Supply Chain Stories is a series of recorded interviews with Chief Supply Chain Officers to provide advice, guidance and mentorship to the global Supply Chain community.
Naveen Sanders, Global Supply Chain Executive, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf
Sam Berke, Head of Global Supply Chain Search at Pod Talent, sat down with Naveen Sanders, a seasoned supply chain executive whose global career spans leadership roles across Asia, the Middle East, and North America, including his most recent role at iconic beverage brand The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf.
Global Supply Chain Leadership with Naveen Sanders
In this episode, Sam Berke speaks with Naveen Sanders - an accomplished operations and supply chain leader - about the real challenges and lessons learned from managing global operations across complex, high - growth businesses.
Naveen reflects on scaling brands like The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf across 24 countries and navigating high-stakes supply chain crises - from 100% price spikes in commodities like coffee and cocoa, to managing ultra-seasonal sourcing windows for rare teas. His leadership involved complete network redesigns, robust S&OP processes, and strategic contingency planning in the face of unprecedented global volatility.
Naveen shares how global sourcing decisions - like shifting a single origin-could save millions, and how volatility in commodity pricing required tight alignment with board stakeholders and relentless forward planning. He discusses building best-in-class systems with lean SKU counts, clean-label ingredient sourcing, and quality assurance in low-heat-treatment environments.
Lessons for Aspiring Supply Chain Leaders
Naveen offers compelling career advice for professionals looking to grow in supply chain:
- Say yes to international assignments. These roles push you out of your comfort zone, expose you to cultural nuance, and drastically expand your leadership range.
- Make empathy your leadership cornerstone. Particularly when entering legacy businesses, respect long-serving team members and take time to listen.
- Commit to the long-term. For executives, meaningful impact requires a 5–8 year horizon. “Anything less and you leave too much unfinished.”
- Be open to learning local languages. Even elementary language skills helped him lead more effectively in Southeast Asia-and will continue to serve him globally.
- Build maturity through mistakes. Leaders must be willing to admit missteps and ensure systems evolve to prevent repeat failures.
This episode is packed with authentic, actionable insights for supply chain professionals at every stage of their careers-particularly those aspiring to global or C-suite roles. A must-listen.