Most companies don’t realise how many processes are part of their day to day business.  That is until we need to onboard a new team member or even do a task or operation that we haven’t done for awhile.Then we face that massive speed bump in trying to figure out what needs to be done - not just generally, but the actual steps we need to take.   That could in completing a process or using software or hardware that we haven’t used before - or haven’t used for some time.The solution is documenting each process.  The challenge is actually getting team members to do this - not just once, but to continually up date the documentation so that it is current and accurate.In this episode we’re going to hear from Owen McGab Enaohwo, CEO & Co-Founder of SweetProcess, a company that enables leadership and team members to more easily document processes so that they can scale their business.What You'll Learn:- How to make process documentation ongoing - without interrupting your workflow.- Why a collaborative approach to documentation can improve both documentation and the processes themselves.- How prioritising process documentation can help companies build much greater efficiency - without having to invest a lot of time or money.USEFUL LINKSConnect with Owen McGab Enaohwo:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/owenmcgabenaohwo/Learn more about SweetProcess: https://www.SweetProcess.comLearn more about The Current Situation in Sourcing:   https://thecurrentsituation.netYour Seat at The Table: A road map to landing guest spots on podcasts:  https://seat.fm/podcastcourseA Seat at The Table podcast website:  https://seat.fmVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

As leaders try to navigate their businesses through a more complicated market environment, their Human Resources can be their most valuable resources - if they can keep them focused and engaged in the tasks at hand.This has led to increasing conversations about the importance of corporate culture.Many leaders think that this means creating a lofty vision expressed in flowery language.  However culture only works when it is practical and actionable.  But how do we do that in the face of distracted team members and hybrid work?Today I’m speaking with Gustavo Razzetti, CEO and founder of Fearless Culture, a culture design consultancy that  has helped leaders from Fortune 500s, startups, nonprofits, and everything in between on every continent but Antartica. He created the Culture Design Canvas, a framework used by thousands of teams and organizations across the world to map, assess, and design their culture.Guvstavo is the author of four books, the most recent being “Remote, Not Distant: Design a Company Culture That Can Help You Thrive in a Hybrid Workplace”In this episode of A Seat at The Table, Gustavo talks about:1. Can workplace culture be designed - and how we can do this.2. How to make our company culture easier for employees to understand - and more actionable for leaders.3. How leadership can overcome the challenges of a hybrid work model.4. What he’s learned working with a wide range of companies - from the best to the worst.USEFUL LINKSGustavo’s LinkedIn profile. :  https://www.linkedin.com/in/gustavorazzetti/Fearless Culture company website: https://www.fearlessculture.design/Free download of Culture Design Canvas: https://fearless_culture.ck.page/b82be2c3e3Get your copy of “Remote, Not Distant”:  https://www.amazon.com/Remote-Not-Distant-Company-Workplace-ebook/dp/B09VXX4FN3Learn about The Current Situation in Sourcing:  https://thecurrentsituation.netA Seat at The Table website:  https://seat.fmVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Whether you are running a huge organisation or a small business, one of the challenges everyone faces is finding the right talent.  This can be especially daunting if you are looking for senior people with more specialised skill sets.  It’s not just finding the right person.  It’s about finding the right person with the right skills - and who is the right fit for your company.  And doing it in the shortest amount of time.For many businesses, especially in the tech sector - but not exclusively - this has led to a global outreach where companies need to be able to recruit and evaluate candidates from multicultural backgrounds.But is there an efficient and effective way to vet a large pool of candidates - and determine with any level of accuracy who might be the best person for a specific job?In this episode I’m speaking with Alex Svinov, CEO & Co-Founder of Insquad, a company that helps tech startups  find developers 4X faster and build remote-first teams.  Insquad has developed a method that shortens the recruitment process and saves time screening hundreds of CVs or resumes.His company has an impressive 80%+ interview-to-hire rate and has worked with over 300 tech startups.The methodology he’s developed at Insquad could be applied to any industry - not just the tech sector.There’s a lot we can learn from Alex’s experience, including:1. A faster, more efficient way to find the right talent.2. Why a candidate’s mindset is as important as their skill set.3. How remote working can enable companies to tap into rich talent pools around the world.USEFUL LINKSConnect with Alex Svinov:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-svinov/Insquad website:  https://insquad.comLearn more about The Current Situation in Sourcing:   https://thecurrentsituation.netYour Seat at The Table: A road map to landing guest spots on podcasts:  https://seat.fm/podcastcourseA Seat at The Table podcast website:  https://seat.fmVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

 Employee retention is one of the most talked about topics these days.  Even heading into what looks like an economic slowdown, many companies are struggling to find and retain top talent.As much as technology has moved into the workplace, thanks to new developments in AI, bots and digitization - there’s still a need for people who are innovative, have leadership skills, technical knowledge and can build relationships with customers.Good people usually what differentiate the top companies in any field from their competitors.However, finding those individuals who can help move our companies forward has many leaders shaking their heads in frustration.Today I’m speaking with Marc Reifenrath, CEO & Co-founder of Spinutech, a full-service digital marketing agency with 150+ team members across the U.S.Over the past 22 years, Marc has helped Spinutech grow from a college start-up to one of the premier full-service digital marketing agencies in the country. The secret ingredient? Company values that include “Get Better Every Day”.The proof?  In its first 10 years Spinutech had zero staff turnover.In this episode of A Seat at The Table, Marc talks about:1. Why the first 100 days are so critical for a new employee.2. How the having the right core values attracts A-Players from diverse backgrounds.3. Why people are a company’s key competitive advantage - even in a digitally-driven world.USEFUL LINKSConnect with Marc Reifenrath:  Spinutech’s website:  www.spinutech.comLearn about The Current Situation in Sourcing:  https://thecurrentsituation.netA Seat at The Table website:  https://seat.fmVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

When we think about ways to improve online sales, we typically don’t think about website speed.  However  site speed can play a critical role in driving sales - or driving  customers away.We know that today’s shopper waits for no one - and alternatives are a mere mouse click away.But can a site that loads slowly really be part of the reason why online stores lose sales?  And if so, then what kind of boosts to traffic or revenue can we achieve by optimising our site’s performance?In this episode I’m talking with Shawn O’Neill, founder of SpeedSense, a boutique consultancy and SaaS toolset company that helps enterprise brands lift revenue, improve customer satisfaction, and cut costs by running a faster website.SpeedSense has helped a client increase organic traffic by 35% simply by speeding up their website.They’ve also help a client raise annual e-commerce revenue by over $5 million in a few months through site speed.There’s a lot we can learn from Shawn including:1. Why it’s so difficult for e-commerce brands to run a fast website.2. What you need to prioritise so that your site is not only fast - but also engaging.3. How reducing your back-end server pool can help reduce CO2 emissions and your carbon footprint.USEFUL LINKSConnect with Shawn O’Neill:   SpeedSense website: https://www.speedsense.com/Learn more about The Current Situation in Sourcing:   https://thecurrentsituation.netYour Seat at The Table: A road map to landing guest spots on podcasts:  https://seat.fm/podcastcourseA Seat at The Table podcast website:  https://seat.fmVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Retail is facing a complex market environment right now with costs rising, more channels to manage and a consumer who a year ago was flush with stimulus money, but now is dialling down spending in the face of rising inflation.What can retailers do to get ahead of market conditions - and position themselves to triumph?Today I’m speaking with Carl Boutet, Founder, Chief Strategist & Executive Advisor at Studio Rx where he advises senior retailer leaders and brands on how to build better business strategies that leverage their combined choices of technology, analytics & design. His master  recipe for success = Measure > Analyse > Predict > PrescribeIn this episode of A Seat at The Table, Carl talks about:1. Why retailers need to shift their focus from managing cash flows to now putting more emphasis on resource allocation.2. How to leverage the power of physical stores in everything from customer acquisition to community building.3. The value of integrating upstream and downstream data to  have better clarity on inventories and better product information to provide to customers.USEFUL LINKS:Connect with Carl Boutet:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlboutet/Studio Rx website: www.studiorx.worldLearn about The Current Situation in Sourcing:  https://thecurrentsituation.netA Seat at The Table website:  https://seat.fmVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

B2B marketing has been something that most companies either did randomly or not at all.While those targeting the consumer market understand that marketing is a must - the companies selling to other businesses see promotion or advertising as, basically, a waste of time and money.The entire burden of driving sales falls squarely on the sales department, who rely on labor intensive efforts that are not efficient - and do little to build up the company’s brand image.Putting lots of posts on social media doesn’t cost money, but it doesn’t differentiate your products from your competitor’s either.So what are those leading B2B marketers doing that helps them win sales, stand out in a crowded market - and doesn’t break the bank?In this episode I’m talking with Donna Peterson, CEO of World Innovators, a B2B Growth Strategist helping companies grow by building relationships that foster trust. By understanding each company’s mission, she is able to create smart goals and a cohesive marketing plan to help them to achieve results that exceed expectations.    World Innovators has spent over 42 years working closely with B2B companies.  From this she knows what works - and what doesn’t - and what marketers need to do differently when facing more challenging economic times.In this podcast Donna talks about:The most cost-effective promotion for B2B marketers.The power of combining content creation with brand advertisements.What successful marketing has shifted to quality over quantity.USEFUL LINKSConnect with Donna Peterson:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnaapeterson/World Innovators website:  www.worldinnovators.com Learn more about The Current Situation in Sourcing:   https://thecurrentsituation.netYour Seat at The Table: A road map to landing guest spots on podcasts:  https://seat.fm/podcastcourseA Seat at The Table podcast website:  https://seat.fmVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Well trained teams are one of the foundations of a successful business.  That can be a challenge, especially in businesses where front line teams have to keep up to date on a vast amount of new products.   Or in companies where team members need to be knowledgeable about products or services that are complex or very technical.In  the old days companies would send people to training sessions or courses - some of which last days or even weeks.That’s no longer a viable option for most companies.  Fortunately, this is being replaced by innovations in online learning, the most recent and user-friendly being learning apps - that enable team members to study anywhere - and at any time.Today I’m speaking with Darren  Winterford, CEO and founder of EdApp, a learning app that’s helping B2C and B2B companies empower their teams through easy to use training interfaces.He’s a pioneer in the microlearning space,  and with the current focus on the democratization of learning, EdApp, together with the United Nations, have launched Educate All: An initiative to increase access to free, high-quality and impactful education around the world.In this episode of A Seat at The Table, Darren talks about:1. How mobile apps are an easy to use driver of more educated teams.2. Using micro learning to keep colleagues up to date - in real time.3.  How to use learning apps to make training easier and more engaging.USEFUL LINKSEdapp website:   https:// edapp.comConnect with Darren Winterford:   linkedin.com/in/darrenwinterfordLinkedIn page:  linkedin.com/in/edapp-micro-learningDarrent’s Twitter: twitter.com/thisisedappLearn about The Current Situation in Sourcing:  https://thecurrentsituation.netA Seat at The Table website:  https://seat.fmVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Referrals are an often overlooked way to grow your business.  Many see it as ‘old school’. ‘Word of mouth’ has been a time tested way to grow sales and connect with new customers - but in a competitive market, companies need more proactive marketing in order to survive.Now there’s a new easy to implement, low cost marketing opportunity back by technology that can help both DTC and B2B brands growth their sales - especially as customer acquisitions costs have risen by an estimated 60% over the past 5 years.Today I’m talking with Raul Galera, Chief Advocate at ReferralCandy, an app that allows eCommerce brands to set up and run customer referral programs.Raul has helped over 30,000 brands leverage the power of word-of-mouth and turn their customer base into their marketing team.In this episode of A Seat at The Table, Raul talks about:1.  How  referral marketing has evolved over the past decade.2.  The  difference between word of mouth and referral marketing.3.  How to leverage community marketing to grow your sales.4.  3 key strategies to introduce a successful referral program to customers.USEFUL LINKSConnect with Raul Galera:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/raulgalera/Referral Candy website:  referralcandy.comFacebook Page: https://facebook.com/referralcandyTwitter Handle: @referralcandyLearn about The Current Situation in Sourcing:  https://thecurrentsituation.netA Seat at The Table website:  https://seat.fmVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

These days when we talk about retail the conversation quickly turns to e-commerce.In a tech centric era, the pandemic was the perfect storm that convinced everyone that the future of retail was online.Industry advisors and media proclaimed “Go digital or die”. Companies threw every possible resource at building or enhancing their e-commerce channels.  Massive amounts of capital was poured into technology-based digital solutions - oftentimes at the expense of everything else.Everyone wanted to ‘replicate’  what Amazon was doing, with the hope of capturing some it the marketplace giant’s success. As we found out ‘learning from’ and ‘replicating’ are two different things.With the pandemic behind us - and inflation ahead of us - is the future of retail still going to be heavily dependent upon e-commerce?And if not, what could the next successful business model look like?In this episode Walter Holbrook, a retail consultant with over 50 years of experience in senior management roles at retail chains including Kmart, Kids Outlet, Turner Home, and Rugged Warehouse, shares what he sees as the multi-billion dollar overlooked opportunities in retail.  In this episode he’ll be discussing:Why retail needs to refocus on driving profits rather than chasing sales.How grass roots retailer chains are cashing in - without e-commerce or heavy investments in technology.What successful retailers are getting right - and how its helping them win even in highly competitive markets.USEFUL LINKS:Connect with Walter Holbrook:   https://www.linkedin.com/in/walter-holbrook-0665008/Learn more about The Current Situation in Sourcing:   https://thecurrentsituation.netYour Seat at The Table: A road map to landing guest spots on podcasts:  https://seat.fm/podcastcourseA Seat at The Table podcast website:  https://seat.fmVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Calling on customers has become such a standard part of most businesses that we tend to take it for granted.We have our habitual way of approaching customers and don’t often think about whether this approach is as effective as it could be.We assume that people who don’t buy our products or who are not even interested hearing about them, just aren’t the right prospects for us.But what if it wasn’t the customer.  What it was the way we approach customers  - especially new ones - that’s not as effective as it could be?And hat could we learn from a master sales person that could help us 10X our sales success?Today I’m speaking with Navid Momeni,  CEO of Sales Guru Global and bestselling author of "How to Become A Sales Master."Navid is known as a sales magician. He has a rock-solid 10+ year track record of success in identifying and pursuing new business, which has made him a top-ranking sales leader.In this episode of A Seat at The Table, Navid talks about:1.  The best methods for prospecting in 2022 (Post Covid) to increase sales.2.  Why proper handling of objections is such a big deal in sales.3.  Things you should NEVER say during a qualification call.USEFUL LINKSConnect with Navid Momeni:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/salescoachnavidmomeni/Sales Guru website:  www.salesguruglobal.com Navid’s book “How to Become a Sales Master”:   https://www.amazon.ca/Become-Sales-Master-Navid-Momeni/dp/195033628XLearn about The Current Situation in Sourcing:  https://thecurrentsituation.netA Seat at The Table website:  https://seat.fmVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Every business dreams of being able to create more predictable success for their companies.Doing that has become increasingly challenging - especially in today’s fast changing and very unpredictable markets.But what if one CEO has figured out a way to get predictable and repeatable outcomes?Today I’m talking with Thomas Douglas, CEO of JMark,  an award-winning innovative IT solutions provider.   Tom has formulated processes that provided repeatable outcomes and a predictable revenue stream - that placed JMARK on a strong growth trajectory.   Tom joined JMARK in 1997 after serving in the Navy where he was recognized with multiple awards.At JMark he has not only lead his company to success, but built systems that create stability that have carried them through even the most challenging times.In this episode, Tom talks about:1.  How he developed an ‘algorithm for success’.2. How to  start building outcomes that business leaders want for their companies.3. The importance of pairing  the right teams with the right technology - so that technology will facilitate achievement, rather than get in the way.4. The importance of developing internal reports that can show you a road map for success.USEFUL LINKSConnect with Thomas Douglas:  linkedin.com/in/thomashdouglasAdapt or Die website: https://www.adaptordie.comJMARK website: https://www.JMARK.comFree Asset for Listeners: https://www.adaptordie.com/podcastLearn about The Current Situation in Sourcing:  https://thecurrentsituation.netA Seat at The Table website:  https://seat.fmVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

There’s an old show biz saying that goes ‘always leave them laughing’ .  Turns out that this can also be applied to growing sales.In a hyper competitive market, brands need to do more than simply ‘think outside of the box’ in order to get the attention of customers - let alone close sales.That led one smart marketer to see the potential in combining humour with a sales message.  The results have been remarkably successful.Today I’m speaking with Joseph Wilkins, founder of Funny Sales Videos, where he and his team create refreshingly entertaining sales videos that turn views into buying.Joe has work with Google, McDonald's, and Linked In (among others) to help them use humour to build their brands and grow sales.   With 20 years experience, hundreds of millions of views and over $250 million in career sales, he’s knows a thing or two about moving products and services.In this episode of A Seat at The Table, Joe talks about:1. The methodology behind using funny videos in marketing.2. An 8-step guide to producing videos like this on your own.3. How humour can help make the sales process more ‘human’.USEFUL LINKS:Connect with Joseph Wilkens:  www.linkedin.com/in/wilkinsjosephFunny Sales Videos website:  https://funnysalesvideos.comFree ebook:  https://funnysalesvideos.com/ebook/Learn about The Current Situation in Sourcing:  https://thecurrentsituation.netA Seat at The Table website:  https://seat.fmVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

 One thing that tech startups and most B2B companies have in common is their aversion to marketing.Most prefer to go deep on product development - and then take a ‘build and they will come’ approach to marketing.Not surprising then that so many struggle to get customers - especially in hyper competitive markets.But how can companies with limited budgets compete - even with bigger players?In this episode I'm speaking with Christine Wetzler, Founder and President of Pietryla PR & Marketing, a specialty firm with an international reach.  The firm has been recognised as one of Chicago’s best PR firms and Digital Marketing Agencies.Christine is an expert in helping emerging companies and startups go from zero to hero - even if they have limited resources.In this episode she discusses:Strategies and tactics that any firm can implement - even low budget startups.What to do when you are struggling with client growth.How to build market credibility for your company and brand.Why companies need to look beyond social media to grow a profitable business. USEFUL LINKS:Connect with Christine Wetzler:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinepietryla/Pietryla PR & Marketing website:   pietrylapr.com  The Current Situation in Sourcing website:  https://thecurrentsituaiton.netA Seat at The Table website:  https://seatpodcast.comVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

There’s  a lot of conversations around leadership strategy and the important role that leadership skills play at a time when markets are becoming more complex and staff retention is more challenging.We’ve seen a rash of new theories, approaches and tactics that look at how we can build better leaders.Yet often times we fail to look at what gets in the way of people being effective leaders.  And how we can support people in our organisations to achieve their leadership potential.Today I’m speaking with Jack McGuinness an executive team coach and co-founder of Relationship Impact, a consulting firm focused on helping organizations build great leadership teams.Jack served with the US Army’s 10th Mountain Division, was COO of a boutique management consulting firm, and CEO of a contract packaging company. He also served as an adjunct professor at the Johns Hopkins Carey School of Business.In this podcast Jack talks about:1. Where  leadership teams go wrong.2. What  is needed in leaders in order to help companies and teams navigate these complex times.3. What he learned about leadership during his career in the military that is applicable to industry.USEFUL LINKS:Jack McGuiness’s website: http://www.relationship-impact.com/ Connect with Jack McGuinness on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackmcguinness/ Follow Jack McGuinness on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GreatLeadershipTeams Follow Jack McGuinness on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RIFOUNDERSJack’s Book launch website: https://www.greatleadershipteambook.com/Learn about The Current Situation in Sourcing:  https://thecurrentsituation.netA Seat at The Table website:  https://seat.fmVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

As retail  reopens there’s been a lot more conversation around the role stores will play in an increasingly digital world.Many see physical stores as dinosaurs whose role will increasingly be a combination of a distribution centre supporting e-commerce and a product showroom of sorts.But others argue that shopping is a social activity that is a fundamental part of most consumers’ lives.  And that Gen Z and younger Millennials seek experiences, creating a huge opportunity for physical stores.So what are the big opportunities for stores that we might be overlooking?Today I’m speaking with Ian Scott, a leading retail consultant with over 20 years experience working with top brands including Lego, Coca-Cola, Estee Lauder, Dyson, P&G and many others.Ian helps brands achieve greater market success through design and implementation of retail stores and displays, store research and behavioural psychology, and global innovation and trends.In this podcast Ian talks about1. The disconnect between what retailers think consumers want (in a retail experience) and what consumers actually want.2.  How to create an engaging retail experience - even if you’re not selling ‘celebrity’ products.3.  Whether more investment in new technology is the way forward retail?Useful Links:Connect with Ian Scott on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-scott-0534694/Learn about The Current Situation in Sourcing:  https://thecurrentsituation.netA Seat at The Table website:   https://seat.fmVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

One of the biggest challenges that is standing the way of greener energy is finding ways to store that energy.This is particularly true for electric vehicles, as well as other sectors.The solution is the development of batteries with greater storage capacity.  The challenge is creating these batteries - in a way that is sustainable and affordable.While we know that there have been huge advancements in EVs, how far have we come in developing those all-important batteries?In this podcast I’m speaking with John Cooley, chief of products at Nanoramic Laboratories, a company he co-founded. He has over 10 years of experience in leading fast-paced product development in electronic systems, power systems, and energy storage devices.In addition to agile product development, Dr. Cooley is experienced in IP capture, go-to market strategy, technology licensing and transfer, manufacturing, and program management.Dr. Cooley holds five technical degrees from MIT including a Ph.D. in  Electrical Engineering. In this podcast he talks about:1.  The biggest challenges facing the EV battery industry.2.  What is Neocarbonix at the Core and what sets it apart from other Li-ion battery technology?3. What could be the next big thing in green energy.USEFUL LINKS:Connect with Dr. Cooley on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-j-cooley/Nanoramics website:  https://nanoramic.comLearn about The Current Situation in Sourcing:  https://thecurrentsituation.netA Seat at The Table website:   https://seat.fmVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Digital transformation is one of the most talked about concepts in the business community.Most of the conversations focus around the pros and cons of various software solutions or  in many cases simply the need for companies to digitise more of their operations.We don’t often hear much about the back end of digitization - what’s happening further upstream that’s powering all of our applications.Although we might not be aware of it, there’s a lot happening in the cloud - and one company that few outside of the tech sector have heard of - is a driving force behind this.Today I’m speaking with Daniel Aw, Vice President for Regional Enterprise Sales in Asia Pacific for Red Hat.Red Hat is a software company that supports open source development and delivers any application on any cloud, anywhere.   The Red Hat hybrid cloud console gives users the content, tools and visibility to deploy applications quickly across clouds.In this episode of A Seat at The Table Daniel talks about:1.  Why open source is more advantageous for companies than closed source software.2. Opportunities for mid sized companies to use open source platforms to develop proprietary applications.3. What’s next for cloud-based software solutions.USEFUL LINKSConnect with Daniel Aw:  linkedin.com/in/daniel-aw-singapore Learn about The Current Situation in Sourcing:  https://thecurrentsituation.netA Seat at The Table website:  https://seat.fmVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Leadership and branding are two words that don’t typically appear in the same sentence.We think of branding as something that’s applied to products to give them an identity or greater consumer appeal.Leadership tends to conjure images of building team spirit or guiding a company through tough times or towards greater success.But what if to be more successful senior executives need to combine the principles of both branding and leadership?Today I’m speaking with Brenda Bence, whose has deep experience in both branding and leadership.Brenda spent 20 years working in six countries in Europe and Asia leading billion dollar consumer brands for Procter & Gamble and Bristol-Myers Squibb.Since then, she’s coached over a thousand leaders from around the world and is recognized by Thinkers50 as a World Leader in Coaching.Brenda believes that every great leader has their own personal brand.  In this podcast she talks about1. What a ‘personal brand’ is and why it plays a critical role for leadership success.2. How to get started identifying and building our leadership brand.3. Errors that leaders might not realise they make that undermine their brand image.USEFUL LINKSConnect with Brenda Bence on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendabence/Brenda Bence's books:  https://brendabence.com/books-products/Brenda Bence's website:  www.BrendaBence.comBrenda Bence on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/c/BrendaBenceLearn about the Current Situation Sourcing:   https://thecurrentsituation.netA Seat at The Table website:   https://seat.fmVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

One of the lessons from the pandemic that is often overlooked is the critical role that data plays in the healthcare sector.Admittedly, if you don’t work in the sector then it’s something that you’d be likely to think about.However the importance of having your own health records digitised - and the ability for healthcare professionals to be able to access patient data across nationwide or even international platforms can be lifesaving.And yet despite huge tech advancement in diagnostics and other areas of healthcare, when it comes to data the sector trails just about every other industry.In this episode I'm speaking  with Robin Wiener, President and Co-Founder of Get Real Health, an award winning HealthTech company that helps doctors to have greater access to patient health data, while making it easier for patients to get healthcare - regardless of where they are located.In this episode Robin talks about:Why having better access to data can help the healthcare sector solve some of the world’s biggest healthcare challenges.How new technology is bring better healthcare to people outside of major metropolitan areas.What’s holding the industry back from implementing technology already in use in other sectors.USEFUL LINKS:Connect with Robin Wiener: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rwiener/Get Real Health website:  https://getrealhealth.comThe Current Situation in Sourcing website:  https://thecurrentsituation.netA Seat at The Table podcast website:  https://seatpodcast.comVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Data security is something we take for granted.  We don’t often think about the consequences, until one of our devices or data servers gets hacked.I’m talking about password protection.It’s a subject most of us overlook - me too! - until its too late. And it’s not only personal data, companies face dire situations when a hacker gets into their records and holds them for ransom.Today I’m speaking with Denis O’Shea, a technology expert and founder of Mobile Mentor, an endpoint ecosystem helping companies create the right balance between good security and employee experience.  Mobile Mentor was named Microsoft’s 2021 Global Partner of the year for modern endpoint management.In this podcast Denis talks about- Why we need to ditch our passwords-  What’s driving the surge in security breaches and ransomware attacks- How to secure remote workers who are using their personal devices for company businessUSEFUL LINKS:Connect with Denis O'Shea:   https://www.linkedin.com/in/denisosheamobilementor/Learn more about Mobile Mentor:  http://www.mobile-mentor.comMobile Mentor's Research:  https://endpointecosystem.com/Learn more about the Current Situation in Sourcing:  https://thecurrentsituation.netA Seat at The Table website:  https://seat.fmVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

As economies around the world start to reopen, one of the issues facing businesses is whether to bring everyone back to the office, continue working from home or implement some hybrid work format.Most people want to work from home at least some of the time.  But how can leadership manage to keep teams engaged and productivity up to speed when everyone seems to working in different places and on different schedules?  And will what worked when people were trying to get through the pandemic crisis still be effective now that it looks like we’re finally heading back to normal?Today I’m speaking with Sophie Wade, an authority on the future of work and author of Empathy Works, which focuses on providing a human-centric framework to help businesses grow in an era when the way we work is changing, and the host of the Transforming Work podcast.In this episode of A Seat at The Table, Sophie talks about:Ways to support employees and managers in a hybrid work environment.Burnout at the employee and leadership levels and what to do about it.How the new workplace will be more human-centric.USEFUL LINKSConnect with Sophie Wade:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophie-wade-380b8/Learn more about The Current Situation in Sourcing:  https://thecurrentsituation.netA Seat at The Table Website:  https://seatpodcast.comVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

We’ve talked a lot about leadership from the point of view of managing our teams.  What we don’t address as often is executive burnout.  And yet especially in recent years, executives have faced excruciatingly stressful situations.  So what can leadership do to help them reduce the stress and position themselves for greater success?Today I’m speaking with Michael King, an executive coach who has created a proprietary methodology called T.E.A.M.SFor over 20 year he’s worked with both entrepreneurs and corporate executives to help them achieve measurable business growth, while reducing a lot the stress that is typically part of being successful.Michael started as a pastor, which enables him to bring a unique point of view and skill set to his clients.As Michael points out:  “The destination is not negotiable, but the journey is.”In this podcast Michael talks about:The game changing benefits of celebrating small wins.What leads to executive burnout - and how to prevent it.The ‘5 loudest voices in your life’ - and the critical impact it has on your success.The key difference between ‘blueprints and frameworks’ - and why it matters to your business.Now let’s sit down with Michael and find out his strategies for meeting our business targets - without being stressed out all the time.USEFUL LINKS:Connect with Michael King:  www.teams.coachA Seat at The Table website:  https://seat.fmThe Current Situation in Sourcing:  https://thecurrentsituation.netVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Amazon tends to be the elephant in the ecommerce room.  The platform has massive amounts traffic - which attracts a huge number of sellers to its marketplace, but being able to drive sales on Amazon is getting increasingly difficult - and expensive.So is there a way to succeed on Amazon - without breaking the bank?Today I’m speaking with Laura Meyer, founder and CEO of Envision Horizons, a leading Amazon Agency that was named in the top 18 Amazon Advertising Agencies by Business Insider. In this episode, Laura will share insights on:How sellers can succeed on Amazon without making a massive investment.What sellers need to know to successfully navigate the ‘Amazon Beast’.What bestselling products on Amazon have in common.How even smaller brands can succeed on Amazon - despite the competition.USEFUL LINKSConnect with Laura Meyer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauracatherinemeyer/Envision Horizons website: https://envisionhorizons.comA Seat at The Table website:  https://seatpodcast.comThe Current Situation in Sourcing:  https://thecurrentsituation.netVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

If you’re tech geek like me you not only want to  learn about what’s new, but you also want to get feedback and opinions from tech insiders about which new apps, software and devices are worth using.But where can you find a community of tech experts who discuss everything from from computers to space exploration - and whose opinions you can trust?Today, I’m talking with Lisa Laporte, CEO of TWiT.tv, a dedicated podcast network that is the go-to place for anyone with a passion for technology and innovation.In this episode, Lisa talks about:What differentiates TWiT.tv from the vast number of podcasts in typical podcast channels.The importance of having shows hosted by trusted experts.How TWiT.tv is bringing together its tech community with offline as well as online experiences.USEFUL LINKSVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

If you are like most people you are probably at least a little confused at where the markets might be heading.Commodities prices seem to have a mind of their own.  Inflation is surging, even though consumer demand continues to weaken.After years of talking, central banks are now actually starting to raise interest rates.  Despite what looks like a recession, many economists are saying that things are not as bad they look, while others are saying hard times are ahead. In this podcast I am speaking with K. D. Angle, author of “Guillotine Investing:  Keeping Your Head While Others are Losing Theirs”  and a veteran trader with a stellar track record .He was introduced to the markets while watching his father earn millions of dollars in the gold market of 1979.   K.D.  later founded his own asset management firms that have earned over 150 performance awards from a leading industry performance ranking service using his own unique investment strategies. He now trades his own account - something few people are able to do successfully.K.D. has a what could only be called a wealth of insights on not only trading, but on how to approach the markets.In this episode, K.D. talks about:1. How have markets changed over the past decades - and what actually hasn’t changed?2. What should most people be looking to invest in now?3. What most people often misunderstand about market performance.4. Is crypto-currency a viable investment alternative?USEFUL LINKSGet K.D. Angle's book "Guillotine Investing: How to Keep Your Head, While Others are Losing Theirs" at  https://guillotineinvesting.com/Learn more about The Current Situation in Sourcing:  https://thecurrentsituation.netA Seat at The Table website:  https://seatpodcast.comVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

One of the biggest challenges leaders face when managing multicultural organisations is getting everyone on the team to be engaged and to participate.  Typically, one or two people do most of the talking, while many others sit quietly on the sidelines.But just because someone is hesitant to speak up in meetings, doesn’t mean that they don’t have ideas or insights to share.  So how do we help our more introvert team members speak up - especially when English might not be their native language?Today I’m speaking with Heather Hansen, Global Communication Consultant, TEDx Speaker, Trainer and author of “Unmuted:  How to Show Up, Speak Up and Inspire Action".In this episode, Heather shares insights into:What leaders overlook when trying to build more participation from their multicultural teams.How CEOs and C Suite Leaders can encourage a culture of open listening. How to develop ‘unmuted’ leaders and organisations.USEFUL LINKSConnect with Heather Hansen:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/hansenheather/Heather's book “Unmuted:  How to Show Up, Speak Up and Inspire Action"A Seat at The Table website:  https://seatpodcast.comThe Current Situation in Sourcing:  https://thecurrentsituation.netVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Every company talks about the importance of innovation and investment in innovation continues to grow.  However many companies are finding that the time and money invested is not giving them the pay back that they had hoped for.But Is it possible to structure your initiatives so that you can drive better return on investment?  And if so, what would that look like?Today I’m talking with Dan Toma, an innovation strategist and author of Innovation Accounting: A Practical Guide for Measuring Your Innovation Ecosystem's Performance, which focuses on why a “one-size-fits-all” approach for measuring an organization’s innovation investments doesn’t work, and how and why the use of a modern and comprehensive innovation accounting system to measure and track innovation is needed for success.In this episode, Dan will be talking about:4 types of innovation and how they help define what innovation means for your company.9 pitfalls venture boards are avoiding to create better outcomes.How to quantify innovation and measure a company’s innovation ecosystem's performance.5 stages to develop the best product development framework for your company. USEFUL LINKS Connect with Dan Toma:  Dan's Linkedin Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dantoma/Dan's Twitter Profile: https://twitter.com/danto_maInnovation Accounting book: https://innovationaccountingbook.com/The Corporate Startup book: https://thecorporatestartupbook.com/Dan's company's website: https://weareoutcome.co/A Seat at The Table podcast website:  https://seatpodcast.comThe Current Situation in Sourcing:  https://thecurrentsituation.netVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

When we think of innovation we usually think of startups - certainly not large corporations.Typically people think that if they want to be more creative or innovative then they have to leave the corporate world and either become an entrepreneur or at least look for a job with a newer and smaller company.But the idea that startups are the right environment to cultivate innovation might be more myth than truth.In fact, a lot today’s leading innovation is coming from enterprises such as Microsoft, Bosch, NexisLexis, Analog, and of course Amazon.If that’s the case, what are most of us overlooking when we see corporations as stifling rather than fostering the next big ideas?Today I’m speaking with corporate innovation expert, Andrew Binns, who’s co-founder of Change Logic, a US-based strategic advisory firm and co-author of ‘Corporate Explorers, How Corporations Beat Entrepreneurs at the Innovation Game’.  He’s worked at both McKinsey & Co. and IBM, where he was involved in the company’s Emerging Business Opportunity program.In this episode of A Seat at The Table, Andrew talks about:Why a large corporation  is a better place for innovation than a startup.Five ways that leadership can drive practical innovation within their organisations.The discipline practices that companies like Amazon use to drive successful innovation.Why 'Corporate Explorers' are the the key to igniting growth in your organization.USEFUL LINKSAndrew's book:   Corporate Explorer: How Corporations Beat Startups at the Innovation GameConnect with Andrew Binns:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewjmbinns/The Current Situation in Sourcing:  https://thecurrentsituation.netA Seat at The Table website:   https://seatpodcast.netVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

It seems like everything about the way we used to run our companies is changing these days.It’s not just remote working or employee resignations or digitization - companies are also realising that their entire corporate structure might no longer serve them as well as it used to.With this in mind, what might the new organisational best practices look like?And how can leadership determine which changes might lead their companies to better outcomes?Today I’m speaking with Jay Goldman, CEO of Sensei Labs and New York Times bestselling author of The Decoded Company.Jay is a recognised expert on the future of work and on ‘enterprise orchestration’.   He’s spoken at TEDx, Harvard, Google, Twitter and NASA.He focuses on helping some of the world’s largest enterprises execute some of their most critical programs.In this episode of A Seat at The Table, Jay will shareWhy most digital transformations fail.How ‘enterprise orchestration’ can help companies align people, processes and technology.Why you need to know your own employees better than you know your customers.USEFUL LINKSConnect with Jay Goldman:Sensei Labs website:Jay's book "The Decoded Company"Learn more about The Current Situation in Sourcing:  https://thecurrentsituation.netA Seat at The Table website:  https://seatpodcast.comVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Ecommerce has moved logistics from the backroom to the boardroom.But it’s not only ecommerce - a growing range of businesses are looking for ways to optimise deliveries - whether it’s to consumers or to other businesses - even within their own locations.But how can businesses compete in the face of shortages of drivers, rising fuel costs and increased pressure to meet sustainability standards?Today I’m speaking with Bill Catania, founder of OneRail.io, an advanced last mile delivery fulfilment platform with an integrated coast-to-coast courier network of 8.2 milliondrivers.Bill has a long legacy of developing and commercializing real-time technology networks.  So it’s not surprising that he’d be the guy to find a solution to one of today’s biggest ecommerce  challenges - efficient, reliable last mile delivery.In this episode, Bill talks about:How platforms are helping shippers find ‘hidden capacity’.How aggregated networks are making delivery more reliable.A simple way that to make delivery more sustainable.What’s the next big thing in last-mile delivery.USEFUL LINKSConnect with Bill Catania:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/billcatania/OneRail's website: https://onerail.ioA Seat at The Table's Website:   https://seatpodcast.comThe Current Situation in Sourcing:  https://thecurrentsituation.netVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

If digital marketing is part of your business then you’ve probably noticed that it’s gotten a lot more expensive.  Customer acquisition costs have gotten so high that it’s been driving digital brands to open physical stores - which is now seen as the less expensive way to attract new customers.Is it just that the price per click is higher - or has the performance or conversion as it is called - gotten worse?And what can marketers do improve both conversion and return on their investment in digital marketing?Today I am speaking with John Readman, Founder & Product Owner at Ask BOSCO.He’s worked with some of the world’s largest brands - including Asos, Pepsi, BMW, Superdry, Honda, HP, Toyota, Argos and Sigma Sports -  helping them shape their online proposition and increase their e-commerce performance.In this episode of A Seat at The Table, John talks about:Why the money is in the conversion not the clicks.How competing for keywords is helping Google and Facebook - not you.Why every brand needs a ‘marketplace strategy’How predictive marketing is helping brands maximise the return on their digital marketing spend.USEFUL LINKS:Ask BOSCO website: https://askbosco.ioConnect with John Readman on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnreadman/Learn more about The Current Situation in Sourcing:  https://insidefashionlive.net/css A Seat at The Table website:  https://seatpodcast.comVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

We often hear about people who’ve turned a hobby or an interest, or as its now often referred to ‘a passion’ into a profitable business.But what does it take to actually achieve this?  And is there a business model or a road map that people who have succeeded in doing this have followed?Today I’m sitting down with Cody Bramlett, who founded Science Natural Supplements and built it into a multi-million dollar ecommerce business.  In addition to running his business, Cody now teaches other entrepreneurs how to profitably start and scale their own businesses.In this podcast, Cody will share:1. How to build a successful network of affiliates that can drive your sales.2. The key thing you need to convert website traffic into actual sales.3. The game changing value of investing in crafting your ‘story’.4. What he’s learned during his entrepreneurial journey - that might just save you time and money on yours.USEFUL LINKS:Cody Bramlett's website:  Connect with Cody on LinkedIn:   https://www.linkedin.com/in/cody-bramlett-251129221/Learn about The Current Situation in Sourcing:  https://thecurrentsituation.netA Seat at The Table website:  https://seatpodcast.comVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

There’s a lot of focus these days on the number of people who are quitting their jobs.   Many companies feel that they don’t need to worry about those people that are still working for them.However, not everyone has the option of leaving their jobs, but that doesn’t mean that they are happy, enthusiastic or engaged in their work.  But why suddenly are so many people dissatisfied? And what don’t they like about where they work?Today I’m speaking with Paul Glover, a C-Suite performance coach, Member of Forbes Council, author of "Work Quake" and a former trial lawyer.Paul will be sharing his insights on:How leadership can identify blind spots in their organisations that can lead to disengaged employees.How teams become dysfunctional - and what leadership needs to do to reboot.Mind hacks and tricks that trial lawyers use to engage and influence juries - and that leaders can use too.The transformational value of storytelling in the workplace.USEFUL LINKS:Connect with Paul Glover:    https://paulglovercoaching.comPaul Glover on LinkedIn:   https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulglovercoaching/Learn more about The Current Situation in Sourcing:   https://thecurrentsituation.netA Seat at The Table website:  https://seatpodcast.comVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

The outdoor sports sector has experienced explosive growth over the past decade - with both traditional sports markets and emerging markets getting on board.  But what’s next for outdoor sports?  Where could brands find the next growth opportunities?  And in a market dominated by a handful of power brands, will we be likely to see new brands coming in - and succeeding?Today I’m speaking with Danay Lea, chief triage officer at Fluid State, where he helps outdoor sports brands solve business growth and development challenges. He has served as strategic advisor to Burton Snowboards, as well as an advisor to the CEO at Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, CFO at Commercial Bank International and Program Director at ANZ.In the episode Danay talks about:The next big target market for outdoor sports.Why small brands can find big opportunities in the outdoor sports market.What many people entering the industry misunderstand about it.What he’s learned from working with a range of successful outdoor sports brands.USEFUL LINKS:Connect with Danay Lea on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/danaylea/Learn about The Current Situation:  https://thecurrentsituation.netA Seat at The Table website:  https://seatpodcast.comVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

If you’re a SaaS software developer or start up that’s looking to scale or sell to enterprise customers, then this episode is for you.If you aren’t working in the tech sector - this episode is also for you.It’s my pleasure to welcome Girish Redekar to A Seat at The Table.  Girish founded - and exited - RecruiterBox, a SaaS platform that helps HR departments manage recruitment applications.  Girish shares not only a very candid view of what it takes to build software that meets enterprise standards, but also key business insights that are applicable to any business.I love the fact that we get a real view - from the trenches - along with business wisdom that’s both practical and actionable.In this episode you’ll learn:Why trust is the number one criteria you need to meet when developing enterprise software.Why you should’t try to meet every customer demand.How to choose the right SaaS software for your business.The biggest lesson  learned along this entrepreneurial journey.USEFUL LINKSConnect with Girish on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/girishredekar/Sprinto website: https://sprinto.comLearn more about The Current Situation:  https://swiy.io/thecurrentsituationA Seat at The Table website:  https://seat.fmVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

It’s not often that words like marketing, creativity and digitalisation come up in the same sentence.However digital transformation is working to take marketing and make it more of a science than an art.But can we really automate creativity?  And do we risk losing the human touch as we push for greater automation?To learn more about how digital transformation is changing, shaping and maybe even revolutionising advertising and marketing, I turned to Prantik Mazumdar, managing director of CXM Group. Prantik built one of the most awarded independent digital marketing  firms in Southeast Asia.   He’s has pioneered new ways to use behavioral economics to drive CRM and better understand consumer decision making.In this episode Prantik talks about:- Why successful marketing is about building brand value, rather than getting more clicks or likes.- How automation is being ‘humanised’- The challenges of trying to automate creativity.USEFUL LINKSConnect with Prantik Mazumdar on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/prantikmazumdar/Learn more about The Current Situation:  https://swiy.io/thecurrentsituationA Seat at The Table website:  https://seat.fmVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Energy is an integralpart of everyone’s life and business, but few people outside of the sector really spend much time thinking about it. We just sort of take it for granted.However, there’s been heighten concern about the environmental impact of carbon gases prompting governments and companies to focus on reducing CO2 emissions.Even for those people for whom Climate Change has not been top of mind, the sudden rise in energy prices in the past month or so got their attention.  The solution - to both cleaning up the environment and potentially lowering energy prices - is said to be renewable energy.But can we really harness enough wind, solar, hydro and other green energy sources to replace fossil fuels?  And if so, what will it take to achieve this?If you want to truly understand what is happening with renewable energy - from an energy industry point of view - then the person to speak with Carolina Torres.  She has more than 29 years of global experience in the oil and gas industry from roles that spanned exploration, field development, finance, drilling, digital transformation, and digital product development.Currently Carolina is the Executive Director of Energy Industry Transformation at Cognite, where she helps industrial companies optimize their existing energy production, move towards more sustainable energy solutions, and future-proof their digital and data systems for a carbon-neutral future.In this episode of A Seat at The Table, Carolina will talk about - What she sees as the biggest barrier to renewables going mass market- A key difference between fossil fuels and renewable energy.- Why we need to take a totally new approach to how we analyze data- What might be coming next for the energy sectorUSEFUL LINKSCongnite's website:Connect with Carolina Torres on LinkedInLearn more about 'Current Situation':  https://thecurrentsituation.netA Seat at The Table's website:   https://seat.fmFollow A Seat at The Table on LinkedIn:  Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Most companies are talking about trying to be more sustainable and the importance of giving back to society, but when it comes down to 'walking the talk' in their day-to-day business operations, often time's the train veers off the tracks.One company has been making this a core part of their business for over two decades - a business with operations in more than 30 countries.That company is the QI Group, founded by legendary entrepreneur and philanthropist Vijay Eswaran.Forbes has named Vijay as one of Asia's Top 50 philanthropists. He is also on the World Economic Forum's Global Growth Companies' advisory board and a regular speaker at WEF's annual meeting in Davos.QI Group's success is proof that businesses can be successful and support sustainability while uplifting human values.In this episode of A Seat at The Table, Vijay talks about:- How sustainability and profitability can coexist under the same roof.- What are the biggest challenge is that he faced.- How the RYTHM Foundation is empowering people to live their best lives. -  What is the most significant thing he's learned in building his company and foundation. USEFUL LINKSVijay Eswaran's website: https://www.vijayeswaran.com/Follow Vijay on FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/DatoSriVijayEswaran/Learn more about the RYTHM Foundation: https://www.rythmfoundation.org/Learn more about The Current Situation: https://thecurrentsituation.netA Seat at The Table's website: https://seat.fmVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

For most companies simply trying to develop a successful business strategy while facing constantly shifting market conditions is challenging enough - without having to think about their corporate culture.But if culture isn’t a luxury that only a handful of powerful companies can indulge in, then what about it is so important?  How can rethinking our corporate culture be that game-changer that actually gets us to our goals?If you think your corporate culture might be sabotaging your market strategy, then Hilton Barbour could be the man to help fix that.He’s a marketing and communications strategist by trade, and has witnessed the incredible impact that Strategy has on Culture. And vice versa.Hilton has worked with some of the world’s most demanding Fortune 100 companies and some of the feistiest start-ups,  bring a unique perspective to that helps companies get from where they are to where they want to be.In this episode of A Seat at The Table, Hilton talks about- How companies end up losing their corporate culture - and how they can build it back- Why getting internal communication right can be a game-changer - How to build an actionable strategy - and get your entire team to lean into it USEFUL LINKSConnect with Hilton Barbour on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/hiltonbarbour/Hilton Barbour's website:  https://www.hiltonbarbour.comA Seat at The Table's website:  https://seat.fmVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

All eyes are on retail now that stores are finally reopening.But will people go back to making at least some of their purchases in stores now?  And what is likely to make that in-store experience so great for them that people want to keep coming back?Even people who never liked shopping are - at least for now - enthusiastic about visiting shops.  This could be a big moment for retail to score some points with consumers.To get a deeper understanding of the opportunities that smart retailers could seize right now, I reached out to Jeff Roberts, a growth strategy specialist, who is Head of Futures at Jump! Innovation.   He’s worked with many of the world’s leading retail and consumer brands to define commercial opportunities and design businesses to realise them. In this podcast episode, Jeff talks about:-  The big opportunity that physical retail could seize- What retailers need to focus on now- The challenge of getting better customer data- The competitive advantage of getting to really know your customersUSEFUL LINKS:Jump!Innovation website:  https:// jumpinnovates.comConnect with Jeff Roberts on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmrobertsphd/Learn more about The Current Situation in Sourcing:  https://thecurrentsituation.netA Seat at The Table's website:   https://seat.fmVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Everyone talks about the need to be more authentic.  But what does that really mean?  And how can leaders be more authentic while still being professional? According to Bert Ohnemueller, 2022 is the year of the whole heart.  And that includes taking a more heart-centred approach to what we do - including leadership.In this episode, Bert talks about: - What a value-based business might look like-  Why leaders need to be able to lead themselves before they can effectively lead a team- Why successful leaders are like gardenersUSEFUL LINKSBert Ohnemueller's website:  bmo.de Connect with Bert on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/bert-martin-ohnemueller-bmo/Follow Bert on FaceBook:  https://www.facebook.com/BertMartinOhnemuellerFollow Bert on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/BMOhnemuellerLearn about The Current Situation summaries and forecasts:  https://thecurrentsituation.netA Seat at the Table website:   https:seat.fmFollow A Seat at The Table on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/seat-at-the-table-podcast/Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

If you’re like most people you don’t think about the used car market very often.  Only when you might want to sell your car and buy a new one does this market come across your radar.However although we might not see, it used cars are a huge market, and at present, a very lucrative one too!So not surprisingly, it’s seen advancements in digitization that is helping facilitate buying and selling, as well as taking  what used to be a very localised market (typically a listing on Craig’s List or something similar) and expanding it regionally and nationally.Like so many industries these days the used car business is enjoying the benefits of more sophisticated online marketplaces.Still, the process of buying and selling a car is not as smooth as it could be.Quinn Osha, founder and CEO of Topmarq, is changing that.  His company focuses on improving the user experience for both buyers and sellers so that both can avoid those endless pesky back and forth phone calls or messages that are typically part of the sales process.In this podcast Quinn shares:# What changes have take place in automotivesales during the last two years.# Why car prices have surged - even for used cars.# How digitization is revolutionising the car business - for dealers and individuals.USEFUL LINKS:Top Mark website: https://www.topmarq.com/Connect with Quinn Osha:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/quinn-osha/Inside Fashion's website:  https://insidefashionlive.netInside Fashion Briefings:  https://insidefashionlive.net/january-2022-briefings/A Seat at The Table website:  https://seat.fmContact us at A Seat at The Table:  https://seat.fm/contact-usVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Today it seems like everyone is talking about downsizing.  People are really taking the saying ‘less is more’ to heart.In a reversal of a decades long trend where it seemed as if even too much wasn’t enough, now a growing number of people are looking to get rid of all those things that they don’t they need.One area where this has become evident is in housing.  The old days where people wanted to trade up to the largest place they could afford are seemingly gone.  Now it’s all about smaller homes.But what’s changed? Why are people looking to trade their big homes for something smaller - often times a lot smaller?If you want to learn more about the small house movement then the person to ask is Sheri Koones.While most people were still thinking that that bigger was better, Sheri was publishing the first in her series of books on small houses.As we now know, she was ahead of the curve.  She’s a bestselling author and acknowledged international expert not only on small houses, but also on more sustainable construction practices.And in case you were wondering, and I know I was, these new smaller homes can be just as luxurious and customised as bigger houses.In this podcast Sheri talks about:# What’s driving the move to downsizing.# Why prefab construction is the next big thing.# How going smaller doesn’t mean trading down.USEFUL LINKSSheri Koones' website:   https://www.sherikoones.comConnect with Sheri Koones: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheri-koones-1966a55/Inside Fashion's Briefings: https://insidefashionlive.net/january-2022-briefings/Inside Fashion's website:  https://insidefashionlive.netA Seat at The Table website:   https://seat.fmContact us at A Seat at The Table:  https://seat.fm/contact-us/Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

If you’ve ever looked a bit enviously at those brands who customers are so loyal that they’ll pay a premium for their products, endure long waits for access and can’t be persuaded to switch brands - regardless of the offer - and if you’ve wondered how you might be able add some of that ‘secret sauce’ to your business - then this is the podcast episode for you!What do companies like Apple, Harley Davidson and Disney, for example, do differently that turned their customers into loyal fans?  What is it that makes people want more of these brands’ products - regardless of the price?  The advantages of creating a cult brand are massive - from customer loyalty to premium prices and enviable profit margins.  Let’s face it, it’s difficult not to be at least a bit awed by Apple’s nearly $4 trillion valuation.  The brand’s value now exceed’s many countries’ total GDP.  Hard to believe, right?To learn more about how the rest of us can build brands that enjoy a cult-like status, I reached out to Chris Kneeland, Co-Founder of Cult Collective and The Gathering.  Chris and his team have dedicated themselves to deciphering how businesses can create fanatical customers and engaged employees.  We talked not only about consumer brands, but also about what B2B companies can do.In this podcast Chris shares:# His 8 Cult Brand Principles that’s a blueprint for any business who wants to develop cult-like customers.# The Key Things that Differentiate Cult Brands from Everyone Else.# What You Need to Measure to Determine if Your Brand is a Cult BrandUSEFUL LINKSThe Cult Collective website:  https://www.cultideas.comThe Gathering website: https://www.cultgathering.com  Connect with Chris Kneeland: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-kneeland-838b2921/Inside Fashion New Briefings:  https://insidefashionlive.net/january-2022-briefings/A Seat at The Table website:  https://seat.fmContact us at A Seat at The Table: https://seat.fm/contact-usVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

One of the great things about technology is that it has leveled the playing field, giving even small businesses access tools that used to be only available to the big players.Despite that fact technology is more accessible than ever before, it seems that many companies - particularly small to medium sized suppliers - are still not taking advantage of it.It turns out that most SME’s look at digital solutions and think ‘only the big players can afford this.  Those systems are not for companies like ours. We’re too small.’Today I’m talking with Bernard Hor, Co-founder of Hatio Group, a digital supply chain platform for Asian SMEs.   With over decade of experience working with Asian-based companies, he understands the challenges they face and has seen first hand the huge impact that digitisation can have on their business.In this episode Bernard talks about:# How to get started digitising your supply chain.# Why you need to start small to be big.# The big wins that SME’s can expect from digitising their supply chains.USEFUL LINKS:Hatio Group website:  https://hatio.asiaBernard Hor:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/behor/Inside Fashion website:  https://insidefashionlive.netA Seat at The Table website:  https://seat.fmContact us at A Seat at The Table:  https://seat.fm/contact-usVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

If there’s one thing we’ve learned from the pandemic its that even the best employees can struggle to keep up with both personal and work requirements.Companies have started to address things like child care, mental health and financial pressures facing their employees.  Many have been expanding the support they provide employees from more flexible hours to education benefits and other initiatives that consider a person’s work life balance.However there’s one area that seems to have slipped past even the keenest HR execs - and its a big one.This week I'm speaking with Debbie Howard, a consultant and strategist, who says that what most companies overlook is the challenge of what she terms ‘duty of care’.She points to the often unplanned and unexpected challenges employees face when a loved one requires them to suddenly become a care giver.The impact of this can be devastating. Companies who have programs in place to support their employees through these situations can have a life changing impact … winning loyalty and contributing social responsibility.In this podcast, you’ll learn:# The key challenges caregivers face.# Easy ways that companies can support caregiver employees by adapting programs that they might already have.# The benefits to companies of offering caregiver support programs as part of their HR initiatives and compensation packages.USEFUL LINKSConnect with Debbie Howard:  - https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbiehoward- https://www.carterjmrn.com- https://www.theCareGivingJourney.comA Seat at The Table Website:  https://seat.fmContact A Seat at The Table podcast:  https://seat.fm/contact-usVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

If there’s one thing we’ve learned it’s how fragile - and unpredictable - supply chains can be.  Ideally, companies need to be able to forecast potential disruptions - and be able to see possible workarounds - preferably in real time.  It’s the next big step in achieving the agility that is becoming critical to surviving in complex market conditions.But can we get  this kind of sharp view that pulls together a wide range of moving parts operating at the same time in multiple locations around the world?I reached out to John Lindsey, President of Incite Logix, a company that has a decades long history of building just this kind of digital model.  I wanted to find out about the latest developments - and how they might be applied to the apparel industry and other consumer goods supply chains.In this episode, John is going to be talking about digital twin software, a predictive model that has been used extensively in heavy industry and is more recently being adopted by many other sectors including retail.You’ll learn- How digital twin modelling works and how it can be used to better control supply chains- Up and coming developments that will enable us to link multiple digital twins- How digital twin technology is being used provide business simulations to better train employees.- What could be the next big thing in supply chain technology.USEFUL LINKSConnect with John Lindsey:  [email protected] InCite Logix website:  https://incitelogix.comA Seat at The Table website:  https://seat.fmContact us at A Seat at The Table:  https://seat.fm/contact-usVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm