At the 2022 edition of the Biomanufacturing World Summit series held November 13th to 15th in San Diego, we spoke with Dr. Behnam Ahmadian Baghbaderani, Lonza's Global Head of Process Development, Cell & Gene Technologies, about where the industry is now on Cell and Gene Therapy commercialization, where it wants to be in the next few years, and how biopharmaceutical manufacturers are building the capacities, capabilities, and connections necessary to bridge the gap between today and tomorrow. When is the right time to partner with other organizations? How can the industry work to keep costs down, making these amazing new treatments affordable for patients in need? All this and more is covered in this wide-ranging conversation. Enjoy!

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Dr. Baghbaderani is the Global Head of Process Development, Cell & Gene Technologies at Lonza. He has over 15 years of experience in stem cells engineering, bioprocessing, and cell and gene therapy field. Dr. Baghbaderani holds a PhD degree in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Calgary (Canada). He completed three years of postdoctoral program at the National Institutes of Health / National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. His postdoctoral research focused on generation of human iPSC, bioprocessing of human embryonic stem cells and human iPSCs and controlled differentiation into neuronal lineage.

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At Lonza Pharma & Biotech, we provide contract development and manufacturing services that enable pharma and biotech companies to bring medicines to patients in need. From the building blocks of life to the final drug product, our solutions are created to simplify your outsourcing experience and provide a reliable outcome, at the time when you expect it. Our extensive track record includes commercialization of pioneering therapies and manufacturing of a wide variety of biological and chemical drugs. We continuously invest to solve not just the current, but also the future challenges. Together, we can bring your next medicine to life.

www.pharma.lonza.com

 At the 2022 edition of the North American Supply Chain Executive Summit series held September 11-13 in Chicago, we spoke with Kevin Shoemaker, Avalara's Director of Global Trade Solutions, on how customer-centric supply chains have focused on visibility and traceability as the key competitive advantage to meet the evolving needs and wants of the customer, especially as it relates to the cost of moving goods across borders. What can the next generation of digital tools bring to the table in terms of new capabilities? How should supply chain leaders harness these new abilities to better serve the customer and avoid passing costs onto the consumer unnecessarily? What does getting started look like, and how does it change the day-to-day of their existing team and operations? For these questions and more, enjoy this interview.

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Avalara Inc. (Avalara) helps businesses of all sizes get global trade compliance right. Avalara delivers cloud-based compliance solutions for various transaction taxes, including sales and use, VAT, GST, excise, communications, lodging, customs duties, and other indirect tax types. Headquartered in Seattle, Avalara has offices across the U.S. and around the world in Canada, the U.K., Belgium, Brazil, and India. Each year, the company processes billions of indirect tax transactions for customers and users.

The company employs more than 4,700 domain experts and provides trade compliance and landed cost solutions to more than 30,000 customers worldwide including global 1000 companies, international logistics services providers, government customs authorities and eCommerce marketplaces. Avalara is the principal supplier of HS classification and landed cost calculation tools and services, and regulatory trade information to Amazon.com, Shopify, and other retailers/marketplaces all around the world.

www.avalara.com/us/en/index.html

At the 2022 edition of the Biomanufacturing World Summit series held November 13th to 15th in San Diego, we spoke with Andrzej Zylicz and Davide Buratti of PQE Group about one of the biggest trends biopharmaceutical manufacturers are facing today: Getting ready for the enormous changes Cell and Gene Therapy commercialization will bring to an industry that is already defined by rapid transformation and innovation. What should senior leaders be doing right now to best position themselves, their teams, and their organizations to create these new life-saving therapies at scale? What from 'traditional' biopharmaceutical manufacturing is going to carry over, and what needs to be invented again fit for purpose for these new products? How are different teams and companies communicating and collaborating together to solve these challenges? This conversation captures an exciting moment as an industry gathers itself for the next fifty years of creating an incredible new suite of life-saving treatments. Give it a listen!

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PQE is a complete quality solutions provider (30 offices globally, 1500+ consultants).

In its 20+ years of life, PQE has worked with thousands of clients and always applied the latest technologies and discoveries to help companies achieving their full potential. As an innovation-based agency, we are constantly developing new services and updating our areas of expertise.

www.pqegroup.com

Monique Matheson, Nike's EVP, Chief Human Resources Officer, was one of the opening keynote speakers at the 2022 edition of the North American HR Executive Summit this past December in Orlando. She spoke in great detail about how Nike listened to its workforce during and after the worst of the pandemic, and through ongoing engagement the company has crafted a strategy where the existing workforce feels valued that also develops and attracts the top performers Nike needs to succeed now and in the future. That presentation can be viewed here, and after she was done, Monique sat down with The bluEprint to expand upon her presentation and get into a few more specifics of where Nike has found the most success, and what lessons other HR leaders facing similar challenges can take from Nike's experience.

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As NIKE, Inc.’s Chief Human Resources Officer and member of the executive leadership team, Monique (Mo) Matheson leads the company’s HR strategy at a time of business growth and transformation. Mo oversees a global team that manages work streams ranging from recruitment and succession planning to organizational effectiveness, learning and development, total rewards, culture and diversity, equity and inclusion.

Mo leads through the lens of people. Under her leadership, Nike has reset its Human Resources function and invested in a dynamic, high-impact workforce to support a realignment in business strategy. As the company amplifies its digital advantage and widens its international reach, her expertise has been instrumental in mapping organizational capabilities, and enabling employees to feel inspired, challenged and supported to be their very best.

Cultural evolution has been central to Mo’s leadership. Since stepping into her current role in 2017, she has overseen a significant increase in employee engagement, leadership diversity, and alignment of policies and practices with Nike’s values. She continues to focus on attracting and retaining diverse talent, establishing Nike as a great place to work, and strengthening a culture that enables all employees to reach their full potential.

Mo’s achievements range from building an engaged, capable and diverse workforce to overseeing leadership transitions at the highest level. She has pioneered best practices in creating an internal development engine while recruiting external talent to maximize the company’s long-term talent pipeline. And starting in 2019, Mo led a rigorous and disciplined process as part of a successful CEO transition – Nike’s first in nearly a decade and a half.

Since starting at Nike in 1998, Mo has worked across Nike’s HR function, including as VP, Chief Talent and Diversity Officer, and VP and HR Business Partner for North America, Global Product Creation (Footwear, Apparel and Equipment), and Global Functions and NIKE, Inc. Affiliates.

Prior to Nike, Mo practiced employment law. She is a proud alumna of the University of Washington and Indiana University’s Maurer School of Law, and enjoy long dog walks, traveling, and watching and playing sports with her wife and young-adult daughter and son.

At the 2022 edition of the North American Finance Executive Summit held October 23rd to the 25th in Phoenix, AZ, we spoke with Jason Lewis of HighRadius. Finance leaders are now seeing the benefit of a whole new generation of powerful AI and automation tools that can free them from the drudgery of repetitive tasks and manual data collection, processing, and analysis to focus on the bigger picture and do deep dives into the issues, challenges, and opportunities their organizations are facing. What should Finance executives know about the options they now have available to them? What is the best way to empower a Finance team using AI and automation? How can people make sure they are getting the most ROI out of these powerful new capabilities, and how does that shape their day-to-day working lives? For all this and more, enjoy this episode!

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HighRadius offers cloud-based Autonomous Software for the Office of the CFO, and more than 700 of the world’s leading companies have transformed their order to cash, treasury and record to report processes with HighRadius. We use a data-driven AI software platform to lower DSO, optimize working capital, fast-track financial close and improve productivity. To learn more, please visit www.highradius.com.

At the 2022 edition of the North American HR Executive Summit we spoke with Josefien Glaudemans of BCI Global. The Global War for Talent has only grown fiercer in the New Normal of Work. Where companies choose to operate can make the difference between winning and losing, but what factors are involved in that decision-making process? How should organizations weigh the pros and cons of the different options when deciding how to optimize their footprint across a wide range of geographies? BCI Global is a boutique consulting firm that has specialized in this important area for almost four decades now, and in this episode Josefien walks us through the important questions that need to be asked and answers that need to be found as companies move forward into a constantly evolving business landscape.

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Josefien Glaudemans studied American Studies & Economic Geography at the Radboud University in Nijmegen, the Netherlands. After her graduation in 1996, Josefien joined PepsiCo Restaurants International and was responsible for the market planning of new restaurants for Pizza Hut, Kentucky Fried Chicken and Taco Bell in Europe/Africa/Middle East. In 1998 Josefien joined BCI Global and she further specialized in the international business development, location strategies and location selection for multinational companies. Clients include amongst others: ADM, ADP, Allen & Overy, Baker & McKenzie, Barclays, Columbia Sportswear, Cummins Business Services, Dell Computers, Donaldson, Exxon Mobil, Freshfields, Fortitech, Hewlett-Packard, Hogan Lovells, Ingram Micro, Microsoft, NCR, Premier Farnel, SAP, Sento, Siemens, Specsavers, Tate & Lyle, White & Case and X-Rite. For many of these projects Josefien has practical on the ground experience in all Western, Northern, Southern and Central and Eastern European countries, Turkey, Egypt, Morocco, South Africa, China, Singapore, Australia, Canada and the USA.

Josefien is regarded an expert on location selection and is often asked as workshop host and speaker on location selection, such as for a.o. the IQPC Shared Services & Outsourcing Network and the Conference Board.

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BCI Global is a specialized consultancy and leader in developing comprehensive, practical footprint strategies as well as selecting locations worldwide for new operations in the US; in Europe, Middle East and Africa; and in the Asia Pacific region (including China and India).

In the last 37 years we have supported more than 1,000 clients including companies like Abbott, Baxter Healthcare, Boston Scientific, Cisco, Columbia Sportswear, Danone, Donaldson, Emerson, Gentherm, IKEA, Johnson & Johnson, Medtronic, Microsoft, Mitutoyo, Mondelez, NCR, Nestle, Novartis, Novocure, O’Neill, Philips, Pitney Bowes, Pfizer, Roche, Sandvik, Urban Outfitters and Yamaha.

Our location strategy work combines proven frameworks with in-depth global knowledge of different types of hot spots, detailed labor analytics, cost factors, quality of the business environment factors, incentives and risks. Our dedicated professionals have the experience and expertise to assist you with realigning your company’s footprint to accommodate geographic growth and diversification and/or to improve the bottom line (reducing costs, adding value).

BCI Global is ISO-9001 certified, recognized on Forbes America’s Best Management Consultants list for the fourth year in a row and was in 2022 also listed on the inaugural overview of the World’s Best Management Consulting Firms.

In the US BCI Global has offices in Atlanta, the Bay Area and Los Angeles; in Europe in London, Frankfurt, and in Nijmegen and The Hague (both the Netherlands); and in AsiaPac in Shanghai and Singapore (for the whole region, including India).

www.bciglob

At the 2022 edition of the North American Finance Executive Summit held October 23rd to the 25th in Phoenix, AZ, we spoke with Tanner Roeller of Divvy. Business expenses have always been a time- and attention-intensive part of a Finance Team's job. Spend management is an area where all the details matter, and small issues can become big problems over time if something get's missed. Technology is changing the whole landscape of how this is being done, from expense reports and budgeting right through to reimbursement, it can all be done the right way the first time every time with the new tools and options coming onto the market today. Finance leaders should definitely give this episode a listen!

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The Divvy Visa® Business Card is the smarter, simpler way to manage business expenses. With Divvy’s free, card-plus-software solution, small and medium-sized businesses save time and money by automating expense reports, setting budgets, and processing reimbursements – all in one place. Track company spend in real-time, and never have to save a receipt again.

www.getdivvy.com

At the 2022 edition of the North American Finance Executive Summit held October 23rd to the 25th in Phoenix, AZ, we spoke with Jeff Miller of Board Americas about how a new generation of tools and technologies is allowing Finance teams to connect and share both internally and externally in a way that would have been unimaginable even a few years ago. Going beyond just pooling data, the most effective organizations are finding ways to visualize and tell stories with the information they are sharing to take the mystery out of decision-making and let everyone understand what is happening and why so they can each contribute their own best efforts towards shared goals. It's an amazing movement that is changing the way finance professionals work. Well worth a listen!

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Jeff Miller
Solutions Architect
Board Americas

Jeff Miller spent more than 20 years in Finance and Operations before becoming a solutions architect to enable success for his customers. He has worked in large companies as a finance manager and in smaller companies wearing many hats (including finance manager, sales controller and sales operations roles).

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Board Americas is the Intelligent Planning Platform, that offers smarter planning, actionable insights and better outcomes for more than 2,000 companies worldwide. Board allows leading enterprises to discover crucial insights which drive business decisions and unify strategy, finance and operations to plan smarter and achieve full control of performance. Partnering with Board, global enterprises such as H&M, BASF, Burberry, Toyota, Coca-Cola, KPMG, and HSBC have digitally transformed their planning processes.

Founded in 1994, and now with 25 offices worldwide, Board International has long been recognized by leading analysts and subject matter experts including Gartner, Nucleus, and Dresner.

www.board.com/en

Just about everyone who listens to this podcast also reads business books, and more than a few of those people have probably thought about writing one someday. What is involved in that, exactly? What makes a good one? What happens between inspiration and publication?

There are a lot of moving pieces behind the scenes, and for readers interested in where their books come from, or potential writers who want to understand what they are volunteering to do, the story of a business book or business memoir going from one person's idea to something the reading public can hold in their hands is a fascinating one. In this interview, we speak with Kwame Scott Fraser, the president and publisher of Dundurn Press, one of the largest Canadian-owned book publishing companies that is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. In this conversation you will hear about authors, ghost writers, agents, editors, publishers, and more. Give it a listen!

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Dundurn Press

Founded in 1972 by Kirk Howard, Dundurn Press was named after Hamilton’s historic Dundurn Castle, located near where Mr. Howard grew up. At first a small publisher of Canadian non-fiction, the company expanded into other genres over time, acquiring Hounslow Press, Simon & Pierre, Boardwalk Books, Natural Heritage Books, XYZ Publishing, Napoleon and Company, Blue Butterfly Books, and Thomas Allen Publishers. Now, having published over 2,600 titles in five decades of bringing Canadian stories to the world, Dundurn Press is recognized for producing high quality, award-winning books across multiple genres.

Dundurn’s deep and layered backlist includes standouts in Canadian history, politics, biography and memoir, lifestyle, mystery and thriller, middle grade, teen fiction, and more. Building on its history and strengths, Dundurn Press has grown into one of Canada’s largest and esteemed independent publishers publishing in a variety of genres with a focus on “Canadian authors telling Canadian stories.” Publishing authors from all corners of the country, the company is deeply rooted in the history, culture, and people of this land.

Dundurn Press remains committed to publishing debut and underrepresented voices in trade publishing. We invite you to step through the Dundurn portal, wherein we warmly welcome readers and writers — to our press, to our community, to the stories we publish.

Notable Awards and Milestones

• Dundurn Press has been twice nominated for the Libris Award for Publisher of the Year, presented by the Retail Council of Canada
• In 2017, in celebration of 45 years of publishing and Canada’s 150th anniversary, Dundurn Press donated a 150-book collection each to ten libraries across Canada
• Founder and Publisher Emeritus Kirk Howard has been recognized with the President’s Award of the Association of Canadian Publishers and in 2018 was named a member of the Order of Canada “for his commitment to Canadian authors and to a domestically-owned publishing industry.”
• In 2019, Scott Fraser was named Dundurn's second-ever publisher and president.
• In 2021, a new literary imprint Rare Machines was founded to publish literary fiction and poetic non-fiction that is playful, unusual, daring, or innovative.
• In 2022, Dundurn Press celebrates 50 years of book publishing in Canada.

At the 2022 edition of the North American Supply Chain Executive Summit series held September 11-13 in Chicago, we spoke with Pranav Padgaonkar, GEP Worldwide's VP of Supply Chain and Procurement, on the importance of converging supply chain and procurement operations to build visibility, collaboration, and most importantly resiliency in a more expensive and disruptive business environment. What does supply chain convergence mean in real terms? What does it look like on the ground and day-to-day, and what does it allow supply chain and procurement leaders to do differently in the long-term while thinking about the big picture? Enjoy this interview to learn more about this important business trend.

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Pranav Padgaonkar is a Vice President in the Consulting Practice, and brings with him 17 years of extensive experience covering a broad spectrum of procurement and supply chain capabilities. He leads large consulting engagements focused on cost reduction, using digital transformation, strategic sourcing and supply chain optimization to deliver transformative results.

He is a leader in GEP’s supply chain center of excellence. He has led engagements for GEP’s key clients across a wide spectrum of industries (Pharma, Automotive, CPG, Technology, Heavy Manufacturing, Apparel and Retail, etc.) across all major geographies. He also provides thought leadership on supply chain, smart factory/IoT, COVID Response, etc.

He holds an MBA with top honors from the Indian School of Business. Prior to GEP Pranav was a project manager with GE Energy.

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GEP Worldwide delivers transformative supply chain solutions that help global enterprises become more agile and resilient, operate more efficiently and effectively, gain competitive advantage, boost profitability and increase shareholder value.

Fresh thinking, innovative products, unrivaled domain expertise, smart, passionate people — this is how GEP SOFTWARETM, GEP STRATEGYTM and GEP MANAGED SERVICESTM together deliver supply chain solutions of unprecedented scale, power and effectiveness.

Headquartered in Clark, New Jersey, GEP has offices and operations centers across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas.

www.gep.com