#143 How to Accelerate and Scale Sustainable Operations: A Conversation with Divya Demato

Divya Demato is a rock star in the supply chain community. She has mastered the practice of merging supply chain sustainability with profitability — no easy task in today’s economic landscape. Early on, Divya’s mother – a key role model – instilled in her a strong work ethic, authenticity, entrepreneurship, and a deep bond for her family.

When asked the best advice she ever got, Divya quickly pointed to the importance of gratitude. Divya had some empowering mentors throughout her career managing e-commerce operations for Mercantela, Walmart and One Kings Lane. Being selfless and always asking key questions such as: “What’s going on in my supply chain?” and “How can I impact the lives of women?” can improve both your personal and professional accountability.

Divya founded GoodOps, a supply chain consultancy partnering with companies to architect, accelerate and scale sustainable operations. Divya is proud of her work to establish fair labor standards for factory workers and piloting advanced technologies to improve environmental impact.

Divya shares her exciting journey here with WAM Podcasts’ co-host Linda Rigano.

MEET YOUR HOST

Linda Rigano

Linda Rigano is the Principal Consultant of The Rigano Group. Her expertise and enthusiasm for strategic and effective communication permeate all that she does as a consultant to B2B and B2C technology, manufacturing, supply chain, and publishing organizations to improve business performance and stakeholder relationships by building highly successful and measurable communications programs.

With over 20 years of industry experience, Linda has excelled in helping organizations advance the discussion of important industry issues. She was central to the development and promotion of ThomasNet’s annual Industry Market Barometer® (IMB) survey on the state of manufacturing, the ThomasNet/ISM “30 Under 30 Rising Supply Chain Stars” Recognition Program, and ThomasNet’s North American Scholarship Program. Linda also served as Director of Strategic Alliances for ThomasNet, and for many years was the Publisher of the Thomas Food Industry Register.

Throughout her career, Linda has been an active participant and presenter for manufacturing, supply management, and business associations. She is widely quoted in business and trade media, including Bloomberg Businessweek, Nightly Business Report, and Industry Today. Linda holds an MBA in marketing from Fordham University.

Connect with Linda Rigano on LinkedIn.

SPECIAL GUEST

Divya Demato

Divya is the CEO & Co-Founder of GoodOps, a supply chain consultancy partnering with companies to architect, accelerate, and scale sustainable operations. Divya has driven innovative solutions across the value chain for companies at various stages of growth, such as Walmart, Danone, One Kings Lane, Martin Brower/McDonald’s, Westwing/Rocket Internet and Pricesmart. Since 2003, Divya has been an operator, entrepreneur, executive, consultant, and advisor for internationally recognized startups and multinationals around the world. In this time, Divya built and continuously activated a vast global network of executives, investors, and entrepreneurs at the vanguard of today’s most powerful industries.

Divya‘s work at GoodOps includes establishing fair labor standards for factory workers and piloting advanced technologies to improve environmental impact. As an outcome of extensive on-the-ground audits in Africa for a leading US brand, Divya co-designed a new social impact measurement platform, ACCOUNTABLE, to bring factory workers to a living wage, featured in Fast Company & Forbes. Divya piloted an autonomous truck test between a top L4 provider and a top 5 global food distributor, to reduce carbon emissions & improve road safety. She has co-written white papers on Blockchain, AI/ML, Autonomous Vehicles & Warehouse Automation, and co-authored a chapter in Vehicle Road Automation 5. Divya is also building GoodList, a sustainable sourcing platform to connect brands with verified ESG suppliers adhering to the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Divya is a winner of Supply & Demand Chain Executive’s Women in Supply Chain Award in 2020. She is an Advisor to Rethink Food, Chairwoman Emeritus for Nexus Global and a Mentor for Unreasonable Group. Divya has spoken at FASHINNOVATION, CPO Rising, NextGenChef, Nexus, YWCA: Labor Trafficking, Techstars, Home Delivery World, Automated Vehicles Symposium, and The New York Supply Chain Meetup. Divya is fluent in Spanish, moderate in French.