Season 5, Episode 9. Leading Innovation in the Digital Supply Chain with Ron Crabtree
What’s the real reason most digital transformation projects fail—and what are successful leaders doing differently? In this episode, Natalie welcomes Ron Crabtree, founder and CEO of MetaOps and MetaExperts. With over 30 years of experience in operations, supply chain, and digital transformation, Ron shares hard-earned insights from his work across industries—from automotive to tech to manufacturing consulting. He explains how emerging technologies like AI and automation are impacting supply chains and operational models, why change management is often an afterthought, and how organizations can better equip leaders and teams to embrace complexity. This conversation offers a practical lens into strategic leadership, future-proofing skill sets, and executing transformation in high-stakes environments.
[00:01 - 05:00] From Disney to Digital: Ron’s Backstory
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Why understanding operations from the ground up shaped Ron’s leadership approach
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How 17 years of night school played into his move from the factory floor to executive strategy
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What it looks like to build companies that solve real pain points in workforce transformation
[05:01 - 10:46] AI Meets Supply Chain
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The importance of using AI as an assistant—not a replacement—for strategic thinking
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Why decision support powered by AI improves outcomes without eliminating human judgment
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The significance of having clean, real-time data before relying on automation
[10:47 - 15:50] Digital Tools in Action
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What reverse market platforms reveal about the speed and productivity gains in procurement
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Why modeling cost impacts across the supply chain leads to stronger sourcing strategies
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The need for transparency and quick “what-if” modeling when responding to market changes
[15:51 - 20:37] The Pitfalls of Digital Transformation
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What most companies overlook when mapping processes for tech adoption
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Why value stream mapping and activity-based costing are crucial to measuring ROI
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The importance of business process management and people-first transformation
[20:38 - 26:16] Leadership’s Role in Change
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Why alignment on the "why" must happen before executing the "how"
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What skills future leaders must develop to lead digital, complex ecosystems
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The need for tech fluency across departments—not just IT leadership
Quotes:
"Worker plus AI will always outperform worker without AI." - Ron Crabtree
"You can't check out and expect AI to do your thinking. Someone still needs to think critically and question what’s missing." - Ron Crabtree
Connect with Ron:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roncrabtree
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