2 Babes Talk Supply Chain

Bill Catania of OneRail talks about why visibility isn't fixing the last mile, simplifying complex tech stacks & translating AI investment into outcomes.  IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [02.49] An introduction to Bill and OneRail, and how their commitment to innovation and collaboration has seen many of their customers become investors. "About a third of our capital has come from our partners – and there's no greater compliment." [05.38] OneRail's attendance at Manifest over the years, and the current conversations dominating the show, from AI to partnership. "AI is the topic of the day. I don't want to say it's an over-used term, but we have to be specific. Is it AI-native, agentic AI or AI optimization?" [07.51] How OneRail has evolved alongside their customers needs, the current landscape of last mile, and how the big factors impacting it are translating into challenges for businesses. "Wholesalers have to solve problems further up in the order stream." "When you have a start-up, you learn more about

Jesscia Webb of ShipStation & Rachel McGarry of DHL Express talk about changing consumer behavior & how express shipping & new tech is shaping modern commerce.  IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [02.14] An introduction to Jessica and her role at ShipStation, and Rachel and her role at DHL Express. [03.50] The evolution of the e-commerce market and the factors influencing it, from cost to consumer experience. "The shopping experience for consumers has changed. Now shopping and shipping is the same." [07.03] What ShipStation's recent report reveals about customer expectations for delivery, and how much they're willing to pay for premium and express shipping. [09.18] How delivery speed translates to brand trust, credibility and reliability, and the online research consumers are willing to carry out to find the right shopping experience. "If you don't have those options, the customer will go to another brand. Delivery options and speed are part of the full brand and shopping experience, starting at the c

Jeffrey Elder of Delta Air Lines & Derreck Travers of SmartKargo talk about DeliverDirect & combining speed, tech & simplicity for the best shipping experience. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [02.06] An introduction to Derreck and SmartKargo. [02.33] An overview of DeliverDirect – who they are, what they do, and how they help their customers. "We're an alternative delivery network… We're pulling different carriers together, with Delta as the middle mile." [05.47] The ideal client for DeliverDirect. [06.54] Why speed is a top priority for e-commerce businesses, the challenge of balancing speed and cost, and how DeliverDirect's network helps tackle that. "The most successful e-commerce companies have strategies focused on serving the customer with speed. But the challenge retailers have is that speed often comes with a cost." [09.28] How Delta partnered with SmartKargo to create DeliverDirect, specifically to tackle shipper's key pain points from predictability to pricing. "It's January, you've pl

Chris Hamley of Brecham Group talks about setting projects up for success; asking better questions; why implementation isn't the end; & progress NOT perfection.  IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [04.01] An introduction to Chris and Brecham Group. "Too many organizations focus on perfection. Really, our goal is to suck less. It's to get better, change how you think about the way you do business, and evolve every day." [06.25] Why technology projects fail: the problem with people, why we need to define what failure actually looks like, and the experience that taught Chris to ask better questions. "Too often it's not that the project was a failure, but it's that it didn't achieve the success that was expected… And the degree of that is defined by: how well did we talk and understand what we were doing – and were we ready for it?" [12.10] The importance of diving deep, before you even start a project, and how mismatched expectations and project failures can be prevented by having better conversations. "It's m

Stephen Dyke of FourKites talks about inbound logistics: fragmentation; manual work; data siloes; AI; & why the receiving dock is such an under-invested area. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [03.25] An introduction to Stephen, his background combining computing and supply chain and, as a self-confessed 'passionate practitioner,' what he loves about supply chain. [07.05] An overview of FourKites – who they are, what they do, and how they help their customers. "Over the last five years, we've really become a supply chain orchestration control tower… and embedded persona-based AI agents." [10.33] Why 2026 MIT research found that fragmented inbound logistics is still wreaking havoc across organizations, what that fragmentation typically looks like, the big impacts coming from it, and what that all means for businesses. "On average, a common inbound operation can have anywhere between six and eight different internal applications that teams need to be able to plan and execute against. That's created siloes… and

Darin Brannan talks about Terminal Industries & what they do; building the industry's only Yard Operating System; & reinventing the future of logistics. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [03.25] An introduction to Darin, his background, the recipe for business success that led to the founding of Terminal, and why Top Gun might just have inspired his University degree. "I started, deep in Silicon Valley, as a VC investing in start-ups. And there was a point at which it looked like it could be more fun across the table as an entrepreneur, taking big ideas and revolutionizing the industry." [08.59] What Darin has learned from advising and investing in companies at the intersection of AI, logistics, and vertical SaaS, and the power of being AI native. "These businesses are disruptive. We're delivering products that are 10 to 20 times the capabilities of the market, at half to one third of the price, with one third of the deployment time, that are three times easier to use." [12.39] The big inhibitors to suc

Alexia Vitali of Colibri S&OP talks about what they do; why most mid‑market companies still run on Excel; & making planning simple, collaborative & impactful. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [03.55] An introduction to Alexia and her journey moving from Europe to Canada to build Colibri's American presence. "It's a bit like building a company inside a company… so the beginning was just about listening to planners and supply chain teams." [06.37] An overview of Colibri S&OP – who they are, what they do, and how they help their customers – and what makes them different. "Our co-founders were used to implementing solutions like Colibri, but they were so tired of long implementations and never-ending projects..." [10.19] The ideal customer for Colibri S&OP. "It's not really the size that matters – it's the mindset." [11.41] The biggest macro and micro challenges Colibri regularly see with their customers in 2026, and how their technology helps address these issues. "We're seeing market volat

Trace Haggard of TSG Fleet talks about the freight downturn; what 2026 will bring; converting what you already own into opportunity; & building partnerships. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [04.07] A re-introduction to Trace and TSG Fleet. [05.07] An overview of the prolonged freight recession: where it started, the factors driving it, and the impact on the industry. "During the pandemic, the smartest brains in the industry were saying: "It's ecommerce forever, now!" We were proven wrong again, and fleets took another big hit. They had to pull back, but had all this equipment. There were more trucks, trailers, and containers than there was freight to move." [09.14] Why businesses weren't prepared for just how long the freight recession has lasted. [11.54] What the freight recession has meant for TSG Fleet, and how it led Trace to look at his business in a different way to review what was and wasn't working, and pivot. "We lost track of what we were founded on." [19.28] The evolution of technology in fleet

Aadil Kazmi of Infios talks about purposeful innovation; intelligent execution; tech readiness; and turning AI into measurable business outcomes. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [02.14] An introduction to Aadil, and an overview of Infios. "Supply chains run best when operators can execute them on a single stack." [03.20] How Aadil's experience at Amazon sparked an entrepreneurial journey that ultimately led him to Infios. "When retailers and shippers offered faster shipping to their end customers, cart values and repeat rates went through the roof. That led me deep into supply chain..." [05.17] Aadil's focus in his role as Head of AI, what excites him, and what keeps him up at night. "We're using our own tools internally to produce what our customers will eventually use." [08.32] What purposeful innovation means to Infios, and the big unlock that happened three years ago that changed the game for AI. "We partner with customers to develop only use case driven AI workflows." "Purposeful innovation is looking

Don Durm of PLM Fleet talks about what they do; maximizing fleet flexibility; cold supply chain challenges; & leveraging trailer telematics for success. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [03.30] An overview of PLM Fleet and how they help their customers, and an introduction to Don and his 30+ year career, from law enforcement to supply chain. "We breathe cold chain!.. We help people manage risk, save time and money, and make big decisions." [08.58] PLM's 'personalized lifecycle management approach,' and what their consultative problem identification, solution development, onboarding and integration process typically looks like. "We work backwards to your service promises and cost targets. The challenge in the leasing world is that companies out there ask customers to live in their world, the financial world… We have a more holistic approach." [14.25] From regulatory pressures to tariffs, the biggest challenges for PLM and their customers in the cold supply chain. "We're in the midst of a great freight rece

Carlos Perico of ProcureAbility talks about supply chain resilience in 2026; tariffs & disruption; supplier relationships; & key strategies for the future.    IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [03.47] An introduction to Carlos, and how his international experiences helped shape his career. "I'm passionate about travel, culture, food – and my career has supported that... My career has been very relationship driven, and that international exposure has helped me tremendously." [07.40] An overview of ProcureAbility – who they are, what they do, and how they help their customers. [09.11] The current landscape of ongoing disruption, the biggest industry challenges in 2026, and Carlos's advice to help businesses stay on top. "Change is the only constant… We're getting more resilient – because of practice! But the impact is real." [15.16] What supply chain resilience really means in 2026, the power of strategic partnerships, and the importance of traceability. "It means knowing your risk and how you can manage

Tim Nagy of Samsara talks about tech & AI: what workers really think; agility; retaining talent; & shifting from reactive to predictive road safety & logistics.    IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:   [02.41] An introduction to Tim, his role as a sales engineer, and a reminder of how Samsara helps their customers. "You get two different kinds of engineers: the kind who don't really want to be out in the field talking to customers, they do the coding and product development. And then you get my team, who love to be out there. We get to see a lot of different tech, and a lot of different businesses!" [04.34] The biggest conversations happening at Manifest 2026, are about the impact of AI across the industry. "There's a lot of talk about the impact of AI on supply chain and operations." [06.59] How Samsara can monitor real-time issues, from weather to driver behavior, to help businesses shift from reactive to predictive road safety and logistics. "Our job is to prevent accidents before they happen and

Quinn Nelson of Reveel & Tony Villanova of Paccurate talk about the 2026 General Rate Increase; the current parcel shipping landscape; & keeping costs down.   IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:   [02.16] An introduction to Quinn, his background, and role at Reveel. [02.49] An introduction to Tony, his 25-year industry career, and role at Paccurate. [04.23] The current parcel shipping landscape, and the key industry factors that have led us here. "Carriers are incredibly focused on generating revenue, specifically increasing the revenue per shipment of all packages in their network." [06.09] The 2026 GRI, why it looks different to previous years, and why it's more important than ever to have strong transportation technology and packaging partnerships. "Although the increase is that same 5.9% we've seen historically, the carriers are actually moving to non-stop pricing changes throughout the course of the year… They're coming with a 'death by a thousand cuts' mentality." [11.52] The changes carriers have m

Troy Shen of Cervo AI talks about what they do; simplifying customs, compliance & tariffs; people & tech; & how Cervo is changing the narrative for startups.      IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [03.28] An introduction to Troy, his background, and how the U.S.-China trade war – and the power and fragility of global trade – ultimately inspired him to build Cervo AI. "My Dad came to the US with $50 in his pocket, and the American Dream." [06.21] Why logisticians are tired of being burned by tech start-ups, the impact on trust across the industry, and what sets Cervo apart. "With every wave of innovation, there are many companies that over-promise and only a few that actually deliver on those promises." "Ultimately, building a world-class solution in this industry isn't achieved by just being good at the technology or just having the domain expertise. It really requires a combination of tech expertise and an obsession with the problem space." [08.00] The range of business ecosystems across the indust

Valentina Jordan of Nauta talks about what they do; making data simple & actionable; being AI-native; & going beyond visualization to modernize execution. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [02.01] An introduction to Valentina, her background, and how she came to co-found Nauta. "I really enjoy working and building with technology and engineers – and what's more exciting than building in supply chain, one of the biggest industries in the world?" [03.04] An overview of Nauta – who they are, what they do, and how they help their customers. "We're seeing a lot of companies and initiatives around AI, but the reality is that most people still don't talk enough about the foundations. And the foundation of all of it is data." [04.40] The ideal client for Nauta. [05.26] What it means to be AI-native, and the power in having solutions that are built with AI from the ground up. "For us it's a mindset. It's understanding that the world has evolved, and in order to build scaleably, test fast, and capture a company'

Paula Natoli of Google Cloud talks about 2026 supply chain challenges & opportunities; AI & data; and what teams can do now to build a better tomorrow.     IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [04.20] An introduction to Paula and her decades-long supply chain career. [06.15] The single biggest mindset shift supply chain leaders need to make this year to stay ahead of the curve. "2026 is going to be a pivot point... Decades ago our brains, as supply chain professionals, were wired to solve for least cost… But now it's not just a cost center mentality… It's a mindset shift that has exploded into a new foundational element that gets away from traditional siloed thinking, and moves us into a value creation model." [10.39] Why organizations need to move past a focus on resilience, the next frontier for competitive advantage, and how Google Cloud is guiding leaders to think beyond just surviving disruptions. "The move from just efficiency to overall agility becomes key." [13.42] Why companies are still strugglin

Kiren Sekar of Samsara talks about what they do; data, AI and unification; improving driver safety; and cutting costs whilst boosting engagement.    IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:   [3.19] An introduction to Kiren, his background, and why supply chain is a big opportunity to make an impact. "What's always motivated me is solving hard technical problems that have big impact in the world." [07.16] How the Samsara founding teams' vision, that sensors and software could impact the world of physical operations at a global scale, led them to establish Meraki and ultimately Samsara. [11.23] An overview of Samsara, and how they helped DHL cut asset-related costs by approximately 49% and put a clear focus on driver safety. "We saw, across the industry, that keeping folks safe out on the road was becoming a bigger and bigger challenge, and the cost of accidents was getting higher and higher." [15.40] The role of habits in change management, and why leading consumer apps have played a key role in Samsara's product desi

Duncan Angove of Blue Yonder talks about supply chain in 2026 and beyond; AI; & how businesses can get out of testing mode and lean into scalable innovation.   IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [03.52] An introduction to Duncan, his background and career journey, and what has always interested him about technology. "I'm lucky to have lived through multiple computing transitions, and I always loved the idea that you could leverage technology and code to solve problems." [07.55] The biggest challenges and opportunities for 2026, and why businesses need to step back and look at the bigger picture. "Disruption and complexity is business as usual in supply chain… So we don't get hung up on how you're going to solve for tariffs. You need to have a systemic approach to being more agile, resilient and efficient all the time." [12.54] From the importance of change management to putting a focus on building trust, how organizations are adjusting to a new reality of near-constant disruption and emerging technologies.

Tariq Choudry of Amazon Web Services talks about why AI pilots still fail, cyber risk, decisions over dashboards, & why AI will replace heroics, not humans.   IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:   [04.13] An introduction to Tariq, his background, and role at AWS. "I spend my time thinking about how we move from software that explains problems to software that actually solves them at scale." [06.18] Why AI will replace heroics, not humans. "Supply chains are held together by caffeine, guilt, that one person that hasn't had a vacation since 2019. There are a lot of late nights and Slack war rooms, and there are groups of people that have the entire network in their hands. That's extremely fragile – and not scalable." [10.10] Why so many AI pilots still fail, what's going wrong with both technology and people, and the big problem with incentive and blame culture. "Pilots don't fail because the underlying model is bad. They fail because the organizations are very good at protecting how decisions are currently ma

Ruth Rojas talks about her career journey; bridging the gap between frontline teams and supply chain tech; mentorship; & what drives her in her life & career.   IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:   [02.57] An introduction to Ruth and her company Tecsys. [04.04] Ruth's early interest in engineering and how she chose her major. [05.42] Why Ruth moved from Texas to New York, and her first industry job as a logistics coordinator. "It taught me how to interact with different cultures… It was a very enriching experience and I'm so happy I found it at that moment, because I wasn't planning it." [08.18] Ruth's experience at Canon, and how it allowed her to travel, learn and grow. "I was offered my dream job. It involved diverse cultures and travel… It was a turning point for me." [11.28] Ruth's current role as a Platinum Application Specialist at Tecsys. "I get to talk to different people, from a CEO to a warehouse worker picking an order." [13.32] An overview of the warehousing and distribution landscape righ