Not every road to purpose is a straight one. For Michelle Lang, it wound through Fulton County, Pennsylvania, a rural community of just over a thousand people, through years of military spouse life nobody prepares you for, and eventually toward a mission she built herself. In this episode of the Tango Tango podcast, host Lloyd Knight sits down with Michelle Lang, Executive Director of Operation Honor: Rural Salutes, to talk through her path from small-town Pennsylvania to founding a nonprofit focused on bringing resources to rural veterans and military families. Michelle opens up about the hard years at Fort Drum, working four jobs just to feel useful, the toxic spouse culture she encountered, and the moment during her husband’s deployment that made her stop waiting and start building. They also get into the Bush Institute Veterans Leadership Program, how the connections she made there became the foundation of her work, and what Operation Honor Rural Salutes is doing across North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and South Carolina to bring community events, VA resources, and real support directly to the people who need it most. Michelle’s advice to struggling military spouses cuts straight to the point: take ownership of yourself, build your…

Innovation and disruption are constants in the supply chain game. In this episode, hosts Scott W. Luton and Kevin L. Jackson, alongside special guests Greg Buzek from IHL Group and Vignesh Balasubramanian from Microsoft, dive deep into the pivotal role of generative AI in revolutionizing supply chain management. Understand the significant inefficiencies in current transportation logistics, with over 50% of trucks less than half full, and how AI can turn this challenge into a substantial efficiency gain. Our experts share real-world applications from Microsoft, highlighting AI’s role in enhancing planning and forecasting capabilities, adapting to changing data, and optimizing logistics to cut costs and improve delivery times. Vignesh’s personal anecdotes from the COVID-19 pandemic illustrate the importance of preparedness and strategic adaptation in the face of geopolitical and weather-related disruptions. Looking toward the future, we discuss strategies like nearshoring, the lasting impact of supply chain disruptions on inflation and consumer experiences, and the critical importance of maintaining clean and ready data for AI optimization. Gain valuable insights, practical strategies, and a compelling call to action to embrace AI-driven innovations to stay competitive in today’s volatile market.