NASCES

Tushar Bhalla, CTO of CloudPaths; Christa Leong, VP of SAP and IT PMO at Array Technologies; and Dhaval Desai, Senior Director and Group Engineering Lead at Microsoft, share how SAP IBP, the SAP Business Network, and AI come together to drive bottom-line transformation. They explore how integrated planning, real-time collaboration, and intelligent automation unlock visibility, improve forecast accuracy, break down silos, and elevate value chain performance end to end.

Heather Lane, Vice President of Supply Chain Strategy and Systems at Ulta Beauty, shares how Ulta is transforming its supply chain to fuel long-term growth and elevate the customer experience. In this fireside chat, she explores the company’s innovative MFC model, the smart technologies enabling faster and more accurate operations, and the leadership practices that balance automation with workforce engagement—offering practical lessons for any organization undergoing change.

Moderator Cristina Ricaurte, Regional VP and Head of SA SCM, Americas at SAP, leads a panel of global supply chain leaders—including executives from Alcon, Corning, Elidabeauty, Intel, and Ocean Spray Cranberries—on how organizations are navigating inflation and tariff challenges. Together, they share lessons from past downcycles, strategies for rebalancing supplier relationships, and practical ways to reduce costs and drive efficiency in today’s volatile market.

Moderator Keith Baranowski, Global Head of Sales for the SAP Business Network at SAP, leads a discussion with senior supply chain executives from 3M, Ford, Kaiser Permanente, Mattel, and The Hershey Company on how to reduce costs without sacrificing resilience or service. The panel explores strategies like supplier consolidation, AI-driven optimization, and sustainable sourcing to achieve long-term, strategic cost savings while maintaining agility and customer satisfaction.

Keith Baranowski, Global Head of Sales for the SAP Business Network at SAP; Tushar Bhalla, CTO at CloudPaths; and Shree Nair, General Manager at Microsoft, discuss how supply chain orchestration creates the connected foundation modern organizations need to thrive. They share real-world insights on uniting siloed systems, the benefits of a well orchestrated supply chain, and practical steps for building resilience and long-term success.

Michael Castagnetto, President of North American Surface Transportation at C.H. Robinson, and James Lamont, Director of Supply Chain at StarKist Co., share how leading companies are turning disruption into differentiation. They reveal strategies for building agile, data-driven supply chains that align with shifting global dynamics, deliver real-time visibility, and convert complexity into lasting competitive advantage.