Supply Chain Now en Espanol
Season 4, Episode 1

No hay ninguna guerra que se gane con inseguridad.

-Nazareth Black

Resumen del Episodio

En este episodio Enrique Alvarez y Sofia Rivas dan la bienvenida a Nazareth Black CEO de Zacua México. Conoce como fue desarrollado el primer auto eléctrico mexicano. La historia de la compañía y cómo una idea se volvió un proyecto viable que busca posicionarse como un competidor de altura, con tecnología de punta dentro de la industria automotriz.

Transcripción en Español

[00:00:01] Bienvenidos a su Play Now en español, presentado por Better Global Logistics y Supply Chain Now. Este es el programa que damos a las personas de habla hispana en la industria logística en constante cambio. Únete a nosotros mientras descubrimos las historias inspiradoras de nuestros huéspedes y aprendemos de su experiencia colectiva. Nuestro objetivo no es sólo entretenerte, sino fomentar tu pasión por esta emocionante industria y apoyar tu desarrollo profesional en el camino. Y ahora, aquí está el episodio de hoy de su Chain Now en español.

[00:00:35] Hola! Bienvenidos a todos a este nuevo episodio de Supply Chain Now en español. Hoy estoy muy contenta porque viene una invitada que yo aprecio mucho y que recientemente conocí en persona. Entonces ya le pude poner uno cara, voz, sonidos, expresiones al nombre. Esta persona es Isabel Agudelo. Yo la voy a presentar como la líder de la tribu de Logísticos Guerreros, pero ella ya se presentará de múltiples maneras. ¿Cómo estás, Isa?

[00:01:08] Muy bien, Sofía. Muchas gracias por esta, por esta invitación y esta conversación contigo que de nuevo fue un regalo que nos trajo este evento de ese 12 donde estuvimos juntas y. Y nada feliz de estar aquí.

[00:01:22] Yo también muy feliz. Y bueno, creo que normalmente los podcast, sobre todo de logística y crean suministro, a veces se van muy directo al grano del tema, pero aquí nos gustaría un poco conocer un poco detrás de qué hay detrás de ti, de tu historia y cualquier cosa que nos quieras compartir como background y algo más personal.

[00:01:47] Pues a ver qué te cuento. Mujer colombiana, Sofi, que casualmente y yo te diría como por una influencia muy fuerte de mi mamá, terminé estudiando ingeniería, trabajando toda mi vida en temas de logística, infraestructura y transporte y ese ha sido como como el ADN de mi vida profesional, que además ha nutrido mi vida personal. Como espero lo conversemos el día de hoy. Una mujer caleña, con mucha pasión por lo que hago, amante de la lectura, de la música, de compartir con otras personas y ahí conversaremos acerca de cómo todas estas características mías han han, han moldeado un poco mi vida y mi experiencia en esto. En estos temas de de infraestructura, transporte y logística.

[00:02:43] Correcto, no comentas. ¿Hay algo padrísimo que tu mamá fue la que te empujó hacia ingeniería, Cómo fue eso? ¿Esa decisión de voy a estudiar esto al salir, qué fue? ¿No sé cuál fue tu primer trabajo? ¿Caíste directo en logística o fue algo que pasó después?

[00:03:04] A ver, te cuento, yo nací, yo nací en Cali. Cali es una una ciudad en el suroccidente de Colombia y es una ciudad, digamos. No, no es la capital del país, es la capital de uno de los departamentos y nada. Sofía Yo nací allá, estudió en mi colegio, allá un colegio de mujeres, de mujeres como muy que te diría yo, como muy empoderadas, como con mucho, con mucho convencimiento de la de como de nuestra capacidad para generar cosas y de alguna manera hacerlo todo en la vida. Y yo creo que nos reencontramos siempre con mis amigas y y hablamos de eso. Y creo, y creo que en el caso de todas nos ha marcado mucho. Pero volviendo a la historia de mi mamá, mi mamá ingeniera química, de las primeras que hubo, digamos, como en su, en su, en su promoción, en su en su momento, finales de los años sesentas, digamos en en Cali con una maestría en Italia, entonces no sé, esa ingeniería quedó Sofi como por ahí metida en mí. Mi papá abogado, pero yo me fui menos por los temas sociales y me fui por el lado de la ingeniería. Soy ingeniera Industrial de la Universidad Javeriana de Cali y.

[00:04:16] La mejor ingeniería.

[00:04:18] La mejor ingeniería, la más completa, la más amplia. Y como elegí carrera, yo te diría yo fui una de esas estudiantes de colegio. Digamos que tenía gusto por las matemáticas. Digamos que era un tema que que me gustaba a mí. Para mi son como el lenguaje universal, son como el regalo que esas cifras de alguna manera todos las las entendemos, las entendemos. Entonces digamos que ingeniera industrial, te estoy hablando del año 1990, era lo que estaba de moda, no era la carrera innovadora, la top entonces, y al yo no tener tan claro exactamente en qué área quería trabajar, como. Ingeniería industrial me daba la amplitud para poder y mi vida. Vas a escuchar Sofi, ha sido como un tema donde donde a mí me gusta aprender, me gusta vivir cosas nuevas y normalmente me lanzo a vivirlas y a trabajarlas. Y el tema de la ingeniería industrial me daba esa amplitud. Entonces digamos que respecto a otras otras ingenierías más de profundidad, opté por opté por industrial y ese fue como. Como el camino. Durante esos cinco años, Sofi, digamos que siempre me orienté como a materias a las que yo llamaba, como de remangarse los puños y de estar en producción, estar en bodegas. Digamos que era como una cosa que me parecía atractiva, estar como en el lugar donde se hacían las cosas.

[00:05:49] Más de la operación.

[00:05:51] Total, eso me encantaba, Me encantaba más que estar en finanzas o en recursos humanos, en mercadeo, me gustaba mucho donde, donde se fabricaban las cosas y todas esas materias me encantaron y fui monitora de todo lo que te imagines. Eso ha sido como otra de esas, de esas constantes de mi vida, como enseñar y acompañar eso. Y durante ese camino Sofi, no te imaginas todo el al que pudimos ayudar con otras amigas mías. Yo. Las mujeres tenemos como el regalo de ser juiciosas y disciplinadas, no que haya hombres que no lo sean. Pero hoy recogimos varios en el camino Sofía y les ayudamos, digamos en lo que en lo que pudimos a a recorrer ese recorrido académico hasta graduarme en el año, en el año 95 de Ingeniería Industrial. Ese fue el año en que me gradué.

[00:06:39] Bueno, tú tienes un pacto con el diablo, ya vimos a.

[00:06:43] Ay no se nota, no se nota en nada.

[00:06:46] No, pero no es buenísimo eso que comentas. Yo también estudié Ingeniería industrial y creo que es una carrera que te permite esa flexibilidad que mencionas, no que te. Yo siento que cualquier ingeniería te abren la cabeza. Para que puedas pensar en cómo resolver problemas. Esa es básicamente la forma en la que ingeniería te aporta en tu vida. Ya después lo que decidas hacer con esas herramientas, etcétera no pasa nada. Pero la manera en la que ya piensas y resuelves situaciones, esa siempre se queda para siempre. Entonces concuerdo con muchas cosas que comentas.

[00:07:31] De acuerdo, de acuerdo Sofi. Y no, y me preguntabas de mí, De mí. Digamos que yo tenía claro que quería seguir una línea muy de producción, muy de temas de logística. Eso lo tenía claro, como en medio de las de las posibilidades. Yo empiezo a trabajar. Es tan chistoso. Mi vida me lleva como a los temas de educación y empiezo a trabajar en una compañía productora de papel en Cali. Pero yo también. A mí también me ha encantado, como salir a conocer cosas distintas y y quería salir de Cali hacia Bogotá, la capital de Colombia, y nada. Conseguí trabajo en Bogotá, pero mira que fue después de esa práctica empresarial que estuvo en los temas de educación, mi primer trabajo y de ahí en adelante todos los trabajos de mi vida han sido en temas de logística, infraestructura y transporte. O sea, esto ha sido una seguidilla de 25 años de trabajos de de en el tema y mi primer trabajo fue jefe de logística de una de una organización que importaba fertilizante para el gremio cafetero. Muy interesante. Esos primeros cinco años de mi vida, pero sí como que como que yo diría que el destino y.

[00:08:39] Después envolviendo para llevarte y mantenerte.

[00:08:43] Y me mantuvo mi mamá porque me encantó. ¿Sofi Sabes, hablando un poco de como de este encanto de las carreras en el tema de logística, mi personalidad es de estas que que que como que la tienes que entretener no? O sea, como le mandas una cosa y luego otra y luego otra. Y yo creo que los temas de logística, infraestructura y transporte te dan una amplitud en términos de de temas de geografía, de poder. Cada geografía es un mundo distinto. Si, si te orientas por productos o por servicios o los o los procesos que están dentro de los temas de de de cadena abastecimiento. Y si te quieres salir como me salí yo, además de transporte o a temas de infraestructura, es un mundo, no sea que para los que somos inquietos y curiosos encaja muy bien.

[00:09:31] Pues nunca, nunca te vas a aburrir, cada día va a ser diferente y como mencionas, todo va a depender de la geografía, del tipo de producto también, incluso de la cultura empresarial que se tenga. Y al final, como dicen algunos, pues de la suerte que te toque en la feria no, este al final es muy diferente, cada, cada persona lo vive muy diferente y eso es creo que parte de la diversidad de, repito, la tribu de logísticos que ha ido generando Isa, ella colecciona personas y las va agregando a su tribu, entonces eso también se me hace muy muy bonito de esta carrera, no de están en logística y cadena de suministro además.

[00:10:23] Sofi si, si, si viajas conmigo, imagínate que a mediados de los años noventas. ¿Yo digo que la que que el que, la que la profesión en temas de logística, de abastecimiento, pues ha evolucionado con el tiempo no? Y. Y claro, cuando yo empiezo trabajando en ello, yo hacía importación de fertilizantes para el gremio cafetero. En esa época era una logística. Yo te diría Sofi, primero donde casi no se veían, la tecnología estaba apenas como como entrando, que hoy es parte de nuestra realidad. Esto era, esto era. O sea, yo alcancé a llevar cartas de inventario a mano, o sea, imagínate controlar. Tenía inventario en 30 bodegas de Colombia y era una tarea con mi, con mi en ese momento almacén general de deposito, esto era otra, era otra, era otro, otro concepto, una cantidad de de cosas que hoy en día son casi inconcebibles, de pensar, de cómo se la logística sin código de barras, de cómo se hacía logística sin sin un nivel de tecnología como el que vivimos y con retos. Es decir, hay más sofisticados, pero también siempre has tenido el reto de poder atender una demanda en el momento adecuado al costo adecuado. Eso siempre ha ha estado ahí. Entonces, el hecho de que de que yo me hubiera enamorado de estos temas y y tal como tú eres, o fui una embajadora de los de los temas de Cadena Abastecimiento, como dices tú, yo como que me volví también una embajadora de de promocionar que este era un lugar donde podíamos trabajar hombres y mujeres y que había retos maravillosos por por resolver. Bueno, que con el paso del tiempo pues nada, yo yo encuentro que se siguen, siguen creciendo y se siguen sofisticando y se siguen volviendo cada vez más más interesantes. ¿Pero, pero si como bien dices tú, esto ha sido una tarea de sumar más personas a que a que? A que entiendan de estos temas de cara a abastecimiento y y cierren esas brechas con con otras áreas. Correcto.

[00:12:24] Y bueno, yo que te conozco un poquito, me gustaría que también nos contaras. Bueno, hablaste del papel de irte a El Café y ahora este lado de la educación, que yo sé que estuviste muy involucrada en eso, porque aunque tu no lo crean, pero si lo van a creer y se ha hecho de todo y eso aparte de todo es. Es esto de la educación superior, la conexión entre. La investigación y la práctica y ahorita nos va a contar más sobre eso.

[00:13:02] Sí. Imagínate, yo termino de trabajar en el en el gremio cafetero, pues con toda su relevancia en Colombia y empiezo como una.

[00:13:11] Talla es el café, prácticamente.

[00:13:13] Café, pero por dios jajaja y luego de eso comienzo como como porque esto ha sido un tema de donde mi propia formación ha sido parte como de mí, de mi, de mi compromiso conmigo misma. O sea, de nuevo yo necesito estar en un proceso de aprendizaje continuo. Entonces digamos que después de mi carrera hice un envié y bueno, más adelante hice una maestría en logística de Haití. ¿Entonces yo te diría Sofi, que uno de los primeros temas es como como y no descarto otra maestría en mi vida, no, porque es como como el deseo de siempre aprender y después digamos de hacer el Envy empiezo a trabajar en el en el grupo lógica que ahí estuve 15 años donde? Por mi rol y por el rol, digamos que grupo lógica que básicamente promueve sobre todo lo que es estándares de código de barras de comercio electrónico en, digamos, en Colombia. Y yo te diría que es casi. Y pues y. Y sin duda todo el tema de buenas prácticas ligadas al tema de logística, este rol natural de poder contar historias acerca del impacto de todas estas prácticas y contárselas al sector privado, al sector público, contárselas a la academia, promover la importancia de estos temas, pues era parte como de mí, de mi día a día. Entonces era un regalo, digamos, como de mi trabajo allá. Siempre fue este, este tema, como donde nos conocimos tú y yo, de poder estar parada en estos espacios, de dictar estas conferencias que siempre me han encantado y donde creo que parte de ese ejercicio de ser embajadora y buscar más engrosar esa tribu de logísticos guerreros, lo hago a través de estos procesos, digamos como de de dar conferencias.

[00:15:00] Y dentro de ese rol que tuve en lógica los últimos de los 15 años, los últimos diez fue fui directora del Centro de Latinoamericano Innovación en Logística, que fue un proyecto muy interesante en donde Lógica y Haití se reunían para crear un centro de investigación que básicamente tenía como tres enfoques educación, investigación aplicada y extensión. Y ahí Sofi básicamente identificamos como que había una brecha por cerrar en la región en términos de formación, en logística, abastecimiento. Entonces trajimos todo ese conocimiento de MIT a Latinoamérica, reconociendo nuestros retos puntuales, los retos logísticos de hacer logística en Latinoamérica, como mencionabas ahorita, con nuestra idiosincrasia, nuestras retos en materia de infraestructura, nuestra propia realidad, nuestros productos y y a partir de ahí se crea el centro de investigación y se crea una serie de programas de formación del cual se que tú eres egresada de uno de ellos, cosa que me encanta que buscaba Sofi hacer un network que que no es tan común en nuestra región a como que muchos logísticos hacen logística dentro de su país, pero no entienden a menos de que tengas algún cargo andino o latino o con cobertura Latam de los retos de logística en la región.

[00:16:25] Entonces armamos el Graduate Certificate en Logística y ahí reuníamos estudiantes, digamos como de maestría de la región o con experiencia laboral en la región y hacíamos una mezcla de profesores de una red de universidades aliadas que armamos junto con los profesores de MIT. Se generó ese, se generó luz y lo que será para para estudiantes de pregrado, porque yo sí creo, Sofi, que hay una, sí, un compromiso de de de, de cada uno con este, con este proceso de de aprender siempre a y y como decíamos, ahorita nos reinventamos todos los días. El entorno donde estamos cambia todos los días, entonces pues es el crear esos programas. Además muchos de los miembros de esa tribu los pude capturar a través de del del blog, del mismo blog, entonces me encanta porque me los encuentro en los lugares más increíbles, en los espacios más más espectaculares, trabajando en lo público, en lo privado y y y nada. Creo que esa semillita del amor por lo que hacemos quedó en cada uno de ellos, en todos esos programas. Y bueno, no te imaginas la gente tan maravillosa que me ha acompañado mi vida y me acompañó en la creación de de todos esos proyectos que fui muy feliz.

[00:17:42] ¿Exacto, no? Bueno, en resumen, ella es la mamá del blog por si alguno de nuestros radioescuchas. Ah! Y dice Ah, yo estudié allí. Ella, ella por ella existe. Entonces uno primero gracias. Pero segundo, eso que comentabas que identificaste. Hay muchísima gente que ha hecho logística y cadena de suministro en Latinoamérica y que lo sigue haciendo. O personas que trabajan en la industria pero no saben, no es que eso es solo transporte y no eres parte de este movimiento, eres parte de un pedazo. Que desencadena muchas otras acciones que desencadenan muchas otros efectos. ¿Y te necesitamos, no? Y al final, esta parte de compartir tu experiencia de sembrar semillitas que luego crezcan y entren a esta industria de. Es lo mismo de decir. Bueno, estas son las mejores prácticas. Eso es lo que yo he vivido. Tú que has vivido ese compartir. Todavía queda mucho camino por recorrer en Latinoamérica. Creo que esta extraño porque nuestra cultura es muy social, es muy amena, entonces nada más falta que también en el lado profesional seamos de esa manera. No creo que en el personal todo excelente, pero en el profesional existe este gap que creo que parte del diseño, parte de este acercamiento con lógica y de acercar a las industrias con la investigación. Es lo que está intentando cerrar. ¿No?

[00:19:35] De acuerdo, De acuerdo. Sophie. No! Y a mí siempre me. Porque, claro, yo que tenía la posibilidad de viajar a Boston y a Cambridge a estar con todo este ecosistema de MIT. Y además valga la pena mencionar el centro de transporte y Logística, que era el centro aliado, digamos, de lógica, pues dentro de MIT, a su vez, tenía otros centros aliados regados por todo el mundo. Sí, y era una cosa es, yo creo que también es un reto. Sofi como de como de entender que el que trabaja en logística tiene que tener como la apertura mental, como que el mundo le quepa en la cabeza. Es decir, ya sea porque tu operación del día de hoy implica que consigas producto en otros lugares del mundo o de España a otros lugares del mundo, que yo creo que será parte y es parte como de la realidad de los de de lo que los que trabajamos en cadena abastecimiento de hoy. Pero como dices tu, ahí es esa red de seres humanos con la que yo pude tener contacto de los estudiantes de maestría porque existía la posibilidad, incluso en el blog, de reunirse con el resto de estudiantes de maestría, todos los centros que regala como ese, ese, esa posibilidad de conversar sobre sobre lo aprendido en un lado. Y ves cómo somos de de similares en ciertos temas, en algunos otros distintos, pero pero siempre con cosas por aprender. Es un mundo global donde pues estos temas relevantes de hoy, como temas de sostenibilidad, como temas de tecnología, pues permean todas esas casas de abastecimiento en todo el mundo. Entonces sí, yo creo que es como el el regalo de la apertura mental, que el mundo te quepa en la cabeza, que el inglés sea tu idioma. Yo diría que sí.

[00:21:19] Yo también.

[00:21:20] También.

[00:21:21] Vergüenza, que el español también puede ser muy bueno hoy promocionando el podcast, pero justamente eso. No, no.

[00:21:30] No todo.

[00:21:32] En cadena de suministro es en inglés, sino también en España, y nosotros jugamos un papel muy importante. En la cadena de abastecimiento de muchos lugares del mundo.

[00:21:45] Entonces hizo que, si me permites agregar sólo Latinoamérica. Es decir, es que, bueno, Brasil no lo considero el tamaño, obviamente. Sí, sí, sí, parte de este, de este grupo, pero yo creo que mira que que no sé. Y no sé si te pasó a ti, Sofi, cuando uno se asoma o por lo menos a los problemas logísticos, antes de los retos de e-commerce y de los temas de última milla, pero. ¿Pero la logística Latinoamérica? Yo diría que de si pudiéramos calificar qué tan guerreros son esos miembros de la tribu de guerreros logísticos. Pucha, los latinoamericanos son increíbles. O sea, eso, eso fue una tarea a hacer logística en Latinoamérica. Es una. Es un esfuerzo inmenso poder poder transportar en medio de los retos en los que vivimos, en medio de de de la infraestructura que que tenemos.

[00:22:37] Físicos, sociales, económicos, políticos, cos.

[00:22:42] Fanáticos. Y tu viajas Sofi por la región y te encuentras una cerveza en los lugares más inhóspitos, te encuentras una, una, un refresco en los lugares más inhóspitos o un no sé, un producto. Es increíble. O sea que sea este también el espacio para para reconocer a todas las personas que bueno, en general en Latinoamérica hacen esta tarea porque creo que es absolutamente una labor, una labor titánica y es tiene toda mi admiración.

[00:23:10] Totalmente de acuerdo. Bueno Isa, pasando a otro tema, que también es mucho de mi interés y siento que también va a haber muchas mujeres escuchando este episodio que también van a tener este interés. Bueno, prácticamente durante tu vida profesional ha sido mujer y ha representado de cierta forma a las mujeres. ¿Entonces queremos saber un poco sobre tu experiencia siendo mujer en la industria, no? Creo que ha habido retos siempre y los retos han sido diferentes porque han cambiado año con año, algunos para bien, algunos para mal. ¿Pero creo que compartir también ese lado de tu experiencia es muy importante, no?

[00:24:00] Entonces. Claro, eso. Hablemos de. De. De. De esa historia. Ehm. Digamos que. Que. Que. Como te dije, a mí de chiquita, siempre me gustó estar en el lugar donde se hacían. Se hacían las cosas. ¿No? Y digamos que lo disfrutaba profundamente, entonces. Y mi personalidad, además es como flexible. Yo. Yo me. Le mido con relativa facilidad, digamos. Como a todo. Pues como todo tipo de cosas. Entonces no sé, ahí como que no sé. Mi personalidad tenía como una vocación natural a medirme le cosas, así no las supieras, no las supiera hacer y como que estaba dispuesto a aprender rápido y y estar bien y estar como siempre, siempre dispuesta. ¿Y yo creo, Sofi, que ahí, ahí, en estos roles de las mujeres, en temas de abastecimiento, de logística, yo diría que hay un primer componente como de creernos a nosotras mismas y ser y creernos capaces de hacer, de hacer e, sea lo que sea que nos encarguen, no? ¿Entonces yo digo que el primer paso es yo creo en mí misma y luego tengo la capacidad de transmitir, digamos, esa, esa, esa, esa capacidad y creencia en mí misma para que otros crean en mí, no? Entonces siento que es como una cosa que empiezo.

[00:25:22] ¿Un paso cero, no como un interés y una curiosidad por qué es este mundo? No digo también no vamos a forzar a nadie a entrar que no quiera y que no le guste, que no le apasione. Pero esta, esta parte de querer conocer, de querer involucrarte, de decir sí, sí me aviento. Y luego este seguimiento de ya me aventé y le íbamos a seguir con todo, con todo el esfuerzo, todas las ganas para eso, para tener esa disposición que mencionas.

[00:25:58] Porque es ese paso cero Sofi que mencionas, tienes absolutamente toda la razón. Yo creo que en el caso de lo que hacemos nosotros en el día a día y especialmente a las personas que están y las mujeres que están en operaciones de día a día, pues no, no, no, no vamos a negar que son operaciones exigentes, son demandantes, muchas en tiempo son demandantes en materia de toma de decisión y son tareas. ¿Sofi Eh? ¿Pues que muchas veces yo siempre las he calificado casi desagradecidas, no? Porque de alguna manera como que cuando haces la tarea bien es como lo que se espera de ti, pero cuando la haces mal, el mundo se acabó. Entonces necesita como en serio que esté como, como lo decías, que este tema te guste, que que te quieras levantar todos los días a enfrentarte a esos retos, sin duda. Pues no, no, no, todos no, y como lo mencionaba antes, hay muchos, pero. Pero en general, digamos sí es una labor que implica una, una tarea, una tarea retadora, normalmente en términos de tiempo, de toma de decisión, pues que implica que tengas una pasión por ella, sin lugar a dudas entre entre más miembros a la tribu tengamos. Maravilloso, pero, pero esto es parte de la realidad que hay que tener en cuenta, que el trabajo viene con esa, con esa definición en sí.

[00:27:14] Entonces, después de de de poder conectar con esa pasión y ese propósito, bien, esto que te decía que creo yo que es el deseo y la profunda apertura y creer en ti, de que lo puedes lograr y estar dispuestas o que yo muchas, muchas. ¿Además yo creo que hay una ruptura y era parte, como bien lo decías, de lo que queríamos cerrar con estos temas de educación, que la brecha entre la academia y el sector privado y público no fuera tan significativa y que muy rápidamente pudieras asumir un rol en cualquiera de estos sectores y poder ser muy, muy efectivo, muy productivo dentro de ellos, no? Que también está como. Como parte de. Como parte de esos retos. Pero finalmente son finos. Siempre se le va a tener que medir a cosas que no sabe hacer. Sí, y yo creo que no está en Cadena Abastecimiento. Y de nuevo está la amplitud que tener la capacidad de de aprender, de reinventarte, de de tener mentores dentro de tu ecosistema, que esto implica crear este network que mencionabas y poder recurrir a ellos que ya han vivido cosas, se han enfrentado a este tipo de retos, han tenido o no resultados. Es aprender que también del fracaso hay lecciones por aprender. Entonces digamos que esta, esta, esta fase de de estar dispuesto es es bien importante y yo digamos, como como profesional en todos mis roles, yo digo que mi actitud siempre estuvo dispuesta y sobre todo que yo me he gozado.

[00:28:44] Sophie El hacer cosas sin un manual de funciones muy establecido, haz de cuenta como que mis jefes me daban el marco y me permitían adentro dibujar con ese, con ese lápiz y y y lo valoraré mucho y siempre y siempre me gustó. Em Pero en general yo. Yo te diría que mi vida es ha sido como un mar de posibilidades, porque está esta pasión de la etapa cero, este, este. ¿Esta disposición de lo que podemos llamar etapa uno siempre estuvo acompañada Sofi, de unos líderes que trabajaron conmigo a lo largo de toda mi vida, que me dieron el voto de confianza para poder en estos, en estos diferentes retos que surgían, siempre vieron en mí una persona que los podía ejecutar, no? Entonces yo no sé que era primero si yo creía en mí y luego ellos creían en mí como resultado, o al mismo tiempo íbamos creando como este, esta, esta, esta concatenación que que era maravillosa y que hasta el espacio, si alguno está oye este podcast para agradecerles desde el gremio cafetero. Rafael elogió a la ministra de Transporte.

[00:29:53] Bueno, todos los que me han acompañado, Diego en la Annie, que han, que han caminado conmigo y de nuevo casi con con ojos cerrados, tener esta este voto en mi y y y y yo creo que ahí se genera una sinergia positiva muy muy poderosa. Y yo creo que que cuando uno tiene la capacidad de hacer estos roles de liderazgo que también los he tenido en mi vida y ya estas siendo cabeza, pues también es un compromiso inmenso en términos de de de facilitar el proceso. Y hablando de mujeres Sofi, es decir, yo creo que de y ojala y yo sé que a veces no es, no es, no es así, pero yo creo que mujeres deberíamos ayudar a mujeres, especialmente en cadena abastecimiento a a crecer en ese camino. No Sofi, a veces no se da, pero quiero dejarles la invitación a las mujeres líderes que me oyen, que asuman el reto de de formar a los colaboradores de sus equipos, a sus pares y que después de que pasaron por ustedes sean mejores personas, que ese siempre ha sido mi objetivo. ¿Sofi, la gente que trabajó conmigo te puede dar fe si hablaras que que siempre fue pues y sigue siendo una obsesión no? ¿Que quién a quien toqué en mi vida profesional salió siendo mejor profesional, mejor persona?

[00:31:16] Pues mencionas varias cosas a verla. Me voy a regresar poquito. La primera de mentores. Creo que es súper importante rodearte de personas que te puedan enseñar de cosas que no necesariamente vas a aprender con tu trabajo de día a día. Ahora bien, parte de tener esta pasión y esta creer en ti también tienes que tener este empuje a tu buscar tus mentores. No podemos esperar que alguien llegue y te asigne a él. Va a ser tu mentor y te va a enseñar de lo que yo he vivido, que algunos dirán que no es mucho, pero me he dado cuenta que es la mejor manera de encontrar mentores es ir tú a buscarlos. O a veces te das cuenta que alguien es tu mentor, cuando menos te lo esperas le llamas amigo, le llamas colega. Pero después de un tiempo de que ya quizás se separaron los caminos, te fuiste. Por otro lado, dices. Hoy era mi mentor. Esa persona en verdad era mi mentor. Entonces es un consejo que yo doy, que es busca mentores, No esperes a que lleguen a ti. ¿Y bueno, la otra parte de lo que comentabas de tener líderes y rodearte de de al final, pues sí, de un liderazgo que crea en ti y que te dé ese tipo de oportunidades, no? Y creo que. Obviamente no, no todas las historias son así, y quizás personas que nos están escuchando hoy no sienten eso, que no sienten que están en lo de lo rodeados de esos líderes que que merecen, no que desearían. ¿Pero entonces también ahí hay dos cosas, no? Uno también puede ser esa fuente de liderazgo. Si estás, si estás o no a cargo de personas o de un grupo, de una organización. ¿Tú también puedes ser ese líder que desearías ver, no?

[00:33:30] ¿De acuerdo? Y. Y. Y permíteme también. Digamos que. Y sé que si me escuchan los jefes que tuve. Yo fui una colaboradora cuando. Cuando fui colaboradora. Yo te diría que en muchos casos casi una piedra en el zapato en muchos temas, pero era porque me importaba Sofi muchísimo. Sí, yo. Yo creo que. Yo creo que las mujeres tenemos que encontrar una voz y lo bueno y los hombres que también nos escuchan, que sino si no la han sacado la tienen que encontrar y crear unos espacios donde uno dentro del marco de respeto y de toda la obviamente de condiciones de reconocimiento del otro y de valor del otro. Poder expresar Sofi diferencias. Poder desde una, desde argumentaciones sustentadas. Poder, poder cuando cuando participas en una mesa. Poder expresar tu opinión y poder diferir de tu jefe, diferir de tu líder e en espacios que puedan concertar de retroalimentación. Bien tener la apertura y porque yo creo. Yo considero, por ejemplo, que soy una profunda creyente de la interdependencia entre los seres humanos que habitamos este planeta. Sí, y yo creo que todo el mundo tiene cosas por aportar. Yo creo que uno a veces es muy mal juez de uno mismo y creo que quien camina a tu lado, especialmente en tantas horas como las horas que trabajamos. Muchas veces veo en ti oportunidades de mejora, que si las dice con amor, con cariño o dentro de temas profesionales, donde donde el disfrute sostiene una discusión viene hecha bien jalada con con gente cierto, con con profundidad y argumentos.

[00:35:15] ¿Es un regalo de la vida no? Entonces yo creo que también ahí, ahí, ahí, ahí. Y yo creo que como mujeres podemos encontrar esa voz en nosotras. ¿Yo siempre invito a Sofía a que yo digo que es como un estilo, no es la forma en que te expresas, eh? No sé, la modulación, los tiempos, la idea. Si es una cosa que. Pues a veces en estos grupos directivos hay que ser asertivo, digamos como en el mensaje, pero yo creo que eso a fuerza de vivirlo y a fuerza de hacerlo, uno lo aprende como a dominar y obviamente combinar esos temas de forma con un tema de fondo bien armado. Me parece un tema, un tema maravilloso y yo creo que debería ser una cosa que ojalá en lo personal y en lo profesional pudiéramos demostrar la capacidad de de de exigir de nuestros jefes, cierto, toda, toda, toda su calidad y de ser colaboradores con toda la calidad. Y luego cuando en la vida se inviertan esos roles o ser unos líderes bien inspiradores en esos, en esos temas. Y agregando Sofía lo que decías de los mentores, yo pienso que probablemente uno en la vida va a tener muchos en diferentes temas. Pretender que una persona lo tenga todo es casi soñador, no en todos es encontrar eso.

[00:36:35] Eso ni Dios lo tiene.

[00:36:38] Pero si muy interesante que que esa iniciativa venga de ti. Y yo al final digo es que tu vida personal y profesional, pues tu eres el mago y el hacedor de todas esas decisiones también. Sofi mira, mi experiencia de vida lo dice yo. Hubo lugares en que a pesar de que traté no pude y me fui. Sí, yo creo que prolongar.

[00:36:59] Momentos así en los que uno se debe dar cuenta que la batalla aquí terminó.

[00:37:06] No es mi lugar.

[00:37:08] ¿Quizás el que sigue lo va a lograr, pero lo intenté, no? Y va a haber momentos también en los que ni intentar va a ser suficiente. ¿No hay que saber en el momento exacto en el que uno debe permanecer en la situación para lograr un cambio con el que te tienes que retirar también, no?

[00:37:30] Si Sofi, total, y mira que yo como profesional también lo que acabas de decir. Entiendo que hay lugares donde mis habilidades se disparan y yo hay otros, otros lugares donde, donde no, donde, donde no funciono. Sí, y a veces que yo creo que hay que vivirlo, no sucede también. ¿Esto también es una invitación a nuestros oyentes, a que? ¿A que la vida a veces pues te toca estar un rato, no? Vivir ambientes laborales, vivir ambientes de de de de compañías donde hay. ¿Yo que hice un camino por el sector público, que es un área que a veces no la miramos, no? O Sofi pero pero es fiel el lo el gobierno es un es un mega sector de la cadena. Más que pretender trabajar de espaldas al gobierno, es un sueño. Y yo creo que ahí también hay una labor que es una tarea por hacer. Y de nuevo todo un saludo a todos los servidores públicos que en el mundo trabajan por hacer un sistema logístico, de transporte, infraestructura donde podamos operarlo, cuando ahora que estoy en el sector privado otra vez, pero, pero Sofí es es es súper poderoso. Estos bueno, estos temas de los que estamos hablando y tan tan relevantes en la vida de todos.

[00:38:47] Es correcto, es correcto. Y la parte es eso último que decías de de intentarlo probar. Digo, la industria es muy grande, los puestos en los que puedes estar, las empresas en las que te puedes desenvolver son muchos. Entonces no porque una de tus experiencias no haya sido la mejor, la que tu sueño, no sé. Lo ideal no quiere decir que no exista, entonces también esa es darte otra oportunidad a bueno, darle otra oportunidad a cadena de suministro de logística. También es es súper padre y creo que al final lo que uno no intenta no va a saber. Sí, sí, sí, sí iba a funcionar o no iba a funcionar.

[00:39:35] ¿No? Sí, sí, sí. Total son. Entonces yo hoy quisiera ligar Sofi sobre sobre una cosa que yo creo que vale la pena reflexionar. Y digamos que si resumiera estos 25 años de vida donde he podido pasar por lo privado puro, por un tema más consultivo de investigación, con temas de educación y en los últimos años en lo público y en el año último haciendo consultoría independiente. Digamos que yo creo. Que hablando como esas de esos temas que lo hacen, que lo que que que yo lo digo, que hay garantía de ser exitoso, pero de alguna manera te incrementa la probabilidad de ser exitoso en áreas como como, como cadena, abastecimiento, como temas de logística. Yo pensaba en estos y yo decía. Es, se le exige mucho, digamos, a la persona mujer hombre que trabaje hoy en estos temas. Primero, porque yo creo que es una exigencia de habilidades técnicas, pero a la vez tienes que tener todas estas habilidades mal llamada, mal llamadas blandas, como de liderazgo, de comunicación, porque finalmente, y quizá esto es un lugar común, pero me parece muy poderoso volver a insistir en él. Estas áreas de abastecimiento son como yo siempre digo que son como el queso en medio del sándwich. Si la la es, es es una son. Son áreas que conectan a Sofi. Son áreas que que no pueden trabajar de manera aislada, pues ninguna dentro de una organización, pero de manera particular como que en cadena abastecimiento necesitas de ese ejercicio colaborativo interno y externo. Entonces claro, lo técnico siempre está ahí y lo técnico se puede aprender.

[00:41:16] Y cortes el cuero, como decimos en Colombia, relajándote con el día a día. Pero también poder incorporar estas mal llamadas actividad, habilidades blandas de poder generar temas de relacionamiento con personas de las otras áreas, con tus proveedores. ¿Sí, poder cómo? Como generar elementos que te lleven a a profundizar un poco más en ese tipo de relaciones. A mí siempre me ha parecido poderoso, entonces claro, hoy le ponemos a esas competencias. Sofi mencionabas ahorita que tienes que ser resiliente en un entorno que todos los días es de mayor incertidumbre, que además tienes que agregar múltiples idiomas y quieres hacer algo como un rol más, más global, que tienes que cierto, entender temas de sostenibilidad, entender temas de tecnología, entender temas de riesgo. Entonces yo, yo, yo diría que no por no, por asustar a los que nos escuchan en términos de lo que es, de lo que les espera o lo que viven en el día a día. Sí, sí, trabajan en estos temas, pero es apasionante, apasionante como lo técnico, lo duro y lo blando. Movilizar equipos, movilizar compañías, movilizar cadenas. Sí, sí. Si alguien no sabe qué estudiar y nos escucha es verdaderamente un tema apasionante. Y como bien lo decía Sofi, tantos lugares para para trabajar. Pero se le exige, es una. Yo digo que es una, una, un área de trabajo supremamente demandante. Entonces, sí, los que vengan acá no esperen que sea una realidad fácil la que estamos viviendo, pero pero de muchísimo interés y mucha relevancia para el mundo, sin duda.

[00:42:55] Sí, y la parte de que se exige cada vez más, pero que se ha intensificado por todo lo que ha pasado en el mundo y por el spotlight y el enfoque que ha tenido cadena de suministro ya en el titular del periódico de la gente. Aquí es como se come donde está. Y ya nos tienen en el ojo, en la lupa. Ya saben quiénes somos, quiénes están. Entonces también esa parte es como que también te exigen, te piden que ya vengas, todo listo, eso es imposible. Pero pues sí, con la práctica.

[00:43:36] Y con vamos mejorando y.

[00:43:38] Aprendiendo.

[00:43:40] No existían. ¿O tú te imaginas lo que era mi explicación de los noventas acerca de qué era logística? Esto era como tratando de de de de. Era dificilísimo. Ay si oye, y como bien dices, yo creo que es una profesión valorada, es una profesión en muchos lugares, digamos que bien pagada, especialmente en compañías que reconocen el valor de la de la gestión de cadena de suministro, que a veces hay unas más, otras menos, y yo creo que hay ahí que tiene uno que como bien decías, tratar de encontrar el lugar donde, donde puede uno generar mayor impacto. Y es que caray, cadena de suministro se hacen todos y hay si quieren, no sé si están buscando trabajos con propósito quienes nos escuchan ahí. ¿Logística detrás de ONGs, eh? Todo el trabajo en materia de sostenibilidad en estos temas, ambiental, social, económico, o sea, es en serio, es esto un menú de opciones para poder elegir.

[00:44:36] ¿Muchos quesos en muchos sándwiches, muchas quesadillas? ¿Bueno, un poco recapitulando de lo que hemos platicado en el podcast ha sido conocer a Isa como persona, qué hay detrás de ella, cómo ha sido su carrera profesional, esta parte de cómo empezó con sus estudios, en qué empresa se ha desarrollado, las cosas que ha manejado? Sí, desde papeles, café, educación, sector privado, sector público, gobierno. Muy completa, muy completa la parte de ser mujer en la industria.

[00:45:21] De.

[00:45:22] Cómo es importante uno Estar en un ambiente en el que prosperes, asegurarte que tu ambiente va a ser uno en el que prosperes, rodearte de personas que te enseñen o al final, que sean más inteligentes que tú o que sean mejores que tú.

[00:45:39] Eso es súper importante. Sí, fíjate que y otra y otra cosa que ha marcado mi vida es poder hacer parte de equipos compuestos por personas, pues muchos más inteligentes que yo, sin duda, pero sobre todo buenas personas. Mira, el regalo de mi vida han sido, han sido mis equipos, ya sea porque entré yo a ser parte de ellos o porque los armé, pero además amé, amé trabajar con cada uno de ellos, amé cada a pesar de que teníamos momentos difíciles, duros, cuando cuando estás al lado de un equipo y todos están como conectados con ese propósito y queremos llegar al objetivo. Yo te diría que es de las sensaciones más especiales y y. Y me encantaría de nuevo, que no sé, que las mujeres que nos escuchan que pudieran hacer parte de esos equipos o crearlos, o facilitar la entrada de otras mujeres a los mismos. ¿Porque? Porque es un privilegio de la vida. Es un privilegio poder estar en equipos de alto desempeño. Y si me escucha alguno de mis ex miembros de equipo de nuevo mil y mil gracias por por haber caminado conmigo en esa tarea, porque fue todo un privilegio y vivirlo es una cosa espectacular.

[00:46:53] Si están en un rol en el que su trabajo lo describen con estas dos palabras amor y propósito. Ahí es, ahí es. Entonces es lo que rescato de lo que acabas de decir. Isa. Y también, bueno, también comentamos la importancia de, obviamente buscar a tus mentores, tener gente, darte cuenta de la gente que está a tu alrededor. Esta parte de no porque tú hayas pasado por muchos obstáculos, el que sigue también tiene que pasar por esos obstáculos. Creo que este liderazgo que comenta Isa de. Tender la mano para que el siguiente suba, para que el siguiente avance que sea mejor. Eso es súper importante, esa reciprocidad con lo que tú hayas vivido y lo que alguien más vaya a vivir. ¿Eso es lo bonito de la humanidad y lo que hay que seguir permeando, no?

[00:47:54] Sí, y solo y solo dejarles el mensaje. Sofí que si eso no, porque no lo hagamos por los hombres a nuestro alrededor que son maravillosos, pero a no ser llorando.

[00:48:02] Por ambos.

[00:48:03] Por ambos sin duda, sin duda. Pero, pero pero, pero démosle esa manito. O sea, no, no seamos la mujer que no le ayuda a otra mujer, o sea que nos quedemos en la vida de alguien como. Como la que nos dio la mano. Sí, y yo digo que ahí nos nos. No sé si la sí, la sí es desde una posición de liderazgo, se le puede dedicar un poco más de tiempo y al final mira, yo, a veces yo, yo a veces decía, a veces son cafés. Si son conversaciones desde el corazón, no es tan complicado. A veces creo que lo hiper sofisticado, pero a veces son conversaciones del corazón a la luz de un café, después del almuerzo o de la comida. No, no necesitas más que eso y. Y en ese diálogo, dos seres humanos pueden crecer increíblemente. Tómense más cafecitos.

[00:48:57] Sí, más café. Bueno, y ya para cerrar, ese ya ha dado muchos consejos. Muy, muy buenas prácticas. Ha compartido muy buenas experiencias. ¿Pero quizás cuál ha sido el consejo que tú has recibido? Qué más te ha. Resonado. ¿Que más te ha funcionado? ¿Que a veces día a día lo recuerdas?

[00:49:26] Pues Sofi, yo te diría de los que de los que hemos conversado el el día de hoy quizá. Yo en una época de mi vida traté como de de. A diferencia de lo que. De lo que hablamos hace un rato, como de acertar siempre sabes si y no, y no me permitía ningún error. Y yo era como la la más implacable conmigo misma. ¿Sabes? ¿Sofi era como una cosa, era una cosa terrible y ni en algún momento de mi vida de alguien me dijo Pero por qué no disfrutas el camino? ¿Cierto, este proceso como de como de error y ensayo? ¿Pues que finalmente nos regala la vida, sabes? Y. Y me quedé con eso y no ha sido fácil esto te quiero decir que a veces sale como el diablito en el hombro a no ayudándome, pero. Pero cada vez más y quizás como regalo de la edad. ¿No a mi, a mi, a mi me parece que la edad tiene temas bonitos también, porque yo muchas veces Sofi, este tema del del autocastigo que me infringía em era más como una cosa, como referida a los otros, no? Qué van a pensar de mí si yo dejo este trabajo después de que estuve tres meses y no me gustó, cierto o no, o no sé que.

[00:50:47] ¿O sea, cómo voy a manejar esto en mi hoja de vida? ¿Qué van a decir de mí? Pero, pero mira que el regalo de esta persona que me dio ese consejo de al final, pues eres tú contigo, cierto, eres tú encontrando, como bien lo decías ahorita, Sofi, tu lugar, tu propósito. Y esa es una búsqueda que solamente tú puedes, puedes definir si acertaste o no cuando termina. ¿Entonces he decidido gozarme el viaje, no, ese, ese sería como el gran el gran mensaje y ver en esos errores que cometeremos todos los días más como lecciones de aprendizaje que pues que espacios para para poder castigarnos no? Yo creo que eso es como el, como el, como el más poderoso de de ese proceso, porque podía ser horrible conmigo misma, no en el en algún momento de mi vida, pero he mejorado y mejorado. Yo digo que soy un soy un un. Un proceso en construcción.

[00:51:48] Claro, claro, una mejora continua.

[00:51:51] Total, una mejora continua.

[00:51:53] Bueno, pues muchísimas gracias por compartir todo esto con nosotros el día de hoy. A todos los que nos escuchan yo creo que va a haber varias por varios puntos muy valiosos aplicables. Hay unos que quizás dirán no, eso ya lo hice, ya lo logre, que compartan también con nosotros sus comentarios, etcétera Ahí está. La pueden encontrar en LinkedIn. Si Isabel Agudelo y a partir de ahí ya les va a contestar. Yo creo que.

[00:52:22] Sí, sí, sí, sí, sí, claro que sí.

[00:52:24] Eso es su red social, así como la mía. Entonces también dejamos su información de contacto para quien quiera acercarse con ella. Y bueno, nuevamente muchísimas gracias. Esperamos siempre seguir conectados contigo. Y bueno, nada, este es el fin de este episodio.

[00:52:44] Gracias Sofi, gracias y un saludo y un saludo para todos. Espero que esta conversación con Sofi haga que tengamos más miembros de la tribu de de logísticos guerreros y un saludo. Un saludo inmenso para ti Sofi, para todo él y para todo el equipo.

Episode Summary

In this episode of Supply Chain Now en Espanol, Enrique Alvarez and Sofia Rivas welcome Nazareth Black, CEO of Zacua Mexico. Learn how the first Mexican electric car was developed, the history of the company, and how an idea became a viable project that seeks to position itself as a top competitor, with state-of-the-art technology within the automotive industry.

Episode Transcript

[00:00:01] Welcome to your Play Now in Spanish, presented by Better Global Logistics and Supply Chain Now. This is the program we give to Spanish-speaking people in the ever-changing logistics industry. Join us as we discover the inspiring stories of our guests and learn from their collective experience. Our goal is not only to entertain you, but to foster your passion for this exciting industry and support your professional development along the way. And now, here is today’s episode of your Chain Now in Spanish.

[00:00:35] Hello! Welcome everyone to this new episode of Supply Chain Now in Spanish. Today I am very happy because I have a guest coming who is very dear to me and whom I recently met in person. Then I could put a face, voice, sounds, expressions to the name. This person is Isabel Agudelo. I will introduce her as the leader of the Warrior Logisticians tribe, but she will already introduce herself in multiple ways. How are you, Isa?

[00:01:08] Very good, Sofia. Thank you very much for this, for this invitation and this conversation with you that again was a gift that brought us this event of that 12th where we were together and. And not at all happy to be here.

[00:01:22] I am also very happy. And well, I think that normally podcasts, especially logistics and create supply, sometimes go very straight to the point of the topic, but here we would like to know a little behind what’s behind you, your story and anything you want to share with us as a background and something more personal.

[00:01:47] Let’s see what I have to tell you. A Colombian woman, Sofi, who coincidentally, and I would say as if by a very strong influence of my mother, I ended up studying engineering, working all my life in logistics, infrastructure and transportation, and that has been like the DNA of my professional life, which has also nurtured my personal life. As I hope we will discuss today. A woman from Cali, with a lot of passion for what I do, a lover of reading, of music, of sharing with other people and there we will talk about how all these characteristics of mine have shaped my life and my experience in this. In these infrastructure, transportation and logistics issues.

[00:02:43] Right, you don’t comment. Is there something cool that your mom was the one who pushed you into engineering, how was that? That decision of I’m going to study this on the way out, what was it? I don’t know what your first job was? Did you fall right into logistics or was it something that happened afterwards?

[00:03:04] Let me tell you, I was born, I was born in Cali. Cali is a city in the southwest of Colombia and it is a city, let’s say. No, it is not the capital of the country, it is the capital of one of the departments and nothing. Sofía I was born there, I studied at my school, a women’s school there, a school of women, of women who were very empowered, very, very convinced of our ability to generate things and somehow do everything in life. And I think we always meet up with my friends and talk about it. And I think, and I think in the case of all of us, it has marked us a lot. But going back to my mother’s story, my mother was a chemical engineer, one of the first ones, let’s say, in her, in her, in her class, in her time, at the end of the sixties, let’s say in Cali, with a master’s degree in Italy, so I don’t know, that engineering was Sofi, as if it had gotten into me. My dad was a lawyer, but I went less for the social issues and went for the engineering side. I am an Industrial Engineer from the Universidad Javeriana de Cali.

[00:04:16] The best engineering.

[00:04:18] The best engineering, the most complete, the most comprehensive. And since I chose a career, I would tell you I was one of those college students. Let’s just say he had a taste for mathematics. Let’s say it was a theme that I liked. For me they are like the universal language, they are like the gift that somehow we all understand those figures, we understand them. So let’s say that industrial engineering, I’m talking about the year 1990, was what was in fashion, it was not the innovative career, the top then, and I was not so clear about exactly what area I wanted to work in. Industrial engineering gave me the breadth to be able to and my life. You will hear Sofi, it has been like a theme where I like to learn, I like to experience new things and I usually throw myself into living them and working on them. And the subject of industrial engineering gave me that breadth. So let’s say that with respect to other more in-depth engineering programs, I opted for industrial engineering and that was it. Like the road. During those five years, Sofi, let’s say that I was always oriented towards subjects that I called, like rolling up my sleeves and being in production, being in wineries. Let’s say it was like a thing that I found attractive, to be kind of where things were being done.

[00:05:49] More from the operation.

[00:05:51] I loved that, I loved it more than being in finance or human resources, in marketing, I loved where, where things were manufactured and all those subjects I loved it and I was a monitor of everything you can imagine. That has been like another one of those, one of those constants in my life, like teaching and accompanying that. And along the way Sofi, you can’t imagine how much we were able to help with other friends of mine. Me. Women have the gift of being judicious and disciplined, not that there are men who are not. But today we picked up several of them along the way, Sofia, and we helped them, let’s say as far as we could, to go through that academic journey until I graduated in 1995 with a degree in Industrial Engineering. That was the year I graduated.

[00:06:39] Well, you have a pact with the devil, we already saw a.

[00:06:43] It is not noticeable, it is not noticeable at all.

[00:06:46] No, but it’s not that good. I also studied industrial engineering and I think it is a career that allows you that flexibility that you mention, not that it gives you the flexibility you need. I feel that any engineering company will crack your head open. So you can think about how to solve problems. That’s basically the way engineering brings you into your life. Then whatever you decide to do with those tools, etcetera is fine. But the way you already think and solve situations, that always stays with you forever. So I agree with many things you comment.

[00:07:31] All right, all right Sofi. And no, and you asked me about me, about me. Let’s say that it was clear to me that I wanted to follow a very production line, very logistical. That was clear to me, as in the middle of the possibilities. I start working. It’s so funny. My life takes me to education issues and I start working in a paper production company in Cali. But so do I. I loved it too, like going out to see different things and I wanted to leave Cali for Bogota, the capital of Colombia, and nothing. I got a job in Bogota, but it was after that business internship that was in education, my first job, and from then on all the jobs in my life have been in logistics, infrastructure and transportation. In other words, this has been a series of 25 years of work in the field and my first job was head of logistics for an organization that imported fertilizer for the coffee industry. Very interesting. Those first five years of my life, but I would say that destiny and.

[00:08:39] Then wrapping to carry you and keep you.

[00:08:43] And I was kept by my mom because I loved it. Sofi You know, talking a little bit about how this charm of careers in logistics, my personality is one of those that you kind of have to entertain it, right? In other words, you send him one thing and then another and then another. And I believe that logistics, infrastructure and transportation issues give you a breadth in terms of geography and power issues. Each geography is a different world. Yes, if you are oriented by products or services or the processes that are within the supply chain issues. And if you want to go out as I did, in addition to transportation or infrastructure issues, it is a world, so for those of us who are restless and curious, it fits very well.

[00:09:31] Well, you will never, ever get bored, every day will be different and as you mentioned, everything will depend on the geography, the type of product, and even the business culture you have. And in the end, as some people say, it depends on your luck at the fair, no, in the end it is very different, each, each person experiences it very differently and I think that is part of the diversity of, I repeat, the tribe of logisticians that Isa has been generating, she collects people and adds them to her tribe, so that is also very nice of this career, not only in logistics and supply chain, but also in logistics and supply chain.

[00:10:23] Sofi yes, yes, if you travel with me, imagine that in the mid nineties. I would say that the logistics and supply profession has evolved over time, hasn’t it? Y. And of course, when I started working in it, I was importing fertilizers for the coffee industry. At that time it was logistics. I would tell you Sofi, first where they were almost unseen, technology was just kind of entering, which today is part of our reality. This was it, this was it. I mean, I was able to carry inventory cards by hand, so imagine controlling. I had inventory in 30 warehouses in Colombia and it was a task with my, with my at that time general warehouse, this was another, it was another, it was another, another concept, a number of things that today are almost inconceivable, to think, how logistics was done without barcodes, how logistics was done without a level of technology like the one we live in and with challenges. That is, there are more sophisticated ones, but you also have always had the challenge of being able to meet a demand at the right time at the right cost. That has always been there. So, the fact that I had fallen in love with these issues and just like you are, or I was an ambassador of the Supply Chain issues, as you say, I kind of became an ambassador of promoting that this was a place where we could work as men and women and that there were wonderful challenges to be solved. Well, with the passage of time, I find that they continue to grow, continue to grow and continue to become more sophisticated and more and more interesting. But, as you rightly say, this has been a task of adding more people to what? To understand these supply-side issues and close those gaps with other areas. Correct.

[00:12:24] And well, since I know you a little bit, I would like you to tell us about it too. Well, you talked about the role of going to El Café and now this side of education, which I know you were very involved in that, because even if you don’t believe it, but if you are going to believe it and you have done everything and that’s apart from everything else. This is what higher education is all about, the connection between. Research and practice and he is going to tell us more about that now.

[00:13:02] Yes. Imagine, I finish working in the coffee industry, with all its relevance in Colombia and I start as one.

[00:13:11] Size is coffee, practically.

[00:13:13] Coffee, but by god hahaha and then after that I start like because this has been a topic of where my own training has been part of like me, of me, of my, of my commitment to myself. So, again, I need to be in a continuous learning process. So let’s say that after my degree I did an envoy and, well, later I did a master’s degree in logistics in Haiti. So I would tell you Sofi, that one of the first topics is how and I do not rule out another master’s degree in my life, no, because it’s like the desire to always learn and then let’s say after doing the Envy I start working on it in the logic group that I was there for 15 years where? For my role and for the role, let’s say logical group that basically promotes everything that is e-commerce bar code standards in, let’s say, in Colombia. And I would say it’s almost. And so and so. And undoubtedly the whole issue of good practices linked to logistics, this natural role of being able to tell stories about the impact of all these practices and tell them to the private sector, to the public sector, tell them to the academia, promote the importance of these issues, it was part of me, of my day to day life. So it was a gift, let’s say, from my work there. It was always this, this topic, like where you and I met, to be able to stand in these spaces, to give these conferences that I have always loved and where I believe that part of this exercise of being an ambassador and seeking to swell this tribe of logistical warriors, I do it through these processes, let’s say, like giving conferences.

[00:15:00] And within this role that I had in Logic for the last 15 years, the last ten, I was the director of the Latin American Center for Innovation in Logistics, which was a very interesting project where Logic and Haiti met to create a research center that basically had three focuses: education, applied research and extension. And there Sofi basically identified that there was a gap to be closed in the region in terms of training, logistics, supply. So we brought all that knowledge from MIT to Latin America, recognizing our specific challenges, the logistical challenges of doing logistics in Latin America, as you mentioned just now, with our idiosyncrasies, our challenges in terms of infrastructure, our own reality, our products, and from there the research center was created and a series of training programs were created, and I know that you are a graduate of one of them, I love the fact that Sofi was looking for a network that is not so common in our region, as many logisticians do logistics within their country, but they do not understand the challenges of logistics in the region unless you have an Andean or Latin American position or with Latam coverage.

[00:16:25] So we put together the Graduate Certificate in Logistics and there we brought together students, let’s say master’s degree students from the region or with work experience in the region, and we made a mix of professors from a network of allied universities that we put together along with the MIT professors. This was generated, light was generated and what will be for undergraduate students, because I do believe, Sofi, that there is a, yes, a commitment of, of each one with this, with this process of always learning and as we were saying, now we are reinventing ourselves every day. The environment we are in changes every day, so it’s a matter of creating these programs. Besides, many of the members of that tribe I was able to capture through the blog, through the blog itself, so I love it because I meet them in the most incredible places, in the most spectacular spaces, working in the public, in the private and and and and nothing. I think that little seed of love for what we do remained in each one of them, in all those programs. And well, you can’t imagine the wonderful people who have accompanied me in my life and accompanied me in the creation of all those projects that I was very happy.

[00:17:42] That’s right, isn’t it? Well, in a nutshell, she’s the blog mom in case any of our listeners. Ah! And he says Ah, I studied there. She, she, for her exists. Then one first thank you. But secondly, what you said you identified. There are a lot of people who have done logistics and supply chain in Latin America and are still doing it. Or people who work in the industry but don’t know, it’s not that that’s just transportation and you’re not part of this movement, you’re part of a piece. That triggers many other actions that trigger many other effects. And we need you, don’t we? And at the end, this part of sharing your experience of sowing seeds that then grow and enter this industry of. It is the same thing to say. Well, these are best practices. That is what I have experienced. You who have lived this sharing. There is still a long way to go in Latin America. I think it is strange because our culture is very social, very friendly, so we just need to be that way on the professional side as well. I don’t think that everything is excellent in the personal sphere, but in the professional sphere there is this gap that I think is part of the design, part of this approach with logic and of bringing industries closer to research. That is what he is trying to close. No?

[00:19:35] All right, all right. Sophie. No! And I always have. Because, of course, I had the chance to travel to Boston and Cambridge to be with this whole MIT ecosystem. And it is also worth mentioning the Transportation and Logistics Center, which was the allied center, let’s say, of logic, because within MIT, in turn, it had other allied centers scattered all over the world. Yes, and it was one thing is, I think it’s also a challenge. Sofi as of how to understand that the person who works in logistics has to be open-minded, as if the world fits in his head. That is, whether your operation today involves getting product from other parts of the world or from Spain to other parts of the world, which I believe will be part and parcel of the reality of what those of us who work in today’s supply chain are dealing with. But as you say, there is that network of human beings that I could have contact with from the master students because there was the possibility, even in the blog, to meet with the rest of the master students, all the centers that you give away like that, that, that possibility to talk about what you learned in one side. And you see how similar we are in certain subjects, in some others different, but always with things to learn. It is a global world where today’s relevant issues, such as sustainability issues, such as technology issues, permeate all these supply houses around the world. So yes, I think it’s like the gift of open-mindedness, that the world fits in your head, that English is your language. I would say yes.

[00:21:19] Me too.

[00:21:20] Also.

[00:21:21] Shame, that Spanish can also be very good today promoting the podcast, but just that. No, no.

[00:21:30] Not all.

[00:21:32] In supply chain is in English, but also in Spain, and we play a very important role. In the supply chain in many parts of the world.

[00:21:45] So it did that, if I may add only Latin America. I mean, is that, well, Brazil I don’t consider it the size, obviously. Yes, yes, yes, yes, part of this, of this group, but I think I don’t know. And I don’t know if it happened to you, Sofi, when one peeks or at least at logistical problems, before the challenges of e-commerce and last mile issues, but. But the logistics in Latin America? I would say that if we could qualify how much of a warrior these tribe members are as logistical warriors. Man, Latin Americans are amazing. In other words, this was a logistical task to be carried out in Latin America. It is a. It is an immense effort to be able to transport in the midst of the challenges in which we live, in the midst of the infrastructure we have.

[00:22:37] Physical, social, economic, political, cos.

[00:22:42] Fanatics. And you travel Sofi in the region and you find a beer in the most inhospitable places, you find a, a, a soft drink in the most inhospitable places or a I don’t know, a product. It is unbelievable. So this is also the space to recognize all the people who, well, in general in Latin America do this task because I believe it is absolutely a labor, a titanic labor, and I admire them all.

[00:23:10] Totally agree. Well Isa, moving on to another topic, which is also a lot of my interest and I feel that there are also going to be a lot of women listening to this episode who are also going to have this interest. Well, practically during your professional life you have been a woman and have represented women in a certain way. So we want to know a little bit about your experience being a woman in the industry, right? I think there have always been challenges and the challenges have been different because they have changed from year to year, some for the better, some for the worse. But I think sharing that side of your experience is also very important, isn’t it?

[00:24:00] Then. Of course, that. Let’s talk about. From. From. From that story. Ehm. Let’s say. That. That. As I told you, when I was a little girl, I always liked to be in the place where they were made. Things were done. No? And let’s just say I enjoyed it deeply, then. And my personality is also kind of flexible. Me. I am me. I measure him relatively easily, let’s say. Like everything else. Well, like all kinds of things. So I don’t know, I don’t know. My personality had like a natural vocation to measure things, even if you didn’t know how to do them, I didn’t know how to do them, and I was willing to learn fast and be well and be always, always willing. And I believe, Sofi, that there, there, there, in these roles of women, in terms of supply, logistics, I would say that there is a first component of believing in ourselves and being and believing that we are capable of doing, of doing whatever we are asked to do, right? So I say the first step is I believe in myself and then I have the capacity to transmit, let’s say, that, that, that, that, that capacity and belief in myself so that others believe in me, right? So I feel like it’s like a thing that I start.

[00:25:22] A zero step, not as an interest and curiosity as to what this world is all about? I am also not saying that we are not going to force anyone to enter who does not want to and who does not like it, who is not passionate about it. But this, this part of wanting to know, of wanting to get involved, of saying yes, yes, I’m in. And then this follow-up of “I’ve already taken the plunge and we were going to continue with everything, with all the effort, all the desire for that, to have that disposition that you mention.

[00:25:58] Because it is that zero step Sofi that you mention, you are absolutely right. I believe that in the case of what we do on a day-to-day basis and especially to the people and women who are in day-to-day operations, well no, no, no, no, we are not going to deny that they are demanding operations, they are demanding, many of them are demanding in terms of decision making and they are tasks. Sofi Eh? I have always described them as almost ungrateful, haven’t I? Because somehow like when you do the task right it’s like what’s expected of you, but when you do it wrong, the world is over. So it really needs to be like, as you were saying, that you like this topic, that you want to get up every day to face these challenges, without a doubt. Well, no, no, no, not all, and as I mentioned before, there are many, but. But in general, let’s say it is a task that implies a, a task, a challenging task, normally in terms of time, of decision making, because it implies that you have a passion for it, undoubtedly the more members of the tribe we have. Wonderful, but, but this is part of the reality to keep in mind, that the job comes with that, with that definition itself.

[00:27:14] So, after being able to connect with that passion and that purpose, well, what I was telling you I think is the desire and the deep openness and believing in yourself, that you can achieve it and being willing to do it or that many, many of them. Also, I think there is a rupture and it was part, as you were saying, of what we wanted to close with these education issues, that the gap between academia and the private and public sector would not be so significant and that you could very quickly assume a role in any of these sectors and be very, very effective, very productive within them, right? Who is also like. As part of. As part of these challenges. But in the end they are fine. You are always going to be measured against things you don’t know how to do. Yes, and I believe it is not in Supply Chain. And again there is the amplitude of having the ability to learn, to reinvent yourself, to have mentors within your ecosystem, which implies creating this network that you mentioned and being able to turn to them who have already experienced things, have faced these types of challenges, have had results or not. It is to learn that even from failure there are lessons to be learned. So let’s say that this, this, this phase of being willing is very important and let’s say, as a professional in all my roles, I say that my attitude has always been willing and above all that I have enjoyed it.

[00:28:44] Sophie Doing things without a very established manual of functions, pretend like my bosses would give me the frame and let me in to draw with that, with that pencil and and and and I will cherish it and always and always liked it. Em But in general I. I would tell you that my life has been like a sea of possibilities, because there is this passion of stage zero, this one, this one. This disposition of what we can call stage one was always accompanied Sofi, by leaders who worked with me throughout my life, who gave me the vote of confidence to be able to face these, these different challenges that arose, they always saw in me a person who could execute them, right? So I don’t know what came first, if I believed in me and then they believed in me as a result, or at the same time we were creating this, this, this, this concatenation that was wonderful and that even the space, if anyone is listening to this podcast to thank them from the coffee guild. Rafael praised the Minister of Transportation.

[00:29:53] Well, all those who have accompanied me, Diego in Annie, who have, who have walked with me and again almost with eyes closed, have this vote in me and and and and and and I believe that there is a very very powerful positive synergy generated. And I believe that when one has the capacity to play these leadership roles, which I have also had in my life, and you are already the head, it is also an immense commitment in terms of facilitating the process. And speaking of women Sofi, I mean, I think that hopefully and I know that sometimes it’s not, it’s not, it’s not, it’s not like that, but I think that women should help women, especially in the supply chain to grow in that way. No Sofi, sometimes it doesn’t happen, but I would like to invite the women leaders who listen to me to take on the challenge of training the collaborators of their teams, their peers, and that after they have passed through you, they become better people, which has always been my goal. Sofi, the people who worked with me can vouch for you if you were to say that it has always been and continues to be an obsession, right? Who I touched in my professional life came out a better professional, a better person?

[00:31:16] Well, you mention several things to see. I’m going back a little bit. The first of mentors. I think it is very important to surround yourself with people who can teach you things that you are not necessarily going to learn in your day-to-day work. Now, part of having this passion and this belief in yourself, you also have to have this drive to find your mentors. We can’t wait for someone to come along and assign you to it. He’s going to be your mentor and he’s going to teach you from what I’ve experienced, which some might say isn’t much, but I’ve found that the best way to find mentors is to go out and find them yourself. Or sometimes you realize that someone is your mentor, when you least expect it, you call them a friend, you call them a colleague. But after a while of maybe parting ways, you left. On the other hand, you say. Today he was my mentor. That person really was my mentor. So that’s one piece of advice I give, which is look for mentors, don’t wait for them to come to you. And well, the other part of what you were saying about having leaders and surrounding yourself with at the end, well, yes, with a leadership that believes in you and that gives you those kinds of opportunities, right? And I believe that. Obviously not, not all stories are like that, and maybe people who are listening to us today don’t feel that way, that they don’t feel that they are surrounded by those leaders that they deserve, not that they would like. But then there are two things there too, aren’t there? One can also be that source of leadership. If you are, whether or not you are in charge of people or of a group, of an organization. You too can be that leader you wish you could see, can’t you?

[00:33:30] Is that okay? Y. Y. And allow me too. Let’s say. And I know that if the bosses I had listen to me. I was a collaborator when. When I was a collaborator. I would tell you that in many cases I was almost a thorn in her side on many issues, but it was because I cared about Sofi very much. Yes, me. I believe that. I believe that we women have to find a voice and the good thing and the men who also listen to us, that if they have not found it, they have to find it and create some spaces where one within the framework of respect and of all the obvious conditions of recognition of the other and the value of the other. To be able to express Sofi differences. Power from one, from sustained arguments. Power, power when you participate in a table. To be able to express your opinion and to be able to differ from your boss, to differ from your leader and in spaces where you can agree on feedback. Good to have the opening and because I believe. I consider, for example, that I am a deep believer in the interdependence between the human beings that inhabit this planet. Yes, and I think everyone has something to contribute. I believe that one is sometimes a very bad judge of oneself and I believe that whoever walks beside you, especially in as many hours as the hours we work. Many times I see in you opportunities for improvement, that if you say them with love, with affection or within professional topics, where the enjoyment sustains a discussion comes well done with true people, with depth and arguments.

[00:35:15] It is a gift of life, isn’t it? So I think that there, there, there, there, there. And I believe that as women we can find that voice in ourselves. I always invite Sofia that I say it’s like a style, it’s not the way you express yourself, eh? I don’t know, the modulation, the timing, the idea. If it is a thing that. Well, sometimes in these management groups you have to be assertive, let’s say as in the message, but I think that by dint of living it and doing it, one learns to master it and obviously combine those issues of form with a well developed background. I think it is a wonderful subject and I believe that it should be something that I wish that personally and professionally we could demonstrate the capacity to demand from our bosses, right, all, all, all, all their quality and to be collaborators with all the quality. And then when in life, to reverse those roles or to be very inspiring leaders in those, in those issues. And adding Sofia what you were saying about mentors, I think that probably in life one is going to have many in different subjects. To pretend that one person has it all is almost dreamy, not everyone is to find that.

[00:36:35] Not even God has that.

[00:36:38] But it is very interesting that this initiative comes from you. And I finally say is that your personal and professional life, you are the magician and the maker of all those decisions as well. Sofi look, my life experience says so myself. There were places where even though I tried I couldn’t and I left. Yes, I believe that prolong.

[00:36:59] It is moments like these when one must realize that the battle here is over.

[00:37:06] It is not my place.

[00:37:08] Maybe the next one is going to make it, but I tried, didn’t I? And there will also be times when even trying will not be enough. Don’t you have to know at the exact moment when one should stay in the situation to achieve a change with which you have to withdraw as well, right?

[00:37:30] Yes Sofi, total, and look at me as a professional also what you just said. I understand that there are places where my skills soar and I there are others, other places where, where I don’t, where, where I don’t work. Yes, and sometimes that I think you have to live it, it doesn’t happen as well. This is also an invitation to our listeners, to what? Isn’t it true that life sometimes you have to be there for a while, right? Living work environments, living company environments where there are. I have made my way through the public sector, which is an area that sometimes we don’t look at, right? O Sofi but it is true that the government is a mega sector of the chain. Rather than pretending to work behind the government’s back, it is a dream. And I believe that there is also a task to be done. And again, I would like to salute all the public servants in the world who work to create a logistics, transportation and infrastructure system where we can operate it, when now that I am in the private sector again, but, but Sofí is super powerful. These well, these issues that we are talking about and so relevant in everyone’s life.

[00:38:47] That’s right, that’s right. And the part is that last thing you were saying about trying it out. I mean, the industry is very large, the positions you can be in, the companies you can work for are many. So not because one of your experiences was not the best, the one that your dream, I don’t know. The ideal does not mean that it does not exist, so that is also giving you another chance to well, give another chance to the logistics supply chain. It’s also super cool and I think that in the end what you don’t try you won’t know. Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes it was going to work or it was not going to work.

[00:39:35] No? Yes, yes, yes. Total are. So today I would like to link Sofi to something that I think is worth reflecting on. And let’s say that if I were to summarize these 25 years of life where I have been able to go through the pure private sector, through a more consultative theme of research, with education issues and in recent years in the public sector and in the last year doing independent consulting. Let’s say I believe. That talking about those issues that make it, that what I say, that there is a guarantee of being successful, but somehow it increases the probability of being successful in areas such as, such as chain, supply, such as logistics issues. I would think about these and I would say. It is, a lot is demanded, let’s say, from a woman or a man working on these issues today. First, because I think it is a requirement of technical skills, but at the same time you have to have all these misnamed, misnamed soft skills, such as leadership, communication, because finally, and maybe this is a commonplace, but I think it is very powerful to insist on it again. These supply areas are like I always say they are like the cheese in the middle of the sandwich. If la la es, es es es una son. These are areas that connect Sofi. These are areas that cannot work in isolation, since none of them can work within an organization, but in a particular way, as in the supply chain, you need this internal and external collaborative exercise. So of course, the technical stuff is always there and the technical stuff can be learned.

[00:41:16] And cut the leather, as we say in Colombia, relaxing with the day to day. But also to be able to incorporate these misnamed activities, soft skills of being able to generate relationship issues with people from other areas, with your suppliers. Yes, power how? How to generate elements that lead you to go a little deeper into these types of relationships. To me, it has always seemed powerful, so of course, today we put these competencies. Sofi you mentioned just now that you have to be resilient in an environment that every day is more uncertain, that you also have to add multiple languages and you want to do something like a more, more global role, that you have to understand sustainability issues, understand technology issues, understand risk issues. So I, I, I, I would say not for not, for scaring those who listen to us in terms of what it is, what awaits them or what they experience on a day-to-day basis. Yes, yes, they work on these issues, but it is exciting, exciting as technical, hard and soft. Mobilizing teams, mobilizing companies, mobilizing chains. Yes, yes. If someone does not know what to study and listens to us it is truly an exciting topic. And as Sofi said, there are so many places to work. But it is required, it is one. I say it is one, one, supremely demanding area of work. So, yes, those who come here do not expect it to be an easy reality that we are living, but of great interest and relevance to the world, no doubt.

[00:42:55] Yes, and the part about it being demanded more and more, but that has been intensified by everything that has happened in the world and by the spotlight and the focus that supply chain has had already in people’s newspaper headline. This is how you eat where you are. And they already have us in their eye, in the magnifying glass. They already know who we are, who they are. So that part is also like they demand you, they ask you to come, everything ready, that is impossible. But yes, with practice.

[00:43:36] And with we are getting better and better.

[00:43:38] Learning.

[00:43:40] They did not exist. Or can you imagine my explanation in the 1990s of what logistics was? This was like trying to de de de de. It was very difficult. Oh yes, and as you say, I think it is a valued profession, it is a profession in many places, let’s say well paid, especially in companies that recognize the value of supply chain management, sometimes there are some more, sometimes less, and I think that there is there that one has to, as you were saying, try to find the place where, where one can generate greater impact. And the thing is that, by golly, supply chains are all made and there if they want to be, I don’t know if those who listen to us there are looking for jobs with a purpose. Logistics behind NGOs, eh? All the work on sustainability in these issues, environmental, social, economic, in other words, it’s serious, this is a menu of options to choose from.

[00:44:36] Lots of cheese on lots of sandwiches, lots of quesadillas? Well, a little recap of what we have talked about in the podcast has been to get to know Isa as a person, what is behind her, how has her professional career been, this part of how she started with her studies, in what company she has developed, the things she has managed? Yes, from papers, coffee, education, private sector, public sector, government. Very complete, very complete part of being a woman in the industry.

[00:45:21] From.

[00:45:22] How it’s important one Being in an environment where you thrive, making sure that your environment is going to be one where you thrive, surrounding yourself with people who teach you or in the end, who are smarter than you or who are better than you.

[00:45:39] This is very important. Yes, and another thing that has marked my life is being able to be part of teams made up of people, many smarter than me, no doubt, but above all, good people. Look, the gift of my life has been, has been my teams, either because I became part of them or because I put them together, but also I loved, I loved working with each one of them, I loved each one even though we had difficult moments, hard moments, when you are next to a team and everyone is kind of connected with that purpose and we want to reach the goal. I would tell you that it is one of the most special sensations and and. And I would love again, I don’t know, that the women who listen to us could be part of those teams or create them, or facilitate the entry of other women to them. Why? Because it is a privilege of life. It is a privilege to be part of high-performance teams. And if any of my former team members listen to me again, a thousand and thousand thanks for having walked with me in that task, because it was a privilege and living it is a spectacular thing.

[00:46:53] If they are in a role where their job is described by these two words love and purpose. There it is, there it is. So that’s what I take away from what you just said. Isa. And also, well, we also discussed the importance of, obviously looking for your mentors, having people, being aware of the people that are around you. This part of not because you have gone through many obstacles, the one who follows also has to go through those obstacles. I believe that this leadership that Isa comments on. Reaching out for the next one to move up, for the next one to move forward that is better. That is very important, that reciprocity with what you have experienced and what someone else will experience. That’s the beauty of humanity and what we must continue to permeate, right?

[00:47:54] Yes, and just and only leave them the message. Sofi that if not, why don’t we do it for the men around us who are wonderful, but not by crying.

[00:48:02] For both.

[00:48:03] For both of them, no doubt, no doubt. But, but, but, but, but let’s give him that little hand. I mean, no, let’s not be the woman who doesn’t help another woman, that is, let’s stay in someone’s life like this. As the one who shook our hand. Yes, and I say that’s where we are. I don’t know if the yes, the yes is from a leadership position, you can dedicate a little more time to it and in the end look, I, sometimes I, I sometimes said, sometimes it’s coffees. If they are conversations from the heart, it’s not that complicated. Sometimes I think the hyper sophisticated, but sometimes it’s heartfelt conversations over coffee, after lunch or lunch. No, you don’t need more than that and. And in that dialogue, two human beings can grow incredibly. Have more coffee.

[00:48:57] Yes, more coffee. Well, and in closing, he has already given a lot of advice. Very, very good practices. He has shared very good experiences. But perhaps what was the advice you received? What else have you. Resonated. What else has worked for you? That sometimes day by day you remember it?

[00:49:26] Well, Sofi, I would tell you about the ones we have talked about today, maybe. At one time in my life I tried as de. Unlike what. What we talked about a while ago, how to get it right you always know yes and no, and I didn’t allow myself any mistakes. And I was like the most unforgiving to myself. You know? Sofi was like a thing, it was a terrible thing and not even at some point in my life of someone told me But why don’t you enjoy the road? Right, this kind of trial-and-error process? So what does life finally give us, you know? Y. And I stayed with that and it has not been easy, I mean sometimes it comes out like the little devil on my shoulder to not help me, but. But increasingly and perhaps as a gift of age. Don’t I, to me, to me it seems to me that age has beautiful themes too, because many times Sofi, this theme of self-punishment that I used to inflict on myself was more like a thing, like referring to others, right? What are they going to think of me if I quit this job after three months and I didn’t like it, right or wrong, or I don’t know what.

[00:50:47] I mean, how am I going to handle this on my resume? What are they going to say about me? But, but look at the gift of this person who gave me that advice at the end, well, it is you with you, right, it is you finding, as you were saying just now, Sofi, your place, your purpose. And that is a search that only you can, you can define whether or not you got it right when it ends. So I’ve decided to enjoy the journey, no, that, that would be like the great the great message and see in those mistakes that we make every day more as learning lessons than as spaces to punish ourselves, right? I think that’s like the, like the, like the, like the most powerful of that process, because I could be horrible to myself, not in it at some point in my life, but I’ve gotten better and better. I say I am a I am a I am a. A process under construction.

[00:51:48] Sure, sure, continuous improvement.

[00:51:51] All in all, continuous improvement.

[00:51:53] Well, thank you very much for sharing all this with us today. To all those who listen to us, I believe that there will be several very valuable points applicable. There are some who may say no, I already did that, I already did it, let them share their comments with us, etc. There it is. She can be found on LinkedIn. Yes Isabel Agudelo and from there she will answer you. I believe that.

[00:52:22] Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, of course.

[00:52:24] That’s your social network, as well as mine. Then we also leave her contact information for anyone who wants to approach her. And well, again, thank you very much. We look forward to staying connected with you. And well, nothing, that’s the end of this episode.

[00:52:44] Thank you Sofi, thank you and best regards and greetings to all. I hope this conversation with Sofi will lead to more members of the tribe of warrior logisticians and best regards. A big hello to you Sofi, to all of him and to the whole team.

[00:53:00] Thank you very much.

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Nazareth Black Es una empresaria apasionada de los autos y de las nuevas tecnologías. Define haber llegado al mundo automotriz como la mejor aventura de su vida. Enfocada en transformación digital de la industria automotriz ha logrado desarrollar negocios innovadores que la han llevado a ser considerada por distintos medios e instituciones como líder de la industria automotriz en México y Latinoamérica.

Tras el lanzamiento de Car Fast, el primer dealer digital de autos, Nazareth se encarriló en una carrera dentro del mundo automotriz que la llevarían a dirigir hoy en día las estrategias de Marca de Zacua y Tazzari, firmas del segmento eléctrico de la empresa Motores Limpios. Lanzó recientemente la primera fintech automotriz en Latam y además escribe su propio blog, uno de los más influyentes del sector hoy en día donde publica las últimas tendencias en movilidad y electromovilidad. Trabaja también de la mano con PyMEs a través de una de sus divisiones de negocios; y cuenta además con una agencia internacional de marketing y publicidad digital.

Es conferencista internacional y escribe para diversos medios especializados en Industria automotriz, tecnología y energía. Promueve la inclusión y empoderamiento de las mujeres en la industria automotriz. Conéctate con Nazaret en LinkedIn.

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Sofia Rivas Herrera

Host, Supply Chain Now en Espanol

Enrique Alvarez

Host, Logistics with Purpose

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Kim Winter

Host, Supply Chain Now

The founder of Logistics Executive Group, Kim Winter delivers 40 years of executive leadership experience spanning Executive Search & Recruitment, Leadership Development, Executive Coaching, Corporate Advisory, Motivational Speaking, Trade Facilitation and across the Supply Chain, Logistics, 3PL, E-commerce, Life Science, Cold Chain, FMCG, Retail, Maritime, Defence, Aviation, Resources, and Industrial sectors. Operating from the company’s global offices, he is a regular contributor of thought leadership to industry and media, is a professional Master of Ceremonies, and is frequently invited to chair international events.

He is a Board member of over a dozen companies throughout APAC, India, and the Middle East, a New Zealand citizen, he holds formal resident status in Australia and the UAE, and is the Australia & New Zealand representative for the UAE Government-owned Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA), the Middle East’s largest Economic Free Zone.

A triathlete and ex-professional rugby player, Kim is a qualified (IECL Sydney) executive coach and the Founder / Chairman of the successful not for profit humanitarian organization, Oasis Africa (www. oasisafrica.org.au), which has provided freedom from poverty through education to over 8000 mainly orphaned children in East Africa’s slums. Kim holds an MBA and BA from Massey & Victoria Universities (NZ).

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Joshua Miranda

Marketing Specialist

Joshua is a student from Institute of Technology and Higher Education of Monterrey Campus Guadalajara in Communication and Digital Media. His experience ranges from Plug and Play México, DearDoc, and Nissan México creating unique social media marketing campaigns and graphics design. Joshua helps to amplify the voice of supply chain here at Supply Chain Now by assisting in graphic design, content creation, asset logistics, and more.  In his free time he likes to read and write short stories as well as watch movies and television series.

Donna Krache

Director of Communications and Executive Producer

Donna Krache is a former CNN executive producer who has won several awards in journalism and communication, including three Peabodys.  She has 30 years’ experience in broadcast and digital journalism. She led the first production team at CNN to convert its show to a digital platform. She has authored many articles for CNN and other media outlets. She taught digital journalism at Georgia State University and Arizona State University. Krache holds a bachelor’s degree in government from the College of William and Mary and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of New Orleans. She is a serious sports fan who loves the Braves. She is president of the Dave Krache Foundation. Named in honor of her late husband, this non-profit pays fees for kids who want to play sports but whose parents are facing economic challenges.

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Vicki White

Controller

Vicki has a long history of rising to challenges and keeping things up and running. First, she supported her family’s multi-million dollar business as controller for 12 years, beginning at the age of 17. Then, she worked as an office manager and controller for a wholesale food broker. But her biggest feat? Serving as the chief executive officer of her household, while her entrepreneur husband travelled the world extensively. She fed, nurtured, chaperoned, and chauffeured three daughters all while running a newsletter publishing business and remaining active in her community as a Stephen’s Minister, Sunday school teacher, school volunteer, licensed realtor and POA Board president (a title she holds to this day). A force to be reckoned with in the office, you might think twice before you meet Vicki on the tennis court! When she’s not keeping the books balanced at Supply Chain Now or playing tennis matches, you can find Vicki spending time with her husband Greg, her 4 fur babies, gardening, cleaning (yes, she loves to clean!) and learning new things.

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Katherine Hintz

Creative Director, Producer, Host

Katherine Hintz, MBA is a marketing professional who strives to unite her love of people with a passion for positive experiences. Having a diverse background, which includes nonprofit work with digital marketing and start-ups, she serves as a leader who helps people live their most creative lives by cultivating community, order, collaboration, and respect. With equal parts creativity and analytics, she brings a unique skill set which fosters refining, problem solving, and connecting organizations with their true vision. In her free time, you can usually find her looking for her cup of coffee, playing with her puppy Charlie, and dreaming of her next road trip.

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Kim Reuter

Host, The Freight Insider

From humble beginnings working the import docks, representing Fortune 500 giants, Ford, Michelin Tire, and Black & Decker; to Amazon technology patent holder and Nordstrom Change Leader, Kimberly Reuter has designed, implemented, and optimized best-in-class, highly scalable global logistics and retail operations all over the world. Kimberly’s ability to set strategic vision supported by bomb-proof processes, built on decades of hands-on experience, has elevated her to legendary status. Sought after by her peers and executives for her intellectual capital and keen insights, Kimberly is a thought leader in the retail logistics industry.

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Kristi Porter

Host, Logistics with Purpose

Kristi Porter is VP of Sales and Marketing at Vector Global Logistics, a company that is changing the world through supply chain. In her role, she oversees all marketing efforts and supports the sales team in doing what they do best. In addition to this role, she is the Chief Do-Gooder at Signify, which assists nonprofits and social impact companies through copywriting and marketing strategy consulting. She has almost 20 years of professional experience, and loves every opportunity to help people do more good.

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Sofia Rivas Herrera

Host, Supply Chain Now en Espanol

Sofia Rivas Herrera is a Mexican Industrial Engineer from Tecnologico de Monterrey class 2019. Upon graduation, she earned a scholarship to study MIT’s Graduate Certificate in Logistics and Supply Chain Management and graduated as one of the Top 3 performers of her class in 2020. She also has a multicultural background due to her international academic experiences at Singapore Management University and Kühne Logistics University in Hamburg. Sofia self-identifies as a Supply Chain enthusiast & ambassador sharing her passion for the field in her daily life.

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Demo Perez

Host, Supply Chain Now en Espanol

Demo Perez started his career in 1997 in the industry by chance when a relative asked him for help for two just weeks putting together an operation for FedEx Express at the Colon Free Zone, an area where he was never been but accepted the challenge. Worked in all roles possible from a truck driver to currier to a sales representative, helped the brand introduction, market share growth and recognition in the Colon Free Zone, at the end of 1999 had the chance to meet and have a chat with Fred Smith ( FedEx CEO), joined another company in 2018 who took over the FedEx operations as Operations and sales manager, in 2004 accepted the challenge from his company to leave the FedEx operations and business to take over the operation and business of DHL Express, his major competitor and rival so couldn’t say no, by changing completely its operation model in the Free Zone. In 2005 started his first entrepreneurial journey by quitting his job and joining two friends to start a Freight Forwarding company. After 8 months was recruited back by his company LSP with the General Manager role with the challenge of growing the company and make it fully capable warehousing 3PL. By 2009 joined CSCMP and WERC and started his journey of learning and growing his international network and high-level learning. In 2012 for the first time joined a local association ( the Panama Maritime Chamber) and worked in the country’s first Logistics Strategy plan, joined and lead other associations ending as president of the Panama Logistics Council in 2017. By finishing his professional mission at LSP with a company that was 8 times the size it was when accepted the role as GM with so many jobs generated and several young professionals coached, having great financial results, took the decision to move forward and start his own business from scratch by the end of 2019. with a friend and colleague co-founded IPL Group a company that started as a boutique 3PL and now is gearing up for the post-Covid era by moving to the big leagues.

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Mary Kate Love

VP, Marketing

Mary Kate Love is currently the VP of marketing at Supply Chain Now focused on brand strategy and audience + revenue growth. Mary Kate’s career is a testament to her versatility and innovative spirit: she has experience in start-ups, venture capital, and building innovation initiatives from the ground up: she previously helped lead the build-out of the Supply Chain Innovation Center at Georgia-Pacific and before that, MxD (Manufacturing times Digital): the Department of Defense’s digital manufacturing innovation center. Mary Kate has a passion for taking complicated ideas and turning them into reality: she was one of the first team members at MxD and the first team member at the Supply Chain Innovation Center at Georgia-Pacific.

Mary Kate dedicates her extra time to education and mentorship: she was one of the founding Board Members for Women Influence Chicago and led an initiative for a city-wide job shadow day for young women across Chicago tech companies and was previously on the Board of Directors at St. Laurence High School in Chicago, Young Irish Fellowship Board and the UN Committee for Women. Mary Kate is the founder of National Supply Chain Day and enjoys co-hosting podcasts at Supply Chain Now. Mary Kate is from the south side of Chicago, a mom of two baby boys, and an avid 16-inch softball player. She holds a BS in Political Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

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Adrian Purtill

Host, Logistics with Purpose

Adrian Purtill serves as Business Development Manager at Vector Global Logistics, where he consults with importers and exporters in various industries to match their specific shipping requirements with the most effective supply chain solutions. Vector Global Logistics is an asset-free, multi-modal logistics company that provides exceptional sea freight, air freight, truck, rail, general logistic services and consulting for our clients. Our highly trained and professional team is committed to providing creative and effective solutions, always exceeding our customer’s expectations and fostering long-term relationships. With more than 20+ years of experience in both strategy consulting and logistics, Vector Global Logistics is your best choice to proactively minimize costs while having an exceptional service level.

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Kevin Brown

Host, Logistics with Purpose

Kevin Brown is the Director of Business Development for Vector Global Logistics.  He has a dedicated interest in Major Account Management, Enterprise Sales, and Corporate Leadership. He offers 25 years of exceptional experience and superior performance in the sales of Logistics, Supply Chain, and Transportation Management. Kevin is a dynamic, high-impact, sales executive and corporate leader who has consistently exceeded corporate goals. He effectively coordinates multiple resources to solution sell large complex opportunities while focusing on corporate level contacts across the enterprise. His specialties include targeting and securing key accounts by analyzing customer’s current business processes and developing solutions to meet their corporate goals. Connect with Kevin on LinkedIn.

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Jose Miguel Irarrazaval

Host, Logistics with Purpose

Jose Manuel Irarrazaval es parte del equipo de Vector Global Logistics Chile. José Manuel es un gerente experimentado con experiencia en finanzas corporativas, fusiones y adquisiciones, financiamiento y reestructuración, inversión directa y financiera, tanto en Chile como en el exterior. José Manuel tiene su MBA de la Universidad de Pennsylvania- The Wharton School. Conéctese con Jose Manuel en LinkedIn.

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Nick Roemer

Host, Logistics with Purpose

Nick Roemer has had a very diverse and extensive career within design and sales over the last 15 years stretching from China, Dubai, Germany, Holland, UK, and the USA. In the last 5 years, Nick has developed a hawk's eye for sustainable tech and the human-centric marketing and sales procedures that come with it. With his far-reaching and strong network within the logistics industry, Nick has been able to open new avenues and routes to market within major industries in the USA and the UAE. Nick lives by the ethos, “Give more than you take." His professional mission is to make the logistics industry leaner, cleaner and greener.

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Allison Giddens

Host, Logistics with Purpose

Allison Krache Giddens has been with Win-Tech, a veteran-owned small business and aerospace precision machine shop, for 15 years, recently buying the company from her mentor and Win-Tech’s Founder, Dennis Winslow. She and her business partner, John Hudson now serve as Co-Presidents, leading the 33-year old company through the pandemic.

She holds undergraduate degrees in psychology and criminal justice from the University of Georgia, a Masters in Conflict Management from Kennesaw State University, a Masters in Manufacturing from Georgia Institute of Technology, and a Certificate of Finance from the University of Georgia. She also holds certificates in Google Analytics, event planning, and Cybersecurity Risk Management from Harvard online. Allison founded the Georgia Chapter of Women in Manufacturing and currently serves as Treasurer. She serves on the Chattahoochee Technical College Foundation Board as its Secretary, the liveSAFE Resources Board of Directors as Resource Development Co-Chair, and on the Leadership Cobb Alumni Association Board as Membership Chair and is also a member of Cobb Executive Women. She is on the Board for the Cobb Chamber of Commerce’s Northwest Area Councils. Allison runs The Dave Krache Foundation, a non-profit that helps pay sports fees for local kids in need.

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Billy Taylor

Host of Dial P for Procurement

Billy Taylor is a Proven Business Excellence Practitioner and Leadership Guru with over 25 years leading operations for a Fortune 500 company, Goodyear. He is also the CEO of LinkedXL (Excellence), a Business Operating Systems Architecting Firm dedicated to implementing sustainable operating systems that drive sustainable results. Taylor’s achievements in the industry have made him a Next Generational Lean pacesetter with significant contributions.

An American business executive, Taylor has made a name for himself as an innovative and energetic industry professional with an indispensable passion for his craft of operational excellence. His journey started many years ago and has worked with renowned corporations such as The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (GT) leading multi-site operations. With over 3 decades of service leading North America operations, he is experienced in a deeply rooted process driven approach in customer service, process integrity for sustainability.

A disciple of continuous improvement, Taylor’s love for people inspires commitment to helping others achieve their full potential. He is a dynamic speaker and hosts "The Winning Link," a popular podcast centered on business and leadership excellence with the #1 rated Supply Chain Now Network. As a leadership guru, Taylor has earned several invitations to universities, international conferences, global publications, and the U.S. Army to demonstrate how to achieve and sustain effective results through cultural acceptance and employee ownership. Leveraging the wisdom of his business acumen, strong influence as a speaker and podcaster Taylor is set to release "The Winning Link" book under McGraw Hill publishing in 2022. The book is a how-to manual to help readers understand the management of business interactions while teaching them how to Deine, Align, and Execute Winning in Business.

A servant leader, Taylor, was named by The National Diversity Council as one of the Top 100 Diversity Officers in the country in 2021. He features among Oklahoma's Most Admired CEOs and maintains key leadership roles with the Executive Advisory Board for The Shingo Institute "The Nobel Prize of Operations" and The Association of Manufacturing Excellence (AME); two world-leading organizations for operational excellence, business development, and cultural learning.  He is also an Independent Director for the M-D Building Products Board, a proud American manufacturer of quality products since 1920.

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Tandreia Bellamy

Host, Supply Chain Now

Tandreia Bellamy retired as the Vice President of Industrial Engineering for UPS Supply Chain Solutions which included the Global Logistics, Global Freight Forwarding and UPS Freight business units. She was responsible for operations strategy and planning, asset management, forecasting, and technology tool development to optimize sustainable efficiency while driving world class service.

Tandreia held similar positions at the business unit level for Global Logistics and Global Freight forwarding. As the leader of the Global Logistics engineering function, she directed all industrial engineering activies related to distribution, service parts logistics (post-sales support), and mail innovations (low cost, light weight shipping partnership with the USPS). Between these roles Tandreia helped to establish the Advanced Technology Group which was formed to research and develop cutting edge solutions focused on reducing reliance on manual labor.

Tandreia began her career in 1986 as a part-time hourly manual package handling employee. She spent the great majority of her career in the small package business unit which is responsible for the pick-up, sort, transport and delivery of packages domestically. She held various positions in Industrial Engineering, Marketing, Inside and On-road operations in Central Florida before transferring to Atlanta for a position in Corporate Product Development and Corporate Industrial Engineering. Tandreia later held IE leadership roles in Nebraska, Minnesota and Chicago. In her final role in small package she was an IE VP responsible for all aspects of IE, technology support and quality for the 25 states on the western half of the country.
Tandreia is currently a Director for the University of Central Florida (UCF) Foundation Board and also serves on their Dean’s Advisory Board for the College of Engineering and Computer Science. Previously Tandreia served on the Executive Advisory Board for Virginia Tech’s IE Department and the Association for Supply Chain Management. She served on the Board of Trustees for ChildServ (a Chicago child and family services non-profit) and also served on the Texas A&M and Tuskegee Engineering Advisory Boards. In 2006 she was named Business Advisor of the Year by INROADS, in 2009 she was recognized as a Technology All-Star at the Women of Color in STEM conference and in 2019 she honored as a UCF Distinguished Aluma by the Department of Industrial Engineering and Management Systems.

Tandreia holds a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering from Stanford University and a master’s degree in Industrial Engineering and Management Systems from UCF. Her greatest accomplishment, however, is being the proud mother of two college students, Ruby (24) and Anthony (22).

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Mary Kate Soliva

Host, Veteran Voices

Mary Kate Soliva is a veteran of the US Army and cofounder of the Guam Human Rights Initiative. She is currently in the Doctor of Criminal Justice program at Saint Leo University. She is passionate about combating human trafficking and has spent the last decade conducting training for military personnel and the local community.

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Scott W. Luton

Founder, CEO, & Host

As the founder and CEO of Supply Chain Now, you might say Scott is the voice of supply chain – but he’s too much of a team player to ever claim such a title. One thing’s for sure: he’s a tried and true supply chain expert. With over 15 years of experience in the end-to-end supply chain, Scott’s insights have appeared in major publications including The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and CNN. He has also been named a top industry influencer by Thinkers360, ISCEA and more.

From 2009-2011, Scott was president of APICS Atlanta, and he continues to lead initiatives that support both the local business community and global industry. A United States Air Force Veteran, Scott has also regularly led efforts to give back to his fellow veteran community since his departure from active duty in 2002.

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Greg White

Principal & CMO, Supply Chain Now
Host of Supply Chain Now and TECHquila Sunrise

When rapid-growth technology companies, venture capital and private equity firms are looking for advisory, they call Greg – a founder, board director, advisor and catalyst of disruptive B2B technology and supply chain. An insightful visionary, Greg guides founders, investors and leadership teams in creating breakthroughs to gain market exposure and momentum – increasing overall company esteem and valuation.

Greg is a founder himself, creating Blue Ridge Solutions, a Gartner Magic Quadrant Leader in cloud-native supply chain applications, and bringing to market Curo, a field service management solution. He has also held leadership roles with Servigistics (PTC) and E3 Corporation (JDA/Blue Yonder). As a principal and host at Supply Chain Now, Greg helps guide the company’s strategic direction, hosts industry leader discussions, community livestreams, and all in addition to executive producing and hosting his original YouTube channel and podcast, TEChquila Sunrise.

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Chris Barnes

Principal, Supply Chain Now
Host of Supply Chain is Boring

Talk about world-class: Chris is one of the few professionals in the world to hold CPIM-F, CLTD-F and CSCP-F designations from ASCM/APICS. He’s also the APICS coach – and our resident Supply Chain Doctor. When he’s not hosting programs with Supply Chain Now, he’s sharing supply chain knowledge on the APICS Coach Youtube channel or serving as a professional education instructor for the Georgia Tech Supply Chain & Logistic Institute’s Supply Chain Management (SCM) program and University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Center for Professional Education courses.

Chris earned a BS in Industrial Engineering from Bradley University, an MBA with emphasis in Industrial Psychology from the University of West Florida, and is a Doctoral in Supply Chain Management candidate.

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Tyler Ward

Director of Sales

Tyler Ward serves as Supply Chain Now's Director of Sales. Born and raised in Mid-Atlantic, Tyler is a proud graduate of Shippensburg University where he earned his degree in Communications. After college, he made his way to the beautiful state of Oregon, where he now lives with his wife and daughter.

With over a decade of experience in sales, Tyler has a proven track record of exceeding targets and leading high-performing teams. He credits his success to his ability to communicate effectively with customers and team members alike, as well as his strategic thinking and problem-solving skills.

When he's not closing deals, you can find Tyler on the links or cheering on his favorite football and basketball teams. He also enjoys spending time with his family, playing pick-up basketball, and traveling back to Ocean City, Maryland, his favorite place!

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Kevin L. Jackson

Host of Digital Transformers

Kevin L. Jackson is a globally recognized Thought Leader, Industry Influencer and Founder/Author of the award winning “Cloud Musings” blog.  He has also been recognized as a “Top 5G Influencer” (Onalytica 2019, Radar 2020), a “Top 50 Global Digital Transformation Thought Leader” (Thinkers 360 2019) and provides strategic consulting and integrated social media services to AT&T, Intel, Broadcom, Ericsson and other leading companies. Mr. Jackson’s commercial experience includes Vice President J.P. Morgan Chase, Worldwide Sales Executive for IBM and SAIC (Engility) Director Cloud Solutions. He has served on teams that have supported digital transformation projects for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the US Intelligence Community.  Kevin’s formal education includes a MS Computer Engineering from Naval Postgraduate School; MA National Security & Strategic Studies from Naval War College; and a BS Aerospace Engineering from the United States Naval Academy. Internationally recognizable firms that have sponsored articles authored by him include CiscoMicrosoft, Citrix and IBM.  Books include “Click to Transform” (Leaders Press, 2020), “Architecting Cloud Computing Solutions” (Packt, 2018), and “Practical Cloud Security: A Cross Industry View” (Taylor & Francis, 2016). He also delivers online training through Tulane UniversityO’Reilly MediaLinkedIn Learning, and Pluralsight.  Mr. Jackson retired from the U.S. Navy in 1994, earning specialties in Space Systems EngineeringCarrier Onboard Delivery Logistics and carrier-based Airborne Early Warning and Control. While active, he also served with the National Reconnaissance Office, Operational Support Office, providing tactical support to Navy and Marine Corps forces worldwide.

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Enrique Alvarez

Host of Logistics with Purpose and Supply Chain Now en Español

Enrique serves as Managing Director at Vector Global Logistics and believes we all have a personal responsibility to change the world. He is hard working, relationship minded and pro-active. Enrique trusts that the key to logistics is having a good and responsible team that truly partners with the clients and does whatever is necessary to see them succeed. He is a proud sponsor of Vector’s unique results-based work environment and before venturing into logistics he worked for the Boston Consulting Group (BCG). During his time at BCG, he worked in different industries such as Telecommunications, Energy, Industrial Goods, Building Materials, and Private Banking. His main focus was always on the operations, sales, and supply chain processes, with case focus on, logistics, growth strategy, and cost reduction. Prior to joining BCG, Enrique worked for Grupo Vitro, a Mexican glass manufacturer, for five years holding different positions from sales and logistics manager to supply chain project leader in charge of five warehouses in Colombia.

He has an MBA from The Wharton School of Business and a BS, in Mechanical Engineer from the Technologico de Monterrey in Mexico. Enrique’s passions are soccer and the ocean, and he also enjoys traveling, getting to know new people, and spending time with his wife and two kids, Emma and Enrique.

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Kelly Barner

Host of Dial P for Procurement

Kelly is the Owner and Managing Director of Buyers Meeting Point and MyPurchasingCenter. She has been in procurement since 2003, starting as a practitioner and then as the Associate Director of Consulting at Emptoris. She has covered procurement news, events, publications, solutions, trends, and relevant economics at Buyers Meeting Point since 2009. Kelly is also the General Manager at Art of Procurement and Business Survey Chair for the ISM-New York Report on Business. Kelly has her MBA from Babson College as well as an MS in Library and Information Science from Simmons College and she has co-authored three books: ‘Supply Market Intelligence for Procurement Professionals’, ‘Procurement at a Crossroads’, and ‘Finance Unleashed’.

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Constantine Limberakis

Host

Constantine Limberakis is a thought leader in the area of procurement and supply management. He has over 20 years of international experience, playing strategic roles in a wide spectrum of organizations related to analyst advisory, consulting, product marketing, product development, and market research.Throughout his career, he's been passionate about engaging global business leaders and the broader analyst and technology community with strategic content, speaking engagements, podcasts, research, webinars, and industry articles.Constantine holds a BA in History from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and an MBA in Finance & Marketing / Masters in Public & International Affairs from the University of Pittsburgh.

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Amanda Luton

Vice President, Production

Amanda is a production and marketing veteran and entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience across a variety of industries and organizations including Von Maur, Anthropologie, AmericasMart Atlanta, and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Amanda currently manages, produces, and develops modern digital content for Supply Chain Now and their clients. Amanda has previously served as the VP of Information Systems and Webmaster on the Board of Directors for APICS Savannah, and founded and managed her own successful digital marketing firm, Magnolia Marketing Group. When she’s not leading the Supply Chain Now production team, you can find Amanda in the kitchen, reading, listening to podcasts, or enjoying time with family.

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Clay Phillips

Business Development Manager

Clay is passionate about two things: supply chain and the marketing that goes into it. Recently graduated with a degree in marketing at the University of Georgia, Clay got his start as a journalism major and inaugural member of the Owl’s football team at Kennesaw State University – but quickly saw tremendous opportunity in the Terry College of Business. He’s already putting his education to great use at Supply Chain Now, assisting with everything from sales and brand strategy to media production. Clay has contributed to initiatives such as our leap into video production, the guest blog series, and boosting social media presence, and after nearly two years in Supply Chain Now’s Marketing Department, Clay now heads up partnership and sales initiatives with the help of the rest of the Supply Chain Now sales team.

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Trisha Cordes

Administrative Assistant

Trisha is new to the supply chain industry – but not to podcasting. She’s an experienced podcast manager and virtual assistant who also happens to have 20 years of experience as an elementary school teacher. It’s safe to say, she’s passionate about helping people, and she lives out that passion every day with the Supply Chain Now team, contributing to scheduling and podcast production.

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Chantel King

Social Media Manager

My name is Chantel King and I am the Social Media Specialist at Supply Chain Now. My job is to make sure our audience is engaged and educated on the abundant amount of information the supply chain industry has to offer.

Social Media and Communications has been my niche ever since I graduated from college at The Academy of Art University in San Francisco. No, I am not a West Coast girl. I was born and raised in New Jersey, but my travel experience goes way beyond the garden state. My true passion is in creating editorial and graphic content that influences others to be great in whatever industry they are in. I’ve done this by working with lifestyle, financial, and editorial companies by providing resources to enhance their businesses.

Another passion of mine is trying new things. Whether it’s food, an activity, or a sport. I would like to say that I am an adventurous Taurus that never shies away from a new quest or challenge.

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Lori Sofian

Marketing Coordinator

Lori is currently completing a degree in marketing with an emphasis in digital marketing at the University of Georgia. When she’s not supporting the marketing efforts at Supply Chain Now, you can find her at music festivals – or working toward her dream goal of a fashion career. Lori is involved in many extracurricular activities and appreciates all the learning experiences UGA has brought her.

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Katherine Hintz

Sales and Marketing Coordinator

Katherine is a marketing professional and MBA candidate who strives to unite her love of people with a passion for positive experiences. Having a diverse background, which includes nonprofit work with digital marketing and start-ups, she serves as a leader who helps people live their most creative lives by cultivating community, order, collaboration, and respect. With equal parts creativity and analytics, she brings a unique skill set which fosters refining, problem solving, and connecting organizations with their true vision. In her free time, you can usually find her looking for her cup of coffee, playing with her puppy Charlie, and dreaming of her next road trip.

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