5 Questions with 5 Experts - SOMers Advancing Supply Chain Innovation
Five questions posed to leaders in business and society.
These SOM alumni innovate across supply chains that collectively move over $1.6 trillion in goods annually. For context, Amazon delivered more that 7 billion packages in 2023 that arrived same or next day, with Walmart delivering 4.4 billion items at the same speed. Apple reported 2.2 billion active devices at the end of 2023, with their consumers still heavily split between in-store retail and delivery. In the B2B category, Genpact manages about 864 billion consumer and retail transactions annually, and continues to expand its impressive partner ecosystem with companies which include Microsoft, Google, Salesforce, ServiceNow, and many others.
We asked these 5 SOM alumni and supply chain experts to share a perspective on supply chain evolution, innovation, careers, and opportunities.
Srinath Sabapathy '12, Last Mile Transformation Strategy, Walmart
Srinath is a Director for Last Mile Transformation Strategy at Walmart Centroid. With over 18 years of experience in supply chain optimization, he has consistently driven transformation projects and significant improvements in operational efficiency by leveraging his expertise in strategic planning and innovation. Prior to his current role, he led a range of initiatives focused on last-mile innovation at both Amazon and Weee! Srinath is passionate about sustainability and has integrated sustainable practices into e-commerce operations throughout his career. Personally, he is a first-time father to a baby born in March ‘24. He is also a dedicated foster parent and has cared for over 15 rescue dogs.
Q1: How have global supply chains changed over the last four years?
Srinath: Over the past four years, global supply chains have faced significant challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed significant vulnerabilities and the downside of a global supply chain where one region’s challenges immediately impact the rest of the world. This was the catalyst for the shift towards resilience and diversification in the post pandemic supply chain with most enterprises relying on partners that built “regionalized” supply chains, fulfillment centers and last mile partnerships.
Further, geopolitical tensions have also played a major role in supply chain disruptions impacting the availability of food, medical supplies, automobiles, and the chips that power our infrastructure. These challenges have sparked remarkable innovation and adaptation. Technological advancements, such as AI, IoT and blockchain, give supply chain leaders real time visibility into inventory levels, geolocation at the SKU level and unexpected disruptions, and there’s been significant innovation in AI-powered tools that allow enterprises to solve these challenges in real time.
Fortunately, sustainability has emerged as a central focus for the post-pandemic supply chain promising greener and more responsible supply chains. Supply chains are a massive contributor to C02 emissions and sustainable supply chain innovation will continue to be a major pathway for solving climate challenges.
Lastly, the acceleration of e-commerce and the lessons learned from disruptions like the Suez Canal blockage have necessitated the need for resilient and adaptable supply chains. As a result, companies are prioritizing risk mitigation, innovation, and flexibility to navigate an increasingly unpredictable global landscape.
SOM’s Risk Management curriculum and overall approach is very strong for students who want to make an impact in supply chain - the ability to effectively understand, interpret and mitigate supply chain risks requires a deep understanding of how the public and private sectors operate and the impact these risks have on industries, markets, and citizens.
Fun Fact: I spent the first 6 years of my career underwater, literally! I led the engineering department onboard ocean cargo ships and was responsible for not just the safety and wellbeing of my crew but also timely movement of ships at lowest possible operating cost.
Favorite Series: Hobbit and Lord of the Rings
Andrea Pacheco '22, Senior Product Manager - Innovation & Automation, Walmart
Andrea Pacheco Montesinos is a Senior Product Manager for Innovation & Automation at Walmart where she specializes in digital transformation and oversees a wide range of innovation and automation projects. She is passionate about leveraging data and process automation to improve efficiency and enhance business outcomes. In addition to her MAM from SOM, she earned an MBA from EGADE Business School del Tecnológico de Monterrey in Mexico.
Q2: How do large organizations maintain their strategic competitiveness when it comes to Supply Chain?
Andrea: Large organizations already have huge advantages in terms of resources, network, and supplier power, but they face the challenge to continue leading the field. They can strengthen their competitiveness by investing in technology that will create value, such as real-time supply chain planning and innovative automation solutions to optimize operations and enhance responsiveness.
Process improvements are also vital - agility and simplification of complexity will help the company to quickly adapt to market and consumer changes and streamline workflows for efficiency.
In addition, maximizing partnerships through a collaborative strategy fosters strong relationships with suppliers and customers, creating a more resilient and integrated supply chain. And cultivating team innovation and embracing new technologies empower employees to drive continuous improvement, ensuring the organizations remain at the forefront of industry advancements.
Fun Fact: I have a twin sister and yes we used to have our secret language.
Favorite Series: Tie between Star Wars (original trilogy) and Lord of the Rings
Meelendra Singh '20, Senior Product Manager, Amazon
Meelendra Singh is a Senior Product Manager at Amazon, where he leads several complex supply chain products across North America. These products have driven significant cost savings through automation, defect reduction, and optimization of vendor operations. Prior to Amazon, his career includes roles in technology consulting, marketing and sales in regions which include Southeast Asia, India, and Africa. Meelendra serves as a Director-at-Large on the SOM Alumni Advisory Board where he chairs the Admissions Committee. Meelendra also volunteers with international non-profits focused on financial inclusion.
Q3: What kind of career opportunities do you see for SOMers in the supply chain and operations space?
Meelendra: The career opportunities in supply chain management are wide and deep. Transparently, I had no prior supply chain experience before joining Amazon, but after 4 years in the field, I've realized the immense upside it holds for MBA graduates. Companies like Amazon, Walmart, Apple and FedEx operate some of the world's most complex and innovative supply chains. This provides solid opportunities to specialize in a variety of areas, including Product Management, Finance, Supply Chain Strategy, Supplier Experience, and General Management. Within supply chain, there are opportunities to focus on different functional areas, from ocean freight and multi-modal transportation to inbound logistics, trans-shipment, middle mile, and last-mile delivery.
Each of these supply chain legs present unique challenges that require significant expertise to solve. MBA graduates are able to ask the right questions, and have the experience required to drive initiatives that deliver performance, growth and operational improvements through cost savings, financial modeling and business model innovation . I would encourage students to research the diverse roles that SOM alumni are taking on in this field. It's a highly competitive space, with attractive salaries and the chance to work at the intersection of business and technology - something that aligns well with the goals of many new SOM graduates.
Kyle Jenson’s Management of Software Development class at SOM was a catalyst for my interest and success in pivoting to product management at Amazon. I also really appreciated his ability to lead exceptional tech focused lectures in product innovation while also pulling off an impressive pairing of suits and Converse hightops.
Fun Fact: I’m a certified scuba and free diver and have completed 100+ dives across coral reefs in Indonesia, the Philippines and Hawaii.
Favorite Series: Curb Your Enthusiasm
Siddharth (Sid) Mishra '18, Senior Global Supply Chain Manager, Apple
Sid Mishra is a Senior Global Supply Chain Manager at Apple with significant expertise in hardware technology supply chain projects. His specializations include automation enablement, supplier diversification, and supplier risk management. Prior to his current role Sid was on Apple’s Strategic Deals & Risk Management team and the iPhone Operations team. Prior to Apple, Sid worked in private equity and commercial banking. Outside of work, he is passionate about soccer and running and is a longtime mentor for young entrepreneurs and a champion of an innovative startup ecosystem.
Q4: What trends in the changing world of Supply Chain are particularly exciting?
Sid: There are many, I am particularly focused on three:
1. The increased focus on sustainability: With the rise in global corporate commitment towards a greener future, companies are focusing on making manufacturing and supply chain decisions with an eye towards achieving their sustainability goals. Innovators and operators who have an interest in putting their skills to use in reducing the carbon footprint of supply chains and leveraging automation to reduce waste and complexity have an enormous opportunity ahead.
2. Growth in nearshoring or friendshoring moves: Geopolitical uncertainty has led many companies to divert their facilities from traditional manufacturing hubs to countries near their customers or other countries that incentivize manufacturing. In the U.S. we’ve seen a massive shift in manufacturing and production from China to Mexico and other nearby countries keeping both production and logistics close to our border and this will have massive implications for years to come on other regions GDP, workforces, and industries. I’m optimistic that it’s also an incentive for entrepreneurs to enter the market with fully automated, more sustainable operations as they try to grab market share from other nations who are farther away.
3. The focus on automation to reduce costs and improve timeliness: Rising labor costs and improvements in technology driven by ML has led to greater investment in automation equipment for manufacturing facilities. While we can’t truly predict whether automation will be a job killer for key industries, I’m optimistic that in supply chain, the technology will increase efficiency by automating mundane, repeatable tasks and give frontline workers the opportunity to play a more strategic role in the supply chain of the future.
Fun Fact: I have lived in 4 countries on 3 continents. America is the best of the lot. USA! USA!
Favorite Series: The Wire
Jorge Gosalvez '22, Senior Manager, Genpact
Jorge Gosalvez is a Senior Manager at Genpact and a seasoned expert in supply chain management and business process architecture, with over 14 years' experience driving results across industries which include consumer goods and life sciences. Prior to his current role, Jorge held a range of leadership roles at Google, Accenture and Sintec leveraging his unique ability to bridge technology with business process innovation and impact. Jorge is a long-time mentor at organizations that include The Global Mentorship Initiative and Impulsa Mexico. In addition to his SOM degree Jorge earned an MBA from EGADE Business School del Tecnológico de Monterrey in Mexico.
Q5: What made you transition to a career in Supply Chain and Operations?
Jorge: I transitioned to a career in supply chain and operations because my studies in industrial engineering revealed the intricate connections between different areas of a company. I was captivated by the cross-functional nature of this field, which offers comprehensive visibility into how a business operates—from financial planning to execution on the ground. Recognizing that many organizations work in siloed departments, I was motivated to help bridge these gaps. Supply chain and operations enable me to connect these areas, fostering collaboration and improving overall efficiency. This role not only aligns with my interest in how companies run but also allows me to contribute to a more cohesive and effective organization.
SOM gives you an excellent foundation for pivoting into new industries and I recommend every functional role that touches the supply chain space to be an exceptionally exciting field in the years ahead.
The global and inclusive nature of the SOM community and deep technical and operational expertise of my cohort has been key to my post SOM career success. I remain very close to many of my classmates and it’s an exciting time to see our collective impact in this sector.
Fun Fact: My wife, our 8-pound Yorkie, and I enjoy hitting the hiking trails together. Our little dog may be small, but he’s our fearless trail companion!
Favorite Series: Ted Lasso
