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2021-07-01T15:48:05Z

alumni > alumnus - alumni is plural

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{{Use Indian English|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Shekar Natarajan
| birth_name = Chandrashekar Natarajan
| image = Shekar Natarajan photo.jpg
| image_size = 130px
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1979|7|23}}
| birth_place = [[Secunderabad]], [[India]]
| alma_mater = [[Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad]] and [[Georgia Institute of Technology]]
| education = BSc and MSc
| employer =
| title =
| occupation = [[Business Executive]] and Supply chain specialist
}}

'''Shekar Natarajan''' (Chandrashekar Natarajan), was born 23 July 1979 in [[Secunderabad]], [[India]].<ref name=Kulkarni /> He is the SVP of Global Inventory, Supply Chain, Logistics and Customer Promise. He formerly served as the [[Senior vice-president|Senior Vice President]] of Network Planning and Operational Design for [[Target Corporation]]. He also serves as a [[panelist]] at international conferences and writes in the field of [[supply chain management]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Smith|first=Jennifer|date=2020-08-12|title=Companies Step Up Distribution Automation Under Pandemic Strains|language=en-US|work=Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/companies-step-up-distribution-automation-under-pandemic-strains-11597224602|access-date=2021-01-07|issn=0099-9660}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Shekar Natarajan {{!}} Project Production Institute|url=https://projectproduction.org/bios/shekar-natarajan/|access-date=2021-01-07|website=projectproduction.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=The SCMR Interview: Shekar Natarajan|url=https://www.scmr.com/article/the_scmr_interview_shekar_natarajan|access-date=2021-01-07|website=www.scmr.com}}</ref>

==Early life==
Natarajan was born in Secunderabad, Telangana, India. Natarajan received his [[Bachelor's degree]] in [[Mechanical Engineering]] from [[Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad]] in India and [[Master’s degree]] in [[Industrial Engineering]] from [[Georgia Institute of Technology]] in 2003.<ref name=Kulkarni>{{cite web |url=http://www.newsindia-times.com/newsindiatimes/20100910/5291075887560490127.htm |date=10 September 2010 |accessdate=29 July 2013 |title=Supply Chain Expert Honored by Engineering Group |author=BHARGAVI KULKARNI |work=News India Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Shekar Natarajan Education |url=http://www.nashow.com/attendees/summit_natarajan.aspx |accessdate=29 July 2013}}</ref> He also holds an executive certificate from the Center of Transportation and Logistics at MIT, and an Advanced Management Degree from Harvard Business School. He is an alumnus of [[Harvard Business School]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=The pragmatic futurist|url=https://www.supplychainquarterly.com/articles/1588-the-pragmatic-futurist|access-date=2021-01-07|website=www.supplychainquarterly.com|language=en}}</ref>

==Executive career==
Natarajan worked with [[Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated]] as the senior supply chain network manager and as a corporate development specialist for [[Alliance Rubber Company]]. He then moved on to [[PepsiCo]] in 2006, where he was the Director of Supply Chain Planning.<ref name=Ackerman>{{cite web |url=http://consumergoods.edgl.com/case-studies/2010-Visionaries51986 |title=2010 Visionaries |author=Alliston Ackerman & Alarice Padilla |date=2 June 2010 |accessdate=29 July 2013 |publisher=Consumer Goods Technologies}}</ref><ref name=Reese>{{cite news|last=Reese|first=Andrew K.|title=ProsFile: Shekar Natarajan|url=http://www.sdcexec.com/article/10269204/prosfile-shekar-natarajan|newspaper=Supply & Demand Chain ExecutiveSupply & Demand Chain Executive|date=30 April 2010}}</ref> While there he was in charge of the company's new "direct store delivery" system, a transformation for which he received the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals 2010 Supply Chain Innovation award.<ref name=shsh />

He next moved to [[Anheuser Busch]] to serve as the North American Senior Director of Supply Chain Planning.<ref name=Andel>{{cite web |url=http://mhlnews.com/archive/andel-and-handling-meeting-your-life |title=Andel and Handling: The Meeting of Your Life |author=Tom Andel |accessdate=29 July 2013 |date=7 September 2010 |publisher=Material Handling & Logistics}}</ref> His approach to supply chain management has been described as, "first ... have in place 'diametrically opposite alternative' plans ... [2nd] constantly evaluate those plans, based on changing conditions and sensitive variables ... [3rd] understand that the planning process is continuous in nature, with no defined end point ... [4th] make sure that the right people are in the right jobs."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.supplychainbrain.com/content/general-scm/hr-labor-management/single-article-page/article/are-you-really-thinking-outside-of-the-box/ |title=Are You Really Thinking Outside of the Box? |date=9 November 2009 |accessdate=29 July 2013 |publisher=Supply Chain Brain}}</ref> ''Supply & Demand Chain Executive'' also wrote of Natarajan's ideas on supply chain management that, "To bring competitive advantage to their enterprises, supply chain executives must also look to hire, train and retain creative problem-solvers, Natarajan adds. The goal is to drive "productivity of the mind" within the supply chain organization, emphasizing systematic thinking and developing problem-solving skills." Natarajan pointed out in the article that increasing supply chain efficiency is a method of adding coinciding value in other parts of the company as well.<ref name=shsh>{{cite web |url=http://www.sdcexec.com/article/10269204/prosfile-shekar-natarajan |title=ProsFile: Shekar Natarajan |accessdate=29 August 2013 |publisher=Supply & Demand Chain Executive}}</ref>

In 2013 Natarajan partnered with Ron Hammond to research a series of best practices in the supply chain management industry. Based on that research they created a "supply chain maturity" model, used to identify a range of corporate behaviors, and places corporations into one of five categories: myopic, sluggish, aware, anticipative, and prescient.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/f86592bc#/f86592bc/6 |title=Let Your Prescience be your Guide |accessdate=13 August 2013 |date=August 2013 |author=Tom Andel |publisher=Material Handling & Logistics}}</ref> He is also a public speaker on the subject of supply chain and executive management.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cygnus/sdce_201103/index.php?startid=21 |title=2011 Next-generation Thought-leader for Supply Chain |accessdate=29 August 2013}}</ref> In September 2013 Natarajan was named Vice President of Business Process and Technology, Integrated Supply Chain Management at [[Disney]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mhlnews.com/global-supply-chain/disney-and-fortna-hire-mhl-board-members?NL=MHM-02&Issue=MHM-02_20130924_MHM-02_340&YM_RID=tom.andel@penton.com&YM_MID=1423967&sfvc4enews=42 |title=Disney and Fortna Hire MH&L Board Members |author=Tom Andel |accessdate=7 October 2013 |date=20 September 2013 |publisher=Material & Handling Logistics}}</ref>

Natarajan's delivery systems, typified by the "CoolLift" technology, reduced the workplace injuries of work floors where they were employed by 97%, reduced the carbon footprint of the system by 50%, and reduced delivery costs by 2.5%. He has also been involved with on the ground delivery logistics, creating urban-specific delivery plans in traffic congested cities like [[São Paulo, Brazil]] in order to deal with traffic jams. In Tanzania and Zambia, Natarajan also linked his delivery systems to the delivery of children's medication through the Cola Life program, which distributed medications to delivery locations of Coca-Cola for no additional charge.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/225746674/Vol-7-Issue-4-May-24-30-2014 |page=26 |work=South Asian Times|accessdate=11 June 2014 |date=24 May 2014 |title=Finding systems solutions to BIG problems}}</ref> He later became the Vice President of Last Mile and Emerging Sciences at Walmart,<ref>https://www.reuters.com/article/us-wal-mart-drones-idUSKCN0YO26M</ref> where he worked on projects including the implementation of drone technology into Walmart warehouse infrastructure and delivery systems. Natarajan and his team developed the autonomous drones in collaboration with the [[Federal Aviation Administration]] and [[NASA]]<ref name="Business Insider (drones)">{{cite web|last1=Feloni|first1=Richard|title=Walmart is developing a drone|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/walmart-is-developing-a-drone-2016-6|website=Business Insider|accessdate=7 January 2018}}</ref> in an effort to significantly improve the efficiency of inventory checks and improve the safety of Walmart’s distribution centers.<ref name="Trackimo">{{cite web|title=Walmart Ventures into Drone Technology for US Warehouses|url=https://trackimo.com/walmart-ventures-into-drone-technology/|publisher=Trackimo|accessdate=7 January 2018}}</ref> Shekar demonstrated the technology at a distribution center in Arkansas in 2016.<ref name="New York Times (drones)">{{cite news|last1=Abrams|first1=Rachel|title=Walmart Looks to Drones to Speed Distribution|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/03/business/walmart-looks-to-drones-to-speed-distribution.html|newspaper=The New York Times|accessdate=7 January 2018}}</ref> In November 2016, he then became the senior vice president of network planning and operational design of [[Target Corporation]].<ref name=Tribune>http://m.startribune.com/target-hires-another-supply-chain-executive-this-time-from-wal-mart/400323411/</ref>

==Board positions==
Natarajan is a member of the editorial advisory board for ''Material Handling & Logistics'',<ref name=Andel /> an industry member of the board for the College Industry Council of Material Handling equipment,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mhi.org/cicmhe/members |title=Members |accessdate=29 July 2013}}</ref> on the board for the Material Handling Institute of America, was the co-chairman of the Institute of High Performance Planners,<ref name=Leong>{{cite web |url=http://www.logasiamag.com/article/conversation-with-a-thought-leader/2723 |date=1 March 2012 |accessdate=29 July 2013 |title=Conversation with a Thought Leader |author=Lee Kok Leong |publisher=Logistics Insight Asia}}</ref> is on the board of [[Colalife]],<ref name=yup>{{cite web |url=http://www.bmo.com/pdf/3_24_11_Supply_and_Demand_Chain_Executive.pdf |title=2011 Next-generation Thought-leader for the Supply Chain — Shekar Natarajan |accessdate=29 July 2013 |date=24 March 2011 |publisher=Supply & Demand Chain Executive}}</ref> and an advisory board member of ''DC Velocity'', a supply chain magazine.<ref name=vol>{{cite web |url=http://www.dcvelocity.com/articles/20110730scope_west/ |title=SCOPE West conference slated for Aug. 21-23 in Las Vegas |date=30 June 2011 |accessdate=29 July 2013 |publisher=DC Velocity}}</ref> He is also a member of the Catastrophic Disaster Recovery Plan program headed by the [[White House]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.infocastinc.com/downloads_pdf/automation13_summit.pdf |title=Summit Day One schedule |accessdate=5 August 2013}}</ref>

==Awards and recognition==
[[File:Shekar receiving award.jpg|thumb]]
Natarajan won the Medallion Award from the Institute of Industrial Engineering in 2010.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.logasiamag.com/2012/03/conversation-with-a-thought-leader/|title=CONVERSATION WITH A THOUGHT LEADER - Logistics Insight Asia|date=2012-03-01|work=Logistics Insight Asia|access-date=2018-01-29|language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2008 the Brazilian government recognized him for his keynote delivery at Movimat 2008.<ref name=":0" /> In 2009 ''Global Supply Chain Review'' named Natarajan to its list of "Top 25 Supply Chain Executives".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gscreview.com/september09_top_25_sc_executives.php |title=2009 Top 25 Supply Chain Executives |publisher=Global Supply Chain Review |accessdate=29 July 2013}}</ref> In 2010 he was named one of the top visionaries of the year by ''Consumer Goods Technology''<ref name="Ackerman" /> and a 2009 as well as 2010 "Rainmaker" by ''DC Velocity''.<ref name="vol" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dcvelocity-digital.com/dcvelocity/200907?pg=48&search_term=shekar&doc_id=-1&search_term=shekar#pg48 |accessdate=29 July 2013 |publisher=DC Velocity |date=July 2009 |title=The Rainmakers}}</ref> In 2010 he also received an [[Institute of Industrial Engineers]] Medallion for "outstanding contribution to the field of industrial engineering through leadership and innovation of methodology".<ref name="Kulkarni" /> In addition, he was "formally recognized him for the content and insights he provided for developing and managing supply chain processes" by the government of Brazil, in response to his keynote address at the 2008 Motimat conference.<ref name="Leong" /> In 2011 Natarajan was then named a Next-generation Thought-leader by ''Supply & Demand Chain Executive''<ref name="yup" /> and again called a thought leader in 2013 by ''Logistics Insight Asia''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.logasiamag.com/ebook/1302.asp |page=11 |publisher=Logistics Insight Asia |title=Forging Ahead: The Path for 2013 |date=January–February 2013 |accessdate=29 July 2013}}</ref> In 2013 Natarajan was named one of the "Non-Resident Indians of the Year" in the Professional Category by [[Times Now]] television.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/216277988/49-Vol-6-Epaper |page=15 |accessdate=22 April 2014 |title=Times Now Honours NRIs of the Year |work=The South Asian Times|date=5–11 April 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nrioftheyear.com/winners.html |title=NRI winners |accessdate=22 April 2014}}</ref> Supply Chain Quarterly named Natarajan a "Pragmatic Futurist" in 2018. In 2020, He won the Retail Innovator of the year award.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.supplychainquarterly.com/topics/Technology/20180301-the-pragmatic-futurist/|title=The pragmatic futurist – Technology – CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly|website=www.supplychainquarterly.com|access-date=2018-03-20}}</ref>

==Books==
* ''Planning by Design'', co-authored with Richard Muther<ref name=Kulkarni />
* ''Simplified Systematic Network Planning'', co-authored by Lee Hales<ref name=Kulkarni />
* ''Systematic Logistics Redesign and Optimization''
* ''Art and Science of Planning Anything''

== Personal life ==
Natarajan is married to Hima Venkata.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ihpp.org/newsletter_spring_2010/nl-spr10_photos.html|title=IHPP - Spring 2010 - Workshop Photo Gallery|website=www.ihpp.org|access-date=2017-12-25}}</ref> They have been married since 2007.

==References==
{{reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* [https://www.sdcexec.com/professional-development/article/10615232/global-supply-chain-predictions-for-2012 Global Supply Chain Predictions for 2012]
* [https://www.logasiamag.com/2011/07/developing-supply-chain-rooted-ceos/ Developing Supply-Chain Rooted CEOS]
* [https://www.sdcexec.com/sourcing-procurement/article/10759508/si5es-for-supply-chain-risk-mitigation Key In on Supply Chain Resiliency Through SI5ES]

==External links==
* [http://shekar-natarajan.com/bio.php#!/bio Homepage]

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Natarajan, Shekar}}
[[Category:1979 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian mechanical engineers]]
[[Category:Georgia Tech alumni]]
[[Category:Jawaharlal Nehru University alumni]]
[[Category:People from Secunderabad]]

Shekar Natarajan - Revision history

imported>Arjayay: alumni > alumnus - alumni is plural