Procurement is laser focused on spend, suppliers, risk, sustainability, regulations and more… is it possible that we need to add LOVE to the list of things we are trying to contribute to the organization? In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Natalia Pickett. Natalia is Head of Procurement at Keolis Amey, a global transportation company focused on public transport, as well as a non-Executive Director for Woodenshark.  In this interview, Natalia shares her passion and enthusiasm for procurement, with a focus on the relationships they should aim to build: Procurement’s strategic role as matchmakerThe relationships that need to exist between procurement and the business, and procurement and suppliers, as well as how to foster themWhy process, tech, and analytics are nothing if there is no ‘spark’ Links: Natalia Pickett on LinkedIn

We are all subject to stereotypes about what procurement professionals are like, what suppliers are like, and what procurement-supplier relationships are like. But those kinds of models are made to be broken, often to the benefit of everyone involved. In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Keri Peña. Keri didn’t start her career in procurement - she started in IT - but she didn’t work in procurement for long before she was hooked! Keri reached out and offered to tell her story to help other procurement professionals succeed in the field while forming meaningful relationships and having FUN!  In this interview, Keri talks about how she puts herself into her role and how connecting on a personal level can help drive desired business outcomes: How to progress from the name or email address of a supplier representative to the beginnings of a bondWhat to do when someone is not receptive to forming a collaborative relationshipThe importance of empathy, transparency, trust, being genuine, and humor, to personal and professional success Links: Keri Peña on LinkedIn

We’re all constantly being bombarded with breaking news about the most sensitive topics - and almost nothing seems to be off-limits anymore, even in the workplace. Add to that sensational, over-the-top media coverage and it can be hard to think straight - but it isn't impossible. In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes back Kris Lance, Vice President and General Manager at Una, for a monthly conversation about current news stories. Kris has experience in multiple industries and has his finger on the pulse of the trends and topics that procurement, sourcing, and supply chain professionals need to be aware of. In this month’s discussion, Kris and Kelly talk about techniques for thinking through a never-ending stream of complex topics:  What factors influence the way we respond to new information and form opinions about itHow to prepare for a conversation on a sensitive topic that is likely to start with disagreementPreventing passion-driven topics from dividing each of us from our friends and family Links: Kris Lance on LinkedInSubscribe to “The Sidekick”Episode 176: Fighting off the Impact of Slow Onset Inertia with Kris LanceEpisode 171: Japan: A Silent Player in the Semiconductor Supply Chain with Kris LanceEpisode 167: Bird (Flu) Watching: Tracking the Spread of H5N1 with Kris LanceEpisode 162: Remembering the Port of Baltimore with Kris Lance

Procurement thinks that the accounts payable team ‘just’ pays suppliers. Accounts payable teams think that procurement ‘just’ finds suppliers and negotiates contracts. In reality, both teams do quite a bit more - and the better they understand each other’s priorities, contributions, and challenges, the more they can do for each other and for the business. In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Anders Lassen. Anders is the Owner and Senior Procurement Consultant at Gradus Consult and the Founder of P2Connct, a Danish boutique consultancy focused on procure-to-pay process optimisation and transformation. In this episode, Anders talks about the common misperceptions and missed opportunities that keep procurement and AP apart: The type of relationship most procurement teams have with APHow procurement reporting into finance (versus the CEO or operations) might influence their relationship with AP The value opportunities that can be created by strengthening this - and all other - internal relationships Links: Anders Lassen on LinkedIn

Although AI is not new, applications of it are constantly evolving. This is especially true of generative AI. The low barrier to use encourages innovation and experimentation, and people are learning to use it personally and professionally. Over time, it is likely to become so pervasive that anyone who does not develop a basic understanding may be left behind.  In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Alan J. Rice. Alan is the Managing Director of Caché Procurement, LLC, a boutique provider of procurement and AI advisory services. In this interview, Alan talks about how AI - and mindsets around AI - are changing procurement: Why embracing AI is a matter of survivalHow procurement can achieve professional courage at scaleThe level of AI expertise procurement should be expected to develop  Links: Alan J. Rice on LinkedIn

Procurement professionals need to have excellent soft skills, especially when they are working across geographies and cultures. A simple gesture like a handshake is expected in one culture, and may offend in another. Knowing the difference and being able to read the room are essential. In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Dupre Jones. Dupre is a Regional Category Manager, specializing in Logistics & Warehousing for CSL. He also has an MBA from the Thunderbird School of Global Management, where he no doubt learned many of the skills needed to navigate today’s complex business landscape. In this interview, Dupre shares his point of view on why cultural understanding and active empathy should be considered in all business strategies: Expectations for cross cultural communications and mannerismsThe role that empathy can and should play in contract negotiationsHow procurement can help decision makers determine what they want before selecting a supplier Links: Dupre Jones on LinkedIn

After the ‘working from home’ movement that began a few years ago, the professional world then passed through ‘quiet quitting’ on its way to something that feels a little heavier. Whether we call it apathy, nihilism, or inertia, the current mood is affecting individuals and teams in a way that we should all be aware of. In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes back Kris Lance, Vice President and Senior Director at Una, for a monthly conversation about current news stories. Kris has experience in multiple industries and has his finger on the pulse of the trends and topics that procurement, sourcing, and supply chain professionals need to be aware of. In this month’s discussion, Kris and Kelly talk about the sense of emotional fatigue that seems to be spreading across companies:  Why it is affecting our ability to be at our best and even find enjoyment in our workHow leadership methods and incentive programs need to adapt in responseAdvice for pulling ourselves and our colleagues out of the malaise Links: Kris Lance on LinkedInSubscribe to “The Sidekick”Episode 171: Japan: A Silent Player in the Semiconductor Supply Chain with Kris LanceEpisode 167: Bird (Flu) Watching: Tracking the Spread of H5N1 with Kris LanceEpisode 162: Remembering the Port of Baltimore with Kris LanceEpisode 158: All Eyes Should Remain on the Red Sea with Kris Lance

When we think about what excellence looks like, especially on a podcast about heroism, it would be reasonable to assume that it involves feats of superhuman strength, altruistic triumph, and being 100% on point 110% of the time. Not so, says this episode’s guest. Excellence is doing just that much better than the competition - and your own past performance - consistently over the long term. In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Keith Wright. Keith is an independent procurement consultant and the author of The Power of Professional Procurement, a book for businesses and decision makers determined to make a material difference for their supply chain. In this interview, Kelth talks about his idea of excellence and why it is actually much more attainable than many of us think: The importance of investing in ourselves as professionals and creators and what that looks like in practiceWhy having an active network is an essential part of individual successWays customer expectations of all kinds continue to evolve, and how procurement can continue to meet them Links: Keith Wright on LinkedIn

Fast growth company leadership teams have a lot on their plates. They are balancing building a solution or offering, building brand recognition, and closing deals. But no concern is higher priority than funding. In order to secure that funding, they also need to invest in accounting - and it is never too soon to get started. In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Lonnie Bloom. Lonnie is a Partner at Withum, where he specializes in auditing and supporting the growth of some of the most well-known tech and emerging growth companies in the country. He also co-leads the firm's e-commerce practice which serves hundreds of brands and household names in the e-comm industry.  In this interview, Lonnie talks about the importance of solid accounting procedure and documentation to fast growth companies: The unique financial challenges faced by growth stage tech firmsAdvantages, such as specific decisions, leadership qualities, etc., that can position firms for long term growthHow contract management practices can contribute to a company’s success Links: Lonnie Bloom on LinkedIn

When procurement needs to deliver savings, the reflexive response is usually to go to market, approaching suppliers for discounts or putting a contract out to bid. While this approach works, the results often pale in comparison to what procurement can deliver by having internal conversations about specifications, requirements, and projected demand.   In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Omid Ghamami. Omid is the CEO of the Procurement and Supply Chain Management Institute – PSCM Institute for short.  He is the innovator of the CPSCM™ certification program and works with Fortune 500 companies to elevate their procurement and negotiation capabilities.   In this interview, Omid shares his point of view on leveraging procurement influence with both stakeholders and suppliers: The relationship procurement needs to forge with internal colleagues to maximize savingsWays procurement can support better outcomes from suppliers - before even reaching the negotiating tableThe danger of a misplaced focus on SRM, and how it can negatively impact procurement  Links: Omid Ghamami on LinkedIn

For all of the hopes and expectations around AI’s ability to support human decision making, it is important to acknowledge that people and companies make decisions for different kinds of reasons. According to Aristotle (384 BCE – 322 BCE), there are three persuasions: logos, pathos, and ethos. Thousands of years after his death, we are still making decisions on logic, emotion, and character, or some combination of the three.  In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Matt Palackdharry. Matt is the Chief Strategy Officer at Apty, a digital adoption platform companies can use when working to coordinate their people, processes, and technology. In this interview, Matt talks about how the power of AI is (and is not) changing the way we make decisions: Understanding the differences between how humans and computers learnSupporting human creativity and multi-factored decision making with today’s analytical capabilitiesEnsuring that business processes keep up with the investments being made in people and technology Links: Matt Palackdharry on LinkedIn

Most of us think about Taiwan, China, and - to some extent - the U.S. when it comes to semiconductor manufacturing… but Japan is just as critical. They are a primary (and dominant) supplier of semiconductor related chemicals, packaging materials, and tools. In fact, Japan views the industry as part of their national security strategy, and is currently investing nearly one percent of GDP in those companies.  In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes back Kris Lance, Senior Director at Una, for a recurring monthly conversation about current news stories. Kris has experience in multiple industries and has his finger on the pulse of the trends and topics that procurement, sourcing, and supply chain professionals need to be aware of. In this month’s discussion, Kris and Kelly talk about the semiconductor supply chain and ALL of the countries and political concerns that will have to align to increase resilience:  Why market overconcentration continues to surprise and affect businesses worldwideThe role that governments play in private sector innovation through subsidies and investmentHow procurement and supply chain leaders should be factoring geopolitics into their management of spend and suppliers Links: Kris Lance on LinkedInSubscribe to “The Sidekick”Episode 167: Bird (Flu) Watching: Tracking the Spread of H5N1 with Kris LanceEpisode 162: Remembering the Port of Baltimore with Kris LanceEpisode 158: All Eyes Should Remain on the Red Sea with Kris LanceEpisode 154: The Sourcing Hero Gets a Sidekick with Kris Lance

The volume of data available at our fingertips can sometimes create the illusion that any information is accessible, that decision making is improved, and that failure is avoidable. Once we get past that illusion and accept the reality of even data-driven decision making, we can finally be on the road to success. In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Blake Tablak. Blake is the CEO of Trax Technologies, a company that provides transportation spend management visibility for freight audit and payment solutions. With data at the heart of everything procurement is looking to achieve today, his perspectives on data and risk are valuable and highly applicable. In this interview, Blake shares his perspective on data and the very human conditions that have to be in place for companies to deploy data successfully: How much data is “a lot” todayThe current state of data confidenceWhere “doing nothing” falls on the business risk continuum Links: Blake Tablak on LinkedIn

There will always be challenges to overcome - personally, professionally, and combined - but by finding the courage to work in community and to receive all each employee has to give, leaders can allow themselves and their teams to attain a new level of achievement. All it takes is a bit of generosity, purposefully carried out. In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Joe Davis. Joe is a Managing Director and Senior Partner at the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and author of The Generous Leader: 7 Ways to Give of Yourself for Everyone's Gain, which was published in April 2024. In this interview, Joe speaks candidly about the personal and professional experiences that showed him the true power of generosity and inspired his book: How an emphasis on generosity in leadership could change a company’s decisions about who to elevateWhat a lack of generosity might feel like on an otherwise solid teamUnderstanding the ‘ROI’ of generosity in all its forms Links: Joe Davis on LinkedIn

The public and private sectors both have a great need for top procurement talent. And while their stakeholders, objectives, and processes differ in some ways, they are also subject to the same economic forces and market trends. Sometimes the dynamics in one of their sectors even has an impact on the other. In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Dwight Gibbs. Dwight is the CEO of Contraqer, a procurement solution uniquely suited to the challenges and complexities faced in public procurement. In this interview, Dwight talks about the differences and similarities between private and public sector procurement: The intentions behind the regulations that drive so much complexityThe division of responsibility for developing specifications v. sourcing v. making award decisions How the transition from buying ‘things’ to buying ‘services’ (including IT) has changed public procurement’s focus Links: Dwight Gibbs on LinkedIn

The H5N1 virus (a.k.a. ‘Bird flu’) is not just spreading among birds in the supply chain. It has recently jumped to beef cattle and - in just a few cases - human beings. It has now been found in 32 herds in 8 states. But is it time to worry?  In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes back Kris Lance, Senior Director at Una, for a recurring monthly conversation about current news stories. Kris has experience in multiple industries and has his finger on the pulse of the trends and topics that procurement, sourcing, and supply chain professionals need to be aware of. In this month’s discussion, Kris and Kelly talk about the concerns associated with the bird flu, whether it becomes a larger issue or stays largely contained to animals:  Questions that are being raised about why the federal government is missing its own reporting deadlines and providing incomplete dataThe direct connection between transparency and trust in the face of troubling newsWhy this is yet another reminder for supply chain professionals to double down on the fundamentals like testing and data quality Links: Kris Lance on LinkedInSubscribe to “The Sidekick”Episode 162: Remembering the Port of Baltimore with Kris LanceEpisode 158: All Eyes Should Remain on the Red Sea with Kris LanceEpisode 154: The Sourcing Hero Gets a Sidekick with Kris LanceEpisode 150: 2024: The Year of the Dragon? with Kris Lance

Every single day, successful retailers overcome challenges that few other industries will ever have to face. Complex supply chains, uncertain demand, and - increasingly - regulations that not only force them to consider the big picture but also vary by geography. In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Eric Linxwiler. Eric is the Senior Vice President of Retail Solutions at TradeBeyond, a platform that helps retailers, brands, and trading partners collaborate quickly and easily. In this interview, Eric shares some of the external pressures and internal priorities that are dominating the conversation in retail executive suites: The role of AI across the operationHow increasing regulation is changing the way tier 1 retailers make decisionsThe confidence horizon that retail decision makers are working towards Links: Eric Linxwiler on LinkedIn

Mentors have the opportunity to provide valuable, trusted advice to the individuals they work with, but those relationships are often formed haphazardly. One team of entrepreneurs is working to pair ascending college students with recent graduates who can mentor them through the college selection process. Pairing them effectively requires a lot of data, and more empathy, but it is well worth the effort.  In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Jason Edmonds. Jason is the Co-Founder & COO at Mentee and 2023 Venture for America Fellow. He’s a lifelong learner passionate about operational systems and product development. He’s a startup enthusiast that seeks to revolutionize the college admissions industry with efficient, impactful solutions. In this interview, Jason is open about his experience as an entrepreneur and professional relationship builder: How he turned a ‘fun’ summer project into a tech based startupThe most empowering and the most challenging parts about being an entrepreneurThe approach he uses to balance creativity and brainstorming with sustained operational growth Links: Jason Edmonds on LinkedIn

Procurement’s relationship with legal is one of the most important they have. Whether it is allowing procurement to meet (or exceed) their objectives or protecting the company from risk, they need to be “joined at the hip” as we learn from this week’s guest. In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Lisa Haitz. Lisa has over 20 years of experience in finance, legal, commercial operations, sourcing, and procurement. Today she applies that experience as a strategic sourcing and procurement advisor and fractional CPO, meeting procurement teams where they are and getting them on their way to where they want to be. In this interview, Lisa talks about some of the ways procurement and legal can work together that benefit both groups - and the whole organization as well: When and how procurement should get legal involved in sourcing and contract managementThe impact of digital platforms on legal and procurement, whether that is CLM, Blockchain, or generative AIDifferent models that companies may use to access legal expertise and how procurement can ensure they get what they need in each case Links: Lisa Haitz on LinkedIn

While most people hungered for a return to ‘normal’ after the pandemic shut downs, many of the workforce trends that companies experimented with offer lasting lessons and value. From flexible work schedules to innovative sources of talent, the opportunities for hiring managers and prospective employees are as diverse as the roles that need to be filled. In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Mika Cross. Mika is a U.S. Army Veteran and a workforce futurist. She was focused on distributed team workforce requirements two decades before the world went home to work in 2020 - in the aftermath of 9/11 - and continues to follow the associated trends today. In this interview, Mika shares her expertise at the intersection of workforce requirements, distributed talent, and company culture: Some of the ‘diverse’ categories of people that employers might want to know more about and include in their workforceThe lurking danger of ‘good intentions.’How taking an expanded view of talent sources and work arrangements can help employers, individuals, and communitiesConsiderations around company culture that managers should be aware of as the shape and style of their workforce changes Links: Mika Cross on LinkedIn