AI, Data Centers, and Energy Demand

As supply chains expand across global networks, the next generation of leaders is being trained to think beyond trucks and warehouses, toward the broader constraints shaping business today. Dr. Morgan Swink, West Chair, Professor of SCM and Executive Director of the Center for Supply Chain Innovation at Texas Christian University’s Neeley School of Business, joins Supply Chain Now alongside three standout seniors, Ava Scotchie, Joshua Ahn, and Cort Comer, to share what they’re seeing in real time as they prepare to enter the industry.

In this Now Generation conversation, Scott Luton and Dr. Swink explore what makes TCU’s supply chain program so distinctive, from high-touch faculty mentorship and curriculum that mirrors real workplace ambiguity, to site visits, case competitions, and capstone projects designed to deliver real value to companies. The students share how these experiences have shaped their confidence, career direction, and readiness to lead.

They also dig into the trends these emerging professionals are watching most closely: reverse logistics and the rising cost of returns, sustainability and ethical visibility across multi-tier suppliers, and the growing energy and infrastructure demands driven by AI and data center expansion. The episode highlights how supply chain thinking is evolving, and why the leaders who can connect operations, ethics, and resource constraints will be the ones who shape what comes next.

Jump into the conversation:

00:00) Intro

(01:43) Spotlight on TCU’s supply chain program

(02:14) Meet the student leaders of supply chain

(03:32) Ava discusses her passion for supply chain

(04:05) Joshua shares his global supply chain journey

(04:36) Cort focuses on energy and supply chain

(12:10) Dr. Swink’s vision for the program

(14:26) Students discuss top supply chain trends

(23:52) Career goals and making a lasting impact

(26:33) Joshua on driving supply chain sustainability

(28:03) Career advice for aspiring supply chain leaders

(29:59) Cort on energy’s role in supply chain

(38:21) Ava reflects on TCU’s hands-on learning

(47:28) Building meaningful supply chain connections

Additional Links & Resources:

1. Connect with Dr. Morgan Swink: https://www.linkedin.com/in/morgan-swink-8331ab11/
2. Connect with Ava Scotchie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ava-scotchie,
3. Connect with Joshua Ahn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuajahn/
4. Connect with Colt Comer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cort-comer
5. Learn more about TCU’s Neeley School of Business: https://www.neeley.tcu.edu/
6. Learn more about our hosts: https://supplychainnow.com/about
7. Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.com
8. Watch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here: https://supplychainnow.com/program/supply-chain-now
9. Subscribe to Supply Chain Now on your favorite platform: https://supplychainnow.com/join
10. Work with us! Download Supply Chain Now’s NEW Media Kit: https://bit.ly/3XH6OVk
11. WEBINAR- Supply Chain Planning Reimagined: Embedded AI that senses, explains, and optimizes: https://bit.ly/4pOGgyo
12. WEBINAR- ChatGPT Is Just the Beginning for Shipping: https://bit.ly/3YLFGq7

This episode was hosted by Scott Luton and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/now-generation-perspectives-ai-energy-ethical-supply-chains-1546