Strong Source

by Strong Source

Our mission with the Strong Source podcast is to educate and inform, by creating a community where experts and guests from the entire commodity industry can share their unique perspectives. Martijn, ex-cacao trader, and Alexander, ex-dairy trader and founder of Vesper, have a deep-passion for this industry, which inspired them to start this venture: "We’ll be sharing our personal experiences, the valuable lessons we’ve learn ... 

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Podcast episodes

  • Season 1

  • Episode 16 with Kristine Hochbaum

    Episode 16 with Kristine Hochbaum

    In this episode of the StrongSource Commodity Podcast, we are thrilled to welcome Kristine Hochbaum, a seasoned commodity trader with an impressive 19-year career at Cargill. Kristine has held several key leadership roles, including her most recent position as Global Trading & Risk Management Director for the oils and fats business. During her time at Cargill, Kristine significantly expanded the trading discipline across global markets, promoted inclusive leadership, and even increased female representation in her trading teams from 22% to 38%. Throughout her career, Kristine has been known for her dynamic leadership, keen risk management strategies, and ability to balance both people management and high-stakes commodity trading.

  • Episode 15 with Willem Uijen

    Episode 15 with Willem Uijen

    With over 25 years at Unilever, Willem Uijen brings a wealth of experience, having worked across the globe in various supply chain roles before transitioning to procurement. As our first Chief Procurement Officer guest on the show, Willem offers unique insights into the challenges and strategies of managing commodities on a global scale, touching on topics like sustainability, supply security, and managing volatility in today's markets. Tune in for an engaging conversation with one of the top leaders in the FMCG industry.

  • Episode 14 with Javier Blas

    Episode 14 with Javier Blas

    In this episode, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Javier Blas, a distinguished energy and commodities columnist at Bloomberg and the co-author of the acclaimed book The World for Sale. Javier takes us through his fascinating and unexpected journey into the world of commodity journalism, beginning with his early interest in the Middle East and leading to his extensive coverage of the oil market. Over the years, Javier has become a prominent voice in the field of commodities. During our conversation, he delves into the inspiration behind writing The World for Sale, a book that aims to shed light on the crucial yet often shadowy world of commodity trading—a sector that plays a pivotal role in the global economy.

  • Episode 13 with Marc Perathoner

    Episode 13 with Marc Perathoner

    Join us in this episode of the StrongSource commodity podcast as we welcome Marc Perathoner, Director of Commodity Risk Management at FrieslandCampina. Marc shares his fascinating career journey from Goldman Sachs to the Chicago Board of Trade, where he gained extensive experience in commodity trading and price risk management. The discussion explores his expertise in financial instruments and market dynamics, as well as his success in creating and implementing commodity price risk management units within multinational companies. Don't miss his insights on managing risk in the dairy industry and how his investment banking background has shaped his approach.

  • Episode 12 with Edwin van Stipdonk

    Episode 12 with Edwin van Stipdonk

    This week, we welcome Edwin van Stipdonk, the Chief Commercial Officer of Interfood Group, one of the world's leading dairy trading companies. In this episode, Edwin shares his journey from a junior trader to a key business leader in a family-owned company. He provides an in-depth look at the functioning of the dairy market, exploring its complexities and opportunities.