The LogiPharma Podcast

Hosted by WBR

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Latest episode

Jul 2026

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EN-GB

About the show

Global leaders from the life sciences and pharmaceutical supply chain share insights, challenges, and ideas shaping the industry today. Brought to you by the team behind the world’s leading life sciences supply chain event. Building on the conversations started at LogiPharma events, each episode explores innovation, digital transformation, sustainability, and resilience across pharma manufacturing, logistics, and distribution. For sponsorship enquiries, contact podcast@logipharma.co.uk

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27 recent

July 31, 202615 min

Post-Panel Q&A: Why 70% of Digital Transformations Fail and What Leaders Should Do Instead

Our Digital Transformation panel at LogiPharma 2026 ran out of time long before it ran out of questions. So we invited the panellists back for a post-panel Q&A on everything the audience still wanted answered. Event Director Ben Sharples sat down with Tom Atkinson (Global Head of Logistics & Toll, AstraZeneca), Jan Kovarik (Global Head of Digital Transformation, Bavarian Nordic) and Vineet Khanna (Former Global Head of Supply Chain, Nestlé) to work through the questions the panel couldn't get to on stage. Topics covered in this episode: Why trying to cleanse your data across the board is a mission destined to fail and what to do instead. The "minimum non-viable product" approach to building excitement for digital adoption. Why supply chain execution, not planning, is where the biggest capability uplift is hiding and the five-step sense-solve-execute cycle behind it. How to be sure today's tech choices will still be valid in five years (short answer: you can't) Digitalisation is an enabler, not a strategy, but the danger of filing it away as just one more enabler Why 70% of transformations fail, and the co-creation, sensitivity to power shifts, and deliberate reskilling that separate the other 30% Whether strong project management skills are essential, or whether you can outsource the rigour Building a culture where feedback actually reaches leadership and is acted on

July 13, 202633 min

STAEDEAN and Columbus US on Building ERP Foundations for Fast-Growing Life Sciences

Megan spoke with Massimo Crudeli of STAEDEAN and Juanita Schoen of Columbus US about how fast-growing life science companies should approach ERP. They explored why control tends to break down first as companies scale, and why life-science-specific ERP platforms - with traceability, quality oversight, and auditability built in - carry less validation burden than generic systems. The conversation turned to why a solid, integrated data foundation is essential before layering on AI, and why validation should be seen as an enabler of safe change rather than a barrier. It wrapped up with reflections on managing organizational change, plus career advice from both guests.

April 15, 202617 min

LogiPharma Live 2026: Joydeep Ganguly from Agilent on the Shift to Predictive, Resilient Supply Chains

Recorded live at LogiPharma 2026 in Vienna, Megan sits down with Joydeep Ganguly, Chief Operations & Quality Officer at Agilent Technologies. They discussed how pharma supply chains are evolving in an era of constant disruption. Joydeep explores the shift from linear, “just-in-time” models to more predictive, resilient ecosystems. He explains why digital transformation is ultimately a human challenge, not just a technological one. From separating real innovation from hype to embedding resilience at the core of operations, he shares practical insights from Agilent’s journey at the forefront of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Looking ahead, Joydeep also offers a bold vision for the future of the industry - one where supply chains enable truly patient-specific care.

March 25, 202632 min

Eric ten Kate, CEVA: Why Collaboration Is Critical in Pharma Supply Chains

Collaboration is no longer a “nice to have” in pharma. It is critical to delivering safe, compliant, and timely patient care. In this episode of the, Eric ten Kate, Global Sector Leader Healthcare at CEVA , shares how stronger partnerships across manufacturers, regulators, carriers, and technology providers are transforming pharma supply chains. From high-stakes, time-critical shipments to long-term sustainability goals, Eric explores what effective collaboration looks like in practice - and why it’s key to building more resilient, future-ready ecosystems. In this episode, we cover: The evolving pharma ecosystem and why collaboration matters more than ever Real-world examples of multi-stakeholder problem-solving under pressure The shift towards more sustainable, circular supply chains What the future holds for collaboration, data sharing, and trust

March 4, 202633 min

Meet Ben Sharples, LogiPharma's New Event Director

In our latest episode, Megan is joined by Ben Sharples, the new Director of LogiPharma, to hear how he’s approaching his first year leading the community’s flagship event. Ben shares what he’s learned from early conversations with speakers, sponsors and attendees, and how that input is shaping the on-site experience and the 2026 agenda. They also discuss the themes rising to the top for the pharma supply chain community - from resilience in an increasingly disrupted world to the practical realities of digital transformation and AI - and what success looks like when the industry comes together in Vienna.

November 27, 202515 min

Live at LogiPharma Connect: The Pharma Supply Chain Reset with Frederic Zwahlen

In this special live episode, recorded at LogiPharma Connect, Megan sits down with Frederic Zwahlen, Head of Process Standardisation & Alignment at CSL Vifor, to unpack some of the most urgent and complex challenges shaping today’s pharmaceutical supply chains. With more than 30 years of experience spanning operations, manufacturing, quality, and site management, Frederic offers a refreshingly pragmatic and unfiltered perspective on how the pharma ecosystem is evolving - and what organisations must do to stay competitive in a rapidly changing landscape. In this episode, Megan and Frederic explore: How to break down internal data silos and improve access across the organisation Why true cross-functional understanding of data remains a stubborn challenge What it takes to train, reskill, and align teams for a modern supply chain The evolving skillsets and expectations of next-generation supply chain talent The truth about AI adoption in pharma — real use cases vs. industry overhype Why AI won’t replace humans, but will transform decision-making and routine work The complexities of achieving external connectivity and platform interoperability How budget pressures are reshaping long-term digitalisation strategies Frederic’s predictions for the next 10–15 years of pharmaceutical supply chains

November 18, 202529 min

Harnessing AI for Sustainable Supply Chains, with BlueYonder

In part two of our season opener with BlueYonder, Megan Smith is once again joined by Tiffany Brewer. Also joining the conversation for the latest instalment is Tab Dayani. They delve deeper into the intersection of sustainability and supply chain management within the pharmaceutical industry. Together, they explore how AI is transforming demand forecasting and inventory management, the rising importance of sustainability across life sciences, and the regulatory pressures motivating companies to adopt more responsible practices. The discussion highlights how technology can embed sustainability into day-to-day operations and offers practical, actionable advice for organizations aiming to reduce their environmental footprint. The episode concludes by addressing common misconceptions about sustainability in pharma supply chains and emphasising why proactive planning is essential for long-term success.

November 14, 202525 min

How AI is Revolutionising Pharma Supply Chains, with BlueYonder

In episode one of the new season of The LogiPharma Podcast, Megan Smith is joined by Tiffany Brewer and Sudarshan Seshadri from BlueYonder who explain how AI and data science are transforming pharmaceutical logistics. In this insightful interview, we learn how predictive and agentic AI is helping pharma companies anticipate disruptions, enhance visibility, and improve patient outcomes - all while reducing compliance risk.Key insights include: How AI enables proactive risk detection Why good data is the foundation for digital resilience The role of AI “co-pilots” inside warehouses What’s next for life-sciences supply chains

April 7, 202528 min

Oscar de Bok, CEO, DHL Supply Chain: Sustainability, Innovation, and Strategic Priorities

Ahead of the 25th anniversary of LogiPharma, we were thrilled to talk with Oscar de Bok, CEO at DHL Supply Chain. Oscar shares his insights on DHL's ambitious sustainability goals, the strategic priorities of the Life Sciences and Healthcare Cross-Business Board, and how DHL is adapting to the structural shifts within the pharmaceutical logistics industry. We delve into the company's 'CEO for a Day' initiative, the challenges of integrating complex supply chains, and Oscar's vision for Strategy 2025 and beyond.

May 29, 202433 min

LogiPharma Live: Ryan Portela on AI, Diversity, and Transforming Pharma Supply Chains

It's the season two finale, recorded live at LogiPharma in Lyon. In this episode, Megan chats with Ryan Portela, who flew in all the way from the WBR US office. As the conference producer of LogiPharma USA, Ryan offers unique insights into the future of the life sciences supply chain, covering diversity and inclusion, sustainability, and AI. Highlights include: Diversity and Inclusion: How companies are building workforces that reflect their communities. AI and Technology: The impact of AI on the industry, with some fun insights into Ryan's busy schedule and Megan's concerns about AI in everyday life. LogiPharma USA: Differences between US and European pharma processes. A MASSIVE thank you to everyone who has listened this season. We hope you enjoy the season finale and be sure to follow us to be the first to know when we return for season three.