Operations Leadership
Episodes
Episode 36: Field Notes – Network Redesign from Resilience to Total Value
30 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we analyze the strategic shift from resilience to Total Value. Leading organizations are moving beyond disruption management toward e...
Episode 35: Field Notes – Chokepoint: Hormuz, World’s Most Dangerous 21 Miles
20 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Gautam unpacks the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the largest disruption to global energy supply since the 1970s oil crisis. This c...
Episode 34: Field Notes: AI Supply Chain Showdown: Pentagon vs Anthropic Saga
10 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we analyze the recent case of Anthropic AI solution being designated as a supply chain risk by the US Pentagon. This case has profoun...
Episode 33: Operating Partner Groups, Carveouts, & AI in PE Value Creation
20 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we have returning guest William Bundy (Partner at McKinsey & Co). We discuss how private equity firms have evolved their operatin...
Episode 32: Supply Chain Attacks in the Digital World
25 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This episode’s guest is Hadi Ghanbari (Assistant Professor at Aalto University’s Business School). In this interview, we discuss cyber-att...
Episode 31: Negotation as a Superpower
20 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Our guest for this episode is Sami Miettinen (author, investment banker, & host of the Neuvottelija podcast). In this interview, Sami dives deep i...
Episode 30: Power of Quantum Technology
20 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This episode’s guest is Mikko Möttönen (Professor of Quantum Technology at Aalto University / VTT). During our conversation, he discusses how ...
Episode 29: Value Based Purchasing in Public Services
24 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Our guest for this episode is Katri Kauppi (Associate Professor of Logistics at Aalto University). In this interview, we discuss the particulars of pr...
Episode 28: Geo-Political Impact on Global Supply Chains
20 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This episode’s guest is Karl Buschmann (Adjunct Policy Advisor for RAND & Strategic Advisor for CSCMP). In this interview, Karl provides us ...
Episode 27: Bridging Theory with Practice in Supply Chain Management
20 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This episode’s guest is Linda Dunn (Professor of Practice at Georgetown University). In this interview, she talks about the lessons learned in d...
Episode 26: Agentic Workers and It’s Impact on Leadership & Productivity
20 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Our guest for this episode is Tony Wood (CEO CF & Society of Leadership Fellows at Windsor Castle). In this interview, we discuss the concept of a...
Episode 25: The Swedish Approach to Supply Chain Management
20 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Our guest for this episode is Dr. Stefan Holmberg (Partner at Optilon & Leader of Swedish Roundtable for the Council of Supply Chain Mgmt. Profess...
Episode 24: Process Mining: An Intersection between Data Science and Process Management
25 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This episode’s guest is Dr. Teemu Lehto (EVP of QPR Software). He is an expert in the the area of process mining. In this interview, we dig deep...
Episode 23: What Operations Leaders can Learn from Professional Boxers & Combat Sports Athletes
21 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Our guest for this episode is Pekka Maki, who is a legendary boxing coach and trainer to multiple world & European champions. In this interview, w...
Episode 22: The State of Supply Chain Management
20 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This episode’s guest is Dr. Terry Esper (Professor of Logistics at Ohio State University & Chair of the Council for Supply Chain Management ...
Episode 21: Creating Value through Operations: An Approach for Private Equity Portfolio Companies
19 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This episode’s guest is William Bundy (Partner at McKinsey & Co). He is an acclaimed expert in operational value creation in the private equ...
Episode 20: Reverse Logistics Services in E-Commerce: A Start Up Story
20 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This episode’s guest is Joose Toiviainen (CEO of Daze). This start up specializes in providing reverse logsitics and returns management services...
Episode 19: Transformational vs Transactional Operations Leadership Styles
29 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Gautam dives into the distinctions between the two distinct forms of operations leadership – transformational and transactional...
Episode 18: Why Operations Leaders Make Great CEOs?
28 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Gautam explores the trend of select outstanding individuals with operational backgrounds who manage to land the top leadership spot i...
Episode 17: Operations vs Strategic Leadership: Differences in the Scope of Key Leadership Decisions
15 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Gautam delves into the various distinctions in scope for key decisions and risks that operations and strategic leaders are required t...
Episode 16: Analytics Applied to Industry: Approaches & Cases
12 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, our guest is Ramesh Sharda (Vice Dean of Research at Oklahoma State University). Leveraging his long history in data science & an...
Episode 15: Bridging Strategy & Execution with Enterprise Performance Management
17 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This episode’s guest is David Derichs, who is a senior lecturer in the Accounting dept. at Aalto University. In this interview, David discusses ...
Episode 14: Adventures in Analytics
30 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Our guest for this episode is Pekka Malo, who is Associate Professor of Management Science at Aalto University’s School of Business. During this...
Episode 13: Operational Creativity Capacity
14 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This episode’s guest is Oana Velcu-Laitinen. She is an author and creativity expert. In this interview, Oana provides case examples of operation...
Episode 12: Current State of Airport Logistics
22 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Our guest for this episode is Markku Kuula, who is a Professor of Logistics and head of Information Services Mgmt. department at Aalto University. In ...
Episode 11: Lessons of Sisu and Gentle Power
07 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This episode’s guest is Dr. Emilia Elisabet Lahti. She pioneered the research on the Finnish construct of Sisu, which denotes determination &...
Episode 10: Insights on Corporate Governance
20 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, our guest is Vikash Sinha (Assistant Professor of Management Accounting at Aalto University). During this interview, Vikash covers th...
Episode 9: The Origins & Applications of Operations Research
15 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode,we welcome Juuso Liesiö (Associate Professor of Management Science at the Aalto Business School). Dr. Liesiö provides us with the or...
Episode 8: Dynamics of the Maritime Shipping Industry
20 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This episode’s guest is Linda Johnstone Sorenson. Linda is an international operations leader based in Oslo, Norway. She has extensive experienc...
Episode 7: Evolution of Integrated Business Planning
17 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, our guest Tanguy Caillet (SVP of O9 Solutions) goes deep into the topic of sales and operations planning (S&OP) and integrated bu...
Episode 6: Secure Logistics Service Operations
03 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Gautam Basu has a pleasure to have a discussion with Peeter Toorim who is a seasoned operations leader and business executive from Ta...
Episode 5: Leading with Creativity
19 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Dr. Jari Vepsäläinen (post doctoral researcher at Aalto University) offers valuable insights on how individuals, teams, and leaders...
Episode 4: The Importance of Operations in Entrepreneurship through Acquisition
05 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Mikko Järvinen (Partner at True North Search) describes the Entrepreneurship through Acquisition (ETA) model and the importance of o...
Episode 3: Humanitarian Supply Chains and Logistics Operations
21 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Dr. Gyöngi Kovacs (Professor of Humanitarian Logistics and Supply Chain Management at Hanken School of Economics) discusses the simi...
Episode 2: Embedding Sustainability in Supply Chains
08 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Dr. Katri Kauppi (Associate Professor at Aalto University) provides an overview of sustainability practices in supply chain managemen...
Episode 1: Introducing Operations Leadership
28 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Gautam Basu from Aalto University School of Business provides a short overview of the podcast series and provides the rationale for t...