S4E4: AI, Industrial Policy & the Regionalized Supply Chain with Zero100 Co-Founder Kevin O'Marah

For our latest episode, guest hosts Scott DeGroot and Lance Saunders spoke with Kevin O’Marah, co-founder of Zero100 and GSCI Distinguished Fellow, about structural shifts in global trade policy, the acceleration of agentic AI in supply chain workflows, and the widening performance gap between early movers and holdouts.The conversation explored how industrial policy and tariff normalization are driving regionalized supply networks, why AI must be embedded in end-to-end workflows rather than siloed tasks, and how process discipline—not data alone—determines technology success. O'Marah, who previously held leadership roles at Amazon, Gartner, and SCM World, argued that supply chains are entering a K-shaped era, where organizations that differentiate talent, rethink planning, and adopt AI with intent will accelerate sharply, while others risk stagnation. The discussion also touched on capital investment trends, trust-based supplier ecosystems, planning reform beyond traditional S&OP, and the continued importance of circularity and resource stewardship in a shifting geopolitical landscape. The episode was recorded during the GSCI Advisory Board meeting at the Haslam College of Business on February 26, 2026.Related links:Download free white papers from UT expertsSave the date for the Spring Supply Chain Forum, April 21–23  Join the Advanced Supply Chain Collaborative to explore advanced concepts in SCM with top industry experts and scholars  Become a GSCI partner  Follow GSCI on LinkedIn  Subscribe to GSCI’s monthly newsletter   Read the latest news and insights from GSCI Text the Tennessee on Supply Chain Management team!