Turning Disruption into a Launchpad for Innovation
Shyam Katuri
COO
Global Sourcing Agency
Every organisation dreams of scaling smarter, faster, and stronger. Few leaders can bridge the gap between that ambition and the day-to-day realities of execution. Shyam Katuri has spent nearly twenty years building that bridge—one market launch, supply chain transformation, and cross-border sourcing strategy at a time. Blending operational discipline, commercial acumen, and a people-first leadership style, Shyam has shaped organisations that anticipate change, adapt to disruption, and consistently deliver results. His career journey spans leadership roles at global retail and e-commerce giants—Walmart, IKEA, Lowe’s, and Myntra/ Jabong. At Walmart, he scaled sourcing operations from India and APAC while helping define Walmart’s India market-entry strategy. At IKEA, he navigated regulatory challenges to establish a robust supply ecosystem as Commercial Head. At Lowe’s, he built the India sourcing hub, laying the foundation for long-term growth in the home improvement category. His entrepreneurial drive culminated in founding Ionic and Oakart under TWIF Technologies Pvt. Ltd., a supply chain technology startup for the home improvement sector. Under his leadership, TWIF created an end-to-end sourcing platform incubated at IIT Dhanbad, funded by Startup India and NITI Aayog, and later awarded Tech Startup of the Year 2025. The venture was eventually acquihired by JNG, where its technology now powers enterprise-scale transformation. Guided by three pillars—process discipline, technology enablement, and respect for people—Shyam continues to align supply chain efficiency with business expansion, building systems that deliver today while preparing for tomorrow. A Certified Professional in Supply Chain Management (CPSCM™), he has also led global RFI/RFP operations and implemented advanced WMS and inventory systems to optimise Total Cost of Ownership. With TradeFlock, Shyam shares the insights, philosophies, and lessons that continue to shape his journey as a transformative leader.
In a new leadership role, what challenges do you tackle first, and how?
Whenever I step into a new leadership role, my first priority is team and tech – assembling a team that’s not just skilled but deeply aligned with the vision. Strategy only works if the right people bring it to life. Then comes empowerment: giving them the processes and technology to excel. At Walmart, I saw how world-class supply chains thrive when human expertise and tech work in harmony. Finally, I live by “God lies in the detail”—because in retail and supply chain, precision isn’t optional; it’s the difference between growth and costly mistakes.
With supply chain as your strength, what’s your playbook today, and what’s your advice for leaders facing disruptions?
Disruption is no longer an exception—it’s the baseline. From tariff wars to the Suez blockage and now geopolitical turbulence, my strategy starts with resisting knee-jerk reactions. I focus on understanding demand shifts—how consumers adapt to price changes—and supply responses from retailers and manufacturers. Diversifying sourcing across India, Vietnam, and Southeast Asia reduces over-reliance on China, while product mix optimisation, smart packaging, and strategic pricing protect both margins and market share. My defining challenge came at Lowe’s during COVID-19, when supply chains collapsed overnight. Instead of firefighting blindly, we built a “Resilience Playbook” anchored on dual sourcing, tech-driven visibility, and proactive buyer engagement. That experience taught me that constraints aren’t roadblocks—they’re proving grounds for innovation. For leaders, my advice is simple: avoid kneejerk reactions, separate short-term turbulence from structural change, rely on data over headlines, diversify your options, and treat business as a living organism—evolving product, category, and packaging strategies to turn instability into agility. This real-time transparency empowers every level of the organisation, from the CEO to lastmile QC, to act on the same live data. The payoff has been game-changing: sharper decisions, fewer operational shocks, improved on-time delivery, elevated client satisfaction, and a launchpad for AI-led procurement intelligence.
"STRATEGY ONLY WORKS IF THE RIGHT PEOPLE BRING IT TO LIFE"
How have your early career experiences shaped your leadership today?
Starting my career at Walmart shaped me profoundly. It cemented my belief in the power of people, process, and technology, and showed me how operational discipline and innovation can coexist to create unmatched competitive advantage. Leadership there wasn’t about issuing directives—it was about staying connected to the ground, ensuring every team member understood the bigger mission. Operating at a massive scale taught me the art of perspective: knowing when to zoom into the details and when to step back. That balance continues to guide my approach to leading complex, high-impact operations.
How has your definition of success evolved over time?
In my 20s and 30s, success was measured in titles, global exposure, and the scale of operations. Today, it’s about “legacy through leverage”—creating systems, teams, and cultures that flourish without constant firefighting.
Outside of work, what keeps you grounded and fuels your creativity?
I recharge by mentoring startups in home improvement, AI, and consumer tech—sharing insights while learning from fresh perspectives. My love for tech and smart tools helps process design and backend architecture, which often has me sharpening my creative thinking. Lately, I’ve been exploring many AI tools and AI wraps to fit into our traditional business setups. Creativity, for me, is cultivated through observation, pattern recognition, and intentional solitude, whether during a quiet journaling session or a long reflective walk. Personal philosophy: Be yourself with skills and stay humble and nimble.
