S&OP Unplugged - Episode 7
Leaders from Nike, Mondelez International, Collins Aerospace, and Actylis reflect on their personal journeys into demand planning, how to build strong forecasting talent, and why the profession continues to grow in importance. They discuss the value of predictive analytics, championing women in the field, and the critical role people play in S&OP success—from organizational design to everyday collaboration.
Become an IBF Member to watch the unplugged session in full or create an account to watch a few chapters.
S&OP Unplugged Topics:
- Predictive Analytics / Uses in Demand Planning
- Building Talent / Demand Planning & Forecasting
- Getting into the Demand Planning Role / Career Journey
- Encouraging Women / Demand Planning
- Why is Demand Planning Great? / Value of the Profession
- Where Demand Planning Belongs? / Organizational Design
- Success in S&OP / The Magic of People





Eric is a predictive analytics and business planning innovator, author, teacher and speaker. As Director of Thought Leadership at IBF, he brings over 20 years of experience, previously leading demand planning at Escalade Sports, Berry Plastics, and Tempur Sealy. Eric is an IBF Advanced Certified Professional Forecaster (ACPF) and received IBF’s Excellence in Business Forecasting & Planning award in 2016. He is a frequent speaker and panelist who has published extensively in The Journal of Business Forecasting and APICS Magazine. Eric is also the author of Cultural Cycles, Predictive Analytics for Business Forecasting & Planning, and Practical Guide to Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP/ IBP).