Love Procurement: The Podcast

What does it take to build a meaningful procurement career while also navigating major life transitions and evolving priorities?  Most people are working in personal and professional comfort zones. While they provide much needed stability, they may also be holding us back. To escape this, we have to balance goals and support systems with a healthy attitude towards new opportunities and exploring the unknown.   In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast host Kelly Barner welcomes Michaela Lippke to the show. Michaela is the Senior Director Regional Management and Process Management Indirect Procurement and Early Phase at Volkswagen.  Michaela shares what she has learned on her journey to balance personal and professional opportunities: Growth is unlikely to happen inside a comfort zone Knowing what you want and communicating it clearly is critical to getting the right support and opportunities Mentors, managers, and peers can all play different roles, as can a wider network that complements their advice Success depends on setting clear priorities and focusing on what matters most, even as that changes Links: Michaela Lippke on LinkedIn

Tail spend usually consists of low-value, highly fragmented transactions, but its impact on procurement's performance is anything but small. Hidden within it are opportunities to improve visibility and streamline processes, as well as unlock untapped value and shine a light on risk.  Understanding and addressing tail spend can transform it from a persistent challenge into a strategic advantage.  In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast, host Kelly Barner welcomes Arnaud Malardé back to the show. Fresh off of a wildly popular session at Ivalua NOW in Paris focused on - what else? - tail spend, Arnaud shares what new approaches and mindsets are being applied to this common and ongoing spend management challenge. Arnaud talks about the causes of and cures for tail spend: Why tail spend continues to challenge procurement teams despite increasing maturity, digital advancement, and spend oversight How limited visibility and fragmented data make it difficult to identify and manage tail spend effectively Where the biggest opportunities lie to turn tail spend into a source of value and improved procurement performance Links: Arnaud Malardé on LinkedIn

Procurement is gaining unprecedented momentum across the Middle East. Driven by large government-led "mega projects" and rapid digital transformation, procurement is becoming a central driver of economic development and private sector modernization. This shift is influencing talent, technology adoption, and the growing expectations placed on businesses and suppliers throughout the region. In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast host Kelly Barner welcomes Sara Omer to the show. Sara is Ivalua's Sales Director for the Middle East, North Africa, and Turkey, and she has seen firsthand a sharp uptick in procurement influence and excitement. Sara describes the vision and resulting transformation being seen across the Middle East: The effect all of this procurement-centered energy and attention is having on talent How small to medium-sized businesses are being supported and "incubated" so they are prepared to innovate at the rate desired by the government The role AI is playing in procurement and how willingly teams are adopting it Links: Sara Omer on LinkedIn

As procurement teams gain greater influence, they also face new challenges around data quality, trust, and the complexity of working across multiple functions and systems. Evolving expectations, affecting everything from fraud prevention to AI readiness, are reshaping procurement's priorities and what it takes to build the data foundation needed to support them. In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast host Kelly Barner welcomes Baptiste Collot to the show. Baptiste is the Co-founder and CEO of Trustpair, a payment fraud prevention platform for large companies worldwide.  They discuss the connections between data quality and trust, and how both are coming under greater scrutiny as procurement's scope expands and AI use is increased: How procurement can assess the current level of "trust" colleagues have in their data Ways that AI is increasing data quality expectations/requirements Where data quality and workflows combine to ensure procurement is prepared to meet each new challenge or opportunity Links: Baptiste Collot on LinkedIn Ivalua is the only truly unified, enterprise AI platform for managing spend and suppliers. We seamlessly connect people, AI agents, workflows, and data, making businesses more profitable, resilient, and sustainable. We are trusted by over 500 of the world's most admired brands and consistently recognized as a leader by Gartner and other analysts. Learn more at https://brnw.ch/21wZ8yH

How procurement thinks about the value suppliers provide to the organization has an outsized impact on the relationships they are able to form. Regardless of company size, procurement is a person-to-person effort, a reality that will either be embraced and lead to innovative, mutually beneficial relationships, or cap the potential experienced on the buy and sell sides. In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast host Stephen Carter welcomes Somia Karim to the show. Sonia is an accomplished and results-oriented professional with extensive experience in managing and optimising strategic procurement projects across global operations.  Sonia and Stephen discuss the opportunities, challenges, and critical methodologies procurement must work with to form fruitful supplier relationships: What "good" looks like in supplier relationship management, and how to reach that point The importance of trust and transparency that extend far beyond contracted SLAs Ensuring internal stakeholders play an active role in strengthening supplier relationships How AI may be able to help with supplier relationship building Links: Sonia Karim on LinkedIn Stephen Carter on LinkedIn  

As business changes, procurement must change with it. There are many voices that want to weigh in on how change happens, what it looks like, and where it is led from. Making sure those voices are heard, and that their message resonates in C-suites around the world, is an ongoing effort being supported by the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply Chain (CIPS). In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast, host Vishal Patel welcomes Ben Farrell to the show. Ben is wrapping up his first year as the Global CEO of CIPS after spending 20 years in the British Army and over a decade in retail, working for John Lewis Partnership. During the conversation, Vishal and Ben discuss: The history of CIPS as a professional organization and what their global footprint looks like today What he heard from procurement professionals on CIPS's recent world tour, including on the topic of AI The surge of energy and enthusiasm being shown for procurement in the developing world and what that means for the future of the profession  

Technology is advancing at a rapid pace, but even though data is a critical input to AI, automation, and analytics, it remains a secondary (or tertiary…) priority for most procurement organizations. If they want to realize the full potential impact of cutting-edge tech, that prioritization is going to have to change. In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast, host Kelly Barner welcomes Joseph Yacura and Alex Saric to the show. Joe is a senior advisor to M.I.T.'s Chief Data Officer Information Quality Program and was CPO at several leading financial services firms, and Alex is the Chief Marketing Officer at Ivalua. Joe and Alex discuss considerations and opportunities related to data, including how to ensure it supports rather than hinders your AI strategy: Why the move from process efficiency to knowledge efficiency that is underway will be very disruptive to traditional thinking and require new sets of skills. How procurement can establish a data strategy that addresses accuracy, accessibility, relevance, and completeness The challenges presented when organizations don't trust their own data - and the doors that open when they do Best practices and critical success factors related to data that all companies should keep in mind Links: Joseph Yacura on LinkedIn Alex Saric on LinkedIn  

Making a change at the highest level of leadership a company has - the CEO - means that it is possible for unexpected consequences to follow. In the case of Ivalua, and the passing of the reins from David Khuat-Duy (who is now the company's Founder, Chairman & Chief AI Officer) to a new CEO, the transition has been smooth and seamless. In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast host Philip Ideson welcomes Franck Lheureux back to the show. Frank is just wrapping up his first year as Ivalua's CEO, and he takes this opportunity to share some of his learnings and experiences before looking forward to the coming year. Franck speaks candidly about what he has seen in year one, and how he plans to lead Ivalua into 2026: How his perspective on strategizing, leadership, and decision making changed as he moved from sales to the CEO role Ways he hears the voice of the customer differently now, although he has always been actively listening His top priorities for leading Ivalua through the disrupted, exciting age of AI  Links: Franck Lheureux on LinkedIn

Change is a given in life and in business. The nature and scope of each type of change, as well as how the people affected by it respond, determines whether it is an obstacle to growth or an opportunity. The most obvious example of this playing out today is the embrace (or avoidance) of AI. Some people are diving in head first while others wait to be forced, and the early ROI is starting to create an advantage to those open to new possibilities. In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast host Vishal Patel welcomes Joel Andersson to the show. Joel is the Process development and digitalization project leader for indirect procurement at IKEA. He has built his career at the company, first dedicated to direct spend management and then transitioning to focus on indirect spend, specifically professional services, digitization, and process development. During the conversation, Joel and Vishal discuss: The differences he has experienced between direct and indirect spend management How advancements in digitization have affected demand and fulfillment in corporate professional services Ways that digital advancement is helping procurement achieve their ambitions - and set new objectives

All procurement journeys have to start somewhere, but the approach taken can lead each one in a different direction. While legacy companies often have plenty of resources, they also have well-worn ways of doing things that can be hard to change - unless, of course, the team leading the transformation has a clear vision for the future and takes an open mind on how to reach it. In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast, host Vishal Patel welcomes Luca Sopranzetti to the show. Luca is the Director of Sourcing and Procurement for Konica Minolta Business Solutions, an organization working to help others streamline workflows, safeguard data, and drive productivity, something his background in software automation and industrial engineering means he is well suited for. During the conversation, Luca and Vishal talk about: Where Konica Minolta started their transformation journey and where it stands today Why it is important to recognize and take into consideration the nuances that exist in every company His team's decision to emphasize the supplier experience and ease of use when evaluating procurement technology  

In most organizations, no one person knows everything there is to know about AI. That means everything related to its selection, implementation, use, and impact has to be managed in a team setting. This creates an opportunity for procurement to keep the business focused on their core objectives, and to properly and thoroughly evaluate every new piece of technology. In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast host Vishal Patel welcomes Dr. Cari Miller to the show. Dr. Miller is the Executive Director of the AI Procurement Lab, an organization with a mission to create, share, and promote best-in-class AI procurement practices, frameworks, guides, and tools.  During the conversation, Dr. Miller and Vishal talk about: How to tell the difference between "bad AI" and "responsible AI" How AI plays into overall digital transformation projects, and therefore the relationship between procurement and IT Forward looking trends she is seeing related to public v. private sector procurement and the cost of audits Links: Dr. Cari Miller on LinkedIn Vishal Patel on LinkedIn  

For an in-person event to be a powerful gathering, the content and structure must reflect and support the needs of the attendee community. For procurement, this means actionable advice, connecting locally and globally, and keeping up with all of the changes they will have to face once the event is over. In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast, host Kelly Barner welcomes Alex Saric to the show. Alex is Ivalua's Chief Marketing Officer, which means he has the inside line on the upcoming Ivalua NOW in-person events. Alex shares how procurement's ever-evolving role is driving the plans for Ivalua NOW: The advantage of meeting globally as well as having more targeted, localized events Why the company is actively bringing more CIOs to Ivalua NOW, and how that will influence topics and discussions Where this year's events will be taking place  

Q4 is always an interesting time of year - like standing between two worlds. On the one hand, everyone is pressing forward, trying to hit or exceed current year targets. On the other hand, it is very hard not to let your imagination wander ahead to the brand new year getting closer by the day.  In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast host Vishal Patel welcomes Ari Stone, Ivalua's Global SVP of Value Engineering, Solution Consulting & Services, back to the show to identify and describe what he sees as the biggest trends in procurement this year before looking forward to 2026.  Ari and Vishal share their perspectives on: The developing concept of 'digital employees' that is rising out of the AI and automation trend, and what it means for human talent Business expectations for the increased autonomy of processes and systems The pervasive problem of data quality, and how it continues to be the lynchpin of agentic AI ROI Continuing ups and downs of global trade and geopolitics  

If you are not prepared to deal with the unexpected and continually challenge yourself, then maybe procurement is not the right place for you to work. But… if you thrive on opportunity and adventure, there is no better part of the business to work in.  In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast host Kelly Barner welcomes Jan-Hendrik Sohn to the show. Jan-Hendrik is Ivalua's Vice President of Sales for Central and Northern Europe.  Jan-Hendrik joins the show to share unique trends, successes, and challenges from his part of the world: How he went about building and then scaling Ivalua's team and brand in Central and Northern Europe What drives procurement decision makers to move away from legacy platforms What sets leaders apart from the pack and how their leadership changes what they need from digital solutions  

There has been no shortage of news headlines related to aerospace and defense in recent years, whether that is world events driving demand or news coming out of manufacturers themselves. This industry is used to dealing with risk, but it seems like the stakes - and procurement's role in finding a way forward - have never been higher. In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast host Paul Zammit welcomes Kevin to the show. Kevin is a Business Architect Manager at Accenture, where he is focused on supply management in the aerospace and defense industry. Kevin and Paul talk about how current trends in aerospace and defense has affected the procurement teams at those manufacturers: How companies are solving the need for transparency in supply chains that could be as many as 10 tiers deep Strategies for managing the supplier base, both to secure what the company needs and to accelerate the acquisition process The incentives to streamline regulatory compliance without increasing supply chain risk Procurement's role in supporting sales activity and revenue growth

Italy is currently going through a time of accelerated change as companies embrace a second wave of procurement digitization. Now that the basics are in place, a large number of mid-market companies are building on their accomplishments by leaning into source to pay, supplier visibility, sustainability, and data capture. In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast, host Kelly Barner welcomes Andrea Cozzi to the show. Andrea is Ivalua's Country Sales Manager for Italy, and he joins the show to share the unique trends, successes, and challenges, from his part of the world. Andrea speaks about the trends he is seeing play out in Italian procurement teams today: The current state of the Italian procurement technology market, and what a rejection of the status quo suggests about procurement's priorities How stakeholders, suppliers, and even procurement skillsets have to be considered in the effort to drive digital transformation His insights on the priorities of procurement at some of the world's most famous luxury fashion brands, including supply chain risk and sustainability  

Although many professionals have the opportunity to work with global colleagues, striking the right balance between international business management and local or regional culture and connections takes some additional effort. Fortunately, that is easily achievable when procurement and sales teams recognize what they have in common and what they can learn from each other. In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast, host Kelly Barner welcomes Laura Smith back to the show. Laura is Ivalua's Vice President of Sales for North America where she has the opportunity to be part of the international business world and also to study the unique trends, successes, and challenges facing procurement in North America. Laura shares her observations from years spent working with and listening to procurement organizations: How the current economy is impacting companies and the priorities they set for their procurement teams Interesting trends, like the embrace of AI, that are impacting procurement technology decisions as well as talent and operating model considerations What it is like to work as a sales professional in a procurement company, including the characteristics of healthy procurement/sales relationships, what to do when friction occurs, and why procurement should make every effort to build a relationship with their own company's sales team

There are any number of news stories today that affect manufacturers, including global trade, regulations, and supply chain disruptions. At the same time, manufacturing is not a monolithic industry. Each segment has its own priorities and challenges - not to mention opportunities to take a leading position. Smart companies don't just plan or prepare for constant change - they optimize for it. In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast host Paul Zammit welcomes Luis Avila. Luis is the Managing Director of Strategy, Enterprise Transformation, & Technology Enablement at BDO USA, where he focuses on the complex and highly regulated aerospace and defense space.  During their conversation, Luis and Paul discuss how effective supply management is allowing BDO to navigate today's choppy global business waters: The multitude of factors influencing decisions about where sourcing is done and how those decisions are being made Three pillars that every procurement professional should keep in mind to safeguard supply chain integrity and overcome global challenges  How enterprise transformation is critical for companies that want to build and defend competitive advantage  

AI is progressing and changing at a rate unlike anything we've seen before - and with this pace can easily come confusion. When are claims about AI as good as they sound, and when are they just well-placed smoke and mirrors? Procurement must be able to tell the difference, both for their own platforms and for the other technology spending they support on behalf of the company. In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast, host Vishal Patel welcomes Pascal Bensoussan, Chief Product Officer at Ivalua, back to the show. He has seen firsthand how AI has not just been embedded into the Ivalua platform, but also embraced organization-wide. Pascal returns to bring the audience up to date on 12 months of AI innovation and evolution: Why incorporating AI in software will quickly go from cutting edge 'nice to have' to a prerequisite for operational viability The added capability enabled by agentic AI, both in terms of contextual processing and also for its ability to reference additional sources of data Real world procurement applications of AI that are driving meaningful business impact, such as responding to tariffs and onboarding suppliers  

When this episode's featured guest first stepped into his current role, he made a point of meeting with all of the different business units and support functions. He found that many of procurement's most transactional processes were almost entirely manual. Rather than seeing this as a problem, it was seized as an opportunity to improve efficiency and the company's supplier experience at the same time. In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast host Stephen Carter welcomes Adam Lalani to the show. Adam is the Chief Technology Officer at Alliad, a global leader in integrated services in emerging markets around the world. Adam and Stephen talk about the growing role of digital in corporate strategy and what it means for the IT-procurement relationship: Why Alliad made the decision to digitize and automate the supplier journey from beginning to end How the success of that effort inspired them to continue digitally transforming procurement The ongoing effort to re-engineer their processes to take full advantage of the latest digital capabilities

Supplier relationship management (SRM) is a key part of how procurement professionals spend their time and create value for the business. Much like the opposite of Customer Relationship Management (CRM), SRM recognizes the importance of building a strong relational foundation with supply partners, even in today's heavily technology-led world.  In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast, host Vishal Patel welcomes Emilie Génin to the show. Emilie is a Divisional Procurement Manager at Elkem, a leading producer of advanced material solutions. Emilie speaks openly based on her experience as part of a global team: Why it is so important to be able to work across time zones, geographies, and cultures How Elkem's perception of risk incentivized investment in a formal supplier relationship management program How procurement communicates the value of SRM to non-procurement stakeholders and ensures systems and process adoption

Environmental, social, and governance-related programs must extend through every facet of corporate decision making to have the desired effect. This naturally means that procurement has the opportunity to play a role, supporting decisions and business outcomes that alter how the company operates and engages with the wider world. In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast, host Kelly Barner welcomes Joseph Tonye to the show. Joseph is Ivalua's Global ESG Director, a role that allows him to guide the company's social and environmental impact and also to understand what Ivalua's customers are working through on their own ESG journeys. Joseph speaks about the journey he and the team at Ivalua are on to embed ESG into their practices, priorities, and company culture: Reviewing regulatory programs like CSRD and GRI standards Understanding the data and reporting related efforts that capture the ROI of ESG Sharing how he not only keeps ESG top of mind, but allows every member of the team to feel that they are playing an active role in pursuit of the vision

With the rate and scale of change in business today, no industry, company, or procurement team can expect to be exempt. That said, some investments are more effective than others when it comes to preparing to face changes head on - turning uncertainty and challenges into value and competitive advantage. In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast, host Katie Berlekamp welcomes Karl Poulsen to the show. Karl is the Chief Procurement Officer at HISCOX, a provider of specialized insurance. Karl talks about the most impactful investments he has been able to make and how that has prepared his team for change: Investing in people and measuring the ROI in terms of feedback from the business Helping suppliers understand changes based on business priorities and digital innovation, and making sure they are along for the journey Setting ambitious but appropriate expectations for the impact of new technologies like AI  

Every conversation about equality or opportunity has to happen with full awareness of the larger social or cultural context. Different people, in different places around the world, at different places in their lives want very different things. We should never assume, for instance, that work-life balance or the idea of being 'family-friendly' carry the same meaning or generate the same expectations for everyone. In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast, Kelly Barner is joined by Sara Khakpour Grongstad and Julia Jokinen for a conversation not just about being women in procurement, but about being global women in procurement! Sara is a Senior Manager and Nordic Sourcing & Procurement Lead in Supply Chain & Network Operations at Deloitte - based in Norway, and Julia is a Manager of Sourcing & Procurement, also at Deloitte but based in Finland. In this episode, Sara and Julia share their perspectives on: The social structures or programs running in different countries that may have an impact on women in professional roles The possibility that there may be connections between how 'technical' a role is and the natural mix of people who are drawn to it Whether programs focused on recruiting young girls into technical and scientific fields will have an impact on the future talent makeup in procurement

Third party risk management (TPRM) is an essential - and strategic - effort for financial services companies, but that doesn't mean everyone in the organization views it in the same way. For procurement, TPRM equals risk, but for the company as a whole, it is just one form of exposure that must be addressed opportunistically.  In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast, Kelly Barner is joined by Saima Sabir and Arnaud Malardé. Earlier this year, Saima joined Ivalua for an event in London where she moderated a dynamic panel titled "Navigating the Evolving Landscape of Third-Party Risk Management in Financial Services." This episode builds on that conversation, with Saima and Arnaud sharing their perspectives on: The major forms of third party risk that supply management organizations need to understand Why enterprise-wide data integrity is essential for rising to the challenge of third party risk management How a changeable regulatory landscape keeps the bar high for risk-aware financial services organizations Links: Saima Sabir on LinkedIn Arnaud Malardé on LinkedIn

Procurement leaders are notorious for finding varied paths into the function, often bringing with them a depth and breadth of experience that the teams they join benefit from. Just as important as the knowledge they gather are the people they meet along the way - mentors and trailblazers who inspire them and open doors ahead of them, clearing a path for them to do the same. In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast, Kelly Barner is joined by Lauren Feery and Kathryn Thompson.  Lauren is the Group Procurement Director at DS Smith, a leading global sustainable package company. With extensive experience in procurement across 30 countries, Lauren has been instrumental in aligning procurement strategies with overall business objectives.  Kathryn is a leading figure in procurement as well, currently heading the procurement practice for Deloitte EMEA. With over 20 years of experience, she specializes in digital procurement and has led numerous transformation programs across various sectors, including consumer products, oil and gas, retail, financial services, and life sciences.  In this episode, Lauren and Kathryn speak openly about: The professional journey and background that brought each of them to this point in their career The professional skills and personal traits that set procurement leaders up for success How they think about (and benefit from) working with diverse teams

Procurement organizations are no strangers to change, but, over the past few years, the rate and scale of that change have both increased in a way that even veterans of the profession might not have expected. The impact of this change has clearly registered with procurement leaders, many of whom are now working hard to prepare their teams for future shifts and disruptions. In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast, Kelly Barner is joined by Ted Nordquist. Ted is the CEO of Sourcian Partner, a professional services firm based in Sweden. During their conversation, Ted shares how current and past challenges are shaping the procurement teams of tomorrow: The circumstances and events that have had the greatest impact on procurement The technical and 'soft' skills that will be most in demand moving forward Why communication is key to ensuring procurement receives the recognition and influence they deserve Links: Ted Nordquist on LinkedIn Tjöta om inköp (Podcast: Talk About Procurement)  

Procurement has changed considerably over time, from the associated skills and formal professionalism to the available platforms and sources of information. With that change has come more opportunities to collaborate with suppliers, impact the performance of the company as a whole, and incentives for the next generation of professionals to enter the field. In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast, Kelly Barner is joined by Paul Derogee, Head of Procurement Heat and Distribution UK at Vattenfall. It wasn't easy for him to get into procurement at the start of his career, but he's fully in favor of welcoming any and all to the field today. In this episode, Paul speaks about getting into procurement and building his career: The personal decision - and investment - that opened the door to him starting decades of work in procurement The unique characteristics of working in procurement in the utilities industry Why aspiring young professionals should consider a career in procurement, both for the work it will enable them to do today and the doors it can open for the future  Links: Paul Derogee on LinkedIn

As compliance shifts from an internal process-related concept to one associated with external expectations and regulations, procurement's role continues to grow. Understanding what is at stake, the up and down-side benefits, as well as the why driving the company's investment are all critical to success. In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast, Kelly Barner is joined by Nicole Sherwin, Chief Impact Officer at EcoVadis. Nicole and her colleagues are dedicated to empowering businesses to transform and magnify their sustainability impacts in the value chain in large part by investing in and ensuring compliance. In this episode, Nicole speaks to the challenges and opportunities inherent in modern day compliance: The current level of instability in regulatory compliance and how it affects procurement's work The benefits associated with early, and potentially optional, compliance reporting - and how to catch up if that is not an option The importance of why a company works to be compliant to the outcomes they are able to drive Links: Nicole Sherwin on LinkedIn Return on Sustainability: The Value and ROI of Sustainable Procurement  Sustainable Procurement Barometer 2024

World class events go beyond people, place, and time. If they are planned for and hosted with purpose, they can take on a culture or 'vibe' of their own. The more unique and cohesive the event experience is, the more impactful and lasting it will be in the minds of attendees - as well as those who help to run the event. In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast, Kelly Barner is joined by Aurelie Teyssier, Ivalua's Vice President of Corporate Marketing, and Aurelie Lucas, Ivalua's Senior Marketing Director for EMEA & APAC. They play a critical role in planning for and hosting Ivalua NOW events in Europe and the United States. In this episode, recorded just before Ivalua NOW 2025 will begin, they share behind-the-scenes details about what makes these events truly unique: Getting the right venue, and making sure the surroundings for the event match and even build upon the desired 'vibe' Balancing fun experiences and serious professional development in a way that delights and surprises guests What surprises are in store for attendees of Ivalua NOW 2025 in Paris, France and New Orleans, Louisiana  Links: Aurelie Teyssier on LinkedIn Aurelie Lucas on LinkedIn Ivalua NOW 2025: Innovate to Elevate  

How well an organization - or a procurement team - knows itself plays a huge role in how successful they are able to be in any change effort, systems implementations included. Knowing what the objectives of the project are and having a plan to stay focused on them until they are achieved is both absolutely critical and also a lot harder than it sounds. In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast, Kelly Barner is joined by Sam Bowyer. Sam is a Director at Optis Consulting, where he focuses on the strategy side of implementation. Over the last decade, he has helped procurement teams prepare for, strategize about, and - in some cases - execute systems implementations. Sam shares his experience with some of the greatest challenges and opportunities procurement faces during times of change: How a desire to proceed deliberately may clash with the business's enthusiasm about new capabilities and functionality The connections (and correlations) between procurement's mindset towards change and their overall maturity as a function Characteristics he sees among his most effective procurement points of contact Links: Sam Bowyer on LinkedIn  

Expectations drive what procurement is able to deliver. Whether that means the business's expectations, supplier expectations, or procurement's own expectations, what they think they can achieve, and how they think they should spend their time, drives outcomes - for better or worse. While that may sound limiting, if procurement can change their expectations of themselves, they can take on a whole new trajectory.   In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast, Philip Ideson is joined by Thomas Germer. Thomas is the Director of Central Procurement for ADAC, the "AAA" of Germany and Europe's largest Automotive Association with over 22 million members and service offerings from roadside assistance, airlines, and helicopters to insurances, credit cards, call centers and many more.    Thomas talks about some of the key things he has learned in roles both inside and outside of procurement: How previously being a small business owner impacts his approach to enterprise procurement Why procurement can deliver far more when they move from operations to strategy and vision The importance of matching procurement's priorities with the company's business model Links: Thomas Germer on LinkedIn  

Procurement is a diverse profession. Every category presents procurement with unique opportunities and challenges, ensuring that no two days are ever the same. This variety is one of the features that procurement professionals love most about the field. But, when procurement works in government contracting, a whole new set of rules, expectations, and processes apply.  In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast, Kelly Barner is joined by Amanda Christian. Amanda is the Senior Vice President of Contracts and Subcontracts at CACI. Amanda heads up both the sell and buy side for a government contractor, and she has years of experience navigating the requirements of "Gov Con," many of which just don't exist in the private sector. Amanda shares her insight into what it's like to lead procurement for a government contractor, including: The adjustments procurement has to make when working in government contracting versus the private sector How to meet the needs of a large enterprise or government entity while still prioritizing small businesses, and maintaining data and system security along the way What the intense audit process is really like for procurement when they work in government contracting Links: Amanda Christian on LinkedIn

The categories procurement manages are as varied as the stakeholders they work with and the suppliers they buy from. But that does not mean learnings from one category, or industry even, can't be transferred from one to another. In fact, when the objective is value creation, this may be the very advantage that allows procurement to succeed.  In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast, Kelly Barner is joined by Adele Bleakley. Adele is a Procurement Manager for Sainsburys and was recently recognized as the 'Highly Commended – Young Talent' winner at the 2024 CIPS Excellence in Procurement & Supply awards. Adele answers questions about: Her procurement experience that varies from work in automotive direct materials sourcing to retail marketing spend How she collaborates with the business to manage suppliers in a category that is more value than savings focused Her passion for finding new ways of working in procurement Links: Adele Bleakley on LinkedIn  

Procurement's value comes from many different sources, but supplier relationships are a nearly inexhaustible source of potential. Over the last few years, procurement has made significant investments - and substantial progress - in their ability to build relationships with key suppliers as well as to improve the supplier experience overall. In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast, Kelly Barner is joined by Florent Connac. Florent is a Project Director for Cyrias, and he has decades of experience in procurement. Florent takes this opportunity to share his perspective on procurement's supplier management maturity: The skill sets that have contributed to procurement's supplier relationship improvements How divides such as direct/indirect spend and local v. global play into the maturity journey Success stories from his experience working with companies and observing their supplier relationship habits Links: Florent Connac on LinkedIn  

Generative AI, and the models that underpin it, are maturing at a rapid pace. Even procurement, a function that has always been a proving ground for emerging digital capabilities, is scrambling to keep up. In this time of growth, procurement has the chance to stretch their use of technology and also to uncover current mindsets about innovation and experimentation. In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast, Pascal Bensoussan, Chief Product Officer at Ivalua, returns to speak with Kelly Barner about the progress that has been made with generative AI and what it has revealed about procurement's approach to adopting new technologies. Pascal brings the generative AI conversation up to date and looks forward to what may be next: The role that large language models (LLMs) play in the advancement of generative AI Current perspectives from the C-suite and their expectations about digital advancement The mindset shifts that seamlessly integrated technology should drive - especially between corporate functions Links: Pascal Bensoussan on LinkedIn  

Many procurement conversations are focused on tech, but the work of procurement is innately human - even the digital parts. As procurement systems become bridges to the business, procurement professionals have the opportunity to cross them and forge strategic, more meaningful relationships with entirely new parts of the business. In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast, Kelly Barner is joined by Mathew Schulz. Mathew is the Founder of matchat, an accelerator for career-minded procurement professionals. Mathew shares his view on the role of humanity and real connections in driving procurement excellence: The opportunity associated with the data created by and collected in procurement systems How blending art with science is the best way to drive desired business outcomes The value of having an engaged professional network, in person and online Links: Mathew Schulz on LinkedIn  

Each year contains unexpected developments and surprises. Some of them are mere flashes of circumstance while others change the trajectory of industries, communities, and individuals for the long term. The challenge for procurement is knowing what to watch for and then deciding how to prepare. In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast, Kelly Barner is joined by Ari Stone. Ari is the Global SVP for Value Engineering, Solution Consulting, and Services at Ivalua, a role that requires him to understand all the factors that impact procurement's work. Ari shares the key trends he is watching as 2024 draws to a close and offers predictions about what we might expect in the new year: The storylines procurement can expect to see around generative AI in 2025 and how procurement can seize the associated opportunity The critical role that data will play in corporate decision making and how it may change the role of the Chief Procurement Officer How workforce trends are affecting procurement's ability to influence their peers and how a new generation of professionals is remaking the procurement brand in their own image The ongoing drama of geopolitics and how it is putting pressure on global supply chains while increasing the need for risk management and transparency Links: Ari Stone on LinkedIn  

Category management is as fundamental part of procurement as strategic sourcing, supplier management, and negotiation. At the same time, there is a chasm between optimism about the potential of category management and examples of where it has been carried out successfully.  In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast, Kelly Barner is joined by Sabrina Hueren. Sabrina is a manager and strategy consultant for Sourcing Champions, a boutique procurement consulting firm based in Amsterdam. Not only does Sabrina love procurement, but she also has a passion for category management! In this episode, Sabrina speaks about why category management is more relevant for procurement today than ever before: The 'soft' skills that are required to successfully build and execute against a category strategy, whether procurement is made up of generalists or category experts How to make sure your category strategy delivers results rather than gathering dust on a shelf or in a drawer Why category management is one of the best ways for procurement to demonstrate their potential for overall business impact far beyond savings Links: Sabrina Hueren on LinkedIn  

Procurement transformation is always a complex, high-stakes effort, but when the organization going through the change is in the public sector, every effort has to be made to minimize disruption - especially when the public may be affected. When the state of Ohio decided to transform their procurement organization, they started by laying a foundation that combined vision, communication plans, and change management.  In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast, Philip Ideson is joined by Andrew Cochran, the State eProcurement Manager at the Ohio Department of Administrative Services. Andrew has worked for the state since 2013 and is involved in everything from system design to change management and rollout to continuous improvement activities. Andrew takes this opportunity to explain how his team set themselves up for success before, during, and after their transformation: Defining and then staying true to Ohio's statewide guiding vision for procurement  The importance of investing in a stakeholder roadmap and consistent communication plan Ensuring that procurement is prepared to support public policy and adjust with it over the long term Links: Andrew Cochran on LinkedIn

Language has the power to unite a community. Not only does it create a feeling of belonging, using the same terminology as others makes the speaker's meaning clear, despite challenging circumstances. On the other hand, language can also alienate, frustrate, and just plain annoy people who are not familiar with the acronyms and terminology used by others.   In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast, Kelly Barner is joined by Vishal Patel, Vice President Product Marketing at Ivalua, and Philip Ideson, Managing Director at Art of Procurement. They take on the issues and challenges of language head on - and with a healthy sense of humor.   Join us as Kelly, Vishal, and Philip talk about: Which business buzzwords they would use to describe themselves and their organizations The trending phrases they would 'vote off the island' if given the opportunity How communication can - and should - be a top priority for anyone working in or with procurement Links: Vishal Patel on LinkedIn Philip Ideson on LinkedIn  

No digital solution can deliver an ROI without a successful implementation, and yet procurement often finds themselves taking a key role in critical implementations without necessarily having the skills or experience to do so.  On the other hand, few efforts provide procurement with a greater opportunity to build relationships across the organization, improve efficiency and workflows, and strengthen their own understanding of how the business works. In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast, Kelly Barner is joined by Katy Fonteyn, Head of Global Marketing and Partnerships for OJC Consulting. She has deep experience in managing technical implementations as well as many of the human elements that are encountered along the way. Katy takes this opportunity to discuss the practices and preparation that will help procurement lead successful implementations: What an RFP may reveal about procurement long before the selection and implementation begin How procurement can serve as an effective 'face' for the project, communicating with stakeholders and turning their feedback into actionable information Ways procurement should invest in their own preparedness for implementation, especially given the change management-heavy nature of the effort  Links: Katy Fonteyn

For almost two decades, The Hackett Group has been asking procurement leaders about their priorities for the current year, how they plan to invest in skills and technology, and what new and trending topics have seized their attention. Since procurement is a constantly evolving professional discipline, some areas of the study show only minor adjustments year to year while others - like AI - enter the results with disruptively innovative force. In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast, Philip Ideson is joined by Chris Sawchuk, Principal and Global Procurement Advisory Practice Leader at The Hackett Group, and Vishal Patel, Vice President Product Marketing at Ivalua. They discuss some of the high level findings of the most recent study data and how it tracks what they are seeing transpire as we move through the year. Chris and Vishal discuss their individual experience and perspectives on: The milestones and potential risk areas associated with generative AI The ongoing struggle to create or free up more time for procurement to spend on strategic tasks What they expect to see emerge as major trends in 2025 Links: Chris Sawchuk on LinkedIn Vishal Patel on LinkedIn

Despite the interest and attention being heaped upon digital platforms, leadership teams still have to emphasize the importance of developing their team's soft skills. Whether that means improved two-way communication abilities or a willingness to trust one's instinct when it matters most, strengths and abilities have to go far beyond technical areas. In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast, Kelly Barner is joined by Carmen Carulli. Carmen is the former Country Purchasing Director and current Sales Director at L'Oreal as well as the author of Leadership dell'essere, or Leadership of Being, a book about the soft skills all future leaders will need. Carmen paused from her jam-packed schedule to share her philosophy on life and leadership: What we really mean when we talk about 'soft skills' How expectations for leadership have changed in a highly digital world Why she chooses to make time for mentoring, and what her mentees have taught her Links: Carmen Carulli on LinkedIn

Aspiring professionals have to deliver more than table-stakes results if they want to climb the corporate ladder. In fact, they have to do more than climb: they need to time travel.  Most hard working individuals can create value for today, in their current role, given the present circumstances. The real prize goes to those who manage to create a source of value that extends into the future, generating benefits that can be passed along to the next group of leaders. In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast, Kelly Barner is joined by Michael Stietz, EVP Operations at Körber Business Area Technologies. Michael is a 'recovering' procurement executive, someone who is taking his learnings and experience from years in procurement and applying them in the world of operations. Michael shares his long-held philosophy, which connects procurement to supply chain to operations in a progressive flow of work: How procurement has become a launching pad for careers across the C-suite What procurement needs to know about their internal and external customers Critical investments in communications that can ensure procurement's full value proposition is recognized across the company Links: Michael Stietz on LinkedIn  

Many procurement professionals cringe and cover their ears at the mere mention of "selling." The fatigue associated with being 'sold to' for their own solutions and the solutions associated with sourcing projects across the business is real. But legacy perceptions of selling are no more representative than legacy perceptions of procurement.  In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast, Kelly Barner is joined by Franck Lheureux, Chief Revenue Officer at Ivalua, to talk about what it is like to sell to procurement when a sales team's goals include partnership and building a shared vision. Franck paints a vivid picture of his philosophy on sales, including what it should deliver for procurement and the internal stakeholders they work with: The common characteristics shared by procurement teams that deliver maximum value from the services and solutions they buy The importance of cultural alignment (in addition to system capabilities) that should be considered when procurement is selecting a solution provider Earned knowledge and experiences that procurement should be asking all supplier representatives to share with them    Links: Franck Lheureux on LinkedIn

When a decision is made about what procurement platform will be put in place, the team's effort is not done. In fact, it is only the beginning. A well-managed implementation process ensures that the company achieves the objectives and benefits associated with the solution, and it takes into consideration input from a wide variety of users. Implementation is an active time for procurement and all of the third parties they are working with to roll out the solution and maximize adoption. In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast, Kelly Barner is joined by Daniel Amzallag, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer at Ivalua, about his perspectives on implementation, change management, and adoption.  Daniel shares practical and strategic advice learned over many years and many implementations, and provides actionable guidance on a number of topics: When implementation should begin, and when it truly comes to an end The benefits associated with managing implementations through a series of phases Common roadblocks - and key success factors - from the implementations he has seen, and how procurement can ensure continuous improvement Links: Daniel Amzallag on LinkedIn

Being 'in procurement' can mean a number of things, but typically it is assumed to mean that someone is a procurement practitioner. When a practitioner makes the decision to stay in procurement but take on another role - say working at a service or solution provider - their colleagues may be distrustful. Some will even believe they have gone over to 'the dark side.'    In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast, Kelly Barner is joined by Arnaud Malarde, Product Marketing Director at Ivalua, and Jarrod McAdoo, Director of Product Marketing at Ivalua. All three of them are 'dark siders,' practitioners who dared to cross the line to join a provider.   Arnaud and Jarrod discuss what this transition is like and how it may actually position them to do more in support of procurement than if they had stayed as practitioners: How having a background in procurement changes the way they do your jobs today Why so many people think a job at a provider is the 'dark side' The advice they would give their former practitioner selves knowing what they know now Links: Arnaud Malarde on LinkedIn Jarrod McAdoo on LinkedIn  

Data is one of the most valuable resources any company can have, but having it versus being able to trust it and put it to work are two different things. Some data is brought in from the outside with a clear purpose, and other data is created as a byproduct of business processes and transactions. Being able to pull it together as part of a cohesive strategy can be a source of competitive advantage or an opening for risk. In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast, Kelly Barner is joined by Joseph Yacura, Senior Advisor at the MIT Chief Data Officer Information Quality program, and Alex Saric, Chief Marketing Officer at Ivalua, to talk about the importance of having a data strategy. Joseph and Alex talk about their perspective on the importance of data for its own sake and for the impact it enables a procurement team to have on the company: Whether data quality or data accessibility is actually the larger challenge The effort to designate and preserve a 'single source of truth' across business units and enterprise systems How procurement can contribute to a 'data strategy' above and beyond the work that is being done to meet business objectives through data Links: Joseph Yacura on LinkedIn Alex Saric on LinkedIn  

Today's emerging technology is based on artificial intelligence and machine learning, but it wasn't so very long ago that the Internet, followed by cloud computing and SaaS, revolutionized enterprise systems.  At the start of each new age, disruptive thinkers have to imagine - and then build - platforms that are able to apply the new capabilities to specific use cases. Fortunately, procurement and supply chain are often early beneficiaries of this progress. In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast, Philip Ideson is joined by David Khuat-Duy, Founder and CEO of Ivalua, to talk about how procurement - and procurement technology - have progressed since the company was founded in 2000. David shares his observations from over two decades worth of change in the procurement space: The vision for procurement impact that was driving technology development in the early 2000's How customer and user demand have shaped the journey over the last two decades The innovation and experimentation happening today that are shaping the future of the procurement tech landscape Links: David Khuat-Duy on LinkedIn About Ivalua