878: Building Procurement as a Strategic Growth Engine W/ Travis Hodge

"Procurement's future is bright, when we continue to do it the right way for the right reasons." - Travis Hodge, Director of Enterprise Sourcing & Procurement at nVent Procurement is no longer just a back-office function. As business models shift and digital transformation accelerates, procurement leaders face more pressure (and more opportunities) than ever to become true business partners.  Supplier experience, strategic talent, and AI-enabled efficiency are fast becoming the new playbook for teams aiming to drive results in hyperscale markets. This episode features Travis Hodge, Director of Enterprise Sourcing and Procurement at nVent, who shares how his organization is reinventing both its processes and culture to keep pace with customer needs and rapid growth. Recorded at Ivalua's 'Procurement Innovation on Tour' Summit in Chicago, Travis offers candid insights on supplier segmentation, why executive sponsorship matters, and the operational and emotional impact of genuine employee engagement. His approach starts with treating suppliers as partners and ensuring procurement is measured not just on savings, but on real business value delivered in order to position procurement as a growth engine. In this episode, Travis discusses: -Reframe supplier experience as a cornerstone of transformation and value -Leverage executive sponsorship to unlock strategic change -Connect AI, automation, and data strategy to tangible business outcomes -Prioritize employee experience as a real differentiator   Links: Travis Hodge on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/travis-hodge-phd-612139125/  Procurement Innovation on Tour: https://www.ivalua.com/procurement-innovation-on-tour/  Subscribe to the AOP Newsletter: https://resources.artofprocurement.com/art-of-procurement-podcast-subscribe  Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ArtofProcurement