Supply Chain Now: The Buzz – Shockwaves & Strategy: Iran, EVs, and Supply Chain Disruption

Date: March 20, 2026
Hosts: Scott Lewton & Corinne Bursa
Special Guest: Christine Barnhart (Miebach, “The Supply Chain Whisperer”)

Episode Overview

In this information-rich and engaging episode of The Buzz, Supply Chain Now’s key voices tackle some of the biggest seismic shifts and ongoing challenges reverberating through global supply chains in early 2026. Host Scott Lewton is joined by co-host Corinne Bursa and special guest Christine Barnhart, who break down the supply chain impacts of the Iran war, the evolving domestic EV industry (with a focus on Rivian), rapid fuel price spikes, and the imperative for resilient, tech-enabled strategies. The conversation masterfully weaves together news analysis, leadership and change management perspective, and celebration of female leaders driving transformation in supply chain.

Key Themes and Discussion Points

1. Recognition and Leadership Journeys in Supply Chain

(02:19–04:57)

• Highlights from the “With That Said” newsletter, featuring leadership insights from Corinne Bursa and Tangerie Bellamy.
  • Quote (Tangerie Bellamy, 03:21):
    “If there are six people in the room and we all agree, I don’t need five of you.”
  • Quote (Corinne Bursa, 03:34):
    “My leadership journey wasn’t shaped by one defining moment as much as by years of solving hard problems, often as the only woman in the room.”
• Both hosts emphasize proactive pursuit of opportunity and learning:
  • Corinne (04:37):
    "I want you striving for that, working for it, getting in the room, getting into the conversations, asking for the opportunities. Raise your hand, get out there, make mistakes, take on some new projects and just look at it as a learning opportunity at every step of your career."

2. Industry News: Domestic Freight and Market Technology

(06:10–08:33)

• Overview of freight market challenges: declining volumes, tight capacity, and the need for tech adoption.
• Discussion on the power of visibility, APIs, and AI in freight auditing and management.
  • Corinne (07:51):
    “It was so great to have a practitioner along with Bobby Holland... going through some of the nuts and bolts of the trends that we’re seeing.”

3. Humor and Change Management: AI Org Chart Cartoon

(08:44–10:26)

• Corinne reflects on Tom Fishburne’s AI org chart cartoon, tying it to real frustrations of how to organize for AI and digital transformation.
  • Corinne (09:09):
    “If we don’t know the use case, we can’t define what good looks like. Let’s not recreate the organization yet until we truly understand the problem to be solved.”

Featured Guest: Christine Barnhart (“The Supply Chain Whisperer,” Miebach)

(11:24–16:20)

• Recognized as a “Luminary” on Sherri Hanish’s “Women of the Revolution” list for her transformative industry impact.
  • Christine (13:25):
    “I was kind of taken back...I don’t really feel like I belong in such an illustrious list of women.”
• Corinne, named “Catalyst,” highlights the power of recognition and mutual support among women leaders.
  • Corinne (14:32):
    “Recognition matters...Thank you to the supply chain queen for building the list, the platform, but for shining the light on others.”

Memorable Exchange:
Christine and Corinne both stress the importance of visible, practical leadership and breaking through limiting beliefs.

Deep Dive: Iran Crisis & Global Supply Chain Disruption

(17:24–23:39)

• Ongoing Iran conflict has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, with 100+ vessels waiting, intensifying global shipping and energy instability.
  • Lars Jensen Quote via Supply Chain Dive (18:05):
    “The normalization of Red Sea shipping...that’s now not going to happen.”
• Ripple effects include volatile oil, diesel and jet fuel prices, increased recession risk (Goldman Sachs raises 2026 recession odds from 20% to 25%).
• Perspectives:
  • Christine (19:28):
    “Disruption is no longer something to talk about ad hoc. It really is...the new operating environment.”
  • Corinne (20:56):
    “Through the Strait of Hormuz, that’s like 20% of the world’s oil...We’re looking at several months, best case, probably six to nine months, of disruption.”

The Tech Imperative

• Real-time scenario analysis and network replanning require modern technology.
  • Corinne (21:49):
    “Try replanning your network without technology...You’ve got to be...able to evaluate a multitude of scenarios.”
  • Christine (22:18):
    “This is the time when your business process and your technology and your people...have to be in sync. They can’t be siloed; there can’t be friction.”

Diesel Price Shock & Immediate Supply Chain Consequences

(23:39–26:47)

• Weekly diesel price jump (largest in both dollar and percentage terms since 1994).
  • Avery Vise Quote (24:25):
    “The largest ever weekly increase in both price and percentage terms since the government started tracking diesel prices in 1994.”
• Immediate cascading impact on freight, surcharges, and last-mile costs (FedEx already instating surcharges).
  • Christine (24:48):
    “Fuel is...one of the fastest ripple effects in supply chain...companies now...need to look at our network, optimize...plan better, because these disruptions...and in particular in terms of diesel prices are...just not going away.”
  • Corinne (25:59):
    “For every $10 a barrel oil goes up, we will see anywhere from 25 cents to 30% increase per gallon at the pump.”

Electric Vehicles: The Rivian Saga & EV Infrastructure Challenges

(27:44–34:14)

• Ongoing skepticism on Rivian’s Georgia plant delivering as promised: target of 7,500 jobs, initial production deadlines delayed to 2030.
  • Corinne (30:08):
    “Rivian has already shared guidance for 2026 that they expect to lose between 1.8 and 2.1 billion...so they are definitely investing for the future.”
• EV sales face pressures as federal credits lapse, yet oil volatility is nudging more consumers to research EVs.
• Guest insight (as an EV driver):
  • Christine (31:39):
    “I bought the Mustang Mach E...still really love it...if Rivian would have had something comparable at the time, we would have looked at it. They didn’t.”
  • On rural infrastructure:
    “The infrastructure is still really lacking in the middle of the country...if they want a vehicle that’s going to allow them to do these little two, three hour road trips, that’s an obstacle that has to be overcome.”
  • On Battery Range (33:08):
    “If it’s marketed as a 600 mile battery, it gets 600 miles in perfect conditions in a lab. It does not get 600 miles when you’re actually driving on the road.”

Technology & Change Management in Modern Supply Chain

(36:21–40:52)

• Christine explains Miebach’s focus:
  “We help customers...transform their supply chains. Our pedigree...came out of engineering, warehouse automation, network design...We only do supply chain consulting and we are very execution-focused.”
• Keys to transformation success:
  • “The technology is not the hardest part. The adoption is. It’s getting people to give it a try. It’s the change management, the adoption.” (38:19)
  • Corinne:
    “It’s the sustainability of the change...With those transformations, you’re going to do a critical path and then...incremental [improvements].”
  • Christine:
    “Process mining helps companies actually see what’s happening...It becomes that digital diagnostic for the supply chain.”

The Human Side: Real Experience, Growth and Women’s Advancement

(41:17–47:52)

• Importance of hands-on, practical supply chain experience:
  • Christine (41:17):
    “It’s one thing to...sit in your ivory tower and design a supply chain. It’s another...to live and breathe on the plant floor...it teaches you to stop thinking in theory and start thinking in trade-offs.”
  • Corinne (42:16):
    “Supply chain is tangible...I have worked with planners over my career who have never seen the products that they plan. I think it’s really important to make that trip...(it) changes the conversation.”
  • Christine:
    “Ask questions and listen...You may not agree, but you can be empathetic and that can inform your decisions.”

Women in Supply Chain: Overcoming Limiting Beliefs

• Quote from Catherine Hints (45:10):
  “Women are often conditioned to carry limiting beliefs about what we can or cannot do. In reality, there’s very little we can’t learn, change, or grow into.”
• Christine (45:10):
  “A lot of times we teach women how to make themselves small...If we’re not a little bit uncomfortable, we’re probably not pushing hard enough.”
• Corinne:
  “Raise your hand. Even if you don’t think you’re a hundred percent ready, that’s when I want you to take that opportunity. Take those opportunities when you’re 60% ready.”

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Christine (19:28):
  “Disruption is no longer something to talk about ad hoc. It really is...the new operating environment.”

• Corinne (04:37):
  “Opportunity matters, but I don’t want you sitting on the sideline waiting for somebody to come to you...I want you striving for that, working for it, getting in the room.”

• Christine (22:18):
  “Your business process and your technology and your people...they have to be in sync. They can’t be siloed; there can’t be friction...”

• Corinne (25:29):
  “I’m anti-spreadsheet. We’re introducing risk into our businesses with our spreadsheets...There are better ways.”

• On Personal Growth (46:48):
  Corinne: “Start taking those opportunities when you’re 60% ready. There’s nothing like experience to build skills.”

Key Timestamps

• 02:19 – Women in supply chain recognition and leadership advice
• 06:30 – Freight market: challenges & tech adoption
• 08:44 – AI org chart humor & practical org change
• 11:24 – Guest intro: Christine Barnhart
• 17:24 – Iran war: ripple effects on supply chain
• 23:39 – Diesel price spikes & surcharges
• 27:44 – EV market/Rivian analysis
• 36:21 – About Miebach: supply chain transformation
• 41:17 – The value of “getting your hands dirty” in SC
• 45:10 – Quotes & discussion on women’s advancement
• 53:59 – Closing thoughts and how to connect / upcoming events

Tone & Style

Throughout, the tone is conversational, encouraging, and often witty—grounded in real practitioner experience and a desire to lift colleagues and listeners toward actionable resilience and personal growth.

Takeaways & Resources

• Disruption is the “never normal”—organizations must embrace agile, tech-enabled operating models.
• Practical leadership advice: Seek out challenges, don’t wait for opportunities, embrace imperfection and incremental improvement.
• Invest in understanding both the strategy (“cloud”) and execution (“shoulders to the wheel”).

Listener Homework (per Scott, 54:40):

“Take one thing, write it down, share it with your team, and put it into practice...It’s about deeds, not words.”

• Resource Links Dropped:
  • With That Said newsletter (women in SC feature)
  • U.S. Bank’s Q2 Freight Payment Index
  • Marketoonist AI cartoon
  • Sherri Hanish’s Women of the Revolution list
  • Wall Street Journal Logistics Report
  • Coach Kara Lawson’s “Handle Hard Better” video

Connect with the guests:

• Christine Barnhart on LinkedIn (Miebach)
• Corinne Bursa on LinkedIn

The final word, echoed by both hosts:

“It’s a great time to be in supply chain.” (54:35)