In this episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott Luton welcomes Lushentha Naidoo, Managing Director of the European Supplier Diversity Program (ESDP), for a candid conversation on purpose-driven leadership and the business value of inclusive procurement. Drawing on a 14-year transformation career at Unilever and a personal journey from apartheid-era South Africa to global operations leadership, Lushentha shares how caring as a leadership “superpower” can fuel innovation, save jobs, and build psychologically safe teams. She explains how supplier diversity isn’t charity. It’s a competitive advantage that increases agility, strengthens resilience, and unlocks fresh thinking when disruption hits. She also breaks down how ESDP bridges corporates and diverse suppliers through a fast-growing database, networking events, and the Inclusive Procurement Academy, teaching pitching, storytelling, and “corporate readiness.” From real success stories (mentorship that kept a founder in the fight) to pragmatic guidance for senior leaders doubling down on DEI, this conversation offers actionable takeaways: define the why, build inclusive cultures, and widen the supplier funnel so the best partner wins.   This episode is hosted by Scott Luton, and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton.   Additional Links & Resources Check out all the great resources and information mentioned during…

Rewind the clock to the turn of the century and the technological landscape within warehousing and logistics was a lot less crowded. Today, companies are often faced with an overwhelming choice of solutions, making it more difficult than ever to determine the right tech stack to invest in. It is against this backdrop that Andy Williams and Steve Osburn join the Supply Chain Now podcast, the pair holding vast experience in the field of logistics. As Executive Vice President of Sales for warehouse robotics firm Exotec, Williams draws on two decades of knowledge gained from working in international supply chains and logistics technology. Osburn, meanwhile, brings 25 years of all-round supply chain experience to his role as Managing Director of Accenture’s system automation division. Both experts discuss how their current positions are all about providing answers to complex problems. For Williams, this involves sitting down with organizations and seeing how Exotec can integrate various robotics and technological solutions, including those from third parties, into their warehousing setups. Osburn also enjoys the challenge of negotiating unique logistics scenarios, helping clients take ideas from concept through to implementation. Discussions also center around the impact of the pandemic on retail and warehousing, how…