In this episode of the Supply Chain Careers podcast, we speak with Rob Handfield, the Bank of America University Distinguished Professor of Supply Chain Management at North Carolina State University and the Executive Director of the Supply Chain Resource Cooperative. Widely regarded as one of the leading voices in global supply chain management, Rob has published more than 150 peer-reviewed journal articles and has been featured in major media outlets including the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, CNN, NPR, and the Financial Times. During our conversation, Rob shares his insights from more than 35 years in the field, including why relationships, humility, and operational experience remain essential leadership traits even as AI and advanced analytics reshape the profession. We also explore supply chain resilience, the growing gap between technical and soft skills, and what future leaders must do to build successful careers in an increasingly volatile global environment.

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