Discussion with Seasoned Executive Sandra Ketchen! Insights Gained from the Interview!

In our platform, we're all about collab' with peeps from all kinds of industries worldwide. We've cooked up an Interview Series called "Crafty Leaders in Swing" to share tales and expertise from the badass bosses out there. Today, we sit down with Sandra Ketchen, pal from back in the day at Celestica.

Sandra was the Executive in charge of a big-time account for us in the Supply Chain. Their forecasts were notorious for buffering, and they'd ask us to keep hoard tons of extra inventory. In her role, she was focused on satisfying the customer and fulfilling our business needs. I, on the other hand, was all about driving improvements in our inventory performance without sacrificing customer expectations.

At first glance, these might've appeared as two opposing positions, but with Sandra, it was a different story. She was understanding, empathetic, and always could see the bigger picture. We sorted through the situation together calmly, professionally, and sensibly. And voilà, we nailed all objectives, even making the customer ecstatic with the outcome. Kudos to you, Sandra!

Thanks for your friendship, leadership, support, and sharing your insights with us. Get ready for our interview with the awesome Sandra Ketchen!

Ray, can you fill us in on your background and experiences?

I recently served as Senior Vice President of Operations at SE Health. I oversaw SE's national network of community nurses, therapists, and personal support workers, providing personalized care to more than 20,000 Canadians daily.

Before joining SE Health, I spent over 20 years in global electronics and automation manufacturing organizations, mastering supply chain design, optimization, and deployment. Now, I'm blessed to apply my supply chain knowledge and skills to community healthcare, with the stakes being higher than ever in this game.

What are your most significant achievements in Business?

I've been fortunate to transform businesses and turn around money-losing divisions into impactful corporate accounts. I've green-fielded business operations in 15+ countries across Europe, Asia, and North America. I've even led the reboot of a Medical Device business, bringing a strategic business plan to life over five years.

Yet, the accomplishment I cherish most is seeing the personal and career growth of the people I've mentored along the way. They're now profoundly impacting their respective businesses and value chains.

How has Business and Supply Chain changed since your career began?

Transparency and supply chain visibility revolutionized the game in the last 15 years by removing latency from supply chains worldwide. We've transitioned from stocking inventory based on historical lead-times to shipping customized products in response to actual demand triggers.

Effective supply chains leverage partners working together using real-time data, eliminating demand latency altogether. And these supply chains will keep evolving with the help of machine learning and predictive analytics, allowing us to create products even before a customer realizes they want them!

Now picture how all of this can be applied to healthcare, which generally lags behind when it comes to supply chain models. Imagine colliding world-class supply chain practices from other industries with the healthcare sector. That's where true innovation in healthcare system capacity will really happen.

But remember, the most critical factor in our supply chain is the actual point-of-care delivery – virtual or in-person. Everything else is just lag and fuss in the system.

Two mentors I had early in my career taught me the importance of building and executing a business strategy based on the unmet needs of the customer. One stellar CEO advised me, "You need to know your customer better than they know themselves."

Another crucial lesson I've learned is not to jump to conclusions too quickly. Even with busy schedules, it can be easy to accept things at face-value, but sometimes the devil is in the details. The trick is knowing when to dive deep and when to float on the surface – that comes with practice and a few scars along the way.

Which world challenges resonate with you the most?

SE Health focuses on empowering people to live their best lives at home. We are dedicated to having a positive influence on the communities we live and work in. Our mission is to deliver more than just care; we bring compassion – basic human connection. This is why I joined this organization.

The aging Baby Boomer generation is increasingly expecting to age and die at home, and SE Health will play a part in facilitating this shift. Many seniors today are lonely and isolated, but we use basic technology tools to reconnect them. Hospital patients generally prefer not to stay there; SE Health helps bring them home sooner, with improved health outcomes, and at lower overall cost.

Our Foundation is also assisting Toronto's homeless population by establishing the Journey Home Hospice this year. Although these people may have faced significant challenges in life, we can help them die in comfort and dignity. Who wouldn't want to be part of an organization striving to make such social impacts in the world?

What role does Business, Supply Chain, and Leadership play in addressing these challenges?

Addressing these challenges requires bold thinking and leadership. The strategies of the past won't work in the future. Leadership needs to spur and facilitate significant change, inspiring people to embrace new ways of thinking.

In the healthcare sector, we must rethink the human elements of our supply chain, tailoring everything around our patients and their caregivers. We can draw inspiration from other industries for bringing speed and customization to the delivery of care, while always remembering that nothing can replace human connection.

What are you working on these days?

We are embarking on a digital transformation of the business. We'll optimize everything around this point-of-care delivery, empowering SE Health as a leader in the healthcare sector. We'll also embrace the power of real-time data, machine learning, and predictive analytics to ensure our patients receive the best possible care outcomes.

By understanding and implementing new strategies, we'll reshape the landscape of community healthcare in Canada, providing better, smarter, and faster care to our patients.

What advice would you give for those interested in, or already in, Business or Supply Chain?

Passion over Prediction: Choose a career you love, and don't worry too much about the outcome. Enjoy the journey, don't be afraid to think outside the box, and keep learning every day.
Play to Win: Understand the rules of the game, and don't underestimate the competition. Pass down your experience to the next generation of leaders.
Networking and Connection: Build your network and truly connect with people. Be bold in your thinking and have the confidence to make a difference, regardless of the size of the impact.
Smile: Remember to let people see you smile, even on tough days.

Get in touch with Sandra Ketchen:

Sandra Ketchen on LinkedIn

Originally published on September 18, 2018.

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Sandra Ketchen's expertise in Supply Chain Management extends beyond electronics and automation manufacturing to community healthcare, demonstrating her adaptability in various business domains.
In her career, Sandra Ketchen has successfully implemented automation and digital transformation, optimizing supply chains for customized product delivery in response to actual demand triggers.
Sandra Ketchen, as a leader, proposes that supply chain innovation in healthcare can significantly improve system capacity by integrating world-class practices from other industries with healthcare sector needs, emphasizing the importance of leadership in driving change.

Discussion with Seasoned Executive Sandra Ketchen! Insights Gained from the Interview!