Supply Chain Now en Espanol
Season 4, Episode 2

Supply chain es la industria en la que más puedes dar, impactando directa e indirectamente a los demás. Si eres alguien que le gusta resolver problemas, este es el lugar para ti.

-Santiago Hernandez

Resumen del Episodio

En este episodio de Supply Chain Now en Español, Sofia Rivas Herrera entrevista a Santiago Hernandez Logistics Optimization Manager en Petco. Santiago nos comparte cómo comenzó su carrera en la Industria Alimentaria hasta cómo llegó a impactar en la vida de nuestras mascotas.

Santiago siempre ha creído en buscar maneras para mejorar procesos y nunca conformarse con cómo han sido las cosas. Apasionado por Supply Chain, Santiago invita a los jóvenes en cadena de suministro a cuestionar el status quo y a ser agentes de cambio.

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] Pues bienvenidos a un nuevo episodio de Supply Chain en español. Hoy tengo a una persona que para los amantes de las mascotas, estarán muy interesados en conocer su historia, ya que él es el que podría decirles por qué no hay croquetas, pero no es su culpa. Ok. Aquí les presento a Santiago Hernández. Santiago. ¿Cómo estás?

[00:00:59] Hola Sofi. Muy bien, Muchas gracias por tenerme aquí en el programa. Muchas gracias por la invitación.

[00:01:07] Si, claro que sí. La verdad es que siempre estamos buscando personas de diferentes industrias y que estén en su clase y que sean muy apasionados y sabemos que tú eres una de esas personas y bueno, nada más para romper un poco el hielo y que la gente te conozca en pedacitos, vamos a hacer unas breves preguntas rápidas. ¿Qué prefieres, perros o gatos?

[00:01:29] Híjole! Bueno, bueno. Como yo creo que habrán visto en el título del podcast trabajo para Pet co, que es una empresa de mascotas tanto en Estados Unidos como en México, Canadá. Exportamos a Australia, Francia y no me quiero meter a detalle. Entonces soy amante de las mascotas. De todas las mascotas. Sophie Obviamente yo en algún punto de mi vida quise ser veterinario. De chiquito tuve cuyos víboras un tiburón. Ojo, era un tiburón.

[00:02:07] Muy.

[00:02:08] Chiquito. Sí, sí, sí, sí. Y ahorita tengo una perrita, una yorkie que se llama Moly, ya de casi 14 años. Esa es la perrita que aquí tenemos en casa mi esposa y yo. Y lamentablemente en México tuve que dejar a mi perro, que crecí con él desde mi adolescencia hasta que me salí de mi casa, ya que es un pitbull, un American Bully. Para aquellos que conozcan muy bien de las razas de Pitbull, que la verdad es que es muy juguetón, es no es para nada el estereotipo que le ponen a los pitbulls, no son perros peleonero, pero son muy fuertes. ¿Entonces qué es lo que pasa si juega con la Yorkie? La podría lastimar.

[00:02:56] Si entonces no tiene ninguna preferencia más a todos los animales.

[00:03:00] Amo a todos los a todos los animales y los caballos me encantan también, la verdad. Este montar a caballo de tener.

[00:03:09] De tener algún día un caballo uno.

[00:03:12] Sí, claro que sí. Y es la promesa que le tuve que hacer a mi esposa para convencerla de que se casara conmigo algún día. Algún día íbamos a vivir en un rancho y tener caballos.

[00:03:24] Pues ya quedó grabado en este podcast. Sí, ya hay evidencia.

[00:03:29] Me hizo firmarlo. Casi, Casi.

[00:03:32] ¿Bueno, oye, y bueno, súper rápido alguna la última serie que hayas visto en Netflix que recomiendas o en otra plataforma?

[00:03:41] Híjole, creo que fue la de Wendy, la de Merlina en Netflix y te la recomiendo muchísimo. Creo que creo que ya fue hace tiempo, la acabamos de ver más o menos a mediados de diciembre, que fue más o menos un poquito después salió, pero la recomiendo muchísimo, la verdad. El director Tim Burton hizo un excelente trabajo en cautivar a la audiencia, te mete a la serie. La cinematografía está increíble y bueno, me gustó muchísimo.

[00:04:18] Creo que bien.

[00:04:20] Si tú ya la viste o no.

[00:04:22] ¿Y es interesante, no? Como que a mí me gustan más otro tipo de series, sobre todo si son de zombis. Y por ejemplo ahorita está la de la voz en.

[00:04:32] Off.

[00:04:33] Y como antes jugaba el videojuego, porque yo soy de ese tipo de personas que juegan videojuegos y la verdad es que me ha gustado mucho y pues se parece mucho, entonces como que le han hecho justicia al videojuego, entonces la recomiendo ampliamente.

[00:04:52] Qué bueno que haya vivido a las expectativas, porque ahorita que lo mencionas yo también tuve mi época súper nerd. De videojuegos y yo era fanático de ello. Y la serie de.

[00:05:05] La.

[00:05:05] ¿Distancia? La vi, sí, pero no me gustó mucho, la verdad. No creo que.

[00:05:10] Hayan hecho todo, pero creo que es porque casi no jugaba a ello. Entonces siento que porque sí he escuchado como opiniones encontradas ahí sí, de las dos cosas.

[00:05:24] Sí.

[00:05:25] Pues bueno, aquí nos encanta la gente nerd y cool, entonces por eso estamos aquí, para ver que están escuchando. Escuchen. Y estas son nuestras recomendaciones de videojuegos también. ¿Bueno, entonces vamos a pasar a otro tema un poco más serio, Santiago, pero para conocerte un poco más de pues cómo fue que empezaste, quizás tu trayectoria profesional, pero desde el punto de vista de tu educación, no? ¿Qué estudiaste? ¿Cómo es que elegiste? ¿Ya sabías qué hacer cuando tenías 18 y tenías que firmar? ¿A qué universidad te ibas? Yo creo que esa pregunta, la verdad, si nunca nadie me ha respondido, si yo ya sabía qué hacer, porque creo que es una edad, uno está muy chico para hacer esa decisión tan grande.

[00:06:17] ¿No? Súper De acuerdo contigo, no sabía qué iba a hacer con mi vida. Fue una época muy confusa. No tienes que tomar una decisión a los 17 años inclusive, porque si tienes que antes. Exacto, ya que estás viendo universidades y a qué carreras aplicar y todo y no has ni siquiera experimentado en en completo el mundo. No solamente escuchas pues historias de los adultos que trabajan y así. Y bueno, esto me lleva a yo estudié en la carrera, soy ingeniero en la industria alimentaria por parte del Tec de Monterrey, en el Campus Querétaro, y escogí esta carrera. De hecho yo empecé estudiando Ingeniería Industrial un semestre y me cambié a Ingeniería de Alimentos, que si lo veo hacia atrás digo chin, me hubiera quedado en Ingeniería Industrial. Yo empecé a estudiar Ingeniería Industrial porque mucha gente de mi familia son ingenieros industriales, mi hermana, mi cuñado, varios tíos y me decían hombre, yo te vi, yo te veo como ingeniero industrial, tú vas a ser ingeniero industrial, ingeniero industrial. ¿Y dije ah, pues eso es lo que voy a hacer, no? ¿Entrando al Tec de Monterrey veo que existen más carreras, no es nada más ingeniería Industrial, Administración de Empresas, Arquitectura y Derecho, no? O sea, no, no existe nada más cuatro o cinco carreras. Y entonces, como yo, transición a la ingeniería en la industria de alimentos. Es que mi por dos cosas. La primera es que mi abuelo tuvo una empresa de alimentos y es una persona a la cual yo admiro mucho y de cierta manera quiero seguir sus pasos. Entonces dije a los alimentos no me llama la atención, como que vi esa esa carrera en el Tec de Monterrey. Y la segunda es que a mí la verdad, uno de mis sueños siempre ha sido de cierta manera contribuir a la sociedad a través de una buena alimentación. ¿Vamos a llegar a eso en el tema de Supply Chain, pero el tema de supply chain enfocado a la alimentación se me hace fascinante, no?

[00:08:35] Y bueno, todo eso que mencionas no cumple esa misión o podría llegar a cumplir esa emoción.

[00:08:41] Exactamente. Entonces yo dije a ver mi abuelo y aparte tengo ese sueño, tengo esa misión en la vida que es ayudar a la humanidad a través de de los alimentos, no necesariamente ser un nutriólogo. Y tomo esa decisión de cambiarme a ingeniería en la industria alimentaria. Tomé la decisión una semana o diez días antes de que empezara el nuevo semestre, Entonces fue un caos porque la universidad me dice así perfecto, o sea, te cambiamos de carrera, pero no me advirtió que las clases que iba a estar llevando, como ya se habían llenado las de segundo semestre, que yo me cambié entre primero y segundo, ya estaban llenas. Entonces yo empecé a estudiar Ingeniería Industrial Alimentaria con clases de 4.º semestre sin haber llevado antecedentes en la carrera. Me fue pésimo. La verdad es que como que no empecé a disfrutar la carrera por ese como como empecé. ¿Muy entorpecido, no? Y en el último semestre.

[00:09:48] ¿Pero te quedaste?

[00:09:50] Me quedé ya entonces.

[00:09:52] Es que en ese momento dijiste no, qué difícil, Quizás no puedo, pero mira, si pudiste no es. Esos grandes matices motivacionales que dicen que cuando menos pensabas que podías y pudiste y más.

[00:10:08] Sí, sí, sí, sí, exactamente. No, y yo para. Para esto. En ese entonces viví situaciones familiares muy fuertes. Digo, no es no es una excusa y no es un podcast para desahogar penas, pero vivo situaciones muy duras las cuales a mí me obligan a transicionar un poquito al mindset. A ver, o sea, tengo que empezar a prepararme para mi futuro, no nada más personalmente, psicológicamente, sino también prepararme económicamente. Y ahí es cuando yo empiezo ahí el mundo de. De. De las inversiones, que eso es como mi. Mi side business. ¿No sé, digo, es el podcast, no está enfocado en eso, pero ahí es donde yo empiezo a realizar inversiones en un poco en la bolsa, un poco en el Real Estate, no? Y y este. Y así es como pude, entre comillas, tener una un desarrollo universitario, no nada más con bases de ingeniería, sino también con un poco de bases de negocio por fuera de de la universidad.

[00:11:22] Pues creo que son cosas que te brindan el tener sitios.

[00:11:26] Sí, exactamente.

[00:11:28] Aprendes de de otras cosas que quizás al inicio dices no, pues esto para qué me va a servir, para mi carrera o lo que quiero llegar ahorita. ¿Pero la verdad es que te van complementando conforme las desarrollas, no?

[00:11:42] ¿Sí, bueno, como tú bien comprenderás, no? Ahora sí que.

[00:11:46] ¿Yo ahora sé muchas cosas de de marketing y cuestiones de redes sociales que antes para mi era como pues yo para que me quiero meter a eso si no a si no soy una influencer de Instagram, por ejemplo?

[00:12:01] Exacto, Sí, sí, exacto. Yo tampoco es. Tampoco mi objetivo era ser un agente de bienes raíces, por decirlo así, pero ni un corredor de bolsa. ¿Pero es es a donde te va llevando la vida, no? Y ahora sí que tienes que ir siguiendo ese camino. ¿Y ese camino fue el que de cierta manera me estoy aquí ahorita en Pet Shop, en Supply Chain, no? Em En el último semestre de la universidad yo quería alineado a más o menos la misión no de ayudar personas a través de de algún producto en cuestión de cadena de suministro. Meto un tópico que es de logística internacional. Este tópico yo lo meto para aprender obviamente de a ver si yo requiero importar un producto, transformarlo en México, volverlo a exportar, distribuirlo en México, etcétera pues mínimo me va a dar unas bases muy buenas. Meto el tópico y descubro que me encanta. No digo la verdad. El profesor que me tocó, excelente profesor, excelente persona, daba la clase de una manera muy muy dinámica, te mandaba a investigar a tienditas, sabes que ve a tienditas y agarra los productos y tómale foto y como que desglosa como lo harías tú para traer este producto. Te ponía business choices, entonces me encantó tanto la clase como el tema de Supply Chain y por las bases de ingeniería que había tenido en mi carrera, yo abordaba los problemas un poco diferente al tema de los licenciados. No, no digo que una manera sea mejor que otra, simplemente es diferente.

[00:13:53] Es diferente.

[00:13:54] Exactamente. Y a mi profesor le gustó mucho la manera de abordar los problemas y los ensayos, cabe recalcar, eran en inglés y le gustó mucho también mi nivel de inglés. Entonces él me invitó a aplicar a aquello, a empezar. Ahora sí que mi vida laboral aplico como contratista. Entonces la verdad no fue un proceso, ahora sí que formal, entre comillas, no como alguien que aplique aquello que directamente es. Lo tuve después y entré como contratista para ver más temas de con playas un poco legales, tener relaciones con con las entidades federativas. Sagarpa en ese entonces se nacía y a las dos semanas diez días de empezar el el puesto, una persona del equipo de logística internacional de Kellogg se va de la empresa y. Se iba de la noche a la mañana. O sea, era un miércoles y él dijo El viernes es mi último día. Entonces lo que me. Lo que me toca a mí hacer es reemplazar su rol. Sin experiencia en cuestión de Supply Chain, sin experiencia logística, nada. Entonces ahí fue la primera.

[00:15:21] Ola de este tipo de experiencias para Santiago, una primera en la carrera y luego la segunda en la vida laboral.

[00:15:30] Sí, exacto. Entonces es aprender a golpes la verdad. Y la digo. La verdad es que tuve excelentes mentores en Kellogg que me enseñaron todo lo que necesitaba saber en tres días para. Para realizar el trabajo correctamente.

[00:15:53] Ya literalmente te aventaron al mar sin saber nadar. Pero así se aprende a veces y sobre todo también en algunos roles de cadena de suministro. ¿Así va a haber momentos en la vida y creo que esta estabilidad que tienes para adaptarte a uno ambientes desconocidos y dos retos muy grandes se nota, no? Creo que es algo que esa resiliencia la tienes ya contigo. Entonces al final le estás sacando provecho en la industria adecuada, en logística.

[00:16:30] Exactamente. Aquí, si no te gusta adaptarte, resolver problemas en cuestión de días, minutos, algunas veces sí. Definitivamente. Supply Chain no es para ti.

[00:16:44] Sí, tienes que estar dispuesto a hacer. Pues sí, enfrentarte a retos muy grandes que a veces no, no existe la solución o nunca han pasado. Pero. Pero creo que eso es lo interesante de este tipo de trabajos que tenemos, porque al final nunca te aburres, ningún día es igual, ningún día es repetitivo. Entonces es muy interesante saber de como llegaste. Oye, y qué cambiaste de Carlos a pesar.

[00:17:14] ¿De que los de qué los a a Pedro? Pues mira, mi rol en Kellogg era manejar todas las. Tuve varios problemas. El primero fue manejar todas las importaciones de Estados Unidos a México, ya, ya fuera por carretera o ferrocarril o por mar. La vieja no, y empecé a establecer una relación muy buena, la verdad, con nuestros proveedores de Estados Unidos, que a fin de cuentas es que los Company no Kellogg en México es ahora sí, que parte de que los Company en Estados Unidos empiezo a crear esa relación, porque no me dejarás mentir. Yo creo que en Supply Chain tener relaciones con tus proveedores, con tus clientes, con tus ahora sí que partes estratégicas del negocio es clave. Entonces a mí el tener esa relación con la parte de Estados Unidos me abrió muchísimas puertas. Empecé a establecer la relación porque digo ya ves, en el proceso de esa nop, no que para los que nos escuchan es que no se si son nuevos en Supply Chain Sells and Operations Planning, que es cuando los de marketing, los de ventas se pelean contra los de operaciones y obviamente los de ventas es el enemigo número uno de Supply Chain, porque ellos quieren vender, vender, vender y Supply Chain dice no, a ver, espérate tantito, no tenemos la capacidad, etcétera etcétera.

[00:18:48] Eso no, pero básicamente son los que tienen la bola mágica para decidir qué es lo que dice Ventas y marketing.

[00:18:57] Sí, claro, eso.

[00:18:58] Sí se va a vender. Exactamente es este proceso de pronósticos y.

[00:19:03] Exactamente.

[00:19:04] Tratar de predecir el futuro. Y normalmente sí, tristemente sí. Es una pelea entre operaciones y lo que dice ventas. Pero bueno, no se desalienten de si es que están trabajando ahí o van a entrar a trabajar ahí. La verdad es que hay muchas cosas que están cambiando. Entonces ustedes pueden hacer esto, pueden ser parte de sus agentes de cambio, pero bueno, entonces estabas en sellos en Operations Planning.

[00:19:32] ¿Eh? ¿Más bien los deseos en Operations Planning no, eh? Nos decían a ver, necesitamos esto, pero con las con las relaciones que hacía por fuera tanto como los de Estados Unidos con los de ventas, el chiste era ahora sí que satisfacer a mis clientes internos, que a fin de cuentas eran los de planning, los de supply planning, etcétera entonces era muy fácil para mí si ellos tenían. Algún. Alguna emergencia. Querían traer producto muy rápido. Yo pediría ese favor también a Estados Unidos. Es por eso que esa relación me sirvió mucho. Y bueno, para no hacerte el cuento muy largo. Varios proyectos que hice en Kellogg me fue muy bien, entonces estaba muy bien vendido con con esas relaciones en Estados Unidos. Una de esas personas salió de la empresa y se fue a Petkoff. Cuando es cuando ella sale de de la empresa, todos en shock porque tenía la verdad un rol muy bueno en Petro. Ella se convierte en la directora de logística internacional, todas las importaciones de China, todos los envíos de Estados Unidos a México y a todos los otros lugares donde mandamos producto y al corto tiempo abre una. Abre una vacante en su equipo de Petkoff, que era gerente de Logística Internacional, por lo cual yo le dije a mi ex jefe actual perdón, ex jefe a mi ex jefe Oye, mira, sácate la chaqueta. La la vacante que acaban de abrir en Petro me ve y pensó que yo creo que pensó que quería aplicar o algo así, porque yo nada más le dije la que abrió to pear que era de antes de Kellogg, piensa que quiero aplicar y me dice aplica, seguramente vas a quedar.

[00:21:29] ¿Para mí en ese entonces era un salto que en qué me hubiera tomado? Yo creo que diez años llegar a una gerencia y le digo no hombre, estás loco. O sea, apenas tengo, tengo muy poca experiencia. La verdad es que no me siento preparado y se aplica a ver hasta dónde llegas en el proceso. Y dije órale va, voy a aplicar por chistosito, aplico e paso la primera ronda, paso la segunda ronda, me marcan para la tercera ronda y me dicen oye, quiero ver tu disponibilidad porque te queremos volar de Querétaro a que vengas a San Antonio, Texas, donde actualmente estoy al corporativo, a la última ronda de entrevistas. ¿Yo con el ojo cuadrado, sabes? Así debería ver. Ya le digo a mi ex jefe oye, me quieren volar la entrevista y también o sea, él estaba aplicado porque dijo Chin, o sea, lo estaba haciendo de broma. Era un chistecito. Ya se está convirtiendo en realidad. Entonces vengo a San Antonio a la entrevista. Esto era más o menos el veintitantos febrero del 2020. Entonces yo creo que yo creo que va a ser.

[00:22:45] Así antes de la pandemia.

[00:22:48] Exactamente. Yo creo que más o menos sabes por dónde va. De hecho, me acuerdo que en en uno de los vuelos me tocó una enfermera al lado de mí que me venía diciendo No hombre, esta cosa se va a poner horrible, o sea, va a estar cuídate, me dice, cuídate y yo así de no está. O sea, seguramente va a ser como la influenza porcina que tuvimos en México en el 2012, que duró dos semanas y de.

[00:23:16] Regreso yo no creía.

[00:23:18] ¿Sí, y bueno, no, ya todos sabemos lo que pasó, no? ¿Total, eh, llego a la entrevista, me va muy bien en las entrevistas me regreso a Querétaro y el 10 de marzo más o menos del del 2020, o sea, tres días antes del shakedown mundial, me dicen no quedaste? ¿Yo a la misma hora que acabo de hacer yo así de cómo? O sea, la verdad es que te digo, hice buen papel y y y tenía ganas de un reto nuevo. Yo creo que eso es muy importante en Supply Chain, es siempre estar buscando retos en el momento en el que te estancas, en el que entras en tu zona de confort, dejas de crecer tanto como profesional, como persona. Y esto para mí era un reto nuevo. Entonces yo así de bueno, ni modo, me acababan de promover en Kellog. Aparte, ahora estaba manejando toda la distribución de las papitas Pringles en en Latinoamérica, o sea, Brasil, Colombia, toda Latinoamérica. Pero híjole, cómo me acuerdo de Perú. Pero bueno, un cliente.

[00:24:30] Alguien de Perú nos está escuchando y no le llegaron sus papitas.

[00:24:35] Antes de la pandemia ese no tuve 100% on time delivery, eso sí.

[00:24:40] Bueno.

[00:24:41] Sí, pero.

[00:24:41] Cualquier queja aquí les vamos a dejar su contacto.

[00:24:47] Y a los dos días que me da la noticia que no había quedado, me escribió uno de los que me entrevistó, el jefe de la que había abierto la vacante. ¿No? Y me dice Oye, la verdad es que promovimos alguien interno. No fuiste tú. Hiciste un papel excelente. Te deseo lo mejor. Me llamó mucho la atención tu perfil. Si alguna vez hay alguna oportunidad dentro de mi equipo, pues si me das permiso, te mando la vacante y aplicas y sigues el proceso. Y ahora le va. La verdad, nunca es otro. Otro tipo. Nunca cierro una puerta. No dejé la puerta abierta. Y bueno, viernes 13 del 2020 todo pasa, etcétera etcétera Y un fast forward más o menos junio del 2023 me llega un mensaje por LinkedIn de de este cuate que me había dicho que si había alguna oportunidad me iba a buscar. Bueno, para este entonces obviamente yo decía a ver, nadie va a contratar en la pandemia de 2023, si 2020, 2020 junio 2020, cuatro meses después de empezar la pandemia.

[00:26:10] Ya ok.

[00:26:11] Y si, perdón.

[00:26:14] Para eso estamos en el futuro. Este es un episodio del futuro.

[00:26:19] Ojalá. Se vienen cosas buenas.

[00:26:22] Y se vienen cosas muy interesantes.

[00:26:25] Y yo, yo en este. Entonces yo pensaba nadie va a estar contratando durante la pandemia. No es un momento, sí, de cuidar recursos. Exactamente. Me escribe y me dice oye, hay una oportunidad en mi equipo por si estas interesado, te contacto con el director contratante. Órale, si que no sé qué. Una entrevista muy extraña porque yo no sabía a qué estaba aplicando, no había leído ningún Job Description no me había dicho nada, nada más me conectó con el director muy informal para conocernos, platicar un poquito, pues más o menos así, casi casi como estamos platicando de mi experiencia de que había hecho en en mi carrera, obviamente si con más y más enfocado en resultados y en números, etcétera hicimos click, hicimos clic y me escribe un ratito después, unos días después y me dice oye, pues ya se abrió la vacante oficialmente en el portal de trabajo por si quieres aplicar. Checo la vacante y era el gerente de Supply Chain de e-commerce para PDV. Entonces nada que ver con lo que yo había hecho durante toda mi vida, tanto en la carrera como en mi vida profesional. ¿En aquello fue otro giro y bueno, total, paso el proceso, paso las entrevistas, afortunadamente quedo en la posición, pero la verdad al momento de aplicar fue fue un miedo porque yo decía a ver, están seguros que me quieren a mí? No tengo experiencia en e-commerce para nada. Yo estaba acostumbrado.

[00:28:14] Ahí. La verdad es que nadie tenía la suficiente experiencia ni commerce para enfrentar los retos que eran totalmente nuevos en la pandemia. O sea, nadie estaba preparado para ese nivel de ventas, ese nivel de servicio, esa expectativa del cliente era algo completamente nuevo entonces, y era algo que comentábamos. Yo creo que es un poco como bueno, te adentras a cosas o a retos que a veces uno cree que no está preparado, pero en realidad si no tienes esas bases, como mencionábamos de de ingeniería que te hacen que abran tu cabeza, que seas capaz de de solucionar problemas complejos en poco tiempo, tienes esta otra experiencia de del lado de negociación y de entablar relaciones con otros, etcétera Son esos skills que ya vas agarrando de otras áreas o de otras que si de de tu educación y de lo que has vivido, que te hacen capaz de entrar al mundo de supply chain y logística. Y creo que digo ahí hay bastantes episodios también de esta serie de de su peli Gina o en español que han entrevistado personas de diferente. Así desde abogados hasta personas que eran músicos que ahorita se dedican a eso, no a la distribución de em de producto, a revisar las, eh, los almacenes donde los donde tienes que guardar productos, dónde está tu demanda, etcétera en. La verdad es que son ese tipo de skills que que te hacen ser capaz de entrar a este mundo.

[00:30:06] Sí, sí, lo que dices es muy cierto. Osea, la pasión. Siento que no. No importa cuál sea tu background, porque por ejemplo yo cuando descubrí mi pasión por Supply Chain fueron los dos momentos, no el momento de tomar el tópico en la universidad. Y hubo otro momento, ya que estaba trabajando en Kellogg, que lo tengo marcado en mi vida. Bueno, algo que a mí me encanta es crear procesos desde un principio, ver cómo evolucionan y ver el producto final. No hay una historia que a mi mamá le encanta, le encanta contar que es que yo de chiquito amaba el lego. Lo sigo amando, pero todavía ya es muy caro, ya no tengo tiempo. Pero cuando compraba un set de Lego nuevo, lo primero que hacía era tirar las instrucciones y vaciaba todas las piezas en un contenedor gigante de Lego y me ponía a hacer mis propias cosas. Porque por ejemplo, en Kellogg lo que hice mucho fue cuestionar procesos, fue decir por qué siempre se ha hecho así.

[00:31:17] ¿No?

[00:31:18] Y es algo que nosotros como jóvenes en Supply Chain es lo que tenemos que hacer. ¿Supply Chain de cierto lleva mucho tiempo en en cuestión de cómo algunas empresas hacen sus procesos, que eventualmente ese proceso la gente dice Ah, pues no sé por qué lo hacemos así, simplemente así lo hacemos, así me enseñaron y así lo hacemos, no? Entonces, romper ese esquema de siempre se ha hecho. Así que de hecho son mis mis iniciales. Ya siempre se ha hecho así. Santiago Armando Álvarez Eso se me quedó grabado, me lo dijo un mentor es es. Es importante en cuestión de Supply Chain. Y bueno, retomando a cómo descubrí también la pasión por lo tangible que es el Supply Chain. Fue después de implementar un proyecto de optimización que hicimos en Kellogg. Me metí a una tienda de conveniencia, por no decir el nombre de este lugar, que.

[00:32:21] Es el lugar.

[00:32:24] Agarré una latita de Pringles y vi el lote que estaba abajo. Saqué mi celular, busqué el lote y pude ver toda la trazabilidad del producto en ahí en mi celular que salió de aquí, pasó por aquí, yo hice esto y ahí fue cuando dije wow, o sea, yo ayudé a traer este producto desde su origen hasta su destino exacto. ¿Y siento que es un ejemplo medio absurdo, porque una lata es una lata de Pringles, pero ahora sí que imagínate cómo puedes ayudar a la sociedad si tienes un rol estratégico y un rol decisivo en Supply Chain, no? Que bueno, eso es, es. Es mi objetivo a mediano plazo ser una persona trascendente en el Supply Chain que pueda tomar esas decisiones.

[00:33:18] Santiago que loco, tenemos el mismo objetivo.

[00:33:21] Aquí.

[00:33:22] Hoy nos vemos.

[00:33:23] Exactamente CIMA.

[00:33:26] ¿Hoy, recapitulando un poco lo que mencionabas, me encantó eso que dijiste que es nuestra labor como jóvenes en Supply Chain, desafiar cómo es que se hacen las cosas y creo que justamente estamos en un momento en el que bueno, pasa la pandemia y se pone un spotlight súper grande que supply Chain que es logística, de donde salen las cosas, como llegan, quiénes son los que se dedican a eso? ¿Y padrísimo no? ¿Al final es atención, hace que más personas de alrededor de nuestras vidas, de que están en otras industrias, volteen y digan oh, pero qué es eso? ¿Para bien o para mal no? Pero, pero por lo menos ya aparecemos en el radar. Y luego segundo, ahora que las cosas parecen que están volviendo a la normalidad, siento que se está viendo esta tendencia de que, bueno, ya no hay disrupción como la veíamos antes. ¿Por qué no volvemos a cómo hacíamos las cosas antes, no? Y es como bueno, y será entonces que esta calma que estamos viendo de verdad es la misma calma que vivías en el 2019 y eso es algo que que me he cuestionado en las últimas semanas de de enero, que fueron varias. ¿Pero estar pensando bueno, será que podemos asumir que lo que pasó antes de la pandemia va a ser lo que va a pasar? Ahorita y lo que vamos a vivir y la forma en la que resolvíamos problemas antes también va a funcionar ahora. Entonces siento que estamos en un momento de oportunidad para identificar y rehacer cosas. Entonces me encantó eso que dijiste. Voy a poner en los comentarios lo de tus iniciales. Creo que es algo. No sé qué mentor te lo haya dicho, pero estaba. Esta muy interesante. ¿Cómo lo comparte?

[00:35:26] Sí, sí, la verdad, sí. Híjole, yo no creo. Yo creo que ahora las empresas obviamente se van a preparar para un cisne negro, que fue literalmente lo que lo que vivimos en el 2020 por la pandemia. Pero yo no creo que debamos asumir la calma, por decirlo así, que teníamos antes del 2019, si no ya por la pandemia. Aprendimos que haber necesitas instalar un nuevo ERP para manejar tu e-commerce, lo puedes hacer rápido. O sea, ahora sí que la motivación fue la urgencia de la pandemia y las empresas se supieron adaptar.

[00:36:12] Y es justo eso. No perder ese sentido de urgencia. ¿Pues bueno, Santiago, cuéntanos un poco sobre qué es lo que haces en Pisco ahora que estás en Pisco, que cuál es tu rol, cómo se ve tu día a día y que es diferente con respecto a tus otras experiencias?

[00:36:30] Con respecto a mis otras experiencias. Bueno, mi rol actual se llama Gerente de Optimización de logística y lo que es muy diferente es que es muy pesado en cuestión de data y en cuestión de números. Y bueno, ahora sí, como dice el título de optimización ya no es tanto un rol operativo, es mucho más un rol estratégico, no de aconsejar al negocio. ¿Si le mueves de un lado a la cadena de suministro, cómo va a reaccionar del otro lado? No todo el tema del de de ahorros, visibilidad y principalmente en el área que yo me enfoco es en transporte y transporte. Es básicamente porque no recuerdo el dato, pero creo que es como el 70, 75% del gasto logístico de un producto. No es es 3/4 básicamente de fuera del costo, o sea, fuera del del costo del bien va a ser tu gasto de transporte. Em Ahorita en en en Petkoff tenemos dos proyectos muy grandes. El primero es una transformación digital de nuestro Supply Chain en cuestión de El Times, el Transport Station Management System. No que lo que hace el Times para los que nos escuchan es básicamente el sistema que que maneja todo tu transporte no envía señales a tus transportistas de dónde y cuándo y qué van a recoger. ¿Si va del punto A al punto B o punto A, B y luego C, etcétera, etcétera No? Básicamente un sistema. Lo que a mi me pasa cuando entro a este a entrar a este nuevo rol transicional de del rol de e-commerce, al rol de optimización de logística. Y va esa transición se da por el tema de la vida. Regresó a lo normal, no por decirlo así. Entonces e-commerce ya lo habíamos optimizado, ya estaba en piloto automático de cierta manera. Obviamente hay un equipo que se sigue encargando de.

[00:38:54] Eso.

[00:38:56] Y a mí me transicionar a optimización de logística. Cuando entró a este nuevo rol yo veo que no hay, no hay data, no hay con qué comparar, no hay que analizar y prácticamente lo que le pasa a muchísimas cadenas de suministro es que tienen sistemas dinosaurio, no tienen sistemas de hace años y no, ahora. Sí que los líderes de una empresa no quieren invertir en en programas nuevos, en tecnología nueva. Más bien ellos, los que los que le interesaba, obviamente. Después pasa todo. El tema de la pandemia era invertir en ventas, en marketing. No quiero vender más, quiero vender más. Y ahora logramos convencer a nuestro equipo de liderazgo a invertir en un en un nuevo tema. El tema es que escogimos es Uber Freight, que antes era. Para lo que los que nos escuchan y han utilizado este tiempo. ¿Y lo que nos llamó mucho la atención fue todo el tema de optimización en cuestión de consolidación e rating, que es en qué? En qué tienda se va a parar primero, a qué centro de distribución va ir después, a qué vendedor va a ir después, etcétera, etcétera. Y en el tema de visibilidad también, y básicamente mi primer proyecto en este rol fue toda esa transición de nuestro sistema que teníamos dinosaurio a este sistema mucho más sofisticado. Sofía Fue una pesadilla, digo, me encantó.

[00:40:45] El sistemas siempre son.

[00:40:49] Mira, me atrevo a decir.

[00:40:50] Miles.

[00:40:51] Si no el el negocio jamás se cayó. ¿Fue una transición transparente, no? La verdad es que me lo reconocen. ¿De que? Oye la verdad, mis respetos. O sea, la transición fue excelente, no pasó nada, pero fue una pesadilla. Fue una pesadilla absoluta, porque el Supply Chain no es nada más el intercambio de de bienes. No, no es mandar croquetas del punto A al punto B, es todo lo que va detrás de eso. ¿También es la información que fluye de nuestros sistemas a los vendedores, de los vendedores a nuestros sistemas, a los sistemas del transporte y todo el tema financiero también, no? ¿Porque ese es el movimiento también de las finanzas, no? De ahora sí que los pagos de de un proveedor a los de nosotros, un proveedor de nosotros o de nuestro cliente a nosotros, etcétera etcétera entonces.

[00:41:57] Y que incluso ahí hay diferentes velocidades, no siento que así le podemos llamar primero está esta velocidad a la que te puedes mover físicamente. Luego está la otra velocidad a la que tú recibes la los datos y la información, y luego completamente otra es a la que se registran los pagos a las que te llegan las facturas, que a veces son tres timelines, por así decirlo, diferentes. ¿Que tienes que decir? ¿Bueno, entonces, cuáles son las dependencias entre cada una y cómo influye, Cómo impactan esas cosas? También en cómo me muevo. ¿Yo no creo que eso también es algo que que he aprendido y que yo antes no consideraba, no decía bueno, este haces tu red, eh? Ya sabes dónde es el lugar óptimo para almacenar, ya sabes cuál es el mejor método de transporte. Ya lo tengo todo listo. ¿No? Pero luego metes esos factores y dices Oh, esas son otras restricciones que no había considerado. ¿No? Entonces es algo muy interesante para los que también es que nos escuchan digan nada. Me interesa entrar a este mundo de de la optimización. Esto. ¿Esta es una de las partes más desafiantes pero muy divertidas para hacer no?

[00:43:18] Exacto y justo. ¿O sea, ya que queda el sistema instalado es cuando empieza lo divertido, no? Sí, cuando empieza la optimización de verdad. Porque primero es a ver, necesitamos algo con lo que podamos optimizar, porque si no existe eso, pues la verdad es que una empresa no puede seguir viviendo de Excel por más que lo ame y sea una de las dimensiones más buenas del hombre. Bueno.

[00:43:44] El hombre después de la rueda. Y así.

[00:43:48] ¿Para todo, eh? ¿Es cuando empezamos a crear nuestros modelos de decir a ver si por ejemplo ampliamos los radios de transporte, no? ¿Cuánto? ¿O sea, de que? ¿De que un camión pueda ir a ciertas tiendas de un radio o a ciertos vendedores de otro radio, no? ¿Em Cuánto nos ahorra? ¿Cuánto gastamos más? ¿Y no solo enfocándonos en el tema económico, sino también en el tema, por ejemplo, de emisiones de CO2, que ahorita las empresas están buscando mucho, no? Oh, sí, en el tema de a ver si le metemos esta tienda, por ejemplo, no tiene un andén de carga y descarga para el trailer. Ok, pero si ese esa tienda la mezclamos con con trailers que si necesitan anden pero le mandamos un ponemos un montacargas fijo en esa tienda por decirlo así. Cuáles son esos trails que. Que. Que. Exacto, esa elasticidad por decirlo así. Que tiene. En el tema de volúmenes, no en en en. Aquí en Estados Unidos todos los estados también pueden ser un poquito diferentes en cuestión de regulaciones. California es muy especial, no todo eso. Y ahí es cuando empezamos ya a implementar muchos modelos matemáticos para el tema de la optimización, antes de tomar nuestras decisiones en el campo. Y eso no es llegar con el equipo de liderazgo y decir a veces pueden ser unas tonterías de que oye, mira, si ubicamos nuestros pallets tres pies cúbicos más grandes, vamos a tener más daños, pero vamos a tener mejor utilización. Entonces cuando tengamos mejor utilización, nada más podemos mandar ese caos cuando queramos reducir nuestro costo, por ejemplo de transporte al final del periodo final de año fiscal.

[00:45:54] Lo que tú quieras. Pues ni modo, no vamos a mandar peceras, por ejemplo a las tiendas solamente las pueden comprar online porque así nos permite ubicar más los tráilers y mandar más producto a la tienda, por ende reducir el costo. Todos esos que que utilizamos la plataforma. ¿Y la segunda, el segundo proyecto de optimización con esa plataforma que estamos implementando es el tema de de visibilidad, no? En Supply Chain tenemos que entender que somos la vertebral del de una empresa desde el momento en el que la orden de compra para la materia prima entra hasta la entrega de producto al cliente o al punto de venta. Todo es supply chain y no podemos tener una visión cerrada de qué voy a hacer yo Supply chain. O sea, es trabajar en silos. No, no podemos trabajar en silos. ¿Qué voy a hacer yo Supply Chain para yo entregar mi estado de resultados y ser la estrella de la empresa? No, lo que por ejemplo estamos haciendo nosotros es en las empresas de retail. La verdad es que los trabajadores que más se tienen que llevar crédito son los que están en las tiendas, los trabajadores que son la cara con el consumidor y con el consumidor porque son los perritos, aunque sí los pueden llevar a las tiendas, pero la cara con el.

[00:47:22] Cliente y hablar los perritos también.

[00:47:25] Si pudieran, yo creo que sí y y este es para nosotros el punto más importante en cuestión de de empleado en la empresa, porque es la cara con el cliente. Entonces lo que estamos haciendo con esta, con este software, es darles visibilidad en tiempo real en su celular de cuando les va a llegar su camión a entregar el producto a la tienda. ¿Qué le permite esto a la tienda? Les permite abrir el mapita en su celular y decir Ah, perfecto, mi camión se retrasó dos horas, puedo cambiar de rol e irme a hacer X y o Z y después voy a recibir mi camión. Esto quiero. Esto es crucial para las empresas porque es el tema de cómo voy a destinar mi tiempo, de mis empleados que le dan la cara a los clientes y optimizar su tiempo. Es una optimización indirecta, por decirlo así. Exacto.

[00:48:33] Es una manera de también acabar con el tiempo ocio de tus empleados y darles, O sea, es un empoderamiento a tus empleados, no este tipo de información. También ellos sepan de esto, de que tengan este acceso a esta visibilidad, hace que también uno puedan contestar preguntas del cliente y satisfacer la curiosidad del cliente.

[00:49:00] No tanto.

[00:49:02] ¿Incluso hasta hasta su desesperación, por así decirlo, no? ¿Y en segundo, también tienen ellos, como dices, esta oportunidad de bueno, cómo administro mi tiempo en otras actividades sin ser, o sea, sin estar atado a estar esperando recibir también?

[00:49:20] Exactamente. Y ese justo es nuestro, nuestro objetivo. Cómo pueden destinar su tiempo a actividades más ahora sí que más benéficas, tanto para ellos como para la empresa.

[00:49:33] Entonces, al final el impacto de Supply Chain puede ser uno. Lo que comentaba esta misión Grande Santiago de de decir quiero impactar en la salud de las personas del mundo por medio de la alimentación, ahora también en la salud de los animales. Y hay incluso ejemplos como ese no quiero impactar. En cómo la gente y los trabajadores invierten su tiempo y aportar valor en su trabajo. Hasta en esos puntos tiene un impacto lo que hacemos en esta industria. Entonces, muy interesantes puntos ahí. Diego. Muchísimas gracias por compartir estos proyectos que tiene Pedro. También hay en los comentarios del podcast. También vamos a poner un poco sobre sobre qué más hace Pedro. Incluso las personas pueden identificar dónde, si hay alguna tienda cerca de ellos y y decir Ah, yo escuché un podcast con Pedro Hernández.

[00:50:36] No, la verdad es que la empresa ha tomado rapidísimo. Si quieres te lo resumo porque ya tendríamos que acabar el programa. ¿Pero lo que hace Pedro es una empresa disruptiva, no es una empresa que todas las empresas obviamente buscan su profit, no? Pero no es una empresa que se enfoque 100% en eso. Te doy ejemplos. Nosotros dejamos de importar comida para perros de China porque era nociva para su salud. Nosotros dejamos de poner colorantes nocivos para la salud en la comida de los perros hecha en Estados Unidos porque era malo para su salud. No vendemos collares que den toques para que dejen de ladrar los perros, porque no creemos en eso. Creemos en en entrenar con con. Ahora sí que premios positivos, estímulo respuesta positiva a los animales y como muchos sabrán si han ido a tiendas de PET. No vendemos ni ni perros ni gatos, solamente promovemos la adopción.

[00:51:51] Exacto. Esos son pues parte de los valores que tienen la empresa y que también se permean en en cómo hacen las cosas, que también es algo muy importante. ¿Bueno, para cerrar Santiago, cuéntanos qué le dirías a alguien? ¿Cómo convencerías a alguien para que comience su carrera o su trayectoria profesional en cadena de suministro? Si estás hablando con alguien de 17 años o alguien de 62 años también que dice Quiero un cambio en mi vida. ¿Cómo lo atraes a este mundo que vivimos todos?

[00:52:31] Híjole, qué buena pregunta. Yo creo que yo quiero más bien retar a los que nos escuchan. ¿Hoy en día vivimos en una sociedad que es quién tiene más? ¿Quién? ¿Quién tiene el mejor coche, la mejor casa, la mejor ropa? ¿Quién tiene más? Yo los invito a que sea quién da más. Y en Supply Chain yo creo que es de las industrias en donde más puedes dar, porque puedes ayudar, como mencioné indirectamente a gente directamente, en mi caso mascotas, el bienestar de mascotas y nos podemos ir en ramas de supply chain que resuelven problemas ambientales, resuelven disrupciones en en cuestión alimenticia, que es un giro que a mí me gustaría dar eventualmente. Y el chiste es resolver si eres alguien que te gusta resolver problemas, esto es la industria para ti. Si eres alguien que le gusta la estabilidad y hacer lo mismo todos los días y no resolver problemas y no sentir la emoción de poder decir yo empecé, yo optimice esto, yo creé este proceso y lo puedes ver tangiblemente, como yo vi esa lata de Pringles. End to end desde que fue una idea hasta que es una realidad. ¿Y como ves a un consumidor con su con su bolsa de croquetas, con su peluche que trajiste desde China? No desde el peluche del perrito, no desde que trajiste de China. Si te gusta ver eso. Esta es la industria para ti hoy.

[00:54:22] Creo que es perfecto. Perfecta manera para cerrar este episodio. Muchísimas gracias por compartir con nosotros, Santiago. Cómo te puede contactar alguien se quiere poner si quiere platicar más contigo, conocer más sobre lo que haces. ¿Cuál es el mejor canal?

[00:54:41] El mejor canal sería LinkedIn para mí. Seguramente el link a mi perfil se encontrará en la descripción del del podcast. Hoy mándenme un un request para conectar y mencionen que. Me escucharon en Supply Chain House en español y obviamente los aceptaré y estaré muy feliz de poder platicar de cuáles retos tienen ustedes en Supply Chain.

[00:55:09] Sale perfecto. Pues muchas gracias a todos los que nos escuchan. Nuevamente gracias Santiago. Y bueno, estamos. Este es el fin de este episodio. Hasta luego.

[00:55:19] Muchas gracias.

Episode Summary

In this episode of Supply Chain Now en Español, Sofia Rivas Herrera interviews Santiago Hernandez, Logistics Optimization Manager at Petco. Santiago shares with us how his career in the Food Industry began and how he came to impact the lives of our pets. Santiago has always believed in looking for ways to improve processes and never settling for how things have been. Passionate about Supply Chain, Santiago invites young people in the supply chain to question the status quo and be agents of change.

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] Welcome to a new episode of Supply Chain in Spanish. Today I have a person that for pet lovers, you will be very interested to know his story, as he is the one who could tell you why there is no kibble, but it is not his fault. Ok. Here is Santiago Hernandez. Santiago. How are you doing?

[00:00:59] Hi Sofi. Very well, thank you very much for having me here in the program. Thank you very much for the invitation.

[00:01:07] Yes, of course. The truth is that we are always looking for people from different industries and who are in your class and who are very passionate and we know that you are one of those people and well, just to break the ice a little bit and for people to get to know you in bits and pieces, we are going to ask a few quick questions. Which do you prefer, dogs or cats?

[00:01:29] Híjole! Well, well. As I think you may have seen from the title of the podcast I work for Pet co, which is a pet company both in the United States and in Mexico, Canada. We export to Australia, France and I don’t want to go into detail. So I am a pet lover. Of all pets. Sophie Obviously I at some point in my life wanted to be a veterinarian. When I was a kid I had a shark. Eye, it was a shark.

[00:02:07] Very.

[00:02:08] Chiquito. Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. And now I have a little dog, a Yorkie named Moly, who is almost 14 years old. That’s the little dog that my wife and I have at home here. And unfortunately in Mexico I had to leave my dog, who I grew up with since I was a teenager until I left home, because he is a pit bull, an American Bully. For those who know very well the Pitbull breeds, the truth is that it is very playful, it is not at all the stereotype that they put to the pitbulls, they are not fighting dogs, but they are very strong. So what happens if you play with the Yorkie? It could hurt her.

[00:02:56] If then it has no further preference to all animals.

[00:03:00] I love all animals and I love horses too, to be honest. This riding to have.

[00:03:09] If I ever have a horse one day.

[00:03:12] Yes, of course it is. And it’s the promise I had to make to my wife to convince her to marry me someday. Someday we were going to live on a ranch and have horses.

[00:03:24] Well, it has already been recorded in this podcast. Yes, there is already evidence.

[00:03:29] He made me sign it. Almost, almost.

[00:03:32] Well, hey, and well, super quick any the last series you’ve watched on Netflix that you recommend or on another platform?

[00:03:41] Híjole, I think it was Wendy’s, Merlina’s on Netflix and I highly recommend it. I think it was a while ago, we just saw it around mid-December, which was a little bit after it came out, but I highly recommend it, I really do. Director Tim Burton did an excellent job of captivating the audience, drawing you into the series. The cinematography is amazing and well, I really liked it.

[00:04:18] I think it’s good.

[00:04:20] Whether you have seen it or not.

[00:04:22] And it’s interesting, isn’t it? I kind of like other kinds of series better, especially if they’re zombie series. And for example, now there is the one with the voice in.

[00:04:32] Off.

[00:04:33] And as I used to play the video game, because I am one of those people who play video games and the truth is that I liked it a lot and it is very similar, so they have done justice to the video game, so I highly recommend it.

[00:04:52] It’s a good thing I lived up to expectations, because now that you mention it, I had my super nerdy days too. Of video games and I was a fan of it. And the series of.

[00:05:05] La.

[00:05:05] Distance? I saw it, yes, but I didn’t like it very much, to be honest. I do not believe that.

[00:05:10] I’ve done everything, but I think it’s because I almost didn’t play it. So I feel that because I have heard conflicting opinions there, yes, of the two things.

[00:05:24] Yes.

[00:05:25] Well, we love nerdy and cool people here, so that’s why we’re here, to see what they’re listening to. Listen. And these are our video game recommendations as well. Well, then let’s move on to a more serious topic, Santiago, but to get to know you a little bit more about how you started, maybe your professional career, but from the point of view of your education, right? What did you study? How did you choose? Did you already know what to do when you were 18 and had to sign? Where were you going to college? I think that question, the truth is, if no one has ever answered me, if I already knew what to do, because I think it is an age, one is too young to make such a big decision.

[00:06:17] No? Super Agree with you, I didn’t know what I was going to do with my life. It was a very confusing time. You don’t have to make a decision at the age of 17, because you do have to before. Exactly, since you’re looking at colleges and what careers to apply to and everything and you haven’t even experienced the whole world. So not only do you hear stories from working adults and so on. And well, this leads me to I studied in the career, I am an engineer in the food industry by the Tec de Monterrey, in the Querétaro Campus, and I chose this career. In fact, I started studying Industrial Engineering for one semester and switched to Food Engineering, which if I look back I say chin, I would have stayed in Industrial Engineering. I started studying Industrial Engineering because many people in my family are industrial engineers, my sister, my brother-in-law, several uncles and aunts, and they told me man, I saw you, I see you as an industrial engineer, you are going to be an industrial engineer, industrial engineer. And I said ah, so that’s what I’m going to do, right? Entering the Tec de Monterrey I see that there are more careers, it is not just Industrial Engineering, Business Administration, Architecture and Law, right? In other words, no, there are no more than four or five races. And then, like me, transition to engineering in the food industry. It is that my for two things. The first is that my grandfather had a food company and he is a person I admire very much and in a way I want to follow in his footsteps. So I said that food does not call my attention, I kind of saw that career at the Tec de Monterrey. And the second is that one of my dreams has always been to contribute to society through good nutrition. Are we going to get to that in the Supply Chain theme, but the supply chain theme focused on food is fascinating to me, isn’t it?

[00:08:35] And well, all that you mention does not fulfill that mission or could ever fulfill that emotion.

[00:08:41] Exactly. So I said let’s see my grandfather and besides I have that dream, I have that mission in life which is to help humanity through food, not necessarily to be a nutritionist. And I made that decision to switch to engineering in the food industry. I made the decision a week or ten days before the new semester started. Then it was chaos because the university told me that was perfect, that is, we changed careers, but did not warn me that the classes I would be taking, since the second semester classes had already been filled, since I changed between the first and second semesters, were already full. Then I started studying Industrial Food Engineering with 4th semester classes without having taken any background in the career. I did lousy. The truth is that I didn’t really start to enjoy the race as much as I started. Very difficult, isn’t it? And in the last semester.

[00:09:48] But you stayed?

[00:09:50] I stayed even then.

[00:09:52] It’s just that at that moment you said no, how difficult, Maybe I can’t, but look, if you could it’s not. Those great motivational nuances that say when you least thought you could and could and more.

[00:10:08] Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, exactly. No, and I stop. For this. At that time I experienced very strong family situations. I mean, it’s not an excuse and it’s not a podcast to vent sorrows, but I live very hard situations which force me to transition a little bit to the mindset. I mean, I have to start preparing myself for my future, not only personally, psychologically, but also economically. And that’s when I start the world of. From. From investments, that’s like my. My side business. I don’t know, I mean, it’s the podcast, it’s not focused on that, but that’s where I start making investments in a little bit in the stock market, a little bit in Real Estate, right? And this one. And that’s how I was able to, quote unquote, have a university development, not only with engineering bases, but also with a little bit of business bases outside the university.

[00:11:22] Well, I think these are things that having sites gives you.

[00:11:26] Yes, exactly.

[00:11:28] You learn about other things that maybe at the beginning you say no, well, what good is this going to do for me, for my career or what I want to achieve right now. But the truth is that they complement you as you develop them, don’t they?

[00:11:42] Yes, well, as you well understand, right? Now that.

[00:11:46] I now know a lot of things about marketing and social media issues that before for me it was like why do I want to get into that if I’m not an Instagram influencer, for example?

[00:12:01] Exactly, Yes, yes, yes, exactly. Neither am I. Nor was my goal to be a real estate agent, so to speak, but neither a stockbroker. But that’s where life is taking you, isn’t it? And now you really have to go down that road. And that’s the way I’m here now in Pet Shop, in Supply Chain, isn’t it? Em In the last semester of college I wanted to more or less aligned to the mission of not helping people through some product in supply chain issue. I include a topic that is international logistics. I include this topic to learn obviously to see if I need to import a product, transform it in Mexico, export it again, distribute it in Mexico, etcetera, it will at least give me a very good basis. I put in the topic and discover that I love it. I do not tell the truth. The professor that I had, excellent professor, excellent person, he gave the class in a very dynamic way, he sent you to investigate to stores, you know he goes to stores and takes the products and takes a picture and kind of breaks it down as you would do it to bring this product. He gave you business choices, so I loved both the class and the Supply Chain topic and because of the engineering background I had had in my career, I approached the problems a little differently than the undergraduates. No, I’m not saying one way is better than the other, it’s just different.

[00:13:53] It is different.

[00:13:54] Exactly. And my professor really liked the way I approached the problems and the essays, it should be noted, were in English and he really liked my level of English as well. Then he invited me to apply to that, to start. Now that my working life applies as a contractor. So the truth was not a process, now it was formal, in quotation marks, not as someone who applies what he directly is. I had it later and I entered as a contractor to see more legal beach issues, to have relations with the federal entities. Sagarpa at that time was born and two weeks and ten days after starting the position, a person from Kellogg’s international logistics team leaves the company. He was leaving overnight. I mean, it was a Wednesday and he said Friday is my last day. So what I. What I have to do is to replace his role. No Supply Chain experience, no logistics experience, nothing. So that was the first one.

[00:15:21] Wave of such experiences for Santiago, a first one in the career and then the second one in the working life.

[00:15:30] Yes, exactly. Then it is learning to hit the truth. And I say it. The truth is that I had excellent mentors at Kellogg who taught me everything I needed to know in three days. To perform the job correctly.

[00:15:53] You were literally thrown into the sea without knowing how to swim. But that’s how you learn sometimes and especially also in some supply chain roles. So there are going to be moments in life and I think this stability that you have to adapt to an unknown environment and two very big challenges is noticeable, isn’t it? I think it’s something that resilience is something that you already have with you. So in the end you’re leveraging it in the right industry, in logistics.

[00:16:30] Exactly. Here, if you do not like to adapt, solve problems in a matter of days, minutes, sometimes yes. Definitely. Supply Chain is not for you.

[00:16:44] Yes, you have to be willing to do. Yes, facing very big challenges that sometimes there is no solution or have never happened. But. But I think that’s what’s interesting about this kind of work we have, because in the end you never get bored, no day is the same, no day is repetitive. Then it is very interesting to know how you got there. Hey, and what did you change from Carlos to pesar.

[00:17:14] From what to Pedro? Well, look, my role at Kellogg was to handle all the. I had several problems. The first was to handle all imports from the United States to Mexico, whether by road or rail or sea. Not the old one, and I started to establish a very good relationship, the truth, with our suppliers in the United States, which at the end of the day is that the Company not Kellogg in Mexico is now yes, that part of the Company in the United States I start to create that relationship, because you won’t let me lie. I believe that in Supply Chain having relationships with your suppliers, with your customers, with your strategic parts of the business is key. So having that relationship with the U.S. side opened many doors for me. I started to establish the relationship because I say you see, in the process of that nop, not that for those of you who listen to us, I don’t know if you are new to Supply Chain Sells and Operations Planning, which is when marketing and sales fight against operations and obviously sales is Supply Chain’s number one enemy, because they want to sell, sell, sell and Supply Chain says no, wait, wait a minute, we don’t have the capacity, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.

[00:18:48] Not that, but basically they are the ones who have the magic ball to decide what Sales and Marketing says.

[00:18:57] Yes, of course, that.

[00:18:58] Yes, it will be sold. Exactly is this process of forecasting and.

[00:19:03] Exactly.

[00:19:04] Trying to predict the future. And usually yes, sadly yes. It’s a fight between operations and what sales says. But don’t be discouraged if you are working there or are going to work there. The truth is that there are many things that are changing. So you can do this, you can be part of your change agents, but well, then you were on seals in Operations Planning.

[00:19:32] Huh? More like wishes in Operations Planning, eh? They told us, let’s see, we need this, but with the relationships that I had with the outside as much as those in the United States with those in sales, the joke was that now I had to satisfy my internal clients, who at the end of the day were those in planning, supply planning, etcetera, so it was very easy for me if they had it. Some. Any emergency. They wanted to bring in product very quickly. I would ask that favor of the United States as well. That’s why that relationship served me well. And well, to make a long story short. Several projects I did at Kellogg went very well, so I was very well sold with those relationships in the United States. One of these people left the company and went to Petkoff. When she left the company, everyone was shocked because she had a very good role in Petro. She becomes the director of international logistics, all the imports from China, all the shipments from the United States to Mexico and all the other places where we send product and in a short time she opens one. He opened a vacancy in his Petkoff team, who was manager of International Logistics, for which I said to my current ex-boss sorry, ex-boss to my ex-boss Hey, look, take off your jacket. The vacancy that just opened at Petro saw me and I think he thought I wanted to apply or something like that, because I just told him the one that opened to pear that was from before Kellogg, he thought I wanted to apply and he told me apply, surely you are going to stay.

[00:21:29] For me at the time it was a leap that what would it have taken me? I think ten years come to a management and I say no man, you’re crazy. I mean, I barely have, I have very little experience. The truth is that I don’t feel prepared and it applies to see how far you get in the process. And I said ok, I’m going to apply for chistosito, I apply and pass the first round, I pass the second round, they call me for the third round and they tell me hey, I want to see your availability because we want to fly you from Querétaro to come to San Antonio, Texas, where I am currently at corporate, for the last round of interviews. Me with a square eye, you know? This is how it should look. I already told my former boss, hey, they want to blow up my interview and also, I mean, he was applying himself because he said Chin, I mean, he was joking. It was a little joke. It is already becoming a reality. Then I come to San Antonio for the interview. This was around February twenty-something, 2020. So I think that I believe it is going to be.

[00:22:45] So before the pandemic.

[00:22:48] Exactly. I think you more or less know where it’s going. In fact, I remember that on one of the flights I had a nurse next to me who kept telling me, “No man, this thing is going to get horrible, I mean, it’s going to be very bad, take care of yourself, take care of yourself,” and I was like that. In other words, it will surely be like the swine flu we had in Mexico in 2012, which lasted two weeks.

[00:23:16] Back I did not believe.

[00:23:18] Yeah, and well, no, we all know what happened, don’t we? I get to the interview, I do very well in the interviews, I go back to Querétaro and on March 10 or so of 2020, that is, three days before the world shakedown, they tell me you didn’t make it? Me at the same time as I just did so how? I mean, the truth is that I tell you, I played a good role and I was looking forward to a new challenge. I think this is very important in Supply Chain, it is always looking for challenges, when you stagnate, when you enter your comfort zone, you stop growing both as a professional and as a person. And this was a new challenge for me. So I was that good, no way, I had just been promoted at Kellogg. Besides, I was now managing all the distribution of Pringles potato chips in Latin America, that is, Brazil, Colombia, all Latin America. But oh boy, how I remember Peru. But hey, a customer.

[00:24:30] Someone from Peru is listening to us and did not receive their chips.

[00:24:35] Before the pandemic, I did not have 100% on time delivery, that’s for sure.

[00:24:40] Good.

[00:24:41] Yes, but.

[00:24:41] If you have any complaints, we will leave your contact information here.

[00:24:47] And two days after I got the news that I had not been hired, one of the people who interviewed me, the head of the company that had opened the vacancy, wrote to me. No? And he says to me Hey, the truth is that we promoted someone internal. It wasn’t you. You played an excellent role. I wish you all the best. Your profile caught my attention. If there is ever an opportunity within my team, if you give me permission, I will send you the vacancy and you apply and follow the process. And now it goes. In truth, it is never another. Other type. I never close a door. I did not leave the door open. And well, Friday the 13th of 2020 everything happens, etcetera etcetera And a fast forward more or less June 2023 I get a message on LinkedIn from this guy who had told me that if there was any opportunity he would look for me. Well, by this time obviously I was saying let’s see, nobody is going to hire in the 2023 pandemic, yes 2020, 2020 June 2020, four months after the pandemic starts.

[00:26:10] Ya ok.

[00:26:11] And yes, sorry.

[00:26:14] That’s what we’re here for in the future. This is an episode from the future.

[00:26:19] Hopefully. Good things are coming.

[00:26:22] And there are some very interesting things to come.

[00:26:25] And me, me in this one. So I thought no one is going to be hiring during the pandemic. It is not a time, yes, to take care of resources. Exactly. He writes to me and says hey, there is an opportunity in my team if you are interested, I will contact you with the hiring manager. Orale, I don’t know what. A very strange interview because I didn’t know what I was applying for, I hadn’t read any Job Description, he hadn’t told me anything, he just connected me with the director very informally to get to know each other, talk a little bit, well, more or less like that, almost like we were talking about my experience of what I had done in my career, obviously more and more focused on results and numbers, etc. We clicked, we clicked and he wrote me a little while later, a few days later and told me hey, the vacancy has officially opened in the job portal if you want to apply. I checked the vacancy and I was the e-commerce supply chain manager for PDV. So nothing to do with what I had done all my life, both in my career and in my professional life. Well, I passed the process, I passed the interviews, and fortunately I got the position, but the truth is that when I applied I was scared because I said, are they sure they want me? I have no e-commerce experience at all. I was used to it.

[00:28:14] There. The truth is that no one had sufficient experience or commerce to meet the challenges that were totally new to the pandemic. I mean, nobody was prepared for that level of sales, that level of service, that customer expectation was something completely new then, and it was something we were talking about. I think it’s a bit like good, you get into things or challenges that sometimes you think you are not prepared, but in reality if you do not have those bases, as we mentioned of engineering that make you open your head, you are able to solve complex problems in a short time, you have this other experience on the side of negotiation and building relationships with others, etc. These are those skills that you are already grabbing from other areas or others that you have from your education and what you have lived, that make you able to enter the world of supply chain and logistics. And I think I say there are quite a few episodes also of this series of his movie Gina or in Spanish that have interviewed people from different. So from lawyers to people who used to be musicians who are now dedicated to that, not to product distribution, to check the, uh, the warehouses where you have to store products, where your demand is, etcetera in. The truth is that these are the kind of skills that make you able to enter this world.

[00:30:06] Yes, yes, what you say is very true. That is, passion. I feel it is not. It doesn’t matter what your background is, because for example, when I discovered my passion for Supply Chain, it was the two moments, not the moment I took the topic in college. And there was another moment, since I was working at Kellogg, that I have marked in my life. Well, something I love is to create processes from scratch, see how they evolve and see the final product. There is a story that my mom loves to tell, she loves to tell that I loved lego as a child. I still love it, but it’s still too expensive, I don’t have time anymore. But when I bought a new Lego set, the first thing I would do was throw away the instructions and empty all the pieces into a giant Lego garbage can and set about making my own stuff. Because for example, at Kellogg, what I did a lot was to question processes, to say why it has always been done this way.

[00:31:17] No?

[00:31:18] And it’s something that we as young people in Supply Chain is what we have to do. Does Supply Chain of course has been around for a long time in terms of how some companies do their processes, that eventually people say Ah, well I don’t know why we do it that way, that’s just the way we do it, that’s the way I was taught and that’s the way we do it, right? So, breaking that scheme has always been done. So they are in fact my initials. It has always been done this way. Santiago Armando Álvarez That stuck with me, a mentor told me that is es es. It is important in terms of Supply Chain. And well, going back to how I also discovered the passion for the tangible that is the Supply Chain. It was after implementing an optimization project we did at Kellogg. I went into a convenience store, not to say the name of this place, which.

[00:32:21] It is the place.

[00:32:24] I grabbed a can of Pringles and saw the lot below. I took out my cell phone, looked up the batch and I could see all the traceability of the product in there on my cell phone that it came from here, it went through here, I did this and that’s when I said wow, I mean, I helped bring this product from its origin to its exact destination. And I feel that this is a rather absurd example, because a can is a can of Pringles, but now imagine how you can help society if you have a strategic role and a decisive role in the Supply Chain, right? That’s good, that’s it, that’s it. It is my medium-term goal to be a transcendent person in the Supply Chain who can make those decisions.

[00:33:18] Santiago how crazy, we have the same objective.

[00:33:21] Here.

[00:33:22] See you today.

[00:33:23] Exactly CIMA.

[00:33:26] Today, recapping a little bit what you mentioned, I loved what you said about our work as young people in Supply Chain, to challenge how things are done and I think we are precisely at a time when, well, the pandemic is over and a super spotlight is put on the Supply Chain, which is logistics, where things come from, how they arrive, who are the people who are dedicated to that? Isn’t it great? In the end it’s attention, it makes more people from around our lives, from who are in other industries, turn around and say oh, but what is that? For better or for worse, right? But at least we are on the radar. And then secondly, now that things seem to be getting back to normal, I feel like you’re seeing this trend that, well, there’s no longer disruption as we saw it before. Why don’t we go back to how we used to do things, right? And it’s like well, and it will be then that this calm that we are seeing really is the same calm that you lived in 2019 and that is something that I have questioned in the last weeks of January, which were several. But to be thinking well, can we assume that what happened before the pandemic is going to be what’s going to happen? Now and what we are going to experience and the way we solved problems before will also work now. So I feel that we are in a moment of opportunity to identify and redo things. So I loved what you said. I’m going to put in the comments about your initials. I think it’s something. I don’t know which mentor told you, but I was. It is very interesting. How do you share it?

[00:35:26] Yes, yes, indeed, yes. I don’t think so. I think now companies are obviously going to prepare for a black swan, which was literally what we experienced in 2020 because of the pandemic. But I don’t think we should assume the calm, so to speak, that we had before 2019, if not already because of the pandemic. We learned that if you need to install a new ERP to manage your e-commerce, you can do it quickly. In other words, now the motivation was the urgency of the pandemic and the companies knew how to adapt.

[00:36:12] And it is just that. Do not lose that sense of urgency. So, Santiago, tell us a little bit about what you do in Pisco now that you are in Pisco, what is your role, what is your day to day life like and what is different from your other experiences?

[00:36:30] Regarding my other experiences. Well, my current role is called Logistics Optimization Manager and what is very different is that it is very data-heavy and number-heavy. And well, now yes, as the optimization title says, it is not so much an operational role, it is much more of a strategic role, not of advising the business. If you move one side of the supply chain, how will the other side react? Not the whole issue of savings, visibility and mainly in the area that I focus on is transportation and transportation. It’s basically because I don’t remember the figure, but I think it’s like 70, 75% of the logistics cost of a product. It is basically 3/4 out of the cost, that is, out of the cost of the good is going to be your transportation expense. Right now at Petkoff we have two very big projects. The first is a digital transformation of our Supply Chain in terms of El Times, the Transport Station Management System. Not that what the Times does for those of you listening is basically the system that handles all your transportation doesn’t send signals to your carriers of where and when and what they are going to pick up. If it goes from point A to point B or point A, B and then C, etc., etc. No? Basically a system. What happens to me when I enter this new transitional role from the e-commerce role to the logistics optimization role. And it goes that transition is given by the theme of life. He went back to normal, not to put it that way. So e-commerce was already optimized, it was already on autopilot in a way. Obviously there is a team that is still in charge of.

[00:38:54] That.

[00:38:56] And I am transitioning to logistics optimization. When it entered this new role, I see that there is no data, there is nothing to compare, there is nothing to analyze and practically what happens to many supply chains is that they have dinosaur systems, they do not have systems from years ago and no, not now. Yes, the leaders of a company do not want to invest in new programs, in new technology. Rather them, the ones he was interested in, obviously. Then everything happens. The theme of the pandemic was to invest in sales, in marketing. I don’t want to sell more, I want to sell more. And now we managed to convince our leadership team to invest in a new topic. The thing is that we chose is Uber Freight, which used to be. For what those who listen to us and have used this time. And what really caught our attention was the whole issue of optimization in terms of consolidation and rating, which is in what? Which store it will stop at first, which distribution center it will go to next, which salesperson it will go to next, and so on and so forth. And on the visibility issue as well, and basically my first project in this role was that whole transition from our dinosaur system to this much more sophisticated system. Sofia It was a nightmare, I mean, I loved it.

[00:40:45] The systems are always.

[00:40:49] Look, I dare say.

[00:40:50] Thousands.

[00:40:51] If not, the business never went down. It was a seamless transition, wasn’t it? The truth is that they recognize me. Of what? Listen to the truth, my respects. In other words, the transition was excellent, nothing happened, but it was a nightmare. It was an absolute nightmare, because the supply chain is not just the exchange of goods. No, it’s not sending kibble from point A to point B, it’s everything that goes behind that. It’s also the information that flows from our systems to the vendors, from the vendors to our systems, to the transportation systems and all the financial stuff as well, right? Because that is also the movement of finance, isn’t it? From now on payments from a supplier to us, a supplier to us or from our customer to us, etc. etc. etc. then.

[00:41:57] And that even there there are different speeds, I don’t feel that we can call it that first there is this speed at which you can physically move. Then there’s the other speed at which you receive the data and information, and then there’s the whole other speed at which the payments are recorded at which the invoices come to you, which is sometimes three different timelines, so to speak. What do you have to say? Well, then, what are the dependencies between each one and how does it influence, how do those things impact? Also in how I move. I don’t think that is also something that I have learned and that I didn’t consider before, I didn’t say well, this is your network, eh? You know where the optimal storage location is, you know the best method of transportation. I have everything ready. No? But then you put those factors in and say Oh, those are other constraints that I hadn’t considered. No? So it is something very interesting for those who also listen to us to say anything. I am interested in entering this world of optimization. This. This is one of the most challenging but fun parts to do, isn’t it?

[00:43:18] Accurate and fair. So, once the system is installed, that’s when the fun begins, right? Yes, when optimization really begins. Because first of all, we need something that we can optimize with, because if that doesn’t exist, then the truth is that a company cannot continue living off Excel, no matter how much it loves it and how much it is one of the best dimensions of man. Good.

[00:43:44] The man after the wheel. And so.

[00:43:48] For everything, eh? Is it when we start to create our models to see if for example we expand the transport radiuses, right? How much? That is to say, of what? That a truck can go to certain stores in one radius or certain vendors in another radius, right? Em How much does it save us? How much more do we spend? And not only focusing on the economic issue, but also on the issue, for example, of CO2 emissions, which companies are now looking for a lot, right? Oh, yes, on the subject of let’s see if we get this store in, for example, it doesn’t have a loading and unloading dock for the trailer. Ok, but if we mix that store with trailers that need to be moved but we send a fixed forklift to that store, so to speak. What are those trails that. That. That. Exactly, that elasticity so to speak. What do you have. On the subject of volumes, not in en en en. Here in the United States, all states can also be a little different in terms of regulations. California is very special, not all of it. And that’s when we started to implement a lot of mathematical models for optimization, before making our decisions in the field. And that’s not coming in with the leadership team and saying sometimes it can be some nonsense that hey, look, if we locate our pallets three cubic feet bigger, we’re going to have more damage, but we’re going to have better utilization. Then when we have better utilization, we can just send that chaos when we want to reduce our cost, for example, of transportation at the end of the final period of the fiscal year.

[00:45:54] Whatever you want. Well, no way, we are not going to send fish tanks, for example, the stores can only buy them online because it allows us to locate more trailers and send more product to the store, thus reducing the cost. All those who use the platform. And the second, the second optimization project with that platform that we are implementing is the visibility issue, right? In Supply Chain we have to understand that we are the backbone of a company from the moment the purchase order for the raw material comes in until the product is delivered to the customer or point of sale. Everything is supply chain and we cannot have a closed vision of what I am going to do Supply chain. In other words, it is working in silos. No, we cannot work in silos. What am I going to do Supply Chain to deliver my income statement and be the star of the company? No, what we are doing, for example, is in retail companies. The truth is that the workers who have to take the most credit are those who are in the stores, the workers who are the face of the consumer and with the consumer because they are the dogs, although they can take them to the stores, but they are the face of the consumer.

[00:47:22] Customer and talk doggies too.

[00:47:25] If they could, I think they could, and this is for us the most important point in terms of employees in the company, because it is the face with the customer. So what we are doing with this, with this software, is giving them real-time visibility on their cell phone of when their truck is going to arrive to deliver the product to the store. What does this allow the store to do? It allows them to open the map on their cell phone and say Ah, perfect, my truck is two hours late, I can switch roles and go do X and or Z and then I’ll get my truck. This is what I want. This is crucial for companies because it is the issue of how I am going to spend my time, of my employees who face the customers and optimize their time. It is an indirect optimization, so to speak. Exactly.

[00:48:33] It’s a way to also take away your employees’ leisure time and give them, I mean, it’s an empowerment to your employees, not this kind of information. They also know about this, that they have this access to this visibility, so that they can also answer customer questions and satisfy customer curiosity.

[00:49:00] Not so much.

[00:49:02] Even to your despair, so to speak, right? And secondly, do they also have, as you say, this opportunity to well, how do I manage my time in other activities without being, I mean, without being tied to waiting to receive as well?

[00:49:20] Exactly. And that’s just our, our goal. How they can allocate their time to more beneficial activities, both for themselves and for the company.

[00:49:33] So, in the end, the impact of Supply Chain can be one. What this mission Grande Santiago was talking about was that I want to impact the health of the people of the world through food, now also in the health of animals. And there are even examples like that I don’t want to shock. In how people and workers invest their time and bring value to their work. Even in these areas, what we do in this industry has an impact. So, very interesting points there. Diego. Thank you very much for sharing Pedro’s projects. There are also in the podcast comments. We’re also going to put a little bit about what else Pedro does. People can even identify where, if there is a store near them and say Ah, I listened to a podcast with Pedro Hernandez.

[00:50:36] No, the truth is that the company has taken very quickly. If you want, I’ll summarize it for you because we would have to finish the program by now. But what Pedro does is a disruptive company, it’s not a company that all companies are obviously looking to make a profit, right? But it is not a company that focuses 100% on that. I give you examples. We stopped importing dog food from China because it was harmful to their health. We stopped putting unhealthy dyes in U.S.-made dog food because it was bad for their health. We do not sell collars that stop dogs from barking, because we do not believe in that. We believe in training with. Now that’s positive rewards, encouragement positive response to animals and as many will know if they have been to PET stores. We do not sell dogs or cats, we only promote adoption.

[00:51:51] Exactly. These are therefore part of the values that the company has and that also permeate in how they do things, which is also something very important. Well, to close Santiago, tell us what would you say to someone? How would you convince someone to start their career or career path in supply chain? If you are talking to a 17 year old or a 62 year old as well who says I want a change in my life. How do you attract it to this world we all live in?

[00:52:31] That’s a good question. I think I rather want to challenge those who listen to us. Today we live in a society that is who has the most? Who? Who has the best car, the best house, the best clothes? Who has more? I invite you to be the one who gives the most. And in Supply Chain I think it is one of the industries where you can give more, because you can help, as I mentioned indirectly to people directly, in my case pets, the welfare of pets and we can go into supply chain branches that solve environmental problems, solve disruptions in food issues, which is a turn that I would like to give eventually. And the joke is to solve if you’re someone who likes to solve problems, this is the industry for you. If you are someone who likes stability and doing the same thing every day and not solving problems and not feeling the excitement of being able to say I started this, I optimized this, I created this process and you can see it tangibly, like I saw that can of Pringles. End to end from idea to reality. And how do you see a consumer with his bag of kibble, with his stuffed animal that you brought from China? Not since the stuffed dog, not since you brought from China. If you like to see that. This is the industry for you today.

[00:54:22] I think it’s perfect. Perfect way to close this episode. Thank you very much for sharing with us, Santiago. How can someone contact you if they want to talk more with you, learn more about what you do. What is the best channel?

[00:54:41] The best channel would be LinkedIn for me. Surely the link to my profile can be found in the description of the podcast. Today send me a request to connect and mention that. You heard me on Supply Chain House in Spanish and obviously I will accept them and I will be very happy to talk about what challenges you have in Supply Chain.

[00:55:09] It comes out perfect. Well, thank you very much to everyone who listens to us. Thanks again Santiago. And well, we are. This is the end of this episode. See you later.

[00:55:19] Thank you very much.

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Santiago Hernandez es ingeniero en alimentos por el Tecnológico de Monterrey, Campus Querétaro debido a su pasión por generar cambios positivos en la vida de las personas. Desde que inicio su carrera profesional, las oportunidades laborales en su camino lo han llevado a tomar roles dentro de cadena de suminstro y logística, encontrando ahí una nueva pasión.

Trabajó en Kellogs en el área de Logística Internacional y posteriormente continuó su carrera en Petco, dónde actualmente labora. En Petco, Santiago está como manager en el área de optimización, liderando proyectos de transformación y de alto impacto sobre todo para la red de Estados Unidos y Norte América. Conéctate con Santiago en Linkedin.

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Sofia Rivas Herrera

Host, Supply Chain Now en Espanol

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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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Kim Reuter

Host

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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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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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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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

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

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

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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Marty Parker

Host

Marty Parker serves as both the CEO & Founder of Adæpt Advising and an award-winning Senior Lecturer (Teaching Professor) in Supply Chain and Operations Management at the University of Georgia. He has 30 years of experience as a COO, CMO, CSO (Chief Strategy Officer), VP of Operations, VP of Marketing and Process Engineer. He founded and leads UGA’s Supply Chain Advisory Board, serves as the Academic Director of UGA’s Leaders Academy, and serves on multiple company advisory boards including the Trucking Profitability Strategies Conference, Zion Solutions Group and Carlton Creative Company.

Marty enjoys helping people and companies be successful. Through UGA, Marty is passionate about his students, helping them network and find internships and jobs. He does this through several hundred one-on-one zoom meetings each year with his students and former students. Through Adæpt Advising, Marty has organized an excellent team of affiliates that he works with to help companies grow and succeed. He does this by helping c-suite executives improve their skills, develop better leaders, engage their workforce, improve processes, and develop strategic plans with detailed action steps and financial targets. Marty believes that excellence in supply chain management comes from the understanding the intersection of leadership, culture, and technology, working across all parts of the organization to meet customer needs, maximize profit and minimize costs.

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Laura Lopez

Marketing Coordinator

Laura Lopez serves as our Supply Chain Now Marketing Coordinator. She graduated from Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Occidente in Mexico with a degree in marketing. Laura loves everything digital because she sees the potential it holds for companies in the marketing industry. Her passion for creativity and thinking outside the box led her to pursue a career in marketing. With experience in fields like accounting, digital marketing, and restaurants, she clearly enjoys taking on challenges. Laura lives the best of both worlds - you'll either catch her hanging out with her friends soaking up the sun in Mexico or flying out to visit her family in California!

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Jake Barr

Host

An acknowledged industry leader, Jake Barr now serves as CEO for BlueWorld Supply Chain Consulting, providing support to a cross section of Fortune 500 companies such as Cargill, Caterpillar, Colgate, Dow/Dupont, Firmenich, 3M, Merck, Bayer/Monsanto, Newell Brands, Kimberly Clark, Nestle, PepsiCo, Pfizer, Sanofi, Estee Lauder and Coty among others. He's also devoted time to engagements in public health sector work with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. At P&G, he managed the breakthrough delivery of an E2E (End to End) Planning Transformation effort, creating control towers which now manage the daily business globally. He is recognized as the architect for P&G’s demand driven supply chain strategy – referenced as a “Consumer Driven Supply Chain” transformation. Jake began his career with P&G in Finance in Risk Analysis and then moved into Operations. He has experience in building supply network capability globally through leadership assignments in Asia, Latin America, North America and the Middle East. He currently serves as a Research Associate for MIT; a member of Supply Chain Industry Advisory Council; Member of Gartner’s Supply Chain Think Tank; Consumer Goods “League of Leaders“; and a recipient of the 2015 - 2021 Supply Chain “Pro’s to Know” Award. He has been recognized as a University of Kentucky Fellow.

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Marcia Williams

Host

Marcia Williams, Managing Partner of USM Supply Chain, has 18 years of experience in Supply Chain, with expertise in optimizing Supply Chain-Finance Planning (S&OP/ IBP) at Large Fast-Growing CPGs for greater profitability and improved cash flows. Marcia has helped mid-sized and large companies including Lindt Chocolates, Hershey, and Coty. She holds an MBA from Michigan State University and a degree in Accounting from Universidad de la Republica, Uruguay (South America). Marcia is also a Forbes Council Contributor based out of New York, and author of the book series Supply Chains with Maria in storytelling style. A recent speaker’s engagement is Marcia TEDx Talk: TEDxMSU - How Supply Chain Impacts You: A Transformational Journey.

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Luisa Garcia

Host, Logistics with Purpose

Luisa Garcia is a passionate Marketer from Lagos de Moreno based in Aguascalientes. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing from Universidad Autonoma de Aguascalientes, Mexico. She specializes in brand development at any stage, believing that a brand is more than just a name or image—it’s an unforgettable experience. Her expertise helps brands achieve their dreams and aspirations, making a lasting impact. Currently working at Vector Global Logistics in the Marketing team and as podcast coordinator of Logistics With Purpose®. Luisa believes that purpose-driven decisions will impact results that make a difference in the world.

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Astrid Aubert

Host, Logistics with Purpose

Astrid Aubert was born in Guadalajara, she is 39 years old and has had the opportunity to live in many places. She studied communication and her professional career has been in Trade Marketing for global companies such as Pepsico and Mars. She currently works as Marketing Director Mexico for Vector Global Logistics. She is responsible for internal communications and marketing strategy development for the logistics industry. She is a mother of two girls, married and lives in Monterrey. She defines herself as a creative and innovative person, and enjoys traveling and cooking a lot.

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Sofia Rivas

Host, Supply Chain Now en Espanol

Sofia self-identifies as Supply Chain Ambassador, her mission is to advocate for the field and inspire young generations from diverse backgrounds and cultures to join the industry so that thought diversity is increased and change accelerated. Recognized as Linkedin Top Voice and Linkedin Community Top Voice in Supply Chain Management, as well as Emerging Leader in Supply Chain by CSCMP 2024, Top Women in Supply Chain by Supply & Demand Executive 2023, and Coup de Coeur Global Women Leaders in Supply Chain by B2G Consulting in 2021

Public speaker at multiple international events from keynotes and panels, to webinars and guest lectures for bachelor's and master's degrees, discussing topics such as sustainability, women in the industry, technology and innovation. Writer at different online magazines on logistics, supply chain and technology. Podcast host and guest on different recognized programs in the industry. Sofia has more than 5 years of experience from academic research and field studies to warehouse operations, demand planning and network design. She has worked in manufacturing, airport operations, e-commerce retail, and technology hardware across Latin America, North America and Europe

Currently working as Supply Chain Network Design and Optimization Manager at HP within their Global Supply Chain and Logistics team

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Karin Bursa

Host

Karin Bursa is the 2020 Supply Chain Pro to Know of the Year and the Host of the TEKTOK Digital Supply Chain Podcast powered by Supply Chain Now. With more than 25 years of supply chain and technology expertise (and the scars to prove it), Karin has the heart of a teacher and has helped nearly 1,000 customers transform their businesses and share their success stories. Today, she helps B2B technology companies introduce new products, capture customer success and grow global revenue, market share and profitability. In addition to her recognition as the 2020 Supply Chain Pro to Know of the Year, Karin has also been recognized as a 2019 and 2018 Supply Chain Pro to Know, 2009 Technology Marketing Executive of the Year and a 2008 Women in Technology Finalist. 

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Vin Vashishta

Host

Vin Vashishta is the author of ‘From Data To Profit’ (Wiley 2023). It’s the playbook for monetizing data and AI. Vin is the Founder of V-Squared and built the business from client 1 to one of the world’s oldest data and AI consulting firms. His background combines nearly 30 years in strategy, leadership, software engineering, and applied machine learning.

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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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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 & Host

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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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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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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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

Director, Customer Experience

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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Mary Kate Love

Chief of Staff & Host

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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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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