Today I’m joined by a brand trusted to help enable growth and solve their customers most critical business problems: Google Cloud.
Google Cloud accelerates every organization’s ability to digitally transform its business and industry. They deliver enterprise-grade solutions that leverage Google’s cutting-edge technology, and tools that help developers build more sustainably.
Today, Paula Natoli, Director of Global Strategic Industries, Supply Chain and Logistics at Google Cloud, joins me to talk all about the challenges and opportunities across the supply chain in 2026. We’ll be shining a light on what’s really happening with AI and data in the modern supply chain. And, we’ll be looking to the future to share the next big trends and what teams can do differently now to build a better tomorrow.
Guest bio:
In her role as Head of Global Supply Chain; Logistics Strategic Industries at Google Cloud, Paula leads the company’s strategy and go-to-market approach spanning both the Logistics industry and the supply chain discipline. Leveraging Google technology and a robust partner ecosystem, Paula partners with organizations across industries to deliver exceptional customer satisfaction and operational efficiency through data, AI and technology excellence. Prior to joining Google Cloud in 2020, Paula spent over two decades with Blue Yonder (formerly known as JDA Software) where she served in leadership roles in professional services and product management, building and deploying supply chain solutions used by hundreds of companies worldwide.
Leveraging her passion for supply chain and technology, Paula is a frequent speaker at conferences and webinars. She has been recognized as a Supply Chain Pro to Know, a Stevie Awards silver award recipient for Women in Business Female Executive of the Year and named one of the Top 100 Women In Supply Chain™ in 2024 and one of the top 100 leaders in Supply Chain in 2025 by Supply Chain Digital. Paula holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Logistics from Penn State University and continues to remain engaged with the business college, having served on the Advisory Board for Supply Chain Research from 2020-2022. Based in Maryland, she enjoys life with her husband and the rewarding experience of watching their three children (23, 22, and 19) thrive as young adults.
IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:
[04.20] An introduction to Paula and her decades-long supply chain career.
[06.15] The single biggest mindset shift supply chain leaders need to make this year to stay ahead of the curve.
“2026 is going to be a pivot point… Decades ago our brains, as supply chain professionals, were wired to solve for least cost… But now it’s not just a cost center mentality… It’s a mindset shift that has exploded into a new foundational element that gets away from traditional siloed thinking, and moves us into a value creation model.”
[10.39] Why organizations need to move past a focus on resilience, the next frontier for competitive advantage, and how Google Cloud is guiding leaders to think beyond just surviving disruptions.
“The move from just efficiency to overall agility becomes key.”
[13.42] Why companies are still struggling to turn data into action, and how Google Cloud helps bridge the gap.
“We’re not short of data! We’re capturing and storing data at crazy amounts but, as organizations, we still haven’t fully unlocked the value associated with that.”
[17.18] The role of technology, particularly AI and data, in helping companies meet aggressive sustainability goals, and why achieving a unified data platform is critical.
[20.52] Why powering its own global supply chain is a big advantage for Google, and how it informs customer conversations around making their operations more resilient, efficient, and sustainable.
“It establishes a level of proven solutions and credibility.”
[23.31] The multi-layered approach that sets Google Cloud apart and makes them the ideal partner for companies dealing with immense complexity.
“It’s the full stack that allows us to work with customers wherever they are on their AI journey.”
[27.21] How Google Cloud is making powerful AI and analytics tools accessible to the everyday supply chain planner or logistics operator.
“It’s really being democratized. This AI is being injected into the tools and technologies that supply chain professionals and frontline workers are using every day.”
[30.26] Beyond faster insights, how Agentic AI is fundamentally changing how supply chain teams interact with their data and systems.
“We’re moving from a passive level to actually executing things… Don’t just tell me what my options are. Find the right option, and execute it.”
[34.05] As AI takes on more of the analytical heavy lifting, how the role of the human supply chain professional is going to evolve, and the new skills that will be most valuable in 2026 and beyond.
[36.07] Paula’s one piece of advice for C-Suite Leaders and Chief Supply Chain Officers who want to build a truly AI-driven, future-ready supply chain.
[39.54] The combination of emerging technologies that will have the biggest impact on supply chains in the next five years.
[41.09] The one thing every supply chain professional needs to do differently today to start building a better supply chain.
RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED:
Head over to Google Cloud’s website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Google Cloud and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, X (Twitter) or YouTube, or you can connect with Paula on LinkedIn.
If you want to hear more from Google, check out 507: Logistics Providers: Ready For An AI-First Approach? Then Discover Your Biggest Opportunity, with Google Cloud.
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