The Future of AI in Distribution
May 21, 2025, 9 PT/12 ET
Artificial intelligence is no longer a distant trend, it's becoming a core driver of transformation across the distribution industry. But what does that mean for your business today, and how can you prepare for what’s next?
In this episode of Wholesale Change, we’ll explore how AI is reshaping distribution – from automating operations to enhancing customer experiences – and what practical steps you can take to stay competitive.
Our guest, Janet Zelenka, brings a rare blend of financial and IT expertise from years of executive leadership in large-scale distribution and service organizations. Together, we’ll tackle the tough questions around AI strategy, implementation, and ROI.
What you’ll learn:
- Where AI is delivering real business results in distribution
- How to assess and prioritize AI opportunities for your company
- Common roadblocks and how to overcome them
- What AI means for leadership, talent, and organizational change
- How distributors of all sizes can prepare for an AI-driven future
Join us for a strategic conversation for distribution leaders who want to make informed decisions about emerging technologies.
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Public and Private Company Board Member, Audit Committee Chair
Thank you to our sponsor:
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About our speaker:
Janet H. Zelenka
Public and Private Company Board Member, Audit Committee Chair, Former Public Company Chief Financial Officer/Chief Information Officer
Janet is a Board member for public and private companies and most recently served as both CFO and CIO for Stericycle, a public company in the healthcare waste industry. She combines her collaborative and transparent leadership style with her unique synthesis of finance and IT expertise to drive shareholder value. She is an engaging and respected thought leader and speaker on profitability, cash generation, artificial intelligence, IT/data, and board governance. In 2023, she was named to 2023 Crain’s Chicago Business Notable Leaders in Finance List and was awarded the 2023 Bronze Stevie Award for Technology Executive of the Year. In 2022 Janet won the 2022 Chicago Enterprise CIO of the Year ORBIE Award, the Chicago SIM CIO+ of the Year Award and was a finalist for the Chicago FEI CFO Public Company Award.
About our hosts:
Ian Heller
Co-Founder & Chief Strategy Officer, Distribution Strategy Group
Ian Heller is Founder & Senior Partner at Distribution Strategy Group, and has more than 30 years of experience executing marketing and e-business strategy in the wholesale distribution industry. He has written and spoken extensively on the impact of digital disruption on distributors.
Jonathan Bein, Ph.D.
Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Distribution Strategy Group
Jonathan Bein Ph.D. has worked with over 100 distributors to apply advanced analytics and AI to improve customer experience, define value proposition, estimate sales potential and create digital strategy.