Coworking with Sean Mitchell

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Sean Mitchell is VP of customer success at Gather AI, which provides drone-powered inventory management.

How would you describe your job to someone who doesn’t work in retail? For context, our solution at Gather AI uses autonomous, commodity drones, and AI software to automate inventory monitoring for warehouse operators to decrease inventory costs, improve productivity, and boost revenue. I’m responsible for bringing AI and data analytics to the world of inventory and warehousing, supporting customers across third-party logistics, retail distribution, manufacturing, food and beverage, and health and wellness.

One thing we can’t guess about your job from your LinkedIn profile? I’m an engineer and am responsible for overseeing hardware design, supply chain, and sourcing. In my role at Gather AI, I’ve also had the opportunity to share about my work with some podcasts. I never thought this would be something I would do, but it’s been a great experience, and you can check out my episodes over at The Manufacturing Executive Podcast, Supply Chain Careers Podcast and TechEd Podcasts.

What’s your favorite project you’ve worked on? The Army and Airforce Exchange Services was one of our first large customer implementations. Gather AI has helped them manage over 100k pallets locations between two sites. Their distribution scale is huge, and this includes shipping to and supporting retail customers all over the world. 

Which emerging retail trend are you most excited about right now, and why? I’m excited about the shift to omnichannel distribution, where companies are having to pivot from a pure brick-and-mortar supply structure to engaging with ecommerce in parallel with traditional retail solutions. This means that although the same amount of product is being shipped out of the distribution center, the number of transitions has increased exponentially, as small orders are now placed by the end user online.

What’s your go-to coffee order? Black. I learned to drink coffee while working in Sweden. They make some incredible dark, flavorful coffee. I’m always looking for something similar.

Worst piece of advice you’ve received? “Don’t worry, it’ll be fine.” I’ve found that getting into the details is the key to a successful plan, project, organization, or meeting. One of the big mistakes is underestimating the power of thinking ahead.

What was your favorite retail product when you were 15, and what’s your favorite retail product now? At 15, my favorite product was a Honda Sonic 125 motor bike. I lived in Bangkok, and this was my ticket to freedom as a kid. Today, it would be the Hoka Shoes from Zappos. I’m a big fan of the customer interaction Zappos provides. I first heard about their customer-centric approach through an interview with their CEO, Tony Hsieh, on the How I Built This podcast, where he explored the idea that an amazing customer experience starts with a happy team.