Ellipsis Advisor

Finding Supply Chain Synergies in your Customers’ Networks

About 12 years ago, when I was running a Logistics company, I had a series of meetings with Consumer Electronics and mobile phone customers. We were exploring how we could reduce their Supply Chain and Network spend. I discussed with these customers, the fact that as global logistics companies, we have a lot of insight

Big Isn’t Always Better

I was enjoying a morning espresso at my favorite Café in Rio the other day. I’m usually a big cup of coffee person, but the quick bite of Espresso serves a purpose. It is focused in its objective. Big isn’t always better. I was preparing for a client meeting. The discussion that I wanted to

Adding Real Value In Logistics

In the Logistics and Transportation business, our customers entrust us with millions of dollars of business. Often, the contracts for services that we sign are multiple years in duration. Inevitably, no matter how well we do in fulfilling these services, when it comes time for the Quarterly Performance Reviews, one element of customer feedback resonates

Top 5 Early-In-My-Career Memorable Boss Moments

Picture: Keith Mackie and his three Western Region teams Our early career years, and the people for whom we work, have a great influence on the skills we develop. I had the privilege of spending my first 20 years of my career with American President Lines (APL). The culture at APL was phenomenal. Strong leaders,

Feed the team’s development but also develop the team

When we develop our team, we look for trust and transparency to develop; and as these start to develop, the team starts to become much more effective. The team starts to challenge each other, the team starts to support each other. Team meetings become working sessions for critical issues and priorities. Time is planned and

An awareness that amazes me

I work with several young people who are starting out in entrepreneurship and social entrepreneurship. I learn so much from them. I am really honored to have this experience of working with them. When I look back at how I started after college it was a headfirst dive into the rat race, defining success without

Don’t dismiss the ordinary. That is where opportunity lives.

The greatest ideas start with a simple thought, start with a simple comment made. The greatest opportunities start with a connection made, a discussion had. The greatest relationships start with a handshake, a comment. Great things emerge from the simple. Whether we choose to hear it, or whether we choose to be too busy and

Guest Blog – Tania Fowler – Yin & Yang

Yin and Yang and How We Interact with Technology by Tania Fowler Yin and Yang Yin and Yang: in Chinese philosophy they represent the two opposite principles in nature. Yin is dark and negative and Yang is bright and positive. Yin and Yang is a philosophy that I really get behind. When people talk of

Changing Course Midstream? Not in the Rapids!

A colleague of mine was telling me about his boss, the CEO, who was in the midst of leading a major acquisition. Several key members of his team have been disappointed n the how the CEOs is handling certain priorities during this time: “He isn’t focusing on getting feedback from us, in engaging with us.”

Customer Service. There is only one way

My brother Bruce was telling me an experience he had at a major retailer while he was waiting in line at a cash register. The line was getting long and customers were starting to grumble and complain about the service and why the other cash registers were not open. An announcement came over the intercom