A SEAT at THE TABLE: Helping business leaders grow their influence

Hosted by Jane Singer

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272

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Aug 2026

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Join the discussion as we unpack what’s working, what’s not and how to stand out and win in a competitive market.

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August 19, 202644 min

Customs, Compliance, and Crisis: New Realities of Managing Global Supply Chains

Episode Summary On this episode of A Seat at the Table , Jane Singer welcomes Susan Kargel founder of Brute Mitigator and a leading expert in freight forwarding, customs clearance, trade compliance, and operational resiliency. Together, they tackle the increasing complexity of global supply chains, rising risks—especially from cyberattacks—and the rapidly evolving landscape of customs regulations. The episode explores best practices for business continuity, building redundancy, leveraging AI (and recognizing its limits), and practical ways logistics and supply chain professionals can prepare for an era of exponential change. Key Points 1. The New Era of Supply Chain Risk The rise in disruptions: tariffs, cyberattacks, natural disasters, technology outages, and their extensive impact on logistics and customs operations (Jane Singer, Susan Kargel at 00:00:00). Why compliance is now "at the table"—and why it's crucial to integrate customs and trade teams into resilience planning (00:01:37). Common misunderstandings among leadership about supply chain resilience and the oversimplification of business continuity planning (00:02:19). 2. Moving Beyond Basic Business Continuity Plans Gaps in standard business continuity planning: lack of detailed processes for operational recovery after technology failures (00:02:50). The essential role of cross-functional planning—engaging leadership, IT, HR, compliance, and operations to identify and prioritize critical functions, define restoration priorities, and establish clear communication channels (00:06:21). Importance of "fire drills" and scenario planning to transform contingency procedures from paper plans into instinctive, actionable responses (00:08:26). 3. Building Redundancy in Customs & Logistics Operations Real-world supply chain continuity: using hybrid models of in-house and third-party customs brokerage to avoid single points of failure (00:13:03). How documentation, data sharing, and vendor relationships can serve as insurance policies to minimize business disruption (00:14:08, 00:16:02). The risk of losing "tribal knowledge" of manual processes—why documenting old workarounds is essential as experienced staff retire (00:18:20). 4. Dealing with the Surge in Customs Complexity Rapidly changing tariffs and enforcement: impact on U.S. importers and the need for up-to-date, validated documentation (00:19:39). Why accurate classification, valuation, and country-of-origin tracing are more vital than ever in the face of stricter enforcement and whistleblower incentives (00:22:42). The compounding cost of errors, from penalties to demurrage and delayed shipments (00:25:22, 00:26:02). 5. AI, Automation & the Human Factor in Customs and Logistics The promise of AI: improving efficiency in customs declaration processing, document handling, and inventory management (00:28:38). Using machine learning to extract data from documents, reduce manual entry, and highlight discrepancies (00:29:40). Risks: overreliance on AI can erode process knowledge and may propagate errors if not audited by subject matter experts (00:31:19, 00:36:17). Security considerations: understanding data privacy, AI data usage, and toggling off default data sharing settings (00:33:09). Legal responsibility for errors: customs will not accept "AI made the mistake"—final accountability remains with the company (00:35:37, 00:36:44). 6. Building Team Resilience - Tools & Training The value of structured, practical training for logistics teams—building bench strength, team alignment, and documentation of both digital and manual contingencies (00:41:41). Highlights from Susan Kargel’s online courses: templates, guides, communication plans, business-critical function assessment, crisis workshops (00:41:41–00:43:04). Actionable Takeaways Integrate functional leaders with IT in resilience planning —Business units know operational priorities; IT needs these priorities to restore systems effectively. Develop and test crisis communication plans —Repeated, hands-on scenario drills ("fire drills") prepare teams for actual disruptions. Build redundancy in customs processing —Consider hybrid approaches, ensure data is shareable and workflows are documented, not siloed. Stay current on customs regulations and enforcement —Assign resources to monitor changes, audit classification and valuation, and document every step. Embrace AI with caution —Use it to automate repetitive tasks but maintain human oversight for accuracy, compliance, and documentation. Document manual workarounds —Prevent knowledge loss as experienced staff retire, especially for reverting to manual processes during crises. Invest in training —Equip teams to understand both technical and manual aspects of operations for true resilience. Notable Quotes "[Compliance is] at the table now. That's very exciting." (Susan Kargel 00:01:48) "If your system goes down... there's no online system to process it. You’re going to have to go find another declaration processing system." (Susan Kargel 00:04:36) "Just because you use AI, if there's a mistake, you can't tell customs, 'Oh, I used AI and it told me that.' You're still responsible for the outcome." (Susan Kargel 00:35:37) "You want to kind of control your own destiny and you need your providers too. But both can help each other." (Susan Kargel 00:15:35) "Build knowledge, build strength, build teamwork—just things that companies should have." (Susan Kargel 00:43:40) Resources & Further Learning Brute Mitigator online courses – logistics team resilience, crisis planning, and customs compliance (link in show notes) U.S. Federal Register and Customs Bulletins—stay updated on regulatory changes Industry trade associations and customs broker webinars for ongoing learning About the Speakers Susan Kargel is the founder of Brute Mitigator and brings 40 years of experience in global logistics, customs, and compliance, specializing in preparing supply chains for operational disruptions and cyber threats. Jane Singer is the host of A Seat at the Table , focused on what's working, what's not and best practices in business, supply chain, and leadership. She is also managing director of ' Inside Fashion ', a platform for apparel industry information and ' The Current Situation in Sourcing ', a quarterly market intelligence report for C-suite apparel brand leadership. Learn more about BruteMitigator: https://www.brutemitigator.com SEND US A MESSAGE Visit A Seat at The Table' s website at https://seat.fm

August 17, 202652 min

From Prestige to Pressure: Luxury Brands' New Reality

For years, luxury seemed almost immune to economic downturns. Consumers might cut back elsewhere, but luxury remained remarkably resilient. That has changed. Some of the world's most powerful luxury brands are facing slowing sales and weaker results. But the problem may go deeper than economics. Shoppers are more informed, expectations around quality are higher, resale has created new competition, and simply putting a famous logo on a product may no longer be enough. In this episode of A Seat at the Table , host Jane Singer sits down with retail industry veterans Burt Flickinger III , Managing Director of Strategic Retail Group, and Denise Seegal , former President and CEO of Maggiasconi Apparel Group, to discuss what's gone wrong, what today's luxury consumer wants, and where they see new opportunities for retail growth. What You'll Learn Why luxury brands are under pressure around the world. How changing consumer priorities are reshaping luxury spending. Whether luxury has become too accessible and lost some of its exclusivity. Why merchandising, product innovation and emerging designers matter. How ecommerce and resale have changed luxury shopping. Why consumers are questioning luxury product quality. Why South Korea and India could become important luxury markets. What successful retailers are getting right about customer experience. Why Is the Luxury Market Struggling? Mr. Flickinger points to weakening demand across several historically important luxury markets, along with changes in international travel. Ms. Seegal believes brands need to look beyond economics. "The consumer priorities have shifted," she says. Economic volatility, geopolitics and tariffs have affected spending. Social media, influencers and AI have changed how consumers discover and evaluate products. The lesson for brands: start with the consumer rather than assuming yesterday's definition of luxury still works. Has Luxury Lost Its Exclusivity? Another issue is overexposure. Luxury expanded aggressively, including through department stores and shop-in-shop concepts. But wider distribution can make it harder to maintain the discovery, exclusivity and personal attention consumers expect when paying luxury prices. Luxury consumers aren't simply buying a product. They want specialness, service and an environment that reinforces why the product deserves its premium positioning. What Happened to the Great Merchants? The conversation also raises a bigger problem: the decline of merchandising culture. Ms. Seegal recalls her years as a Bloomingdale's buyer, when part of the job was actively searching for emerging designers. She regularly made time to meet new designers, look at their work and ask: What's next? Today's department-store economics can make that harder. Brands may be expected to finance floor space, fixtures, staffing and other costs. Established brands can afford that investment. Emerging designers often cannot. The result can be stores filled with brands that have the resources to secure space rather than necessarily the most exciting products. Fashion needs newness. Without new designers, products and ideas, retailers give consumers fewer reasons to return. Is Luxury Quality Declining? Consumers increasingly complain that products—even expensive ones—don't feel as well made as products they purchased 10 or 20 years ago. Premium pricing needs to be supported by premium materials, craftsmanship, fit and construction. Brands diversifying their supply chains face a challenge beyond finding capacity or negotiating price: they have to transfer knowledge and quality standards to their new manufacturing base. Online Shopping and Resale Changed Luxury Luxury shopping has moved far beyond the traditional department store. Platforms such as Net-a-Porter, Matches and Farfetch helped make consumers comfortable buying high-priced fashion online, giving shoppers access to enormous assortments without visiting a physical luxury store. Then came another disruption: resale . Luxury customers aren't simply buying secondhand products. They're also selling items from their own wardrobes and using the proceeds to purchase something different. Vintage has another advantage: some consumers believe older merchandise offers better tailoring, materials or construction. That means resale can compete with new luxury on quality, uniqueness and product discovery —characteristics traditionally associated with luxury itself. Where Are the Next Luxury Growth Markets? The geography of luxury is changing. The conversation highlights South Korea as an important laboratory for luxury, combining fashion with digital communication, entertainment, gaming, social networks, wellness and highly connected consumer communities. India could represent another major frontier as its consumer market develops. The next chapter of luxury therefore may not simply involve waiting for traditional markets to recover. Brands need to rethink where luxury consumers are emerging and what luxury means within those markets. The Luxury Store Experience Still Matters Despite digital commerce, the physical store isn't necessarily obsolete. But mediocre stores may be. Personal service is particularly important at the high end, where relationships between customers and trusted salespeople can generate significant repeat business. Can Luxury Make a Comeback? Ms. Seegal believes it can. Consumers still love beautiful products, exceptional design, craftsmanship and quality. But they're also better informed. They can quickly research a designer, compare products and decide whether a brand fits the identity or community they want to be part of. The next era of luxury may depend less on the logo and more on the things that originally made luxury desirable: exceptional product, innovation, craftsmanship, exclusivity, service and experience. Episode Timestamps 00:00 – Why luxury is suddenly struggling 01:54 – What's happening to global luxury demand? 05:58 – How luxury consumer priorities have changed 08:12 – Has luxury become overexposed? 09:48 – South Korea and the changing luxury experience 15:04 – Why fashion needs merchants and emerging designers 18:48 – How the shop-in-shop model changed luxury retail 20:37 – South Korea and India as future luxury markets 22:13 – How ecommerce changed luxury shopping 25:13 – The impact of luxury resale and vintage 26:36 – Are consumers getting lower-quality products? 31:37 – Why factory training matters to quality 35:04 – When cost cutting starts damaging luxury 37:17 – Does Hermès need a bigger owner? 39:25 – Can luxury retailers successfully expand internationally? 43:25 – What would it take to revive luxury department stores? 48:32 – What Bloomingdale's is getting right 49:51 – Why customer service remains a competitive advantage Frequently Asked Questions Why are luxury brands struggling? The episode identifies weaker spending in important global markets, changing travel patterns, economic uncertainty, changing consumer priorities, ecommerce and resale competition, and concerns around innovation, exclusivity and quality. What do luxury consumers want today? Consumers increasingly expect more than a recognizable brand name. Quality, design, exclusivity, service, experience and cultural relevance all contribute to whether a luxury purchase feels worthwhile. Has luxury become too accessible? Potentially. Expanding distribution can increase sales but also weaken exclusivity. The discussion highlights the importance of controlling the retail environment and creating a distinctive brand experience. Is luxury product quality declining? The conversation highlights consumer concerns about quality across mainstream and luxury fashion. Maintaining quality requires strong materials and craftsmanship, experienced suppliers, factory training and sourcing decisions that aren't driven exclusively by cost. Which markets could drive future luxury growth? South Korea and India emerge as particularly interesting opportunities. South Korea combines luxury consumption with fashion, beauty, wellness, entertainment and digital culture, while India's evolving consumer market could make it an increasingly important luxury frontier. About the Guests Burt Flickinger III is Managing Director of Strategic Retail Group, a global retail and consumer packaged goods consultancy. Denise Seegal is the former President and CEO of Maggiasconi Apparel Group and former Executive Director of M. Magtigu Limited. She now leads her own consulting firm and brings extensive experience in merchandising, product development, manufacturing, fashion and retail. Together with A Seat at the Table host Jane Singer , they explore what's going wrong in luxury retail—and what brands and retailers need to get right to win the next generation of luxury consumers. SEND US A MESSAGE Visit A Seat at The Table' s website at https://seat.fm

August 2, 202615 min

August Outlook: Cautious with Optimistic Signals

In this podcast we discuss the industry outlook for August - and heading into the critical pre-holiday season. The market continues to operate with a high degree of caution, particularly among brands and retailers who are deliberately keeping inventories low and minimizing risk of overstock. Despite this caution, industry signals are proving better than expected. Consumer spending in both the US and EU surpassed expectations in Q2, with the US up 3.2% year-on-year and Europe seeing its fastest growth since Q1 2025 [11:46]. Retail spending is steady as markets head into fall, and holiday outlooks remain "cautiously optimistic," with growth projections in the low single digits—better than no growth, though not spectacular [12:18]. The overall takeaway is that, while the industry remains careful and conservative in its approach, consumer resilience and strategic discipline at brands are enabling some to outperform market forecasts [11:37, 15:03]. SEND US A MESSAGE Visit A Seat at The Table' s website at https://seat.fm

July 28, 20267 min

Turning Customer Feedback Into B2B Sales

Discover why authentic customer reviews are the secret weapon in today’s saturated B2B market. In this episode, Jane Singer, host of A Seat at The Table podcast, explores how businesses with great products and strong support often struggle to close deals because buyers face "buyer fatigue" and endless choices that all seem the same Learn how trusted, real-world feedback cuts through market noise and why leading platforms like Amazon have revolutionized decision-making with reviews [00:01:43]. Jane reveals why traditional testimonials lack authenticity and how companies can leverage compelling, unfiltered customer stories to build trust and credibility [00:02:53]. She introduces a unique marketing strategy—sponsored micro-series podcasts featuring honest client conversations—that deliver real use cases and experiences for listeners who crave reliable, peer-driven insights [00:04:00]. If you’re in B2B marketing or looking to increase sales through authentic content, this episode is a must-listen. Uncover actionable strategies for winning in a competitive landscape and hear how the 'Success Stories to Sales' podcast micro-series can boost your brand credibility [00:06:37]. Don’t miss this guide to growing your business with the power of customer reviews and real conversations! USEFUL LINKS: Request information about ' Success Stories to Sales ' Micro podcast program: https://seat.fm/contact-us/ SEND US A MESSAGE Visit A Seat at The Table' s website at https://seat.fm

July 8, 20269 min

Your Customers Sell Better Than You (Put them to work!)

Every technology company has the same challenge. You’ve built a great product. You’ve got a strong sales team. Your demos are polished. But your prospects are hearing exactly the same thing from your competitors. So the question becomes… Who do they believe? They don’t believe another product demo. They believe another customer. The most powerful sales asset you have isn’t your software. It’s the real-world experience of the people already using it. When an existing customer talks honestly about the problem they faced, why they chose your solution, and what happened next, that’s the kind of proof that builds confidence. There’s another challenge. We’re all drowning in AI-generated content. Every day there’s another LinkedIn post, another email, another white paper, another video that feels like it was written by a machine. People can tell. Trust comes from hearing real people having real conversations. Not a script. Not a sales pitch. Just experienced professionals talking about genuine business challenges and how they solved them. That’s what people want to hear. • To learn more about our Podcast Mini Series, contact us at: https://seat.fm/contact-us/ SEND US A MESSAGE Visit A Seat at The Table' s website at https://seat.fm

July 5, 202620 min

July Market Briefing: Key Market Trends We're Watching Heading into H2

The apparel industry is entering a new age of discipline. Growth at any cost is giving way to focus, profitability and execution. It’s a trend that could get the industry back onto a steady trajectory of not just growth, but profitable growth. Welcome to our July Inside Fashion Market Briefing. I’m Jane Singer and rather than simply talk about ‘what’s happening, I’ll be sharing insights and perspectives that help brands make smarter decisions. The industry has largely moved beyond the energy shock that hit at the start of Q2. Geopolitical issues remain, but they have become background noise rather than daily disruptions. The situation in the middle east has not really changed much, but oil prices have eased. Market sentiment has moved on. And fundamentally that matters more than what’s actually happening. The biggest concerns today are higher interest rates and uncertainty surrounding Section 301 tariffs. Tariffs remain a wildcard because planning is difficult when the rules are still evolving. Learn more at https://insidefashionLive.net SEND US A MESSAGE Visit A Seat at The Table' s website at https://seat.fm

June 28, 202634 min

Building a Lean, Mean, Revenue Generating Machine

Is your organization running on a Franken-stack. That unmanaged tech stack that is layers of disconnected software tools piled on top of each other. In the race to add more technology as companies scale, managing tech stacks doesn’t look like a priority. And yet, vital customer data - that kills net margins - can get dropped between marketing attribution and CRM logs. Today we’re joined by Laura Farkas, LMNts Marketing, which provides revenue system optimisation, funnels and automation. She’s a specialist in building inbound distribution networks that clients can control. On this episode of A Seat at The Table, we’ll be discussing •Why is your connection count on LinkedIn completely irrelevant to your actual inbound revenue? •What is a Franken-stack and how does it drain operating margins from a mid-market company? •Why are traditional marketing retainers and basic lead generation agencies failing? •How does a twenty-million-pound B2B enterprise structure a proper revenue systems audit? •How can a business owner use intentional human imperfection to defeat automated software noise? So let’s sit down with Laura and learn how to wrestle that monstrous tech-stack into a lean, sales driving machine. Connect with Laura Farkas: Main book: Paternoster Marketing https://www.amazon.com/Paternoster-Marketing-Never-Leads-Again-ebook/dp/B0FTXKKQB6 Laura's Revenue Systems page, based on the Paternoster Marketing concept: https://marketingfunnel.website/b2b-revenue-system/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itslaurafarkas/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LauraFarkasLMNtsMarketing SEND US A MESSAGE Visit A Seat at The Table' s website at https://seat.fm

June 25, 202636 min

The Reality of Running a Silicon Valley Start Up

Silicon Valley starts ups are wrapped in a kind of mystique that gets better with the telling. Unless of course you’re actually running one of those startups. Then things look a bit different. You’re not living the dream. You’re trying to survive heartbreak, near misses and boardroom crises. And yes, occasionally a big win. For nearly three decades, Mike Grossman has been at the center of the world's most mythologized innovation hub, He has raised millions, managed boardroom crises, built great teams, and navigated moments when everything seemed one bad quarter away from collapse. In this episode of A Seat at The Table we’ll be discussing: What it’s like when the Concept of Failure is a Constant Operating Condition, Not a Learning Moment or Inspirational Anecdote A Career in the In-Between: Most founders Don't Fail Spectacularly or Succeed Wildly—They Hover In Between for years Why sound ideas, strong effort and execution doesn't always guarantee success Let’s sit down with Mike and find what its really like running a Silicon Valley startup. Connect with Mike Grossman: https://www.failureisanoption.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/migrossman/ https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1646872460 SEND US A MESSAGE Visit A Seat at The Table' s website at https://seat.fm

June 23, 202627 min

Four Steps to Stand Out in a Crowded Market

Everything you believe about building a powerful brand is probably wrong. It might not have been wrong a few years ago. But, a lot has changed. For one thing, the market has gotten hyper competitive - and deafeningly noisy. To win, you need to get out of the mainstream. Get off the road that’s a giant traffic jam of millions of people pitching like mad – and selling very little. In this episode you'll learn a 4-step method to go from barely known to industry authority. You'll also learn what it actually takes to beat the market (no, its not a better product or bigger budget). SEND US A MESSAGE Visit A Seat at The Table' s website at https://seat.fm

June 19, 202621 min

Breaking Through the Noise: Proven Strategies for B2B Brand Visibility

In a hyper competitive market, you need to differentiate in any way that you can. Visibility and ultimately 'authority' are a proven way to drive B2B sales – and justify more premium pricing. The goal is to get out of what Seth Godin refers to as ‘sort by price’. That happens when every product looks the same, so buyers simply choose the cheapest one. Good marketing is the way to avoid that trap. It is the time tested, proven route out of that sales dead zone. In this episode we discuss 4 key ways to create brand differentiation and establish authority. This how to rise about the market noise and start closing more B2B sales. SEND US A MESSAGE Visit A Seat at The Table' s website at https://seat.fm