A SEAT at THE TABLE: Leadership, Innovation & Vision for a New Era: Recent Episodes

Jane Singer

Top international business leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators and authors share their experience, insights and outlook on how to drive business growth, build better companies, new fast growing technologies and where the next big opportunities are.

In this podcast we discuss the industry outlook for August - and heading into the critical pre-holiday season.

The market continues to operate with a high degree of caution, particularly among brands and retailers who are deliberately keeping inventories low and minimizing risk of overstock.

Despite this caution, industry signals are proving better than expected. Consumer spending in both the US and EU surpassed expectations in Q2, with the US up 3.2% year-on-year and Europe seeing its fastest growth since Q1 2025 [11:46].

Retail spending is steady as markets head into fall, and holiday outlooks remain "cautiously optimistic," with growth projections in the low single digits—better than no growth, though not spectacular [12:18].

The overall takeaway is that, while the industry remains careful and conservative in its approach, consumer resilience and strategic discipline at brands are enabling some to outperform market forecasts [11:37, 15:03].

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Discover why authentic customer reviews are the secret weapon in today’s saturated B2B market.

In this episode, Jane Singer, host of A Seat at The Table podcast, explores how businesses with great products and strong support often struggle to close deals because buyers face "buyer fatigue" and endless choices that all seem the same

Learn how trusted, real-world feedback cuts through market noise and why leading platforms like Amazon have revolutionized decision-making with reviews [00:01:43].

Jane reveals why traditional testimonials lack authenticity and how companies can leverage compelling, unfiltered customer stories to build trust and credibility [00:02:53].

She introduces a unique marketing strategy—sponsored micro-series podcasts featuring honest client conversations—that deliver real use cases and experiences for listeners who crave reliable, peer-driven insights [00:04:00].

If you’re in B2B marketing or looking to increase sales through authentic content, this episode is a must-listen.

Uncover actionable strategies for winning in a competitive landscape and hear how the 'Success Stories to Sales' podcast micro-series can boost your brand credibility [00:06:37].

Don’t miss this guide to growing your business with the power of customer reviews and real conversations!

USEFUL LINKS:

Request information about 'Success Stories to Sales' Micro podcast program: https://seat.fm/contact-us/

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Every technology company has the same challenge.

You’ve built a great product. You’ve got a strong sales team. Your demos are polished.

But your prospects are hearing exactly the same thing from your competitors.

So the question becomes…

Who do they believe?

They don’t believe another product demo.

They believe another customer.

The most powerful sales asset you have isn’t your software. It’s the real-world experience of the people already using it.

When an existing customer talks honestly about the problem they faced, why they chose your solution, and what happened next, that’s the kind of proof that builds confidence.

There’s another challenge.

We’re all drowning in AI-generated content.

Every day there’s another LinkedIn post, another email, another white paper, another video that feels like it was written by a machine.

People can tell.

Trust comes from hearing real people having real conversations.

Not a script.

Not a sales pitch.

Just experienced professionals talking about genuine business challenges and how they solved them.

That’s what people want to hear.

• To learn more about our Podcast Mini Series, contact us at: https://seat.fm/contact-us/

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The apparel industry is entering a new age of discipline.

Growth at any cost is giving way to focus, profitability and execution. It’s a trend that could get the industry back onto a steady trajectory of not just growth, but profitable growth.

Welcome to our July Inside Fashion Market Briefing.

I’m Jane Singer and rather than simply talk about ‘what’s happening, I’ll be sharing insights and perspectives that help brands make smarter decisions.

The industry has largely moved beyond the energy shock that hit at the start of Q2.

Geopolitical issues remain, but they have become background noise rather than daily disruptions.

The situation in the middle east has not really changed much, but oil prices have eased.

Market sentiment has moved on. And fundamentally that matters more than what’s actually happening.

The biggest concerns today are higher interest rates and uncertainty surrounding Section 301 tariffs.

Tariffs remain a wildcard because planning is difficult when the rules are still evolving.

Learn more at https://insidefashionLive.net

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Is your organization running on a Franken-stack.

That unmanaged tech stack that is layers of disconnected software tools piled on top of each other.

In the race to add more technology as companies scale, managing tech stacks doesn’t look like a priority.

And yet, vital customer data - that kills net margins - can get dropped between marketing attribution and CRM logs.

Today we’re joined by Laura Farkas, LMNts Marketing, which provides revenue system optimisation, funnels and automation.

She’s a specialist in building inbound distribution networks that clients can control.

On this episode of A Seat at The Table, we’ll be discussing

•Why is your connection count on LinkedIn completely irrelevant to your actual inbound revenue?

•What is a Franken-stack and how does it drain operating margins from a mid-market company?

•Why are traditional marketing retainers and basic lead generation agencies failing?

•How does a twenty-million-pound B2B enterprise structure a proper revenue systems audit?

•How can a business owner use intentional human imperfection to defeat automated software noise?

So let’s sit down with Laura and learn how to wrestle that monstrous tech-stack into a lean, sales driving machine.

Connect with Laura Farkas:

Main book: Paternoster Marketing

https://www.amazon.com/Paternoster-Marketing-Never-Leads-Again-ebook/dp/B0FTXKKQB6

Laura's Revenue Systems page, based on the Paternoster Marketing concept: https://marketingfunnel.website/b2b-revenue-system/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itslaurafarkas/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LauraFarkasLMNtsMarketing

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Silicon Valley starts ups are wrapped in a kind of mystique that gets better with the telling.

Unless of course you’re actually running one of those startups. Then things look a bit different. You’re not living the dream. You’re trying to survive heartbreak, near misses and boardroom crises. And yes, occasionally a big win.

For nearly three decades, Mike Grossman has been at the center of the world's most mythologized innovation hub, He has raised millions, managed boardroom crises, built great teams, and navigated moments when everything seemed one bad quarter away from collapse.

In this episode of A Seat at The Table we’ll be discussing:

What it’s like when the Concept of Failure is a Constant Operating Condition, Not a Learning Moment or Inspirational Anecdote
A Career in the In-Between: Most founders Don't Fail Spectacularly or Succeed Wildly—They Hover In Between for years
Why sound ideas, strong effort and execution doesn't always guarantee success

Let’s sit down with Mike and find what its really like running a Silicon Valley startup.

Connect with Mike Grossman:

https://www.failureisanoption.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/migrossman/

https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1646872460

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Everything you believe about building a powerful brand is probably wrong.

It might not have been wrong a few years ago.

But, a lot has changed.

For one thing, the market has gotten hyper competitive - and deafeningly noisy.

To win, you need to get out of the mainstream. Get off the road that’s a giant traffic jam of millions of people pitching like mad – and selling very little.

In this episode you'll learn a 4-step method to go from barely known to industry authority.

You'll also learn what it actually takes to beat the market (no, its not a better product or bigger budget).

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In a hyper competitive market, you need to differentiate in any way that you can.

Visibility and ultimately 'authority' are a proven way to drive B2B sales – and justify more premium pricing.

The goal is to get out of what Seth Godin refers to as ‘sort by price’.

That happens when every product looks the same, so buyers simply choose the cheapest one.

Good marketing is the way to avoid that trap. It is the time tested, proven route out of that sales dead zone.

In this episode we discuss 4 key ways to create brand differentiation and establish authority. This how to rise about the market noise and start closing more B2B sales.

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What if we are missing the point about AI’s real role in the future of work?

The narrative is that AI will wipe out most jobs as bots and AI agents take over the world.

However, in the many conversations I’ve had with people inside AI development, the story is very different.

And it’s a story that gets far less publicity than the doom and gloom sci-fi version that dominates mainstream discussions.

Today we’re welcoming Bud Bhattacharyya, co-founder of re:compound, an AI advisory firm helping senior leaders use AI beyond the task-efficiency layer.

In this episode of A Seat at The Table, we’ll be discussing:

Why "AI for productivity" is only the beginning, not the main event

How AI can multiply human capability instead of simply replacing human work
Why more output often makes senior judgment harder, not easier
What organizations get wrong when they treat AI as a tool layer rather than a thinking and decision layer

Let’s sit down with Bud are learn how we might reframe the AI narrative.

Connect with Bud Bhattacharyya:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/budbhattacharyya/

Substack (writing): https://recompoundai.substack.com

Company website: https://recompound.ai

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You’re trying to develop a marketing program for your company and you're stuck.

You have a general idea of what you want to do. But for some reason you just can’t get started.

You find yourself spending way too much time staring at a blank screen - and getting more and more frustrated that you’re not making progress.

You’re not alone. I have faced this more often than I like to admit.

Especially for people who work alone. Either because they work remotely. Or they own their business. Or maybe they work for a company but are in a one-person department. As is often the case these days.

It’s really hard to not have anyone there to bounce ideas off of. Or brain storm with.

In this episode we discuss an accessible, yet often overlooked, opportunity for gaining the support and companionship that can help you go from 'stuck' to 'success'.

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aIt's a story I hear all the time.

We have a great product, but our sales are not where we want them to be.

Your customers know you, but let's be honest, your product is not seen as the market leader. It's not seen as the 'gold standard'. It's not the one that comes to mind first when people think of your category.

You might jokingly refer to your product as 'the industry's best kept secret'.

To win in today's market you can not simply be another fairly generic brand.

And while in-house you see your brand as a standout, in a crowded market no one is a standout with a strategic and consistent marketing machine that gets you that visibility - and builds that all-important authority.

Unfortunately, you can't 'AI' or 'VA' your way to success any more.

In this podcast, we discuss what you need to do to gain market visibility. Why industry leaders do this. And how to get started on a budget that's within reach of most mid-sized to larger organizations.

Take our free B2B Sales Assessment Quiz

Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jane-singer/

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When your image, presence, and brand aren't aligned, the cost isn't always visible, but it shows up in the rooms you're not invited to, the leadership that gets overlooked, and the opportunities that go to someone less qualified.

Meet Jenny Dewberry, an image consultant who works with Individuals, high achieving leaders, corporate professionals, and visionary CEOs to use their image as a strategic tool for credibility, visibility, and opportunity.

In this episode of A Seat at The Table Jenny will be sharing:

What is image communication, and how does it quietly shape authority
The silent signals that influence trust, income, and perceived leadership
What "looking the part" actually means, and why it's never just about clothes
How to build an external presence that reflects who you actually are

USEFUL LINKS:

Connect with Jenny

Website: https://www.peoplepowerconsultancy.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenny-dewberry-peoplepower/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennyd_peoplepower/

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This is a short executive briefing built for sourcing leaders at brands and suppliers who need a fast read on where the market stands right now.

The core message from Inside Fashion's June coverage is that conditions feel less chaotic than they did earlier in the quarter, but the market has not actually become easy again.

What has changed is the mindset. The industry is moving away from panic and toward a more disciplined operating posture.

This Inside Fashion briefing will look at what is stabilizing, what is still creating pressure, how regional sourcing choices are shifting, and why ongoing intelligence matters more now than it did in a more predictable market.

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Everyone feels that agentic AI is the next big thing and that they need to make haste in order to stay ahead of the curve - or at least not be left behind.

However, the tremendous benefits of using agentic AI also come with an increasing amount of risk. And that risk is not being discussed nearly as frequently as it should be.

Today we’re joined by the highly accomplished Michael Chua, an AI & Cybersecurity Strategist who advises Boards & C-Suites In his new book, “The Agentic AI Protocol”, he discusses the very real risks that every senior leader needs to consider.

In this episode Michael will be discussing

The critical importance of building human intervention mechanisms into agentic work flows
Why data governance needs greater clarity in an autonomous environment
Blindspots that most enterprises are not aware of.

So let’s sit down with Michael and tighten up our data security - before its too late.

USEFUL LINKS:

Michael Chua's book: The Agentic AI Protocol

Connect with Michael Chua on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jupilier

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If you’re like most leaders, you’re facing an increasingly business landscape which is making leadership even more challenging.

The popular narrative is to develop a more resilient mindset. The reality is “how exactly do I do that?”

Today we’re joined by Courtney Seard, a senior executive advisor and leadership development expert who helps organizations build future-ready, high-performing leaders.

Courtney is is known for translating complex challenges—such as AI-driven change and leadership under pressure—into practical, actionable strategies that help leaders think clearly, lead decisively, and perform at their best without burnout.

On this episode of A Seat at The Table Courtney will be discussing:

What sustainable high performance really look like in today's high-pressure environments
How leaders can maintain clarity and confidence when everything around them is changing so quickly
The most common mistakes leaders make when trying to lead under pressure or in hybrid environments
How someone strengthen their executive presence in a practical, everyday way
The one mindset shift that can immediately improve how a leader shows up and performs

So if you’re ready to boost your leadership mindset, then let’s sit down with Courtney.

USEFUL LINKS:

Courtney's Linkedin

Instagram: @theriseplaybook

Substack: Courtney Seard

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There’s an abundance of information about how some of the newer tech solutions work. What tasks we need to consider automating and macro views of how AI could reshape work.

Yet most business leaders are less certain than ever about what technology they need - and how to integrate it into their organizations.

Today we’re joined by Muhammad Atif, President and Chief Technology Officer at PureLogics, a 20 year industry veteran who’s worked with leading companies including Pearson, Intel, Samsung, DHL, and Honda - supporting them as they navigated digital transformation, built scalable cloud-native SaaS platforms, and harnessed AI to optimize operations and create smarter customer experiences.

In this episode of a Seat at The Table, he’ll be talking about:

Real-world AI adoption in enterprises: what actually works vs. common failures when deploying AI at scale
Lessons from building and scaling cloud-native SaaS platforms for Fortune 500 companies
The future of software engineering in the AI era and how engineering teams are evolving
Human-centered AI and the role of technology in conflict resolution and improving human communication

USEFUL LINKS:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/muhammadatif/
Website: https://www.purelogics.com

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If you’re like most of us, being able to destress your life - or at least your work life - is something we only dare to dream about .

Today most of us are running on all cylinders. Goals are set high. Winning is everything and so everything is seen as a contest - including personal interactions.

What if there was a philosophy that provided a framework for reframing everyday situations from angst generating experiences so that we reduced the tension and could more forward in a relaxed and productive way.

Meet Sean Coxall, an entrepreneur and apparel industry leader who discovered a time test philosophy that helps people to turn the work place into a better and more human place through a program called Conscious at Work.

Sean will be discussing

The importance of moving behind skills and focusing on personal development.
The five worlds of mastery
The three rules of conscious work

So let’s sit down with Sean and learn how to create more harmonious work environments.

USEFUL LINKS:

Conscious at Work: https://consciousnessatwork.org/

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Are you the person who everyone else leans on — steady, capable, high-functioning?

To the outside world you appear to be unshakable.

Yet, inside there’s a gap between how competent you appear and how uncertain - or even lonely - you sometimes feel.

Today we’re joined by the incredible Emily Fanjoy, a whole-person coach and facilitator who helps values-driven leaders stop performing and start leading from the inside out.

If you’re leading a team or an entire organization and feel like you could a reset - or just want to get more energized, then Emily is exactly who you’re looking for.

In this episode of A Seat at The Table, she’ll be talking about

Why loneliness is so common in high-achieving people, and why is it so hard to admit?
The difference between a person who's performing their leadership versus living it?
Why trying to ‘think your way to transformation’ rarely works.
How to romance your own life.

Let’s sit down with Emily for some one-to-one leadership coaching.

USEFUL LINKS

Emily Fanjoy's website: www.emilyfanjoy.com

Book a 60-minute Complimentary Coaching Call for anyone feeling Coaching Curiou

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Most of us have used ChatGPT, Claude, CoPilot or one of the many AI platforms.

Yet few of us really understand how to integrate AI into our organizations so that we get maximum benefits with the fewest possible disruptions.

Meet Dr. Michael Kollo, Chief of AI Transformation at Qualitas and author of "Future-Ready with Generative AI".

He spent over 20 years in quantitative finance at BlackRock, Fidelity, and AXA before pivoting to help organisations navigate AI transformation.

Michael has delivered AI programs to ANZ (4,000 staff), Macquarie, IFM Investors, and HESTA.

He holds a PhD from the London School of Economics and hosts the Curious Quant podcast

On this episode of a Seat at The Table Mike will be discussing

Why AI transformation is fundamentally a mindset challenge, not a tools challenge.
How the patterns he learned as a quantitative analyst during the 2008 financial crisis help him see through today’s AI hype.
How language-based AI is different from previous automation, and why that changes the way leaders need to think about organizational design and human roles.
How to help teams adapt to AI without creating panic or paralysis.

So let’s sit down with Mike and get an insider’s view of how to successfully bring AI into our organizations.

USEFUL LINKS

The website for Michael Kollo's book: https://futurereadygenai.com/

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How often have we experienced a meeting that we think went really well. Everyone on the team agreed what needed to be done.

But then nothing actually got done. Or work was started but goals were not met.

Why? How did the train jump the track after everyone seemed to understand what to do?

Today we are joined by the fabulous Amie Fox. Amie helps leadership bridge the gap between ‘good ideas’ and ‘clear actions’ in order to create the kind of consistent behavior across teams that leads to meeting targets.

In this episode of A Seat at The Table, Amie will talk about

Why decisions that sound clear in meetings often break down once teams are back at work
What the signs are that managers have interpreted the same decision in different ways
Why shared accountability often leads to confusion rather than clarity
The simple things leaders can do to make expectations clearer for their managers

If you’re ready to take your organization from confusion to clarity, then let’s sit down with Amie.

USEFUL LINKS

Connect with Amie Fox

Website URL: https://afox.ie/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amie-fox-a3420333/

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If you’re like most senior executives, you never get enough rest.

I know I rarely do.

There’s always 10 more things that need to be done – and another 10 ready to add to that list.

We think that we can handle an ‘always on’ schedule, but what looks like high level productivity might actually be making us less efficient.

Today we’re joined by the fantastic Shalece Daniels, who specializes in helping high-pressure leaders downshift their nervous system in 90 seconds or less so decisions land clean and communication stays steady, without collateral damage.

After building and operating a seven-figure real estate investment and property management firm, Shalece created FLOW, an AI rest-tech assistant designed to reduce decision fatigue and support cognitive relief inside organizations.

Today she’ll be discussing

What "collateral damage" looks like at the leadership level, and why it happens
What a 90-second downshift is, and when should leaders use it
How leaders should think about AI support tools without turning work into surveillance or burnout theater

So if you’re ready to move from burnout to breakthrough, let’s have a chat with Shalece.

USEFUL LINKS:

Shalece Daniels' Website: https://www.liveasif.co

Free download > Rest Reset Starter Kit
https://www.liveasif.co/starter-kit

LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaleceldaniels/

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/shaleceldaniels/

YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@ShaleceLDaniels

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One of the most difficult things to do is build successful tech products.

That seems counterintuitive at a time when its seems that everyone - from tech giants to a guy in his bedroom - is rolling out apps, setting up platforms and launching what they hope will be the next big thing.

In reality, developing a product that can both attract users - and keep them - is a massive challenge, that most developers are not able to meet.

Today we’re joined by the brilliant Riddhi Bhasker, a product manager focused on building 0 to 1 products in early-stage startup environments.

She’s led product development across consumer social platforms, AI-driven tools, B2B applications, and marketplace platforms, with hands-on experience in user retention design, gamification systems, onboarding optimization, and conversational AI architecture.

On this episode of A Seat at The Table podcast Riddhi will be discussing

Why most gamification kills the products it's supposed to save
How to build AI products that don't fail quietly
Knowing when not to build something
The one thing most people get wrong about building products in early-stage companies

Let’s take an insider’s look behind the scenes at what’s its really like to build a successful tech product.

USEFUL LINKS:

Connect with Riddhi Bhasker

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/riddhi-bhasker/

Substack: https://substack.com/@riddhibhasker

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One of the biggest challenges for growing companies is not having the staff to help the business get to the next level.

And not having the bandwidth to fill multiple positions at the same time - even though you really need people in those roles.

The answer is increasingly to work with consultants, agencies or other third party providers - who can bring in the right expertise without requiring the commitment of a direct hire.

I’m Jane Singer and Welcome back to A Seat at The Table. In each episode we sit down with leaders, innovators, authors and entrepreneurs so that we can learn best practices that will empower our businesses.

Today we are joined by the dynamic James Fenimore, founder of The Heart Posture Agency, which can fill the gaps from leadership development, structuring departments down to marketing initiatives.

Today James will be discussing:

What separates the lifestyle business from a real business
How to identify the leaders who are going to take you to that next level
When to outsource to vendors vs hiring someone in a staff role.

So let’s sit down with Jim and explore some interesting staffing options.

Connect with James Fenimore:

Instagram / Facebook / TikTok - TheJamesFenimore

Youtube: TheFenimores

https://www.theheartpostureco.com/

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Marketing these days feels overwhelming. Most companies lurch between scattered marketing efforts with no clear path to take them from where they are to where they want to be.

Yet in today’s hyper competitive market, marketing is no longer a ‘nice to have’. It’s a ‘need to have’.

To make marketing work, companies need simple marketing systems that help them stay consistent and stay on brand.

Today we are joined by the amazing Natalie Alves, founder of Nat Marie Design, a a boutique branding and marketing studio in San Antonio, Texas that help founders and growing businesses develop doable marketing programs that reduce overwhelm.

In this episode of A Seat at The Table, Nat will be discussing

How to shift from being seen as a vendor to being seen as a strategic partner.

The biggest gaps small businesses are missing when building trust online.

How small teams can stay consistent without marketing efforts taking over their lives.

Please join me now in learning how to get our marketing back on track - hopefully the fast track!

Connect with Natalie Alves:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/natmariedesign

www.natmariedesign.com

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We all want to grow our businesses, but often get stuck trying to make that happen.

This can be especially true for leadership at smaller to medium sized companies that are trying to scale but struggle to find ways to differentiate themselves in a hyper competitive market.

Today we’re joined by the remarkable Ian Wilby, a founder-coach who helps entrepreneurs and senior leaders scale their businesses by fixing what gets in the way of sales, confidence, and decision-making.

Ian helps founders cut through self-doubt, sharpen their thinking, and lead with purpose and impact—so their ambition becomes something they can execute on, not just aspire to.

In this episode of A Seat at The Table, Ian will be discussing

Why every executive needs a cheerleader or a mentor
The critical value of turning your differences into a superpower
The one shift executives need to make this year in order to move forward

If you’re looking to get this new year off to a fast start, then join me as I sit down with Ian and learn how to power up our business.

Connect with Ian Whilby:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ianwhilby/

https://iwcoaching.co.uk/

https://www.youtube.com/@ianwhilby9100

Ian's Recommended Books:

https://amzn.eu/d/cCPJFRz

https://amzn.eu/d/45l4cPG

https://www.iwcoaching.co.uk/recommended-books-list

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Most companies don’t realize that bad UX shows up in support ticket patterns before it shows up in their metrics.

As more organizations lean into greater automation, a poorly designed UX results in slowdowns and user frustration, as support teams scramble to respond to a surge in support tickets.

If you are in charge of enterprise systems or evaluating new IT installations, then this is the podcast for you.

Today we are joined by the brilliant Tanya Donska. Tanya works with companies like Deutsche Telekom, IQVIA, and D.E. Shaw Group - fixing UX problems at enterprise scale where one bad flow impacts thousands of users and support costs alone can justify a redesign. She's a UK Global Talent visa recipient and Creative Director at DNSK WORK.

In this episode of A Seat at The Table, Tanya will be discussing:

The hidden cost of UX debt at enterprise scale - when "just fix it later" costs 6 months of engineering time

How to make design decisions with 17 stakeholders without everything becoming beige (or taking 9 months)

Why design systems fail at 90% of companies (and it's not lack of documentation)

Wow, there’s so much to unpack here. So let’s sit down with Tanya and find out what UX Band-Aids might be hiding at our organizations.

Connect with Tanya Donska:

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donska/
Website: https://dnsk.work/

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What if we are hardwired to fall victim to data illusions?

Those spurious patterns, those misleading headlines, and and those cognitive traps - often result in costly human mistakes.

It turns out that we can avoid these mental traps once we understand the statistical principles underlying games, chance and the role of luck in various aspects of life.

Today we are joined by Dr. Michael Orkin, a renowned statistician,
data scientist, and consultant whose career has spanned advising casino
odds-makers, coaching Fortune-100 strategy teams, and debunking
statistical myths in health, finance, and beyond. He currently serves on the the mathematics faculty at Berkeley City College.

In this episode of A Seat at The Table, Dr. Orkin will be discussing:

What the vaccine-autism myth teach us about leaping from correlation to causation

How can a tiny shift in sample size can turn a reliable poll into clickbait fodder

How a self-styled Wall Street guru racked up a flawless crash-prediction
record, and why that streak misleads

This is such an exciting topic. So let’s dive in and learn about the statistics behind the headlines.

___

Connect with Dr. Michael Orkin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-mike-orkin-5600584/

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It seems like no matter how hard we work, no matter how efficient we try to be, there is always more to do than days in the week (and I’m including weekends here … if you know, you know)

The technology that was supposed to reduce workloads has simply turned the old 9-to-5 into 24/7.

That’s left many of us wondering if there’s a way out of the overwhelm?

Today we are joined by the fantastic Katherine Robinette, who shares some simple steps we can take to as she puts it ‘make work less work’.

With more than 30 years of experience supporting leaders through growth,
restructuring, and organizational change, Katherine helps teams uncover the systems
and processes that quietly create overwhelm and underperformance.

On this podcast she’ll be sharing practical and actionable steps that any organization can take that will measurably reduce executive burnout, help teams regain traction and rethink priorities so that work flows support greater productivity - with less stress. And all with having to add more staff or make massive CapEx investments.

Let’s sit down with Katherine and find out how we can boost performance while reducing that sole-crushing overwhelm.

Connect with Katherine Robinette:

https://keystoneandraven.com/

https://keystoneandraven.com/resources

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One of the biggest challenges in business is being able to turn one-off projects into repeatable, profitable project management systems.

It sounds simple. Lean into process documentation. Gather deep data. Use advanced analytics. But there’s more to it if you want to drive efficiency and scale your services.

Today we are joined by Claus Geissendoerfer, owner of Amstadd, an IT staffing and systemic business optimization specialist that helps organizations from multinationals to scaling startups shift from chaotic Project Management to highly scalable, repeatable Product Management systems, ensuring efficiency and sustainable growth. Claus is also an ambassador for Giving What We Can - an initiative that applies rigorous, data-driven analysis to identify and support charitable causes that deliver the greatest good per dollar.

In this episode of A Seat at The Table, Claus will discuss:

How companies can transition from chaotic Project Management to scalable, repeatable Product Management systems
The key operational metrics leaders must focus on to maximize profit per employee and eliminate waste
How a partnership-driven model challenges and outperforms traditional corporate hierarchies in the enterprise world.

Let’s sit down with Claus and find out how we can reduce some of the chaos in our businesses.

USEFUL LINKS:

Give What We Can website: https://www.givingwhatwecan.org/

Connect with Claus on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clausggeissen/

SEND US A MESSAGE

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Winning sales isn’t as easy as it used to be - especially in a challenging economic environment with a never ending stream of new competitors coming onto the scene.

It’s no longer enough to have a standout product, a great team or even massive funding (although it doesn’t hurt).

Now, anyone in B2B sales needs a lot more in their toolkit in order to succeed.

Meet Margo White, a dynamic strategist and author with over 22 years of experience transforming how traditional industries sell, communicate, and evolve.

In this episode of A Seat at The Table she’ll tell us:

Why precision beats volume - and how to build a system that turns chaos into actionable data.
Understanding the deal psychology that is foundational to winning corporate contracts.
How identity is what motivates people to buy - not logic or even emotion.

This episode is part of our new Sales Power series, where you’ll learn the power moves that separate sales leaders from everyone else.

I can’t wait to sit down with Margo and find out how to fire up my sales game!

USEFUL LINKS:

"Survivors, Inventors" - Book Description and Free Download of the first 50 Pages >> https://prospectingbroker.com/survivors-inventors-book/

"Survivors, Inventors" Hardcover on Amazon >> https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FSZ65F7M

Margo on Instagram >> @prospectingbroker (https://www.instagram.com/prospectingbroker/)

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Sometimes the most difficult challenge senior leadership faces is finding purpose in their work.

It’s not that they don’t care about the company or their teams. It’s a more subtle sense that something is missing. The job is no longer fulfilling. That they are stagnating or are meaningless in their roles.

This can be particularly perplexing when overall you are successful at what you do – and it’s not like there’s something else that looks a lot better.

Today we are joined by the fabulous Marla Bace. Having successfully navigated several career transitions herself, Marla now helps senior leadership find renewed purpose in their work – or identify what their next - more fulfilling - role might be.

In this episode of A Seat at The Table, Marla will share

Why leadership needs to look beyond self-awareness and emotional intelligence, and lean into intuition and purpose in order to find work that aligns with them.
Practical strategies for senior executives who are facing career boredom that can help reignite excitement and identify strategic pivots.
Balancing data-driven decisions with intuition to build greater team engagement and loyalty.

This episode is part of our new Leadership Edge series.

We developed this series because while performance gets you in the room.
Presence is what makes people listen.

We’re unpacking the leadership skills that help you stand out—create real influence, earn loyalty, and build the right relationships.

Because visibility isn’t luck. It’s built.

USEFUL LINKS:

Connect with Marla Bace on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marlabace/

Marla Bace's website: http://www.marlabace.com/

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One of the biggest challenges companies face is how to maintain their heritage while adapting to changing consumer preferences.

The task can be even more daunting for legacy brands that on the one hand have built their reputations on their brand or company history. But on the other, need to compete with newer brands that feel more modern.

Establishing that critical but delicate balance requires the skills of a branding master.

Today we are joined by Michael Kønig, a brand expert with two decades of experience leading transformations at companies like Bang & Olufsen, Georg Jensen, Wedgwood, Waterford, Royal Copenhagen and Moomin through shifts in product direction, brand positioning and operating model design.

Today he runs his own agency helping leadership teams use their heritage as a strategic advantage. His work focuses on making legacy brands culturally relevant again, simplifying their portfolios and enabling them to deliver at speed.

I can’t wait to sit down with Michael and find out what he did to give these legendary brands a modern makeover - without losing the essence of what makes them unique.

USEFUL LINKS:

Michael Konig Designs website: https://www.michaelkonig.design/

Free 5-day Heritage Playbook

Linkedin

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Hiring remote staff is not a new concept. Companies get access to a wider talent pool. Can oftentimes arbitrage wages and find people who are eager to work with you.

The downside is managing those people. The fact that are often not even in the same country adds complexity. Especially when it comes to payroll or even basic HR functions.

Today we are joined by Richard Hogben, founder of Worldwide VA, a company that helps businesses recruit and manage virtual staff - from assistants to CFOs.

In this episode of A Seat at The Table, Richard will be discussing:

Best practices for managing virtual staff or remote workers
The key advantages of sourcing talent from outside your local area
Some of the biggest mistakes companies make when working with virtual staff - and how to avoid them.

So let’s sit down with Richard and find out why we might want to look at the global talent pool for our next hire.

USEFUL LINKS:

Connect with Richard Hogben: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-hogben-23723b2/

Website: https://www.worldwideva.com

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Sending international payments is no longer something only large companies do.

Increasingly everyone from startups to individuals are sending money to more destinations.

That’s led to a need for a system that offers ease-of-use, is safe and reliable – and ideally provides actual customer service. Not a chatbot, but support by real people who are they to help you.

Sound too good to be true? Stay tuned.

Today we are welcoming a long time friend and modern day visionary to our podcast community.

Stephen Patton seems to always be one step ahead – seeing opportunities and turning them into success stories.

On this episode of A Seat at The Table, Stephen is going to tell us about Banpay - a new fintech service he has recently launched and what the future of international payments could look like.

So let’s sit down with Stephen and get an insider view of what might be next for global payments.

USEFUL LINKS

Connect with Stephen Patton: https://www.linkedin.com/in/spatton1/

Learn more about Banpay: https://banpay.com/

SEND US A MESSAGE

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Everyone wants to build a brand. Not just a brand, but a power brand. A viral brand.

The problem is few companies know how. Most focus on creating of a super cool logo. A catchy tagline. Developing their vision of the perfect brand colors. Or adding lots of fun features.

And they’re disappointed when their brand literally dies on the vine.

How could something that fabulous not be a marketplace sensation?

Today we’re joined by Dr Pieter Steenkamp founder of Brand for Success, a boutique brand consultancy.

He holds a doctorate focused on brand strategy and is a multi-award-winning academic in the Marketing Department at a university in Cape Town and a visiting Professor in Germany.

In this podcast, Dr. Steenkamp will be discussing:

Misconceptions behind brand building that lead to failure
What winning brands do that helps them outperform competitors
His science-based ‘Brand for Success’ process turns regular businesses into sophisticated brands

Let’s sit down with Dr. Pieter Steenkamp and learn how to get our brand strategy on the right track.

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

One of the biggest challenges people in leadership roles face is steering the business while also managing their own careers.

It’s a delicate balance to be sure. Especially in times when the landscape is changing seemingly all the time.

Winning in this environment takes a new skills and new tactics.

If you’re looking take your professional and leadership skills to the next level then you’ll want to have Shelli Brunswick on speed dial.

She’s a tireless leader and bold visionary who has been a long time champion of the space industry.

Shelli has taken lessons learned from this science-based sector and created a modern day playbook that leadership in any industry can use.

In this episode of A Seat at The Table, Shelli will be talking about

How Bold vision and self-leadership create momentum in uncertain times
How to use storytelling to turn complexity into clarity.
Why we need to build pathways and frameworks to open doors to growth.

If you’re ready to get wired up and fired up, then let’s sit down with Shelli.

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Sometimes the key to winning the contract, closing the sale - or even hiring the right team member - comes down to more than what that person says or their credentials.

Small tells like body language can offer big clues that can lead to greater success - or help you to avoid disaster.

Lots of people talk about how to ‘read’ another person. Few are actually able to master this.

One person who has mastered body language is the multi talented Terry Earthwind Nichols.

In fact, he’s got so good at it he actually wrote a book on the subject.

In “Profile for Profits” Terry walks us through exactly how to interpret basic body language, as well as how to successfully apply this to everyday business interactions.

On this episode of A Seat at The Table, Terry will share with us;

How to identify non-verbal cues
What to look for - and what it means
Tactics for entering a room - especially at events or large meetings

Let’s sit down with Terry and find out how raise our game and win at interpersonal connections.

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Looking for a job is never easy - or fun. But if you’re a senior level executive, it can be particularly challenging and oftentimes demoralizing.

You’ve got expertise, experience – and that all important work ethic. Yet its seems like the supply of leadership jobs has evaporated.

Suddenly it seems that the once-valued ‘maturity’ that kept businesses on track and helped them avoid potential pitfalls, now makes you seem old - a workplace pariah.

Meet Darcy Bevelaqua a career coach who specializes in helping senior executives transition to their next career role. She’s parlays her former experience as an HR manager at 2 Fortune 500 companies to help people over 50 find great jobs that pay more, value your contributions, and re-energize you about their careers.

On this episode of A Seat at The Table Darcy will be sharing:

How to overcome typical obstacles senior executives face when job hunting
Tactics for more effective networking.
Uncovering job opportunities that might be hiding in plain sight

So let’s sit down with Darcy and jumpstart our next career move!

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

The tech sector often appears to be a goldmine that anyone with a few coding skills can tap into and reap massive profits - literally overnight.

The reality is a bit different.

From developing products that will actually sell to understanding that ‘overnight’ is more like ‘over years’ and that behind the scenes there are endless frustrations and obstacles that you need to overcome before hitting the jackpot - assuming that you eventually do.

Today we’re joined by Natalia Loza, She’s a commercial and product innovation leader whose cracked the code for building and scaling digital technologies from idea to revenue.

This includes developing software that broke even within a record four months of inception and an internal operations tool that generated over £600,000 in under six months.

She’s also the founder of Connected.Ventures, a curated network of over 300 technology innovation leaders in the UK.

In this podcast Natalia will talking about:

The key decisions that allowed her to take a product from concept to revenue in just four months
The unseen cost of saying ‘yes’.
Why "done" is a moving target in tech products.

USEFUL LINKS:

Connect with Natalia Loza: linkedin.com/in/nata-loza

Website for Connected Ventures: connected.ventures

Learn about Inside Fashion: https://insidefashionLive.net

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Companies dream of building that amazing product that does all kinds of incredible things or has a cool user interface.

It all about the wow factor.

However what customers usually want - or what they’ll actually buy - is a simple product that gets the job done.

This disconnect is at the heart of why many businesses get lots of media attention, but not quite so many sales.

Today we’re joined by Tobi Ogunmoyero , a Certified Scrum Product Owner who helps organizations turn complex ideas into products customers value.

He has delivered large-scale platforms across finance, public services and early-stage technology ventures and leads product vision and roadmaps.

In this podcast he’ll be talking about the early signs of product debt. How to lower overheads. And what metrics we need to watch to when managing product debt.

USEFUL LINKS:

Connect with Tobi Ugunmoyero: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tobi-ogunmoyero-18302762/

Learn more about Inside Fashion: https://insidefashionLive.net

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Many people dream of starting a fashion brand.

The combination of a doing something creative with the glamour and energy of catwalk shows and photo shoots can be intoxicating.

What isn’t always obvious - at least for new designers or for people outside of the industry - is the challenge of starting from scratch.

It’s not only about growing your brand. It’s about doing everything yourself - from designing to sewing - and the business side.

And it’s not only in the fashion industry. Starting a business can be very rewarding, but you need to be able to play the long game to reap those rewards.

Meet Sofia Georgia Rothman, a rising star on the New York design scene. Her collection has a growing following of young consumers - like her - who want high quality garments with a sense of personal style.

In this episode she shares a ‘raw and real’ look at what it’s like launching a brand - and taking it from being a personal project into a business.

USEFUL LINKS:

Follow Sofia Georgina Rothman: @sofiageorgiarothman

Learn more about Inside Fashion: https://insidefashionLive.net

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Today supply chain success is driven by a combination of speed, reliability and innovation.

The concept is easy to understand. Executing on this is where it gets tricky.

Especially in a global landscape that seems to be constantly changing - with no indication of settling down any time soon.

Today we’re joined by Sean Coxall, chairman of 707 Limited, a leading provider of worldwide sourcing options and innovative supply chain solutions. Previously, he served as President of Li & Fung’s Branded Fashion and Sportswear Group.

With a major focus on speed and innovation, both in terms of product and new business models, Sean pioneered the use of digital technology in particular through the use of virtual sampling.

In this podcast, he’ll be sharing what he sees as both the challenges - and the opportunities - in an apparel supply chain that is quite a lot different from what it was a few short years ago.

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

In the face of rising competition from new brands, more demanding consumers and ever present cost pressures, it’s not easy to run a successful brand.

Thus it’s not surprising that more brands are losing momentum or are stuck in slump that isn’t being solved by changing creative directors, altering their DNA or adding new lines.

In many cases, that’s actually made things worse.

To get a better understanding of what where brands are going wrong - and were a few are getting it right - I reached out to Glenn McMahon, a C-suite apparel industry executive who helps brands establish clear creative vision while driving EBITDA growth and margin expansion.

In this episode he shares where brands have gone wrong - and what leadership might do to get them back on track. Glenn also talks about what he sees as a game-changing AI development that the industry can’t afford to overlook.

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

The retail landscape has becoming increasingly challenging with more brands struggling not only with top line growth but also with bottom line performance.

The easy excuse is blame the economy. Tariffs have shaken up the entire supply chain- from sourcing through to retail pricing.

And yet some retailers are outperforming the market.

Why?

To learn more about what’s standing in the way of retailer performance, I reached out to my long time friend and colleague Walter Holbrook.

Walter is leading retail consultant with a sharp understanding of exactly what successful retailers are doing right - and why others are struggling to keep up.

In this podcast he discuses the often overlooked problems that are preventing retailers from hitting sales goals and draining profits.

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Activewear continues to be a a top performing apparel category with consumers worldwide having a seemingly insatiable appetite for both the look and the comfort aspect that defines sports garments.

After such a long successful run, how will activewear maintain its lead position in a highly competitive industry. And amongst consumers who are constantly presented with ‘the next big thing’?

I reached out to my long time colleague Louisa Smith, trend researcher and activewear development expert to gain insights into what might be next for this category.

She shared some of her insights into what continues to drive activewear, how performance properties are now key in ready-to-wear - and what might be next for sports apparel and performance textiles.

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

In an increasingly competitive retail landscape, more brands are looking for new markets with high growth potential.

That’s put the GCC (Gulf Cooperative Council) region on more brands’ radar.

The region includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, nations that have strong spending power and continue to invest in retail development.

In this episode of A Seat at The Table we’re sitting down with Dr. Heike Lieb-Wilson, a trusted advisor and market expansion strategist for global brands entering the GCC and MENA region.

With over a decade of hands-on experience in the UAE - and more than 40 years in international business - she combines strategic clarity with deep regional insight.

As the founder of Brightly Labs LLC in Dubai, Heike helps premium European brands navigate complex entry challenges, from licensing and localization to retail growth and partner vetting.
Her agent-based model offers brands a low-risk, high-impact pathway to scale in the region - backed by trusted networks and proven frameworks.

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

What happens when an apparel guy decides to found a tech company?

A game-changing concept that can drive retail sales - and build customer engagement, that’s what can happen.

And it is exactly what one smart entrepreneur did.

Meet Jeff Gray, Founder and CEO of RoboArt Labs, a pioneering AI-powered platform that is transforming how retailers engage with their customers. He is also a co-owner of Creative Apparel Concepts, a company he co-founded over 25 years ago that develops and manufactures apparel and sleepwear programs for major retailers such as Target, Walmart, and Disney.

With decades of experience running an apparel company, leading sales strategies, and overseeing product development and manufacturing, Jeff is now at the forefront of AI-driven customization.

Through RoboArt, he’s giving e-commerce retailers a completely new kind of experience—one where customers can easily generate stunning AI art, personalize it with text, photos, or logos, and order it to be printed on-demand with no inventory required.

Before we get started, if you looking to stay ahead of newest technology that’s revolutionizing the apparel industry - as well as gain critical insights about fast growing markets, key developments in sourcing and how brands are reacting to the market, then you might want to take a look at Inside Fashion.

Each month you’ll get vital information delivered in a reader-friendly format so you can get up to speed - without spending all day reading. You can learn more at Inside fashion live.net.

Now let’s find out more about what Jeff is doing with AI - and how it helping retailers drive sales.

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

After being off the sourcing radar for almost a decade, suddenly everyone is starting to talk about Pakistan.

The combination of brands looking to diversify sourcing - and the benefits of having a the entire supply chain from fiber to finished garment in country - is putting a shine on Pakistan and boosting it up the sourcing tier list.

But Pakistan is more than simply another one of the countries where brands used to source until other places became more attractive.

To learn more about the massive opportunities in Pakistan, I reached out to my good friend Will Bettendorf, Director South Asia and Supply Chain Marketing, at Cotton Council International. If anyone knows the real opportunities in a country it’s Will.

He’s spent over two decades working hands on with most of Asia biggest mills and manufacturers . So he not only knows Pakistan, he’s able to accurately compare and contrast the county with all of the other key sourcing nations.

Recently I had the opportunity to join him and his team at a CCI event in Pakistan where I was able to meet some of the industry’s leading manufacturers and buying offices learn about the strategic advantages the country offers - especially as we face a more complex sourcing environment.

In this podcast Will shares his views on why Pakistan is poised to be the go-to place for sustainable apparel sourcing.

USEFUL LINKS:

Learn more about the US Cotton Trust Protocol: https://trustuscotton.org/

Learn more about US Cotton: https://cottonusa.org

Connect with Will Bettendorf on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-bettendorf-61455a5/

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Do people still have employment opportunities in a world increasingly focused on AI?

And if so, where? And what competitive advantage do they have?

Turns out, there are still big opportunities for people in the workplace.

The key is to understand what value humans can offer that technology can’t. And how smart companies will see the strategic advantage of balancing people with AI.

To find out more about where humans have an advantage in an increasingly tech-driven world, I reached out to Ron Thurston, retail consultant and bestselling author.

In his new book, ‘Human Pride’, Ron talks about the critical role people play in the retail sector - from entry level roles to C-suites leadership.

In this podcast Ron is going to share retail-proven insights on

The importance of human connection in driving that all important customer retention.
Why retailers need to identify and optimize each employee’s strengths in order to reduce staff turnover.
How non-linear career paths can be strategic for growth in today’s retail landscape.
Why people of all ages might want to consider the incredible opportunities in a retail career.

USEFUL LINKS:

Ron Thurston's book "Human Pride" on Amazon

Learn more about Inside Fashion at insidefashionLive.net

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

What if you could find a system that maximized luck and generated outsized returns?

A method based on decision science that led you to make better choices - in both your business and personal life.

That’s exactly what Daniel Kang did. He learned how to use asymmetric bets to win scholarships that paid for his education, as well as to raise millions of dollars to fund his startup.

He then used this principle to land a book deal with leading business-book publisher Wiley & Sons.

Today Daniel Kang joins us here to share what he’s learned as the CEO & co-founder of a Y-Combinator backed startup Flowbo, as a venture capitalist at Softbank’s Vision Fund and how what he learned in pilot training taught him about running a business.

His new book “The Super Upside Factor: Asymmetric Principles that Will 10X Your Life” is a practical playbook to maximize luck in life and career.

The book is a must read for anyone looking to apply the principles that have enabled a few companies to outperform - even in challenging environments.

Daniel used asymmetric bets to elevate himself out of poverty and to become a wildly successful entrepreneur and recognized author. Let’s unpack what’s behind this methodology and how we can apply to in our lives.

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

2025 has gotten off to what might generously be described as an ‘uncertain start’.

The one thing people want right now is clarity. Or at least some idea of what might be the next impact on supply chains.

One of the most consistent issues facing sourcing directors and supply chain managers has been logistics.

After years of unprecedented disruptions, logistics could be the one blessing in an increasingly chaotic sourcing landscape.

To get an insider’s view of what we might expect to see this year, I sat down with Zvi Schreiber, founder and CEO of Freightos, the leading digital booking platform for the air and ocean freight industry.

In addition to founding Freigtos, Zvi is a recognized LogTech leader. He previously was CEO of Lightech (acquired by GE), and of Unicorn (acquired by IBM). Zvi holds a PhD in computer science and is author of Fizz, the history of physics in a novel, and of Money, Going out of Style, which explores money & economics.

In this episode, Zvi will be sharing his insights on:

The impact on air cargo that a removal of the de minimus exemption might have.
What could happen to ocean rates if carriers return to the Suez Canal.

USEFUL LINKS:

www.freightos.com

thecurrentsituation.net

Looking to be a podcast guest? Here's the link: https://seat.fm/be-a-guest/

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Almost everyone in a senior leadership position these days feels the pressure of a business environment that has become increasingly uncertain.

At the same time, the pressure to drive both growth and profitability has never been more intense.

The pain is being felt by large-scale organizations, as well as start ups as the market becomes much less forgiving that it was even a year or two ago.

Today we are joined by Mark Josephson, a three time CEO who’s successfully built, led, raised capital for and sold companies - including Bitly, AOL Regional and Castiron - across multiple stages of growth.

He currently coaches CEOs and senior leaders in the strategies and insights they need to drive growth and success while maintaining balance.

In this episode Mark will be discussing:

Surviving an acquisition
The hidden challenges of running a startup
What he refers to as ‘multi-hyphenated’ careers

USEFUL LINKS:

Connect with Mark Josephson: www.markjosephson.net

Learn about the Current Sitiuation in Sourcing: thecurrentsituation.net

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Many brands are starting to wonder if China might no longer be the hot market for luxury brands that it used to be.

After years of disappointing sales growth, some brands are turning their attention away from China and towards markets which they think might be the next big thing.

While the China market has certainly faced challenges, the are still huge opportunities there - for brands that know how to read the market.

Today we’re joined by Jacques Roizen, Managing Director, China Consulting at Digital Luxury Group. He’s worked with leading international brands, including Pandora and Etam to help them grow their China business.

He’ll be sharing some of the big opportunities that brands are overlooking when they look at the China market. He’ll also be talking about why so many Chinese consumers shop overseas, and the unique role of luxury retail in China.

USEFUL LINKS:

Inside Fashion: https://insidefashionlive.net

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Fast fashion has always been competitive but in recent years its become a speed-driven race to the bottom.

No matter how low prices are today, some new player will enter the market - with even lower prices - and more styles!

In the midst of this chaos, UK supermarkets have carved out a solid business selling budget priced fashion. Yes, fashion. Not basics. Not the standard socks and underwear you’d expect to find in a supermarket.

Not only that, they are offering quality products made from premium ingredients, including Supima cotton.

We can help but wonder - how are they doing this?

Today we are joined by Dean Clegg, a supply chain consultant, who previously was Global Sourcing Director at Sainsbury's.

He’s going to share an insider’s view of how supermarkets are winning in the fashion category.

He’ll also be giving us some insights on how we can tighten up our supply chains in order to navigate what looks like another challenging year.

Useful Links:

The Current Situation in Sourcing: https://thecurrentsituation.net

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Typically older generations complain that young people don’t work as hard as they did when they were that age. However that narrative does seem to carry some truth these days.

Suddenly it seems that Gen Z and even younger Millennials are disengaged with the working world.

From ‘Quiet Quitting’ to seemingly lacking ambition, what’s happened to the energy and enthusiasm that younger workers used to have?

Today we’re joined by Damon Cassidy, a former corporate banker turned content creator with a passion for analyzing economic history and systemic forces shaping the modern world. He’s known for providing thought-provoking insights into generational economics, labor market shifts, and media influence.

In this podcast Damon will be discussing:

The real reason why younger workers seem to be disengaged - particularly with regard to work.
How LinkedIn and similar jobs sites have made it almost impossible for people to get jobs.
What Gen Z really wants and what missing in their lives.

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

In a fast paced, complex business environment decision making has become increasingly difficult.

We want to make good decisions. We’re told we need to make faster decisions. But often we end up in ‘analysis paralysis’.

Caught between analyzing endless data, including inputs from a vast range of participants, and often trying to please too many masters. It’s no wonder fewer decisions get made. And when they do, they are not the best.

If you are looking for a way to simplify decision making and cut through some of the complexities, then this episode is for you!

Today we’re joined by Dave Martin, author of Mega Thinking: A Simple, Powerful Process to Think Smarter and Make Better Leadership Decisions.

He is the founder of 280 Capital Partners and a Silicon Valley entrepreneur, and has helped top executives and leaders across industries refine their decision-making process using his innovative "MegaCepts" method.

Dave will be talking about his 4-step method to overcoming analysis paralysis.
How to distill complex topics into their 10 most essential principles.
Why sharpening thinking still is critical for effective leadership.

USEFUL LINKS

Find "Mega Thinking" by Dave Martin on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DFMYY4LZ

Learn about the Current Situation in Sourcing: https://thecurrentsituation.net

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

When people talk about PTSD we usually think of returning military veterans or survivors of catastrophic events.

Yet many other people suffer from stress-related issues that are not unlike PTSD.

Terry Earthwind Nichols, is a bestselling author and father of Repetitive Behavior Cellular Regression, a methodology that helps people decrease anxiety, fear, procrastination, self sabotage and overall stress

In this podcast, he talks about how people can overcome some of the past traumas that continue to disrupt their daily lives - including a simple technique you can use anytime and anywhere.

You’ll Learn:

How to uncover hidden traumas that are causing severe stress
The life-changing benefits of resolving past traumas
A simple and easy method to use any time you need to control stress

Useful Links:

Connect with Terry Earthwind Nichols on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/earthwind

Terry Earthwind Nichols portfolio: linktr.ee/terryearthwindnichols

Learn more about the Current Situation in Sourcing: thecurrentsituation.net

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Everyone wants to build a brand. But few people actually know how.

For most, a brand is a logo and a vague mission statement - and little more.

And you can really blame them. Creating a unique brand identity - and articulating it so that others (ideally customers) understand what you stand for - is a lot bigger undertaking than it seems.

I'm Jane Singer, and welcome back to A Seat at the Table.

In each episode, we sit down with some of the smartest and most innovative people who join us as guests on this show and share a ton of valuable business and life enhancing insights.
A big shout out to all of our esteemed listeners in over 140 countries around the world. Thank you for being there with us today.

Today we are joined by Nigel Davies, a brand consultant who helps business owners untangle their brands so that they are more relevant, unique and memorable.

With over 25 years in the creative industry, Nigel was employed by leading design agencies (creating the first global standard for Ford Motor Company), before establishing his own agency.

Not surprisingly, he has won multiple awards for ‘Brand Transformation’.

In today’s podcast, Nigel will be discussing:

Biggest mistakes that organizations make in the early stages of building a brand
The importance of brands creating ‘an emotional connection’ with their customers
Some of the most challenging projects he’s worked on - and how he turned them into success stories.

USEFUL LINKS:

Inside Fashion website: insidefashionlive.net

Connect with Nigel Davies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pincreative/

Nigel Davies' website: https://untangleyourbrand.com/https://untangleyourbrand.com/

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

AI has become one of the most talked about technologies. A lot of the hype makes AI seem like a magic wand that can do anything or an evil demon that will leave massive numbers of people without jobs.

While it's unlikely, at least for now, that these extreme cases are true, there is little doubt that AI is a technology we need to understand.

For most companies, the challenge is identifying what are practical use cases for AI in their organizations. I'm use cases for AI in their organizations.

I'm Jane Singer and welcome back to A Seat at the Table. On this show, we sit down with leading entrepreneurs, innovators, and thought leaders to get a close-up look at the technologies and developments that are impacting industry.

Today, I am joined by professor Calvin Wong, CEO and center director of AID Lab and Chung Yee Kung, endowed professor in fashion of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

Professor Wong is ranked among the world's top 2 percent of most cited scientists in the field of artificial intelligence and image processing with over a 170 high impact journal publications.

His work bridges industry and academia.

In 2019, he worked with one of the world's largest online shopping platforms to establish the first of its kind fashion AI dataset.

In 2022, he and his team developed the world's first design led AI system, AI based interactive design assistant for fashion, otherwise known as AIDA.

In this podcast, professor Wong will be discussing:

The top myths around AI that need to be busted
The role that humans are playing in AI driven design applications
The most practical use case for AI in textile manufacturing
What might be the next gen application of AI in the apparel and textile industry.

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

The apparel industry is being forced to re-imagine itself in the face of pressure to meet new green standards.

Suddenly, what we thought was sustainable turns out to be merely a ‘good try’ - but not enough.

While apparel needs to now recycle, be circular, reduce carbon emissions and lower water usage, it also has to appeal to consumers - who want clothing that is eye catching, comfortable, high quality and personalized.

That’s a big ask for any industry, let alone an industry that runs on razor thin margins and almost as thin lead times.

I'm Jane Singer, and welcome back to A Seat at the Table.

In each episode, we sit down with some of the smartest and most innovative people who join us as guests on this show and share a ton of valuable business and life enhancing insights.
A big shout out to all of our esteemed listeners 140 countries around the world. Thank you for being there with us today.

Today we are joined by the legendary Giusy Bettoni, founder and CEO of C.L.A.S.S., which stands for Creativity Lifestyle and Sustainable Synergy.
CLASS is an international eco-hub – based in Milan - which since the very beginning has been advocating for a new generation of fashion where the fusion of design, innovation, communication and responsibility shape an informed and competitive business, able to play both at an economic and social level.

Giusy is a pioneer in the field of sustainable textiles having started out in 2007, before they coined the term ‘sustainability’ and we were still talking about being ‘eco-friendly ‘ - if we were talking about it all. She has superior technical knowledge within the raw material market sector, as well as precise marketing and communication skills.

In this podcast, Giusy will be discussing:

What she sees at the biggest challenge facing the fashion industry
Why sustainability has to be about more than just environmental impacts in order to be effective.
How the apparel industry could re-imagine itself to benefit people and planet.

The apparel industry is complicated and constantly changing. To win, you not only have to know what’s happening, you need to understand why - and how it could potentially impact your business.

When apparel industry executives want a sharp of view of global supply chains - from factory to retail selling floor they turn to Inside Fashion.

Why should you read Inside Fashion? In the words of one subscriber:

“Inside Fashion consistently provides an extremely comprehensive yet concise take on the apparel industry - simplifying key topics and making them accessible and understandable - while also highlighting what’s next on the horizon.”

Find out how you and your team could benefit from Inside Fashion.

Head on over to insidefashionLive.net to learn more.

Out-of-the-box insights from digital leaders
Delivered is your window in the minds of people behind successful digital products.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Retail sales continue to outperform expectations - in both the US and in key European markets. Yet analysts are still waiting for that slowdown that was supposed to be driven first by inflation - and then by higher interest rates.

Yet, consumers are proving resilient - but for how long?

Long term a lot is likely to come down to the retailers themselves.

Those with the right products - and the right retail formats are likely to keep growing sales.

So the question is which retailers are set to be the winners?

Today we are joined by leading retail consultant, Walter Holbrook who shares his view of what’s driving success at retail - and who’s likely to be the next retail success stories.

Walter will be sharing:

Key differences in purchasing behavior amongst the professional class, millennials, and Gen Z, and how retailers are catering to each demographic.
How older fast fashion brands are responding to the shifting preferences of price-conscious Gen Z - and the threat of newer market entrants.
How retailers like Costco redefining the apparel market and presenting challenges to traditional retail channels.

USEFUL LINKS:

Connect with Walter Holbrook: https://www.linkedin.com/in/waltholbrook/

Learn more about The Current Situation in Sourcing: https://insidefashionlive.net/the-current-situation-in-sourcing

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

It seems we live an age of documentation. There are increasing levels of regulations around everything - and the supporting documentation around those regulations keeps getting more complex.

Paper work that used to be handled by one or two people now requires a department with a hierarchy of staff - just to understand the regulations - let alone do all of the necessary documentation.

This is becoming a serious challenge for HR departments in a world where company staffing can include not only full time and part time employees, but also contractors, free lancers, service providers and many other terms of engagement that each requires specialized contracts and payment management.

And that’s led to the development of innovative HR tech that promises to automate this burdensome but necessary process.

Today we’re joined by Timmothy Partasevitch, Co-Founder and CMO of Juggl, an HR tech company that specializes helping companies manage global teams - from contracts and payroll, to benefits, document management and on boarding.

In this podcast, Timmothy will be talking about

How HR tech is helping companies maintain better relationships with their global team members.

Why digitizing the entire HR process is critical for saving time and avoiding costly mistakes.

How HR tech is now scalable, putting it reach of small and medium size businesses, as well as enterprises.

Another critical part of running a successful global business is understanding what’s happening in your international supply chain.

The last thing anyone wants is to be blindsided by an issue they didn’t see coming.

Or miss an opportunity to drive cost savings or reduce lead times.

When global sourcing directors want a sharp view of their Asian supply chains they turn to the Current Situation in Sourcing.

It’s a 6-page quarterly snapshot that highlights essential shifts, alerts, and opportunities along with actual feedback about how other sourcing executives are reacting to the market.

USEFUL LINKS:

Connect with Timmothy Partasevitch on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-partasevitch/

Learn more about Juggl hr tech: https://juggl.co

Learn about The Current Situation in Sourcing: https://insidefashionlive.net/the-current-situation-in-sourcing

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Telehealth got a serious toehold into healthcare during the pandemic. Now it looks set to be a massive disrupter to the healthcare industry, powered by greater digitization and the use of AI.

If it comes to its full potential, more people will be able to get better healthcare - at more affordable prices.

The opportunity here is so massive that Amazon has been betting heavily on digitized health care with its One Medical service.

But there is more to it than digitization. A lot more.

Today we are joined by Shanil Ebrahim, Life Science and Healthcare Leader at Deloitte Canada. He’s had hands on experience in the healthcare sector as a Clinical Epidemiologist, as well as an assistant professor at McMaster University and a researcher at Stanford University.

Today Shanil will be discussing …

How artificial intelligence is reshaping the landscape of patient care.
How payers and providers are changing their models to focus more on value and patient outcomes.
Whether technology can genuinely enhance patient experience and outcomes, without depersonalizing care.

USEFUL LINKS:

Connect with Shanil Ebrahim: linkedin.com/in/shanil-ebrahim-75914a7a

Asianet Consultants website: https://asianetconsultants.com

A Seat at The Table podcast course: https://seat.fm/podcastcourse

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

After decades of being counseled to become specialists - to find our niche - to be known as an expert in a specific field - it seems now the pendulum might be shifting in the opposite direction.

Are we at the cusp of a new era that favors generalists?

And if so, why the change?

And just as importantly, we do we need to do to get ahead of the curve?

Today we are joined by Ed Fidoe, founder and CEO of the London Interdisciplinary School, which offers an innovative, interdisciplinary curriculum focused on tackling complex global issues.

He believes that the future of work demands leaders who can navigate a complex, interconnected world, where traditional leadership is often blind to its own limitations due to over-reliance on specialised knowledge.

In this episode Ed will explore why leaders need to embrace interdisciplinary thinking to anticipate and adapt to the next big shifts.

He’ll be discussing:

Why organizations now need generalists, particularly in leadership roles.
Balancing the benefits of breadth of knowledge with the advantages of depth of knowledge.
The new role of libraries in supporting less siloed education.

USEFUL LINKS:

Connect with Ed Fidoe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ed-fidoe/

London Interdisciplinary School website: https://www.lis.ac.uk/

Asianet Consultants website: https://asianetconsultants.com

Podcast Course: https://seat.fm/podcastcourse

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

One of the biggest supply chain concerns right now is materials costs.

While most stakeholders would like to see costs go down, everyone would at least like some clarity on what prices might be like - especially for cotton, which plays a key role in the apparel supply chain.

While nobody has that proverbial crystal ball that can see the future, there are people who have the kind of first hand market knowledge that helps them to make more accurate predictions.

Today we are joined by Dr. O.A. Cleveland, professor emeritus, Agricultural Economics at Mississippi State University in the United States.

Dr. Cleveland has over 50 years of experience in commodities as an analyst, professor and advisor and consultant to some of the world’s biggest cotton organizations.

His achievements are far too many to list here. However, if you are looking to get a sharp view of what’s happening with cotton prices - and more importantly - what pricing could look like going forward, there’s no better person to ask than Dr. Cleveland.

In this podcast he will be giving a realistic look at:

The outlook for world cotton consumption
Where we can expect current cotton to trend
Trends for 2025 cotton prices

USEFUL LINKS:

Dr. O.A. Cleveland: https://www.cottongrower.com/author/dr-o-a-cleveland/

Asianet Consultants: https://asianetconsultants.com

How to become a Podcast Guest (course): https://seat.fm/podcastcourse

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

After decades of wanting bigger and more, people have been starting to recognize the benefits of downsizing.

It’s not just about buying less stuff or finally clearing out the closets, garage or basement. Over the past decade there has been a clear and growing trend towards to choosing smaller houses - much smaller.

The most recent iteration of this development has been the growing popularity of Accessory Dwelling Units or ADUs as they are called.

It’s a new take on a historic way that people created housing for family members who wanted to live together - but not under the same roof.

It’s a perfect solution that lets people tackle a range of issues including the high cost of purchasing a new home and the isolation of living alone.

But what exactly is an ADU, you might ask? We’re going to be talking about that in today’s podcast.

Today we are joined by Sheri Koones, a leading authority on the smaller home movement and the author of 12 books covering all aspects of this topic.

In her newest book, “ADUs : The Perfect Housing Solution” she provides a comprehensive view of how turn these small dwellings into luxury home environments.

In this podcast Sheri will be discussing:

Why the rising popularity of ADUs is a sign of bigger trend towards a desire for more community.
How people are turning smaller houses into fabulous, luxury homes.
How new small homes are being purpose built to support each occupant’s lifestyle.

USEFUL LINKS:

"ADUs: The Perfect Housing Solution": https://www.amazon.com/ADUs-Perfect-Solution-Sheri-Koones/dp/1423665252

Learn How to Land Guest Spots on Podcasts (course): seat.fm/podcastcourse

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

I just sat down with Brian Librach to discuss his new book "The Retail Leaders Roadmap" and the conversation was powerful!

A lot to unpack!

Some of the key insights you're going to get from Brian include:

The five practices of building character, and their significance in career development.
Strategies for career advancement within a retail environment, including the importance of aligning with leadership and seeking feedback from mentors.
The crucial role of prioritization in organizational success and how training employees on prioritization can enhance decision quality and profitability.
The potential impact of AI on freeing up time from mundane tasks and its implications for career development.
Insights into Brian Librach's new book, "The Retail Leaders Roadmap," and his approach to reinvigorating stagnant career paths in the retail industry.

This is definitely a must-listen to episode for anyone who works in retail - and is looking to advance their careers.

USEFUL LINKS:

Connect with Brian Librach

www.linkedin.com/in/brian-librach-the-retailwellwisher

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4OGDx1u7EgisWtiitBuvUw

https://www.facebook.com/brian.librach/

Order "The Retail Leaders Roadmap" book
www.retailleadersroadmap.com

Learn more about Asianet Consultants:

https://asianetconsultants.com

Learn more about How You Can Be a Podcast Guest

https://seat.fm/podcastcourse

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Competition is fierce these days.

The solution, according to marketing experts, is to create a ‘brand story’ for your company or your product.

Sounds simple. Until you actually try to do it.

And then, well, suddenly you feel like a stranger in a strange land.

Staring at blank piece of paper or screen - or brainstorming with colleagues only to come up with something that by anyone’s assessment is pretty generic. Not exactly what you were hoping for.

Today we’re talking with Deevo Tindall, a holistic branding strategist and founder of Fusion Creative, which he launched after 15 years of working in a corporate career.

In this podcast Deevo will be discussing:

What is ‘holistic branding’ and how it can help differentiate your business.
How companies can begin to create their own brand story.
What companies are getting wrong about content creation.
How to stand out in a very ‘noisy’ market.

USEFUL LINKS:

Asianet Consultants: asianetconsultants.com

How to Land Guest Spots on Podcasts: seat.fm/podcastcourse

Connect with Deevo Tindall: www.fusioncreativebranding.com

Follow Deevo on Social Media: @FusionPhotog

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

In this episode of A Seat at The Table, I sit down with Nick Bond, founding partner and head of product at Apex, an AI-driven solution focused on customer research and business strategies.

Nick shares valuable insights on how AI is changing the face of marketing, emphasizing the importance of leveraging customer data to drive innovation and strategy.

From understanding customer expectations to turning them into brand ambassadors, Nick provides practical advice for companies to create strong customer relationships.

Listeners will gain valuable perspectives on how to use AI to enhance customer experiences and navigate the evolving landscape of marketing and customer satisfaction.

USEFUL LINKS:

Asianet Consultants: https://asianetconsultants.com

Connect with Nick Bond on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-bond-9236953/

Apex's website: https://www.apexscore.ai/

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

In a market that gets increasingly competitive, “get more sales” is a directive that’s coming from more than just the sales manager.

The concept is easy. Achieving it is a bit more challenging.

Everyone is after everyone else’s markets - and customers.

While persistence is still the foundation of success, to win in today’s market we also need to be a bit more strategic.

And that leaves the question of “How do we do this?”

Meet Karl Becker, the CEO of Improving Sales Performance and author of “Iceberg Selling”. Karl suggests that one of the keys to successful selling centers around mindset. In his work he has identified a series of mindsets that can empower sales people to succeed, even in difficult selling situations.

Today he’ll be discussing:

How the ‘life-time value mindset’ changes the way sales people interact with customers.
How to use ‘iceberg selling’ to overcome some the challenges salespeople are facing.
Why it’s important for salespeople to author their own stories.
Helping salespeople go from good to great.

USEFUL LINKS:

Asianet Consultants: https://asianetconsultants.com

Connect with Karl Becker: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlbeckeriii/

Karl's book "Set to Win: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/vuqhd6p1y2

Improving Sales Performance website: https://www.improvingsalesperformance.com/

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

A growing number of companies are looking for new supply chain opportunities.

In some cases, they are looking for new capabilities. Others are targeting risk reduction. And of course, there’s the ongoing demand for better prices.

One of the fastest developing links in the global supply chain is Southeast Asia.

The region originally was just another source of cheap labor and in some cases raw materials.

That’s changed as more nations are moving up the value chain.

Yet often we’re not aware of these changes since typically they happen gradually, over time.

Today we are joined by Yazrin Syakhairi Mahlan, Consulate General of Malaysia in Hong Kong.

At the forefront of the development in Southeast Asia is Malaysia, a nation whose 33 million well educated, highly skilled and innovative people are quietly making big contributions to the global supply chain - particularly in electronics, engineering and finance - as well as other sectors.

The country’s infrastructure investment is playing a vital role in supporting its people and businesses in competing on a the world stage.

Today, Yazrin will be discussing:

Malaysia’s unique role in the regional and global supply chain.
Key opportunities for international businesses to collaborate with Malaysian companies.
How Malaysia is positioning itself for the future.

USEFULL LINKS:

Asianet Consultants: https://asianetconsultants.com

MATRADE’s Official Website: www.matrade.gov.my

MATRADE Hong Kong’s Email: hongkong@matrade.gov.my

MATRADE Hong Kong’s LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/matradehk

NIMP 2023: www.nimp2030.gov.my

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Managing an apparel supply chain has never been easy - but in recent years its got far more complicated.

The combination of greater uncertainty- and increased demands to be faster, better - and more transparent - has made it almost impossible to rely on old models.

While everyone sees the situation from a different perspective - just about everyone agrees things are not likely to go back to what is wistfully referred to as ‘normal’.

That has left a lot of global sourcing directors and suppliers wondering exactly how to repositions themselves to be the winners in what has clearly become a different ball game.

Today we are joined by Ranju Mahtani, Executive Chairman of EPIC Group, a world class apparel manufacturer, with facilities in Bangladesh, Jordan, India and other nations.

Ranju is one of my industry heroes. He has been a pioneer in bringing automation into his factories - long before others were even talking about it.

He has also been at the forefront of CSR, finding innovative ways to elevate his workforce and help them achieve more and live better lives.

In this podcast, Ranju discusses:

Supply chain opportunities for brands - that they might be overlooking.
What’s going to change in manufacturing (for real) in the next 3-5 years.
Why India is becoming an apparel sourcing hot spot.
The growing importance for manufacturers to develop strong middle management leaders.

USEFUL LINKS:

EPIC Group's website: www.epicgroup.global

Connect with Ranju on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ranjan-mahtani-347a9211/

Asianet Consultants: https://asianetconsultants.com

The Current Situation in Sourcing: thecurrentsituation.net

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Suddenly everyone is talking about India. And if you are working in India - or thinking of doing so - then this is episode is for you!

After years of being in the shadows of China, Vietnam, Bangladesh and other key sourcing nations, India is finally taking center stage.

India has always had the right stuff - a huge population, domestic cotton, a strong textile sector for yarns and fabrics and of course a legacy in apparel manufacturing. However, the nation hasn’t been able to pull all that together at a level that would get not just attention, but commitments from top international brands.

That is, until now.

Today we are joined by Dr. Stephen Patton, South Asia Director for Liverpool Department Store, Mexico’s top department store.

Stephen spent seven and a half years establishing his company’s massively successful China office - and leading that office through the pandemic. In mid 2022, he moved to India to start building a comprehensive sourcing office for Liverpool there.

One of Stephen’s zone’s of genius is his ability to see beyond the obvious. To understand market opportunities that many others overlook. And to have the strength to patiently pursue goals.

Even at only a year and half in, Stephen has already achieved impressive growth in setting up an India-based sourcing operation that is developing competitive new products for Liverpool.

In this episode, Stephen will be discussing:

What he’s learned about how to effectively work in India.
The timelines and benchmarks that you need to understand when sourcing in India.
Sourcing opportunities in India that you won’t find anywhere else.

USEFUL LINKS:

Asianet Consultants: https://asianetconsultants.com

Connect with Dr. Stephen Patton: https://www.linkedin.com/in/spatton1/

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

One of the most frustrating things a parent can face is watching their child struggle in school.

Yet many children hit speed bumps during their early school years. For some children it’s trying to master math. For others it could be tackling spelling and grammar - or reading.

What seems like something that should be easy to achieve ends up being a source of daily angst for both the students - and their families.

For most parents and teachers the advice is to push the child to try harder … to spend more time on homework … or to start paying attention in class.

But if there was a different approach? One that not only was more effective in helping your child to learn - but that they also enjoyed. Something that made learning fun and helped build a strong bond between parents and their school age children?

Today we are joined by Dawn Strachan, the founder of the massively successful Clara James Tutoring Method and author of ‘Square Pegs, Round Holes’ a book that offers innovative ways to help primary school children master even the most challenging subjects.

This podcast is part of our new author series, where I am bringing you some of the most interesting ideas and insights from leading authors and to make sure you never miss a great book.

In this podcast Dawn will be discussing

What parents and teachers might be overlooking when they have a child who is struggling in school.
Easy ways to gamify learning that take your child from ‘I can’t’ to ‘Yes, I can!’
Why often its not the student its the teaching method that is the problem.

Dawn’s insights could make this your year child’s best school year ever!

USEFUL LINKS:

The Clara James Approach website: The Clara James Approach

"Square Pegs, Round Holes" book: Square Pegs & Round Holes: Supporting Every Child's Education : Strachan, Dawn: Amazon.co.uk: Books

"Getting to Grips with Angles" book: Getting to grips with angles: Amazon.co.uk

The Revision Planner: https://www.amazon.ca/Your-exams-just-around-corner/dp/B0CQ8CZPMM

Asianet Consultants website: https://asianetconsultants.com

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

For nearly 4 years I’ve had the opportunity to host so many fabulous leaders and innovators on this show. And help share their stories, their wisdom and their expertise with our audience in 133 countries.

But in this episode I’m passing the mic to the phenomenal Kenz Soliman, a legend on Udemy where she has a following of nearly 150,000 students.

She is also the organizer of a game changing co-working program, a visionary entrepreneur and a masterful course creator. Oh, and on top of that, she’s one of the kindest - and most fun loving people you’d hope to meet.

You'll Learn:

How the team at Inside Fashion turns the chaos of industry news into concise, focused snapshots that can be read in just a matter of minutes.
The value of having ongoing conversations with a wide range of industry stakeholders in order to get a well rounded view of the market.
Why trust and transparency are top priorities for winning in today's market.

USEFUL LINKS:

Connect with Kenz Soliman: https://www.facebook.com/kenzsoliman.official

Kenz's website: https://herdigitalbusiness.com

Connect with Jane Singer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jane-singer/

Inside Fashion's website: https://insidefashionlive.net

Current Situation in Sourcing: https://insidefashionlive.net/the-current-situation-in-sourcing

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

If you’re like most of us, sooner or later you face times when you’re just burnt out. You hit a wall. There’s nothing left in the tank.

Yet we still need to keep going and moving ahead at work and in our personal lives.

In this podcast we’re going to be talking about practical ways that anyone can help prevent burnout so that they can be more productive and live their best life.

Today we are joined by Eric Recker, founder of Win The Now. Eric knows what it’s like to battle burnout and to have to find a pathway back into the game. After trying almost everything to overcome the stress that comes from feeling that you always need to be just that much better, he found a way to identify his triggers - and to prevent them from crashing his life.

In this episode Eric will be discussing:

A game changing technique for focusing on the ‘now’.
How to find a balance between growth and contentment.
Why taking one small step can create massive momentum.

USEFUL LINKS

Connect with Eric Recker: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-recker-583849278/

WinTheNow website: www.ericrecker.com

Eric's free 5-day burnout challenge.

Asianet Consultants website: https://asianetconsultants.com

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Supply chain management has become both an art and a science, with executives tasked with building more resiliency, while also increasing flexibility, reducing lead times, and jumping through hoops to comply with increasingly complex regulations - which, adding to the confusion, are different in different markets.

No wonder one most people talk about improving supply chains - but very few actually do. Realistically, it’s difficult enough to simply manage existing systems, without having to try and introduce new ones.

Today we’re joined by Dean Clegg, a supply chain consultant who previously was the Global Sourcing Director at Sainsbury, where he lead a complex supply chain through both the pandemic and the transition to Brexit. Prior to that, Dean led the successful integration of Argos stores into Sainsbury’s.

In this episode Dean will be discussing:

How to become more efficient and reduce lead times
Determining the right technology to optimize your supply chain
The game-changing importance of building seamless supplier relationships.
Rethinking how we reduce waste to achieve greater sustainability

USEFUL LINKS:

Connect with Dean Clegg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dean-clegg-9508b9169/

Asianet Consultants: https://asianetconsultants.com

The Current Situation in Sourcing: https://insidefashionlive.net/current-situation-in-sourcing/

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

The years of companies staffing up as they sprinted towards what they believed was going to be the next unicorn - or at the very least years of strong growth - have suddenly reversed course.

One by one, banks, consulting firms, retailers - even the tech sector - started announcing cutbacks. With tens of thousands of jobs being axed.

That’s led to massive layoffs during the past two years with a sharp focus on downsizing headquarters and R&D departments - in other words mid career workers in white collar jobs.

So what can you when you find yourself on the ‘other side of the desk’? Where do you start when you haven’t looked for a job since you left school? And what opportunities are there for older people in an age that seems to be fixated on youth?

In this episode we’re joined by Richard Triggs, CEO of Arete Executive, a recruitment specialist that focuses on senior executive or non-executive board positions. He also the author of “Uncover The Hidden Job Market: How to Find and Win Your Next Senior Executive Role”.

Richard will be discussing what he refers to as the ‘hidden job market’ and how executives can find their next position.

He believes that even late career executives can find new positions in today’s market - if they understand where and how to look for them.

USEFUL LINKS

Sponsors

Asianet Consultants: https://asianetconsultants.com

The Current Situation in Sourcing:

https://insidefashionlive.net/current-situation-in-sourcing/

Connect with Richard Triggs

www.areteexecutive.com.au

https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardtriggs/

https://www.areteexecutive.com.au/free-book/

https://open.spotify.com/show/2AGsypgCDg0UYN98Z0v2xW?si=c7c0f3552b9c4e9b

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Sometimes just when everything seems to be stable, we get blindsided.

It happens to everyone sooner or later.

We can’t control some of the challenges that life throws at us, but we can control how we react to them.

That was certainly the case for many businesses when the pandemic hit.

Not all were easily parlayed into remote work.

And one of the hardest hit was the travel industry.

Welcome to Launch to Legendary, where we meet people who have turned the ordinary into the extraordinary.

Who have taken challenges and turned them into opportunities.

And who’ve created success in their own terms.

Today we are joined by Sharon Hunter, who during the course of her life has faced enormous trials and traumas, but has come back fighting!

The pandemic laid waste to her once thriving travel agency forcing her to take charge of both her business and her mindset.

In this episode, Sharon shares how she turned a crisis into an opportunity to develop a stronger more confident and center mindset, that not only got her through the pandemic years - but has become the foundation on which she’s built a new business platform.

USEFUL LINKS:

Connect with Sharon Hunter: linkedin.com/in/dreamhuntersharon

Dream Hunter Vacations website: dreamhuntervacations.ca

Sharon's website: http://www.dreamhunter.ca/

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Customer service is often talked about but not often delivered. In fact, it is one of the biggest complaints that both businesses and consumers have.

Most say that the companies they do business with offer poor service - or even no service at all.

Companies are looking to cut costs and customer service is typically the first department to get hit.

Yet customer service might be the key to growing your business - particularly in highly competitive markets.

In this episode we’re joined by Greg Rich, CEO of Vivantio, a company that uses automation to help companies leverage customer service to scale their business.

In this podcast Greg talks about:

The biggest (and costliest) mistake companies make around customer service.

How to automate customer service without losing the personalization that customers want.

Small modifications companies can make to level up the service they deliver.

Useful Links:

Asianet Consultants: https://asianetconsultants.com

Vivantio: https://www.vivantio.com

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

For nearly two decades most investors’ attention was focused on the stock market.

Then suddenly central banks began raising interest rates and investors began to rethink their strategies.

That’s given rise to growing interest in a range of alternative investment vehicles, including CEFs, internal funds, ETFs, UITs, and commodity pools.

However, until now most of these investment vehicles have only been available to institutional investors.

I’m Jane Singer and welcome back to A Seat at The Table where we sit down with industry leaders and innovators to gain valuable insights that will help us grow our businesses.

Today we’re joined by Kimberly Flynn, managing director and partner at XA Investments. Having previously served as the Senior Vice President and Head of Product Development for Nuveen Investments' Global Structured Products Group, Kim's leadership and dedication played a pivotal role in developing over 40 closed-end funds and raising approximately $13 billion in capital.

Kim will discussing:

The democratization of alternative investments that is allowing individual investors access to institutional-caliber strategies.

What she sees as the top emerging alternative asset classes.

What investors need to consider in an investment environment where there’s high interest rates and inflation.

How alternative investments can work with an ESG strategy.

Useful Links:

Asianet Consultants: https://asianetconsultants.com

Kimberly Flynn: kflynn@XAInvestments.com

XA Investments: www.xainvestments.com

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

In the competitive world of mobile commerce success is now being driven by push notifications powered by new mobile apps.

The idea is to grab consumers’ attention and get them to take immediate action. That means not only having e-commerce apps on people’s phones, but making them extremely user-friendly.

Today we’re joined by Campbell Paton, Co-Founder and CEO of StoreLab, which helps e-commerce companies maximize mobile commerce.

In this episode Campbell with be sharing:

Why push notifications are outperforming email - and SMS messages.
How mobile commerce is changing the game for e-commerce.
Guidelines and best practices for optimizing your mobile commerce apps.

USEFUL LINKS:

Asianet Consultants: https://asianetconsultants.com

StoreLabs: https://www.storelab.app/

Connect with Campbell Paton on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/campbell-paton/

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

One of the biggest marketing tactics these days is to create a brand story.

But how do you do that when you are selling basics, commodities - or something you can’t even touch or feel, like services?

This week I’m joined by Chauncy Zalkin, an expert in building brand stories for companies ranging from fashion to SaaS software and real estate.

Even when it seems like there isn’t a story to be found, Chauncy is able ask to the right questions and uncover that perfect brand story you did know existed.

In this episode Chauncy will be discussing

How to discover the story within your brand.
Why the way a brand makes people feel is the key to customer retention.
The importance of focus - especially in a crowded, noisy market.

USEFUL LINKS:

Asianet Consultants: https://asianetconsultants.com

Chauncy on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/chaunceyzalkin

Chauncy's Portfolio: http://www.slcontentstudio.com/

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

SEO or search engine optimization isn’t getting the amount of attention it used.

The early days of e-commerce was all about key words and being top ranked in Google searches.

As dynamic new marketing options were rolled out, SEO found itself out of sight, out of mind.

However online marketing experts are now saying that by overlooking this core part of the digital ecosystem, companies could be leaving money on the table.

In this episode we’re joined by Jules White, founder of Success Hub, which specializes in helping companies and entrepreneurs optimize their websites so that they can connect with customers who are searching for their products and services.

In this podcast Jules will be discussing:

The critical reason why everyone should get the SEO right for their website.

Key areas that sites need to optimize for better search results.

What companies misunderstand about how to optimize their website in a competitive market.

Useful Links

Asianet Consultants website: https://asianetconsultants.com

Success Hub website: https://thewebsitesuccesshub.com

Jules White on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/juleswhitecreativa

Jules White on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jules-white-creativa

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Everyone wants to do things faster - to get results right away - but that race to the finish line can often end in disaster - or at the very least, disappointing outcomes.

That’s increasingly the case as organizations hurry to introduce new technology, without having explored all the possible impacts it will have on the business - both good and bad. And without any planning for how to address each potential issue.

In this podcast we are joined by Pia Wendelbo, founder of Scandinavian Change Agents. Pia led process optimization and organizational change at the leading bank in the Nordics.

Pia will be discussing:

How companies can avoid making key mistakes when digitizing their operations.

What organizations can do to help team members embrace change.

Why taking a slow approach to digital transformation can lead to faster (and better) results.

USEFUL LINKS:

Asianet Consultants: https://asianetconsultants.com

Pia Wendelbo on LinkedIn: Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/digital-change-agent

Scandinavian Change Agents website: https://www.scandinavianchangeagents.com/

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Most companies spend a lot of time and money creating a sales page on their website but few are rewarded with a steady stream of sales.

Creating sales pages (or funnels as they are often called) is less about a clever headline or massive numbers of testimonials or grandiose promises of life changing results if you buy the product.

Turns out, if you implement about 8 key elements and then regularly measure the data around each step in your funnel you can 10x or even 100x your sales.

Meet John Ainsworth, CEO and founder of ‘Data Driven Marketing’, which helps online course creators boost their revenue by an average of 486%.

John parlayed his degree in mathematics into a framework based on extensive data analysis to strategically optimize sales funnels.

His approach has been put to the test over the past 20 years with both mid size businesses and enterprises - and have achieved the kind of sales growth we all wish we had.

In this podcast John will be sharing …

The key touch points every successful sales page must have.
How to use email marketing to drive traffic to your website.
What to measure and how to use that data to improve your sales conversions.

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

There’s a simple and effective marketing tool that most businesses are under utilizing - or sometimes not even using at all.

I’m talking about email marketing.

We send and receive hundreds of emails each week, but how often do we really spend time thinking about how we can use email to sell our products or build customer relationships?

Today’s guest is going tell us how we can change that.

Meet Scott Cohen, an email marketing and automation veteran who has worked with Fortune 500 companies as well as startups to use data-driven strategies to turn around underperforming accounts.

In this podcast, Scott will be sharing:

•Where marketers might be leaving money on the table, when it comes to email marketing.
•Benchmarks for email frequency and response rates.
•The importance of reaching the right people, not just more people.
•What might be next for email marketing.

USEFUL LINKS:

Asianet Consultants website: https://asianetconsultants.com

InboxArmy: https://www.inboxarmy.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottcohen13/

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Rising interest rates have changed the game. After a near 20 year run, VC funds and Angel investors have left the market.

However there are still opportunities for investing in startups. It’s just that now they are a bit different.

Today we’re joined by Charles Sidman, Founder and Managing Partner of ECS Capital Partners, a firm specializing in early stage investment.

Charles' achievements include investing in over 50 startup or growth companies, chairing multiple ventures, and serving on prestigious boards and associations globally.

In this episode of A Seat at The Table, Charles will be giving us insights into the unique early-stage entrepreneurial asset class.

In this podcast Charles will be discussing:

The risks associated with this asset class and how investors can protect themselves.
How investors can unlock the potential of early-stage companies for maximum financial returns.
Why he favors ‘deep tech’ enterprises over other enterprises. And how he evaluates their potential to scale and determine their true competitive advantage.

USEFUL LINKS:

Asianet Consultants website: https://asianetconsultants.com

ECS Parners website: https://ecs-partners.com

Connect with Charles on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-sidman-0b778620/

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Technology has become so ubiquitous that we take its existence for granted.

That is until something goes wrong. Then suddenly we are aware of how dependent every aspect of lives is on the smooth functioning of our IT systems.

Just like so many industries, IT is facing its own Industrial Revolution of sorts.

The industry is moving from a backroom operation to becoming a diverse supply chain comprised specialist service provides that are working together to provide the intense data-driven support most organizations now require.

The new IT manager is less of a developer and more of a supply chain manager, orchestrating the roles of an array of service providers.

Today we are joined by Juha Berghall, CEO of One IO and a leading IT entrepreneur.

Juha's passion lies in tackling the biggest bottleneck of enterprise digitalization - integrations.

He understands the challenges faced by Large Enterprise IT service providers who strive to collaborate with teams, vendors, suppliers, partners, and subcontractors on different platforms.

In this podcast Juha will be discussing:

What it takes to run and manage successful IT services today
What IT is learning from ERP.
How automation is the future for IT management - and what that might look like.

**USEFUL LINKS

Asianet Consultants website:** https://asianetconsultants.com

Connect with Juha Berghall: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jberghall/

One IO website: https://www.oneio.cloud/

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Data analytics has become a key topic, especially when it comes to leveraging the internet to grow your business.

Today we can capture a huge amount of data across a growing range of platforms. That’s both a blessing and a curse!

Marketers can easily get lost analyzing everything that they can analyze - but not necessarily what they should analyze.

Success comes from first creating a question - and then analyzing that data which potentially could provide some insights.

Meet Sam Torres, Co-Founder, Chief Digital Officer of Gray Dot Company, a consulting firm that specializes in SEO and data analysis for regulated industries, non-profit organizations, and SaaS.

In this episode Sam addresses ways to help marketing leaders leverage consumer data, AI, measure ROI, and how to rethink digital analytics.

**USEFUL LINKS

Asianet Consultants website:** https://asianetconsultants.com

The Gray Dot Company website: https://thegray.company/

Connect with Sam Torres: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-torres-seo/

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Marketing and B2B businesses are not typically seen as companions.

However in a challenging market, companies selling products and services to other businesses need to a lot more to stand out in the market if they hope to survive let alone growth their business.

The question facing many brands is how exactly can they promote a brand in a way that resonates with potential customers and helps to grow sales.

Meet Matt Bell, a specialist in B2B marketing. He co-founded MessageUp to assist B2B companies in improving their messaging and and in delivering effective content without overwhelming their teams.

In this episode Matt will be discussing:

How B2B companies can maximize their impact when they have limited resources.
How companies can leverage thought leadership and brand content.
Best practices for optimizing the buying experience for digital-first B2B customers.

USEFUL LINKS

Asianet Consultants website: https://asianetconsultant.com

Matt Bell's website and blog: https://www.messageup.com

Connect with Matt Bell on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattbell

Follow MessageUp on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/messageup

Paperback and e-Book links: https://www.messageup.com

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

There’s almost nothing that we can’t measure - and so we tend to measure everything.

However, too often we end up measuring what we can, and not necessarily what’s important or meaningful.

We see this in the fascination we all have with the number of likes or views a social media post gets.

But do ‘likes’ really mean that people actually like your product or want to buy your products? Usually not.

So if views alone are not that meaningful, what does matter? What should we be measuring - and how should be measuring it?

Meet Katie Paine, a pioneer in the field of measurement for over three decades - and known as the Measurement Queen.

She’s the founder of KDPaine & Partners Inc., and The Delahaye Group, both measurement companies.

Katie was recently awarded the prestigious IPR Jack Felton Medal for Lifetime Achievement, an award made for lifetime contributions in the advancement of research, measurement and evaluation in public relations and corporate communication.

She’s also the author of several books including Measure What Matters, and most recently Measuring the Networked Nonprofit.

In this episode, Katie will be discussing:

Why numbers don’t matter, its about who you reach not how many
The key the differences between paid influencers and micro influencers
Why top-level executives are growing more skeptical of social media data

**USEFUL LINKS

Asianet Consultants: https://asianetconsultants.com Connect with Katie Paine: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kdpaine/ Visit Katie Paine's website:** https://painepublishing.com/

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

The pressure to be more sustainable saw companies announcing ambitious goals with target dates that are now frighteningly near!

That’s left more than a few scrambling to revise their strategies and find ways to green up that will make an impact, but are more achievable.

The question is how do we do this?

Today we’re joined by Christopher Caldwell, a former investment banker and corporate lawyer, and founder of United Renewables, a renewable energy developer and clean tech investor.

He’s leveraged his business experience to help companies sort out the overwhelming amount of noise around sustainability and find solutions that are practical and actionable.

In this episode Chris will be discussing:

The right way for companies to get started or get smarter about sustainability.
How companies can ethically drive business valuation through ESG initiatives.

3. Some of the myths and misunderstandings around implementing sustainable solutions.

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

One of the biggest topics surrounding supply chains - if not the biggest topic - is the need to digitise.

We all love our Excel sheets (me too!) but they can only take us so far.

In an increasingly complex environment, we need to be able to gather better data - and analyze it faster.

That means getting our business onto a a more advanced platform.

While most organisations acknowledge this - they also feel a bit overwhelmed at the prospect of adding a new massive undertaking. Equally as daunting is the Capex commitment.

And then there’s all of the warnings that most digital transformations fail.

Fortunately one of the biggest, but least acknowledged changes in technology is that it is actually getting easier and less expensive for companies of all sizes to get onboard.

Today we’re joined by Nick Foy, the Founder, CEO, and Chief Evangelist of Silverdale Technology, which gives companies access to world-class processes, systems, and change management methods regardless of their size or budget.

He has over 30-years of experience in business and technology leadership for logistics and supply chains, at Amazon, Capgemini Consulting, ModusLink Corporation, 3663 First for Foodservice, and The Glenmorangie Distillery Company.

Nick will be discussing:

Why flexibility without structure is chaos

How to perfect the four essential parts of any mechanism in your businesses

The importance of choosing the right tech for your business vision

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Every company today is at least thinking of digitising their operations - or at least part of their operations.

However, most companies see this as a task so daunting that ultimately the gain doesn’t seem to outweigh the pain.

From 8 figure quotations for implementation to statistics that point to high failure rates, it can be difficult to make a compelling case to make the change.

And yet, the pressure to be a fully integrated part of industry 4.0 persists.

That might be beginning to change … not the need for greater operational technology, but the hurdles in bringing it into your organisation.

Today we are joined by Tom Pierce, President of Integrated Information Systems, which helps companies with integrated business planning, cost and schedule analysis, and cross-functional collaboration.

He has parlayed his diverse background that includes military service, pastoral ministry, and application software to developing an approach to ERP solutions that combines human intelligence with innovative software thus bridging the gap between human and computer systems

Today Tom will be discussing:

The art of ERP implementation: Why it's more than just a science
Balancing human and technological resources for maximum efficiency
Integrating legacy MRP/ERP and logistics systems with emerging technologies
How software solutions can benefit small and medium-sized businesses

USEFUL LINKS:

Asianet Consultants website: https://asianetconsultants.com

Connect with Tom Pierce: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-pierce-6799b356/

I2S website: i2s.us

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Most marketers understand the importance of A/B testing for optimizing marketing campaigns. However, surprisingly many are not up to speed on best practices for doing this successfully.

Sometimes even a simple tweak or modification can have game changing impacts on the success of your marketing, your sales - and on your company’s bottomline.

While there is a lot of conversations around A/B testing, there’s surprisingly very little clarity.

This leaves marketers knowing that they could be doing better, but with no clear direction of how to do it.

Today we’re joined by Nils Koopelmann, founder of 3Tech, a company that focuses on conversion optimisation and experimentation to help e-commerce companies make better decisions in order to drive growth.

Nils will be speaking about:

The fundamentals of A/B testing and how it impacts business growth.
Practical tips for conducting successful A/B tests.
Success factors for data-driven growth strategies.
How A/B testing can contribute to increasing e-commerce conversion rates and revenue.

USEFUL LINKS:

Asianet Consultants: https://asianetconsultants.com

Connect with Nils Koopelmann: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nils-koppelmann/

3Tech's website: https://3tech.de

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

We talk a lot about leadership here on A Seat at The Table, however we don’t often discuss how to turn good intentions into an action plan. Yet this is foundational to actually getting things done. And make our business more successful - not just this year or this quarter - but for the long term.

Meet Antonio Garrido, author of My Daily Leadership: A Powerful Roadmap for Leadership Success, and Founder & President of My Daily Leadership, a leadership development organization with a mission to inspire one million of the world’s best leaders to reach their full potential.

Antonio has over twenty-five years in senior leadership positions with world-class organizations.

He is an expert in leadership transformation: shaping high-performance leaders out of highly-stressed and overworked executives. Antonio blends his own vast commercial experience with proven techniques to embed a unique brand of leadership development.

As Antonio points out: Success is a habit, not an event.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

How to develop leadership insight which leads to corporate foresight.

The critical importance of developing a leader’s number one resource, action bias.

How to identify and eliminate your leadership blind spots.

USEFUL LINKS:

Asianet Consultants website: https://asianetconsultants.com

Connect with Antonio Garrido: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoniogarrido/

My Daily Leadership website: https://www.mydailyleadership.com/

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Running a business is quite as easy as it used to be.

Most organizations are facing major challenges - and changes.

This is raising the bar for senior executives to find new ways to tackle an uncertain business environment, while also becoming stronger and more effective team leaders.

Today we are joined by Jeffrey Deckman, a serial entrepreneur who has bootstrapped two multi-million dollar companies; several non-profits and multiple political organizations.

He’s a recognized thought leader on conscious leadership and the author of the bestselling “Developing the Conscious Leadership Mindset for the 21st Century: Insight for Leading Change, Improving Employee Engagement, and Achieving Extraordinary Results”

In this episode, Jeffrey will be discussing:

The Organizational Trinity – The "invisible" force that drives all organizational performance
How to Develop the Conscious Leadership Mindset
The biggest mistakes leaders make that they don’t realize they are making?
The biggest differences between today’s workers and workers in the past

USEFUL LINKS:

Asianet Consultants: https://asianetconsultants.com

Connect with Jeffrey Deckman: http://jeffreydeckman.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffrey-deckman/

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Retailers are facing an uncertain market that has left even the most confident a bit unsure as to what might be coming next.

Supply chains are back to normal, but now it’s the consumer that has changed. Somehow, the behavior we expected to see is being replaced by a new attitude.

This has left many brands and retailers scrambling to figure out whether this is a short term aberration - or a longer term market shift.

To answer this question I reached out to Carol Spieckerman, a top retail influencer and thought leader and founder of Spiekerman Retail. If you are looking to grow your retail business - even in tough times - she’s the person who can help you make that happen.

Carol’s a go-to solution provider for brands and retailers who want help communicating clear value, sharpening their positioning and targeting, and accelerating their B2B business development.

In this episode Carol will be discussing:

Why diversification is a key growth engine for the future of retail.
How retailers can successfully develop discretionary categories.
The huge opportunities in multi-channel retail and how brands can take advantage of this.

USEFUL LINKS:

Asianet Consultants: https://asianetconsultants.com

Spiekerman Retail: www.spieckermanretail.com

Connect with Carol Spiekerman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolspieckerman/

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

If you have a mental health issue should you let your boss know? What about your team mates?

Millions of people struggle with mental health and yet most are reluctant to let anyone know about it.

From being considered taboo to fearing of being labeled as unstable or being seen as a complainer, many people just try to power through.

But what if it was OK be upfront about your struggles? And what if by doing so you could find ways to work with them - and thus not let them get in the way of your performance?

I’m Jane Singer and welcome to Launch to Legendary, where we get to hear from people who taken the ordinary and turned it into the extraordinary.

Who’ve found opportunities where most people would only see obstacles. And who’ve defined success in their own terms.

Meet Bryce Seto, a successful SVP at an insights consultancy, who’s scaled startups from $0 to $10M - and who also happens to be diagnosed with borderline personality disorder.

He’s on a mission to help others overcome the stigma of mental health issues - while inspiring leaders to support openness and vulnerability in the workplace.

You'll Learn:

The importance of addressing your own mental health as a leader, in an open, honest, and authentic way
Why disorders are not the barriers we think they are and how we can accept and overcome them, even use them as strengths in our work
Why vulnerability is a key to success as a leader, and we need to not be afraid of it.

USEFUL LINKS:

Bryce's website and newsletter: www.bryceseto.com

Follow Bryce on Instagram: @bryceseto

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

When brands look for new markets an obvious choice for many is Western Europe, where consumers have strong buying power, there’s grade A retail property, and market entry can be less baffling compared with tackling emerging markets.

Yet while many brands have successfully entered the European market, just as many - even well established brands - have failed.

That has left companies wondering whether they should try to build a retail presence in Europe - and if so - how to do it.

I’m Jane Singer and welcome back to A Seat at The Table, where each week we get to hear from industry leaders and innovators who share their ideas, outlook and experience so that we can build stronger and more successful businesses.

Today we are joined by Chris Igwe, a top advisor to retailers who are looking to expand into Europe. Early in his career Chris was Head of Real Estate, Europe for Foot Locker, and then Gap, before joining ICSC (International Council of Shopping Centers), as Managing Director Europe.

Today he advise global retailers and brands on retail real estate, from strategy to implementation across EMEA. Chris has worked with brands including 7 For All Mankind, Build A Bear Workshop, Nike, Michael Kors and others, as well as owners and investors such as EuroDisney, Value Retail, Deutsche Bank and many more.

Today he joins us here on A Seat at The Table to talk about the current opportunities in the European market - and how to successfully enter this market.

Chris will be discussing:

Key opportunities he sees in the European market right now.
Blindspots in brands’ strategy that cause them to fail in the European market.
What the future of European retail could look like
How foreign brands can build strong teams in Europe.

USEFUL LINKS

Asianet Consultant's website: https://asianetconsultants.com

Connect with Chris Igwe: https://www.linkedin.com/in/speakerchrisigwe/

Chris Igwe's website: www.igweinternational.com

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Anyone who has ever tried to raise money for a charitable cause or secure corporate sponsorships knows that it’s a lot easier said than done.

Most fund raisers aren’t aware of the volume of requests for funding even smaller companies get - never mind larger corporations.

To successfully raise money, you need to know how to stand out from a vast field of competitors. This comes down to pitching the right companies - with the right pitch.

The question most fund raisers have is “how exactly do I do that”.

Meet Lori Zoss Kraska, a master revenue generation expert with over 22 years of success in landing corporate sponsorship support, fundraising, and marketing strategy.

She’s the founder and CEO of Growth Owl, which empowers nonprofits, startups and associations with the tools need to achieve their funding goals.

In this episode you'll learn:

How to effectively communicate with corporate decision makers - and persuade them to fund your nonprofit.

2.How to craft impactful messages that resonate with corporate partners.

Unique approaches for generating corporate sponsorship funding to build a winning sponsorship strategy

USEFUL LINKS

Asianet Consultants website: https://asianetconsultants.com

Connect with Lori Zoss Kraska: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorizoss/

Growth Owl's website: https://thegrowthowl.com

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Redefining Success and Finding Career Fulfillment 🚀

Chloe Thomas is a best-selling author, international speaker, and podcast host who has successfully redefined her career and found true fulfillment. 🌟

However her career wasn't always like this.

In this podcast Chloe shares her journey - mistakes she made ... lessons learned ... and how she ultimately created a massively successful - and fulfilling career!

Key Takeaways from this episode:

Embrace your journey: Chloe's path to success was anything but linear. From working at a big bank to managing communication channels for a retailer, she underwent various roles before discovering her true passion. Remember, no career path is ever wasted!
Know thyself: Chloe's realization that she was an introvert and had been trying to be an extrovert was a game-changer. Understanding your strengths and weaknesses, and embracing your authentic self, is crucial to achieving success.
Focus on strengths: Chloe's advice to double down on your strengths and avoid pursuing roles that don't align with your personality is invaluable. By recognizing and playing into your strengths, you can avoid burnout and find lasting fulfillment.

Chloe's entrepreneurial journey and her lessons on personal success will inspire and motivate you to take control of your own path. Tune in to the episode to learn more about how to set inspiring goals, determine personal success, and choose a fulfilling career. 🎧

Remember, success is not an overnight phenomenon, and everyone faces failures and mistakes along the way. Chloe's story reminds us that it's essential to make the best guess and learn from any wrong decisions. 📚

If you're feeling frustrated by others' seemingly rapid success stories, rest assured that every journey has its difficult and mundane moments. Chloe's honesty about the emotional hardships and moments of doubt will encourage you to persevere in your own pursuit of greatness. 💪

So, grab your headphones and join us on this captivating episode as Chloe shares her insights, lessons learned, and how she built a thriving business by leveraging her strengths. 🎙️✨

Don't forget to subscribe to "Launch to Legendary" for more inspiring episodes! 🌟 Let us know your key takeaways from Chloe's journey in the comments below.

CONNECT WITH CHLOE:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/chloethomasecommerce/

Ecommerce Master Plan website: eCommerceMasterPlan.com/podcast

Keep Optimizing podcast: keepoptimising.com

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Host Jane Singer sits down with the inspirational Kenz Soliman, a successful business owner and mentor who has achieved legendary status through her remarkable journey. In this captivating conversation, Kenz shares valuable insights on being mentally strong, embracing personal growth, and overcoming self-doubt in the pursuit of success.

Kenz emphasizes the importance of being open to criticism, acknowledging that not everyone will appreciate our work. However, she encourages listeners to focus on connecting with the people who do appreciate it, as the views of others shouldn't define our worth. Instead, Kenz values personal growth as an essential part of the journey, considering it more significant than mere success or numbers.

As an overthinker herself, Kenz can relate to those who struggle with overanalyzing data and feeling overwhelmed. However, she finds motivation in the positive feedback and good comments she receives for her content. This encouragement inspires her to continue creating and going above and beyond.

Reflecting on her experience of trying new things, Kenz came to the realization that her current work is what she truly loves and excels at. To maintain focus, she prioritizes her essential work and ventures into other interests only when she has the time and energy. Kenz emphasizes the importance of not leaving what is working for something new and uncertain.

Kenz credits her resilience to the chance she took on herself, refusing to believe the false beliefs she was taught growing up. Her courses enabled her to talk about her journey with people-pleasing, leading her to do a TEDx talk — a remarkable achievement that few accomplish. Though she initially doubted her potential and sabotaged her results, confidence soon followed as positive reviews poured in for her courses.

However, Kenz admits to making mistakes while building her brand and having to start over multiple times. She also tried different methods of making money but eventually realized they didn't align with her true passion. Instead, she learned to focus on timeless principles rather than specific tools.

What You'll Learn

The value of finding and connecting with the people who appreciate one's work, rather than seeking validation from everyone
How to prioritize essential work and avoid the temptation of pursuing new interests that may divert energy and resources.
The importance of resilience and belief in oneself, even when faced with doubt and false beliefs ingrained from childhood.
The mindset shift necessary to embrace collaboration and overcome fears of being judged.

**Connect with Kenz

Kenz's website:** https://www.herdigitalbusiness.dom

On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenz-soliman/

On Udemy: https://www.udemy.com/courses/search/?src=ukw&q=Kenz+Soliman

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

In this episode of "A Seat at The Table," host Jane Singer welcomes guest Jonathan Porter, the founder and CEO of PorterLogic, a low code application platform specializing in supply chain technology. The episode focuses on achieving end-to-end visibility in the supply chain and utilizing data integration, scenario analysis, and customized solutions.

Jonathan discusses the digitization of supply chains over the past decade and the recognition of the value of data generated from these digital systems. Artificial Intelligence (AI) presents an opportunity to leverage this data for optimizing inventory and shipping processes. He emphasizes the importance of identifying pain points and selecting the right system or technology to address them, whether it's a point solution or a costly ERP.

Integration strategy is highlighted as crucial for effective communication between supply chain systems. Tools like middleware and native integration, as well as companies like Zapier, provide technologies for seamless integration and data connectivity.

The episode also touches on the impact of the global pandemic, which highlighted the importance of investing in the supply chain. Flexibility and agility are emphasized in modern business landscapes, and technology can aid in decision-making and scenario analysis.

Jonathan shares insights on demand forecasting, highlighting the challenges of relying solely on historical sales data and offering alternative methods like competitor analysis and scenario analysis to estimate demand.

The episode concludes with a discussion on the challenges and advantages of legacy players and start-ups in the supply chain technology industry. The ultimate goal is to digitize supply chains for better decision-making and efficiency, and Jonathan's company, PorterLogic, aims to provide operational systems that fill existing gaps in niche industries.

Overall, the episode delves into the advancements in supply chain technology, the importance of data integration, scenario analysis, and customizing solutions to improve supply chain operations.

Key Things You'll Learn:
1. The importance of leveraging data and artificial intelligence (AI) in optimizing supply chain operations.

Strategies for identifying and addressing pain points in supply chain management systems.
The significance of integration and connectivity between various supply chain systems for effective communication.
Insights into the advancements and challenges of AI technology in the supply chain industry.
Techniques for predicting customer demand and making informed strategic decisions based on scenario analysis and data integration.

USEFUL LINKS:

Asianet Consultants: https://asianetconsultants.com

Connect with Jonathan Porter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanpporter/

PorterLogic website: porterlogic.com

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Bruce Lee built his legend around his expertise in martial arts and his massive success in motion pictures.

However few see him as a mindset or business thought leader.

Turns out, there’s a lot of we can learn from Bruce Lee.

This episode of A Seat at The Table features host Jane Singer and guest Thomas Lee discussing what every business can learn from Bruce Lee.

Thomas Lee's new book titled "The Bruce Lee Code", which explores Bruce Lee's mindset and business strategies. Mr. Lee discusses how Bruce Lee was a brand before personal branding became common, and how his core philosophies can be utilized in business or personal life.

Throughout the discussion, the speakers highlight the importance of vision while being adaptable, intellectual curiosity for progress, opening oneself up to diversity, and collaborating with different socioeconomic groups.

They emphasize the value of simplicity in demonstrating innovation and sophistication, and draw parallels between Bruce Lee and Steve Jobs in terms of their approach to innovation.

The speakers also mention how Bruce Lee's ability to bring his visions to reality through energy, charisma, resilience, and innovation made him an X factor in achieving his goals.

Core philosophies of Bruce Lee that anyone could utilize - in business or personal life.
The key tactic that Bruce Lee and Steve Jobs had in common.
How to maintain your vision, while being adaptable to circumstances
Why we need to be aware of patterns - use them strategically.

USEFUL LINKS:

'The Bruce Lee Code' on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Bruce-Lee-Code-Mastered-Confidence-ebook/dp/B0BDKDBNRS

Connect with Thomas Lee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-lee-09b8a03/

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Considering how fast wages are rising these days, many CFOs would love to be able to predict the future of pay. Unlike other inputs, salaries and wages seem hard to track and even more difficult to forecast that got one man thinking.

Meet Cary Sparrow, a former US naval officer and founder and CEO of greenwich.hr, where he helps HR professionals and consulting firms predict the future of pay. He's leveraged 35 plus years of combined engineering, military consulting, and operations leadership to help companies achieve organizational growth.

Today on A Seat at The Table, Cary will be discussing

How to predict what pay will look like in the future
Why predicting patrons can help companies stay ahead of competitors,
How real time pay trends help make the labor market more transparent

USEFUL LINKS:

Asianet Consultants: https://asianetconsultants.com

Wagescape's website: http://wagescape.com/

Connect with Cary Sparrow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carysparrow/

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Running a successful e-commerce business continues to get more complicated - and more costly.

The old days when a web strategy was little more than a simple online shop have morphed into a complex, hyper competitive business model.

Today, surging costs and few barriers to competitors have raised the stakes for e-commerce businesses. That’s requiring new tools and new skills.

Meet Matt Putra is the CFO of eightx.co, which helps companies with that all important financial forecasting - so that leadership can make more strategic decisions and gain control over their cash flows.

He’s helped e-commerce brands around the world scale their businesses, and has created a financial model for a $750 million government fund concept.

Today Matt joins us on A Seat at The Table to discuss:

•How e-commerce businesses can gain better control over their cashflow - and preserve cash.

•Insider advice about negotiating with suppliers.

•Financing strategy for e-commerce businesses.

SPONSOR MESSAGE:

Having a strong financial plan is critical to the success of any business. However it’s also essential to have the right people who can execute on that plan and keep tight controls on your finances.

Finding those first rate financial managers is not that easy with the top talent being in big demand.

That’s why many leadingenterprises and even medium sized businesses look to Asianet Consultants to help them recruit the right people for their finance departments.

Asianet has decades of experience and a vast network that enables them to identify and reach out to talent that might otherwise not be accessible.

USEFUL LINKS:

Asianet Consultants: https://asianetconsultants.com

Connect with Matt Putra: linkedin.com/in/mattputra

eightx.co website: https://www.eightx.co/

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

We often talk about brands on this show, but so far we’ve never talked about manufacturing brands.

In fact, until this guest can on A Seat at The Table, I hadn’t given it much thought.

Turns out, I was overlooking a huge marketing opportunity - and it seems that a lot of businesses are too!

Today Jim Huebner joins us on a Seat at The Table to discuss what manufacturers need to now know about branding to not only grow their market but to also protect the market share they already have.

Jim is the Founder and CEO of Huebner Integrated Marketing, a 34-year-old company devoted to helping manufacturing brands become more relevant to their customers and sales channels, and to become more profitable in the process.

Today he’ll be sharing

What makes a manufacturing brand relevant to today’s consumers.
The process for helping brands establish their most robust brand positioning.
The 4 pillars of his “GIVE Manifesto” - What that means

A great brand can lift a product out of obscurity and give it a new life. In a similar way, great leadership can play a pivot role in getting a business back on track or in driving it to greater success.
To take your company to the next level, you need top talent who understand the market - and understands your product.

To find the best talent, brands look to Asianet Consultants. They have an extensive network that helps them connect with leading directors, managers and tech experts.
It’s why both enterprises and indie companies look to Asianet when they need to fill a difficult to fulfill position.

USEFUL LINKS:

Asianet Consultants: https://asisanetconsultants.com

Integrated Marketing's website: https://www.huebnermarketing.com/

Connect with Jim Heubner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jwhuebner/

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Almost every business leader is discussing what role AI will play in their company.

For manufacturers, AI is considered to be foundational to the move towards Industry 4.0.

However most manufacturers are not quite sure how to specifically apply AI to their operations. How to go from theory to practical application.

Meet Bryan DeBois, director of Industrial AI at RoviSys, one of the largest independent global system integrators focused on manufacturing.

Today on A Seat at The Table, we’ll be answering some of the questions manufacturers have about operationalising technologies such as AI, Data Infrastructure and Advanced Analytics - and how they can boost productivity for manufacturers.

Bryan will be discussing

How smart factories are transforming the manufacturing industry with data and AI
How to start a digital transformation journey for medium-to-large manufacturing companies
How to integrate a new data pipeline into an existing infrastructure with minimal disruption to its operations?
The role that key humans will play in new tech-driven operations.

Despite all the advancements in technology, people still play a vital role in the success of a business. That’s why top companies invest in getting the best talent on board.

However finding good people is not always easy - especially when you need people with very specific skills or experience, such as with new technologies.

That’s why leading companies turn to Asianet Consultants to help them recruit that winning talent that will give them a competitive edge.

Asianet has decades of experience and a vast network that gives them an edge in finding the right executives for even niche positions.

You can find out more about them at asianetconsultants.com. I’ll also leave a link in the show notes.

Meanwhile, let’s find more about the future of manufacturing from Bryan.

USEFUL LINKS:

Asianet Consultant's website: https://asianetconsultants.com

Rovisys website: https://www.rovisys.com/

Connect with Bryan Debois: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryan-debois/

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

As
Manufacturing is getting modernised as companies look to boost process efficiencies, create more resilient supply chains - and of course reduce costs.

Elon Musk redefined manufacturing through Tesla and SpaceX, where he leaned into new technologies to make his processes faster and better.

The manufacturing sector is now starting to look to startups and SaaS solutions.
Meet Renan Devillieres, CEO of OSS Ventures, which developes and scales technology-driven businesses in the manufacturing space.

He joins us on A Seat at The Table to talk about how startups are shaping the future of manufacturing.

In this podcast Renan discusses:

How manufactures can navigate the evolving landscape of SaaS in operations.
What manufactures might be overlooking about implementing SaaS in their businesses.
How even small manufacturers can use what is often seen as enterprise level applications.

USEFUL LINKS:

Asianet Consultants: https://asianetconsultants.com

OSS Ventures website: https://www.oss.ventures/

Connect with Renan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/renan-devillieres/

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

The value of establishing a strong brand is indisputable. Even in tough times companies with power brands - or even just strong brand recognition within one sector - outperform the market.

Established brands are also better positioned to ride the economic peaks and troughs that often crush near competitors.

While understanding why we need to invest in brand building is easy, figuring how to do it is a bit more complicated.

Meet Carolyn Walker, CEO & Managing Partner of Response Marketing, an award-winning independent marketing agency that has help market leaders such as Logitech, McAfee, Office Depot and Tylenol build revenues and maximize market competitiveness.

Today, Carolyn will be sharing her expertise on

Why brands need both brand building and performance marketing to ensure their survival.
The critical role of ‘core belief’ in brand building.
Whether marketing can actually save brands that are failing.

USEFUL LINKS:

Asianet Consultants: https://asianetconsultants.com

Response Marketing's website: https://response.agency/

Connect with Carolyn Walker: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolynwalker/

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

The game for online sellers has gotten a lot more competitive. The free money that was funding start ups and the subsidies that drove massive pandemic-era online shopping are off.

The soaring costs of reverse logistics - in fact all logistics, as well as customer acquisition - is on!

It’s definitely gotten a lot hotter in the e-commerce arena - and retailers are now a lot more worried about getting burnt with losses than driving record shattering top line growth.

The market dynamics have clearly changed. To succeed - or to just survive - e-commerce players need to rethink their strategy, but first they need to truly understand the underlying issues that are shaping e-commerce right now.

Meet Rick Watson, a renown e-commerce strategist, consultant and influencer who has helps private equity grow digital revenue streams. His work with e-commerce investor due diligence and acquisition analysis has given him a unique behind-the-scenes look at what’s working, what’s not - and what companies might want to do next.

I’m Jane Singer and welcome back to a Seat at The Table where we expand our vision of the opportunities and possibilities in today’s fast moving, global business world by speaking with the people who are making things happen.

Today, Rick Watson will be discussing:

What e-commerce players should be focusing on right now in order to not only drive sales, but to build their bottom lines
Faced with the return to stores, what people who manage e-commerce channels should be looking at right now.
Opportunities or potential challenges that e-commerce businesses might overlooking.

USEFUL LINKS:

Asianet Consultants: https://asianetconsultants.com

Rick Watson's website: https://www.rmwcommerce.com/

Connect with Rick on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ecommercestrategyconsulting/

Listen to Rick Watson's podcast: https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ecommerce-podcast-watsonweekly

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

After being heralded as the next digital hotspot, the Metaverse plummeted out of favor - in tandem with the fate of its parent company, Meta. Brands that were tripping over each other to grab a space in this new space suddenly started to make a hasty exit.

The post-covid world was retuning to stores, people wanted experiences - in real life - and were making the internet a part of their lives rather then the center of their lives.

However despite the overall trend of moving back to the physical world, there might just be some unique opportunities for brands in the Metaverse - if they know what they are and how to capitalize on them.

Meet Kate Newlin, a renown business and brand strategist with a keen sense of what the future might look like, in part due to her previous tenure as managing director of Faith Popcorn’s BrainReserve.

I’m Jane Singer and welcome back to a Seat at The Table where we expand our vision of the opportunities and possibilities in today’s fast moving, global business world by speaking with the people who are making things happen.

Today Kate Newlin will be discussing what she sees as massive brand opportunities in the Metaverse that most companies are overlooking.

She’ll be sharing

Metaverse marketing: Trend or Fad?
Why she believes the Metaverse is a step-change for business growth and brand development.
The rules of the road: What separates the winners from wannabes in this space.
How a brand can begin this journey.

USEFUL LINKS:

Asianet Consultants: https://asianetconsultants.com

Kate Newlin's website: katenewlin.com

Connect with Kate Newlin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-newlin-11186/

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

It’s gotten to the point where most digital native brands are looking to physical stores to grow their business.

To maximise our e-commerce marketing, we need to first identify which metrics we should be measuring.

And it turns out that many of the traditional metrics are not the best indicators of how well your business is doing.

Meet Valentin Radu, founder of Omniconvert and a specialist in increasing customer lifetime value.

According to Valentin, e-commerce sellers spend too much time chasing new customers and not enough time nurturing their existing customers.

Just by changing their focus, brands can massively increase their sales - and profits on line.

That’s just one of many insights that he’s discovered through his work at Omniconvert.

In this episode of A Seat at The Table, Valentin will discuss:

The importance of being able to extract more value from existing customers.
Identifying your best customers - and prioritizing how you allocate your resources.
A new methodology for customer value optimization.

Being able to find people with solid e-commerce experience is easier said than done. The fast growth of the channel has left many companies scrambling to find skilled marketing leadership.

Fortunately, the team at Asianet Consultants is able to leverage their massive network and find those often overlook executives who have exactly the right experience - and a solid track record.

Meanwhile, let’s sit down with Valentin and find out how we can make our e-commerce channels a lot more profitable.

USEFUL LINKS:

Asianet Consultants: https://asianetconsultants.com

Connected with Valentin Radu: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valentinradu/

More about Omniconvert: https://youtu.be/TE-dyZLNXFE

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

The pandemic put supply chains in the spotlight. Companies doubled down on identifying weak links and looking for solutions to ensure greater resilience in the future.

Most people believe the solution - or at least the foundational part of it - is greater automation and digitisation.

But what if we are misunderstanding the problem? Or maybe just need to look at it from a different perspective?

Could we be overlooking incredible supply chain strengths and opportunities that resulted from the unexpected stress test of a global pandemic?

I’m Jane Singer and today we’re talking with Dr. Yossi Sheffi, an award-winning global supply chain expert and Director of the MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics. He is the author of nine books, including the soon - to - be -released The Magic Conveyor Belt: Supply Chains, A.I., and The Future of Work.

According to Dr. Sheffi, the pandemic was proof of how resilient supply chains actually are.

He further challenges our conventional wisdom by arguing that despite the power of AI, there are many things that we still need people to do.

There’s a lot to unpack - and I would have loved to spoken with Dr. Sheffi for much longer if time permitted. However he covers a lot of thought provoking insights here … and for the rest … well we’ll just have to read his new book.

In this episode of a Seat at The Table Dr. Sheffi discusses:

Where global supply chains proved how resilient they actually are.
The greatest vulnerability in over reliance on automation.
Where humans surpass computers in supply chain operations.

One of the biggest challenges companies face is finding the right people with the right expertise to help them adapt to an environment that is increasingly driven by advanced technology.

The developments are happening so quickly that even seasoned IT people are struggling to keep pace.

That’s why a growing number of companies are looking to Asianet Consultants to help them find that all important IT talent.

Asianet has a long history of being able to fill even those really difficult to fill positions. The team there has a vast network within key supply chain functions giving them access to some of the region’s top talent.

In the meantime, let’s sit down with Dr. Sheffi and find out what we might be overlooking about supply chains.

USEFUL LINKS:

Asianet Consultants: https://asianetconsultants.com

Connect with Dr. Yossi Sheffi: https://sheffi.mit.edu/ or https://www.linkedin.com/in/yossi-sheffi-b38b731/

Dr. Yossi Sheffi's newest book: https://sheffi.mit.edu/magicbelt

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

A big part of winning at retail is understanding what motivates consumers to buy.

It’s a topic that has gotten increasingly complex now that retail spans so many different channels.

One man has made it his life’s work to go deep and get inside the mind of the consumer.

Meet Paco Underhill, founder and former CEO of Envirosell, a behavioural research and consulting firm that tests prototype stores, as well as monitoring consumer behaviour on websites and in brick and mortar stores.

In this episode, Paco discusses:

How fashion has evolved into what he refers to ‘uniforms’ and ‘costumes’
The new influences on women’s choice of career wear.
Shifts in how consumers shop - and some best practices in how retailers can respond.

So let’s sit down with Paco and try and make sense of today’s fast changing retail market.

USEFUL LINKS:

Connect with Paco Underhill: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pacounderhill/

Envirosell's website: https://envirosell.com/

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Digitising product development and design is the way forward - both from a cost cutting and speed to market point of view.

However certain aspects of digitising more complex products such as apparel and home textiles are still difficult to do - creating a sticking point for taking this from concept to wide spread implementation.

One of those challenges is being able to digitise fabric swatches so that when brought into a 3D design environment they show all the nuances that the fabric would show if viewed in real life.

That means capturing subtleties in texture, colour, drape, light reflection - and even hand feel.

In a sense, the fabric part of the equation has been sort of the last frontier.

However that is about to change. Today I’m sitting down with the man who is at the forefront of a new technology that is making it possible to capture textiles in full detail.

Not only that, he and his team have found a way to make this technology accessible to any company - even SME’s or solopreneurs.

Meet Jorgen Sevild, founder of INQOVA and a partner at Bandicoot. Jorgen has been a pioneer in the development of technology that can solve the problem of creating highly realistic digital textile images.

His academic training as an industrial systems engineer gave him the technical knowledge to work on building this system. However years of working hands on in the textile industry have given him that all-important understanding of the nuances of textiles - and how they apply to apparel.

It’s this perfect pairing of the theoretical and the practical that have helped make Bandicoot such a remarkable solution.

In this episode, Jorgen will be discussing

The key to digitising fabrics so that they look nearly the same in a 3D rendering as they do in real life.
The simple, affordable technology that is set to revolutionise the digitisation of textiles.
What a digitised future looks like - from product development through to retail.

One of the biggest challenges that companies face when they look to digitise their design departments - or any other department - is finding that right people with the right skills and experience for this relatively new field of expertise.

However without solid leadership and a good team, companies will face more struggle than success as they try to adapt their business to new digital best practices.

That’s why leading companies turn to Asianet Consultants. They have a long history of helping businesses find the right talent with the right expertise.

I’ve seen them fill even very difficult to fill positions, ones that enterprises have struggled for months to find the right hire for.

You can learn more about Asianet Consultants at https://asianetconsultants.com
Meanwhile, let’s sit down with Jorgen and get an inside look at some incredible new technology.

USEFUL LINKS:

Asiannetconsultants: https://asianetconsultants.com

Connect with Jorgen Sevild: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jorgensevild/

Bandicoot Imaging Science website: https://www.bandicootimaging.com/

INQOVA website: https://www.inqova.com/

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Sometimes you just have to take matters into your own hands.

That’s exactly what Dawn Strachan did.

With her primary school aged daughter and son facing learning challenges - and unable to muster support for them from her local school system, Dawn realised that she would need to find her own solution.

So she leaned into her university training in early learning development and education and created her own methods for helping them with math, spelling and reading.

Dawn realised two fundamentals: learning needed to be fun in order to keep the student engaged in the lesson. And, each child learns differently, so lessons needed to be modified to the specific needs of the student.

Her success tutoring her own children caught the attention of other parents whose children faced similar challenges.

And thus began a small, sideline tutoring business. That business is now 11 years old and Dawn now has a team of over 10 tutors who she has trained in her methodology.

She’s also started a franchise business so that parents in other cities or even countries can help their children over come obstacles that might be holding them back in their school work.

Recognizing the helplessness and frustration that parents can feel when their children are struggling in school, Dawn started a Facebook membership group where parents can find advice and support - from her, as well as other group members.

Today Dawn joins here on A Seat at The Table to share her journey and tells us more about how she built Clara James Tutoring.

USEFUL LINKS:

Connect with Dawn on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawn-strachan/

Connect with Dawn on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dawn.strachan.39

Clara James Tutoring: clarajamestutoring.co.uk

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Anyone who has a professional position - whether they are senior executive, a C-suite boss or an entrepreneur - knows that they need to have a presence on LinkedIn.

For most (including myself) that typically ends up being some version of their resume or CV - and not necessarily one that is up to date or particularly compelling.

However, with companies increasingly using LinkedIn as one of their recruiting tools and clients often using LinkedIn as part of the way they learn about companies or consultants they are considering working with - it might be worth giving your LinkedIn profile a glow up.

To learn about some of the best practices for LinkedIn, I’ve invited LinkedIn branding expert Donna Serdula to join us here on A Seat at The Table.

Donna is a pioneer in LinkedIn profile optimisation and has worked with more than 6,000 executives, entrepreneur and professionals over the past decade to help them stand out in the increasingly crowded world of LinkedIn.

In this episode Donna talks about:

Why your LinkedIn profile should be more than a resume or CV.
How companies can enhance their brand image by boosting the profiles of key employees.
What executives should post on LinkedIn - and how frequently.

LinkedIn has become the go to repository for job search and recruitment - from mid tier to C-suite. However sifting and sorting through even the most highly filtered results - and then trying to determine who might be the right fit, connect with them and begin the recruitment process is massive task. One that most companies only realise once they’ve started to do it.

Leading companies solve this problem - and make the right connections with the right talent - by working a specialised executive search firm like Asianet Consultants.

I’ve seen how the team at Asianet has successfully filled some of the most difficult to fill positions.

With several decades of experience in challenging markets, Asianet has honed the skillset and connections to help companies recruit the kind of people that give them a competitive market advantage.

USEFUL LINKS:

Asianet Consultants: https://asianetconsultants.com

LinkedIn Makeover website: LinkedIn-Makeover.com

Connect with Donna Serdula on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/todonna/

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Managing global supply chains has become one of the most challenging, risk intensive aspects of just about any business.

While the logistics crisis that rocked the past three years has now normalised, geopolitical issues are escalating, key retail markets are uncertain - at best - and then there’s the increasing pressure to meet more stringent demands for transparency.

Oh, and let’s not forget about the ubiquitous price pressure that has always been part of product sourcing.

A growing number of people are looking to technology to create greater supply chain stability. However even the most advanced technology is only a tool. The foundational strategies will come from the people who manage the sourcing operations which the technology is supporting.

So then what could companies do to build more stable supply chains? And what might the new, more resilient supply chain look like?

To find out, I invited Christophe Roussel to join us here on A Seat at The Table.

Christophe has 30 year experience building, shaping, and transforming consumer goods global supply chains (including product development, sourcing, manufacturing, quality, sustainability).

He’s worked for big box retailers such as Carrefour in France or Tesco, and Morrisons or Sainsbury’s in the UK.

Most recently he was EVP Global Sourcing & Manufacturing at U.S. casual wear brand the Gap, Inc.

Christophe’s own consultancy, advisory and interim leadership business, Big Ideas, helps brands and retailers to transform their end-to-end product supply chains and build integrated partnerships with strategic suppliers.

At the same time, the consultancy is also helping vendors and manufacturers to diversify their production base into new country of origins and rethink strategically their approach to the customers they want to work with.

In this episode, Christophe will be discussing:

Practical and actionable ways to create more resilient supply chains
How to balance the need for reliability with the quest for cheaper prices
Which technology developments are likely to make the biggest impact on supply chain resilience

USEFUL LINKS:

Asianet Consultants: https://asianetconsultants.com

Big Ideas Consultants: https://www.bigideasconsultants.com

Connect with Christoph Roussel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rousselchristophe/

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

E-commerce is an essential retail channel, but the costs associated with selling online have become daunting.

From soaring warehousing and last mile delivery costs to high volumes of returns, it can get to the point where the more you sell, the more money you lose.

One cost that has gotten out of control is customer acquisition cost or CAC.

Those pay-per-click ads that drive traffic also take a bit out your margins - in fact they can devour so much of your profits that many sellers are left with mere crumbs.

Today Liam Patterson, co-founder of Bidnamic, a marketing technology platform that helps retailers unlock the full potential of Google Shopping, is joining us here on A Seat at The Table.

Bidnamic uses AI to help retailers optimise their ad spend on Google Shopping, the leading pay-per-click advertising platform.

In this episode Liam will be discussing:

How the best players are competing - and winning - using Google Shopping.
How AI can help retailers attract better traffic - rather than more traffic.
How to develop a strategy to make better ad spend decisions.

**USEFUL LINKS:

Asianet Consultants:** https://asianetconsultants.com

Bidnamic: www.bidnamic.com

Liam Patterson: Linkedin.com/in/liam-patterson

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Leadership is a big topic these days. From staff retention to getting better performance from teams, there is a lot of pressure on leadership to be be better leaders.

Probably one of the best of the places to look for role models and best practices in leadership is to the people who manage professional sports teams.

The stakes are high - and so is the pressure. After all, sports is really all about performance. And measured in each and every game - and even down to single plays.

And one of the best teams to learn leadership from is the legendary Dallas Cowboys.

Mark Oristano spent 30 years with the Cowboys. Today he is joining us on A Seat at The Table to share the leadership principles that he feels helped drive the Cowboys tremendous success.

Mark worked under the legendary Cowboy president and general manager, Tex Schramm, where he was part of that incredible management style that kept employees working for the team for decades.

In this episode Mark will share:

Three ways to to build your team for a long-term future - and that massively reduces turnover.
How to relate to your team so you become each members’ champion.
How to be a strong leader without creating a culture of fear.

USEFUL LINKS

Connect with Mark Oristano: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markoristano/

Lead with Principle website: LEADWITHPRINCIPLE.COM

Asianet Consultants website: https://asianetconsultants.com

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

On the one hand, there’s a low barrier to entry so any size company can participate. On the other hand, it has become increasingly complex, time consuming - what worked yesterday could very well not be effective tomorrow.

Mastering digital marketing has become a must for most businesses. Thus learning what’s working - and what’s not - is critical in order to develop the right strategy for your organisation.

Today’s guest is going to share how to do this.

Chris Pistorius has over 15 years experience in digital marketing. Before starting his own marketing agency in 2009, he worked for online marketing giants including AOL, Time Warner, Dex and MapQuest.

In this podcast he’ll be discussing:

What’s working best right now in digital marketing.
Why paid advertising could be a better strategy than simply increasing your number of posts on social media.
How to use social media to create a more personal connection with your market.

USEFUL LINKS:

Asianet Consultants: https://asianetconsultants.com

Connect with Chris Pistorius:

Website: https://kickstartdental.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kickstartdentalmarketing

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KickStartDental

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pistorius/

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Typically marketing and sales are handled by a company’s marketing and sales team - who, not surprisingly, approach the task using the standard marketing and sales tools.

But what if we could uncover hidden opportunities or boost our success rate by taking an entirely different approach?

Our guest today will be talking about why we might want to solve marketing and sales challenges like an engineer - and how his has used this strategy in his company.

I’m Jane Singer and it’s great to have you with us on A Seat at The Table.

Today we have Timothy Partasevitch, Chief Growth Officer at Smart IT joining us.

Tim is a sales and marketing specialist, who solves business challenges like an engineer by focusing on data insights, analyzing what works, what doesn’t, and what can be improved from a technical and financial perspective.

In this podcast he shares his views on:

How B2B businesses can create a marketing strategy that drives sales.
Why marketing and sales should be one department - not two.
The value of building a marketing process.
Why sales engineering should be your primary strategy.

USEFUL LINKS:

Asianet Consultants: https://asianetconsultants.com

Connect with Timothy Partasevitch: https://by.linkedin.com/in/tim-partasevitch

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

For anyone who travels frequent flyer or loyalty programs as they are called play an outsized role in our airline choices.

While most don’t want to admit it, the lure of a free flight or an upgrade is almost irresistible.

While most of us are active participants in loyalty programs, few of us really understand why they say are so beneficial - to the airlines.

What you you find out might surprise you as much it did me.

Today we are joined by Mark Ross-Smith, Founder of industry news site “Travel Data Daily”, and CEO of Status Match.

He has 20 years experience leading loyalty programs in telecoms and travel, most recently at Malaysian Airlines.

In this podcast Mark will be unpacking his insider knowledge about how these programs work including

How loyalty programs are actually a revenue stream - and often profit centre - for airlines.
New ways that airlines are using customer data find hidden revenue opportunities.
How loyalty programs can work against a company - if they are not well executed.

**USEFUL LINKS

Asianet Consultants:** https://asianetconsultants.com

Connect with Mark Ross-Smith

https://www.linkedin.com/in/markrosssmith/

https://www.statusmatch.com

http://www.TravelDataDaily.com

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Today most leaders are so focused on survival that don’t even dare to dream of being able to win praise from their employees or truly find a way to consistently manage both their time and their energy.

However this might not be as out of reach as it seems and our guest today will be showing us how.

Take we have Herdis Pala Palsdottir joining us.

Herdis is co-founder of Opus Futura and a frequent lecturer on the future of work, as well as having sat on many management boards.

She champions the concept of self-leadership as a concept that senior executives can use to become more effective team leaders - but to also improve the quality of their work life and even life outside of work.

In this podcast Herdis will discuss:

Small changes that managers could make to be the best manager their employees ever had.
Why we need to look at “energy management” as well as “time management”.
The next big trend in human capital - and how it might impact organisations.

USEFUL LINKS:

Asianet Consultants: https://asianetconsultants.com

Connect with Herdis Pala Palsdottir: www.linkedin.com/in/herdispala
About Herdis: https://www.herdispala.is/english
Herdis's website: www.opusfutura.com

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Digital marketing is now something that every business needs to include - even if only in a minimal way.

That’s left a lot of companies either wondering what to do - or wasting time and money doing the wrong thing.

One of the core tactics is building links on your website. They can significantly boost your ranking in search, add credibility to your website and help attract more visitors.

Like most aspects of digital marketing, the cost can be low, but the time required to do it right can be massive.

The question is how to do this effectively and efficiently?

Today we’ll be speaking with Aaron Anderson, an SEO and Link Building expert whose company Link Pitch prides itself on offering link building services done the right way. With a focus on scalable outreach-oriented link building, Link Pitch is completely obsessed with building high-quality, relevant links that benefit their clients’ sites for the long term.

In this podcast Aaron will be discussing:

How link building works and why it is critical for every website to have backlinks.
The best way to build those all-important backlinks - even for brand new websites.
Key mistakes companies make when outsourcing their link building.

USEFUL LINKS:

Asianet Consultants: https://asianetconsultants.com

Connect with Aaron Anderson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronanderson22/

Link Pitch's website: https://linkpitch.io/

Let's Talk Link Building podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2057466

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

In an environment where interest rates are continuing to rise, suddenly raising venture capital is not as easy as it used to be.

If fact, it’s getting a lot more difficult.

However, there are always investors who are looking for interesting opportunities.

The key now is knowing how to find them.

I’m Jane Singer and it’s great to have you as part of our global community of industry leaders here at A Seat at The Table.

Today we are joined by Ron Bauer, Founder of Theseus Capital Ltd, principal investor in a number of science and technology companies and author of “Capital: Raising Money in a Digital World”.

Ron’s helped and managed 5 IPOs to raise over $200 million and scale their businesses.

In this podcast he’ll share

How performance expectations for startup have changed in the past year, from an investor’s point of view.
How any entrepreneur can reach new investors and raise the capital they need (even if you’re not slated to be the next unicorn).
Classic mistakes founders make when pitching investors that can cost them the deal.

USEFULL LINKS

Asianet Consultants: https://asianetconsultants.com

Connect with Ron Bauer:

Instagram: @ronbauer888

Twitter: @ronbauer888

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ronbauer888

Website: www.thescapital.com and www.ronbauer.vc

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Many companies think that having survived the pandemic that the worst is behind them. However they might be surprised to find that economic instability can strike at any time.

To ensure that they can survive in any circumstances, leaders need to continually be looking for those ’silent business killers’ that are often lurking in even seemingly healthy companies.

Today we’re joined by Steven Blue, CEO of Miller Ingenuity and author of five bestselling books that teach senior leaders and CEOs how to increase profit, take market share, and beat the competition.

In this podcast Steven will be talking about:

The warning signs of failure that he’s seen in top international companies.
The six ‘silent business killers’ and how you can avoid them.
Why too much success can lead to failure.
Why conflict amongst colleagues can help companies avoid critical mistakes.

**USEFUL LINKS:

Asianet Consultants:** https://asianetconsultants.com

Connect with Steven Blue:

http://www.stevenlblue.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevenblue/

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

One of the biggest challenges service providers face is getting new clients.

Not just more clients - but the right clients. Those people who need and want their services.

Typically, executives needed to invest a huge amount of time networking - from attending conferences to working the room at local events.

While you can certainly meet a lot of people this way, it takes up a huge amount of time - not mention the travel travel costs.

In an age of where everything has a digital component surely there has to be a better way to attract the right clients?

Today we have Luke Charlton on the show. Luke’s a master digital advertising strategist and copywriter who has help his clients bank $50 million in sales. He’s written copy for leading online gurus including Bob Proctor, Mike Dillard, Neil Patel, Grace Lever and others.

In this podcast Luke is going to discuss:

The framework behind using paid advertisements to attract the right clients.
A free tool that attracts dream clients who want your services.
Three things service providers can immediately do to getter better results with email.

**USEFUL LINKS

Asianet Consultants:** https://asianetconsultants.com

Connect with Luke Charlton:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lukecharlton/

https://LukeCharlton.com

Luke’s Epic Resource List
The 9 Email Offers that Get Clients Free:
(Includes bonus “1-Sentence Offer” gift. Just email Luke and ask)
https://9emailoffers.com

The 15 Minute Client Workshop:
(Reveals Luke's complete daily email client attraction system for free)
https://The15MinuteClientWorkshop.com

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

For years companies have been talking about digital transformation but many are still trying to figure out what might be the best pathway for transitioning their operations onto a more automated platform.

The idea of digitising sounds great. Executing on it often seems daunting. And in fact it can be.

As a result, companies end up with a compilation of old and new solutions - which can be less efficient and actually cost them more than taking the leap to fully digitising.

Today’s guest is going to talk about how companies of all sizes can not only take advantage of cloud-based solutions, but can get greater use out of solutions they are already paying for.

Andrew Cohen is the Managing Director of Netsurit, a $30M MSP firm that helps organizations take advantage of the latest technology to enhance their business by providing a roadmap to evolve their IT infrastructure.

In this episode Andrew discusses:

Barriers companies face in getting from discussing to implementing digitization in their organisations.
How companies can establish metrics around both people and operational automation.
What companies can do now to add more stability and resilience to their operations.

**USEFUL LINKS:

Asianet Consultants:** https://asianetconsultants.com

Connect with Andrew Cohen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-cohen-91945a4/

Netsurit: https://www.linkedin.com/company/netsurit/

Netsurit on FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/Netsurit/

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Most companies have learned how to attract people to their websites or their online stores.

The challenge is converting those visitors into customers.

In an increasingly crowded and noisy market, how can we develop the right strategies to get people to move from looking to buying?

In this podcast we are joined by Carl Weische, co-founder of ACCELERATED and an expert in CRO. That’s conversion rate optimisation.

Accelerated works with some of the fastest scaling D2C brands helping them grow from 8 to 10 figures.

In this podcast Carl will be sharing

What marketers can do to boost their conversion rates.
The role that frequency plays in driving sales growth.
Benchmarks for conversion, based on working with real brands

**USEFUL LINKS:

Asianet Consultants:** https://asianetconsultants.com

Connect with Carl Weische:

www.acceleratedagency.com

https://twitter.com/CarlWeische

https://www.youtube.com/@carlweische

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Technology has become essential to almost every aspect of our business operations.

Organisations of all sizes are looking to new digital solutions to help them successfully navigate complex and often fast changing environments.

Today it’s not only about automating repetitive tasks or making our employees more productive.

Newer technology solutions are providing more immersive ways to use applications, as well as far greater predictive capabilities.

So what are some the newer technologies - and how they shaping the future of business?

I’m Jane Singer and thank you for joining me here on A Seat at The Table - and being part of our global community of industry leaders.

Today we have Slava Podmurnyi with us. Slava is Co-founder and CEO at Visartech, a software development agency that helps companies create and implement advanced technologies to transform their business.

During his 14 years of applying technologies to diverse business niches he’s worked on fintech solutions, metaverse platforms, SaaS products, and interactive apps.

In this podcast, Slava will be talking about:

Digital Twin Technology: A Brand New Way of Business Process Transformation.
How To Align Metaverse Solutions With Your Specific Business Goals
Web 3D Technologies: The Driving Force To Provide In-Depth Content Perception

Even companies with state-of-the-art technology know that they also need top talent to growth their business and drive success.

That’s why leading corporations and even smaller enterprises rely on Asianet Consultants to help them fill key positions.

Since 1988 Asianet has been working in partnership with its global clients to help them make the right strategic hires. They have a well-earned reputation for being able to fill even those difficult to fill positions.

So if you need to recruit new talent - or think that you might be doing that soon, head on over to their website https://asianetconsultants.com

**USEFUL LINKS

Asianet Consultants:** https://asianetconsultants.com

Connect with Slave Podmurnyi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/visartechceo/

Visartech's website: https://www.visartech.com/

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Customer loyalty is something every company wants, but nowadays few are able to achieve.

This leaves most companies spending more and more budget to acquire customers who quickly hop to the next brand or chase the newest offer.

A big part of running a successful business is being able to retain your existing customers, while continuing to attract new ones.

With customer acquisition costs across all channels at record highs, investing in retaining those customers you already have could be the smartest growth tactic a company could employ.

For many companiesthe question is how to do this effectively.

I’m Jane Singer and thank you for joining me here on A Seat at The Table where we support global business leaders in sharing ideas, innovations and best practices for running successful organizations.

Today we are joined by Rajiv Lamba, Founder and CEO of Neurosensum & SurveySensum.

Rajiv is a seasoned market research expert whose clients include auto industry leaders Mercedes, BMW, Nissan and Honda, as well as insurance giants Allianz, Manulife and Apriea Healthcare, as well as other consumer goods brands.

In this podcast he talks about:

The newest initiatives that market leaders are implementing to get better customer feedback.
The advantage leading e-commerce platforms are gaining by moving their market research in-house.
How companies are using real time customer survey data to help reduce churn rates and influence customer retention.

As most of business leaders know, staff retention can be just as challenging as these days as customer retention.

A big part of building and maintaining happy and productive teams is being able to find and recruit the best executives.

That’s why top corporations and even smaller enterprises rely on Asianet Consultants to help them fill key positions.

Since 1988 Asianet has been working in partnership with its global clients to help them make the right strategic hires. They have a well-earned reputation for being able to fill even those difficult to fill positions.

So if you need to recruit new talent - or think that you might be doing that soon, head on over to their website asianetconsultants.com

USEFUL LINKS
Asianet Consultants: https://asianetconsultants.com

Rajiv Lamba: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajiv-lamba/

Surveysensum: https://www.surveysensum.com/

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Companies have always focused on growth, but now there’s increasing pressure to drive profitability.

Typically this means cutting costs. However in a highly competitive market that will no longer work. Businesses are going to have to ‘invest their way to success’.

Winning companies will need to super charge their creativity and build high performing teams.

Now you’re probably thinking ‘That sounds good, but how exactly can organisations execute on this?’

I’m Jane Singer and thank you for joining me here on A Seat at The Table - and being part of our global community of industry leaders.

Today we have Tim Redmond joining us. Tim is CEO of Redmond Growth Consulting, an organisation that helps companies growth their profits and their business.

By leveraging his previous experience with PriceWaterhouseCoopers and growing a software company from 2-400 employees and then selling it to Intuit, he’s able to pinpoint opportunities that companies might be overlooking, help find creative solutions to a wide range of business challenges, and coach leadership on building high performing teams.

In this podcast Tim talks about

Some of the costly mistakes that businesses are making and what they should be doing instead.
How to super charge creativity to find innovative solutions and ideas.
What successful team leaders get right that mediocre ones overlook.

**USEFUL LINKS

Asianet Consultants: https://asianetconsultants.com

Connect with Tim Redmond: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachtimredmond/

Redmond Growth Consulting:** redmondgrowth.com

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Most companies understand that we need to be able to tell the story of what we do to our customers.

However it turns out that there are powerful advantages to being able to communicate our story to our own team members.

In an era where businesses are facing daunting challenges on the home front - from recruiting top talent to retaining the people they have - as well as managing to boost diversity and team work - communicating mission and values is foundational.

The question is, how can we do this effectively, while also running a profitable, competitive business?

Today we are joined by the dynamic Martha Marchesi, CEO of JK Design, a full-service, women-owned creative agency that helps companies create and communicate powerful brand stories to their customers, partners and employees.

Martha is a Madison Avenue veteran where she crafted targeted, award-winning creative campaigns at legendary shops such as Young & Rubicam, Grey, Saatchi and Saatchi, and Della Femina.

A master brand storyteller, her experience spans a wide variety of clients in the B2B and B2C spaces and includes brand strategy, creative direction, and employer branding.

In this podcast, Martha will be talking about:

The importance of developing an 'employer brand'.
How leaders can create those traditional bonds amongst colleagues who are working off-site.
How management can more effectively retain and motivate talent in an of ‘Quiet Quitting’.
How to overcome some of the biggest challenges in implementing DEI (diversity, equity and inclusivity) initiatives in your company.

USEFUL LINKS:

Connect with Martha Marchesi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marthamarchesi/

JK Design website: jkdesign.com

Asianet Consultants: https://asianetconsultants.com

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

A growing number of companies struggling to cope with the many seismic shifts that are rocking global markets.

In good times even poor leadership can keep the ship afloat. But more turbulent times calls for enterprises to rethink their leadership.

However knowing you need to double down on finding the right people to lead your business - and actually defining what kind of talent you need to get the job done - is more challenging than it seems.

It’s led to a new way of looking at who might be the right people, and what might be the right personality traits and experience to take your organization from where it is to where you’d like it to be.

I’m Jane Singer and thank you for joining me here on A Seat at The Table. - and being part of our global community of industry leaders.

Today we have the pleasure of having Robert Jordan join us.

Robert is co-founder and head of the leadership team at InterimExecs, a leadership executive matching firm that has helped fix global giants like Pepsi, Microsoft, UPS, and more by identifying the right leaders to step in during times of trouble or stagnation.

His new book, RIGHT LEADER, RIGHT TIME: Discover Your Leadership Style for a Winning Career [G&D Media / March 29, 2022], is the executive reader’s one-stop guide to assessing their distinct leadership style and a step-by-step plan for optimizing that style to best suit their business and scale its growth.

In this episode Robert talks about:

How companies can stay afloat—and thrive—during periods of internal instability.
How a leader’s leadership ‘style’ and actions can help make or break a business.
Why sometimes leaders can - and maybe should - lean on their
teams.

Having the right leadership can be game changing. But finding the right talent can take a lot searching, especially in a fast changing market.

That’s why top corporations and even smaller enterprises rely on Asianet Consultants to help them fill key positions. Since 1988 Asianet has been working in partnership with its global clients to help them make the right strategic hires. They have a well-earned reputation for being able to fill even those difficult to fill positions.

So if you need to recruit new talent - or think that you might be doing that soon, head on over to their website. That’s asiannetconsultants.com.

Now let’s sit down with Robert and find what kind of person we need to lead our organization through these uncertain times.

USEFUL LINKS:

Connect with Robert Jordan:

InterimExecs website:

Asianet Consultant’s website: https://asianetconsultants.com

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Automation and fashion are two words that are increasingly coming up in the same sentence.

Brands want to keep inventories at a minimum - and need faster production to make that possible.

They also need to maximize personalization in order to provide consumers with what they want - when they want it.

Figuring out how to pull all of these components together in one smooth running system has elude most manufacturers.

But there is one man who looks like he’s cracked the code.

I’m Jane Singer and thank you for joining me here on A Seat at The Table. - and being part of our global community of industry leaders.

Today we have Samuel Moses joining. Samuel is founder and CEO of Sockrates Custom Socks, which specializes in producing high quality custom socks with blazingly fast turnaround times.

He combined his hands on experience in market research, finance and retail to come up with a system that provides customers with a unique product that is out performing the market.

With over 4,000 clients worldwide, Socrates must be doing something right.

In this episode Samuel talks about:

How to find a niche customer base
How he continually improves efficiency in his organization.
Using data and market research to identify and deliver the right products for your market.

Finding the right talent takes a lot searching, especially in a fast changing market.

That’s why top corporations and even smaller enterprises rely on Asianet Consultants to help them fill key positions. Since 1988 Asianet has been working in partnership with its global clients to help them make the right strategic hires. They have a well-earned reputation for being able to fill even those difficult to fill positions.

So if you need to recruit new talent - or think that you might be doing that soon, head on over to their website. That’s asiannetconsultants.com.

Now let’s sit down with Samuel and find how he has disrupted the sock industry.

USEFUL LINKS:

Connect with Samuel Moses: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samuel-moses-51a0325/

Sockrates Customs Socks website: www.Sockratescustom.com

Asianet Consultants: https://asianetconsultants.com

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

In an increasingly noisy market, even those brands with massive marketing budgets can struggle to stand out.

Not only are companies trying to figure out where to get the most bang for their buck with paid advertising, there’s also the challenge of social media - a channel that has become increasingly overwhelming.

Finding the right strategies - and figuring who you need to execute them effectively - can leave business leaders frustrated, and prompts many to just give up.

Is there a better way to rethink our marketing efforts so that they work for us - rather than against us?

I’m Jane Singer and its great to have you here with us today on A Seat at The Table - and as part of our international community of industry leaders.

Today we are joined by Oren Greenberg, Founder and Fractional Chief Marketing Officer of Kurve, a boutique digital marketing agency specializing in search marketing.

Oren is a pragmatic and compassionate mentor helping mid-weight and senior marketers become the marketing leaders of tomorrow.

He’s worked in-house for 3 VC backed ventures generating over £1.3 billion revenue. Oren splits his time between working with Financial Times Stock Exchange (FTSE) 250 companies such as Canon, Investec Bank, Lenovo & HomeServe and supporting a number of the world's fastest scale-ups.

In this episode he’ll be talking about:

Tactics and strategies brands can use to stand out in a noisy, competitive market.
How leaders can run competitive marketing campaigns - without burning out their teams.
Achieving rapid growth through proper and efficient utilization of internal teams.

Good management is foundational to any successful business. However finding the right management, at the right time - and in the right place - can be daunting.

That’s why top corporations and even smaller enterprises rely on Asianet Consultants to help them fill key positions. Since 1988 Asianet has been working in partnership with its global clients to help them make the right strategic hires. They have a well-earned reputation for being able to fill even those difficult to fill positions.

So if you need to recruit new talent - or think that you might be doing that soon, head on over to their website. That’s asiannetconsultants.com.

Okay, now let’s sit down with Oren and find how we can 10x our marketing efforts.

USEFUL LINKS:

Connect with Oren Greenberg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/orengreenberg/

Kurve's website: https://kurve.com.uk

Asianet Consultant's website: https://asianetconsultants.com

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Automation is making even the most complex tasks easier and faster. This has led a growing number of businesses to look at everything they do and try and figure out how they can digitize it.

Both large and smaller enterprises are being increasingly challenged to squeeze every bit of inefficiency and redundancy out of commonly performed tasks to reduce costs, save time - and ideally minimize errors.

But what about things that are typically more personalized?

Such as consulting?

Can even that be digitized?

I’m Jane Singer and thank you for joining me here on A Seat at The Table. - and being part of our global community of industry leaders.

Today we have Stefan Debois joining us. Stefan is CEO of Pointerpro, an assessment software platform that helps professional services companies to automate their advisory processes.

If you were wondering how consulting services could be digitized (and I know I was) then stay tuned because Stefan will be sharing how to digitize your consulting services to deliver advice to clients at scale and why consultants need to stop charging their clients by time.

In this episode you’ll learn:

How to digitize a highly customized business like consulting or other advisory services.
How consultants need to rethink the consultant-client dynamic.
Why it is better to base consulting contracts on outcomes or results rather than on hours worked.
The most effective strategies and tactics for successfully bootstrapping a business.

No matter how much you digitize your business, ultimately you need top talent who can drive growth, build customer or supplier relationships, or successfully lead teams.

That’s why top corporations and even smaller enterprises rely on Asianet Consultants to help them fill key positions. Since 1988 Asianet has been working in partnership with its global clients to help them make the right strategic hires. They have a well-earned reputation for being able to fill even those difficult to fill positions.

So if you need to recruit new talent - or think that you might be doing that soon, head on over to their website. That’s asiannetconsultants.com.

Okay, now it’s time to sit down with Stefan and learn how we can digitize even those more customized aspects of our business.

USEFUL LINKS

Connect with Stefan Debois: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefandebois/

PointerPro’s website: https://pointerpro.com/

Asianet Consultant’s website: https://asianetconsultants.com

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Developing a tech product sounds like a dream job.

Definitely a lot more fun and a lot cooler than what most of spend our days doing.

But as is often the case, the rewards can mask years of endless work, angst and despair - before finally getting a product to market.

And then holding your breath and hoping that customers will buy - and that suppliers will deliver.

I’m Jane Singer and thank you for joining us in today’s episode of our Launch to Legendary series, where we get to hear from entrepreneurs and innovators who have taken the ordinary and turned it into the extraordinary.

Who have built their businesses by seeing opportunities in inopportune circumstances.

Who’ve defined success in their own terms. Together we’ll be able to learn from their experiences and be inspired by what they’ve achieved.

In this episode we’ll be getting up close and personal with what it takes to launch a successful new tech product.

Meet Shea Gerhart, founder and CEO of Buderflys, groundbreaking new earbuds that you can literally wear all day - and even sleep in.

Buderflys are disrupting the earbuds market - by offering an alternative to those often uncomfortable molded plastic earbuds.

Shea realized that while comfort was critical, people also wanted outstanding audio quality. So she designed Buderflys to include state-of-the-art sound (we’re talking music industry professional quality) - and equipped with them Productivity AI Based Hardware.

While Buderflys are currently selling so fast that suppliers can’t keep up with the demand, the road from concept to commercial success was a rollercoaster ride of high highs - and low lows.

Shea will be sharing her story including:

The most challenging part of taking Buderflys from concept to market - and how she overcame this.
The biggest lesson she learned launching a successful startup.
What led Shea to develop Buderflys and how she came to disrupting the earbuds sector.

Innovation plays a critical role in keeping any company competitive.

However finding the right people who can solve problems, develop bestselling products or successfully lead teams continues to frustrate many companies.

That’s why leading corporates and even small to medium sized enterprises look to Asianet Consultants to help them find the right talent.

Since 1988 Asianet has been working in partnership with its global clients to help them make the right strategic hires. They have a well-earned reputation for being able to fill even those difficult to fill positions.

So if you need to recruit new talent - or think that you might be doing that soon, head on over to their website. That’s asiannetconsultants.com.

Now let’s sit down with Shea and find out what it takes to launch a successful tech product.
USEFUL LINKS

Connect with Shea Gerhardt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shea-gerhardt-21a4b45/

Buderflys website: http://buderflys.com/

Learn more about Asianet Consultants: asianetconsultants.com

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Mention written communication and most people immediately call you out for being ‘old school’.

Yet today more than ever before most of our communication is actually written. In fact, many argue that verbal communication is now a thing of the past.

From email to text messages, we spend most of our days writing - to customers, team members, friends and even family.

Unfortunately, while technology has made written communication faster and easier, it has not made it better. More often than not, it’s made it worse.

From misunderstandings to misintrerpeted messages - our writing can be our downfall.

But are there short cuts or techniques - or forgotten rules - that can help us make this better?

I’m Jane Singer and thank you for joining me here on A Seat at The Table.

It is my pleasure to have written communications expert Rob Ashton with us today.

In 1998 Rob founded Emphasis, a global learning company that has enabled more than 80,000 people to make much more impact with their professional writing.

His advice has been sought by everyone from the tech giants of Silicon Valley to the Royal Household at Buckingham Palace.

Rob has been investigating the brain science of reading and writing for more than six years, giving him a unique insight into why so much of our written communication fails. He says writing is ‘the invisible medium, hidden in plain sight’.

Today Rob will be talking about:

Typical mistakes that can make many of the messages we write backfire.
What a neural circuit breaker is - and why they stop us from getting the decisions we want.
The real (and surprising) reason that email makes us angry.
Why often its better to not write, but to talk instead.

One of the most difficult things to write is a job description. I always struggle with this. And yet it is a critical part of being able attract the right talent to your business.

The competition to find top talent and fill those critical position is one of the biggest challenges companies face these days - especially in certain markets.

That’s why top corporations and even smaller enterprises rely on Asianet Consultants to help them fill key positions. Since 1988 Asianet has been working in partnership with its global clients to help them make the right strategic hires. They have a well-earned reputation for being able to fill even those difficult to fill positions.

So if you need to recruit new talent - or think that you might be doing that soon, head on over to their website. That’s asiannetconsultants.com.

Now let’s learn from Rob how to improve our written communication.

USEFUL LINKS:

Asianet Consultants: www.asianetconsultants.com
Connect with Rob Ashton: https://linkedin.com/in/robashton1

Follow Rob Ashton: https://www.facebook.com/robashtonwrites

Rob Ashton on Twitter: https://twitter.com/robert_ashton

Ephasis website: http://www.writing-skills.com/

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

When someone mentions online learning we typically think of the pandemic years when students were participating in classrooms much the same way that their parents were spending their days in Zoom meetings.

In fact, that’s only one part of the game changing advancements that are taking place as traditional education meets 21st century tech solutions.

Today new use cases are being developed that make education more immersive and more accessible for students - regardless of where they are located.

And its making it possible for people of all ages and circumstances to better themselves - thus helping to provide a solid path for poor nations to develop better educated populations. As well as supporting people in advanced nations to boost their skillsets and move up in their careers.

The key is the fast growing field of EdTech. And today’s guest is going to give us a window on what is actually happening around the world.

I’m Jane Singer and thank you for joining me here on A Seat at The Table.

Today we’re honoured to have Atul Temurnikar, executive chairman of Singapore-based Global Schools Foundation join us.

Global Schools Foundation, or GFS, is a not-for profit institution with 23 campuses of multicultural environments.

In this episode, Atul will be talking about:

How EdTech is changing the education landscape in both developed and emerging nations.

His experience helping to shape India’s education policy.

How AI, data analytics and machine learning can empower teachers and enhance the classroom experience for students.

And the world changing benefits of being able to provide people without financial means access to education.

Education also plays a key role in providing nations and organisations with both leaders and skilled workers.

And as most companies are finding, it’s not always easy to find the right talent in the right place. In fact, many are struggling to fill position in certain markets.

That’s why top corporations and even smaller enterprises rely on Asianet Consultants to help them fill key positions. Since 1988 Asianet has been working in partnership with its global clients to help them make the right strategic hires. They have a well-earned reputation for being able to fill even those difficult to fill positions.

So if you need to recruit new talent - or think that you might be doing that soon, head on over to their website. That’s asiannetconsultants.com.

Now let’s find out from Atul how technology is helping to spread education far and wide.

USEFUL LINKS:

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Mention venture capital and everyone imagines multi-million dollar rounds of funding, the thrill of founding the next unicorn - all leading to a windfall of cash when the company has its IPO.

At least that what’s become somewhat of an urban legend.

The reality can be quite a bit different. The road from startup to cashing out is typically frustrating, frenzied and at times even frightening.

I’m Jane Singer and thanks for joining me here and being part of our international community.

Today we’re joined by Nick Fogle, Founder & CEO of Churnkey, who shares some advice and cautionary tales about the pros and cons of venture capital.

Nick fought through the 2008 recession and bootstrapped his side business, Wavve, and eventually sold the company for a mid 7-figure sum.

Taking everything that he learned from gaining venture capital and customer retention, Nick then founded Churnkey.

In this episode Nick talks about:

The Potential Pit Falls of Venture Capital
The Highest Impact Areas Where A Founder Should Invest Their Time
The Top 3 Lessons He Learned While Fielding Acquisition Offers And Ultimately Being Acquired

… and much more!

Whether you’ve got heaps of venture capital funding, are an established corporate or are bootstrapping it, you need good people on board.

One of the biggest challenges companies face is trying to find top talent - particularly to fill critical leadership roles. Nowadays, having the right people can really determine a company’s success or failure.

That’s why top corporations and even smaller enterprises rely on Asianet Consultants to help them fill key positions.

Since 1988 Asianet has been working in partnership with its global clients to help them make the right strategic hires. They have a well-earned reputation for being able to fill even those difficult to fill positions.

So if you need to recruit new talent - or think that you might be doing that soon, head on over to their website. That’s asiannetconsultants.com.

Now let’s sit down with Nick and get the inside track on venture capital funding.

USEFUL LINKS

Connect with Nick Fogle:

Churnkey website:

Asianet Consultants website: https://www.asianetconsultants.com/

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

There’s an old saying ‘Same bed, Different dreams’. That is often the case with teams. You have a group of enthusiastic players but each has their own vision of what the outcome should look like.

The result can be a lack of efficiency, a failure to meet deadlines or realise any out come at all - or even conflict.

And so one of the many things that effective leaders need to achieve is to get everyone on the same page with a shared vision. The concept is easy to understand. Making it happen can be a bit more challenging. However today’s guest aims to help solve that - and much more.

I’m Jane Singer and thanks for joining me here and being part of our international community.

Today we’re joined by Curtis Jenkins, business coach and author of Vision to Reality: Stop Working and Start Living.

Curtis found that the most important thing to resolve was getting everyone involved in a project to visualize the same outcome. This would lead to motivated team members who were enthusiastic at the realization of the outcome.

He quickly implemented this knowledge, fine-tuning his own projects to ensure the outcomes contribute to his vision.

He soon realized there was no one size fits all methodology, but that in order to bring the vision to reality required creativity and soft skills. From that realization sprang The Realization Framework Experience.

Curtis will be talking about:

Why many companies fail to bring their goals to fruition.

The importance of mental preparationbefore implementation.

His ‘Vision to Reality’ framework - and how any business can apply this.

… and much more!

To achieve key goals you need good people. One of the biggest challenges companies face is trying to find top talent - particularly to fill critical leadership roles. Nowadays, having the right people can really determine a company’s success or failure.

That’s why top corporations and even smaller enterprises rely on Asianet Consultants to help them fill key positions.
Since 1988 Asianet has been working in partnership with its global clients to help them make the right strategic hires. They have a well-earned reputation for being able to fill even those difficult to fill positions.

So if you need to recruit new talent - or think that you might be doing that soon, head on over to their website. That’s asiannetconsultants.com.

Now let’s hear what Curtis has to say about how we can get from vision to reality.

USEFUL LINKS

Connect with Curtis L. Jenkins: https://www.linkedin/in/curtis-jenkins-pmp

Curtis Jenkins’ website: https://cljassoc.com/

Asianet Consultants website: https://www.asianetconsultants.com/

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

There’s a lot of conversations around leadership these days. From what generally makes someone a good leader to narrower focuses on leadership styles, decision making, conflict management and just about anything else you can think of.

There’s ongoing debate over which leadership playbook is the best way - and what skills are most important to develop in order to effectively lead an organisation - especially in what looks to be uncertain times .

But what if we didn’t need ‘new skills’. What if the answer lay in going back to core values, character building and even old fashioned ethics?

I’m Jane Singer and thanks for joining me here and being part of our international community.

We’ve got Maria Kelly with us today and she’ll be talking about what she sees as the simple, but not always easy-to-follow principles that define good leaders.

Maria is an executive coach, mentor and business consultant, who strengthens her client’s leadership development and ongoing professional growth.

With over 20 years of experience, she supports emerging and C-Suite leaders, internationally renowned experts, and many others, giving them the tools to lead bravely with their head and heart.

Maria’s mission is to empower managers and leaders who care about their people and their social impact, to become more effective, better communicators and courageous leaders.

She’ll be talking about:

What she sees at the most important skill today’s leaders need to have.
The critical importance of being decisive.
Why good leadership often rests on simply being courageous.

… and a lot more.

Speaking of leadership, one of the biggest challenges companies face is trying to find top talent - particularly to fill critical leadership roles. Nowadays, having the right people can really determine a company’s success or failure.

That’s why top corporations and even smaller enterprises rely on Asianet Consultants to help them fill key positions. Since 1988 Asianet has been working in partnership with its global clients to help them make the right strategic hires. They have a well-earned reputation for being able to fill even those difficult to fill positions.

So if you need to recruit new talent - or think that you might be doing that soon, head on over to their website and check them out. That’s asiannetconsultants.com.

Now, let’s hear what Maria has to say about what it takes to be a great leader.

USEFUL LINKS
Connect with Maria Kelly on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/askmariakelly/

Maria Kelly’s website: https://AskMariaKelly.com

Asianet Consultants website: https://www.asianetconsultants.com/

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

One of the biggest marketing challenges that B2B companies face is differentiating themselves from their competitors.

Unfortunately, most companies think the best strategy is to make themselves look as much like everyone else - or as much like the market leaders - as possible.

Their website adopts a similar look. Their logo follows the same style. Promotional material looks like what everyone else is doing.

The thinking is that what works for one will work for all. The reality is that customers see a group of companies that all look that same - and so you don’t stand out or catch their attention.

It makes it very difficult for customers to see why they should take the time to see what you offer.

But can you really take a product or service that seems more like a commodity than a one-of-a-kind and make customers see it as not only different - but maybe even better?

I’m Jane Singer and thank you for joining me and being part of our international community that now spans over 100 countries.

Today I’m speaking with Matthew Stibbe, CEO at Articulate Marketing, a UK marketing agency specializing in the technology sector. He’s created marketing strategies, content and campaigns for clients including Microsoft, Google and HP.

Before that he founded and was CEO at Intelligent Games, a 70-person computer games company where he designed games for LEGO and produced two games based on Dune.

Even if you are not a technology company, Matthew offers a lot of best practices that are applicable to any B2B company.

In this episode Matthew talks about:

How using an educational approach can differentiate your product in the market.
Turning your company website into a lead generating machine.
How a B2B company can stand out - even in a very crowded market.

And a lot more…

Another challenge that companies face today is finding the right talent for those difficult to fill positions. Most companies that have tried to fill positions on their own have found that it often ends up in weeks or months of frustration.

A lot of successful businesses have solved this problem by partnering with Asianet Consultants, which helps companies fill those often difficult-to-fill positions in Asia.

Since 1988 Asianet has been working in partnership with its global clients to help them make the right strategic hires.

Let’s find out from Matthew how we can position our products to stand out - and win customers.

Helpful Links:

Connect with Matthew Stibbe: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewstibbe/

Articulate Marketing’s website: www.articulatemarketing.com

Matthew’s blog about modern management: www.geekboss.com

Learn more about Asianet Consultant: https://www.asianetconsultants.com/

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

E-commerce offers many unique retail opportunities - not the least of which is being location independent. You can, at least in theory, sell to customers anywhere in the world.

However as the e-commerce market becomes increasingly competitive, even power brands are having to devote more resources to drive growth.

That leaves small to medium sized brands increasingly frustrated as they struggle to increase sales - and more importantly - to make a profit.

Today Lesley Hensell, a small business consultant who has spent two decades helping companies solve issues in their online retail businesses, joins us on A Seat at The Table.

Lesley has personally helped hundreds of third-party sellers get their suspended Amazon accounts and ASINs back up and running, learn which KPI’s actually matter, and how to improve their operations and profitability.

In this episode she discusses

Strategies small to medium sized sellers can implement to compete with even giant players.
Key mistakes she sees companies make when they get started in e-commcerce.
How sellers can minimise risk - while also growing their revenue.

… and a lot more.

USEFUL LINKS

Riverbend Consuting’s website: https://riverbendconsulting.com

Connect with Lesley Hensell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesleyhensell/

Learn about The Current Situation in Sourcing: https://thecurrentsituation.net

A Seat at The Table website: https://seat.fm

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

We talk a lot about leadership here on A Seat at The Table. It’s a critical part of running any business these days - whether its a global corporation or a small local operation.

Nowadays, for many senior executives, there’s the dual challenge of keeping themselves focused in the face of an onslaught of market twists and turns, as well as supporting their teams and giving them the direction and confidence so that they can deliver their best performance.

That leaves many leaders increasingly asking: “What’s the best way to do this?” … “I wish I had a playbook for how to handle some of these unexpected challenges.”

If fact, there’s is such a playbook - and today I’m talking with the man who wrote it.

Andrew Bryant is a coach and c-suite advisor who has helped leaders at every level adapt to this new environment.

His latest book “Enter The New Leadership Playbook” is the definite guide for leaders who are looking for a practical guide to understanding people and driving accelerated results, while also being human.

In this episode of A Seat at The Table, Andrew talks about:

What ‘Self Leadership’ is and how does it effectively bring leaders and teams together.
His 7 principles of the leadership playbook.
Why job satisfaction and quality of life can be enhanced significantly by drawing talent.
How leaders can articulate what is required of an employee in a way that they can meet the objective.

USEFUL LINKS:

Connect with Andrew Bryant: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewbryant/

Self Leadership website: http://selfleadership.com/

Learn about The Current Situation in Sourcing: https://thecurrentsituation.net

A Seat at The Table website: https://seat.fm

Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

AI is one of the most talked about technologies.

However most people increasingly see AI as either a kind of super technology that can perform a limitless range of tasks. Or as technology gone rogue with sci-fi images of AI powered machines taking over the world.

Turns out neither really defines AI. In fact, it could be said that AI is one of today’s most misunderstood technologies.

There’s a lot that AI can do and even more that it will be able to do … but it has its limitations too.

In today’s episode Robb Wilson, founder, lead designer, and chief technologist behind OneReach.ai, joins us on A Seat at The Table.

Amongst its many achievements, OneReach is the highest-scoring company in Gartner’s first Critical Capabilities for Enterprise Conversational AI Platforms report.

Robb has spent more than two decades applying his deep understanding of user-centric design to unlocking hyper
automation.

His forthcoming book, "Age of Invisible Machines: A Practical Guide to Creating a Hyperautomated Ecosystem of Intelligent Digital Workers" is a must read. It provides an easy-to-understand look at what’s really happening with AI.

Unlike many books about technical topics, Age of Invisible Machines is - as its title implies - a practical guide to bring AI into the work place.

Am I recommending you read this book? Yes I am! It’s a must read for anyone looking to determine how AI and specifically hyper automation, is the next big thing to stay competitive.

In this episode Robb discusses ...

5 ways that AI is programming us and how to stop it.

3 questions to ask when charting a course toward hyperautomation in your organization

Common myths about conversational AI

... and a lot more.

USERFUL LINKS:

OneReach’s website: https:// onereach.ai

Connect with Robb Wilson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/invisiblemachines/

Learn about The Current Situation in Sourcing: https://thecurrentsituation.net

A Seat at The Table website: https://seat.fm

For many people who’ve turned into this podcast, you might be wondering “what is a super app?” And “if I’m not a tech developer, why is this relevant to my business?”

I was thinking the same thing.

But it turns out that the things that make these apps so attractive to so many people - and keeps them loyal - can be applied to almost any business.

In this episode I’m speaking with Kevin Shimota, a leading expert on digital technology in China, a former senior executive at WeChat and then Director of Platform Strategy for Accenture.

He’s also the author of “The First Superapp: Inside China’s WeChat and the New Digital Revolution”.

The First Superapp tells the inside story of how the phenomenon of superapps began in China's unique internet market. It explores WeChat's creation and its climb to become the first superapp, and explains the fundamentals of these new apps and how they could be reproduced beyond China.

Today Kevin will be talking about:

What differentiates China’s super apps from anything that exists in the West.
Why user value is the biggest moat that any brand can build around its business.
The massive benefits of heavy investment in customer goodwill.
Why KPIs tend to measure the wrong things - and can lead companies away from long term success.

USEFUL LINKS:

Connect with Kevin Shimota: www.kevinshimota.com

Kevin’s podcast: www.greatfirechat.com

“The First Superapp: Inside China’s WeChat and the New Digital Revolution” : www.amazon.com/dp/B0B2DKXW2W/

Learn about The Current Situation in Sourcing: https://thecurrentsituation.net
A Seat at The Table website: https://seat.fm

A lot of conversations around leadership tend to focus on corporate culture. While culture is important, it tends to be a bit ‘big picture’ and not particularly relatable to the entire hierarchy of team members.

This is where ‘purpose’ can play an important role in helping support both individual team members to find more fulfilment in their work, as well as creating a greater sense of direction for teams.

If you’re wondering how a company can inspire people to change the world, then this is the podcast for you.

In this episode I’m talking with Dr. Ahktar Badshah, creator of Purpose Mindset Workshops, and author of Purpose Mindset: How Microsoft Inspires Employees and Alumni to Change the World

Dr. Badshah is a seasoned executive with over 30 years of experience in international development, managing a corporate philanthropic program and co-founding a global nonprofit for social enterprise. He led Microsoft’s philanthropic efforts for ten years, where he administered the company's community investment and employee contributions.

In this episode of A Seat at The Table, Dr. Badshah will be discussing:

The game changing value of focusing on who you want to serve as opposed to who you want to be.

How your values and mission combine to create your purpose.

Purpose Accountability: Why being transparent with your purpose is crucial.

Why we should prioritise being effective over being efficient.

Why doing things the right way might not be as rewarding as doing the right thing.

USEFUL LINKS

Dr. Akhtar Badshah’s websites:
www.purpose-mindset.org
https://evans.uw.edu/ast
www.catalyticinnovatorsgroup.com
www.restart.us

Learn more about The Current Situation in Sourcing:
https://thecurrentsituation.net

Your Seat at The Table: A road map to landing guest spots on podcasts
https://seat.fm/podcastcourse

A Seat at The Table podcast website:
https://seat.fm

B2B companies keep getting told that they need to invest in marketing but most still see it more as a ‘nice to have’ not a ‘ must have’.

It has the look and feel of an expensive with an uncertain ROI attached to it.

While its true that today its difficult to move the needle on sales, let alone building brand recognition for your product or service, marketing can be effective and budget friendly - if you become more flexible about staffing.

And it can help improve sales in a more tangible way - when you know what things to focus on.

In this episode I’m speaking with Amy Anderson, co-founder of Wild Coffee, which focuses on transforming businesses through a diverse set of disciplines and tailor-made teams.

Amy has had more than 25 years of experience at brands such as Calvin Klein, Seventeen, and The New York Times Digital.

We’re going to be discussing …

How having a fractional CMO and working with outsourced marketing teams can bring in greater expertise while helping companies control their marketing costs.
The key marketing KPI’s that B2B companies should focus on.
Why marketing during an economic downturn can give companies an opportunity to pull way ahead of the market - oftentimes at a lower cost.

And a lot more …

USEFUL LINKS

Wild Coffee's website: https://wildcoffeemarketing.com/

Connect with Amy Anderson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-anderson-17abba2/

Learn about The Current Situation in Sourcing: https://thecurrentsituation.net

A Seat at The Table website: https://seat.fm

Everyone loves to gather round the conference table and brain storm new ideas. We all enjoy exploring the possibilities of what we could do … what it might look like … and of course the big success that we think could result from our innovative ideas.

But how often does ideating actually lead to the execution of a project?

How many times have we seen the high energy experienced during the idea phase quickly run out of gas or get lost in the woods when it comes to taking action - or more importantly taking consistent action that will bring a concept into fruition?

In this episode of A Seat at The Table I'm speaking with Natalie Turner, Founder and CEO of The Entheo Network, which helps companies build innovation systems, culture and capabilities. She is also the inventor of The Six ‘I’s, a model that helps people measure their innovation strengths so that they can achieve greater impact from new ideas.

In this podcast Natalie talks about:

How to create a more innovative, results oriented culture.
The 6 I's of Innovation and how leaders can use them in their companies.
The mindsets and skills we need to harness diversity.
The different dimensions of innovation, and how can leaders identify them - and then use them to build better results in their companies.

USEFUL LINKS:

Connect with Natalie Turner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalieturner1/

Learn about The Current Situation in Sourcing: https://thecurrentsituation.net

A Seat at The Table website: https://seat.fm

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 LINKS

Connect with Owen McGab Enaohwo: https://www.linkedin.com/in/owenmcgabenaohwo/
Learn more about SweetProcess: https://www.SweetProcess.com
Learn more about The Current Situation in Sourcing: https://thecurrentsituation.net

Your Seat at The Table: A road map to landing guest spots on podcasts:
https://seat.fm/podcastcourse

A Seat at The Table podcast website: 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:

Can workplace culture be designed - and how we can do this.
How to make our company culture easier for employees to understand - and more actionable for leaders.
How leadership can overcome the challenges of a hybrid work model.
What he’s learned working with a wide range of companies - from the best to the worst.

USEFUL LINKS

Gustavo’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/b82be2c3e3

Get your copy of “Remote, Not Distant”: https://www.amazon.com/Remote-Not-Distant-Company-Workplace-ebook/dp/B09VXX4FN3

Learn about The Current Situation in Sourcing: https://thecurrentsituation.net

A Seat at The Table website: 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:

A faster, more efficient way to find the right talent.
Why a candidate’s mindset is as important as their skill set.
How remote working can enable companies to tap into rich talent pools around the world.

USEFUL LINKS

Connect with Alex Svinov: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-svinov/

Insquad website: https://insquad.com

Learn more about The Current Situation in Sourcing: https://thecurrentsituation.net

Your Seat at The Table: A road map to landing guest spots on podcasts:
https://seat.fm/podcastcourse

A Seat at The Table podcast website: 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:

Why the first 100 days are so critical for a new employee.
How the having the right core values attracts A-Players from diverse backgrounds.
Why people are a company’s key competitive advantage - even in a digitally-driven world.

USEFUL LINKS

Connect with Marc Reifenrath:

Spinutech’s website: www.spinutech.com

Learn about The Current Situation in Sourcing: https://thecurrentsituation.net

A Seat at The Table website: 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:

Why it’s so difficult for e-commerce brands to run a fast website.
What you need to prioritise so that your site is not only fast - but also engaging.
How reducing your back-end server pool can help reduce CO2 emissions and your carbon footprint.

USEFUL LINKS

Connect with Shawn O’Neill: SpeedSense website: https://www.speedsense.com/
Learn more about The Current Situation in Sourcing: https://thecurrentsituation.net
Your Seat at The Table: A road map to landing guest spots on podcasts:
https://seat.fm/podcastcourse
A Seat at The Table podcast website: 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 > Prescribe

In this episode of A Seat at The Table, Carl talks about:

Why retailers need to shift their focus from managing cash flows to now putting more emphasis on resource allocation.
How to leverage the power of physical stores in everything from customer acquisition to community building.
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.world

Learn about The Current Situation in Sourcing: https://thecurrentsituation.net

A Seat at The Table website: 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 LINKS

Connect 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.net
Your Seat at The Table: A road map to landing guest spots on podcasts:
https://seat.fm/podcastcourse

A Seat at The Table podcast website: 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:

How mobile apps are an easy to use driver of more educated teams.
Using micro learning to keep colleagues up to date - in real time.
How to use learning apps to make training easier and more engaging.

USEFUL LINKS

Edapp website: https:// edapp.com

Connect with Darren Winterford: linkedin.com/in/darrenwinterford

LinkedIn page: linkedin.com/in/edapp-micro-learning

Darrent’s Twitter: twitter.com/thisisedapp

Learn about The Current Situation in Sourcing: https://thecurrentsituation.net

A Seat at The Table website: 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:

How referral marketing has evolved over the past decade.
The difference between word of mouth and referral marketing.
How to leverage community marketing to grow your sales.
3 key strategies to introduce a successful referral program to customers.

USEFUL LINKS

Connect with Raul Galera: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raulgalera/

Referral Candy website: referralcandy.com

Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/referralcandy

Twitter Handle: @referralcandy

Learn about The Current Situation in Sourcing: https://thecurrentsituation.net

A Seat at The Table website: 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.net

Your Seat at The Table: A road map to landing guest spots on podcasts:
https://seat.fm/podcastcourse

A Seat at The Table podcast website: 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:

The best methods for prospecting in 2022 (Post Covid) to increase sales.
Why proper handling of objections is such a big deal in sales.
Things you should NEVER say during a qualification call.

USEFUL LINKS

Connect 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/195033628X

Learn about The Current Situation in Sourcing: https://thecurrentsituation.net

A Seat at The Table website: https://seat.fm

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Every business dreams of being able to create more predictable success for their companies.

Doing that has becoming increasing 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 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:

How he developed an ‘algorithm for success’.
How to start building outcomes that business leaders want for their companies.
The importance of pairing the right teams with the right technology - so that technology will facilitate achievement, rather than get in the way.
The importance of developing internal reports that can show you a road map for success.

USEFUL LINKS

Connect with Thomas Douglas: linkedin.com/in/thomashdouglas

Adapt or Die website: https://www.adaptordie.com

JMARK website: https://www.JMARK.com

Free Asset for Listeners: https://www.adaptordie.com/podcast

Learn about The Current Situation in Sourcing: https://thecurrentsituation.net

A Seat at The Table website: 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:

His methodology behind using funny videos in marketing.
His 8-step guide to producing videos like this on your own.
How humour can help make the sales process more ‘human’.

Now let’s sit down with Joe and find out how we can use humour to grow our sales.

USEFUL LINKS:

Connect with Joseph Wilkens: www.linkedin.com/in/wilkinsjoseph

Funny Sales Videos website: https://funnysalesvideos.com

Free ebook: https://funnysalesvideos.com/ebook/

Learn about The Current Situation in Sourcing: https://thecurrentsituation.net

A Seat at The Table website: 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.net

A Seat at The Table website: https://seatpodcast.com

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:

Where leadership teams going wrong.
What is needed in leaders in order to help companies and teams navigate these complex times.
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/RIFOUNDERS

Jack’s Book launch website: https://www.greatleadershipteambook.com/

Learn about The Current Situation in Sourcing: https://thecurrentsituation.net

A Seat at The Table website: 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 about

The disconnect between what retailers think consumers want (in a retail experience) and what consumers actually want.
How to create an engaging retail experience - even if you’re not selling ‘celebrity’ products.
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.net

A Seat at The Table website: 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:

The biggest challenges facing the EV battery industry.
What is Neocarbonix at the Core and what sets it apart from other Li-ion battery technology?
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.com

Learn about The Current Situation in Sourcing: https://thecurrentsituation.net

A Seat at The Table website: 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.

I’m Jane Singer and thank you for taking the time to join me here on A Seat at The Table, where we talk to leading executives, entrepreneurs and innovators who share their insights, experience and outlook on business, technology and leadership.

It’s wonderful to have you as part of our international community that now spans over 100 countries.

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:

Why open source is more advantageous for companies than closed source software.
Opportunities for mid sized companies to use open source platforms to develop proprietary applications.
What’s next for cloud-based software solutions.

USEFUL LINKS

Connect with Daniel Aw: linkedin.com/in/daniel-aw-singapore

Learn about The Current Situation in Sourcing: https://thecurrentsituation.net

A Seat at The Table website: 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 about

What a ‘personal brand’ is and why it plays a critical role for leadership success.
How to get started identifying and building our leadership brand.
Errors that leaders might not realise they make that undermine their brand image.

USEFUL LINKS

Connect 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.com

Brenda Bence on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/BrendaBence

Learn about the Current Situation Sourcing: https://thecurrentsituation.net

A Seat at The Table website: 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.com

The Current Situation in Sourcing website: https://thecurrentsituation.net

A Seat at The Table podcast website: https://seatpodcast.com

Data security is something we take for granted. We don’t often think about the consequences, until one of our devices 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 all need to ditch our passwords.
- What’s driving the surge in security breeches and ransomware attaches.
How to secure remote workers who are using their personal devices for company business.

USEFUL LINKS:

Connect with Denis O'Shea: https://www.linkedin.com/in/denisosheamobilementor/

Learn more about Mobile Mentor: http://mobile-mentor.com/

Mobile Mentor's Research: https://endpointecosystem.com/

Learn more about the Current Situation in Sourcing: https://thecurrentsituation.net

A Seat at The Table website: 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 LINKS

Connect with Sophie Wade: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophie-wade-380b8/

Learn more about The Current Situation in Sourcing: https://thecurrentsituation.net

A Seat at The Table Website: https://seatpodcast.com

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.S

For 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.coach

A Seat at The Table website: https://seat.fm

The Current Situation in Sourcing: https://thecurrentsituation.net

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 LINKS

Connect with Laura Meyer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauracatherinemeyer/

Envision Horizons website: https://envisionhorizons.com

A Seat at The Table website: https://seatpodcast.com

The Current Situation in Sourcing: https://thecurrentsituation.net

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 LINKS

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 suddenly back … and after years of talking, central banks are now actually starting to raise interest rates - a little. An yet the stock market is still pushing upwards.

But what causing markets to move in directions that seem to have even the best analysts scratching their heads?

Today 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:

How have markets changed over the past decades - and what actually hasn’t changed?
What should most people be looking to invest in now?
What most people often misunderstand about market performance.
Is crypto-currency a viable investment alternative?

USEFUL LINKS

Get 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.net

A Seat at The Table website: https://seatpodcast.com

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 LINKS

Connect 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.com

The Current Situation in Sourcing: https://thecurrentsituation.net

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_ma

Innovation 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.com

The Current Situation in Sourcing: https://thecurrentsituation.net

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 corporations 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.

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 share

Why 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 LINKS

Connect with Jay Goldman:

Sensei Labs website:

Jay's book "The Decoded Company"

Learn more about The Current Situation in Sourcing: https://thecurrentsituation.net

A Seat at The Table website: https://seatpodcast.com

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 million
drivers.

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 LINKS

Connect with Bill Catania: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billcatania/

OneRail's website: https://onerail.io

A Seat at The Table's Website: https://seatpodcast.com

The Current Situation in Sourcing: https://thecurrentsituation.net

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.io

Connect 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.com

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:

How to build a successful network of affiliates that can drive your sales.
The key thing you need to convert website traffic into actual sales.
The game changing value of investing in crafting your ‘story’.
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.net

A Seat at The Table website: https://seatpodcast.com

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.com

Paul Glover on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulglovercoaching/

Learn more about The Current Situation in Sourcing: https://thecurrentsituation.net
A Seat at The Table website: https://seatpodcast.com

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.net

A Seat at The Table website: https://seatpodcast.com

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 LINKS

Connect with Girish on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/girishredekar/

Sprinto website: https://sprinto.com

Learn more about The Current Situation: https://swiy.io/thecurrentsituation

A Seat at The Table website: 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 LINKS

Connect with Prantik Mazumdar on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prantikmazumdar/

Learn more about The Current Situation: https://swiy.io/thecurrentsituation

A Seat at The Table website: 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 sector

USEFUL LINKS

Congnite's website:

Connect with Carolina Torres on LinkedIn

Learn more about 'Current Situation': https://thecurrentsituation.net

A Seat at The Table's website: https://seat.fm

Follow A Seat at The Table on LinkedIn:

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 LINKS

Vijay 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.net

A Seat at The Table's website: 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 LINKS

Connect with Hilton Barbour on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hiltonbarbour/

Hilton Barbour's website: https://www.hiltonbarbour.com

A Seat at The Table's website: 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 customers

USEFUL LINKS:

Jump!Innovation website: https:// jumpinnovates.com

Connect with Jeff Roberts on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmrobertsphd/

Learn more about The Current Situation in Sourcing: https://thecurrentsituation.net

A Seat at The Table's website: 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 gardeners

USEFUL LINKS

Bert 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/BertMartinOhnemueller

Follow Bert on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/BMOhnemueller

Learn about The Current Situation summaries and forecasts: https://thecurrentsituation.net

A Seat at the Table website: https:seat.fm

Follow A Seat at The Table on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/seat-at-the-table-podcast/

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.net

Inside Fashion Briefings: https://insidefashionlive.net/january-2022-briefings/

A Seat at The Table website: https://seat.fm

Contact us at A Seat at The Table: https://seat.fm/contact-us

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 LINKS

Sheri Koones' website: https://www.sherikoones.com

Connect 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.net

A Seat at The Table website: https://seat.fm

Contact us at A Seat at The Table: https://seat.fm/contact-us/

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 Brand

USEFUL LINKS
The Cult Collective website: https://www.cultideas.com

The 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.fm

Contact us at A Seat at The Table: https://seat.fm/contact-us

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.asia

Bernard Hor: https://www.linkedin.com/in/behor/

Inside Fashion website: https://insidefashionlive.net

A Seat at The Table website: https://seat.fm

Contact us at A Seat at The Table: https://seat.fm/contact-us

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 LINKS

Connect with Debbie Howard:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbiehoward
- https://www.carterjmrn.com
- https://www.theCareGivingJourney.com

A Seat at The Table Website: https://seat.fm

Contact A Seat at The Table podcast: https://seat.fm/contact-us

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 LINKS

Connect with John Lindsey: johnl@incitelogix.com

InCite Logix website: https://incitelogix.com

A Seat at The Table website: https://seat.fm

Contact us at A Seat at The Table: https://seat.fm/contact-us

E-commerce has seen it’s market share rocket during the past two years as the pandemic made shopping from home a must in many markets.

But one of the biggest gains has been the quantum leap that online retail has made in developing markets.

Growth of domestic platforms as well as cross border trade has opened up literally a world of shopping opportunities for consumers in these markets.

This has been aided by new payment services that are enabling consumers who don’t have access to traditional credit cards and other banking services to purchases goods online.

Brazil, for example, is expected to see e-commerce reach $26 billion in 2021 and hit $35 billion by 2025. South Africa’s e-commerce market is expected to reach $7.7 billion by 2025.

And then there’s India. The nation’s e-commerce market is expected to grow 25-30 percent annually to reach a size of $120-140 billion by 2026.

Another growth market for both online and physical retail is Iran. This upper middle income nation of 83 million people has a retail market worth an estimated $167 billion.

Over the last decade, the development of digital payments and more advanced logistics services, and the growth of the transportation and telecommunication sectors, has driven the rise of e-commerce platforms.

In this episode I’m talking with Naser Shahverdi, founder & CEO of Aria Mall, an online platform for the Iranian market.

We’ll be discussing some of the opportunities and challenges that e-commerce faces as more Iranian consumers look to both traditional e-commerce and the newer social commerce that’s becoming popular around the world.

USEFUL LINKS:

Connect with Naser Shahverdi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/naser-shahverdi/

A Seat at The Table website: https://seat.fm

Contact us at A Seat at The Table: https://seat.fm/contact-us

Many people have at one time or another dreamed of a being in show business.

From red carpets to a jet setting celebrity lifestyle - a career on camera has been seen as the road to fame and fortune.

But is it really as glamour as it seems? And what does it take to not only break into the entertainment business - but to survive in an industry that offers no job security whatsoever.

This episode is part of our 'Launch to Legendary' series where we get to hear from entrepreneurs and innovators who have taken the ordinary and turned it into the extraordinary. People who have built their careers by seeing opportunities in inopportune circumstances. Who’ve defined success in their own terms. Together we’ll be able to learn from their experiences and be inspired by what they’ve achieved.

Today I’ll be talking with Michael Chua, who after a successful 20 year career as a cyber security management consultant working for banks, governments and technology firms in 19 countries, pivoted and became an award winning actor, film director, producer and author.
Michael is truly legendary having performed in over 400 productions as well as writing and producing his own films.

In this episode of A Seat at The Table, Michael takes us behind the scenes where he’ll talk about:

The difference between working in front of and behind the camera.
The dark side of working as an actor (even if you're a very popular one).
What you need to think about before you change careers or jobs.

USEFUL LINKS:

Connect with Michael Chua: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jupilier

Michael Chua on TikTok: Http://www.tiktok.com/@michaelchuaactor

A Seat at the Table website: https://seat.fm

Contact us at A Seat at The Table: https://seat.fm/contact-us

One of the biggest shifts brought on by the pandemic is the number of people who have opted to quit their jobs.

The media has handily named this the ‘Great Resignation’ and whether the number of people leaving their posts is quite as high as the headlines imply, there has certainly been a surge in the number of people who are disgruntled and find their work - well somewhat soul crushing.

Have so many companies become terrible places to work? Or have employees simply raised their expectations as to what work should be like? Either way, what can today’s leadership do to reduce turnover and create a work environment that supports people - and productivity?

To gain greater insights into the current situation that’s driving workplace turnover, I reached out to Ralf Specht, creator of the Soul System and author of Building Corporate Soul: Powering Culture & Success with the Soul System.

Ralf was a founding partner of Spark44, where he was the architect of an innovative, industry-first joint-venture with Jaguar Land Rover, which grew under his leadership to a global revenue of $100+m and 1,200 employees.

In this episode, Ralf talks about:

How companies can build stronger relationships with their teams and reduce employee turnover.
Why it’s possible to have a workplace environment that’s both competitive and supportive.
How to build a company that has a ‘soul’.

USEFUL LINKS:

Learn more about SPINEXPO: https://www.spinexpo.com

Connect with Ralf Specht: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ralf-specht-b21b8529/

Building Corporate Soul website: https://buildingcorporatesoul.com

A Seat at The Table website: https://seat.fm

Contact us at A Seat at The Table: https://seat.fm/contact-us/

Most companies are using some form of digital marketing. However a growing number are struggling to achieve the results they hoped for.

What used to be a handful of digital options has now mushroomed into a vast array of choices and complex media plays.

Those early days of banner adverts, sponsored content and posts on a few social media platforms have morphed into a situation where companies are struggling to keep up with a massively time consuming frenzy of online activities - often without having a clear idea of what’s working or how they should be benchmarking success.

To gain some clarity on digital marketing, I reached out to Madeline Farquharson, marketing lead at Inqling, a digital media consultancy that helps small companies tell their story and connect with their audience.

Her team are masters at designing those moments of engagement that customers have with companies online.

In this episode, Madeline is going to share some huge insights:

Why Marketers Need a ‘Provisional Persona’ for Their Products.
The Power of Community in Driving Leads.
How We can Benchmark the Success of Our Digital Marketing.
Why It Pays to Use Paid Promotion.
The Critical Difference Between ‘Rented’ and ‘Owned’ Audiences.

USEFUL LINKS:

Learn more about SPINEXPO: https://www.spinexpo.com

Learn more about Inqling: https://inqling.studio

Connect with Madeline Farquharson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madeline-farquharson/

A Seat at The Table website: https://seat.fm

Contact us at A Seat at The Table: https://seat.fm/contact-us/

It seems that everyone is talking about data.

At first it was big data. Then it was data privacy … data mining … data management … cloud data. And more recently, how big tech is handling our data.

Whether you’re a massive corporation or a solopreneur, today everyone has the ability to collect customer data - and is seeing lots of advantages in doing so.

The challenge is what do we do with the growing mass of data that we are able to collect? How do we turn it into something that is actionable - useful - in improving or growing our business?

To get some top level advice as to how we can leverage our data to grow our business, I sat down with the very talented Joanne Persico, President and Co-founder of OneCount, an SaaS platform that helps companies integrate multiple, diverse data streams - and then analyse it for practical, actionable customer insights that can generate more leads and 10X customer experience.

In this episode, Joanne will talk about:

6 Pillars for Rethinking How You Manage Data
How B2B Companies Can Use Customer Data Like Big Tech Does (in other words, Steal a Page from the B2C Playbook)
How Better Data Management Can Support Your Company in Building Greater Trust with Your Customers

USEFUL LINKS:

Learn more about SPINEXPO: www.spinexpo.com

Connect with Joanne Persico, President of OneCount: http://www.one-count.com/

Learn more about OneCount: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannepersico/

A Seat at The Table website: seat.fm

Contact us at A Seat at The Table: seat.fm/contact-us

Brands are facing massive market changes. Supply chain disruptions have pulled the rug out from under fast fashion. Eco-conscious consumers want more sustainable apparel. And new direct to consumer brands are rapidly gaining market share.

When the dust settles there will be winners and losers, but one thing is certain - new brands are bringing new demands to suppliers.

Gone are the days when most brands wanted the same thing - and typically that was lower prices.

We know that the new brands have a different sourcing model. But exactly is it?

To get a better understanding of what direct to consumer brands want - or need - from their suppliers I reached out to Kevin Lynk, founder and CEO of Creare, an agency that provides design, product development and production, and that leverages strong mill partnerships to deliver high quality raw materials.

Kevin has two decades of experience working with both traditional and new digital native brands.

In this episode he’ll talk about:

Who’s likely to prosper in the ‘New Normal’.
The growing shift away from cheaper and towards better.
The overlooked emergence of a new ‘middle market’.
Today’s biggest “asks” from buyers.
What keeps him up at night.

USEFUL LINKS

Learn more about SPINEXPO: https://www.spinexpo.com

Learn more about Creare: https://crearegroup.com

A Seat at The Table website: https://seat.fm

Contact us at A Seat at The Table: https://seat.fm/contact-us/

Everyone is talking about the importance of digital transformation, yet many companies are stuck as to how exactly to best implement it for their business.

Regardless of what business you’re in, shifting away from legacy systems is never easy and not knowing best practices or even how to evaluate which system is best for you can make the process even more daunting.

To get insights into what companies need to consider when making the leap into digitising their operations, I sat down with Sunny Han, founder and CEO of Fulcrum, a cloud-based platform that helps manufacturers quickly sift and sort through hundreds of data points at lighting speed in order to make better decisions - and make them faster.

In the episode Sunny will share:

The importance of re-evaluating your company’s data architecture before ditigitizing your operations.
The overlooked benefits of being able to make faster decisions.
The role that API’s are playing in boosting the capabilities of software systems.
Why by digitising you’re not simply implementing software, but are trying to evolve your operations.

USEFUL LINKS:

Learn more about SPINEXPO: www.spinexpo.com

Learn more about Fulcrum: https://fulcrumpro.com/

Connect with Sunny Han: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yusunnyhan/

A Seat at The Table podcast website: https://seat.fm

Contact us at A Seat at The Table: https://seat.fm/contact-us/

Starting a business is easy. Scaling it is where things get a bit more challenging.

70% of start ups fail within two to five years of launching. Not encouraging numbers.

In today’s competitive market, even establish businesses are facing new and unanticipated market challenges.

Still, we are firmly in the Age of the Entrepreneur, with solopreneurs launching new micro businesses, creators developing new products and services, and mega corporations being told to “be more entrepreneurial” in their thinking.

In this new and often chaotic environment, what are current best practices? What do those who succeed have in common? What should we at least be considering as we navigate a market where it seems that none of the old rules still apply?

To get a better idea of what successful startups do right, I reached out to a man who’s mentored 100’s of startups and whose career has been deep in the fast growing MarTech (marketing technology) sector.

Dan McGaw, is CEO of McGaw.io, an analytics and marketing technology consultancy and SaaS platform, UTM.io.

Dan previously was Head of Marketing at Kissmetrics and worked as a CMO consultant for a number of high-growth companies, implementing tools, offering support, and analyzing data.

He was also selected to be a United States Ambassador of Entrepreneurship by the United States Department of State.

In this episode of A Seat at The Table, Dan talks about:

Why ‘traction’ can be more important initially than sales or profits.
The critical, but often overlooked, role that corporate culture plays in building a successful business.
Why data is important - but so is human instinct - in making the right decisions.
What the ideal MarTech stack looks like today.

USEFUL LINKS

Learn more about SPINEXPO: https://www.spinexpo.com

Connect with Dan McGaw: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielmcgaw/

Dan's websites: mcgaw.io and utm.io

Get Dan's FREE ebook: text +1-415-915-9011

A Seat at The Table website: https://seat.fm
Contact us at A Seat at The Table: https://seat.fm/contact-us/

There are probably almost as many trading systems and investment philosophies as there are active traders.

Each strategy promising to help people beat the market.

But what if success was less a matter of a system or a strategy and more a matter of a certain mindset?

Roger Khoury has over two decades of experience the field of market forecasting.

In 2010, he developed an innovative probability-based form of price forecasting, called Market Vulnerability Analysis™, to overcome an inherent flaw he discovered in all trading systems and strategies, which he felt was the root cause of large drawdowns and inconsistent results.

His approach focuses on limiting downside market risks, without limiting upside profit potential, while maintaining a consistent win rate.

Roger is passionate about helping traders and investors understand how they can achieve sustainable and consistent earnings.

In 2019, Roger launched the Market Forecasting Academy to accomplish his vision for educating and mentoring active market participants on acquiring the skill of accurate and objective financial market forecasting.

In this episode he shares insights into:

Why focusing on opportunities to make money is the reason people have bad or inconsistent market experiences and what to do instead.
Why it's critical to focus on the process, not the results.
The "inherent flaw" in all market strategies that leads to large losses and inconsistency.

**USEFUL LINKS:

Learn more about SPINEXPO:** www.spinexpo.com

Connect with Roger Khoury: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rogerkhouryusa/

Market Forecasting Academy website: https://marketforecastingacademy.com

A Seat at The Table website: https://seat.fm

Contact us at A Seat at The Table podcast: https://seat.fm/contact-us/

Building a reliable supply chain is never easy. Especially when you’re dealing with a vast number of suppliers and when you are facing cultural differences in your vendor markets.

It gets even more complicated when the product you’re sourcing is fresh food.

So what are the best practices learned over the years from industry leaders who’ve meet the many challenges, spent sleepless nights and ultimately managed to succeed?

One man who has been in the supply chain trenches - and succeeded - is Xavier Naville.

Xavier built a business in China supplying fresh lettuce to leading international fast food chains. Despite the incredible challenges sourcing food in a market with a highly fragmented agricultural system, he managed to survive - and ultimately thrive.

His experience not only taught him sourcing best practices, but also incredibly powerful lessons in leadership that served him well managing his team in China - and that are increasingly relevant to markets outside of China.

Xavier’s new book "The Lettuce Diaries: How a Frenchman Found Gold Growing Vegetables in China" documents his experience and is a must-read for anyone who wants greater insights into successfully doing business in China.

Before we get started, if you’re looking to develop knitwear collections that will be a hit in any market, then SPINEXPO is the place to go. It’s the primary exhibition for yarns and knitwear.

The fair is a rich resource featuring well-edited, high quality collections, as well as cutting edge technical innovation.

Not to mention outstanding trend information that can not be found anywhere else. You can learn more at www.spinexpo.com. There’s also a link in the show notes.

Now let’s sit down with Xavier and hear about how he navigated one of the world’s most challenging supply chains.

USEFUL LINKS

Learn more about SPINEXPO: https://www.spinexpo.com

Connect with Xavier Naville:
- Advisory https://www.vision-consultants.org/
- Coaching https://www.xavier-naville.com/

Learn more about Xavier's book "The Lettuce Diaries: How a Frenchman Found Gold Growing Vegetables in China". https://www.vision-consultants.org/the-lettuce-diaries

A Seat at The Table website: https://seat.fm

Contact "A Seat at The Table" https://seat.fm/contact-us/

Learn more about The Current Situation in Sourcing https://bit.ly/current_situtation

If you’re trying to make sense out of a world where everyone seems to be launching the next unicorn.

And where valuations seem to have little correlation to corporate values or even the value of revenue or profit generated …

If you’re running a business without VC investment and feel like every day you’re pushing water up hill … or feel that your less glamorous, but profitable business is nothing compared with those start ups that keep getting new rounds of funding …

Then this is the podcast for you.

If you’re looking for a candid view of the real opportunities for start ups and brand acquisitions then Brian Esposito is your man.

Brian has a 20 year track record of successfully advising, investing and nurturing brands across an industrial spectrum that runs from fashion and beauty to technology and entertainment, as well as charities and transportation.

He’s a natural born connector who has the unique ability to see often overlooked opportunities in seemingly disparate assets.

Today, Brian shares his key principles for running a successful brand or business.

What successful starts up have in common
Why he doesn’t believe in unicorns
The importance of having a good advisory team
The overlooked opportunities in small companies

USEFUL LINKS

Learn more about SPINEXPO: https://www.spinexpo.com

Connect with Brian J. Esposito
- On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianjesposito/
- Website: https://eie.rocks
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/brianjesposito

A Seat at The Table website: https://seat.fm

Contact A Seat at The Table podcast: https://seat.fm/contact-us/

If you’re confused about commodities… perplexed about where prices might be headed … and increasingly concerned about those rumours about potential shortages of certain raw materials - well you’re not alone.

At a time when we seem to be surrounded by uncertainty, it’s difficult for even the most confident to leaders not to second guess themselves.

While many analysts expect to see price increases as part of the fallout from the pandemic, others believe that higher costs are likely to linger - becoming another part of the new normal.

I’m Jane Singer and thank you for joining me on a Seat at The Table.

Each week I sit with industry leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators and authors who share their insights, experience, outlook for succeeding in business as well as a vision for the future.

When you want insights into the future of cotton prices the man to talk to is cotton industry consultant Terry Townsend, who has spent over 30 years analysing the cotton industry.

Before establishing Cotton Analytics, Dr. Townsend was executive director of the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC). Prior to that he worked at USDA analyzing the U.S. cotton industry.

Dr. Townsend has a love for commodity issues, especially those related to cotton, and a deep appreciation of the importance of fundamental analysis in understanding structural change in commodity markets.

Before we get started, if you’re looking to develop knitwear collections that will be a hit in any market, then SPINEXPO is the place to go. It’s the primary exhibition for yarns and knitwear.

The fair is a rich resource featuring well-edited, high quality collections, as well as cutting edge technical innovation.

Not to mention outstanding trend information that can not be found anywhere else. You can learn more at www.spinexpo.com. There’s also a link in the show notes.

Also checkout our website. You can find all of the previous episodes of a Seat at The Table, the show notes, news about up upcoming events and lots of other useful information. You can find it at www.seat.fm.

Now let’s get some insights into where cotton prices might be heading.

USEFUL LINKS:

Learn more about SPINEXPO: www.spinexpo.com

Connect with Dr. Terry Townsend: terry@cottonanalytics.com

A Seat at The Table website: seat.fm or contact us at: https://seat.fm/contact-us/

The Current Situation in Sourcing: https://bit.ly/current_situtation

Most brands are looking for new markets where there’s strong consumer demand - and buying power.

Yet most over look Japan. Too complicated … takes too long to get into the market … then there’s the language barrier and cultural differences. Many would rather avoid it than risk possible failure.

But what if the Japanese market wasn’t as challenging as it looks? What if brands could actually do quite well there, if they just understood what to do and how to do it?

The Japanese market might be different from other markets, but there are huge opportunities for brands that offer high quality products, according to Catherine O’Connell, a New Zealander who opened her own law firm in Japan.

Catherine has helped many international brands successfully enter and navigate the Japan market.

In today’s episode, she’ll helps us demystify and decode many of the commonly held (and often incorrect) assumptions about what it takes to break into the market.

According to Catherine, Japan isn’t about a quick win. It’s about long term investment for long term returns. If you’re willing to make the commitment and use a local playbook, there’s lots of opportunity - especially for niche brands.

Before we get started, if you’re looking to develop knitwear collections that will be a hit in any market, then SPINEXPO is the place to go. It’s the primary exhibition for yarns and knitwear.

The fair is a rich resource featuring well-edited, high quality collections, as well as cutting edge technical innovation.

Not to mention outstanding trend information that can not be found anywhere else.

Now let’s find out how we can build our brand in Japan.

USEFUL LINKS:

Learn more about SPINEXPO: https://www.spinexpo.com

Connect with Catherine O'Connell: | www.catherineoconnelllaw.com or https://www.linkedin.com/in/oconnellcatherine/

A Seat at The Table website: seat.fm

Contact A Seat at The Table: https://seat.fm/contact-us/

When your computer freezes you simply rebooted it. When your modem is running slowly tech support tells to try rebooting it.

But what about when you feel that your life is stuck? When you feel that you’re going in circles? Or going nowhere. When you simply don’t know what what you want to do next.

Perhaps what you need is to reboot your life.

If you feel like your life could use a reboot then this podcast episode is for you!

Debbie Gissoni faced life changing tragedy and had to find a way move past the trauma and find the happiness and inspirationto create a new life.

From this experience she developed methods that helped her and that later she shared with others through her bestselling books and now her new course.

Today she’ll tell us how she turned her life around, as well as tools and exercises we can use to help us rethink and reboot our lives.

Before we get started, if you’re looking to develop knitwear collections that will reboot retail sales, then SPINEXPO is the place to go. It’s the primary exhibition for yarns and knitwear.

The fair is a rich resource featuring well-edited, high quality collections, as well as cutting edge technical innovation.

Not to mention outstanding trend information that can not be found anywhere else. You can learn more at www.spinexpo.com. There’s also a link in the show notes.

Also checkout our website. You can find all of the previous episodes of a Seat at The Table, the show notes, news about our upcoming workshops and lots of other useful information. You can find it at www.seat.fm.

Now let’s join Debbie and find out how we can reboot our lives.

USEFUL LINKS

Learn more about SPINEXPO: www.spinexpo.com

Connect with Debbie Gissoni
- Website: selfpowernow.com - LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dgisonni/

A Seat at The Table website: seat.fm

One of the key differentiators between good and great companies is leadership.

For most companies the focus tends to be on financial results, product development - and recently on juggling supply chain crises.

That leaves little time to think about leadership - let alone getting involved in professional development.

However as many of have learned, the value of having capable leaders at the top and middle level of your organization can be a game-changer - and often times a lifesaver!

Being a great leader sounds like a lofty concept, but it can be distilled down into a series of simple, actionable skills and tactics that once learned anyone can apply.

That’s exactly what April Sabral, founder of RetailU has done. She’s taken everything she’s learned during two decades of managing diverse retail teams around the world and codified her best tactics in a way that leaders - in retail or virtually any other industry - can use.

Today she’ll share what’s she’s learned, what worked best - and how a million dollar chocolate bar drove her team to achieving sales results beyond their wildest expectations.

Before we get started, if you’re looking to develop knitwear collections that will be social media superstars, then SPINEXPO is the place to go. It’s the primary exhibition for yarns and knitwear.

The fair is a rich resource featuring well-edited, high quality collections, as well as cutting edge technical innovation.

Not to mention outstanding trend information that can not be found anywhere else. You can learn more at www.spinexpo.com. There’s also a link in the show notes.

Also checkout our website. You can find all of the previous episodes of a Seat at The Table, the show notes, news about our upcoming workshops and lots of other useful information. You can find it at www.seat.fm.

USEFUL LINKS

Learn more about SPINEXPO: www.spinexpo.com

Connect with April Sabral: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aprilsabral/

Find out more about RetailU: retailu.ca

A Seat at The Table website: seat.fm

Learn more about The Current Situation in Sourcing: bit.ly/current_situtation

Direct to Consumer brands have been a rising market sector for over a decade.

The massive shift to online shopping during the pandemic was the rocket fuel that propelled many new brand launches, and made many traditional brands aware of the huge opportunities in selling online.

From potentially better margins to building closer engagement with consumers, most brands have made Direct to Consumer a priority.

While DTC doesn’t necessarily mean that the consumer purchases the product online, it does rely heavily on online promotions.

And that’s where the going can get tough - very tough!

Social media has been a key channel for promoting DTC brands. However to succeed it takes a lot more than simply posting photos to your feed. In a hyper competitive market, brands need to be more strategic - to find unique tactics that can set them apart - and that help manage those massive advertising and marketing costs that are now part of growing a brand.

David Morneau is the go-to guy for brands who want out-of-the-box strategies for building their brands online. His social media agency, In Beat, has run wildly successful campaigns for DTC brands that help them uncover hidden marketing opportunities and then support them in effectively implementing them to their full potential.

Today he joins me to discuss one of his most effective tactics. He’ll dive into why it works, potential problems that brands could face and how to use it effectively. As a bonus, he’ll share an innovative way that brands can get valuable market feedback from influencers.

Before we get started, if you’re looking to develop knitwear collections that will be social media superstars, then SPINEXPO is the place to go. It’s the primary exhibition for yarns and knitwear.

The fair is a rich resource featuring well-edited, high quality collections, as well as cutting edge technical innovation.

Not to mention outstanding trend information that can not be found anywhere else. You can learn more at www.spinexpo.com. There’s also a link in the show notes.

USEFUL LINKS

Learn more about SPINEXPO: www.spinexpo.com

Connect with David Morneau

... on LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/morneaudavid/
... on In Beat Agency's website: https://www.inbeat.agency/

Visit A SEAT at THE TABLE website: seat.fm

Learn more about The Current Situation in Sourcing: bit.ly/current_situtation

When most people start a business their core focus is on product development, driving sales and creating customer loyalty.

Few think about selling the business. Or more importantly, “if some day I wanted to sell this business what would make it attractive to investors?”

By the time they start to think about this, it’s often too late. Turns out, that what’s a great business for the owner, is not necessarily that appealing from an investor’s point of view.

If you’re looking to ensure that your business is saleable - if or when you want to sell it - then John Warrillow is your man.

John started and exited four companies, and is the author of bestseller, “Built to Sell: Creating a Business That Can Thrive without You” and host of Built to Sell Radio.

He is also Founder and CEO of The Value Builder System, a blue print for companies that shows you exactly what you need to do to build a business that some else would want to buy.

John has helped countless business owners build more valuable companies.

In this podcast he shares critical insights that point out what to start doing now to build a company that’s Built to Sell.

Before we get started, if you’re looking to develop knitwear collections that will standout in the market, then SPINEXPO is the place to go. It’s the primary exhibition for yarns and knitwear.

The fair is a rich resource featuring well-edited, high quality collections, as well as cutting edge technical innovation.

Not to mention outstanding trend information that can not be found anywhere else. You can learn more at www.spinexpo.com.

Also checkout our website. You can find all of the previous episodes of a Seat at The Table, the show notes, news about our upcoming workshops and lots of other useful information. You can find it at www.seat.fm.

USEFUL LINKS

Learn more about SPINEXPO: www.spinexpo.com

Get the Value Builder “Cheatsheet” and workbook that John mentioned in the podcast: www.builtToSell.com/seat

Read John Warrillow’s book “Built to Sell”: https://bit.ly/builtToSell

List’s to the Built To Sell podcast: https://builttosell.com/radio/

Connect with John Warrillow:

Built To Sell website: www.BuiltToSell.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnwarrillow/

Our A Seat at The Table podcast website: seat.fm

Learn more about the Current Situation in Sourcing reports: bit.ly/current_situtation

Have you ever thought of what it might be like to live your dream life?

But then thought “well that will have to wait. There’s no way I can do that right now. “

Or maybe you’ve felt stuck, a lack of opportunity because of where you’re living or the nature of your job?

What if there was a way to start moving towards living your dream life right now. A way to build a successful and happy life, regardless of where you are?

This episode is part of our Launch to Legendary series where we get to hear from entrepreneurs and innovators who have taken the ordinary and turned it into the extraordinary. Who have built their businesses by seeing opportunities in inopportune circumstances. Who’ve defined success in their own terms. Together we’ll be able to learn from their experiences and be inspired by what they’ve achieved.

Jayne Nakata lives in Fukushima, Japan a place you might recognise as ground zero for the 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster.

She managed to get past the devastation of seeing everything around her thrown into chaos and ruin, as well as having her own plans turned upside down - and she went on to build her best life.

In this podcast episode, Jayne talks about mistakes people make when trying to create their dream life. How you can create an amazing life even when you live in a small town. And also the power of community.

Before we get started, whether you’re launching a new brand or looking to grow your existing brand then SPINEXPO is a must visit fair. It’s the primary exhibition for yarns and knitwear.

The fair is a rich resource featuring well-edited, high quality collections, as well as cutting edge technical innovation.
Not to mention outstanding trend information that can not be found anywhere else. You can learn more at www.spinexpo.com. There’s also a link in the show notes.

Also checkout our website. You can find all of the previous episodes of a Seat at The Table, the show notes, news about our upcoming workshops, contests and lots of other useful information. You can find it at www.seat.fm.

Now let’s sit down with Jayne Nakata and find out to start building our best lives.

**USEFUL LINKS:

Learn more about SPINEXPO**: www.spinexpo.com

Connect with Jayne Nakata:

Website https://www.jaynenakata.com/

Facebook URL https://www.facebook.com/transformationswithjayne

Instagram URL https://www.instagram.com/transformationswithjayne/

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaynenakata/

Visit A Seat at The Table Website: https://seat.fm

One of the many sectors that have been disrupted by the pandemic is commercial real estate.

From consumers embracing online shopping and people working from home for over a year - to what could be long term migrations out of cities, this kind of movement clearly impacts the property sector.

However to fully understand what’s happening - and to be able to see where there might be opportunities - or obstacles - requires data. And the ability to not only collect that data, but also to analyse it in ways that highlight things that might otherwise be overlooked.

Like many industries, commercial real estate has been slow to adopt technology. However that’s changing now - and it’s affecting everything from identifying top locations to shining a light on operating costs.

Rob Finlay, Founder of Lobby CRE, knows the knows the extraordinary value of combining tech, innovation and data within the commercial real estate sector.

He’s pioneered applications that essentially do for commercial real estate what Bloomberg terminals did for the financial sector - making previously difficult to get data accessible.

Rob joins me today to talk about what he sees happening in commercial real estate from market shifts and cost management to using data to identify new opportunities.

Before we get started, if you’re looking to develop knitwear collections that will standout in the market, then SPINEXPO is the place to go. It’s the primary exhibition for yarns and knitwear.

The fair is a rich resource featuring well-edited, high quality collections, as well as cutting edge technical innovation.

Not to mention outstanding trend information that can not be found anywhere else. You can learn more at www.spinexpo.com. There’s also a link in the show notes.

Also checkout our website. You can find all of the previous episodes of a Seat at The Table, the show notes, news about our upcoming Master Class series and lots of other useful information. You can find it at www.seat.fm.

Now let’s here what Rob has to say about commercial real estate.

**USEFUL LINKS:

Learn more about SPINEXPO: www.spinexpo.com
Connect with Rob Finlay: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-j-finlay/ A Seat at The Table website: https://seat.fm**

Many people dream of launching their own fashion brands but once they get started find that it’s much more complicated than it looks.

That leads to stalled - or even failed businesses. Brilliantly creative products - that could be part of profitable companies - even up dyeing on the vine. Never making it beyond the sample room.

If you’re thinking of starting a fashion brand - or if you have brand and you’re stuck trying to grow it, then this podcast could bring you some of the answers you’re looking for.

I’m Jane Singer and thank you for joining me on A Seat at The Table.

This episode is part of our Launch to Legendary series where we get to hear from entrepreneurs and innovators who have taken the ordinary and turned it into the extraordinary. Who have built their businesses by seeing opportunities in inopportune circumstances. Who’ve defined success in their own terms. Together we’ll be able to learn from their experiences and be inspired by what they’ve achieved.

In today’s podcast episode we’ll be hearing how Susan Berman started an accessories business while she was in business school and grew it into a brand that retailers from Barney’s to Anthropology loved. Her Susan Daniels brand was so eye catching that it won that all-important placement in store windows, as well as being worn by cast members of popular television series including Gossip Girls.

Susan talks about what she wishes she knew when she got started. What were the biggest ‘blind spots’ she faced - and what she’d do differently if she were starting over.

Before we get started, whether you’re launching a new brand or looking to grow your existing brand then SPINEXPO is a must visit fair. It’s the primary exhibition for yarns and knitwear.

The fair is a rich resource featuring well-edited, high quality collections, as well as cutting edge technical innovation.
Not to mention outstanding trend information that can not be found anywhere else. You can learn more at www.spinexpo.com. There’s also a link in the show notes.

Also checkout our website. You can find all of the previous episodes of a Seat at The Table, the show notes, news about our upcoming Master Class series and lots of other useful information. You can find it at www.seat.fm.

Now let’s dive in as Susan talks about starting and growing a successful brand.

**USEFUL LINKS:

Learn more about SPINEXPO: www.spinexpo.com Connect with Susan Berman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/berman-susan/ Visit 'A Seat at The Table' website: https://seat.fm**

Amazon is usually admired for its massive scale, obsession with serving customers and founder Jeff Bezos’ relentless entrepreneurial spirit.

What doesn’t get discussed as often is the management principles and strategies that are the backbone of this organisation. The tenets that provide the infrastructure on which the Amazon empire has been built.

However Amazon’s management philosophy and organisational tactics and strategies played a critical role in getting Amazon to where it is today - and continue to be one of the keys to its ongoing success.

The company’s approach to everything from launching new businesses and benchmarking progress to fueling innovation is both awe inspiring - and daunting!

Few understand the inner workings of Amazon’s management principles better than John Rossman, a former Amazon executive who lead the development of the Amazon marketplace in its formative years.

He worked with Jeff Bezos and other senior members of the company’s leadership as they implemented management concepts and tactics that were at least as innovative and groundbreaking as the company’s business model itself.

John understands Amazon’s unique business principles so well that he wrote a book about them.

Today John joins us here on A Seat at The Table to give us an insiders view of Amazon, and to discuss his new book “The Amazon Way”.

Before we get started, if you’re looking to develop knitwear collections that are bursting with creativity, then SPINEXPO is the place to go. It’s the primary exhibition for yarns and knitwear.

The fair is a rich resource featuring well-edited, high quality collections, as well as cutting edge technical innovation.

Not to mention outstanding trend information that can not be found anywhere else. You can learn more at www.spinexpo.com. There’s also a link in the show notes.

Also checkout our website. You can find all of the previous episodes of a Seat at The Table, the show notes, news about our upcoming Master Class series and lots of other useful information. You can find it at www.seat.fm.

Now let’s sit down with John and learn about what Amazon does differently - and why it works.

USEFUL LINKS:

Learn more about SPINEXPO: www.spinexpo.com

Read John Rossman's book "The Amazon Way": https://www.amazon.com/Amazon-Way-Leadership-Principles-Disruptive-ebook/dp/B00KHT2UJS

Connect with John Rossman on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-rossman/

John Rossman's blog: www.the-amazon-way.com

A Seat at The Table website: https://seat.fm

The Amazon Way: Amazon's 14 Leadership Principles

Performance apparel remains a bestselling category.

The challenge is to continue to add innovation - while meeting growing demand for better quality.

All of which comes down to not only more investment in R&D but more strategic investment .

When it comes to performance 5.11 Tactical is one brand where functional properties can be a matter of life or death.

The brand’s core products are purpose-built to support first responders whose work requires gear that provides wearers with safety, ease of movement and endurance.

Seeing the growing consumer demand for high performance activewear, 5.11 Tactical parlayed the innovation developed for its professional gear into a collection aimed at adventure sports enthusiasts.

In this episode I sit down with Vivian Lee, managing director of 5.11 Tactical Sourcing, to hear about a new R& D centre she’s developing for the brand in Taiwan, why vendor relationships must be a two-way street and how 5.11 is finding new global market opportunities for high performance apparel.

By the way, if you are looking to develop knitwear collections that will be bestsellers - both online and offline - then Spinexpo is the place to go.

From trend information to technical innovation, SPINEXPO is the primary exhibition for yarns and knitwear. The fair provides well-edited forums featuring high quality products that are bursting with creativity. You can learn more at www.spinexpo.com.

Also checkout our website. You can find all of the Seat at The Table episodes, the show notes, news about our upcoming Master Class series and lots of other useful information. You can find it at www.seat.fm.

USEFUL LINKS:

Learn more about SPINEXPO: www.spinexpo.comA Seat at The Table website: https://seat.fm

What can business leadership learn from a professional artist? Turns out - a lot!

At a time when we’re being encouraged to ‘think outside of the box’ fine art is probably as far outside of the traditional business setting as you can get.

Yet it seems that occasionally swapping Excel sheets for art supplies can give executives a totally new perspective on where their business is now, where they could be heading - and how to get there.

I’m Jane Singer and Welcome to A Seat at The Table!

Each week I sit down with leading executives, entrepreneurs, authors and innovators who share their experience, expertise and insights about the future of business.

This week I had the opportunity to speak with Nora Herting, a pioneer of visual strategy. She’s CEO and Founder of ImageThink, a visual leadership company that has worked with clients ranging from pharmaceuticals like Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson to tech giants including IBM and Google, as well as NASA and Toyota.

In this episode Nora talks about the power of visual thinking as a catalyst for personal and organisational change. She explains her unique visual approach that blends strategic thinking with creative expression.

Before we get started, if you’re looking to develop knitwear collections that are bursting with creativity, then SPINEXPO is the place to go. It’s the primary exhibition for yarns and knitwear.

The fair is a rich resource featuring well-edited, high quality collections, as well as cutting edge technical innovation.

Not to mention outstanding trend information that can not be found anywhere else. You can learn more at www.spinexpo.com.

Also checkout our website. You can find all of the previous episodes of a Seat at The Table, the show notes, news about our upcoming Master Class series and lots of other useful information. You can find it at www.seat.fm.

Now let’s find out Nora helps companies discover the game-changing benefits of thinking like an artist.

USEFUL LINKS:

Learn more about SPINEXPO: www.spinexpo.com

Find out more about Nora Herting and ImageThink: www.imagethink.com

Connect with Nora on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nora-herting-imagethink/

Visit "A Seat at The Table" website: https://seat.fm

Learn more about Current Situation in Sourcing: www.bit.ly/current_situation

The old saying that there are riches in niches is proving to be increasingly accurate.

As consumers demand greater personalisation, brands that meet those requests are seeing steady sales growth - as well as healthy margins.

In the past, brands grew their sales by trying to provide something for everyone. Today, that strategy is becoming increasingly unprofitable.

New brands that focus on narrowly defined market segments are grabbing the high margin business. And those super narrower segments are showing great profit potential.

Identify a consumer who is under served and give them exactly what they are looking for and you will be rewarded for your efforts.

I’m Jane Singer and Welcome to A Seat at The Table. Each week I sit down with industry leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators and authors who share their insights, expertise, experience and vision for the future of business.

This week I sat down with Amy Lipton, founder and CEO of Spitfire Petites, which focuses on providing fashionable activewear for women golfers who wear petite sizes.

Amy parlayed a successful marketing career in the tech sector into an equally as successful role as fashion innovator.

In this episodeshe’ll share how she’ positioned Spitfire Petites to compete and win in the hyper competitive activewear sector.

Before we get started, if you’d like to create winning knitwear collections then SPINEXPO is the place to go. It’s the primary exhibition for yarns and knitwear.
The fair is a rich resource featuring well-edited, high quality collections, as well as cutting edge technical innovation.
Not to mention outstanding trend information that can not be found anywhere else. You can learn more at www.spinexpo.com. There’s also a link in the show notes.

Also checkout our website. You can find all of the previous episodes of a Seat at The Table, the show notes, news about our upcoming Master Class series and lots of other useful information. You can find it at www.seat.fm.

Now let’s find out how Amy built her fabulous fashion-driven activewear brand.

USEFUL LINKS

Learn more about SPINEXPO: www.spinexpo.com

Spitfire Petites: www.spitfirepetites.com A Seat at the Table website: https://seat.fm Current Situation in Sourcing: https://bit.ly/current_situtation

Getting into the fashion industry as a designer is not easy. Staying in the industry can be even more difficult. Especially nowadays when companies are facing so much uncertainty.

That’s gotten many designers wondering what alternatives might be available for them.

If you love the fashion industry but are looking for a way to pivot from some the industry’s traditional careers, then this is the podcast for you!

I’m Jane Singer and thank you for joining me on A Seat at The Table.

This episode is part of our new Launch to Legendary series where we get to hear from entrepreneurs and innovators who have taken the ordinary and turned it into the extraordinary. Who have built their businesses by seeing opportunities in inopportune circumstances. Who’ve defined success in their own terms. Together we’ll be able to learn from their experiences and be inspired by what they’ve achieved.

In today’s podcast episode we’ll be hearing how Lacee Swan parlayed her talent and love for illustration into an incredibly successful business doing collaborations with leading brands, as well as creating her own product line.

And how each time she was faced with adversity, she managed to find a way to make her next move towards building a profitable business that she loves. One where her art can bring a touch of joy and encouragement into the lives of people around the world.

This is not just a story of remarkable business success. It’s also a story of faith, of learning to be your own cheerleader, and of never giving up on your goals and dreams.

Before we get started, if you’d like to create winning knitwear collections then SPINEXPO is the place to go. It’s the primary exhibition for yarns and knitwear.

The fair is a rich resource featuring well-edited, high quality collections, as well as cutting edge technical innovation.

Not to mention outstanding trend information that can not be found anywhere else. You can learn more at www.spinexpo.com. There’s also a link in the show notes.

Also checkout our website. You can find all of the previous episodes of a Seat at The Table, the show notes, news about our upcoming Master Class series and lots of other useful information. You can find it at www.seat.fm.

Now let’s hear Lacee’s inspiring story of how she went from fashion designer to highly sought after illustrator and successful entrepreneur.

USEFUL LINKS

Learn more about SPINEXPO: www.spinexpo.com

See Lacee Swan's illustrations and products: www.laceeswan.com

A Seat at The Table website: www.seat.fm

What does it take to create a business selling very high end, exclusive products online - without any physical retail presence?

How do you manage to standout from all of the noise and chaos on social media, let alone establish the level of trust necessary to convince customers, who are an ocean away, to spend tens of thousands of dollars on something they have not been able to touch or examine?

I’m Jane Singer and thank you for joining me on A Seat at The Table.

This episode is part of our new Launch to Legendary series where we get to hear from entrepreneurs and innovators who have taken the ordinary and turned it into the extraordinary. Who have built their businesses by seeing opportunities in inopportune circumstances. Who’ve defined success in their own terms. Together we’ll be able to learn from their experiences and be inspired by what they’ve achieved.

In today’s podcast episode I’ll be speaking with the incredible Alex Alfieri , founder of Butterlane, who along with his partner Monte Cutteridge, has turned the business of selling antique jewellery on its head and built a wildly successful business through their strategic use of social media.

This is not just a story about remarkable business success, it’s also a story about integrity, unwavering dedication and loyalty, and overcoming seemingly impossible obstacles.

Before we get started, if you are looking to develop knitwear collections that will be bestsellers - both online and offline - then Spinexpo is the place to go.

It is the primary exhibition for yarn and knitwear.

The fair offers a carefully curated selection of high quality yarns and knitwear that’s bursting with creativity. Not to mention outstanding trend information that can not be found anywhere else. You can learn more at www.spinexpo.com. There’s also a link in the show notes.

Also checkout our website. You can find all of the previous episodes of a Seat at The Table, the show notes, news about our upcoming Master Class series and lots of other useful information. You can find it at www.seat.fm.

USEFUL LINKS:

Learn more about SPINEXPO: www.spinexpo.com

Butterlane Antiques: www.butterlaneantiques.com

A Seat at The Table podcast: www.seat.fm

When we think of eBay we usually think ‘that’s where you sell all of those things from your closets, basement or garage that you no longer want. It’s that auction site.'

That was how eBay started, but a lot has changed since then. Today it is a fast growing massive marketplace where savvy sellers can set up their own online stores.

Consider this:

In 2020, eBay’s global gross merchandise volume reached $100 billion, up 16.9% year-on-year.
It ranks second after Amazon in terms of GMV.
And it is the fifth largest marketplace worldwide, weighing in after China’s JD.com.
The company ended 2020 with 185 million active buyers, and 1.7 billion global customer visits per month, making it the second most visited platform worldwide.

EBay is proving that it has the ability to sustain the gains it has seen during COVID.

Yet most brands and individual sellers overlook the huge opportunities here - particularly for their growing cross border sales.

If you want to learn more about the opportunities on eBay then the person to see is Kathy Terrill. She’s a leading eBay super seller with a 15 year history as a top eBay seller as well as 25 years in brick-and-mortar retail. Her website name “I Love to Be Selling” says it all.

In addition to selling on eBay, Kathy is an eBay educator and consultant, and small business advocate, as well running the only Facebook group exclusively for eBay store owners.

Before we get started, if you are looking to develop knitwear collections that will be bestsellers - both online and offline - then Spinexpo is the place to go.

From trend information to technical innovation, SPINEXPO is the primary exhibition for yarns and knitwear. The fair provides well-edited forums featuring high quality products that are bursting with creativity. You can learn more at www.spinexpo.com. There’s also a link in the show notes.

Also checkout our website. You can find all of the Seat at The Table episodes, the show notes, news about our upcoming Master Class series and lots of other useful information. You can find it at www.seat.fm.

USEFUL LINKS:

Learn More about SPINEXPO: www.spinexpo.com

Connect with Kathy Terrill:

Facebook Business page: I Love To Be Selling https://www.facebook.com/ilovetobeselling
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/love2beselling/
Pinterest: https://www.instagram.com/love2beselling/
Linkedin:https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathyterrill/
Website- link to free seller tips:
https://ilovetobeselling.com/webinars-and-workshops/free-tips/

A Seat at The Table website: https://seat.fm

Learn more about The Current Situation in Sourcing: https://bit.ly/current_situtation

E-commerce is a tech driven channel and so when retailers look to enhance their online performance the first place they look is for more technology solutions.

However, the consumer is still a human being - whether shopping offline or online. So connecting with them on a more personal basis is proving to be as important as the functionality that tech provides.

For a growing number of retailers, the ability to humanise their online stores is showing game changing results.

In this episode I’m talking with Lucy Norris, Head of Content at Ecrubox Digital, a UK-based digital communications agency.

For the last two decades, Lucy has served as an advisor for a host of corporate, celebrity and non-profit clients providing strategic advice to help individuals and organizations tell their story.

Today she’ll be discussing some of the insights from a recent study that Ecrubox has done to better understand the role of humanisation in driving online sales and loyalty.

Before we get started, if you are looking to develop knitwear collections that will be bestsellers - both online and offline - then Spinexpo is the place to go.

From trend information to technical innovation, SPINEXPO is the primary exhibition for yarns and knitwear. The fair provides well-edited forums featuring high quality products that are bursting with creativity. You can learn more at www.spinexpo.com.

Also checkout our website. You can the previous episodes of a Seat at The Table , the show notes, news about our upcoming Master Class series and lots of other useful information. You can find it at www.seat.fm.

Now, let’s hear Lucy’s views on why we need to add a human touch to our e-commerce stores.

Useful Links:

Learn more about SPINEXPO: www.spinexpo.com

Learn more about Ecrubox Digital: www.ecruboxdigital.com

A Seat at The Table website: seat.fm

Never in recent times has leadership been put to the test the way it has during the past year.

Suddenly managers found themselves not only facing unprecedented business conditions, but they also needed to work with teams that were now working from home.

Navigating these challenging circumstances was the perfect opportunity for executives to develop new leadership skills. To learn fast, take risks and test boundaries - without the fear of failure.

Who better to speak with now as we head into the next phase of the ‘pandemic era’ than Colin Hunter, CEO of Potential Squared, which specializes in using virtual reality technology to help leaders reveal and learn from their true behaviors and habits .

Colin is set to release the much anticipated, “Be More Wrong: How Failure Makes You An Outstanding Leader” , which uncovers the systems, habits, and practices executives need in order to develop critical leadership skills and learn fast.

It brings together multiple concepts including The Hero’s Journey, Design Thinking Methodology, storytelling, personal resilience, psychological safety, strategic presence and the blended skills of coaching and mentoring into a leadership framework.

Before we get started, if you are looking to develop knitwear collections that will be bestsellers - both online and offline - then Spinexpo is the place to go. It is the primary exhibition for yarn and knitwear.

The fair offers a carefully curated selection of high quality yarns and knitwear that’s bursting with creativity. Not to mention outstanding trend information that can not be found anywhere else. You can learn more at www.spinexpo.com. There’s also a link in the show notes.

Useful Links:

Learn more about SPINEXPO: www.spinexpo.com

Connect with Colin Hunter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colinhunter

Connect with Potential Squared: https://www.potential2.com/en-gb/

A Seat at The Table website: www.seat.fm

There once was a time when brands would only dabble in emerging markets. Most brands avoided them. Too complicated. Too risky. Not enough potential revenue to justify the investment.

But that’s starting to change - and that change is being driven by two key factors.

Traditional developed markets are highly competitive (every brand wants to be in these markets) and they are mature markets - making growth more difficult. But that’s been the case for a while.

What’s changing the game is that now emerging nations are seeing impressive growth of their middle classes - in terms of percent of population and buying power.

And these are not all small nations.

Countries like Indonesia with a population of about 246 million, Nigeria with 201 million, India at 1.3 billion weigh in terms of numbers. Smaller markets in Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, Central Asia and Africa also have a growing consumer populations who can and will buy international brands.

Even though the numbers look enticing, entering these markets is not for beginners. New markets bring with them new challenges. If nothing less than understanding local cultures and business practices.

So how does a brand go about identifying which of these markets could be the right market for them? And then how do they get started where simply replicating what they did in traditional markets is not likely to be successful?

To learn more about entering emerging markets I reached out to Mark Loynd, an Executive Director at Giordano International, and the group’s General Counsel and Head of Overseas Markets.

If you’re looking at how to bring your brand into an emerging market, then Mark is the man to see. He’s been there, seen it and done it.

Mark has led Giordano’s successful expansion into nine countries in Africa, including its recent entry into Ghana, 8 countries in Central Asia, 7 Eastern European nations and many more in Southeast Asia and elsewhere.

TIME STAMPS

(4.46) Identifying the Right New Markets
(8.48) Managing Inventory across over 30 Markets
(13:47) The Benefits of a Strong Commitment to Quality
(15:26) Understanding the New Consumer
(16:19) Why Sticking to Their DNA has Paid Off
(20:03) Fastest Growing Markets

Before we get started, if you are looking to create collections for your brand that will be must-buys in new markets or traditional markets, then SPINEXPO is the place for you! It’s the primary exhibition for yarns and knitwear.

From technical innovation to cutting edge colour and design inspiration, SPINEXPO is a rich resource that provides well edited forums featuring high quality products, as well as exclusive trend information that cannot be found anywhere else. You can learn more at: www.spinexpo.com

And don’t forget to check out our new podcast website where you can find all of the previous episodes of A Seat at The Table podcast, the show notes, plus lots of other useful information. You can find it at www.seat.fm. That’s seat.fm - fm because it’s a podcast.

USEFUL LINKS

SPINEXPO: www.spinexpo.com

Giordano International: www.giordano.com

A Seat at The Table website: https://seat.fm

The Current Situation in Sourcing: https://bit.ly/current_situtation

Today a strong brand can be a company’s most valuable asset.

Companies who’ve done branding right have racked up massive brand valuations like Apple at $263 billion, Amazon at $254 billion, Microsoft at $140 billion … and it’s not just tech brands. Coca-cola weighs in at $64 billion, Louis Vuitton at $47 billion, Nike at $39 billion and Walmart at $29 billion.

And that’s only the top of the list.

Building a brand is long term investment, but it’s one that can pay off handsomely.

As we’ve seen during the spate of retail bankruptcies during the past 4 years, even if the business fails, there is usually a buyer who is willing to acquire the companies intellectual property - in other words - it’s brand.

But what does it take to create a brand that has the power - and value - of say Apple or Nike?

In this episode I reached out to Alina Wheeler, author of the Designing Brand Identity. The book, now it is fifth edition, has become the definitive resource for understanding all of the touch points that create the ecosystem necessary for building a high value power brand.

**Timestamps

(3:45) What is a brand?
(6:20) The importance of brand discipline
(6:55) Getting on the Brand Train
(12:04) Find your 'big idea'
(17:20) Focus on you key message
(17:55) 4 key questions to define your brand
(18:58) Building trust
(22:55) Getting content management under control
(26:05) Creating your brand signature
(27:38) Overcoming the biggest challenge**

By the way, if you are looking to develop the kind of knitwear collections that consumer fall in love with the SPINEXPO is the fair for you.

From trend information to technical innovation, SPINEXPO is the primary exhibition for yarns and knitwear. The fair provides well-edited forums featuring high quality products that are bursting with creativity.

To learn more, go to SPINEXPO.com. You can also find a link in the show notes for this episode.

And don’t forget to check out our new podcast website where you can find all of the previous episodes of A Seat at The Table podcast, the show notes, plus lots of other useful information.

You can find it at www.seat.fm.

USEFUL LINKS

Designing Brand Identity by Alina Wheeler: On AmazonConnect with Alina Wheeler: http://designingbrandidentity.info/Alina's Twitter: https://twitter.com/alinawheelerAlina's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alinawheeler/?hl=enSPINEXPO:www.spinexpo.comA Seat at The Table website:https://seat.fm

Designing Brand Identity: An Essential Guide for the Whole Branding Team, 4th Edition

Learn more about SPINEXPO: www.spinexpo.com Connect with Luca Suriano: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucsur/ A Seat at The Table website: seat.fm
The Current Situation in Sourcing: https://bit.ly/current_situtation

If you’re a brand looking for serious growth opportunities than chances are you’ve been looking at China’s dynamic consumer market.

Never before has there been a market that has offered so much opportunity. 1.3 billion people, a huge rapidly increasing middle class, and e-commerce sales figures so massive that it almost sounds as if you’re making them up.

While the opportunities are great, so are the challenges. If you’re entering China thinking that the same strategies that have worked brilliantly in other markets can simply be rolled out in China - you might be in for a rude awakening.

This vast digital-first market is fast moving and constantly changing. To succeed in China brands need to start from scratch and learn to do things the China way.

To better understand how to succeed in China’s complex e-commerce market, I reached out to Josh Gardner, CEO and Co-Founder of Shanghai-based Kung-fu Data.

Josh is a senior China strategist whose helped hundreds of brands with China e-commerce launches. His company manages a portfolio of successful flagship stores on Tmall and JD.com. And works with clients from strategy and structure to activation and optimisation.

Before we get started, if you are looking to develop knitwear collections that will be bestsellers - both online and offline - then Spinexpo is the place to go. It is the primary exhibition for yarn and knitwear.

The fair offers a carefully curated selection of high quality yarns and knitwear that’s bursting with creativity. Not to mention outstanding trend information that can not be found anywhere else. You can learn more at www.spinexpo.com.

I’m pleased to share that A Seat at The Table now has its own website. You can find all of the podcast episodes, the show notes and lots of other useful information. You can find it at www.seat.fm.

Learn more about SPINEXPO: www.spinexpo.com

Learn more about Kung-Fu Data: www.kungfudata.com

Connect with Josh Gardner on LinkedIn: /joshgardner

Contacts for A Seat at The Table podcast: jane@seat.fm; guests@seat.fm

Regardless of where you live, Amazon probably plays a role in your life.

For many of us, Amazon has become the go-to place when we need something - and want it delivered - or when it’s something we can’t find locally. Or maybe we’re looking for product reviews.

For most retailers, more often than not, it’s the 800 ton gorilla that has either eaten your business - or is about to!

We all know that Amazon has the benefits of scale, a multi faceted business model that powers further growth, investors who aren’t pressuring its on profits, and seemingly bottomless pockets that allow it tremendous freedom to innovate, as well as grow it’s infrastructure.

But unlikely as it might seem, Amazon’s has it failures too. There are sectors that even Amazon can’t crack.

In this episode, Dr. Robin Gaster, author of Behemoth, Amazon Rising: Power and Seduction in the Age of Amazon, will be explaining where Amazon’s real strength lays. Why being the world’s biggest store actually works against Amazon. And strategic opportunities for everyone who’s not Amazon.

Timestamps
(1:40) How Amazon Wins in Key Categories
(2:50) The Pros - and Cons - of Having a Massive Product Catelog
(9:37) The Real Strategy Behind Amazon's Foray into Private Label
(14:28) Amazon's Next Move - New Sectors with Big Implications
(23:42) Why We Should be Worried
(27:53) Why Amazon is Likely to Win Any Antitrust Suits
(40.51) Where Amazon Could Stumble
(50:15) If You're Not Amazon - Here's What You Need to Do

This book is a must-read for anyone who wants a sharp and well researched view of Amazon’s true strengths and weaknesses, as well as insights into how brands need to rethink the way they approach customers.

Although Behemonth, Amazon Rising, is packed with facts, statistics and technology explanations, it’s a surprisingly fast and engaging read.

Dr. Gaster is a visiting scholar at George Washington University Institute for Public Policy and the President of Incumetrics, Inc., a data and program evaluation consultancy that serves clients seeking to understand the intersection of technology, innovation, economics, and politics.

His clients include think tanks like the National Academies, Brookings and the Berkeley Roundtable on the International Economy; US government agencies including Navy, SBA, and NIST; foreign governments (Sweden, Finland); large companies like Houghton Mifflin and Deloitte - and many more.

In this episode, Dr. Gaster will be explaining where Amazon’s real strength lays. Why being the world’s biggest store actually works against Amazon. And strategic opportunities for everyone who’s not Amazon.

Before we get started, if you are looking to develop collections that will be bestsellers both online and in stores, then Spinexpo is the fair for you. It’s the primary exhibition for yarns and knitwear. It’s also the top resource for precise trend information that cannot be found anywhere else. To learn more, go to SPINEXPO.com.

I’m also pleased to announced that A Seat at The Table now has its own website where you can find the show notes, access to all of the podcast episodes and other useful information. You can find it at www.seat.fm.

Learn more about SPINEXPO: www.spinexpo.comMore aboutBehemoth, Amazon Rising: Power and Seduction in the Age of Amazon

Visit A Seat at The Table website: www.seat.fm

Behemoth, Amazon Rising: Power and Seduction in the Age of Amazon

It’s difficult to talk about apparel without also talking about materials.

And that quickly leads to conversations about sustainability. Not so much about the need to use more sustainable materials. - most people are pretty clear on that.

The challenge is how to check all of the boxes - and there are a lot! - that brands need to check these days.

I’m Jane Singer, and welcome to A Seat at The Table.

The question so many brands struggle with is “how to meet requests for better performance, better hand feel, visual appeal and, of course, sustainability?”

So I reached out to Veronica Pagani, a leading expert on materials sourcing to find out how she manages that complex equation.

Veronica was Vice President of raw materials sourcing at Ralph Lauren for 15 years, before leaving last year to start her own consulting business Studio VP.

She’s worked with suppliers around the world and has been challenged to meet the stringent standards that are part of working for a major brand that faces constant pressure to be more sustainable, meet strict compliance standards, work on tight lead times, while also being innovative in terms of performance and design.

Speaking of materials, before we get started, if you’re looking for a well-edited selection of top quality products that are filled with creativity, Then Spinexpo is the place to go. It’s the primary exhibition for yarns and knitwear. It’s also the top resource for precise trend information that cannot be found anywhere else.

Learn more about SPINEXPO: www.spinexpo.com
Learn more about Studio VP: www.studiovp.io
The Current Situation in Sourcing: https://bit.ly/current_situtation Visit a Seat at The Table's website where you'll find all of our podcast episodes, more show notes plus other useful information. Go to www.seat.fm

If you’re like most of us, you’ve seen video meetings go from a temporary measure to become part of the ‘new normal’.

Love them or leave them, Zoom, Teams, Skype and other apps are here to stay. So smart leaders are adapting and conquering what is really just one more step in an overall migration to all things digital.

So how do we bridge what is a clear divide between in person and online? Where can we improve the way we communicate information and ideas? What can we do to win the day in this strange new virtual environment?

If you’re looking to make a better impression in online meetings or take your virtual meetings to the next level then the man to see is Eduardo Placer.

Eduardo is the CEO and Founder of Fearless Communicators, whose clients include HBO, Google, Bank of America- Merrill Lynch, Yale, The Juilliard School, and the Wharton School of Business, as well as a list of A-lister private clients that are too many mention here.

If you’re looking to develop show stopping collections that will perform on the selling floor and online, then SPINEXPO is the place to go. It’s the primary exhibition for yarns and knitwear. Spinexpo provides a well-edited selection of top quality products that are filled with creativity - as well as trend information that cannot be found anywhere else. To learn more, go to SPINEXPO.com.

And, I’m pleased to share that A Seat at The Table Podcast now has its own website. You’ll find the playlist, the show notes and other useful information there. You can check it out at seat.fm.

Useful Links

Learn about SPINEXPO: www.spinexpo.com
Fearless Communicators: www.fearlesscommunicators.com
A Seat at The Table website: www.seat.fm

As retail looks forward to returning to normal, most of the attention is focused on which brands will be opening stores and what the new omni-channel strategies might look like.

However, we might overlooking what else needs to change. Will post-pandemic retail simply be a rollout of they we ‘always did things’. Or will brands reimagine new ways to connect with consumers so they can drive both sales and profits.

I’m Jane Singer and Welcome to A Seat at The Table.

I put that question to Andrew Smith, a transformational retailer leader who focusses on the future of retail and customer experience, and is co-founder and managing partner of Think Uncommon, a retail innovation thinktank. Andrew has worked with both established retailers and startups to develop action-focused strategies to help them thrive in highly competitive markets.

In this episode he’ll share some of what he sees as opportunities for brands and retailers to rethink as they reopen.

Before we get started, if you’re looking for precise trend information that will define your next best-sellers, then SPINEXPO is the place to go. It’s the primary exhibition for yarns and knitwear. Spinexpo provides a well-edited selection of top quality products that are filled with creativity - as well as trend information that cannot be found anywhere else. To learn more, go to SPINEXPO.com. You can also find a link in the show notes for this episode.

Now let’s sit down with Andrew and learn how we can seize the opportunity to rebuild retail.

Learn more about SPINEXPO: www.spinexpo.com Learn more about Andrew Smith and ThinkUncommon: www.thinkuncommon.com

Now with the vaccine rollout seriously underway in many countries, a growing number of brands have solid reasons to feel optimistic that retail could start to rebound. At worst, there is a bit more clarity about the future.

To get a 'behind the scenes' look at what retail might look like in the coming months, I reached out to Ariel Schuster, Vice Chairman at Newmark, a leading property consultant.

In this podcast he shares an insider's view of what's happening with new tenants, new leases and the new role of stores in the age of digital retail.

Whether you are a brand or a supplier, Ariel provides critical insights into what the next 6 months to a year might look like at retail.

You'll learn ...

(3:22) The current situation for high streets vs 3 months ago
(7:30) Who are likely to be the next tenants on the high streets in major cities.
(12:30) What new lease agreements could look like - and why.
(21:07) Why the outlook for retail might be more optimistic than we think.

Useful Links

Learn more about SPINEXPO: www.spinexpo.com
Learn more about Ariel Schuster, Vice Chairman of Newmark, click here.

E-commerce has continued to see strong year on year growth, even before the pandemic accelerated it to new heights.

While sales growth might start to level off as we head back to more normal times, few doubt that e-commerce will remain an essential retail channel.

One of the backbones of e-commerce is logistics. It takes incredible agility and resiliency to be able to provide merchandise on-demand to consumers in the US and Europe when it’s often sourced in Asia - even when there’s no global health crisis.

I’m Jane Singer and Welcome to a Seat at The Table.

To get some insights into what these small and medium sized direct-to-consumer retailers are doing, I reached out to Judah Levine, Research Lead at Freightos.com, a logistics marketplace that was purpose built to provide these business with greater transparency and flexibility on the freight side of their operations.

Before we get started, if you’re looking for greater insights into the most important knitwear trends, then SPINEXPO is the place to go. It’s the primary exhibition for yarns and knitwear. Spinexpo provides a well-edited selection of top quality products that are filled with creativity, as well as truly unique trend information. To learn more, go to SPINEXPO.com. You can also find a link in the show notes for this episode.

Now join me as I sit down with Judah and get a behind the scenes look at what’s been happening with direct-to-consumer brands from a logistics point of view.

Learn more about SPINEXPO: www.spinexpo.com

Learn more about Freightos: www.freightos.com
The Current Situation in Sourcing: https://bit.ly/current_situtation

When most people talk about trendy fashion they’re usually referring to international designer brands or cutting edge street fashion.

Few would be looking to a 120 year-old image wear company whose heritage is supplying t-shirts with team logos or polos embroidered with corporate branding.

However they would be overlooking a company that has pivoted to serve the fast growing demand for show stopping garments that just happen to be represent teams, universities and corporate branding.

I’m Jane Singer and Welcome to a Seat at the Table.

Today I’m speaking with Susan Ganz, CEO of Lion Brothers.

Some of the most fantastic fan wear and image wear is being created by Lion Brothers.

In recent years the company has been able to parlay its foundation as a producer of personalized apparel into a key role in the fast growing Direct to Consumer supply chain.

Add to it Lion Brothers’ on going investment in both creative talent and new technology and you’ve got a company that makes garments that consumers love and is able to provide buyers with critical on-demand service.

Before we get started, if you’re looking to develop knitwear collections that are a ‘must-buy’, then SPINEXPO is the place to go. It’s the primary exhibition for yarns and knitwear. Spinexpo provides a well-edited selection of top quality products that are filled with creativity, as well as truly unique trend information. To learn more, go to SPINEXPO.com. You can also find a link in the show notes for this episode.

Now join me in finding out how Lion Brothers is building the next chapter in its century-old success story.

Learn more about SPINEXPO: www.spinexpo.com Learn more about Lion Brothers: www.lionbrothers.com
The Current Situation in Sourcing: https://bit.ly/current_situtation

Today, brand value is one of the most valuable assets a company can have. For many, it’s proving to be their only asset.

Yet most companies don’t really know how to build a high value brand. Others simply don’t see brand building as a long term investment.

The few who have strategically - and often painstakingly - invested in building a brand have reaped the rewards. From Apple, with its trillion dollar valuation, to Coke-a-Cola, the godfather of global brands - and including everything from luxury goods to packaged goods, from technology to manufacturing - the few companies who get brand right enjoy a massive payoff.

I’m Jane Singer and welcome to a Seat at the Table.

If you want to understand how to build a power brand then my guest today is the man to see.

Marty Neumeier, is a bestselling author and Director of CEO Branding at Liquid Agency. He is one of the few people who can boast that Steve Jobs not only read one of his books, but found it so valuable that he wrote his name “Steve Jobs” on the cover along with the warning “Hands Off”.

Marty has decades of experience helping companies - in addition to Apple - create brands that are built to last.

Before we get started, if you’re looking to develop knitwear collections that are on brand and meet consumer demand, then SPINEXPO is the place to go. It’s the primary exhibition for yarns and knitwear. Spinexpo provides well-edited forums featuring top quality products that are filled with creativity. To learn more, go to SPINEXPO.com. You can also find a link in the show notes for this episode.

Now, get ready to hear Marty discuss how to build your brand into a profitable, market leader.

Learn more about SPINEXPO: www.spinexpo.com Learn more about Liquid Agency: https://www.liquidagency.com Learn about Level C: www.levelc.org

Logistics has moved from the backroom to the boardroom. The demand for tighter control over inventory as heightened awareness of the critical role that logistics is playing in creating more responsive and more resilient supply chains.

That logistics is a lynchpin in top functioning supply chains has been made painfully clear during the past six to eight months as even the best service providers were stymied by various pandemic related impacts, a dramatic imbalance in global imports and exports, combined with labor shortages at key ports in Western nations that has driven ocean rates up by nearly 200% on key trade routes.

The situation with air cargo has been just as bad.

I'm Jane singer and today I'm speaking with Eric Williams, senior vice president global head of international supply chain at Kuehne + Nagel.

Eric will be giving us a closer look at the current situation in shipping and his outlook for when we might see a correction. He'll also share his insights on some of the new developments that are enabling logistics to provide brands, retailers, and exporters' with better transparency, flexibility, and control over their global supply chains.

Before we get started, if you're looking to develop knitwear collections that meet consumers demands for better design and higher quality than SPINEXPO is the place to go. It's the primary exhibition for yarns and knitwear. SPINEXPO provides well edited forums, featuring top quality products that are filled with creativity.
To learn more about SPINEXPO: www. spinexpo.com About Kuehne + Nagel: https://home.kuehne-nagel.com/ Contact us at A Seat at the Table: https://insidefashionlive.net/contact

Sourcing executives are increasingly challenged with being faster, more agile, more sustainable, more transparent - oh, and also finding better products that their brand’s customers will want to buy.

They are also facing a massive range of new technologies, that if implemented strategically, could be game changing. That is if they can get the team on board.

If we connect all of the dots, what might the future of sourcing look like?

I’m Jane Singer, and Welcome to a Seat at the Table.

To get that future view, I reached out to Christophe Roussel, Executive Vice President of Sourcing and Production for Gap, Inc.

Christophe has the vision to be able to see beyond the immediate challenges and envision a new model for sourcing that ties in advanced data analysis and cutting edge technology to deliver the right products at the right time - and in doing so, reduce waste and thus achieve greater sustainability and profitability.

In this episode, Christophe explains where he sees new opportunities for supply chain advancement, his ideal for vendor relationships, how vendors could better serve customers, and what his greatest supply chain concerns are.

Before we get started, if you’re looking for a future vision of the key trends and technical innovations in knitwear, then SPINEXPO is the place to go - it’s the primary exhibition for yarns and knitwear. The fair provides well-edited forums featuring high quality products that are filled with creativity. To learn more, go to SPINEXPO.com. You can also find a link in the show notes for this episode.

Now, join Christophe and me at the table as we dive into the future of apparel sourcing.

Learn more about SPINEXPO: www.spinexpo.com Contact us at A Seat at the Table: insidefashionlive.net/contact

Africa has been rising to the top of many buyers’ ‘need to look into’ list.

However the vastness of the continent - and the diversity amongst regions - makes this a daunting task.

A new platform aims to make this easier by gathering key supplier information and organising it in an easy to search database.

Not only that, the platform provides an entire ecosystem that ties in support services from inspection to freelance designers.

Today I’m speaking with Dirk Robens, CEO of ABANA, a digital solution for discovering Africa’s apparel manufacturers.

Dirk has spent over 30 years in the apparel industry, both on the manufacturing side as well as serving as Sourcing Director for Mr. Price Group, Africa’s largest retailer.

He’ll be explaining what ABANA offers, as well as giving us a closer look at sourcing opportunities in Africa.

Mauritius and Madagascar in particular have a long history as knitwear suppliers. As African nations, they also have duty-free status to both the EU and the US, as well as the ability to handle small orders with short lead times.

Before we get started, if you’re looking for trend information to technical innovation, then you’ll want to check out SPINEXPO, the primary exhibition for yarns and knitwear. The fair provides well-edited forums featuring high quality products that are bursting with creativity. To learn more, go to SPINEXPO.com. You can also find a link in the show notes for this episode.

Now, let’s sit down with Dirk and get some insights into sourcing in Africa.

Learn more about SPINEXPO at www.spinexpo.com

Learn more about ABANA at www.abana.mu

The Current Situation in Sourcing: https://bit.ly/current_situtation

In recent years retail has gotten a bad rap - especially fashion retail.

Too often stores have fallen into a slump, neglected by management’s shift in attention to building up their e-commerce channels. And just as often because brands have too many stores and too little revenue to maintain them all properly.

That’s led to a rash of retail closures in many key markets around the world.

But is retail really fated to become just a memory of ‘the way we used to shop?’

Or can the right people with a vision and the drive to bring it to fruition and rejuvenate retail into a dynamic place where today’s consumers want to shop?

I’m Jane Singer and welcome to A Seat at the Table.

Today I’m speaking with Ron Thurston, retail expert and author, and a champion of physical retail.

Ron is Vice President of stores for Intermix and has a decades long career of working with leading brands and driving retail excellence from visual merchandising to taking teams of diverse retail staff and helping them to be the best they can be.

His enthusiasm for retail is contagious. And he takes an industry that many people view as an ‘if all else fails’ job and shows us the exciting career opportunities it offers for people of all different skills sets and education levels. Retail is one industry that has almost no barriers to entry - and few limits on how high you can rise.

Most importantly Ron talks about his vision for revitalising retail and provides a path that both large and small companies can easily follow.

You can find Ron’s book, Retail Pride, on Amazon in paperback, hardcover or kindle versions.

Before we get started, if you’re overwhelmed by information and wish someone could sift and sort through it all and provided you with a tight summary of just what you need to know, then you might want to check out Inside Fashion’s market snapshots. You can find more information at insidefashionlive.net/snapshots.

In an era where technology plays an increasingly dominant role and companies are being told ‘digitise or die’. Is there still a role for human talent?

And if so, for how long?

From major advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning, to the growing use of self-service platforms at retail, where do people fit into Industry 4.0?

Can machines and bots do it all? If they can - is this the future vision that we aspire to?

Today I’m speaking with Dr. Stephen Patton, who’s visionary view of the future of industry includes vital roles for both man and machine.

As Regional Director of Asian Sourcing for Liverpool Department Stores, Stephen played a pivotal role in helping his company navigate through the pandemic, thanks to his adept management of his supply chain.

Early on, he foresaw how the pandemic could potentially escalate beyond Asia. This led him to make strategic decisions that resulted in Liverpool having the right inventory at the right time, when some their competitors did not.

Stephen attributes Liverpool’s success to the strength of its Human Resources, and by using technology to empower those people so they can do even better work.

Before we jump into our podcast, if you are struggling to get your sourcing forecast reports done, or you need a sharp, well organised view of the market, then the Current Situation in Sourcing could be the answer to your prayers. You can request more information about the Current Situation in Sourcing at insidefashionlive.net/css.

Now, lets sit down with Stephen and learn about what Liverpool has achieved by Humanizing and Digitizing their organisation.

USEFUL LINKS

Learn More about SPINEXPO: www.spinexpo.com

A Seat at The Table podcast: https://seat.fm

The Current Situation in Sourcing: https://bit.ly/current_situtation

After a year that has been particularly unkind to apparel, many of us are wondering what the fate of the category might be.

Consumers are spending, but just not on apparel. Even before the pandemic, many brands were struggling.

So where are the opportunities for fashion brands? And what do we need to do move away from relying on discounts and promotions?

Today I’m speaking with Glenn McMahon, a fashion and brand consultant with an impressive multi-decade track record of helping brands become retail winners.

Most recently, Glenn was operating partner at TRAUB, after having served as CEO at St. Johns Knits. Prior to that he held C-suite roles at other international apparel brands.

Glenn will be sharing his view of what brands need to do meet what today’s consumers want. He also dives into where he sees opportunities - even in a challenging market.

Before we get started, if you’re overwhelmed with information but need a view of global sourcing, then you might want to take a look at the Current Situation in Sourcing. These concise, easy-to-read snapshot reports have been a live saver for many sourcing directors - saving them days of tedious work.

You can learn more at www.current situation.net. That’s www.current situation.net

Now let’s sit down with Glenn and get an expert view on apparel brands.

Most brands want to be more sustainable, but they also need to meet price targets and also create products that consumers want to buy.

At the same, mills and manufacturers around the world are often sitting on mountains of dead stock - rolls of perfectly good fabric that is destined to be dumped into landfill.

My guest today was able to successfully connect the dots between these two scenarios and create a platform that provides brands with a sustainable source of high quality fashion fabrics while giving manufacturers a way to turn unused stock into profits.

Stephanie Benedetto is a sustainability super hero. Her vision and relentless efforts to go from idea to a fully functioning service that benefits thousands of brands, retailers and consumers is making it possible for everyone to make a huge impact on sustainability, without sacrificing on fashion.

From corporate attorney to tech startup entrepreneur, Stephanie has purpose built Queen of Raw, a platform that allows manufacturers to list dead stock and brands to easily purchase it - along with a dashboard that provides critical data such as the amount of water or energy being saved.

Before we jump into our podcast, if you’re struggling to get your sourcing forecast reports done - or you simply want a sharp, organised view of the market, then the Current Situation in Sourcing could be the answer to your prayers. You can find more information in the show notes for this podcast.

Now, let’s sit down with Stephanie and hear about Queen of Raw.

Contact Queen of Raw at www.queenofraw.com

Learn more about Current Situation in Sourcing at insidefashionlive.net/css

Everyone is looking for the next big thing.

It turns out, that the next big thing is huge!

We’re talking about space. And in the New Space Age the opportunities are of galactic proportions.

If you’re like me you, when someone mentions the Space industry you probably think astronauts, rockets, planets and maybe even extraterrestrials.

Today, the Space industry is all that (well maybe not the extraterrestrials) and more… a lot more!

This massive next gen sector has opportunities for a vast range of supporting and tangent industries.

And, unlike other industries, there are more jobs (good paying jobs) than people to fill them.

Not only that, there are piles of patents waiting for entrepreneurs and industrialists to bring them to market.

From technology to logistics and even textiles, here’s a sector that’s bursting with real opportunities - at a time when we need them most.

I’m Jane Singer and today I’m speaking with Shelli Brunswick, Chief Operating Officer of Space Foundation, a US-based non-profit organisation dedicated to connecting the space sector with dynamic industries and individuals who see the future and want to be part of it.

Shelli has parlayed a distinguished career as a space acquisition and program management leader and Congressional Liaison for the US Air Force — to her current role leading the Center for Innovation and Education.

As a leading role model for women in space, she chairs the Women in Aerospace (WIA) Foundation, hosts the Women’s Global Gathering annually at Space Symposium, serves as a United Nations Space4Women Mentor and an Ambassador for WomenTech Network, and sits on the board of directors for Manufacturer’s Edge.

Before we jump into our podcast, I’d like to suggest that if you are struggling to get your sourcing forecast report done, The Current Situation in Sourcing is the answer to your prayers. It provides a sharp and concise snapshot of the situation in major sourcing nations, along with key data. In a a fast and easy-to-read format - of course.

Now, let’s sit down with Shelli and talk about space!

Space Foundation: www.spacefoundation.org

Current Situation in Sourcing: https://insidefashionlive.net/css

After nearly a year of lockdowns, mandatory store closures and people working from home, it’s becoming more difficult to envision what retail will look like when we get past the pandemic.

Right now workout gear, yoga pants, hoodies and comfy tops are bestsellers. And shopping online is not just the channel of choice, for many it’s the only choice.

The question on most of our minds is when will retail finally rebound?

And what will consumers want to buy as life gets back to normal?

So I got in touch with retail expert Tom Ott to get an insider’s view of what retail will look like as we emerge from the strange days of COVID.

During Tom’s impressive 24-year career at Saks Fifth Avenue he was Senior Vice President and GMM of Men’s, Gifts and Home. He then went on to be Chief Merchant at Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th.

After leaving Saks, Tom became Chief at Retail and Fashion Solutions, which provides strategic solutions for retail and fashion companies.

Recently, he’s launched Retail Czar, an e-commerce platform.

Today Tom is sharing his outlook for what consumers are going to want as we head into healthier times - and why.

Spoiler Alert! There’s a lot of good news - especially for menswear.

Tom will talk about his view of how physical retail might fare in a world where e-commerce has seen a year of skyrocketing growth.

Before we jump into our podcast, I’d like to suggest that if you are struggling to get your sourcing forecast report done, The Current Situation in Sourcing is the answer to your prayers. It provides a sharp and concise snapshot of the situation in major sourcing nations, along with key data. In an easy-to-read format - of course.

Learn more about the Current Situation in Sourcing: insidefashionlive.net/contact

Contact Tom Ott at: www.retailczar.com

Consumers are crying out for more personalised products - and brands are crying over too much inventory.

Digitization is being hailed as the solution to both problems.

It can make pre-production faster, make product design more flexible, and, of course, save costs.

Digital printing has been one of the earliest technologies to gain real market share.

Starting out as a solution for making customised t-shirts, the technology has now been used by almost every apparel category.

Advancements in equipment have enabled textile manufacturers to print on rolls of fabric. A critical development in supporting smaller orders.

Digital printing can now be applied to almost any based material, a big win for the active sports category, intimate apparel and knitwear.

Today I’m speaking with Andy Yarrow, digital printing industry veteran with two decades of hands on experience.

Andy has held senior management roles with some of the world’s leading digital printing companies including Kornit Digital and EFI.

I reached out to him to learn about what he saw as the biggest opportunities for brands and what were some of the key new developments in digital printing.

Contact 'A Seat at the Table' at https://insidefashionlive.net/contact or go to our website: https://insidefashionlive.net

Request info about 'Current Situation in Sourcing' : https://insidefashionlive.net/css-contact/

According to two leading U.S.-based real estate advisers, it’s not the property or the people that are the problem. What malls need are fresh new brands and innovative services to bring customers back - and get them to stay.

Contact us at: insidefashionlive.net
Learn more about Retail by MONA at www.retailbymona.com

Show Summary

Physical retail might be about to rise from the dead.

Despite the popular narrative that ‘consumers only want to shop online’ and that ‘no one goes to malls any longer’ that might not actually be true.

According to two leading U.S.-based real estate advisers, it’s not the property or the people that are the problem.

They say that with fresh, new brands and attractive new services, retail can be made right again.

So while e-commerce is growing, physical retail can continue grow too - as partners not competitors.

Today I’m talking with Brandon Singer, CEO and Co-founder of Retail by MONA.

Brandon and his partner Michael Cody have taken their nearly two decades of experience in retail property and leveraged it to develop what they believe is a new vision of what retail needs to look like.

From their earlier years as top ranked brokers at Cushman & Wakefield to setting up a division within the company to cater to the new digital native and indie brands, Brandon and Michael saw the writing on the wall.

It seems that malls aren’t dead. They’re just tired. And Retail by MONA is set to provide the energy boost they need.

Why not take a few minutes and listen to what Brandon sees as the future for malls and high streets.

A solution that’s helping companies keep team members educated and engaged are learning management systems.

You can contact us at: insidefashionlive.net

Learn more about Eclipse Learning Partners: http://eclipselearningpartners.com/

Episode Summary

One of the challenges in having most of your team members working remotely is training.

Before, it was easy to organize on-site training and ensure that everyone was updated and educated across the entire department, division or company.

Now, most companies are using some form of independent learning, with managers hoping that every one is up to speed on new procedures, protocols, systems and so forth.

But how do you know if everyone has watched the training video? Or the screencast outlining a new protocol? This can be particularly critical for areas where a lack of knowledge can lead to costly mistakes.

Beyond that, there’s also the matter of keeping a team of people working remotely feeling like they are still part of a team and engaged with the company culture.

One solution that’s helping to solve this are learning management systems. These fairly easy to install programs take the typical video training library and turn it into an organized system that managers can use to monitor employee training.

Today I’m speaking with Steve Peckman, founder of Eclipse Learning Partners.

Steve has spent over two decades working with companies to create internal career development and training systems, as well as process and change management programs.

He’s been able to develop programs that are well aligned with the company’s business objectives, and offer a great user experience, as well.

Through Eclipse Learning Partners, Steve is taking learning management to the next level by helping companies create a team spirit amongst employees who are working from home, as well as keeping them up to speed on important skills and protocol.

In this episode I'm talking with Dean Clegg, Global Sourcing Director of Sainsbury's, about how he's managing his company's complex supply chain in the face of the pandemic and upcoming Brexit.

Episode Links: Learn more about "Current Situation in Sourcing":
Contact us: https://insidefashionlive.net/contact

ABOUT THIS EPISODE

When the pandemic hit Europe Sainsbury's was one company that was able to get out ahead of the curve.

Dean successfully led the company’s global supply team through the operational challenges of coronavirus, managing to keep both his business and its suppliers healthy.

However a big part of the what’s kept Sainsbury’s in solid shape is the supply chain strategy that Dean has implemented, a strategy that has a long term vision but also is very agile.

By working his plan - and adapting as needed - Sainsbury’s was able to quickly make the necessary adjustments in sourcing and quickly get its business back on track.

Beyond steering the company’s supply chain through COVID, Dean led the successful integration of Argos stores in Sainsbury’s, he’s been instrumental in shaping a new estate strategy for the company and has driven the company towards higher quality and greater sustainability.

Today he’s mapping out a plan to take Sainsbury’s through 2021, with Brexit coming into effect in January.

Everyone recognises that China is the next big consumer market.

But even the most savvy marketers are struggling to succeed here.

This rapidly changing market is actually compromised of multiple niche markets - under one roof.

To win in China you need to understand what the Chinese consumer wants - and today that goes way beyond just luxury goods or international sports brands.

Today I’m speaking with Jenny Bai, cofounder of Mingyian, a digital media and technology company that redefines the way global celebrity and entertainment brands are developed and delivered to Chinese millennials.

Jenny has spent over 15 years in China brand development, marketing and media.

Through hands on experience, she has come to know the nuances of what resonants with China’s young and incredibly sophisticated consumers. At the same time, she’s learned the ins and outs of China’s ever changing social media and integrated technology.

As we try to navigate our way into this exciting but challenging new market, Jenny’s advice and insights will provide important guidance. And help us to avoid making some costly mistakes that other brands are making.

You can reach Jenny at Mingyian's website: www.mingyian.com or on WeChat: jennybai6 or Twitter: @jennybai

Do you have something to share? I'd love to hear from you! You can contact me at https://insidefashionlive.net/contact/ or visit our website at https://insidefashionlive.net

Whether it's rising costs or COVID, buyers are now actively looking to differsify their supply chains.

As brands look for alternatives to China, India is increasingly showing up on the radar.

But what’s it like to shift from China’s finely tuned supply chain to India, where infrastructure, amongst other things, are not as well developed?

Today I’m talking with Daniel Krassenstein, Global Supply Chain Director for Procon Pacific.

Dan has been managing global manufacturing and logistics for over 35 years - with hands on experience in key sourcing nations including China, Indonesia, Vietnam - and India.

It’s a tough job, but Dan is up to the task. He’s managed to shift most of his production from China to India - and gotten those orders manufactured and shipped - even during COVID.

Today he’s going to talk about what he’s learned about successfully working in India - as well as lessons he’s learned about what you need to do to manage a global supply chain in the 2020’s.

If you want to contact us, you can do that here: https://insidefashionlive.net/contact or visit our website at: https://insidefashionlive.net

Finding a job has never been easy - and - the current market situation is making it even more difficult.

However there industries that are growing - and companies that are hiring.

According to executive search experts - to succeed in landing that new job - candidates have to be a lot more strategic and pro-active.

Simply filling out online job applications or asking people ‘if they know of anyone who is hiring’ is unlikely to lead to success.

Today I’m talking with Darcy Bevelacqua, an executive search specialist and career coach.

She began her career as an HR recruiter for American Express, followed by positions at Prodigy, Accenture Interactive, and other leading marketing and technology companies.

Today she is managing director of Executive Connections, a boutique recruiting firm specialising in marketing transformations.

I reached out to Darcy and asked her to share some of her best insights and most practical advice for mid to senior level executives who are looking for a new job or to make a career change.

If you'd like to reach out to Darcy, you can contact her here: www.executiveconnections.com

Thank you for listening to A Seat at the Table. If you like to contact us you can reach us here: https://insidefashionlive.net/contact/ or visit our website at: https://insidefashionlive.net

Everyone is looking for ways to be more sustainable.

The challenge is to find ways that are practical and actionable for both the industry and for consumers.

Without this, sustainability will be often talked about, but seldom implemented.

Today I’m speaking with David Horlock, managing director of Global Food and Retail Supply Chain at the British Standards Institute.

David has spent 30 years working with companies on Organizational Resilience and Supply Chain Compliance across a wide range of industries.

During that time he’s worked with global brands on quality, process and supply chain behaviour issues to help them comply with regulatory, performance and modern-day consumer requirements.

David began his career as an Agriculturist, so you could say that he knows the supply chain from the ground up.

David will be sharing his perspective on how manufacturers and brands can incorporate sustainability into their total quality equation. And bring consumers the products they want in a way that is meaningful.

Learn more about the British Standards Institute: www.bsigroup.com

Do you have something to share? You can contact us at: https://insidefashionlive.net/contact or visit our website at https://insidefashionlive.net

Most people are looking for the next big thing. Larry Namer is the man who is creating it.

Learn more about FanVestor: www.fanvestor.com

Episode Summary

Larry is best known for founding the international mega hit cable TV show E! Entertainment, which has been shown in over 140 countries.

Throughout his career he's been able to parlay chance meetings and coincidences into bestselling projects.

Now, through his company Metan Global Entertainment Group, he's making an international movie about Empress Wu, the only female ruler in China’s history, as well as developing programming for the Chinese market.

He's also recently gotten involved in a FanVestor, a new fintech venture.

And that’s the just the beginning …

In this episode, I sit down with Larry to learn more about his focus on China’s media market, how he sees the entertainment industry evolving as a result of the pandemic, and a new venture that he’s just gotten involved with.

I had a chance to hear about Larry’s adventure filled journey from New York to L.A. during the early days of cable television - to his work in Russia and China’s media industries, as well as his experience trying to adapt live Broadway theatre into movies for television.

Larry has an eye for spotting big opportunities, and the ability to take them from idea to execution.

Join me and learn more about some of the innovative new projects he's developing.

Do you have something to share? You can contact us at: https://insidefashionlive.net/contact/ or visit our website at https://insidefashionlive.net

For nearly a decade, retail has been stuck in a quagmire of discounts, flagging consumer demand and rounds of bankruptcies.

There’s been lots of discussion about what went wrong.

Now the important question is “What do we need to do to fix it”?

While many will point to Amazon as the evil demon that devastated retail, a closer look shows that Amazon and other e-commerce players might have simply profited from the mis-steps that traditional retailers made.

And is it only e-commerce that’s to blame the for the current situation in retail - or are there other factors at play?

In this episode, I’m speaking with Kate Newlin, founder of Kate Newlin Consulting and author of the two bestselling books “Shopportunity” and “Passion Brands”.

She’s a specialist in working with Fortune 1000 companies to identify unmet consumer needs, and then helping them to figure out to fulfil them.

Prior to starting her own business, Kate was president of BrainReserve, a New York-based futurist marketing consulting firm.

Today she’ll share her views of where retail went wrong - and what brands could do to get back on track.

USEFUL LINKS

Do you have something to share? You can contact us here: https://seat.fm/contact-us/

Are you looking for Kate Newlin's books? You can find them here:

"Passion Brands"
http://prometheusbooks.com/books/search/Passion%20Brands

"Shopportunity"
https://www.harpercollins.com/products/shopportunity-kate-newlin?variant=32207951101986

Any conversation about apparel production sooner or later includes Bangladesh.

From a turbulent period when the nation’s industry was plagued by factory fires, building collapses and high levels of industrial pollution, Bangladesh has faced gruelling pressure to meet international standards.

Over the past 7 years it has painstakingly worked to clean up and green up the industry.

Today, Bangladesh is home to some of the world’s best apparel manufacturing facilities and has the greatest number of eco-friendly factories.

Still, Bangladesh’s image is more of a reflection of its past than a vision of its future.

Recently a growing number of industry experts are starting to shine a new light on what they believe could an overlooked opportunity for buyers.

Today we’re talking with Deepika Diwan.

Deepika has spent three decades managing buying, sourcing and manufacturing for some of world’s biggest retailers.

From heading up clothing sourcing in South Asia for Sainsbury’s, working with Marks & Spencer in Bangladesh and tripling its business there in less then 5 years, to working as Global Procurement Director for Kiabi, and helping Pepkor establish their South Asian sourcing offices, Deepika knows Bangladesh. She also understands the growing need to manage lead times, as well as the ongoing pressure on price.

Today Deepika is managing director of Carrots, consulting company that designs and executes bespoke solutions for international footwear, apparel and accessories retailers.

Years of up close and personal experience living and working Bangladesh has enabled her to see Bangladesh for what it is becoming rather than what it was.

She’s the perfect person to speak with in order to find out what are the big opportunities in Bangladesh, opportunities that others might be missing.

Do you have something to share? You can contact us at https://insidefashionlive.net/contact/.

Our website: https://insidefashionlive.net

Two of the fastest growing sectors today are indie brands and e-commerce.

Indie brands are bringing much needed newness, quality and inclusivity to the market.

E-commerce is making it possible for them to reach that market.

I’m Jane Singer and welcome to a Seat at the Table.

In this episode I’m talking with Martin Jomoa.

Martin has hands on experience growing indie brands - both online and offline.

From launching menswear at ASOS and getting UK fashion brand Simon Carter up and running, to co-founding his own brand, and managing the design, buying and technical teams at Australian brand Saba, Martin knows what it takes to launch a brand - and lead it to success.

Today Martin is a brand consultant to fast growing small to medium sized brands, as well as to companies who are just getting started and need the guidance of someone who has real life market experience.

For more information or to contact us, please either head over to our website https://insidefashionlive.net or email us at: cs@inside-fashion.net

One of the questions everyone is asking these days is: "How do we create an appealing in store experience?"

From mandatory masks, social distancing in stores and malls, ‘no try on’ policies, and plexiglass partitions that further restrict human interaction, shopping is just not as much fun as it used to be.

However, there are those retailers who have found ways to create a more vibrant in-store experience and in the processes are enticing consumers to come back.

In this episode, we're talking with Ishwar Chugani, Managing Director and CEO of Giordano ( EMEA ), an international apparel brand that’s famous for its high quality every day essentials.

Ishwar oversees a vast territory that starts in the Middle East and includes Africa, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia.

In the wake of the global pandemic, he managed to coordinate the successful reopening of Giordano’s stores - all done remotely - as well as quickly develop innovative ways to attract customers back into those stores - and revamp inventory management.

For more information or to contact us, please either head over to our website https://insidefashionlive.net or email us at: cs@inside-fashion.net

Knowing what consumers want to buy - and when they want to it - is a challenge that all retailers face.

For fashion-driven companies that challenge is even greater since styles change so quickly.

Technology solutions continue to try and solve that problem - through a wide range of data-driven applications

But most predictions lack accuracy and tend to be lagging indicators of real demand.

Stylumia has developed a proprietary Demand Ranking system based on a wide range of traditional and non-traditional - ’signals’ that it picks up from across the internet.

For more information or to contact us, please either head over to our website seat.fm or email us at: cs@inside-fashion.net

Cato Corporation is an American fashion retailer with over 1300 stores in the US - offering a sweeping ranging of trendy high quality fashion at exceptional prices - including apparel, shoes, accessories and even jewellery.

Even in the face of the pandemic, Cato has stayed strong.

At least part of that has to be attributed of Mark’s skills in managing a complex supply chain.

With over three decades of hands on experience managing vast supply chains for multi-channel retailers in the US, EU, Australia, Russia and South Africa, Mark brings a very educated point of view to the table.

So who better to talk to at a time when we are facing challenges like growing pressure to diversify our sourcing, hard-to-predict trade tensions - and a global pandemic.

For more information or to contact us, please either head over to our website https://insidefashionlive.net or email us at: cs@inside-fashion.net

If you’ve been wondering about those all of those Digital Native, Direct-to-Consumer brands - you know the ones that are e-commerce rockstars - or are about to be - then this is podcast episode for you.

In this episode, I'm talking with Stanley Szeto, executive chairman of Hong Kong-based Leverstyle, a sourcing company that has worked with many of the most success digital native brands.

He shares his experience, talks about what these 'indie' brands are doing differently, and discusses the outlook for on-demand apparel manufacturing.

For more information or to contact us, please either head over to our website https://insidefashionlive.net or email us at: cs@inside-fashion.net

Welcome to A Seat at the Table!

I’m Jane Singer and I started this podcast as a way for business professionals to learn from each other’s experiences.

This is for people, like you and me, to find out how other’s are tackling some of the challenges in today’s market. And to help identify new opportunities for growth and improvement.

And every week I sit down with some of the smartest and most successful people in manufacturing, marketing, retail, e-commerce and education

They share their outlooks, experiences and visions about supply chain strategies, e-commerce, emerging market opportunities and new technologies.

As the saying goes, one of the best ways to be successful is to surround yourself with successful people.

So join me - other colleagues from around the world!

Would you like to be a guest on 'A Seat at the Table' or do you know someone you'd like us to include? You can contact me here.