Scott W. Luton

At Manifest 2026, Scott Luton spent time with his friend, Jorge Morales, Global Chief Operating Officer of the International Supply Chain Education Alliance (ISCEA), for a conversation that centered not on hype, but on growth. ISCEA is a global certification body serving supply chain professionals around the world. But as Morales put it, “We’re in the knowledge business; but most of all, we’re in the personal growth business.” Through certifications, membership programs, advisory boards, and global events, ISCEA empowers professionals to stay current, expand their networks, and advance their careers. In a volatile era, that mission has never been more relevant.   Beyond the AI Hype Cycle When asked about dominant themes from 2025 to 2026, Morales pointed to a shift in how the industry views technology. “Last year we were still in the bubble of the hype of AI,” he said. Many professionals feared being replaced or assumed AI would solve everything overnight. That perspective has matured. “Technology by itself is not what determines your level of success,” Morales explained. “Understanding the basics, knowing how things work; THAT is key.” AI and data tools remain critical across procurement, logistics, manufacturing, planning and more. But success depends on how organizations…

As Kelly Barner, host of Dial P for Procurement here on Supply Chain Now and host of The Sourcing Hero, says, “The volume of business content being created, shared and discussed every day can feel overwhelming, especially if you are trying to stay on top of best practices and make the most of your professional network. How we choose to spend our scarce listening and watching time is an important decision, and with many (many!) options, each content creator has to find a way to bring unique perspectives and value to their community.” Our CEO, Scott Luton, was recently invited to be Kelly’s guest on The Sourcing Hero podcast, and shares why it is just as important to understand a professional’s journey as it is to listen to their point of view on their area of expertise, the role of business media in helping individuals and teams deal with the challenges they face on a daily basis, and why we all need to look for and celebrate good news as often as we can. Listen to the Podcast Episode Here.