From Engineer to CEO: Ashley Sayed's Journey in Product Development Improving Supply Chains with SupliChainPro

Episode 9 of the Design Journeys Podcast hosted by Chris Whyte. New episodes every other Wednesday!

Ashley Sayed, CEO of Supply Chain Pro, shares his career journey in product development, from working at Sendo and Motorola to joining TomTom.

He discusses the transition from engineer to strategic roles and the importance of connecting design and product development with manufacturing.

Ashley also provides advice for young entrepreneurs, emphasizing the need to solve a real problem, have passion, and consider scalability. He highlights the benefits of joining an incubator or accelerator to gain experience and support.

Ashley's experience in high-volume manufacturing and design for manufacture has shaped his expertise in supply chain management. Ashley Sayed discusses his experience in scaling up technology and creating a roadmap of products.

He emphasizes the importance of bringing in engineering and understanding the technical aspects of design. He shares the success and challenges he faced during his time at TomTom and Philips.

Ashley also talks about his current venture, Supply Chain Pro, which focuses on helping companies set up and improve their supply chains. He highlights the importance of prioritizing health, family, and career and shares insights on hiring and standing out in the job market.

Takeaways

Ashley's career in product development spans over 25 years, working with companies like Sendo, Motorola, and TomTom.
He emphasizes the importance of connecting design and product development with manufacturing and supply chain management.
Ashley advises young entrepreneurs to solve a real problem, have passion, and consider scalability when pursuing an idea.
Joining an incubator or accelerator can provide valuable experience and support for startups. Bringing in engineering and understanding the technical aspects of design is crucial for scaling up technology and creating a roadmap of products.
Prioritizing health, family, and career is important for maintaining a balanced life.
Supply Chain Pro helps companies set up and improve their supply chains, considering both technical and business KPIs.
To stand out in the job market, candidates can showcase their passion and motivation, demonstrate their problem-solving skills, and provide unique insights or projects related to the company they are applying to.
Hiring is a critical process, and it is important to evaluate technical skills, communication abilities, and how candidates handle stress.
Forming good habits and continuously learning are key to personal and professional growth.

Chapters

00:00 The Journey of a Product Development Expert

03:53 The Impact of Psychology on Design Decisions

10:01 Challenges and Opportunities in Scaling Up Technology

17:05 Valuable Advice for Young Entrepreneurs

28:55 The Journey from Industrial Design to Software Engineering

33:12 Balancing Career, Family, and Health

50:56 Insights on Hiring and Standing Out in the Job Market

01:06:08 Insights on Physical Product Development and Recruitment

Ashley's recommended book:

Atomic Habits by James Clear: https://amzn.eu/d/06iloxge

Connect with Ashley Sayed on LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashsayed/