Libsyn Directory

The Strategic COO: Navigating Disruption and Driving Change with Suketu Gandhi

Release Date: 04/23/2025

The People-First Approach to Funding the Future of Logistics with Michael Sachaj

The Logistics of Logistics Podcast

and discuss the people-first approach to the future of logistics. Michael is a Partner at Hyde Park Angels (HPA), a leading early-stage investor based in Chicago. About Michael Sachaj is a Partner at HPA and manages and supports HPA’s investment opportunities through their lifecycle. Michael has led investment in a number of HPA’s top performing investments including ShipBob, FourKites, Paccurate, and Digit. Prior to joining HPA in 2013, Michael attended Northwestern University and worked at strategy consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton supporting various government clients in the...

Tech-Driven Drayage: A PortPro Perspective with Corey Abbott

The Logistics of Logistics Podcast

and discuss tech-driven drayage: a PortPro perspective. Corey is the Chief Growth Officer and his team lead enterprise initiatives at PortPro, an innovative technology company that keeps the drayage industry moving efficiently with its operating platform built for drayage trucking companies, brokerages, and those that do both. About Corey Abbott , Chief Growth Officer and his team lead enterprise initiatives at PortPro, focusing on developing comprehensive products designed to enhance the customer experience, guided by their needs and feedback. Corey spent over a decade at STG Logistics, the...

Carrier Sales Teams Are Being Run the Wrong Way with Brent Evens

The Logistics of Logistics Podcast

and discuss how carrier sales teams are being run the wrong way. Brent is the Co-founder of NextBoard, a carrier sales platform purpose-built for freight brokerages. About Brent Evens is the Co-founder of NextBoard, a freight tech startup helping brokers streamline carrier sales and build stronger, more efficient networks. He brings a diverse background in logistics, SaaS, and product strategy—including time at Delta Air Lines, where he worked on digital product initiatives that improved customer experience and operational performance. Before launching NextBoard, Brent also held...

Blind Spots & Bottlenecks: Unmasking the Hidden Enemies of Supply Chain with Briana Birkholz

The Logistics of Logistics Podcast

and discuss blind spots & bottlenecks: unmasking the hidden enemies of supply chain. Briana is the Vice President of Product Management for the 3PL market segment at SPS Commerce, the world’s leading retail network, connecting trading partners around the globe to optimize supply chain operations for all retail partners. About Briana Birkholz is the Vice President of Product Management for the 3PL market segment at SPS Commerce. With a passion for overcoming supply chain and logistics challenges, Briana is committed to addressing the distinct needs of customers through comprehensive,...

The Strategic COO: Navigating Disruption and Driving Change with Suketu Gandhi

The Logistics of Logistics Podcast

and discuss the strategic COO: navigating disruption and driving change. Suketu is a partner and global chair for the Strategic Operations Practice at Kearney, a leading management consulting firm. About Suketu Ghandi is a partner and global chair for the Strategic Operations Practice at Kearney, a leading management consulting firm. Based in Chicago, his expertise covers a wide range of operations topics, with an emphasis on end-to-end supply chains and their redesign for four critical purposes, growth, cost, resilience, and sustainability. Noting that the key to maximizing their...

Unpacking Cargo Theft: Trends and Solutions with Danielle Spinelli

The Logistics of Logistics Podcast

and discuss unpacking cargo theft: trends and solutions. Danielle serves as Account Executive at Descartes MyCarrierPortal, the leading solution for carrier identity, onboarding, and monitoring in transportation. About Danielle Spinelli is an Account Executive at Descartes MyCarrierPortal. With a decade of experience in the logistics and transportation industry, Danielle brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise in carrier sales and vetting. Having worked as a Carrier Sales Broker for 8 years, Danielle honed a deep understanding of the supply chain and transportation landscape, building...

REPOST: Booking More Loads Using AI with Anthony Sutardja

The Logistics of Logistics Podcast

and discuss booking more loads using AI. Anthony is the CEO and co-founder of , the leading truckload capacity management platform for freight brokers. About Anthony Sutardja As CEO & co-founder of Parade, leads product vision and strategy to enable logistics service providers to work smarter and faster with modern tools. His background in artificial intelligence, big data processing, and freight brokerage enables companies partnering with Parade to accelerate digital transformation by innovating with the status quo. Prior to , Anthony worked on a small team at Uber...

Beyond The Rails and Roads: The State of Intermodal with Anne Reinke

The Logistics of Logistics Podcast

and discuss beyond the rails and roads: the state of intermodal. Anne is the President & CEO at the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA), North America's leading industry trade association representing the combined interests of the intermodal freight industry. About Anne Reinke became the Intermodal Association of North America’s third President & CEO in December of 2024. Immediately preceding her appointment at IANA, Anne was President & CEO of the Transportation Intermediaries Association for four years. Anne has a long career in transportation policy,...

Stop Selling, Start Influencing: Tom Augenthaler's Logistics Marketing Gameplan

The Logistics of Logistics Podcast

and discuss stop selling, start influencing: Tom Augenthaler's logistics marketing gameplan. Tom helps companies tell stories that make the customer the hero. Having customers and influencers talk positively about your company is one of the best ways to attract and win new business. About Tom Augenthaler is the Founder and CEO of . On the website, shares his ideas and knowledge of influencer marketing with others looking to learn about this powerful strategy. is a pioneer in the space and has been working with influencers since 2007 while with Hewlett Packard, and as a consultant...

REPOST: The Right Tech Stack for Brokers with Dave Romanchuk

The Logistics of Logistics Podcast

and discuss the right tech stack for brokers. Dave is the Director of Product Management at Revenova, the industry's exclusive provider of CRM-powered transportation management systems (TMS) for freight brokers, 3PL/4PLs, carriers and shippers. About Dave Romanchuk is the Director of Product Management at Revenova. Since joining the TMS provider in 2017, Dave has helped the company grow from fewer than 10 employees to more than 60. With Dave's vision and leadership, Revenova TMS has built out multiple modules for freight brokers and carriers, most recently the completely renovated Fleet...

More Episodes

Suketu Gandhi and Joe Lynch discuss the strategic COO: navigating disruption and driving change. Suketu is a partner and global chair for the Strategic Operations Practice at Kearney, a leading management consulting firm.

About Suketu Ghandi

Suketu Gandhi is a partner and global chair for the Strategic Operations Practice at Kearney, a leading management consulting firm. Based in Chicago, his expertise covers a wide range of operations topics, with an emphasis on end-to-end supply chains and their redesign for four critical purposes, growth, cost, resilience, and sustainability. Noting that the key to maximizing their effectiveness lies in the combination of human intelligence, AI, and automation, he underpins this with a deep understanding of how global operations work. Suketu’s passion for operations work goes back to the earliest days of his career with a major retailer. Now, he puts this knowledge to work for clients throughout the consumer and retail space. Suketu is frequently published on operations transformation topics in outlets such as HBR, MIT Sloan Management Review, and The Wall Street Journal.

About Kearney

Since 1926, Kearney has been a leading management consulting firm and trusted partner to three-quarters of the Fortune Global 500 and governments around the world. With a presence across more than 40 countries, our people make us who we are. We work impact first, tackling your toughest challenges with original thinking and a commitment to making change happen together. By your side, we deliver—value, results, impact. To learn more about Kearney, please visit www.kearney.com.

Key Takeaways: The Strategic COO: Navigating Disruption and Driving Change

Kearney's third annual COO survey, in collaboration with AWS, reveals that while COOs anticipate organizational growth in 2025, they foresee significant hurdles related to skills gaps and execution challenges.
The research highlights key findings from the survey of over 120 senior operations leaders, indicating a shift in priorities from pure cost efficiency to a more balanced strategy emphasizing innovation, risk management, and the integration of technologies like GenAI in supply chains.
The purpose of the survey is to identify the major concerns and strategic shifts among COOs, revealing an "execution gap" and a critical need to address skill shortages and proactively manage risks in an increasingly uncertain global environment.
Global & Legacy Powerhouse: Founded in 1926 and headquartered in Chicago, Kearney is a top-tier management consulting firm with a presence in 40+ countries, serving Fortune Global 500 clients across industries.
Strategic Expertise at the Core: Renowned for excellence in strategic operations, sourcing, procurement, and transformation — Kearney consistently ranks among global leaders in these areas.
Forward-Thinking Insights: Through thought leadership like the FDI Confidence Index and Global Business Policy Council, Kearney shapes conversations on global economics, innovation, and disruption.
People-First, Impact-Driven: With a culture rooted in collaboration, inclusion, and purpose, Kearney focuses on delivering measurable change while fostering a diverse and empowered workforce.