Please introduce yourself and explain what you do at the moment?

I'm Nikhil Patil, a seasoned supply chain professional with a passion for innovation, currently working at Amazon. My journey began with a bachelor's in mechanical engineering, followed by advanced studies in industrial engineering in the United States, where I pursued a double major. Starting at XPO Logistics, I built my career in analytics before expanding into business development roles. This diverse background has equipped me with a unique blend of engineering acumen, analytical prowess, and strategic thinking, which I now apply to push the boundaries of supply chain management at Amazon.

When it comes to small businesses, what makes a small business stand out?

Although, where I work at Amazon is huge, many teams operate like startups, moving fast and constantly iterating. That’s what makes them successful, and it’s the same strength small businesses have. My key advice: don’t let perfect get in the way of good. If something is good enough, launch it and improve as you go—whether it’s tech, business, or a presentation.

Analytics and processes can be daunting for many small businesses. What challenges do you see when it comes to implementing good analytics, and how can they overcome them?

The biggest challenge is simply having the right data because without it analytics is not possible. My advice is to avoid jumping straight into fancy tools and instead start with something simple like a spreadsheet. You do not need complex databases or advanced models at the start; just gather your customer data, perform basic analysis in Excel, and build from there. Think of it like this: Rome was not built in a day. The same goes for processes because they do not appear overnight. As you repeat tasks, you will naturally spot inefficiencies and create better workflows. So, start small, move fast, and build steadily.

There’s so much tech out there that it can be overwhelming. How should they approach selecting the right tech without feeling lost or pressured?

Nowadays, it is easy to see AI as the silver bullet and while AI tools can write codes and do analysis for you, even in large companies they still use SQL/Python etc. to manually pull and analyze data before making decisions, and only when outputs are verified over time, AI is trained for performing repetitive tasks. I recommend understanding the basics of analytics and their applications for your business. Use free resources like YouTube or online courses to learn fundamentals, and then make an informed decision on which tech tools to procure for your business needs.

At this point in your journey, what does leadership mean to you?

I’ve worked under various leaders and the ones who stood out the most were the ones who led with empathy - and I don’t just mean emotional empathy; I mean professional empathy too. Leaders who were truly invested in my growth, not just their own. That’s something I’ve really embraced. I’ve managed people before and been an individual contributor, and even then, I’ve taken on mentoring roles when asked. My belief is simple: if I’m doing well, I want others to do well too. Some leaders focus only on business growth. Others focus on growing their people, and I can say for sure, when you invest in your people, the business grows naturally. When your team grows, the bottom line follows.

"Success doesn’t come from just doing what your manager says. It comes from understanding customer needs and working backwards from there."

So, this year you’re a judge for the BASA Awards®. What do you want to see in a winning nomination?

What I really want to see is a clear vision. Participants should be able to articulate what they set out to do, how they did it, and where they’re going next. That clarity of purpose and strategy is the most important thing I look for.