Join Prashant Shah, a seasoned supply chain leader at SwagUp, as he shares insights on how AI agents, automation, and a data-first leadership philosophy are revolutionizing the promotional products and corporate gifting industry. Learn how his unique background—from a U.S. Marine to an industry veteran—has shaped his approach to logistics and digital transformation.
In this episode, Prashant discusses the company’s strategic response to modern technology trends and the challenges of maintaining a competitive edge in a fast-evolving market. He reveals how SwagUp is tackling common industry pain points like vendor integration, real-time inventory management, and outdated legacy systems to drive business growth.
Key Highlights:
Military-to-Corporate Journey: Prashant's transition from logistics in the Marines to leading the supply chain at SwagUp.
COVID Impact: How the pandemic accelerated the corporate gifting industry and its subsequent post-pandemic plateau.
Practical AI Use Cases: The application of AI agents for faster customer responses, reduced administrative work, and better utilization of human expertise.
"Packs" Innovation: How SwagUp uses intent-based search to create curated promotional product bundles for onboarding and events.
Leadership Philosophy: Why leading with facts and data is crucial and the importance of keeping vision flexible while setting specific, measurable goals.
Culture of Innovation: Fostering a team culture that embraces experimentation, celebrates small wins, and promotes analytics fluency.
Strategic Frameworks: A deep dive into using OKRs and SMART goals to align every department with a core set of three company objectives.
Connect with Prashant Shah:
LinkedIn: [linkedin.com/in/prashant-shah-mba]
Website: https://www.swagup.com/
Email: [email protected]
Chapters
00:00 Intro & Welcome
00:14 Guest Intro: Marines to Supply Chain Leader at SwagUp
01:13 First Jobs & Early Lessons
02:11 Duty, Service, and Giving Back
03:01 Math Over Social Studies: Leading with Data
04:18 Quote & Leadership Mindset
04:27 Tech Picks: Blockchain, AI, Automation
06:17 COVID’s Impact on Corporate Gifting & Events
08:11 Building Internal Tech + Salesforce Integration
09:56 AI Use Cases: Faster Answers, Less Admin
11:07 Agents & Intent-Based Product Discovery
12:34 “Packs” for Onboarding/Events
13:28 Reality vs Ambition: Vendor Integration & Inventory Visibility
16:08 Dimensions/Packaging Chaos; Legacy Interoperability
19:44 Strategy to Edge: Cross-Functional Roadmaps
21:23 From Vision to Three Aligned Goals
23:10 OKRs, SMART Goals, Meaningful KPIs
23:58 Cascading Goals & ROI Visibility
25:14 Cadence: Weekly KPIs, Biweekly Projects
27:01 Startup vs Enterprise Recalibration
28:29 Focus, Shiny Objects, and Learning by Failing
29:12 Pilots, Change Management, Stakeholder Buy-in
30:32 Culture: Celebrate Small Wins; Safe to Fail
32:31 Advice for Early Careers & Founders
35:10 Vision vs Goals—North Star vs Mileposts
37:35 How to Reach Prashant
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About @BenJohnson:
Ben Johnson is a seasoned entrepreneur and technology leader with a proven track record of building and scaling successful companies. As the founder of @Particle41, he helps forward-thinking businesses modernize and grow through cutting-edge technology and expert teams. Connect with Ben to discover how @Particle41 can help you overcome your most complex digital challenges and drive meaningful results.
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Website: particle41.com