561: Bridging Planning and Execution: The Next Frontier of Supply Chain Orchestration, with Cleo

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.