Beyond the Box

Global commodity prices - from energy and metals to agriculture - shape everything from shipping demand to supply chain costs. For logistics and trade professionals, understanding these trends is critical to building resilience and staying competitive. In this season's final episode of Beyond The Box, we dive into the World Bank Group’s Commodity Markets Outlook and explore what falling pricesmean for global trade and supply chains in 2026. Our guests: 🎙️John Baffes, Senior Agriculture Economist, World Bank🎙️Farzin Mirmotahari, Senior Operations Officer, International Finance Corporation  You’ll learn: 📦 Why energy, metals, and agriculture drive global trade and logistics 📦 How price swings impact exporters, manufacturers, and shipping costs 📦 Key differences between mature and emerging commodity markets 📦 Financing strategies to manage margin pressure and interest rate risks 📦 How trade finance supports sustainability goals like decarbonisation  External links: 🔗 Commodity Markets Outlook Report (October 2025), World Bank Group: https://www.worldbank.org/en/research/commodity-markets If you’re a supply chain leader, logistics strategist, or global trade professional, this episode offers actionable insights to help you navigate uncertainty and prepare for the year ahead.

ESG is becoming a strategic imperative for global supply chains. In this episode of Beyond The Box, we explore how Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives are reshaping logistics and supply chain strategies in the face of geopolitical uncertainty, rising costs, and regulatory complexity.We're joined by two leading experts:🎙️ Christopher S. Tang, Distinguished Research Professor, UCLA🎙️ Nada R. Sanders, PhD, Distinguished Professor of Supply Chain Management, Northeastern UniversityTogether, we unpack:📦 Why ESG is now embedded in boardroom decisions and linked to financial performance📦 How companies can integrate decarbonization with resilience strategies like friend-shoring and multi-sourcing📦 The role of AI, blockchain, and digital twins in reducing Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions📦 Global regulations like CBAM and CSDDD — and what they mean for compliance and competitiveness📦 Practical steps for future-proofing supply chains while creating win-win scenarios for business and the planet

Can artificial intelligence make landside logistics safer, smarter, and more resilient? In this episode of Beyond The Box, we explore how AI, data integration, and digital platforms are reshaping the future of landside logistics - from smarter routing and real-time visibility to enhanced safety and workforce empowerment.  🎙️ Scott Horn, Platforms Portfolio Technology Leader, Fulfilled by Maersk 🎙️ Simone Bonanni, Head of Functional Platform, Landside and Depots Execution, Transported by Maersk  Together, we unpack: 📦 The role of AI in optimizing landside operations 📦 How data standardization and APIs are improving transparency 📦 The future of automation, control towers, and digital twins 📦 Why human-machine collaboration is key to resilient supply chains 📦 What the next generation of logistics technology could look like.  Whether you're a logistics leader, supply chain strategist, or tech innovator, this episode offers actionable insights on navigating disruption and building smarter, safer, and more efficient operations.

Landside logistics is one of the most complex and fragmented parts of the supply chain — filled with manual handoffs, multiple players, and limited visibility. How can technology unlock efficiency, safety, and resilience in this space?In this episode of Beyond The Box, experts Sal Arora, Global Co-leader of the Travel, Logistics & Infrastructure Practice at McKinsey & Company and Ali Kamil, Associate Partner at McKinsey & Company, share insights on the innovations shaping the future of landside logistics.Together, they discuss:📦 The rise of telematics, route optimization, and warehouse automation📦 Why “blind handoffs” remain a barrier to end-to-end visibility📦 How AI, digital twins, and agentic AI are changing operations📦 The importance of physical and digital infrastructure📦 Why the human element is essential to scaling innovationThis episode offers practical insights into how people and technology together will transform the next decade of landside logistics.

Global supply chains are being tested like never before. In this episode of Beyond The Box, we explore how logistics leaders are adapting to disruptions - from the closure of the Suez Canal to shifting geopolitical tensions - and what it really takes to build resilience into global networks.Podcast Guests:🎙️ Sebastian Von Hayn – Head of Trans Suez Network, Maersk🎙️ Henjo Grisnigt – Global Head, Network Planning & Capacity Management, MaerskTogether, we unpack:📦 The ripple effects of rerouting global trade📦 How air freight and multimodal solutions offer agility📦 Why fewer port calls and smarter hubs matter📦 The role of AI, infrastructure, and investment in future-proofing supply chains📦 What resilience really looks like in today’s volatile landscapeWhether you're a supply chain strategist, logistics professional, or business leader, this episode offers actionable insights to help you stay ahead in a world of constant change.