
268 | From Ancient Trade Routes to Modern Supply Chains: Inside Global Wealth, Local Impact with Stephanie Forbes
From Art of Consulting Podcast by Andy Fry, Cat Lam
April 23, 2026 · 31 min · Season 10 · Episode 268
About this episode
Catherine Lam interviews Stephanie Forbes about the historical evolution of supply chains and their impact on local economies.
In this episode, the host Catherine Lam sits down with Stephanie Forbes, founder and CEO of The Forbes Group. Stephanie is an internationally recognized expert in supply chain strategy and operational resilience. To explore her groundbreaking new book, Global Wealth, Local Impact. From the gladiators of the Roman Coliseum to the East India Company, from the Silk Road to the Strait of Hormuz, Stephanie reveals how the invisible machinery of global trade has always shaped local lives, and why understanding that history is the ultimate playbook for navigating today's volatile world economy. This episode is part history, part world affairs, part leadership guide. It will change how you see every product and every business decision. Key Insights You'll Learn · Supply Chains Are as Old as Civilization: From Caesar's gladiator games to the Silk Road to the East India Company, the mechanics of global trade, logistics corridors, currency exchange, quality control, insurance, letters of credit, have been evolving and compounding for over two thousand years. · The East India Company Changed Everything: At its peak, it controlled two-thirds of world trade. It created the modern company…
People in this episode
Host: Catherine Lam
Guest: Stephanie Forbes
Topics covered
- supply chain strategy
- global trade
- operational resilience
- history of trade
- world economy
- leadership
Keywords
- supply chains
- global trade
- operational resilience
- East India Company
- Silk Road
- trust economy
- history of trade
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: The Forbes Group, East India Company
Books & works: Global Wealth, Local Impact
Places: Strait of Hormuz
More episodes of Art of Consulting Podcast
- 267 | Success Circles: How Peers Propel You Forward · April 16, 2026 · 15 min
- 266 | Push or Pull - What Drives Your Success · April 9, 2026 · 13 min
- 265 | Energized By Design - Managing Yourself Through Self Awareness · April 2, 2026 · 12 min
- 264 | Own Your Calendar, Own Your Day · March 26, 2026 · 17 min
- 263 | The Preemptive Edge - Gaining a Strategic Advantage by Acting Early and Wisely · November 27, 2025 · 17 min
- 262 | More Than Compliance - How Confidentiality Serves Us · November 20, 2025 · 17 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Art of Consulting Podcast podcast page.