AI in Supply Chain & Manufacturing with Fortune 10 Tech Executive Ashish Barve | E08

In this episode of Tech Legacies Podcast, Ashish Barve, Tech Executive at a variety of Fortune 500 companies including, McKesson, Ecolab, Honeywell and P&G, shares hard-won insights on the intersection of technology, business value, and leadership. From demand forecasting to AI expectations, Ashish pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to drive digital transformation across global organizations.You’ll hear about:-The real-world impact of improving forecasting by just 5%-Why supply chain success is about people, not just products-How AI can both empower and frustrate if expectations aren't aligned-The importance of being “bilingual” in both business and technology-What it means to build your personal brand as a tech leader-Mentorship, peer support, and building trust across every levelIf you're a tech leader navigating complexity, or building a team that does, this conversation is packed with lessons you don’t want to miss.-----------------------------Connect with Fanny Dunagan on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/fannydunagan/Connect with Ashish Barve on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashishbarve/Want to build your authority and brand as a tech leader? Subscribe to our newsletter for updates, a free branding guide and 1-hour training for tech professionals: https://techlegacies.ck.page/newsletter------------------------------Timestamps:00:00 – From the Shop Floor to CIO: Ashish Barve’s Global Tech Journey01:03 – Starting on the Manufacturing Shop Floor and Entering IT02:26 – Building Analytics Organizations at Honeywell and Ecolab03:29 – Leading Digital Supply Chain at a Fortune 10 Company (McKesson)04:42 – Why CIOs Must Be “Bilingual” in Business and Technology05:55 – IT as a Value Driver: Revenue, Cost, and Capital Efficiency06:10 – Why IT Has Become a Strategic Business Partner07:12 – Common Business Challenges Across Sales, Finance, and Supply Chain08:11 – The #1 Supply Chain Problem: Demand Forecasting and Demand Variability09:30 – Why Productivity Gains Matter Most on the Shop Floor10:05 – From Dashboards to Insights: The Evolution of Analytics Teams11:16 – How Data-Driven Decisions Prevent Lost Sales12:34 – Why Empty Shelves Destroy Customer Trust13:38 – AI in Supply Chain: Where It Actually Creates Value14:06 – Improving Forecast Accuracy by 5–10% with AI15:29 – Automation, AR/VR, and Reducing Human Error on the Shop Floor17:13 – Robotics and the Future of Distribution Centers17:41 – AI Hype vs Reality: Managing Expectations18:23 – When Will AI Truly Run Supply Chains?19:43 – Why AI Is About Augmentation, Not Replacement22:58 – New Human Roles in an AI-Driven Supply Chain24:44 – Why Humans Still Correct AI Forecasts26:28 – How CIOs Build Business Cases for AI and ERP Investments27:14 – The 3 Pillars of Every Successful Business Case28:59 – Why Tech Fails When It’s Chasing Shiny Objects30:21 – Enterprise vs Mid-Market: Different Investment Strategies31:47 – When Technology Becomes a Cost Center32:23 – What CIOs Look for in Consulting and Technology Partners33:14 – Time, Money, and Proven Delivery: Vendor Differentiation35:01 – Why Culture and Ways of Working Matter in Partnerships38:34 – Childhood Curiosity and the Mindset of a Problem Solver39:49 – Why Obsession with the Problem Matters More Than the Tool42:46 – The PIE Career Framework: Performance, Image, Exposure44:09 – Why Performance Alone Is Not Enough46:40 – How Technologists Build Brand, Trust, and Visibility48:25 – Why Cross-Functional Experience Is Critical for the C-Suite50:10 – Becoming the ‘Orchestrator’ at the Executive Level52:34 – Mentorship vs Sponsorship: What Accelerates Careers55:53 – AI, Creativity, and the Future Workforce57:05 – Why Creativity and Critical Thinking Still Matter01:02:29 – What Success Really Means: Professional, Personal, and Family01:07:26 – Defining a Tech Legacy: People Results Over Technology