Driven by DCKAP

Small businesses are said to be the heart of our communities. They are what laid the groundwork for the kind of massive success now seen by the likes of companies such as Amazon and Walmart. Yet, today, many small businesses are waning under their shadow and continuing to struggle in order to stay relevant, growing, and successful amongst these giants. So what’s a small family-owned wholesale supplier to do? 

To dive into this question and gain the perspective of a small business looking to compete in this environment, Karthik sits down with Tighe Greenhalgh, the President of Central Components. In their discussion, Tighe shares his journey in the family businesses, what his goals are today as a small business leader, and what their plans are for upgrading technology and competing with bigger corporations. Watch the full episode for this insider’s perspective on how small businesses can utilize advancements in technology to help eliminate the ‘big boy’ advantage. 

According to research by Fortune Business Insights, the furniture market size in the US will reach an estimated value of 130 billion dollars by 2032. What is it about the industry that drives this kind of demand? How does a successful furniture designer and distributor like Zuo Mod weigh in on the market, or the manufacturing? How do they approach things such as identifying successful trends, navigating supply chain challenges, and improving customer satisfaction? 

While sitting down with Karthik for this discussion at their headquarters, Luis Ruesga, the Co-Founder and CEO of Zuo Modern Contemporary, dives into the origins of the company, explaining what they specialize in and how they thrive in the industry. He shares his view on the importance of quality furniture and what he envisions for the future of the industry. Check out the full episode to learn more about the industry from his insider’s perspective.

Joining us in this week’s episode, Nishit Asnani, the Co-Founder of Sybill, a Generative AI tool that takes sales calls to the next level, sits down to talk about what it takes to build AI software and where it’s all headed. As one of the inspiring leaders behind the innovative business, Nishit brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the conversation.

During the interview, they discuss what a sales intelligence tool is, the areas where AI can be most beneficial, how AI has the ability to revolutionize day-to-day operations, the challenges of building an AI product, and more. Watch the full episode to hear from our visionary guest and learn more about developing the next generation of technology.

In this special Chicago episode of the Driven by DCKAP podcast, our host Karthik Chidambaram, Founder and CEO of DCKAP, has the opportunity to sit down and speak with Mark Brohan, Senior Vice President of B2B and Market Research at Digital Commerce 360. Originally founded as Internet Retailer, Digital Commerce 360 is an industry pioneer and global leader in e-commerce research and media, producing products and events like Internet Retailer magazine, the Top 500 Guide, and the Internet Retailer Conference & Exhibition (IRCE).

They discuss Mark’s background, his training in journalism, how it has helped to bolster his passion and elevate his in-depth research into digital commerce, and his dedication to research, sharing knowledge, and helping shape the conversation for industry experts. During their conversation, we also learn what his insights and predictions are for B2B digital commerce in the coming decade.

Tom Gale, MDM’s lead researcher and industry analyst for more than 25 years on independent distribution channel trends, consolidation, technology and competitive landscape, and the current CEO of MDM, is our guest this week. He joins host, Karthik Chidambaram, CEO of DCKAP, on this special Chicago episode of the Driven by DCKAP podcast to discuss the story of MDM, what it provides as an educational resource, the benefit of long term thinking, how digital innovation has helped manufacturers and distributors grow, and much more.

In this interview, we learn more about the impact of competition, the importance of research and strategy, the different stages on the journey of digital transformation, and how digital innovation has completely changed the landscape for manufacturers and distributors. Be sure to listen to the full interview, and subscribe!

In this episode of the Driven by DCKAP podcast, Jim Hansen, the Chief Product Officer at Advantive, joins Karthik Chidambaram, CEO of DCKAP, to discuss all the ins and outs of successful product management, including when to know a product works and when it doesn’t, the right things to do and the right things not to do, how to ensure you’re providing value to customers, and everything in between.

In this compelling conversation, we learn more about what it’s like being in the position of a Chief Product Officer, how Jim’s career began, some of the many lessons that he learned along the way, and some great advice for those looking to better understand how effective product leadership can help lead your company to success. Make sure you tune in and watch this new episode!

Brian Gardner, the Founder of SalesProcess360, joins our host Karthik Chidambaram, Founder and CEO of DCKAP, on the latest episode of the Driven by DCKAP podcast to discuss the importance of customer relationship management, why it’s often a misunderstood or neglected system for the sales process, and how to get more ROI from CRM. 

From their conversation, we learn about Brian’s background and how he came to specialize in CRM systems, what the significance of a CRM system is and what it really means for a business, as well as insights on how to leverage your CRM and how to improve your sales process, and more. Be sure to tune in and learn some of the best insider tips that will help to improve your sales process.

On this very special episode of the Driven by DCKAP podcast, Karthik visits the Kundinger Fluid Power distribution facility in Neenah, Wisconsin. There he takes a tour of their facilities while speaking with Paul Kundinger, a third generation entrepreneur who took over the Wisconsin business as President and currently co-runs operations of the company along with his extended family. 

While touring the facility and gaining a deeper understanding of what Kundinger does, we learn more about how their in-house services help to support their customers, why the evolution of expanding beyond just products is so important, how the family business operates and runs, and how they look at the process of continuing its generational future. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to peek behind the scenes and learn the ins and outs of a successful distribution business.

On this episode of the Driven by DCKAP podcast, Karthik sits down with Brad Feakes, President of EstesGroup - a leader in combining Private Cloud, Hybrid Cloud, and Managed IT solutions with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP). Brad has more than 25 years of experience in manufacturing, construction management, supply chain, and ERP systems, and in their conversation he shares his wealth of knowledge.

From strategies of implementation, how to ensure there's synchronicity with all systems, the role of integration and AI tools, as well as the role of business culture and managing teams, this conversation covers everything ERP, and much more. Be sure to watch the full episode to gain all the invaluable insights our latest guest shares!

This week on the Driven by DCKAP podcast, we’re joined by Clint Oram - Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer at SugarCRM. He sits down with our host, Karthik Chidambaram, to discuss the significance of CRM systems, how to increase sales, the effectiveness of data analysis, how emerging technologies will impact the future, and more.

Clint has over 20 years of experience in the enterprise software industry, with over 15 years designing and building award-winning CRM software solutions. As one of the original architects and developers, he helped found SugarCRM in 2004, going on to work in a variety of executive roles, and today he leads strategy and acquisitions. His invaluable insights shared in this interview provide a key understanding of how strategy and effective leadership greatly contribute to a company’s growth and success.