Mike Hockett on Executive Decision-Making in an Uncertain Supply Chain.

What happens when intuition, AI, tariffs, and leadership collide in wholesale distribution?

In this episode of Around the Horn Podcast, Kevin Brown and Tom Burton are joined by Mike Hockett of Modern Distribution Management to unpack the biggest forces shaping distribution leaders right now, from trade policy and infrastructure risk to AI governance and executive decision-making under uncertainty.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why intuition still matters in executive decision-making, even in a data-driven world
• How tariffs are changing distributor behavior, pricing strategy, and inventory planning
• The hidden risks of AI agents, vibe coding, and unsecured automation inside the enterprise
• What NAW leaders are really discussing behind closed doors about the future of wholesale distribution
• How top distributors are redefining productivity, focus, and profitable growth

Episode Highlights:

• 05:12 – Why the NAW Executive Summit is different from every other industry event
• 14:40 – “Listen to the whispers”: using intuition when data breaks down
• 26:18 – Leadership lessons from crisis decision-making and 9/11
• 38:55 – Tariffs, front-loaded demand, and the reality distributors are planning for
• 52:30 – AI agents, data leakage, and why governance matters more than speed
• 01:08:10 – The real ROI of AI in wholesale distribution, not the hype
• 01:22:45 – Productivity, focus, and why most leaders only execute half their priorities
  
  

Meet the Guest:

Mike Hockett is Executive Editor at Modern Distribution Management (MDM) and part of the National Association of Wholesalers. He brings a deep perspective on distributor economics, leadership trends, AI adoption, and the structural forces reshaping the wholesale distribution industry.

Tools, Frameworks, and Strategies Mentioned:

• Executive intuition frameworks for decision-making in uncertainty
• AI governance and agent-based system risk management
• Tariff response strategies in wholesale distribution
• Productivity alignment models for leadership teams
• Data-driven prioritization and alerting systems in enterprise platforms

Closing Insight:

“In a world of volatility, the winners aren’t waiting for certainty—they’re building systems that adapt.”

If you’re a distributor, manufacturer, or industry leader navigating AI, tariffs, and transformation, this episode will help you think more clearly about what actually matters next.

Connect with Mike Hockett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-hockett-mdm/

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