In this inspiring episode of Logistics with Purpose®, presented by Vector Global Logistics in partnership with Supply Chain Now, hosts Enrique Alvarez and Kristi Porter sit down with world-renowned artist and technologist Drue Kataoka. As CEO of Drue Kataoka Art Studios in Silicon Valley, Drue blends art, science, meditation, and emerging technologies to create visionary works that span more than 30 countries—including several pieces sent to space. Drue shares how her Zen and Samurai heritage shapes her approach to creativity, the power of meditation, and why building a strong “vision muscle” is essential in today’s fast-moving visual AI landscape. She also reveals how art and logistics overlap in their shared mission to orchestrate complexity, purpose, and innovation. Throughout the conversation, Drue reflects on: Her multidisciplinary education at Stanford, Harvard, and Yale Her work with Space for Humanity and creating art for space missions The story behind her iconic piece, “Vitruvian Woman”, and its message of modern inclusivity How artists can embrace AI rather than fear it The balance between consuming and creating—and how it drives productivity Her global speaking work with the World Economic Forum If you’re passionate about creativity, innovation, technology, or purpose-driven impact—this episode is packed with insights…

In this episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott Luton and special guest host Claudia Freed, President & CEO of EALGreen, welcome Chuck Johnston, Chief Strategy Officer at ReturnPro, for a deep dive into the “dark side” of supply chain: reverse logistics and returns management. They unpack why returns are a nearly trillion-dollar challenge in the U.S., how BORIS (buy online, return in store) strains store operations, and why many retailers still under-invest: leaders often can’t see the full cost across functions or make the ROI case for what’s treated as a cost center. Chuck shares how the space has evolved from yellow notepads to data-driven decisioning, highlighting intelligent algorithms that route items at the customer’s first return click, fraud mitigation with imaging and behavior signals, and how third-party innovation is compressing software build times. Claudia adds a nonprofit and circularity lens: donation channels, extended tax credits, and AI pilots (computer vision + MCP agents) that identify item condition and slotting in real time. Together, they explore where to start, why cross-functional “ambassadors” matter, and how partnerships across retailers, manufacturers, nonprofits, and 3PLs can turn returns from margin erosion into measurable value and social impact.   This episode is hosted by…