It’s no surprise then that supply chain management has become one of the most dynamic and fast-evolving fields in business. Since the term was first coined by Keith Oliver in 1982, the industry has grown in both complexity and influence, driven by globalization, digitization, and a constant push for efficiency and sustainability. The people shaping its future are no longer just back-office planners, they’re innovators, strategists, and trusted voices in navigating uncertainty.
In this article, we spotlight some of the most insightful and influential minds in supply chain today, thinkers who aren’t just reacting to change, but helping to drive it. From cutting-edge technologies to battle-tested strategies, these leaders offer perspectives that can elevate how you think about logistics, operations, and value creation. Whether you're a seasoned executive or just starting out in the field, these are the voices worth following.
Lora Cecere founded Supply Chain Insights and is famous for her understanding of Supply Chain strategy and analytics. For over 30 years, she's assisted businesses in coping with the complexities of supply chain management.
Lora collaborates with supply chain leaders to elevate team performance. Her firm, Supply Chain Insights, spearheads groundbreaking supply chain research. Passionate about writing, she authors the "Supply Chain Shaman" blog, focusing on enterprise software for supply chain excellence.
Lora has penned influential books, "Bricks Matter" and "Metrics that Matter." Her 35 years of experience include roles at Gartner Group and AMR Research and leadership positions at Manugistics and Descartes Systems Group.
Outside of work, Lora enjoys ballet, triathlon training, and textile arts like quilting and knitting.
Key Strengths and Expertise of Lora:
Craig Fuller, the CEO and founder of FreightWaves, is a media and information services executive focusing on transportation's future. His extensive trucking and freight business knowledge has transformed how companies use information to enhance their supply chain activities.
FreightWaves' work, providing real-time information and promoting insights, has empowered businesses to make competitive, informed choices.
Key Strengths and Expertise of Craig:
Adrian Gonzalez, the principal and president of Adelante SCM, is a highly regarded voice in the industry. His practical approach to supply chain problems and his ability to translate complex ideas into practical strategies instill confidence in his expertise.
Adrian Gonzalez is known for his strategic advisory role with high-level executives across the manufacturing, retail, logistics, and tech sectors. He is the founder and host of Talking Logistics, an online video talk show featuring industry thought leaders. Adrian also established Indago, a market research community for supply chain professionals, and Adelante SCM, a platform for young supply chain professionals.
His career includes roles as an adjunct instructor at Northeastern University and a product development manager at Motorola, Clare, and Polaroid. His specialties include supply chain management, logistics, transportation management, and peer-to-peer learning.
Adrian's research, writings, and consulting work offer invaluable insights that can be readily applied in any company's supply chain operations.
Key Strengths and Expertise of Adrian:
Cathy Morrow Roberson brings a wealth of logistics and freight forwarding expertise. Her research identifies emerging trends and offers practical intelligence to enhance the efficiency and overall performance of the supply chain.
Cathy founded Logistics Trends & Insights LLC, a firm dedicated to comprehensive research and analysis for various supply chain initiatives. Her expertise spans competitive analysis, new product development, mergers and acquisitions, IPOs, strategic company guidance, marketing, IT needs, and more. Her insights are widely recognized and featured in numerous reports, consulting projects, and publications.
Cathy is active on social media, where she shares real-time industry news and analysis. Follow her on Twitter @cmroberson06 and her company @LogisticsTI, and visit her company's website for the latest updates.
Key Strengths and Expertise of Cathy:
Bob Ferrari is the creator and executive editor of Supply Chain Matters, an essential blog about worldwide supply chain management. He offers a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities affecting supply chains today and a wealth of planning, strategy, and technology expertise.
Bob is a seasoned supply chain manager, consultant, and technology marketing executive with extensive multi-functional experience. He specializes in helping organizations implement and maintain agile and responsive global supply chain processes and advanced technologies. Bob has managed various aspects of supply chain operations and assisted technology firms in developing and marketing innovative software. He has also supported organizations in ERP, supply chain planning, procurement, customer service, S&OP, and CRM business processes, leveraging his diverse expertise to drive operational excellence.
Bob's critical approach and extensive knowledge of the worldwide supply chain environment make him an invaluable resource for professionals looking to remain in the know and make strategic choices.
Key Strengths and Expertise of Bob:
Jim Tompkins is a leader in supply chain management. His strategic and revolutionary thinking has transformed many businesses, helping them attain operational excellence and competitive advantage.
Starting fifteen businesses that have generated over USD 2bn in revenue worldwide, he's had a 50-year career marked by entrepreneurship. Jim is known for simplifying tough issues and bringing order out of chaos, so he founded Tompkins Ventures in 2020 for worldwide hands-on solutions and Tompkins Leadership in 2022 for Leadership development and organizational transformation. He also developed the international consulting firm Tompkins International. Jim is a thought leader in the area, having written thirty-one books and provided over 2,000 worldwide presentations.
Jim's distinguished career spanning over four decades is a testament to the transformative power of supply chain management.
Key Strengths and Expertise of Jim:
Lisa Anderson is the president and Founder of LMA Consulting Group, Inc., which focuses on supply chain planning, administration, and transformation.
Manufacturers and distributors rely on Lisa to enhance customer experience and drive profitable growth. With a rich background in advising private-equity-backed and multi-billion dollar organizations across various industries, she excels at creating bold customer promises and achieving rapid operational improvements.
SAP and Washington Frank recognize Lisa as a top supply chain and ERP influencer. She speaks at major conferences and has been featured in prominent publications. Before founding LMA Consulting Group Inc., she was Vice President of Operations at PaperPak, guiding the company through significant transformations.
Lisa is a dependable advisor to numerous companies and has experience in process improvement, inventory control, and demand preparation.
Key Strengths and Expertise of Lisa:
Kevin O'Meara is an experienced supply chain executive with significant experience leading worldwide supply chain activities. He has held several senior management positions across different industries and led major supply chain transformations, which resulted in substantial cost savings.
Kevin is known for his global supply chain strategy expertise, logistics network design and execution, transportation management, and procurement. His focus includes designing integrated sales and operations planning (S&OP) strategies and their alignment with logistics execution. Kevin has led supply chain strategies for a Fortune 100 company and transformed an automotive service parts logistics network into a world-class operation. Kevin is an experienced leader recognized for his ability to implement leading strategies and deliver tangible results. His educational background includes training in Six Sigma and studies at Cornell University, the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh, and Harvard Business School.
Kevin is renowned for his ability to create highly effective teams and implement innovative solutions that improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the supply chain.
Key Strengths and Expertise of Kevin:
Zal Phiroz has built his career on navigating the invisible highways of the global economy. Whether it's a bottle of shampoo, a prescription drug, or a cold-chain vaccine, Zal knows how these products move, and more importantly, what happens when that movement stops.
A respected voice in the world of supply chain strategy, Zal combines academic rigor with deep industry experience. His early career was shaped on the front lines at Procter & Gamble, where he helped orchestrate the flow of products like Tide and Folgers through complex networks of suppliers, manufacturers, and retailers.
But it’s in the classroom and courtroom where Zal’s expertise comes alive. Holding faculty positions at Harvard, UC San Diego and Michigan State University, he has trained future leaders on how to build smarter, more resilient systems. In 2023, he was named an Inclusive Teaching Fellow at Harvard University, a recognition of his commitment to not just teaching operations, but doing it with empathy and impact.
As an expert witness, he’s been called into high-profile cases involving product failures, recalls, and manufacturing flaws, often representing or opposing industry giants like Pfizer, 3M, and Home Depot. His work isn’t just academic; it’s about accountability. His data-driven testimony helps courts understand where supply chains failed and who’s responsible.
Key Strengths and Expertise of Zal:
Daniel Stanton, known as "Mr. Supply Chain," is dedicated to educating, inspiring, and empowering people globally in supply chain and project management. With over 25 years of experience across various industries and roles, he leverages his expertise as a LinkedIn Learning instructor, Udemy premium instructor, Techstars startup founder, and IBM supply chain futurist. He authored the best-seller Supply Chain Management For Dummies.
Stanton holds a Master of Engineering in Logistics and Supply Chain Management from MIT, is pursuing a Doctor of Business Administration in Logistics from Cranfield University, and has multiple supply chain and project management certifications. His mission is to optimize, innovate, and transform supply chains in the digital era, creating value and solving problems to make a positive impact worldwide.
Daniel's experience includes different areas of supply chain management, such as logistics, procurement, and risk management. He is well-known in the industry for his valuable insights and ability to simplify complicated concepts.
Daniel's Key Strengths and Expertise:
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C3 Solutions provides the resources and information you need to remain competitive in supply chain management, whether you wish to boost your dock scheduling or simplify your backyard operations. Contact us today for more details about how we can support your business.