People That Deliver's Esther Ndichu on Purpose, Logistics, & African Innovation - SAPICS 2025 - Supply Chain Now

Episode Transcript
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(00:02):
Welcome to Supply Chain now,the number one voice of Supply chain.
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Chain leadership.
From across the globe.
One conversation at a time.
Hey everybody.
Scott Ludwin with Supply Chainnow as we continue our coverage of
the Sapiks annual conferencehere in beautiful Cape Town, South
Africa.

(00:22):
Meeting with all the moversand shakers across industry, at least
a lot of them, like my friendEsther Indishaux, who is with people
that deliver.
Esther, how are you doing today?
Good, thank you.
Very good.
Happy to be in Cape Town.
Yes, it is.
It's a nice time.
But you know what, when I washere two years ago, we had colder

(00:42):
rainy weather, which I hear isatypical this time of year.
And as I get here this year,getting ready to want to get out
and see the sights and sounds, it's.
Cold and rainy again.
I hope I'm not bad luck.
But anyway, that's Cape Townfor you.
Okay.
Esther, so nice to meet you.
I wish we had several hourshere with you because you've got
a fascinating background andjourney and we're going to get to

(01:05):
some of that here today.
But I want to start with kindof a fun Mormon question.
Now, I've been doing myhomework about you and I hear that
part of your journey, you'reavid, an avid, avid farmer.
You love a passion forfarming, is that right?
I do, I do, I do.
As we are sharing pre show, Ihave tried to grow things my entire

(01:28):
adult life and I've hadalmost, I mean, even when I shifted
from vegetables to some, I waslike, I told myself, one year I'm
gonna do flowers.
Flowers gotta be easier, right?
Hardly any luck.
So, Esther, as a, as a moresuccessful farmer, give me a tip.
Successful?
I'm not so sure.
I mean, there are days I keep.
Thinking probably my moneywould have been better invested in

(01:49):
the stock market or somethingeven today.
But you know, I keep going onand I keep thinking that it's gonna
work out.
So I've got a farm.
I've planted avocados in macadamia.
I have about a total of 1400 trees.
Wow.
And then I also have parttime, short term crops that I've
plant.

(02:10):
Samuel, you asked abouttomatoes earlier.
Please, let's not talk about tomatoes.
Very, very painful.
I've lost a lot of money.
I laughed with you, not at you.
I promise I can laugh now.
I've cried before.
But we keep going back.
I feel like it's my role totry and address some of the food
security issues we have in Kenya.
And the best way to do that isby farming.

(02:33):
I was also lucky that myfamily was able to has some land
available.
So that was good.
Some days I'm happy about itand then there are days that I am
really.
I really question my choices.
I thought coming in from alogistics background, I had it down

(02:54):
packed.
I took a three month course onagriculture and agriculture as a
business and I thought I couldapply it all.
But between nobody prepared mefor the staffing issues.
Nobody.
Well, I knew of course climatechange is real so we've had to deal

(03:14):
with some of those issues as well.
The market, you know, youthink you've got the market down
packed and seasonality is downand the next thing you know we've
got imports coming in fromsome of the neighboring countries
in East Africa.
So it's been interesting.
Sounds.
So all of that told.
I bet you've got a newprofound sense of admiration for

(03:37):
farm for farmers who've beendoing it for years.
Absolutely, absolutely.
I spent some time in SouthAfrica and would, you know, would
go on road trips to some ofthe other provinces, Pomalanga and
you'd see all these largeindustrial type or commercial farms.
And I'm thinking that's me.
Well, there's a lot more that needs.
To be done for me to be ableto get to that level.

(03:58):
But you know, we're persistent.
It will, it'll happen.
And Esther, I gotta ask youfirst off, I'm really so jealous.
The problem properties and theland and the 1400 trees.
I bet when you get out thereand you walk the property and you,
you, you know, pick thingsfrom your trees or your crops, that's

(04:20):
got to be that those momentshave to be really fulfilling, rewarding.
No, absolutely.
I sell some of my products Isell to wholesalers.
Okay.
And then I typically willleave some to sell to like family
members, neighbors and therest of the.
And I still have aunties whoare like you came from corporate
America to start playingaround with dirt and now.

(04:44):
We'Re eating your produce.
And I, you know, I've kind oftried to go in the route of I'll
have your fast moving productsor go of food.
And then I also have someniche stuff.
So I've got strawberries, Ihave plant broccoli, cauliflower,
things that I like and that Ifound were difficult to to find in
the Kenyan market.
Yeah.
But the response has been amazing.

(05:07):
Some, some folks think I'mjust joking around.
But you're serious.
But I'm serious about it.
All right.
So when I come back next time.
I'd love to get a tour.
We'll work out the logistics.
We can do that stuff, right.
Love it.
And it's important to havedepartures from everything else that
we're doing in this journey.
I want to along those lines, Iwant to get to know you a little

(05:28):
bit better.
You and I were talking aboutsome of your previous career journey
earlier and we've got somecommon themes there.
We both have spent a ton oftime in the metro Atlanta area, which
is a great city to do businessin and live in and meet wonderful
people in.
So when you think about someof your previous roles, what's one
leadership role that reallysticks out, that really shaped your

(05:50):
worldview?
So 2.
1.
So I spent a lot of myformative years, professional years,
in Atlanta, worked for RiderSystems for seven years, then I joined
UPS and then left.
Got an opportunity to moveinto the international world at UPS

(06:11):
in 2011.
2011?
Yeah, 2011, 2012.
And moved to Brussels.
So then that just kind ofopened up my career options in the
UPS International, my role inSouth Africa.
So in 2018, I got anopportunity to be the managing director
for UPS east and Southern Africa.

(06:33):
And that was a big opportunityfor me.
One not only because I'dalways said I wanted to move to work
in the continent.
Believe it or not, I have beenaway from Kenya or Africa, living
and working in Africa foralmost 30 years.
So I left to go to college andI just never went back.

(06:53):
But that role gave me anopportunity to understand firsthand
the talent that we have on thecontinent, the opportunities that
we have in the continent, froma business, the network, the complexities
of working here.
And on top of that, I mean, Iwas the first black managing director,

(07:13):
Black female managing directorthat they had on the continent.
So there are four differentbusiness units on the continent.
And so from a leadershipperspective, tried me it was a challenge.
But also acknowledge the factthat I had it in me to be able to
manage a group of people froma local talent pool.

(07:38):
It was the first time my staffhere had had a woman leading the
organization.
A black person leading theorganization, male or female.
Was also the first time thatwe had the largest diversity within
our business planning group.
And what that did, it showedthem that there is an opportunity
they could grow in the organization.

(08:00):
I was able to intentionallyfocus on diversity projects that
allowed us to bring in youngerpeople into supply chain and the
country.
And at that point, by the timeI was exiting South Africa to move
back to the States, I was surethat I needed to move back to Africa.

(08:21):
This is where I need to be.
I thrive.
Being on the continent, theenergy is palpating.
It's just where I thrive.
And I feel like I can be ableto give back more and more.
And, yeah, then that kind ofstarted my exit back to the continent.
That is remarkable.
And we really need more hoursto dive more into that.

(08:44):
That's a very emotionaldiscussion, by the way.
So that one gets me all.
Yeah.
Well, a very important part ofyour overall journey.
I want to ask one quick,before we get to people that deliver,
to be the first black femaleand break those barriers that you
were talking about, thatproverbial glass ceiling.

(09:04):
As we've been interviewingover the course of years.
When I meet with femaleleaders in industry, a lot of them
talk about the see it and tobe it.
And they love to be able tofeel that spotlight to help those
that can see that they canelevate up the career ladder and

(09:26):
not just be in the industry,but command industry, so to speak.
Your quick comments on that.
You know, I'm on a panelactually tomorrow on the women, Women
in leadership and supply chain.
And as I was preparing for it,one of the things I just kept thinking
is, once you get there, whatare you doing for everybody else?

(09:52):
And it's not even, you know,we typically think about our junior
employees, but it's actually,it's even my peers.
I'm here with one of theladies that reported to me out of
Cape Town.
She's the one who picked me upfrom the airport.
And we've just had a fantasticfew days with her catching up on
her journey since I left.
The experiences of us workingtogether, the fact that I was able

(10:13):
to challenge her and elevateher in a way that she was not able
to do so before, even thoughshe's South African.
I feel like it's our role,once you are in that position, to
make sure you're able toelevate others.
I think there's a phrase we'vebeen saying, you know, once you have
a seat on the table, pull a chair.

(10:35):
Yes, yes.
And.
And, you know, and bringsomebody else along with you.
And for me, that's been very,very important through my journey
because that was given to me.
That opportunity was given tome as well.
That's true.
I love that.
Love that phrase.
And I love.
I wish I could be a fly on thewall as you and your.
Your former colleague areenjoying each other's time.

(10:55):
But I really appreciate thatresponsibility you shared of leaders
that when they make it andthey break through.
You know, that's great.
Let's celebrate for a minute.
But what are they doing togive forward, so to speak?
All right, so I told you preshow I shared with you that I'm a
big fan of People that Deliver.
We've had a variety of folks Ithink over the years, especially
Dominique Zwinkels who joinedme here two years ago.

(11:20):
So if you would, for some ofour audience members, newer audience
members that may have missedthose earlier shows, tell us if you
would about the organization'smission for People that Deliver.
Okay, so People that Deliveris a coalition that focuses on the
professionalization of thehealth supply chain workforce, predominantly

(11:42):
in LMICs low middle income countries.
We look at capacity buildingefforts, we're involved in advocacy,
we offer trainingopportunities to uplift the health
supply chain workforce becausewe believe with a more upskilled
workforce we're able todeliver on our health outcomes in

(12:05):
the country and increase theaccessibility of health commodities
in the different countries.
We've been active in 35countries so far and we are made
up of.
Our coalition is made up ofabout 29, I think as of last week
we're about 29 organizationsthat are all focused on ensuring

(12:28):
that we can be able to elevatethe health supply chain professionals
within the countries.
Very consequential, very noblemission, life and death we're talking
about.
And I love the forcemultiplier aspect of the role that
People that Deliver is really fulfilling.

(12:50):
Especially as you mentioned,new acronym I'm picking up lmic Low
and middle income country.
We love our acronyms andglobal supply chain, don't we?
All right, so your role asstep 2.0 coordinator, if I've got
that right, with people that deliver.
Tell us about what you do.
So step 2.0 is a strategictraining enterprise program that

(13:13):
was rolled out by ptd.
So it is our signatureleadership program and we call it
a change management programthat focuses on working with leaders
within the supply chain,public supply chain space in different
countries to allow them andprovide them with the technical skills

(13:34):
that they need to be able toreceive to operate at an optimal
level.
Our premise is working withthe private sector.
I believe the private sectorhas cracked that niche.
They've invested in theirsupply chain teams.
When you think about some ofthe organizations that are present
here today, they're investingin their talent, they've invested

(13:57):
in their operations to ensurethat they can be able to operate
at an optimal level.
That's not necessarily thecase when you look at public health
Care systems.
And so step 2.0 leverages ourpool of private sector partners that
we work with rolling out thetraining program that equips the

(14:19):
folks that go through theprogram to be able to go back into
their operations and identifyareas of improvement.
So it's a six month programwhich involves five to six weeks
of virtual training in faceface to face work workshop for five
days and then another fourmonths where they all they go off

(14:39):
and work with their privatesector coaches to address a challenge
within their area.
We've just currently, I justfinished attending the workshop in
Kenya last week where we'reworking with KEMSA and the Ministry
of Health and just aninteresting opportunity.
You bring in 24 participantsor 24 to 30 participants in a room

(15:02):
and they're all trying totackle different areas or different
challenges that they're facingwithin their area.
They are matched with a coachthat is then able to bring in their
technical skill set from theprivate sector to help them address
the challenges.
I want to go back to kind ofthe main theme at play, what I heard

(15:22):
there, change management.
What's old is new again.
And in this really ever fastmoving world where the business velocity
is just like it's gone 0 to 60in the last couple years, or 0 to
100, maybe 1,000, do you feelthat it places a greater emphasis
where more and moreorganizations really need to invest

(15:44):
in that change managementaspect that's so closely tied to
leadership?
Do you think it's a bigger gapthan what most organizations may.
I think what we've seen is inthe public health space space, it
is constant.
Change is constant.
You can't get away from it.
You've just come out of COVIDWe're dealing with issues in the

(16:06):
development space with all theexecutive orders and constraints
from a funding perspective,those are all changes that are happening
and are going to affect thecountry's, you know, country's health
care, public health care system.
So it's about how you're ableto adapt to the changes.
And that starts from not onlyfrom a policy perspective, but all

(16:28):
the way down to your deliveryor distribution of the services that
you have to deliver to your population.
And that thought process is important.
So how you manage thosechanges, how you manage the changes
of the implementation of newsystems, new tools within the organization
to allow you to be able toeffectively deliver the services

(16:50):
that you're delivering.
I think even just the change in.
So like last week we spent alot of time talking about, okay,
so there's a processes you'rechanging but even just understanding
that there's a patient at theend of it all.
So you may not necessarilyhave a face, but maybe you do need
to put a face so you canunderstand whatever you're doing.

(17:11):
Managing the distribution ofproducts from the port all the way
down to the healthcarefacility, there is a face at the
end that's reliant on makingsure that either it's vaccine get
to them at the right efficacylevel and on time.
And on time.
Time is a big thing as well.
That's a powerful reset andreminder patient Everything we do,

(17:33):
every decision we make allrolls up into life and death decisions
for so many folks counting onwhat we do.
By the way, do you have anopening in your training?
Because I'd love to maybe geta chair, maybe be part of the program.
You accepting so you're comingin as a coach?
Are you coming in as a.

(17:55):
I.
Need all of what you justshared a minute ago.
Okay.
I want to talk about this TEDtalk you gave.
I bet that was out of all thethings you've done in your career.
I bet this was a special moment.
You One of the messages youreally dialed in on is this theme
of logistics as a force for good.

(18:15):
I love that and Iwholeheartedly believe in that.
That's one of the reasons Ilove world of supply chain so much.
Right.
Nothing happens these dayswithout global supply chain.
All the wonderful people thatmake that happen.
So I want to ask you aboutthat theme, logistics as a force
for good.
What's important for the worldto know about that theme?

(18:37):
So interestingly, when I wasthinking about it, I watch it every
once in a while and somebodyreminds me did a TED talk and I cringe.
I'm like oh so young.
But so that was in 2016, nineyears ago and still very relevant
and still very applicable.

(19:01):
The focus was on food securityand the fact that hunger is a logistics
problem and not a food problem.
And we are still facing thesame issues.
I revisited it a few months, afew years ago during the Ukraine
crisis.

(19:22):
We saw what happened.
We're just talking earlierabout the canal, the Suez Canal,
when the Suez Canal was blocked.
So there's all these otherthings that are happening that are
showing you that it's still avery, very relevant topic.
And then I bring it to thespace I'm in right now, which is
public health.
And we have commodities available.
We may have fundingconstraints, but the commodities

(19:43):
exist out there.
But we're still facing thesame challenges.
So in this whilst my TED talkwas focused on the Reverse logistics
of getting the food from thefarm out to the market and all the
challenges that you face inbetween in the healthcare, we're
now seeing the reverse, whichis getting it out to the patients

(20:05):
at the end.
So logistics is an integralpart of our community and our society
that we can get away from andthat we need to continue investing
in to ensure that we're ableto face or to tackle a lot of our
social problems.
To have the opportunity tomarshal all that logistics is, are

(20:27):
globally to drive the needleand to help others.
That's got to be a reallyfulfilling thing to do at this juncture
in your career, huh?
Yes.
And it's been a journey.
I mean, I've gone from thepoint where I was operating at 200
turbo charging, not stopping,just going, going, going and thinking

(20:51):
about the money, thinkingabout the career, thinking about
the growth, and to the pointwhere I need to be able to focus
on impact.
There's value and somethingthat's very fulfilling about being
back home.
I keep going back to thatbecause that's where I am right now.

(21:11):
That's where I am at.
My journey right now is what's important.
Family is important, peace ofmind is important while still making
an impact.
Right.
So just being able to findthat balance.
It's tough to find that balance.
Almost.
It never comes easy, does it?

(21:31):
Yeah.
I mean, it would be nice to beable to take all the trips I want
to take.
Sometimes I have to look at mybudget and cooking.
So I love traveling.
So apart from farming, myfarming sometimes is compromised
by my love for travel.
And so when I see and I'mtalking to some of my girlfriends,
they're like, oh, we're goingto Bali.
Do you want to come to Bali?
I would love to.

(21:52):
I got far, however.
So back to that TED Talk, you said.
It was nine years ago.
And I also liked what you said.
When you go back and look atit, although everyone else loves
it, you kind of cringe.
I'm kind of.
Same way.
I don't like going back andlooking at old stuff I've done, if

(22:13):
I'm being honest.
Right.
But give me one piece ofadvice for other folks out there
that haven't done a TED Talkyet, or they haven't done that first
big keynote yet, or whateverthat big opportunity is for them
to communicate a reallyimportant message from them to anyone
listening, especially inperson these days.

(22:35):
What's one tip you'd offer up?
I think you need to be veryclear on what your message is.
There are multiple stages out there.
I think stages a word.
Yeah, it is.
Hey, I make up word.
We'll make it a word.
There are multiple forums outthere for folks to.
To share their message, and Ithink you just need to find that

(22:58):
forum that is appropriate forthe topic you want to share.
It needs to be very clear,needs to be well thought out and
authentic.
Folks are looking forauthenticity now.
Right.
So just find the right forumfor yourself and go for it.
I had a friend approach me acouple of.

(23:19):
In December.
She was doing a keen.
She was doing a speech in Kenya.
And so we've got a platformcalled Engage, and they bring in,
you know, they'll pick a themeand they'll do talks, like, every
month, maybe every quarter.
And so she was selected totalk about her back, you know, her
history, her life or whatever.
And so she reached out to meas a coach.

(23:43):
So she had a coach, which islike, I need.
Until I get validity from youand you tell me that you think this
is good, I'm not getting on that.
Stage, which is a lot ofpressure, because she was actually
really, really, really, really good.
Yes.
So, yeah, find your forum andmake sure you've got a clear message
on what you want to share.
That's such a great message,and it's so true, because clarity

(24:05):
is indeed a superpower.
And I know we all strugglewith different aspects of communication,
but when you can really dialit in and make even the simplest
or even the most complexmessages ring with clarity, that's
a gift.
It's also not something youhave to be born with.

(24:28):
You can work and develop your capabilities.
We refined my TED Talk with aprofessional speechwriter.
Now, this is me now, lettingin the secret out.
It took us a while to get tothe actual title.
Title.
We kind of knew what thesubstance was going to be, but it
took a while.
It took a while to get to that point.

(24:50):
And you need that becausefolks attend.
Folks don't have thatattention span to listen to a long
story.
So true.
Nope.
And it's even getting worsenow with social media, so it has
to be short, succinct, and tothe point.
Yeah.
The other.
Other superpower, storytelling.
We'll have to tackle that onthe next time you're with us, Esther,

(25:12):
as we come down the homestretch here.
I'd love to get.
Especially now that, as yousaid, you're back home.
I think you're really enjoyingbeing in Kenya, where you grew up,
I believe.
Right.
And then you went to collegeand you had a big career, and then
to come back here and Spendtime with family and your property

(25:32):
and the crops and all gotta bereally special.
What's one thing that more ofthe world needs to better understand
about the supply chainecosystem across this beautiful continent?
It's not a one size fits all.
The continent is complex.

(25:54):
And even with as much as we'veseen investments in technology and
startups coming up in thecontinent, which we do have a very
rich young population that'salways trying out different ideas,
those ideas exist.
So for one, those ideas exist.
Right.
And from an investorperspective, come invest in the continent.

(26:21):
The solutions aren't going to come.
We hope they would, but theyneed to be local solutions and they
need to be customized for thelocal environment.
I feel like there's a.
There's a lot that's gone intoplay from when you look at looking
tackling local issues.

(26:43):
We have a lot of foreigninvestments and foreign ideas that
have also come in.
Some have worked and some haven't.
But I just feel like we have,we should be able to tap into our
local talent.
We're in Cape Town.
This is like tech capital forSouth Africa.
Kenya is the same tech hub.
And you're seeing really goodsolutions coming up in a lot of the

(27:05):
other big cities.
You go into Lagos, you go intoAccra, Ghana.
There's lots of opportunitiesthat are coming up and lots of ideas
that are coming up from the continent.
So come here, be here, dobusiness here, hire here.
So much opportunity.
Yes, so much opportunity.
Young people that are lookingfor jobs.

(27:25):
That's right.
And willing to innovate andtry new ideas and put themselves
out there.
So I want to make sure.
Esther, I really wish we had acouple more hours, but.
Esther in the show with peoplethat deliver.
Let's make sure folks know howto connect with you if they want
to follow up with anything youshared here today.

(27:47):
What's the easiest way to do that?
LinkedIn.
Okay.
I'm on LinkedIn often.
I don't post as often as I.
Should, but I'm on LinkedIn.
So yes.
Esther Disho.
Esther Disho.
Okay.
Yes.
It's just that easy.
Find them on LinkedIn.
And we're trying to make iteven easier for you to connect with
Esther.
Include your LinkedIn profilein the show notes.

(28:07):
That way folks are one click away.
Esther in the show with peoplethat deliver.
Really enjoyed our chat here today.
Look forward to the tour nexttime I come to the store.
Welcome, welcome, welcome,welcome, folks.
You bet.
Hopefully you enjoyed thisconversation with Esther as much
as I have.
Stick around as we continueour coverage from a wonderful conference,

(28:28):
the SAPIKS 2025 annualconference, where we're meeting and
diving into all sorts ofconversations with movers and shakers
just like Esther.
Stay tuned.
We drop all the rest of theepisodes on YouTube.
Join the supply Chain now community.
For more supply chainperspectives, news and innovation,
check out supply chain now.comsubscribe to Supply Chain now on

(28:50):
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People That Deliver's Esther Ndichu on Purpose, Logistics, & African Innovation - SAPICS 2025

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