What do rate cuts, tariffs, and the rise of agentic AI mean for the future of wholesale distribution?

In this episode, Kevin Brown and Tom Burton dissect the week’s biggest economic shifts, from the Federal Reserve’s policy moves to AI’s rapid integration across manufacturing, logistics, and B2B commerce. Learn how forward-thinking distributors are preparing for 2026, where automation meets leadership and contextual intelligence defines competitive advantage.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why AI literacy and contextual intelligence are essential leadership skills in 2025
• How tariffs, prediction markets, and Fed rate cuts are shaping industrial investment
• The emerging impact of agentic commerce on B2B buying behavior
• The business risks of ungoverned generative AI in enterprise settings
• How distributors can balance data automation with human trust in decision-making

Episode Highlights:

• 04:18 – How the U.S. government shutdown is influencing the Fed’s economic playbook
• 18:32 – What the latest rate cuts reveal about manufacturing, inflation, and capital investment
• 33:27 – Tariffs, Supreme Court delays, and the uncertain trade horizon for distributors
• 51:08 – The “AI slop” problem: when generative tools create risk instead of efficiency
• 01:04:22 – Amazon and PayPal move toward agentic commerce, what B2B can learn
• 01:14:10 – The rise of humanoid robotics and physical AI in supply chain operations
• 01:26:55 – Why courage and clarity will define the next generation of distribution leaders

Meet the Hosts:

Kevin Brown and Tom Burton are the co-founders of LeadSmart Technologies, creators of LeadSmart Channel Cloud™, an AI-enabled CRM and customer intelligence platform for distributors and manufacturers. With decades of combined experience in digital transformation, leadership strategy, and industrial data systems, they help B2B leaders thrive in the age of AI-driven distribution.

Tools, Frameworks, or Strategies Mentioned:

• LeadSmart Channel Cloud™ – AI-powered CRM + Customer Intelligence for distribution
• Agentic Commerce – The next evolution of AI-driven transactional systems
• Context Engineering – Framework for aligning AI with business intent
• Industrial Supply Association (ISA) – Leadership development and AI fluency initiatives
• Section 232 & 301 Tariff Mechanisms – Understanding how U.S. trade rules impact sourcing

Closing Insight or CTA:

“AI doesn’t replace relationships, it reinforces them by removing friction.” — Kevin Brown

As AI redefines how businesses operate, leadership must evolve alongside it.

Leave a Review: Help us grow by sharing your thoughts on the show.

Learn more about the LeadSmart AI B2B Sales Platform: https://www.leadsmarttech.com/

Join the conversation each week on LinkedIn Live.

Want even more insight to the stories we discuss each week? Subscribe to the Around The Horn Newsletter.

You can also hear the podcast and other excellent content on our YouTube Channel.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or TikTok.