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Welcome to another episode of the Business Leaders of America podcast. In this episode, we sit down with Shekar Natarajan, the Founder and CEO of Orchestro.AI and one of the most innovative minds in supply chain transformation.
From humble beginnings in India, Shekar learned the values of hard work and integrity early on, lessons that have guided him throughout his career and shaped him into the leader he is today. He went on to hold transformative roles at iconic brands like Walmart, Target, Disney, and American Eagle, where he consistently redefined how businesses approach supply chain and logistics.
With over 150 patents and a bold mission to reduce waste and increase equity in logistics, Shekar founded Orchestro.AI to tackle some of the biggest challenges in the industry today. He has created an open logistics network that levels the playing field for smaller retailers and champions collaboration as a driving force for supply chain innovation. At the core of Orchestro’s vision is the philosophy of “Angels, Algorithms, and Access,” including his concept of “Angelic Intelligence,” which blends human insight with cutting-edge technology to create smarter, more ethical logistics solutions.
In this episode, we explore Shekar’s leadership journey, the inspiration behind Orchestro.AI, the future of AI in logistics, and how startups and established companies can remain competitive in a rapidly evolving global market.
Notable Awards and Recognitions
• Founder & CEO of Orchestro.AI, pioneering Vertical AI to optimize global supply chains
• Over 150 patents in supply chain and logistics innovation
• Former executive at Target, Walmart, Disney, American Eagle Outfitters, and PepsiCo, leading transformative supply chain, operations, and technology initiatives
• Advisor to multiple companies including Harry’s, CloudLeaf, Innit, and ZenDrive, guiding AI-driven supply chain strategies
• Scaled e-commerce operations from $50M to $10B, unlocking untapped opportunities and transforming inefficiencies into competitive advantages
• Visionary Award (2021)
• American Supply Chain Leadership Award (2021)
• Retail Innovator of the Year (2020)
How to connect with Shekar Natarajan
• https://www.shekarnatarajan.com/
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/shekarnatarajan
• https://www.orchestro.ai/
• https://www.linkedin.com/company/orchestro-ai/
Show Notes
[1:32] Shekar reflects on growing up in India, sharing how the values of hard work and integrity he learned early on shaped the leader he is today.
[6:43] The common thread behind his success leading transformative work at major companies like Walmart, Target, and American Eagle.
[17:05] The inspiration behind Orchestro.ai and explains the key problems it’s solving in today’s logistics space.
[26:33] Creating an open logistics network has helped level the playing field for smaller retailers and why collaboration, not just competition, will drive the future of supply chain innovation.
[37:25] Shekar breaks down Orchestro’s mission of “Angels, Algorithms, and Access,” explaining the meaning behind each element and how his concept of “Angelic Intelligence” plays a central role.
[47:08] The potential risks to be mindful of as AI continues to evolve and impact industries.
[1:01:28] Where to follow Shekar’s work and learn more about Orchestro.ai.
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