We kicked off the summer at Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE in Chicago, where thousands of industry leaders gathered to discuss strategies and solutions for mitigating today’s supply chain risk. As a risk solution provider, RapidRatings sponsored the event and was given the space and stage to spotlight our FHR solution and share our expertise with a network of supply chain professionals.
At the RapidRatings booth, we showcased how supply chain professionals can use the FHR to monitor the financial health of their suppliers, especially private ones. Through live product demonstrations and real-world use cases, attendees saw how leading companies have identified risk and prevented disruption by using our analytics. It was a first-hand look into the most accurate financial risk detector on the market.
Our Executive Chairman James Gellert was invited to participate in a panel discussion alongside Linda Kromjonh, President at amfori; Mandume Rosa, Global Procurement & Sourcing Leader at Baker Hughes; Chris Callieri, Chief Supply Chain Officer at Victoria’s Secret; Jeannine Wong, Senior Director, GPS Value Chan Management at Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS).
Together, they discussed the concepts of risk and resilience, and how they play an important role in the agility, stability, and sustainability of modern supply chains. The conversation centered around how companies can handle the growing complexity of global networks by improving abilities to absorb, anticipate, and adapt to disruptions. Despite their diverse backgrounds and experiences, all panelists shared a common theme: while there is no single blueprint for success, proactive risk management is essential in today’s environment for building resilient supply chains.
Later, James Gellert joined Brad Saegesser, Managing Director, Solutions & Value Engineer to hold a “Risk & Resilience” workshop, which gave supply chain professionals strategies to enhance their current risk programs. Amid tariffs, market volatility and geopolitical tensions, this timely workshop looked at the foundational principles of risk and broke down methods for identifying and mitigating supplier risk. Attendees were most notably engaged with the “Four Fundamentals of Risk” portion, which explored key questions every risk professional should be asking:
- What (and when) is the risk?
- How has the risk been changing over time?
- Why is the risk what it is?
- How does the risk compare to peers?
James and Brad used this lens to analyze Yellow Corporation, a trucking company that failed in 2024. They gave a step-by-step approach for how risk professionals can apply financial metrics to the “Four Fundamentals of Risk” to take action and mitigate disruption.
Beyond tariffs and financial risks, the conference at large, considered AI in automating manual processes and generating insights across risk areas. As pioneering startups and solution providers pitched their ideas on the conference “Innovation Zone” stage, the importance of transformative risk management tools was clear. Like-minded providers and supply chain professionals agree, staying ahead means letting go of old ways of thinking. In this industry, the ones who break the status quo and embrace forward-thinking solutions will be best positioned to tackle future risks and build strong supply chains.
Although the conference has wrapped, the conversations have only just started. Inspired by the resilience and innovation shown first-hand, attendees were able to return to their respective companies with a better understanding of the importance of analyzing financial risk and investing in supplier transparency.
For us here at RapidRatings, this event was more than an opportunity to share actionable insights, but a chance to go directly to supply chain leaders, hear what’s top of mind, and ensure we’re continuously aligned with the evolving needs of the industry. It reaffirmed our commitment to delivering the most innovative, proactive solutions that help drive the industry forward.
