Mahesh Rajasekharan of Cleo talks about what they do; data & visibility challenges; the evolution of supply chain orchestration; & their new Executive Report.
IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:
[02.38] What excites Mahesh about transformation, why he calls Cleo a 'neo-startup', and how he has shaped their mission and growth strategy.
"I've always been attracted to transformation opportunities… Cleo had great technology, loyal customers and an important market position. But it also had enormous untapped potential."
[04.47] Who Cleo is, what they do, and what it means to orchestrate a supply chain, as opposed to simply integrating it.
"Visibility tells you what happened, but orchestration is what helps you decide what to do about it. It's going from systems of record to systems of action."
[06.29] The problem with historic working siloes, and how orchestration forces collaboration and a customer-first approach.
"Often, planning has all the context but cannot execute. Execution systems can execute, but don't have enough context. The ability to bridge the co-ordination gap can unlock significant value – and every participant in the supply chain is responsible."
[10.34] Cleo's north star – 'to make global supply chains better' – and the big turning points that have defined their evolution.
[13.47] The ideal client for Cleo, how that profile has changed over the course of their evolution, and why supply chain has to become a revenue driver.
[21.14] Why Cleo conduct an annual Global Supply Chain Executive Report, and the most surprising findings from 2026.
[23.52] With 88% of organizations increasing their use of automation, yet 55% reporting increased operational complexity as a result, a closer look at exactly what's driving that disconnect.
[25.43] Why only 16% of organizations say they have true end-to-end, real-time visibility across their supply chain, despite visibility being a critical goal for over a decade.
"Supply chains have become true ecosystems, not enterprises… So the data an organization needs oftentimes sits outside its four walls."
[29.46] As leaders become increasingly comfortable with AI-based recommendations but still struggle to trust the underlying data, where companies should actually focus if they want AI to deliver real value.
"The two most important things are context and governance… You can't get to a data 'holy grail', but if you can establish a superior context, then you can execute."
[35.10] How organizations can improve their data context and trust more quickly.
[39.13] How companies can streamline order processing with Cleo to course correct problems, improve on-time and in-full performance, boost speed, reduce cost, and enhance customer relationships.
[44.20] How sitting on the boards of Cleo, Ascend Software, and Banyan Software helps Mahesh understand the wider market and develop Cleo's own strategy moving forward.
"It really makes you understand how universally challenging operational complexity has become… And it provides a strong perspective on what separates companies that successfully transform from those that struggle."
RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED:
Head over to Cleo's website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Cleo and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook and X (Twitter), or you can connect with Mahesh on LinkedIn.
Check out our other podcasts HERE.
