In this special episode of This Week in Business History, host Scott W. Luton shares the inspiring business journey of his beloved grandfather: Leroy “Dick” Winton Rutland. Throughout his life, Dick Rutland represented the ‘gold standard’ in terms of professional integrity and action-based, servant leadership. He was a dedicated employee at Winn-Dixie and Kimberly-Clark, providing an example that now lives on – at scale – through Supply Chain Now’s organizational values. Like most people, Dick Rutland was loyal to a few brands – the Solo Cup Company and Buick in particular – and his relationship with their products serve as emblematic reminders of his personal values. Among the key lessons we learn in this week’s episode are:
- Don’t let anything go to waste if you can avoid it, even if it means eating chitlins or handwashing a ‘disposable’ cup
- Strive for balance between work and family, making your own luck and opportunities as you can
- Let your actions speak for themselves, doing the right thing for its own sake, not the attention it may garner
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Sustainable Innovation and Beyond: Atul Vir’s Trailblazing Odyssey in International Entrepreneurship
In this episode of Logistics with Purpose, hosts Enrique Alvarez and Kevin Brown welcome Atul Vir, President of Equator Advanced Appliances to the show, to share his remarkable journey from a military boarding school in India to international entrepreneurship. He discusses key experiences, including navigating a coup, starting Equator, and collaborating with NASA, and emphasizes empathy, negotiation, and sustainability in business. The conversation also touches on his book, “Underdog Thinking,” and the impact of COVID-19 on Equator. Listen in as Enrique, Kevin, and Atul truly highlight the importance of logistics with purpose and building meaningful relationships and good values in business.
decarbonization
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December 17, 2025
A Bold, New, Decarbonized Future: A Conversation with Steve Wilhite
Global supply chains are facing a dual transformation, an accelerating shift toward clean energy and a rapid evolution in AI-driven decision-making. As companies navigate rising expectations for sustainability, transparency, and resilience, leaders are rethinking how ecosystems come together to reduce emissions, digitize operations, and unlock new forms of value. In this episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott Luton sits down with Steve Wilhite, Executive Vice President of SE Advisory Services at Schneider Electric, live from the Innovation Summit North America 2025. Drawing on more than three decades of experience across energy management and sustainability strategy, Steve offers a rare inside look at how Schneider Electric is helping organizations tackle decarbonization at scale. Scott and Steve explore the leap forward enabled by AI-native platforms, the growing power of supply chain–wide renewable energy programs, and why collaborative intelligence, where humans and autonomous agents work together, will shape the next decade of transformation. They also highlight real-world examples from Levi Strauss & Co., Marks & Spencer, Walmart, and other global brands that are redefining how ecosystems mobilize around climate action. This episode is hosted by Scott Luton, and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. Additional Links & Resources…