Sourcing Industry Landscape: Recent Episodes
Dawn Tiura
Are you ready for the next wave of disruption in procurement? Join Sourcing Industry Group CEO Dawn Tiura, CSP, CSMP, C3PRMP, for conversations on the sourcing industry landscape with innovators who embrace technology to improve, influence and inspire procurement professionals.
In this podcast episode, Dawn Tiura interviews Robert Reynolds, co-founder and CEO of Tangible Intelligence, discussing the evolving landscape of procurement technology and the impact of AI. They explore the challenges faced by procurement professionals, the importance of selecting the right technology, and the potential use cases for AI in streamlining processes. Reynolds emphasizes the need for quick wins and the ethical considerations surrounding AI deployment, while also highlighting the rapid advancements in technology that can transform procurement functions.
In this podcast episode, Dawn Tiura interviews Remi Legorrec, the CRO and co-founder of Flowie, an AI-powered orchestration platform for procurement and finance. Remi shares insights from his experience at the pitch showdown during the Global Executive Summit, his background in engineering and strategic consulting, and the evolution of Flowie. The conversation delves into the concepts of agentic orchestration, intelligent automation, and the role of generative AI in procurement. Remi emphasizes the importance of collaboration, data security, and the need for human involvement in decision-making processes, while also addressing concerns about AI hallucinations and biases.
In this episode, Dawn Tiura discusses the upcoming SIG Global Executive Summit in Nashville with Jim Gruwell of Smurfit Westrock and Pramod Sethumadhavan of GEP. They give a sneak peek into their general session, Fragmented to Future-Proof: How Smurfit Westrock Engineered a High-Impact Procurement Transformation, which focuses on the transformation of procurement at Smurfit Westrock. Together they explore the evolving role of procurement, the challenges faced in shifting mindsets from transactional to strategic approaches, and the integration of digital tools to enhance efficiency. The conversation highlights the importance of trust, communication, and a long-term vision in achieving successful procurement transformation.
In this podcast, Dawn Tiura hosts Matthew Buckingham of Focal Point and Marc Behring of Messer to discuss their upcoming session, Procurement's Evolving Role: Beyond Cost Savings, at the Global Executive Summit in Nashville. They explore how procurement teams can balance short-term cost savings with long-term value creation, the importance of supplier relationships, the role of automation in enhancing these relationships, and the necessity of integrating risk management into procurement processes. The discussion emphasizes the need for innovation within procurement to drive competitive advantage and the importance of understanding human relationships in the procurement field.
In this podcast episode, Dawn Tiura welcomes Tom Petit and Lorenz Pallhuber, two of the three co-founders of Didero—one of the three finalists competing in the "Startup Pitch Showdown" on April 3rd at the GES Summit in Nashville. Tom and Lorenz share insights into the challenges supply chain teams face and how Didero’s innovative solutions are transforming the industry. Their conversation highlights the importance of automating mundane tasks, empowering professionals to focus on strategic decision-making, and the broader impact of their technology on procurement.
In this podcast episode, Dawn Tiura sits down with Ankur Srivastava, founder and CEO of Flywl, one of three finalists competing in the “Startup Pitch Showdown” on April 3rd at the GES Summit in Nashville. Flywl is on a mission to transform cloud marketplaces and procurement processes.
Ankur shares his entrepreneurial journey, what inspired him to launch Flywl, and how the company is streamlining the buyer experience in cloud marketplaces. He dives into the critical role of understanding buyer needs, integrating seamlessly with existing procurement systems, and fostering collaboration to drive real change in the industry.
The episode wraps up with a call to action, inviting listeners to connect with Flywl and explore their groundbreaking solutions.
In this podcast episode, Dawn Tiura hosts Roger Blumberg and Dan Linney to discuss their upcoming breakout session, Roadmap for Tackling the 2025 CPO Agenda. They explore the challenges procurement leaders will face, including the need for scenario planning and the impact of tariffs. The conversation shifts to the importance of redefining value beyond cost savings and the role of technology, particularly AI, in optimizing procurement processes. They emphasize the need for supplier diversification and building strong relationships to ensure resilience in supply chains. Join them in Nashville for the Global Executive Summit at the Omni Nashville Hotel from 4/2-4/4/25.
In this podcast episode, Paul Vincent of Randstad Enterprise gives a sneak peek into his upcoming session for the GES Spring 2025 Summit. He describes how he, along with his fellow panelists, Brian Roche and Zach Engels of Westfield Insurance and Sydney Loomans of CME Group will discuss the evolving landscape of procurement. This upcoming session titled 'The Generation Procurement Game: from Clerk to Confidante,' will explore the historical and current trends in procurement strategies. Paul shares insights on how procurement has shifted from a focus on cost to value, the importance of influence in leadership, and the pressing challenges faced by procurement leaders today, including the impact of AI and the need for proactive engagement. Register today for the GES Spring Summit and join us for this engaging session on April 3rd at the Omni Nashville Hotel!
In this podcast episode, author, Kyle Scheele, gives a sneak peek into his April 3rd opening keynote, discussing the importance of fostering creativity and innovation within organizations. He emphasizes that ideas have specific needs and that leaders must cultivate an environment where creativity can thrive. Kyle addresses common misconceptions about creativity, highlighting that it is not an inherent trait but a skill that can be developed. To hear more from Kyle Scheele, register for the upcoming GES Spring Summit taking place at the Omni Nashville Hotel from April 2nd-April 4th.
In this podcast episode, Dawn Tiura of SIG interviews Jag Lamba, CEO of Certa, a third-party lifecycle management platform. They discuss the importance of AI in procurement, particularly generative AI's role in managing unstructured data and improving efficiency. Jag explains how Certa's platform helps organizations manage risks and compliance while streamlining data collection and analysis. The conversation also touches on the challenges of operationalizing generative AI and the significance of change management in organizations adopting this technology.
In this podcast episode, Dawn Tiura interviews Future of Sourcing Rising Star winner, Greta Fielitz of Airbus U.S. Space & Defense. They discuss Greta's unique career journey from anthropology and archaeology to technical sales and ultimately to her current role as a senior contracts manager. The conversation delves into the challenges and learning curves of working with government contracts, the importance of self-belief, and the balance between professional and personal life. Greta shares insights on her experiences at Airbus, her passion for sourcing, and her advice for those starting in procurement.
In this podcast episode, Dawn Tiura of SIG interviews Jon Winsett, CEO of NPI, discussing the evolution and challenges of IT procurement. They explore how NPI helps enterprises manage IT spend effectively, the complexities of software licensing, and the importance of negotiation strategies. John shares insights on the growing significance of IT procurement in organizations and offers best practices for sourcing professionals as they prepare for the challenges of 2025.
In this episode, Dawn Tiura of SIG and Matt Kruse of ProcureAbility explore the often-overlooked concept of tail spend in procurement—discussing its impact, inherent challenges, and the best practices for managing it effectively. They dive into the risks tied to unmanaged tail spend, emphasizing the crucial role of data visibility and analysis in addressing these issues. By sharing real-world examples, they illustrate how successful tail spend management can drive cost savings and reduce procurement risks. The conversation highlights the importance of a strategic, collaborative, and continuously monitored approach to optimize procurement and unlock hidden value.
In this podcast episode, Dawn Tiura of SIG interviews Thejo Kote of Airbase. Airbase provides a secure-to-pay solution that combines enterprise-grade power with a user-friendly interface while addressing the inefficiencies in accounting and finance processes for small to mid-sized companies. Airbase aims to transform and streamline the procure-to-pay process, ensuring smarter spending and better compliance. The solution differs from traditional enterprise options by offering agility, a lower price point, and easier implementation. It integrates procurement workflows with expense management and accounts payable automation, providing a comprehensive view of spending and improving efficiency. A well-run procurement process can have a significant impact on a company's success by optimizing spending decisions and driving profitability.
In this podcast episode, Dawn Tiura of SIG and Joey Lombardi of Evernorth preview his upcoming 2024 GES session, “Conquering Software Catalogs: Unlocking Cost and Time Savings.” They discuss his expertise in software catalogs and the evolution of Evernorth. They explore the benefits of implementing software catalogs for governance and supplier relationships, as well as the complexities of navigating contracts in technology procurement. To hear more, join us on Tuesday, October 8th at 3:15pm at the Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort and Spa in Palm Springs, CA.
"In this podcast, Dawn Tiura of SIG and Paul Vincent of Randstad Sourceright preview the upcoming session, 'Do Your Stakeholders View You as a Procure-peneur or a Procure-aucrat?”, taking place on October 8th at the 2024 Global Executive Summit in Palm Springs, CA. They delve into the evolving role of procurement professionals and discuss how they can transition from being seen as policy enforcers to becoming true business partners. The conversation highlights the importance of mindset, language, and strategies that can help procurement professionals deliver greater value to their organizations. Tune in for more insights and join us on October 8th at the Omni Rancho Las Palmas in Palm Springs, CA."
In this episode, Dawn Tiura, CEO of SIG, chats with Brian Kyle of the American Cancer Society and Rudy Lim from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation about their upcoming session at the 2024 Fall Global Executive Summit. They delve into the unique challenges and opportunities of the source-to-pay (STP) process in nonprofit organizations, highlighting the key differences between nonprofit and for-profit entities in areas like sourcing, vendor management, and aligning procurement with mission-driven goals. Be sure to catch Rudy and Brian's session on Tuesday, October 8th, at the Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa in Palm Springs, CA!
In this podcast episode, Dawn Tiura of SIG interviews Nathan Haydn-Myer, the Chief Procurement Officer for VSP Vision. Nathan gives a sneak peek into his upcoming general session taking place on October 8th at the Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort and Spa in Palm Desert, CA. They discuss the importance of earning a seat at the table rather than asking for it. Nathan emphasizes the need for procurement professionals to focus on bringing value to their stakeholders and understanding their needs. They also discuss the power of influence and the role of procurement in driving real change within an organization. Nathan shares his experience in transforming the perception of procurement and earning the respect of business partners. Join Nathan Haydn-Myer on October 8th at the 2024 Fall Global Executive Summit.
In this podcast episode, Dawn Tiura interviews Sarah Scudder about her upcoming workshop, "How to Build Your Brand and Bullet Proof Your Career Using LinkedIn," taking place at the Global Executive Summit on October 7th in Palm Desert, CA. Sarah shares her expertise on how to optimize your LinkedIn profile, create engaging content, and leverage the platform to generate business and career opportunities. She emphasizes the importance of having a clear messaging pillar and personal storytelling in your content. Join Sarah Scudder on October 7th at the Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort and Spa in Palm Desert, CA.
In this podcast episode, Susan Walsh, known as the Classification Guru, offers a preview of her upcoming workshop, The Dirty Spend Data Clinic, which takes place at the Global Executive Summit on October 7th in Palm Desert, CA. She delves into the critical role of clean and accurate data in procurement. Susan identifies common issues like duplicate suppliers, incorrect categorizations, typos, and discrepancies in language and unit measurements, all of which can hinder effective procurement processes. She stresses the importance of everyone in the procurement chain, from assistants to CPOs, being aware of and addressing dirty data. Make sure to join Susan Walsh at the Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort and Spa on October 7th.
In this podcast interview, Dawn Tiura sits down with Amanda Prochaska of Wonder Services to discuss her upcoming workshop at the Global Executive Summit on Monday, October 7th, in Palm Desert, CA. Amanda explores the Alice methodology and its significance in navigating change using neuroscience. The methodology emphasizes using energy wisely while leading change and applying brain science to the change journey. This training helps executives understand how the brain functions and how to exhibit the right behaviors to drive change. The workshop aims to provide a common understanding and vocabulary for effectively guiding people through change. Join Amanda Prochaska on October 7th at the Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort and Spa in Palm Desert CA, to learn more!
In this podcast episode, Dawn Tiura sits down with John Sitilides, principal at Trilogy Advisors, LLC, and a national security senior fellow, to discuss his upcoming keynote presentation at the Global Executive Summit on Wednesday, October 9th, at the Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort in Palm Springs, CA. John previews the critical themes of his keynote, focusing on the impact of geopolitical risks on global supply chains and strategic procurement planning. He delves into how factors such as territorial disputes and conflicts can disrupt supply chains and shipping lanes, with significant consequences for the global economy. The conversation also explores the challenges of transitioning to net-zero carbon emissions, the complexities of the global energy market, and concludes with an insightful discussion on the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, including the potential implications of Ukraine joining NATO.
In this episode of the Sourcing Industry Landscape Podcast, host, Dawn Tiura welcomes Dupree Jones from CSL Behring. Dupree brings over 20 years of experience in global procurement, government contracts, and vendor management, with a career that spans from managing subcontractors in Iraq to leading transformations in various industries including aerospace, retail, and pharmaceuticals.
Dupree shares insights on the importance of empathy in procurement and sales. He discusses the benefits of understanding the perspectives of both buyers and suppliers, especially during challenging times like the COVID-19 pandemic. Dupree emphasizes the need for thorough research and preparation in negotiations and the positive impact of transparent communication and debriefing processes.
Join us as Dupree highlights the significance of being a customer of choice, the evolving nature of procurement during global crises, and the value of maintaining professional relationships in a small, interconnected industry. This episode offers valuable advice for both seasoned professionals and those new to the field on how to foster empathy and achieve better outcomes in their procurement practices.
Simon Jones, a tech veteran with over 25 years of experience, discusses Agiloft's Data First Agreement platform and its impact on contract lifecycle management (CLM). Agiloft focuses on making the contracting process quicker, faster, and more valuable by prioritizing data over documents. The platform allows for easy access to contract information, trend analysis, performance tracking, and integration with other systems. Industries with high regulation requirements, such as ESG reporting, can benefit greatly from Agiloft. The long-term goal is to make contract data the foundation of strategic planning and elevate the profile of contracts in organizations.
In this podcast episode, Dawn Tiura interviews Sagi Eliyahu, the co-founder and CEO of Tonkean, about their new offering called Tonkean Enterprise Co-Pilot. This AI-powered tool is designed to enhance the value of intake and orchestration in procurement processes. Sagi explains, that unlike other AI tools that focus on specific tasks or chatbot functionalities, Tonkean Enterprise Co-Pilot provides a cohesive suite of capabilities that automate and streamline the entire procurement process. It integrates with existing systems and policies, pulls information from different sources, and automates tasks, allowing users to focus on higher-value work. The tool is ready for use and has already shown significant success in cutting down procurement cycles and increasing efficiency.
In this podcast episode, Dawn Tiura interviews Matt Schulz, Vice President of Procurement Strategy at Airbase. They discuss Airbase's procure-to-pay solution and the role of technology in procurement. They also explore the importance of real-time insights, streamlined vendor relationships, and the impact of AI on the future of procurement. Mat shares his background in the Marine Corps and how it has influenced his leadership style. The conversation highlights the need for procurement teams to embrace technology and stay ahead of the curve.
Join us for an insightful podcast where we explore the revolutionary impact of Generative AI (GenAI) on procurement, as detailed in Zycus' latest book, "10X Source-to-Pay with GenAI." From automating mundane tasks to strategizing complex procurement processes, discover how GenAI is not just changing the game—it's creating a new one.
Why You Should Tune in and Grab a Copy of the Book:
- Real-World Applications: Learn about practical implementations and real-world case studies where GenAI has significantly improved efficiency and strategic outcomes in procurement.
- Future Trends: Discover the future of procurement and how GenAI technologies are driving innovation, from conversational AI interfaces to advanced analytics for smarter decision-making.
- Actionable Advice: This episode provides actionable advice on how to implement GenAI-driven strategies within your organization, paralleling the book’s guidance.
The podcast and the book together offer a comprehensive look at how Generative AI is a strategic necessity for the changing industry standards and practices. By tuning into the podcast, you will not only grasp the concepts discussed in the book but also understand how to practically apply them for maximum benefit in your role and organization.
You can download your ebook at https://www.zycus.com/knowledge-hub/ebooks/10x-source-to-pay-with-genai?utm_source=10xs2p&utm_medium=podcast
On this episode of the Sourcing Industry Landscape (SIG) podcast, recorded live during the Global Executive Summit, host Dawn Tiura, CEO of SIG, interviews Rana Karimi, Solutions Manager at ProcureAbility, the leading provider of procurement services.
Dawn and Rana discuss SIG, its educational programs, and SIG University's certification and training offerings. Rana shares insights into her engineering background, her transition to sourcing and consulting, and her role at providing customized solutions for clients of ProcureAbility. The conversation covers the importance of relationship building in procurement, the impact of automation and AI, and how ProcureAbility transforms global organizations’ procurement operations with their comprehensive services including advisory, managed services, digital, and staffing and recruiting solutions.
On this episode of the Sourcing Industry Landscape podcast recorded live during the Global Executive Summit, Dina Ghobrial, founder of Halo AI, discusses her transition from Chief Procurement Officer at Coupa Software to launching Halo AI - a cutting edge platform that aims to revolutionize third-party risk management by leveraging technology to streamline vendor vetting processes. Halo AI utilizes diverse data sources, such as cybersecurity, financial viability, ESG, climate, and sentiment analysis, to generate instant vendor scores. Tune in to hear about Dina’s journey and how Halo AI has the potential to transform third-party risk management within the procurement industry.
Learn more about Halo AI: https://www.gohalo.ai/
On this episode of the Sourcing Industry Landscape podcast, Dawn is joined by Anders Lillevik, CEO and founder of Focal Point. The two discuss the need for an end-to-end enterprise procurement orchestration platform and the role of generative AI in enhancing procurement processes. Anders explains Focal Point's vision and how they aim to address the challenges faced in procurement operations, such as tracking and managing procurement activities, ensuring compliance, and gaining recognition for the work done.
Learn more about Focal Point: https://www.getfocalpoint.com/company/about-us/
Managed Services (MS) originated from the 1980s outsourcing trend and have since expanded into various business functions, including Procurement. MS entails outsourcing specific business processes to third parties to manage them externally, optimizing tasks like spend analytics, sourcing, supplier management, requisition processing, and invoice management within Source-to-Pay and Procure-to-Pay cycles.
The value proposition for business leaders, such as CPOs and CSCOs, centers on operational efficiency, strategic enhancement, industry expertise, spending control through SLAs and KPIs, organizational flexibility, and cost advantages. Tune into this episode with Carlos Perico, Senior Director at ProcureaAbility, to learn more about whether Managed Procurement Services could be the right approach for your organization.
On this episode of the Sourcing Industry Landscape podcast, Dawn Tiura interviews Martin Rand, the Co-Founder and CEO of Pactum AI. They discuss the concept of autonomous negotiations and how Pactum AI has revolutionized the way businesses negotiate using AI and chatbots. Martin shares examples of how autonomous negotiations have resulted in significant cost savings and improved relationships for companies like Merck, Walmart, and Veritiv. He also talks about his journey and the inspiration behind starting Pactum AI.
Learn more about Pactum AI: https://pactum.com/
Tune into this episode of the Sourcing Industry Landscape podcast where Dawn is joined by Larry Flusser, an Advisory Manager at ProcureAbility to discuss creativity in procurement and how it can be leveraged to elevate the procurement function. Larry shares best practices and provides actionable steps for procurement leaders to take for implementing creativity to enhance the procurement function.
Read the blog post mentioned during this episode: https://procureability.com/embracing-the-5-key-pillars-of-creativity-in-procurement-to-create-new-sources-of-value-creation/
Learn more about ProcureAbility: https://procureability.com/
On this episode of the Sourcing Industry Landscape, Dawn Tiura interviews Sagi Eliyahu, the Co-Founder and CEO of Tonkean, about intake orchestration and its importance in managing the earliest point in a process. Sagi emphasizes the need for a seamless and user-friendly intake experience, regardless of the channel used. He also highlights how the integration of intake orchestration with other systems can bring immense value to procurement and other departments.
Key Takeaways:
- Intake orchestration is the management of the earliest point in a process, where information or requests are collected from one team to another.
- A seamless and user-friendly intake experience is crucial for ensuring high adoption and compliance.
- Intake orchestration can be integrated with other systems and channels, allowing users to submit requests through their preferred channels while still following the defined process.
- Understanding the personal ROI of different stakeholders and aligning with their needs is essential for successful intake orchestration.
Learn more about Tonkean: https://www.tonkean.com/
On this episode, Dawn interviews Darryl Hammett, the General Manager of Global Demand and Operations at AWS, about his background, achievements, and insights. Darryl shares transitional journey into supply chain management. He emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and the impact of education in his career. Darryl also discusses the need to adapt to a changing world and the importance of considering global perspectives. He expresses his commitment to giving back and supporting initiatives like the SIG Educational Foundation, highlighting the value of networking and the impact of SIG in the procurement industry.
Key Takeaways:
- Continuous learning and education are essential for personal and professional growth.
- Adapting to a changing world requires considering global perspectives and being an active listener.
- Giving back and supporting initiatives that create opportunities for others is important for leaving a positive legacy.
- Networking and connecting with peers in the industry can lead to valuable insights and growth opportunities.
Learn more about SIG University: https://www.sig.org/sig-university/about/
Learn more about the SIG Educational Foundation: https://www.sig.org/sig-educational-foundation/
On this episode of the Sourcing Industry Landscape podcast, Dawn is joined by Jamie Ogilvie-Smals, Vice President at GEP and Dr. Frank Kobor, Vice President of the Rapid Deployment Team at Bayer to celebrate their team’s winning the Innovations in Outsourcing award at this year’s Future of Sourcing Awards. The trio discuss their partnership and its background, highlighting the specific areas of innovation and the secrets to their success.
Learn more about GEP – https://www.gep.com/
Learn more about the Future of Sourcing Awards – https://futureofsourcingawards.com/
Join us for the next Global Executive Summit – https://www.sig.org/events/sig-summit/
On this two-part episode of the Sourcing Industry Landscape podcast, Dawn is joined by Amanda Prochaska, Founder and Chief Wonder Officer of Wonder Services. During part two of this series, we celebrate the many reasons that Amanda was ultimately named the Future of Sourcing 2023 Sourcing Star. We learn how the name of the firm, Wonder Services, came to be and how Amanda plans to scale the firm for success in 2024 and beyond!
Learn more about Wonder Services: https://wonderservices.net/
Learn more about the Future of Sourcing Awards: https://futureofsourcingawards.com/
Register for the next Global Executive Summit: https://events.sig.org/en/60KUru6/2024-global-executive-summit-east-5a3N4z2HMwz/overview
During this two-part episode of the Sourcing Industry Landscape podcast, Dawn is joined by Amanda Prochaska, Founder and Chief Wonder Officer of Wonder Services, and a finalist nominee for the 2023 Sourcing Star Award at the Future of Sourcing Awards. During part one of this series, Dawn and Amanda grab a semi-quiet corner at our Global Executive Summit to get better acquainted where we learn about Amanda’s background and how she stumbled into the procurement world. Amanda shares her journey into entrepreneurship as the Founder of Wonder Services and what sets her firm apart as a leader in the digital transformation space.
Learn more about Wonder Services: https://wonderservices.net/
Learn more about the Future of Sourcing Awards: https://futureofsourcingawards.com/
Register for the next Global Executive Summit: https://events.sig.org/en/60KUru6/2024-global-executive-summit-east-5a3N4z2HMwz/overview
In this conversation, Dawn Tiura interviews Kate Vitasek, a globally recognized expert in collaborative business relationships and the founder of Supply Chain Visions. They discuss the evolution of the Vested business model over the past 13 years and how organizations like BP have embraced it to achieve amazing results. They also explore the concept of outcome-based contracts and the importance of a formal relational contract in building successful supplier relationships. Kate emphasizes the need for a different sourcing business model that focuses on desired outcomes, pricing models with incentives, and insight-based governance. She also highlights the resilience of vested relationships during the pandemic.
Connect with Kate: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katevitasek
On this episode, Priyanka Mouli Shankar, Senior Global Category Manager at Applied Materials and winner of the Rising Star Award at the 2023 Future Sourcing Awards, discusses her background and career in supply chain. She emphasizes the importance of understanding the complexities of the commodity sourcing process and the impact of global events on supply chains. Priyanka also shares her motivation and passion for the role, as well as her interest in incorporating artificial intelligence and automation into procurement solutions. She expresses her desire to inspire and mentor young talent in the field.
On this episode of the Sourcing Industry Landscape podcast, Dawn is joined by Mark Raffan, Founder of Negotiations Ninja to celebrate him winning the 2023 Future of Sourcing Rising Star Award and get to know him a bit better. Mark shares the origin story of Negotiations Ninja and how his upbringing played a significant role in shaping his expertise. We learn about the importance of listening to understand and not allowing your ego to take the driver’s seat during negotiations. Tune in to this insightful episode for a glimpse into how negotiation, persuasion, and conflict resolution can be done in a painless and equitable manner.
Check out Mark’s latest book 9 SECRETS TO WIN DEALS AND INFLUENCE STAKEHOLDERS: https://negotiations.ninja/9-secrets-to-win-deals-and-influence-stakeholders-preview/
Learn more about the Future of Sourcing Awards: https://futureofsourcingawards.com/
Register for the next Global Executive Summit: https://events.sig.org/en/60KUru6/2024-global-executive-summit-east-5a3N4z2HMwz/overview
For today’s episode of the Sourcing Industry Landscape podcast, we found a semi-quiet spot at the Global Executive Summit where we could get better acquainted with Rene Stromberg, the US Strategic Purchasing Manager at Multiparts. Dawn and René spend some time chatting about the cultural differences between the US and Germany, his experience at the Summit, as well as the growing importance of ESG in the US.
Register for the next Global Executive Summit: https://events.sig.org/en/60KUru6/2024-global-executive-summit-east-5a3N4z2HMwz/overview
On this episode of the Sourcing Industry Landscape podcast, we are coming to you live from the Global Executive Summit where we found a semi-quiet spot amidst all the action to spend some time getting acquainted with Stacy McCarthy, Director of Contingent Workforce Services at PayPal. We hear about Stacy’s heartwarming journey from stay-at-home-mom to leading PayPal’s Contingent Workforce - a career of which her passion burns so bright that even her children were inspired to seek jobs in the industry as well.
Connect with Stacy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacy-mccarthy-488181104/
Register for the next Global Executive Summit: https://events.sig.org/en/60KUru6/2024-global-executive-summit-east-5a3N4z2HMwz/overview
On this episode of the Sourcing Industry Landscape podcast, we are coming to you live from the Global Executive Summit where we found a semi-quiet spot amidst all the action to spend some time getting acquainted with Gregg Bass, the Director of Strategic Sourcing at Rent-A-Center. Tune in to hear more about Gregg’s experience in the industry and his idea of the perfect sourcing candidate.
Connect with Gregg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greggbass/
Register for the next Global Executive Summit: https://events.sig.org/en/60KUru6/2024-global-executive-summit-east-5a3N4z2HMwz/overview
On this episode of the Sourcing Industry Landscape podcast, Dawn is joined by Yves Thill, Partner, Global Lead, Procurement at Kearney and Stefan Dent, Co-Founder, Head of Strategic Alliances at Simfoni to discuss the often overlooked aspect of tail spend in procurement and its critical importance. They explore how to capitalize on unmanaged tail spend and the potential consequences for businesses that fail to control it. The discussion also highlights the significance of the partnership between Simfoni and Kearney, shedding light on what it means for both companies and its impact on the market. Tune in to hear insights on the future of tail spend management and the practical steps you need to take before implementing a solution.
Connect with Stefan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefandent/
Connect with Yves: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yvesthill/
Learn more about Simfoni: https://simfoni.com/
Learn more about Kearney: https://www.kearney.com/
For this episode of the Sourcing Industry Landscape podcast, we are coming to you live from the Global Executive Summit where we found a semi-quiet spot amidst all the action to spend some time getting to know David Romo-Garza a bit better. Tune in to learn about David’s journey of sky-high dreams to become a pilot, serving our country as a contracts expert in the United States Air Force and ultimately making the transition into procurement supporting the aerospace industry.
David shares how SIG University’s Certified Third Party Risk Management Professional (C3PRMP) Program propelled his career forward to help transform USAA’s due diligence program and how the insights he gained from the Certified Intelligent Automation Professional (CIAP) Program are now helping to reshape the contracting process at AirBus. David’s thirst for knowledge led him to become one of the very few procurement professionals to become certified in all 5 SIG University certification programs - which he found so valuable that he persuaded both his wife and son to get certified as well!
After listening to this episode, it will be no surprise to you why David was nominated as a finalist for the Sourcing Star Award at the 2023 Future of Sourcing Awards.
Connect with David Romo-Garza: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-r-56bb4526/
Learn more about SIG University: https://sig.org/sig-university/about
Register for the next Global Executive Summit: https://events.sig.org/en/60KUru6/2024-global-executive-summit-east-5a3N4z2HMwz/overview
Check out the Finalists for the 2023 Future of Sourcing Awards: https://futureofsourcingawards.com/winners-gallery
Over the past decade, decentralized spend has surged, increasingly complex spend categories are demanding a multitude of cross-functional approvals, and a proliferation of systems and processes have escalated the complexity of procurement, resulting in low adoption across the company. Today's forward-thinking CPOs recognize the pivotal role that user experience, widespread adoption, and system orchestration play in unlocking procurement's transformative potential.
On this episode of the Sourcing Industry Landscape Podcast, we sit down with Matt Hardin, the Director, Solutions and Advisory at Zip for an exclusive sneak peak at Zip's keynote session taking place during the 2023 Global Executive Summit West where you will learn:
- How modern procurement organizations are solving for user experience and adoption
- How to orchestrate across the disparate procuretech stack to create one integrated ecosystem
- How to unlock early spend visibility, control, savings, compliance, and speed
Businesses face big challenges as they look forward to 2024. Now isn't the time to pull back and wait for things to return to "normal." It's a time to invest strategically in your business with AI-powered transformation to manage disruption and fuel long-term growth. On this episode of the Sourcing Industry Landscape Podcast, futurist Byron Reese will share his thoughts on how well-reasoned optimism and compelling storytelling can assuage concerns about AI and help leaders make the case for change and investment in their companies.
On this episode, Dawn is joined by Joe Adamski, Senior Director at ProcureAbility. We learn about a prime example of supply chain disruption – the transformer equipment shortage that could pose a threat to the American electrical grid if not managed properly. The grid relies on transformers to function safely and the utilities who keep the grid operational depend on their procurement teams to secure the equipment needed to do so. Tune in for an electric discussion on the evolving expectations of procurement and how managing supply chain disruptions is of utmost importance to keep the lights on within your business.
Learn more about ProcureAbility: https://procureability.com/
On this episode of the Sourcing Industry Landscape podcast, we had the pleasure of spending some time getting to know Oren Salzman, the Chief Procurement Officer of MetTel (Manhattan Telecommunications). We hear all about Oren’s passion for growing exceptional teams, his diverse background and his procurement Journey – the fastest climb to CPO that we have ever heard!
Connect with Oren on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oren-salzman-37191b1/
On this episode of the Sourcing Industry Landscape podcast, Dawn is joined by Cathy Rutherford, Senior Director of Procurement at The Knot and quad-certified SIG U Alumni. We learn about Cathy’s personal journey from making bold moves as a district manager at Super K, to her current role developing and leading the Procurement department at The Knot - an all-in-one planning hub for weddings, baby showers and other pivotal life events. Cathy shares a bit the challenge of building procurement processes from the ground up, the importance of being a partner to the business unit and her passion for developing people.
Connect with Cathy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathy-rutherford-csp-csmp-ciap-c3prmp-a4a1821/
On this episode of the Sourcing Industry Landscape podcast, Dawn is joined by Nick Heinzmann, VP of Research at Spend Matters. In his role, Nick sets the Spend Matters research and publication agenda. He also has served as a lead analyst for several technology categories, including contract lifecycle management (CLM), fraud analytics, startups and ESG-focused vendors in and around the source-to-pay (S2P) market. We learn about Nick’s personal journey and what ultimately led him to win the 2022 Future of Sourcing Rising Star Award.
Learn more about the Future of Sourcing Awards >> https://futureofsourcingawards.com/
On this episode of the Sourcing Industry Landscape podcast, Dawn has the pleasure of chatting with Coralyn Ah Moy the Senior Director of Procurement Transformation and Centre of Excellence at Air Canada. In her role, Coralyn is responsible for the digitalization and transformation of the procurement function. We learn more about the People, Process & Technology Transformation project that won her team the Future of Sourcing 2022 Innovations in Governance and Compliance award. Tune in to learn more about what this innovative team is doing at Air Canada!
Learn more about the Future of Sourcing Awards >> https://futureofsourcingawards.com/
On this episode of the Sourcing Industry Landscape podcast, Dawn is joined by Chris Shaffer, the Senior Director of Procurement, Facilities & Biomedical Support at EyeCare Partners. We learn about Chris’s personal journey throughout his 16+ year career within the Supply Chain function. During his tenure at ECP, Shaffer has overseen the implementation of the Coupa business spend management platform, supporting vendor management and over $700M in annual spend. We learn about how Chris’ Military background has influenced his leadership style, expanded his willingness to learn and led him to embrace the diversity of differing opinions. Tune in to learn more about Chris’ incredible background and how he is leading innovation at EyeCare Partners.
Learn more about EyeCare Partners >> https://www.eyecare-partners.com/
Connect with Chris >> https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-shaffer/
On this episode of the Sourcing Industry Landscape podcast, Dawn is joined by Dan Coor, Global Director Procurement to Pay (P2P) of Sprinklr and the winner of the 2022 Future of Sourcing Sourcing Star Award. We learn about Dan’s 14+ year career and the journey that has led him to receive this prestigious award.
Learn more about the Future of Sourcing Awards >> https://futureofsourcingawards.com/
Connect with Dan >> https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-coor-06a8a42/
On this episode of the Sourcing Industry Landscape podcast, Dawn is joined by David Schultz, Vice President and Chief Supply Chain Executive of Westfall Technik. We learn about David’s personal journey throughout his career and about Westfall Technik’s business model. Tune in to learn more about how David and his team are embracing the power of data and strategic partnerships to consolidate spend across the 17 companies that fall under their umbrella.
Connect with David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidschultz1/
On this episode of the Sourcing Industry Landscape podcast, Dawn is joined by Michael Koontz, the Vice President of Strategic Sourcing and Business Leader at ATD Sourcing Solutions and winner of the 2022 Future of Sourcing Supernova Hall of Fame Award. We learn about Michaels 20+ year career and the journey that has led him to receive this prestigious award.
Learn more about the Future of Sourcing Awards >> https://futureofsourcingawards.com/
On this episode of the Sourcing Industry Landscape podcast, Dawn is joined by Enrico Aresu, Director and Compliance & Financial Crime Industry Practice Lead at Moodys Analytics and Gary Storr, General Manager of Trust Your Supplier. The group discusses how Trust Your Supplier has evolved from an onboarding platform to a full ecosystem of risk and compliance data and tools. Enrico and Gary tell the story of how partnering with Risk Intelligence data providers, such as Moodys, has diversified Trust Your Supplier’s compliance in so many areas.
Learn more about Trust Your Supplier >> https://trustyoursupplier.com/
Learn more about Moody’s Analytics >> https://www.moodysanalytics.com/
On this episode of the Sourcing Industry Landscape podcast, Dawn sits down with Karina Swette, a Partner in Oliver Wyman’s Operations and Consumer and Industrial Products Practice, to discuss current ESG trends in Procurement. Tune in to hear findings from their Sustainable Procurement Maturity survey!
Don’t miss your opportunity to hear Karina speak on this topic live during the CPO and Executive Roundtable taking place at the SIG Global Executive Summit on October 17th, 2022. For more information and to register visit https://events.sig.org/en/60KUru6/2022-global-executive-summit-4a3N4zjvxy/overview
To learn more about Procurement’s Journey to Sustainability visit https://www.oliverwyman.com/our-expertise/insights/2022/sep/sustainability-in-procurement-and-supply-chain.html
Additional corporate priorities have made it really difficult to scale with more on the line, less budget and without good, quality data. CPOs are wondering how they are going to connect all these priorities and leverage data. On this episode of the Sourcing Industry Landscape Podcast, Dawn is joined by Stephany Lapierre, Founder and CEO of TealBook - an enterprise software company that connects buyers and suppliers and provides the data needed to make procurement decisions. Together they discuss all of the ways a supplier data foundation can empower the buy-side of the digital enterprise and be a source of truth across systems that democratizes supplier data at scale.
To learn more about TealBook, visit https://www.tealbook.com/
Don’t miss your opportunity to hear Stephany speak live at our upcoming Global Executive Summit, taking place in Rancho Mirage, CA October 17th-19th! Learn more by visiting https://bit.ly/3SaU5H9
On this episode of the Sourcing Industry Landscape Podcast, Dawn speaks with Brad Killinger, CEO of Sapience Analytics – a workforce productivity and analytics solution that delivers automated workforce data collection, data integration, insights, and decision-making through its SaaS platform. Brad gives us the scoop on how the current economic conditions have impacted the company and what they have experienced in the market that led them to make a series of adaptations recently to shake the ‘Big Brother’ fears.
To learn more about Sapience Analytics, visit https://sapienceanalytics.com
Don’t miss your opportunity to visit Sapience Analytics’ booth and hear Brad speak live at our upcoming Global Executive Summit, taking place in Rancho Mirage, CA October 17th-19th!
On this episode of the Sourcing Industry Landscape podcast, we had the pleasure of speaking with Ricardo Pedroza, Executive Director of ProColombia in the United States, about the value potential for companies interested in doing business with Colombia. There is truly a wealth of opportunity! Tune in to hear Dawn and Ricardo discuss the economic landscape, outsourcing sector and many of the strengths and challenges of the BPO sector in Colombia.
Visit ProColombia's website to learn more about all of the offerings!
The ProColombia International Business Matchmaking Forum is coming up on November 8th – 11th in Houston, Texas. It is worth mentioning that during this matchmaking event, there will be a specialized BPO networking event of about 50 exporters and buyers. This will be the perfect opportunity for those international buyers to get in touch with Colombian vendors and start exploring the offer of our high-quality services. If you are interested in attending, please contact our Procolombia offices in Miami by emailing BPO specialist, Camilo Osuna at cosuna@procolombia.co
Be sure to follow Ricardo Pedroza on Twitter: RicardoPedrozaP and on LinkedIn as Ricardo Pedroza to stay updated about our events and further business opportunities with Colombian companies.
Listen in to part one of this multi-part series as Dawn speaks with Jennifer Sieber, Head of Global Procurement Systems at Gilead Sciences, Inc. – a research-based biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization of innovative medicines. Throughout this series, we will learn about Gilead’s incredible transformation journey. On this episode, Jennifer paints us a picture of the past. We get an in-depth glimpse of where Gilead's Procurement practice was two years ago and what prompted them to embark on this innovative journey. Tune in for part two coming soon!
On this episode of the Sourcing Industry Landscape podcast, Dawn is joined by Doug Leeby, CEO of Beeline. The two discuss Stone Point Capital’s recent investment in Beeline, what this means for the future of the contingent workforce management industry, and how Beeline is staying true to their core values and culture.
On this episode of the Sourcing Industry Landscape Podcast, Dawn sits down with Tarek Alaruri, COO and Co-Founder of Fairmarkit, and Greg Tennyson, SVP of Strategy & Procurement at Fairmarkit – or shall we say Shaq and Dwyane Wade - to discuss exactly what it means to embody the Magical CPO persona in today’s procurement space. Read more about the Magical CPO in Greg’s latest blog post >> https://sig.org/blog/magical-cpo
Learn all about the exciting offerings at Fairmarkit >> https://www.fairmarkit.com/
On this episode of the Sourcing Industry Landscape podcast, Dawn speaks with Ravi Sundaram, Chief Operating Officer of Quinnox – an agile, business-results-driven digital technology partner that aims to simplify business processes, improve customer experiences and create exceptional business value with the power of human and applied intelligence. We learn all about their digital platform journey and how their technology is helping to offset some of the challenges posed by ‘the great resignation’. Listen in to hear more about how Quinnox is using its data-driven digital solutions to help accelerate success, today and tomorrow.
Learn more about Quinnox:
Quinnox.com | marketing@quinnox.com
It’s our last Future 5 Friday for this year! Spend Matters has partnered with SIG for a 5 part podcast series to showcase this year’s Future 5 list – a group of newly emerged procurement technology start-ups that you should know about. Over the next 2 months leading up to our Procurement Technology Summit in April, we’ll be interviewing the founders of each featured company to find out what it means to be a Future 5.
Last, but certainly not least is Malbek - a Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) vendor that focuses on maintaining an approachable interface, configurable settings, easy integrations and a strong, modern cloud platform. We had the pleasure of speaking with Hemanth Puttaswamy, who would be a starving musician if he wasn’t Malbek’s CEO and Co-Founder. Hemanth shares what it means to be recognized as a Future 5 company and how Malbek is reimagining the contracting process. Listen in to hear more about this startup destined for big things in the industry!
On this episode of the Sourcing Industry Landscape Podcast, Dawn sits down with Kate Seagriff, Director of Strategic Sourcing at TripActions for a candid conversation discussing the key trends that are impacting procurement functions across the industry. The two dive into the ever-changing roles and objectives of procurement, the importance of working in partnership alongside the C-Suite and how TripActions is helping procurement leaders accelerate their sourcing speed while mitigating risk.
TripActions - https://tripactions.com/
Check out these resources:
https://tripactions.com/video/how-to-use-tripactions-liquid-international
https://tripactions.com/ebook/seven-hidden-powers-of-corporate-cards?utm_medium=Third%20Party%20Email&utm_source=SIG&utm_campaign=USA%7CSIG%7CMarketo%7CISeven-Hidden-Powers-Of-Corporate-Cards%7COC%7CCM-Be53
On this episode of the Sourcing Industry Landscape Podcast, we had the pleasure of speaking with Rita N. Soni, Principal Analyst for Impact Sourcing and Sustainability at Everest Group. Rita gives us an in-depth view of Everest Group’s “purpose framework” and her focus area – impact sourcing. Ensuring that ESG goals remain of utmost importance, without ‘green-washing’ is paramount. Tune in to hear more about how ESG fits into the business services industry and what your company can do to incorporate and live by these goals.
Future 5 Friday is back again! Spend Matters has partnered with SIG for a 5 part podcast series to showcase this year’s Future 5 list – a group of newly emerged procurement technology start-ups that you should know about. Over the next 2 months leading up to our Procurement Technology Summit in April, we’ll be interviewing the founders of each featured company to find out what it means to be a Future 5.
Up next is Pactum - an AI-based system that helps global companies to autonomously offer personalized, commercial negotiations on a massive scale. We had the pleasure of speaking with Martin Rand, Pactum’s CEO and co-founder, about what it means to be recognized as a Future 5 company and how Pactum’s complex solution is turning their clients into master negotiators. But wait, there’s more! Pactum can also be used to support your company’s ESG goals by making it easy to track and ensure that negotiated carbon emissions are offset. Listen in to hear more about this startup destined for big things in the industry!
On this episode of the Sourcing Industry Landscape, brought to you by Zycus, Dawn sits down with Julio Peironcely, Global Director of Insights, Analytics and Procurement at Danone. Julio walks us through the current procurement function at Danone, his top three focus areas for technology and how he believes AI will drive procurement forward in 2022 and beyond.
Stay tuned to hear more about the AI council, formed in partnership with Zycus. The council will be an ideal platform to ideate and incubate your organization's AI journey with the best minds in the industry collaborating and providing insights to solve sourcing and procurement challenges using design thinking. We have designed the program exclusively for the Sourcing and Procurement leaders looking to solve problems and extract true value with the power of AI.
For more information or to get involved with the council, please reach out to info@sig.org
Future 5 Friday is back again! Spend Matters has partnered with SIG for a 5 part podcast series to showcase this year’s Future 5 list – a group of newly emerged procurement technology start-ups that you should know about. Over the next 2 months leading up to our Procurement Technology Summit in April, we’ll be interviewing the founders of each featured company to find out what it means to be a Future 5.
Up next is ZIP - a fast-growing vendor start-up that describes itself as operating in a new segment adjacent to and overlapping with P2P known as “intake-to-procure.” Its value proposition is to provide both requesters and stakeholders with an “intelligent, intuitive front-end to their ERP or P2P.” On this episode, Dawn sits down with Rujul Zaparde, ZIP’s Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder, to talk about the success that has yielded them the recognition of being a Future 5 company. Dawn and Rujul elaborate on what they forecast as some of the biggest challenges that procurement will face over the coming years and how ZIP is planning to tackle them.
On this episode of the Sourcing Industry Landscape, brought to you by Zycus, Dawn sits down with Brian Roche, Chief Procurement Officer, Westfield Group and Zach Engels, Procurement Operations Leader at Westfield Group. Together, Brian and Zach give us a glimpse into the procurement function at Westfield, diving deep into contracting, PO and risk processes and how their partnership with Zycus has allowed them to digitize those processes from start to finish.
Stay tuned to hear more about the AI council, formed in partnership with Zycus. The council will be an ideal platform to ideate and incubate your organization's AI journey with the best minds in the industry collaborating and providing insights to solve sourcing and procurement challenges using design thinking. We have designed the program exclusively for the Sourcing and Procurement leaders looking to solve problems and extract true value with the power of AI.
For more information or to get involved with the council, please reach out to info@sig.org
Future 5 Friday is back again! Spend Matters has partnered with SIG for a 5 part podcast series to showcase this year’s Future 5 list – a group of newly emerged procurement technology start-ups that you should know about. Over the next 2 months leading up to our Procurement Technology Summit in April, we’ll be interviewing the founders of each featured company to find out what it means to be a Future 5.
Up this week, is Archlet - a solution designed to enable optimization and scenario-based sourcing, with key data-backed analytics and insights to drive quicker sourcing decisions. We had the pleasure of speaking with Lukas Wawrla, one of Archlet’s Co-Founders, about how Archlet is combining data science and machine learning with deep hands-on procurement expertise to rethink strategic sourcing and empower buyers to make better sourcing decisions faster.
On this episode of the Sourcing Industry Landscape, brought to you by Zycus, Dawn speaks with Opi Gahunia, Director of Indirect Procurement at Belden. Opi paints the picture of what the current procurement landscape looks like at Belden and elaborates about how their partnership with Zycus has streamlined their S2P processes allowing them to plan for the future of AI. Stay tuned to hear more about the upcoming launch of the AI council, formed in partnership with Zycus. The council will be an ideal platform to ideate and incubate your organization's AI journey with the best minds in the industry collaborating and providing insights to solve sourcing and procurement challenges using design thinking. We have designed the program exclusively for the Sourcing and Procurement leaders looking to solve problems and extract true value with the power of AI.
For more information or to get involved with the council, please reach out to info@sig.org
On this episode of the Sourcing Industry Landscape, Dawn chats with Matt Fringeli, Managing Partner at TekWissen, about all things staffing! Dawn and Matt cover all the latest trends, from layoffs to the great resignation and dive deep into how the talent shortage and wage inflation have affected the market.
Spend Matters has partnered with SIG for a 5 part podcast series to showcase this year’s Future 5 list – a group of newly emerged procurement technology start-ups that you should know about. Over the next 2 months leading up to our Procurement Technology Summit in April, we’ll be interviewing the founders of each featured company to find out what it means to be a Future 5.
Up first, is Circulor – a supply chain visibility vendor that tracks minerals starting at the mine and continuing to the OEM using reporting data and statistical process-control methodology. Dawn sat down with Circulor’s Founder and CEO, Douglas Johnson‑Poensgen, to discuss how Circulor is empowering businesses to achieve their ESG Goals.
On this episode of the Sourcing Industry Landscape, we sat down with Shashank Saxena, Co-Founder and CEO of VNDLY Inc., to discuss ecosystem alignment and how crucial it is to innovation in the procurement space. Listen in to hear how VNDLY’s approach to software development is unique and the role that procurement plays in shaping the digital transformation within the organization.
On this episode of the Sourcing Industry Landscape, Dawn speaks with Maurice Hamoir, Head of Business Development at Per Angusta and Etienne Marchadier, Business Unit Director- Procurement Strategies at By.O Group, about the need for new opportunities, approaches and tools in the Purchasing Strategy realm. We learn about the importance of having a “people first” mindset when putting digital transformation initiatives into action and how the data-driven evolution is empowering buyers to develop timely and informed procurement strategies, rather than being reactive in this ever-changing post-pandemic landscape.
Earlier this year, we sat down with Dr. Patricia Connolly, the CEO and Co-Founder of the leading IT talent provider, SMC Squared. Dr. Pat shared a bit about the company’s strategy and introduced us to the acronym used to describe their core values: FACE. In this episode, Dawn and Dr. Pat dive deeper into the meaning behind the rest of the letters, build upon several of the other values SMC Squared strives to uphold and explore how they are maintaining the family-oriented inclusiveness the company was founded upon in the midst of the ongoing pandemic.
Missed the first episode? Listen here >>
Learn more about SMC Squared >>
Read their latest blog >>
On this episode of the Sourcing Landscape Podcast, Dawn sits down with Edmund Zagorin, Founder and CEO of BidOps Inc., the first company to use artificial intelligence to fully automate supplier negotiations. Listen in to hear Edmund’s thoughts on the future of Procurement and how Procurement can align itself with the CFO and C-Suite to transform itself from a cost center into a driver of cost savings.
Learn more about BidOps >>
Download the whitepaper >>
On this very timely episode of the Sourcing Industry Landscape podcast, Dawn sits down with Agiloft’s CTO and founder, Colin Earl, to discuss some of the biggest challenges vaccine supply chains are facing today and how automation can help safeguard against them.
Check out the Five Pitfalls of CLM Selection Whitepaper >>
Read Agiloft’s most recent article >>
Patricia Connolly, PhD, draws on nearly three decades of executive, IT and academic leadership to create and implement SMC Squared’s strategy, vision and mission. On this episode of the Sourcing Industry Landscape, Dawn sits down with Dr. Connolly to discuss her robust experience, the history of how SMC Squared originated and how their model helps procurement organizations.
On this Episode of the Sourcing Industry Landscape, Dawn is joined by Jo Seed, Chief Operating Officer of LogicSource, for a frank conversation about the challenges businesses face when sourcing and implementing procurement technology. Listen in to hear Jo’s predictions on how procurement technology platforms will evolve in the future.
Learn more about LogicSource >>
Register for LogicSource’s upcoming SIG webinar >>
In 2020, the role of procurement shifted, as did its strategic importance to the business. On this episode of the Sourcing Industry Landscape, Dawn speaks with Kent Mahoney, Executive Vice President of Proxima North America, about how critical it is for procurement executives to maintain a seat at the C-suite table in order to create cost-savings, control expenditures and ultimately drive innovation and recovery. Kent showcases Proxima’s 27 years of expertise as the leading global procurement consultancy and hones in on how procurement can achieve its ‘higher purpose’ by ensuring that that company is able to extract the maximum amount of value out of its supply chain and supplier relationships.
Prefer to watch this interview? Check it out on YouTube!
On this episode of the Sourcing Industry Landscape, Dawn sits down with Kevin Akeroyd, CEO of PRO Unlimited, to discuss his professional background, his long-term vision for the future of contingent workforce staffing at PRO and how technology fits into the contingent workforce program for 2021 and beyond.
On this episode of the Sourcing Industry Landscape, Dawn is joined by Michele Wesseling, Vice President, Global Third-Party Management at TD Securities, and Jai Chinnakonda, Founder and CEO of ENGAIZ. Tune in to be a fly on the wall as they discuss emerging technologies and trends while honing in on what they believe will be top of mind for third-party risk management in 2021.
Learn more about the partnership between SIG and Engaiz.
During this candid conversation, Adele Alvarez, operations executive director for Allegis Global Solutions (AGS), shares her professional journey from recruitment to services procurement and why she’s excited about the future. She reveals insights into her 25-year career with stories that demonstrate how she nurtured her ability to be her authentic self, developed into the type of leader she wanted to be, and thrives in a company culture where flexibility, challenging the status quo, embracing a commitment to inclusion, equity and diversity, and relying on grit and curiosity make going to work every day – on behalf of AGS’ Procurement Solutions clients – an absolute joy.
Watch this podcast on SIG’s YouTube channel!
A new initiative to bring together technology and business leaders to establish transparency within the supply chain is highlighted in the film “A Portrait of a Supply Chain,” launched by Avery Dennison. The film highlights the importance of creating digital supply chains, enabling greater transparency for raw materials, products and the people along the journey. Avery Dennison’s Manager of Global Sustainability, Intelligent Labels, joins the podcast to discuss the outlook on the circular economy, digitalization and sustainability in today’s supply chains.
SIG CEO & President Dawn Tiura and Nick Heinzmann, Research Analyst from Spend Matters announcing the Future 5 Procurement Tech Start-Ups!
Peter Smith, MA, FCIPS, FRSA, is a career procurement professional turned author. He began his procurement career at Mars Confectionery, then was Procurement Director for Dun & Bradstreet Europe, the Department of Social Security, and the NatWest Group. From 2010-18 he was Managing Editor of the Spend Matters Europe website. The author of three books, he joins the podcast to talk about his newest book, “"Bad Buying – How Organisations Waste Billions Through Failures, Frauds and F*ck-ups."” Peter lifts the lid on some of the worst procurement scams in history, offers practical advice on avoiding embarrassing mistakes, and shares how to make sound, strategic procurement decisions.
The way that work is getting done today looks very different and is increasingly remote, global and external. Dan Beck is the COO and Co-Founder of Utmost, a total workforce management platform. He discusses a new way of thinking about the contingent workforce, going from a transactional view to a human experience that not only benefits the company but the worker.
Keith Hausmann is the Chief Revenue Officer at Globality, an AI-powered sourcing platform company. He joins the podcast to discuss challenges and opportunities for CPOs today, how procurement can become a strategic partner to their stakeholders, and advice for leaders as they embark on their own AI and digital transformation journeys. Learn how using an intuitive, consumer-like interface will improve the end-user experience freeing up procurement to drive innovation and be a valued advisor to the business.
Prefer to watch this interview? Check it out on YouTube!
Keith Hausmann is the Chief Revenue Officer at Globality, an AI-powered sourcing platform company. He joins the podcast to discuss challenges and opportunities for CPOs today, how procurement can become a strategic partner to their stakeholders, and advice for leaders as they embark on their own AI and digital transformation journeys. Learn how using an intuitive, consumer-like interface will improve the end-user experience freeing up procurement to drive innovation and be a valued advisor to the business.
Prefer to watch this interview? Check it out on YouTube!
Transparency in your supply chain is essential when it comes to making informed decisions to mitigate risks both internally and with your suppliers. The largest risk exposure is often among lower-tier suppliers, which is why it’s important to know your suppliers’ suppliers. In this podcast, Shannon and Rich discuss how business spend management platforms, supplier questionnaires and supply chain risk management frameworks can help organizations stay agile and create an environment of compliance.
Guest Details:
Shannon Kreps, VP of Product Marketing, Medius
Rich Revill, VP of Global Presales, Medius
Join global procurement innovators and creators from BT (British Telecom) Procurement Garage, CPO Cyril Pourrat and Senior Transformation Officer Adam Brown and Suplari CEO Nikesh Parekh, to discuss, leveraging data & innovation to reinvent procurement.
Now the time for organizations to start thinking about and acting on total talent diversity, including diversity across full-time and contingent workers (contractors, freelancers, and shift workers). Kevin Poll, Global Head of Strategic Partnerships at WillHire, joins the podcast to talk about the positive impacts of total talent diversity when employees know they can show up to work being their authentic selves. Tune in to learn how Diversity and Inclusion brings value to your community, to your current and future workers, and your company brand.
According to Ajay Agrawal, CEO and Co-founder of SirionLabs, the “life” of a contract begins when it’s signed, but money is being left on the table – to the tune of $3 trillion. How? In the form of invoicing errors due to improper management of consumption data, incorrect rates, computational errors and missed milestones. Ajay talks about the precise, full applications of Artificial Intelligence in the role of contract lifecycle management (CLM) and how procurement teams can use CLM software to be more strategic and extract greater value from agreements.
In the U.S., one-third of women leave their jobs after having a child because of rigid work schedules and the high cost of childcare. To address this talent gap, a unique digital talent platform has emerged: The Mom Project connects mothers with employers that respect flexible work-life integration. Through a partnership with Beeline, and a strategic partnership with tennis icon Serena Williams, The Mom Project has enlisted allies committed to change in talent acquisition and to help women stay active in the workplace.
To partner or learn more about The Mom Project, contact Meredith Huck.
Daryl Hammett is theGlobal Head of LM and Operations Amazon Web Services (AWS). In a whitepaper he recently co-authored with Spend Matters’ Founder Jason Busch, they outline how procurement professionals can impact the world through minority and small business supplier relations. Daryl shares the ways in which procurement can impact supplier diversity and inclusion.
Download the whitepaper from Spend Matters.
Two procurement industry experts provide a closer look at how AI and Machine Learning can unlock deeper insights into procurement. Through extracting massive amounts of data, ElectrifAi transforms structured and unstructured data into actionable business insights with Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. ElectrifAi’s Roland Simon and Michael Fox share how their teams yield insights specific to contracted suppliers.
SIG Members-Only Content: Managing Costs During Disruptions - How AI and ML Give Unique Insights into Contracts with Suppliers<<
Sales and building relationships have always made sense to Anthony Clervi and in 2012 he was introduced to the group purchasing space. Anthony Clervi’s path to entrepreneurship and group purchasing was an interesting one with many turns that led him to Una. Partnering with businesses and suppliers while forging new relationships on a path for procurement success is Una’s sweet spot. Tune in to hear how Anthony and the Una team are empowering the sourcing hero.
Scoutbee Co-founder Christian Heinrich discusses using automation, big data and machine learning to complete repetitive tasks in sourcing and supply chain environments. Learn how procurement leaders and strategic buyers can connect with new suppliers and second-source suppliers globally to collaborate and expand their supply chains.
In early 2002, Rich resigned a position with an industry-leading uniform supplier and founded Fine Tune in a basement in Bloomington, Indiana. Fine Tune is a niche expense management company focused on a small handful of particularly burdensome “nuisance” expenses. Rich dedicates his time to building and developing his team of “Tuners” and engaging with major, national clientele. Rich shares his inspiring story and cutting-edge point of view as he and his team “fine tune” the procurement industry.
Procurement leader Canda Rozier and senior sourcing veteran Lawrence Kane are well-known in the SIG community for their servant leadership. They recently co-authored a whitepaper on the new age of intelligent automation, based on what they learned in SIG University’s Certified Intelligent Automation Professional (CIAP) program. They demonstrate how intelligent automation can be a powerful tool to promote an enterprise’s growth and prosperity, and how – when implemented correctly – it can be targeted to improve areas holding back the organization.
Through use cases and examples, Canda and Lawrence show how intelligent automation is transforming businesses from education to implementation.
An entrepreneur at heart, Michael Otis has elevated his passion with Proficy Analytics, a procurement technology start-up. After years honing his procurement expertise, he realized that his drive to create needed to be tested. Now, six months into creating Proficy, which specializes in analytics, RFP management, procurement modeling, process optimization and automation, and much more, he has found his calling and is excited about his future. Tune in to hear Michael’s inspiring story and a cutting-edge point of view as he makes his mark on the procurement industry one change at a time and to "simplify procurement."
Purvee Kondal is Senior Director, Technology Sector, with Globality, a start-up technology company that utilizes artificial intelligence, machine learning and natural language processing to help Fortune 500 companies find and work with service providers. Purvee and Dawn discuss the must-have skills of the CPO of the future and the need to move procurement from driving processes to driving value. CPOs can do this by being open to the transformational changes that allow procurement to be more proactive, partnership-like and strategic to the business.
Read more in Future of Sourcing: Purvee discusses ways that artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the acquisition and management of IT in the enterprise.<<
At the 2019 Future of Sourcing Awards, Denali, A WNS Company, won the Innovations in Outsourcing award. Partnering with a technology client, Denali was tasked with building out capacity and systems that could handle skyrocketing procurement needs and deliver the speed and high-level of customer service that allowed the client to focus on business growth. Denali’s project team joins the podcast to talk about their strategic approach, which included the formation of a procurement rock band to secure stakeholder buy-in. Learn more about their project and download the whitepaper on the Future of Sourcing
At the 2019 Future of Sourcing Awards Boreing received the Future of Sourcing Award in the category of Governance/Compliance. With The Boeing Company entering its second century as the global leader in manufacturing commercial jetliners, defense, space and security systems, Boeing needed to be faster. The Indirect Supply Chain organization created a Governance Steering Committee, comprising both Boeing and suppliers, to drive innovative solutions that address challenges and foster the partnership in these efforts. It was created to assure all innovation and value from the partnership was recognized throughout the life of the contract with no value leakage. This model enables interaction at all levels – from operations through the CIO – to ensure alignment at strategic, tactical and operational levels.
On this episode, we are joined by Lisa Mickelson, Global Sourcing and Vendor Management, Boeing and Shawn Milender, Procurement Agent, Boeing who give us the inside scoop about the impact this project has had on their Procurement department. Learn more and see all of the winners on the Future of Sourcing Awards website.
At the 2019 Future of Sourcing Awards, Sprint and Ivalua claimed the Innovations in Third Party Management Award for their project that created a custom implementation of a procurement platform. In this podcast, Ben Lizak, Manager, Sourcing Lifecycle at Sprint, shares more on his journey from accomplished attorney to skilled sourcing professional and how his passion for sourcing has been the backbone of his efforts to help push the sourcing industry forward. Learn more about their project and download the whitepaper on the Future of Sourcing Awards website.
Educated in finance, economics and math, Geoff Peters accidentally fell into the world of procurement and has made his mark on the industry. The start of his career found him with companies like Montgomery Wards and a now famous character that sprouted from those infamous catalogues. He moved on to Sears and finally to The Hackett Group where he instilled best practices and forward thinking to create an iconic career where he evolved and matured from a “shoot from the hip” 20-something to a methodical thinker who sees the gray area more than simply black and white or right and wrong. Tune in to hear his perspectives on costs, technology and cybersecurity as well as what it means to have a relationship alliance as well as a purchasing relationship, and how this easy concept is changing procurement alongside the important topics of risk and sustainability.
At the 2019 Future of Sourcing Awards, GEP won the Innovations in Outsourcing award for a project with a major telecommunications company to deliver improvements in P2P processes. The goal for this project was to optimize procurement operations and streamline the company’s ongoing technology transformation initiative. Two architects of the project join the podcast to talk about how they planned, implemented and delivered their procurement solution, as well as a broader conversation on the strategic value of procurement. Learn more about their project and download the whitepaper on the Future of Sourcing Awards website.
At the 2019 Future of Sourcing Awards, EcoVadis and Avery Dennison claimed the Innovations in Sustainability Award for their submission “Making a Material Difference: Collaborating with Suppliers on Sustainability.” The commitment to continuous improvement and fostering transparency throughout the supply chain is an integral component of achieving any corporate social responsibility (CSR) vision -- and to doing what’s right. That is why Avery Dennison sets high standards and goals for responsible purchasing practices and has partnered with EcoVadis to implement their Sustainability Procurement Program. In this podcast, Emily Rakowski, Chief Marketing Officer of EcoVadis and Robyn Buma, Vice President of Global Procurement at Avery Dennison, elaborate on the ways they are working together to foster sustainable innovation across the supply chain. Learn more about their project on the Future of Sourcing Awards website.
At the 2019 Future of Sourcing Awards, Mike Morsch, Vice President of Global Procurement and Supply Chain at CDK Global, was inducted into the Sourcing Supernova Hall of Fame. Mike talks about what this award means to him and his career and introduces key team members who contribute to the organization’s success. Learn about this $2 billion integrated IT solutions organization, its value as a global provider within the automotive retail industry and the direct impact this team has on the bottom line. Visit the Future of Sourcing Awards to learn more about Mike and meet the other 2019 award winners.
Danny Ertel is a Founding Partner with Vantage Partners located in Boston, Massachusetts. Trained as a lawyer, he soon realized his passion was in helping clients solve problems related to collaboration, resolving conflict and building relationships. A seasoned negotiator and business strategist, Danny talks about sourcing and procurement’s role as competitive problem-solvers and the potential for greater innovation in forming true partnerships with your suppliers.
At the 2019 Future of Sourcing Awards Sarah Scudder received the Rising Star Award. Sarah Scudder is President of Real Sourcing Network. She loves helping procurement professionals transform the way they handle marketing sourcing. She speaks at industry events, serves on panels, hosts webinars, and co-writes articles for SIG and ISM. She recently served on two thought leadership panels at the 2019 ISM conference in Houston. She also created ProcuRising, a magazine that uncovers the unique stories of doers in our sourcing community. On this episode, you’ll hear about Sarah’s background and what has propelled her career in sourcing. Learn more about Sarah and see all of the winners on the Future of Sourcing Awards website.
Canda Rozier is SVP, Global Real Estate and Security for NTT Ltd. Canda, who began her career as a technical writer, is a pioneering CPO with expertise in designing and executing global procurement programs. She shares four key pieces of advice for procurement professionals of any rank to grow successfully in their role and provides her outlook on how she sees the future of procurement morphing and expanding from cost-cutting purchasing centers to maximizing value creation.
At the 2019 Future of Sourcing Awards, Boeing claimed the Innovations in Talent Management award for the Company’s Sourcing Roadmap. The goal for this project was to optimize how stakeholders work together throughout the sourcing lifecycle to set strategy, acquire IT products and services, govern supplier relationships, and manage risks. The Roadmap contains sourcing industry best practices, company-specific governance and defines organizational RAAs. The Sourcing Knowledge Repository is where the rubber meets the road(map) and goes from notional to reality...with hundreds of artifacts including best practices, templates and training tutorials. Learn more about their project and download the whitepaper on the Future of Sourcing Awards website.
Kent Yan is the Founder and CEO of TraDove, Inc., a B2B social network platform. With a background as an engineer, he is an enthusiastic CEO and pioneer of blockchain technology. Kent saw the opportunity to enhance business-to-business transactions and transparency by creating the very first B2B blockchain payment solution, which eliminates the payment complexities associated with international transactions. SIG members can join the SIG + TraDove private network at tradove.com/sig.
Paul’s career as a social entrepreneur began on a surfboard when he pioneered a method to protect local waterways from industry polluters that were making people sick. In 2016, Paul launched Givewith, a Service-as-a-Software solution that generates social impact funding opportunities for nonprofits that can be embedded into any transaction between a buyer and a supplier. He discusses how corporate social responsibility initiatives can drive business value by boosting employee morale, retention rates and investor confidence.
Coupa's CFO Todd Ford and the world's leading third-party risk management expert Linda Tuck Chapman discuss how procurement leaders and finance can work strategically as a team to manage and mitigate risk while also creating value that extends beyond the bottom line.
Resources from this episode:
SIG University's Certified Third Party Risk Management Professional Program: http://bit.ly/2qS63hc
Linda Tuck Chapman's book: https://amzn.to/2QeJPAK
Coupa study with WSJ: http://bit.ly/34Z5n8z
Dan Hanyzewski is the Chief Ambassador at Ubertal Inc./Certree. Certree safeguards employee privacy and data through blockchain technology. Dan initially studied as a sculptor before making a career pivot toward the business world and then branching out to start his own consulting business in talent management and recruiting. Today, Dan is a globally recognized thought leader on recruitment, employer branding and contingent workforce management.
Karen Gonzalez is the Chief Sales Officer at Guidant Global. Her career in staffing began with an unexpected start in recruiting 22 years ago, and her passion for acting as a problem solver for her clients has propelled her into her CSO role today. Karen offers her personal career tips, shares her thoughts on strategic sourcing and impresses the importance of a people-centric perspective in procurement.
Antonio Humphreys' diversified career path took him into roles outside of his wheelhouse, which has allowed him to excel in his role at Adobe within the marketing sourcing vertical. Antonio’s tips for owning your role as a sourcing and procurement pro are to invest in yourself and developing your knowledge through reading industry publications, engaging in networking events or even earning an industry recognized credential.
Contact Info:
- Company’s website address: www.adobe.com
- Twitter address: https://twitter.com/athumphreys
- LinkedIn address: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoniohumphreys/
- Company’s LinkedIn address: https://www.linkedin.com/company/adobe/
Danny joins the podcast to explain how procurement and supply chain teams can do more for the organization by being aligned with the businesses that they support instead of acting as the “procurement police” and focusing only on enforcing policies. Many organizations want to be innovative, but don't invest in the skills and culture it takes to do that. Danny also talks about how automation and artificial intelligence changes negotiations and much more.
Key Takeaways:
- Define your goals and what success looks like in your negotiation process by solving the different problems that parties bring to the table.
- You don’t need smart men and women doing things that macros and bots can do, but human intuition, interaction and strategies cannot be automated.
- To become a better strategic partner, be curious, humble and clear about your “why" in any business transformation.
Nikesh’s journey into procurement wasn’t a straight line. After dabbling in a few different ventures from medicine to real estate, Nikesh came to realize that companies were dealing with an abundance of data but no one to interpret it. Through artificial intelligence and machine learning, he created Suplari to fill an important niche in the procurement industry to help procurement teams interpret their data to gain new business insights.
Key Takeaways:
- The future of procurement lies with CPOs who look for ways to align with the company’s corporate initiatives and goals.
- By rejecting the status quo, procurement teams can have a material impact on the initiatives and KPIs of the company.
- Don’t give up just because your idea didn’t work the first time you tried it
Sid comes from KPMG, where he managed a diverse portfolio that shaped his techniques for sourcing strategies that he uses today. Sid now works at VSP Global, under the leadership of their CPO Greg Tennyson, primarily in the vision insurance space and providing affordable eyecare globally. Sid encourages his staff to focus on continuing education by obtaining certifications in different sourcing concepts, such as third-party risk management. These certifications provided an opportunity for the entire team of 20+ employees to become CFE certified, which gave his team with a common consensus of procedures and vocabulary moving forward. Technology is also impacting their sourcing strategies by meeting the needs of their suppliers through reduction of mundane, transactional processes with automation bots. Thus, allowing employees to use their time to focus on strategic activities such as working more with internal business partners and building supplier relationships.
Key Takeaways:
- Siddharth’s advice is to encourage teams to continue their education through certification training to achieve organizational growth.
- Sid embraces the ambiguity of projects from a procurement standpoint, by seeing them as opportunities to learn how new technologies can assist. By figuring out the unique challenges and embedding them into the company, his team continues to move the needle on their procurement journey.
- A well-rounded, sourcing professional knows the importance of analyzing, problem-solving, listening to stakeholders and suppliers, as well as being good at negotiations, collaboration, and the ability to be persuasive.
- His advice for young professionals is to take more risks and learn from your mistakes earlier in your career to expand your horizons sooner rather than later.
Caring about the environment is embedded in the fabric of Celia’s personality since she was a young child. She was thinking about supply chains before she knew what one was. EcoVadis’ mission is to elevate the performance of global supply chains with respect to sustainability. They’re the largest providers of sustainability ratings. This includes aspects of environment, labor and human rights, ethics and procurement practices of all of the businesses they assess. They have a partnership with the UN Global Impact to help clients make sure their corporate Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) are aligned with the right opportunities. Below is a link to the reports of what commitment versus practice looks like across many different types of organizations.
Key Takeaways:
- Procurement and supply chains have the power to affect environmental sustainability
- One small change can be magnified throughout the world for a larger impact
- The importance of asking more questions along the way and playing to your strengths
Kate is an international authority on business relationships. On the podcast, she discusses what it means to have a “career,” which is defined not by your title but an accumulation of skills to help you meet your goals. When it comes to meeting those goals – whether it’s building strong business relationships, achieving a career milestone or learning a new skill – it's important to understand that success isn’t a straight path, but a series of sideways movements and sometimes even going backwards.
Key Takeaways
- Kate’s advice to up-and-coming professionals is to disregard the notion of a career ladder; she talks about “career surfing” and how to connect with people who will help you ride the ultimate career wave.
- Kate believes the best leaders have a multitude of skills and are not just subject-matter experts in one niche area. She discusses how to engineer your goals to build a wide range of skills.
- Your goal is really about the accumulation of your skills. Every day you should be doing something that gets you to your goal and sometimes that means taking a step backwards.
About the Guest:
Kate Vitasek is known for her award-winning research and Vested® business model for highly collaborative relationships. Vitasek, a faculty member at the University of Tennessee, has been lauded by World Trade Magazine as one of the “Fabulous 50+1” most influential people impacting global commerce. Her pioneering work has led to six books and her work also won the APICS/Supply Chain Council’s Academic Advancement award for advancing the business. She is internationally recognized for her practical and research-based advice for driving transformation and innovation through highly collaborative and strategic partnerships.
From starting his career as a software developer, Mike worked his way up through IT organizations to hone the craft of IT and created the procurement function at CDK Global from scratch. After spending years working alongside the procurement organization in previous positions, he now leads a world-class procurement team and brings his unique insight to the procurement role. Leading CDK’s digital transformation and championing RPA implementation within CDK, Mike is passionate about leading the sourcing and supply chain into the next generation of technology. Mike’s message is clear: CPOs need to be technology evangelists to succeed today.
Key Takeaways:
- Coming from the IT sector, Mike’s experience from CIO to CPO gives him unique insight into the role of procurement and how it needs to evolve to bring the most impact to the business.
- Learn about the advanced technologies that Mike warns procurement professionals not to ignore if they don’t want to leave money on the table or put their own jobs at risk.
- When it comes to digital transformation, Mike outlines the specific skill sets that procurement leaders need in order to be successful in their own roles, as well as what it takes to build great teams and retain that talent.
Tifenn Dano Kwan is the Chief Marketing Officer for SAP Ariba. Recently back from the Davos Conference, Tifenn discusses the key takeaways, including the role of technology and humans, diversity and inclusion in the workplace, and the role of corporations in making a positive impact. When it comes to her role at SAP Ariba, she shares her evolution with the company and its purpose-driven transformation that drives innovation and strategic value with the goal of creating ethical and diverse supply chains.
Key Takeaways
- For companies to upscale their existing workforce, it begins with the tone at the top from leadership. You'll get insight on how providing workers with purpose can help companies attract and retain top talent, which is especially important for millennials and Gen Z workers.
- When it comes to implementing technology, learn why it’s important to choose technology that supports the honorable goals of the company over strictly bottom-line measures.
- Hear why Tifenn believes that digitization is the natural evolution of the sourcing industry to maximize investments, develop a future-ready workforce that is focused on strategic tasks, and is the way to improve user experience, compliance and spend.
- You can catch both Tifenn and Dawn at SAP Ariba Live in Austin, Texas, April 1-3, where they will discuss topics like technology, innovation, sustainability and market trends.
About the Company
SAP Ariba is the world’s largest business commerce network. SAP Ariba combines industry-leading cloud-based applications with the world's largest Internet-based trading community to help companies discover and collaborate with a global network of partners. Using the Ariba® Network, businesses of all sizes can connect to their trading partners anywhere, at any time from any application or device to buy, sell and manage their cash more efficiently and effectively than ever before. Companies around the world use the Ariba Network to simplify inter-enterprise commerce and enhance the results that they deliver.
Gregory Mark is the Chief Customer Officer at Zycus, a role that not many have heard of. On the podcast, he shares the reason his role was created and we take a journey to learn more about his unique career path and what keeps him motivated.
Prior to Zycus, Gregory is best known for being the CEO and Chairman of the Board of Hubwoo but started in the procurement industry back in the day of Commerce One.
After the sale of Hubwoo and his non-compete contracts were complete, Gregory found that he was incredibly bored and began looking for the perfect new company to join.
Gregory is passionate about people, success and the continued growth of the procurement industry. He provides his thoughts about the industry and the improvement possibilities he thinks are possible throughout the source-to-pay industry.
Taso Du Val is the CEO of Toptal where he is in charge of the strategic vision and managing Toptal’s explosive growth.
With an untraditional background that took him from high school dropout to CEO, Taso, who is also a musician, originally started out in the music industry as a producer.
Additionally, Taso is also a founding team member and advisor to Art.sy, an art discovery platform, where he develops and advises on strategy. Taso is an energetic, dynamic and creative person who will inspire you with his story of turning failure into success.
Kazu Gomi, CEO of NTT America, ranks as the 4th largest telecommunication company in the world.
We learn the breadth and depth of NTT’s capabilities, from system integration, (they acquired Dell Services a few years ago) and are also one of the largest security companies in North America. Additionally, Dimensions Data provides system integration and NTT Data provides infrastructure. Within NTT they can provide the full stack of services for any enterprise IT solution. Another impressive note is that they are one of the largest carriers of internet traffic in the world. They are one of the top 4 providers of internet traffic.
As a leader, Kazu emphasizes his lifelong interest in technology and always believed, as he does still, that technology will change the world. He brings this insatiable interest to work every day to motivate people to embrace change.
Alex Yakubovich had a non-traditional path into the world of sourcing and procurement. In college, what started out as a project to earn extra cash turned into a profitable e-commerce venture that he and his co-founder later sold to Living Social.
While working in e-commerce, Alex fielded and responded to hundreds of RFPs per year, and quickly became frustrated by the clunky, manual practices of the RFP process.
Alex shares his journey from the dorm room to the boardroom and what he’s learned about the customer along the way.
Alan Day’s inspiration to found State of Flux was due to a gap in the implementation of sourcing processes post-deal.
Having worked in procurement and supply chain for over 20 years, Alan utilized industry best practices to help companies optimize their strategic sourcing goals post-deal through contract management, supplier relationship management and sustainability.
Alan shares his insight into how procurement and CPOs can take initiative to move beyond back-office administrative roles, such as buying and RFP management (which he says will soon be automated) to working with the CEO to determine strategic goals of the business that are led by procurement.
Welcome to a special edition of the Sourcing Industry Landscape podcast, hosted by Dawn Tiura. This episode highlights team finalists for Sourcing Industry Group’s (SIG) Future of Sourcing Awards in the Innovations in Sustainability category.
The teams nominated for the Innovations in Sustainability category have demonstrated excellence in their field and represent the best example of innovation, transformation and/or leadership in sustainability.
About the team:
- Microsoft – Within Microsoft Procurement, it was discovered that impact sourcing is a unique empowering sourcing model that is directly aligned to its mission to help individuals achieve more. For Microsoft, impact sourcing means knocking down artificial barriers to employment and allowing high-potential individuals to bring their strengths to the marketplace. Learn about Microsoft’s journey to build and implement an impact sourcing program that benefits local and global communities.
Welcome to a special edition of the Sourcing Industry Landscape podcast, hosted by Dawn Tiura. This episode highlights team finalists for Sourcing Industry Group’s (SIG) Future of Sourcing Awards in the Innovations in Governance category.
The teams nominated for the Innovations in Governance category have demonstrated excellence in their field and represent the best example of innovation, transformation and/or leadership in governance.
Welcome to a special edition of the Sourcing Industry Landscape podcast, hosted by Dawn Tiura. This episode highlights team finalists for Sourcing Industry Group’s (SIG) Future of Sourcing Awards in the Innovations in Digitization category.
The teams nominated for the Innovations in Digitization category have demonstrated excellence in their field and represent the best example of innovation, transformation and/or leadership in digitization.
Welcome to a special edition of the Sourcing Industry Landscape podcast, hosted by Dawn Tiura. This episode highlights team finalists for Sourcing Industry Group’s (SIG) Future of Sourcing Awards in the Innovations in Outsourcing category.
The teams nominated for the Innovations in Outsourcing category have demonstrated excellence in their field and represent the best example of innovation, transformation and/or leadership in outsourcing.
Welcome to a special edition of the Sourcing Industry Landscape podcast, hosted by Dawn Tiura. This episode highlights team finalists for Sourcing Industry Group’s (SIG) Future of Sourcing Awards in the Innovations in Sourcing category.
The teams nominated for the Innovations in Sourcing category have demonstrated excellence in their field and represent the best example of innovation, transformation and/or leadership in sourcing.
Welcome to a special edition of the Sourcing Industry Landscape podcast, hosted by Dawn Tiura. This episode highlights team finalists for Sourcing Industry Group’s (SIG) Future of Sourcing Awards in the Innovations in Sourcing category.
The teams nominated for the Innovations in Sourcing category have demonstrated excellence in their field and represent the best example of innovation, transformation and/or leadership in sourcing.
Welcome to a special edition of the Sourcing Industry Landscape podcast, hosted by Dawn Tiura. This episode highlights team finalists for Sourcing Industry Group’s (SIG) Future of Sourcing Awards in the Innovations in Third Party Management category.
The teams nominated for the Innovations in Third Party Management category have demonstrated excellence in their field and represent the best example of innovation, transformation and/or leadership in third party management.
Welcome to a special edition of the Sourcing Industry Landscape podcast, hosted by Dawn Tiura. This episode highlights team finalists for Sourcing Industry Group’s (SIG) Future of Sourcing Awards in the Innovations in Supplier Performance category.
The teams nominated for the Innovations in Supplier Performance category have demonstrated excellence in their field and represent the best example of innovation, transformation and/or leadership in talent management.
About the Teams:
- Florida Blue – Florida Blue created processes to assess, monitor and mitigate supplier risk across a diverse supply chain, with the goal being to revise the supplier relationship process from the ground up, continue to meet regulatory requirements and become a customer of choice. You’ll learn how their team achieved reductions in average time to complete an initiative, increased effectiveness of the team, hard dollars savings increases and avoidance/value increases.
- Microsoft – Microsoft transformed its supplier management, product development, sourcing and supply chain processes from disjointed to one that is a fully-integrated and seamless design-to-deliver process for Surface, Xbox and other hardware products. Learn how Microsoft and its partner SAP Ariba co-innovated to gain early visibility into the cost impact of design decisions and accelerated its product development cycle.
Welcome to a special edition of the Sourcing Industry Landscape podcast, hosted by Dawn Tiura. This episode highlights team finalists for Sourcing Industry Group’s (SIG) Future of Sourcing Awards in the Innovations in Talent Management category.
The teams nominated for the Innovations in Talent Management category have demonstrated excellence in their field and represent the best example of innovation, transformation and/or leadership in talent management.
About the Teams:
- Beeline – The biggest challenge companies face today is building an agile workforce of top-tier talent to compete and succeed in an on-demand world. Learn how Beeline combined advanced technology and a combination of private and public talent pools to create the industry’s first fully integrated system for self-sourcing contingent talent.
- Microsoft - Microsoft has been on a journey to “learn by doing” in this new world of work. Learn about the mindset, approach and tools that helped Microsoft prove the business case while enabling its employees to engage talent in the Gig Economy responsibly and with high-impact results.
- University of Tennessee (UT) – UT wanted a way to bring the Vested sourcing business model to life beyond a traditional classroom and online courses. Now a buyer-supplier team works on a real deal in real time, taking a module to “learn” and then completing deliverables to “do,”with their “homework” being the contract. Learn how they flipped the conventional learning model on its head.
Welcome to a special edition of the Sourcing Industry Landscape podcast, hosted by Dawn Tiura, where we highlight Rising Star Award finalists for Sourcing Industry Group’s (SIG) Future of Sourcing Awards.
The finalists on this show combine their technical skills with curiosity to embrace technology that drives innovation and value to make their businesses more strategic. The Rising Star Award recognizes an individual newer to the industry who has shown initiative and promise by delivering a project, developing thought leadership or creating a new methodology that is likely to have a lasting impact.
About the Guests:
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Conor Quarry, Analytics as a Service Lead, IBM - Conor’s strong focus on analytics led to the development of a tool that evaluates negotiation approaches to gauge potential award recommendations, which resulted in a drastic reduction of the RFP review period and substantial cost savings. Conor has been recognized as one of ISM's 30 under 30 Rising Supply Chain Stars, is a published thought leader and continues to bridge the gap between data, insight and action.
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Komal Patel, Global Process Owner, Source-to-Pay (S2P), Kellogg Company – Komal has displayed a futuristic vision for procurement services and technology by maximizing efficiency and effectiveness for Kellogg. She has expertly managed the integration of systems and user experiences to drive standardization, automation and superior business outcomes, and is recognized by other functions outside procurement, which are modeling their own digital transformations on Komal’s example.
Welcome to a special edition of the Sourcing Industry Landscape podcast, hosted by Dawn Tiura, where we highlight Rising Star Award finalists for Sourcing Industry Group’s (SIG) Future of Sourcing Awards.
The finalists on this show are embracing emerging technologies and big data to enhance operations for their businesses that challenge the status quo. The Rising Star Award will recognize an individual newer to the industry who has shown initiative and promise by delivering a project, developing thought leadership or creating a new methodology that is likely to have a lasting impact.
About the Guests:
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Krystelle Bilodeau, Director, Retail and Wholesale Debt Administration, Bank of Canada - Krystelle has led many large outsourcing initiatives for the Bank in addition to advising on the impacts of new technologies on the financial services sector. Her work in these areas has given her unique insight and expertise into third party risk. Krystelle is a guest lecturer for SIG University’s Certified Third Party Risk Management program, published author on the topic and a frequent presenter on the modern workforce.
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Biswajeet Panigrahi, Category Manager II, Strategic Sourcing, FedEx – Biswajeet has led major technology projects, including the creation of a real-time intelligent dashboard and the utilization of data science to develop models and forecasting tools. Biswajeet has been recognized for his innovative strategies, methodologies and ability to use emerging technologies, including neural networks, to enhance business operations for FedEx.
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Natalie Fahrner, Category Manager II, Strategic Sourcing, FedEx – Natalie plays an integral role in developing strategy to unlock value through a powerful combination of holistic category management, trusted stakeholder partnerships and the use of big data to enhance decision-making. Additionally, Natalie has been recognized for her thought leadership, mentorship programs and volunteer initiatives.
Welcome to a special edition of the Sourcing Industry Landscape podcast, hosted by Dawn Tiura, where we highlight Sourcing Star Award finalists for Sourcing Industry Group’s (SIG) Future of Sourcing Awards.
The finalists on this show have challenged the status quo over the course of their careers to achieve impressive results against the odds. The Sourcing Star Award will recognize an individual who has demonstrated inspiring, insightful and innovative work in the sourcing field over the course of their career in the space.
About the Guests:
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Debbie Manos-McHenry, Chief Sourcing Officer, Huntington National Bank – Debbie has led significant technology projects and is regarded for her ability to sustain year-over-year savings in a lean environment. She shares wisdom from her impressive career: don’t run from adopting new technology, retain and train team members who can evolve into strategic roles, and embrace the power and knowledge that can be derived from data.
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Jennifer Shepherd, Director of Global Sourcing and Procurement, Russell Investments – Jennifer shares how she led a comprehensive telecom transformation project to drive 90-percent savings by winning over adversarial stakeholders and changing her organization’s consumption of telecom technology. Even though she is a big proponent of process, she advocates for thinking outside of the box and, against the odds, not taking no for a final answer.
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Kate Vitasek, Faculty and Author, University of Tennessee (UT) – Kate is the thought leader and creator behind the Vested Sourcing Business Model, which grew out of her research team at UT. She has authored six books on this concept over the course of 18 years that have led global companies to achieve significant cost savings and improvements. As an educator, researcher and sourcing expert, Kate advocates for challenging the old way of doing business and shares how her background in supply chain management has influenced her Vested methodology.
Welcome to a special edition of the Sourcing Industry Landscape podcast, hosted by Dawn Tiura, where we highlight Sourcing Star Award finalists for Sourcing Industry Group’s (SIG) Future of Sourcing Awards.
The finalists on this show have led teams that champion intricate processes and complex governance issues, while humbly noting that their team’s input and expertise help produce the final, positive outcome. The Sourcing Star Award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated inspiring, insightful and innovative work in the sourcing field over the course of their career in the space.
About the Guests:
• Deepak Bansal, Head of IT Sourcing and Vendor Management, Envision Healthcare (EVHC) – As EVHC undergoes a divestiture of its business, Deepak has led the effort to disentangle hundreds of IT contracts while maintaining cost consistency. Deepak shares the details of the disentanglement methodology that he developed, which will also be published in Forbes, alongside his thought leadership content on information technology, vendor risk management and sourcing.
• Kristin Gallagher, Director of Global Sourcing and Investment, Russell Investments – Kristin led the transformation of a market data project for Russell Investments, an extremely difficult category to manage in financial services. She not only drastically reduced spend but received recognition for best-in-class management when benchmarking the category against 10 peer companies, including Northern Trust, JPMorgan Chase and Bank of New York Mellon, among others.
• Linda Tuck Chapman, President, Ontala Performance Solutions – Linda was one of the first CPOs in the financial services industry. She is currently CEO of her own consulting firm and a leading expert in third-party risk. Linda is a published author, an adjunct professor at the Wharton School of Business and one of the founding members of the SIG Resource Center. She also serves as faculty for SIG University’s Certified Third Party Risk Management program.
Welcome to a special edition of the Sourcing Industry Landscape podcast, hosted by Dawn Tiura, where we highlight Sourcing Star Award finalists for Sourcing Industry Group’s (SIG) Future of Sourcing Awards.
The finalists on this show have utilized their professional acumen to make impressive impacts on their communities and the communities in which their organizations do business. The Sourcing Star Award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated inspiring, insightful and innovative work in the sourcing field over the course of their career in the space.
About the Guests:
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Greg Tennyson, CPO, VSP Global - With over 25 years’ industry experience, Greg is a sought-after advisory board member, thought leader and mentor who seeks to pay it forward to young talent and emerging companies. A collaborative leader and team player, he shows an unwavering commitment to his profession by pushing new innovation and technology across procurement.
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Tim Hopper, Responsible Sourcing Manager, Indirect Supply Chain, Microsoft – Tim shares details on his innovative projects for Microsoft, including how his nonprofit experience influences his work for Microsoft on social and environmental projects, as well as the impact of emerging technologies on sustainability initiatives.
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Lawrence Kane, Senior Leader for IT Sourcing & Functional Excellence, Boeing – Lawrence has developed many industry leading best practices, including the creation of the first sourcing office for Boeing. As an industry thought leader, educator, and mentor, he has no shortage of personal and professional projects. He shares a unique insight into his approach to time management that aligns both himself and his team for success.
Over the coming weeks, listeners will be introduced to the teams and individuals whose work has had significant impacts on the industry, the organizations for which they work and their colleagues.
The Future of Sourcing Awards will take place at SIG’s Fall Global Executive Summit on October 17 in Rancho Mirage, California.
Ian Barkin is Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Symphony Ventures, a professional services firm that helps enterprises leverage automation, artificial intelligence (AI) and innovative resourcing solutions. When it comes to implementing Robotic Process Automation (RPA) into workplace culture, Ian is sympathetic workers’ concerns. His solution is to show workers that RPA can eliminate mundane tasks to allow teams and business units to redirect their passions to a higher order of activities.
Jeff Amsel began his career in accounting, earned an MBA in marketing and then was recruited to work with procurement teams. With experience working as both a consultant and within corporate consulting companies, he has a unique understanding of the needs of clients, especially when it comes to alignment with C-Suite stakeholders.
Jeff shares the lessons he’s learned in his career that spans over 20 years in consulting, including the importance of collaboration, the opportunities to be gained through networking and how finding a mentor will help you excel your career.
Dan Khublall is a Senior Director – Global Head External Workforce Management Strategy and Program Director Management for Thomson Reuters. In this role, Dan directs the strategic procurement strategy for the non-employee workforce of Thomson Reuters.
Dan fell into staffing by way of working in sales, in which he developed a strong aptitude for data and analytics. By learning to make data-based decisions, he excelled quickly in his career by being innovative and taking on risk more strategically.
Dan shares his personal outlook on the contingent workforce, the future of work, and why he thinks more organizations need to adopt a blended workforce strategy with roles that are outcome-based to stay agile.
As CPO for the National Basketball Association, Joseph R. Postiglione Sr., CPSM, is responsible for a set of businesses and services to produce the game of basketball.
Joseph is the author of Don't Believe Everything You Think: Change the Way You Feel By Changing the Way You Think, in which he advocates for living in the moment and understanding the impact that emotion has on decision-making.
By utilizing his training as a Certified Emotional Intelligence Practitioner, Joseph takes a people-first approach to procurement that builds trust among internal stakeholders to deliver the most cost-effective goods and services, as well as establishing a judgement-free zone among his direct reports. The result? Better business results with minimal friction.
Rob Bernshteyn is the Chief Executive Officer of Coupa Software, a cloud platform for business spend management.
After moving to the U.S. at a young age, what began as an interest in sports memorabilia turned into a profitable venture during middle school and high school to help fund his college education. Rob believes that building high-performing teams begins with hiring people who exhibit true authenticity.
His vision for the future of sourcing is a transition from back-office functions to an executive role reporting directly to the board that aligns business spend with the organization's business goals.
Greg Tennyson is Chief Procurement Officer, Business Transformation, at VSP Global.
With a background in sales and experience as a former college athlete, Greg takes a collaborative, team-oriented approach to procurement.
From driving campaigns that positively change company culture to coaching and advising start-up companies, Greg does not back down from opportunities to elevate the industry. He identifies seven must-have skills to become a true procurement leader and advises that procurement professionals should commit to diversifying their knowledge to become well-informed generalists.
Dennis Timpanaro is the Founder and CEO of GOtivation, a fitness technology startup with a messaging platform that utilizes artificial intelligence to help personal trainers and fitness coaches motivate clients.
Timpanaro is world-ranked athlete and was the youngest global director in McDonald's history. Timpanaro's career path is not typical. His advice to rising procurement professionals is learn how to market procurement's value and purpose, strive for efficiency and get comfortable with being uncomfortable.
Dr. Marcell Vollmer joins SIG CEO and President Dawn Tiura on The Sourcing Industry Landscape to talk about his role as Chief Digital Officer of SAP Ariba.
Dr. Vollmer discusses his role as Chief Procurement Officer during SAP's acquisition of Ariba and touches on the challenges and opportunities that occur during a major business integration.
Drawing from examples of leading companies that drive innovation through procurement, Dr. Vollmer says procurement must transform into a value-added function by focusing on the strategic tasks to drive hard savings, compliance and define future innovations and sustainable supply chains.
Tolga Tomar is Director of Procurement at Thirty-One Gifts, a direct-selling company that empowers women to run their own consulting business. Tomar is a visionary who believes global sourcing is the future of the industry and is passionate about the positive impact it can have on communities across the world. Tomar challenges his team to think outside the box and encourages procurement professionals to embrace the emerging technologies that are bringing innovation and transparency to global supply chains.
As the Vice President of Sales for Determine, a cloud platform offering source to pay solutions to mitigate risk, streamline productivity and generate revenue, Sean Delaney talks to SIG CEO Dawn Tiura, CSP, about supply chain risk management, trends in sourcing and procurement, and why candor goes a long way in establishing trust and building lasting business relationships. Delaney also talks about what he believes will be the next big disruption in supply chains.
Daryl Hammett is a partner and Chief Operations Officer of ConnXus, an Ohio-based tech start-up that connects diverse and small businesses with companies seeking to expand and diversify their supplier base. Hammett draws from his strong procurement background to simplify the process between buyers and suppliers so that buyers can put more resources and time into innovation. Hammett's passion for the industry, his expertise, and his hunger to constantly evolve and improve have helped connect millions of diverse suppliers with businesses around the world.
Kristian O'Meara is Vice President of Market Solutions at JAGGAER, a global provider of source-to-pay solutions.
O'Meara's journey into sourcing and procurement began with an internship for a franchise that proved to be the foundation for his career. In an industry where the conversation is dominated by change, O'Meara notes that the ability to be a good listener and an active partner will always be a valued skill.
Wayne Ezell, CPM, is Vice President of Procure-to-Pay with Fidelity Information Services (FIS). Ezell began his post-secondary education in physics and then moved into sourcing and procurement. Ezell offers strong, actionable advice to anyone who aspires to succeed in procurement: learn to listen to your clients to understand their needs, always be inquisitive so you can provide unique solutions, and immerse yourself in specialized courses and training to learn best practices and become a subject-matter expert.
Mike Kearns is the Vice President of Enterprise Strategy at Toptal, an on-demand freelance talent procurement network. As the procurement of high-skilled workers becomes more competitive in the global market, Kearns tells SIG CEO Dawn Tiura, CSP, the steps that companies can take in procuring and managing talent to lower overhead costs and drive more efficient business outcomes.
Are you ready for the next wave of disruption in procurement? Join Sourcing Industry Group CEO Dawn Tiura, CSP, for conversations on the sourcing industry landscape with innovators who embrace technology to improve, influence and inspire procurement professionals.