility and driving sales in-store.

[39.43] From customer service to growth, Werner’s focus for the next six months.

Head over to Werner’s website to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Werner and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, or X (Twitter), or you can connect with Eric on LinkedIn.

If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more from Werner, check out 446: Keep America Moving, with Werner.

Allen Thomas of Lynxis talks about industry challenges, the biggest buzzwords, and why organizations need to pay more attention to improved orchestration.

[04.20] An introduction to Allen, and Lynxis.

[04.53] The biggest conversations on the show floor at Manifest.

“Agentic AI is the new buzzword – it’s the new blockchain! There’s a lot of hype, but there’s also a lot of hope.”

[06.29] The biggest problems in the intermodal industry right now.

“Visibility is still key, because there’s so much complexity when all of this data comes together. We’re not certain who’s right and who’s wrong, there’s no system of record as this cargo moves inland and then back through the flow.”

“A lot of the technology projects we’ve seen have been focused on an insular basis, intra-company process improvement versus: how do we make this entire supply chain more efficient and effective for the shippers and carriers that move it?… We’re trying to take costs out of our own internal operations, but we’re not looking at the big picture on what makes everything more seamless.”

[10.24] What Lynxis is building to help solve the industry’s biggest challenges.

“We’re a custodian of technology for our customers... And we add the infrastructure to support it.”

[11.59] AI and how it’s being talked about, and utilized, across the industry.

“Everybody wants to use the AI buzzword, when what they’re using isn’t actually AI.”

[16.11] Why process automation, not robotic automation, needs to be top of the priority list for landside logistics facilities.

“Most container operations we see really can leverage more of the process automation.”

[18.28] The importance of data and analytics in driving operational performance and competitive advantage.

“You either have to invest in-house, or have a good partner to help you mine the data that’s critical to your business operation. The thing that differentiates you, and enables your core competencies, is a firm grasp on data.”

[22.25] Why AI isn’t an easy fix for scheduling, and why organizations need to pay more attention to improved orchestration.

“It’s nothing that AI needs to solve, or even can solve right now, because there’s not even the connectivity between all the players.”

“When you say automation and scheduling, we hear ‘orchestration.’”

[24.46] How improved planning and orchestration can help shippers eliminate excess inventory and reduce costs.

[26.17] From talent shortages to managing infrastructure, the biggest obstacles standing in the way of improved intermodal efficiency.

[32.02] The importance of case studies and why Allen wants to talk about proven results, not just hype.