Proc-N-Roll : Your guide to practical procurement!

Graphite Connect and Candor Procurement

Welcome to Proc n Roll, where nearly 70 years of combined procurement expertise come together. Join Natasha, the PRO CPO with experience at IBM, McKesson, Salesforce, and Nike; Zach, the procurement guru from London; and Conrad, the visionary innovator behind transformational procurement at Intel and Adobe. We dive into the latest trends shaping the procurement landscape while breaking down the essential building blocks for success. Whether you’re new to procurement or a seasoned expert, our discussions will inspire you and keep you grounded in real-world value.

  1. 2 days ago

    Master or Servant? Finding the Right Power Balance with AI Agents

    In this episode of Proc and Roll, Conrad, Natasha, and Zach tackle one of the most critical questions facing leaders today: how should we use Artificial Intelligence in our decision-making process? The team debates the risks of "automation bias" and whether relying on AI is causing intellectual laziness in the workforce. Natasha argues that humans must always remain the "master" and AI the "servant," warning that outsourcing decisions strips us of our critical thinking, intuition, and free will. On the other side, Zach shares his optimistic vision for autonomous AI agents capable of running complex procurement workflows, arguing that human roles will naturally evolve to manage and architect these technologies. Conrad cautions against "autopilot" leadership, reminding us that no matter how smart the machine gets, the leader is ultimately the one held accountable. Timestamps: (01:11) - Intro & Leadership Recap: Reviewing extreme ownership, Jeff Bezos's one-way doors, and Ray Dalio's believability metrics. (03:23) - Automation Bias: Is AI manipulating your thinking? Conrad shares the danger of the "autopilot" trap. (05:22) - Master vs. Servant: Natasha's philosophy on why AI tools can never replace human judgment and scrutiny. (09:32) - Autonomous Agents: Zach’s vision for trusting AI to run end-to-end enterprise procurement processes. (19:09) - The ChatGPT Proposal: Why relying on 30-second AI outputs can destroy trust and value in business relationships. (21:31) - AI vs. Human Judges: The fascinating debate on whether AI can make fairer, less biased decisions than a hungry human. (26:25) - The Gut vs. The Machine: Comparing human intuition and emotional memories to AI pattern recognition. (37:11) - The Future of Free Will: What happens to humanity and our sense of purpose if AI makes all of our decisions? (50:01) - The Intellectual Laziness Trap: Natasha's warning about the next generation losing their ability to be independent thinkers. (51:57) - Outro & What's Next: Teasing the upcoming episode where the hosts will build a definitive blueprint for executive decision-making. About Proc n Roll: Proc n Roll is your ultimate guide to practical procurement. Hosted by industry veterans, we navigate the complex intersections of procurement, supply chain, digital transformation, and the cutting-edge technology redefining the enterprise landscape. Join us as we interview top leaders, unpack hard-learned lessons, and explore how to build resilient, forward-thinking organizations.

  2. 6 Aug

    From Ray Dalio to Colin Powell: The Ultimate Decision-Making Toolkit

    In this episode of Proc and Roll, Conrad, Natasha, and Zach dive deep into the cornerstone of true leadership: decision-making. Drawing inspiration from Ray Dalio's Principles, Jocko Willink's Extreme Ownership, and Jeff Bezos, the hosts unpack how top leaders make the right calls when the stakes are high. They debate the dangers of consensus, why RFPs often lead to mediocre choices, and whether or not a truly "bad" decision actually exists. Natasha shares the fascinating biological science behind why you should trust your "gut," while Zach breaks down the difference between being responsible and accountable using the RACI model. Whether you are struggling to delegate technical choices or wrestling with a massive people decision, this episode is packed with tactical frameworks to help you make better, faster decisions. Timestamps: (00:01:04) - Intro & Extreme Ownership: Why the burden of every decision ultimately sits on the leader's shoulders. (00:03:00) - Default Decision Styles: The team debates the pros and cons of seeking consensus versus moving with rapid decisiveness. (00:11:12) - The One-Way vs. Two-Way Door: Zach breaks down Jeff Bezos's framework for knowing which decisions need time and which require speed. (00:14:55) - Accountability vs. Responsibility: Using the RACI model to know exactly when to delegate a choice to your team. (00:19:39) - The Consensus Trap: Conrad explains why asking cross-functional teams to weigh in on an RFP usually results in a "mediocre blob in the middle". (00:28:39) - Do "Bad" Decisions Exist?: Natasha and Conrad debate whether bad decisions are real, or just the best choices made with limited data at the time. (00:35:24) - Ray Dalio's Framework: Overcoming ego, identifying blind spots, and using "believability" to weigh opinions. (00:44:20) - The Science of the "Gut": Natasha reveals why your gut has more neurons than your brain, and how it acts as a rapid algorithm for your life experiences. (00:54:41) - The Empathy Equation: Why business decisions can be trained and delegated, but people decisions can never be outsourced. (01:02:34) - Colin Powell's 40-70 Rule: How to know exactly when it is too early (or too late) to make a call. About Proc n Roll: Proc n Roll is your ultimate guide to practical procurement. Hosted by industry veterans, we navigate the complex intersections of procurement, supply chain, digital transformation, and the cutting-edge technology redefining the enterprise landscape. Join us as we interview top leaders, unpack hard-learned lessons, and explore how to build resilient, forward-thinking organizations.

  3. 30 Jul

    Learning is More Valuable Than Earning: Navigating the Stages of a Procurement Career

    In this special episode of Proc and Roll, Conrad sits down with Natasha Gurevich to reflect on their career journeys, transitioning from massive enterprise procurement leadership roles to the wild world of startup founders. Natasha reflects on her legendary career—including being Nike's first CPO, where she grew spend under management from $10 billion to $15 billion and delivered a massive 23x ROI—and shares the harsh, unglamorous truths about entrepreneurship. They dive deep into how procurement professionals misunderstand supplier relationships, why companies listen to external consultants more than their own internal leaders, and the psychological shock of losing the corporate "dopamine yo-yo". If you are considering making the leap into starting your own business or want to know how to elevate your C-suite presence, this episode is packed with hard-earned wisdom. Timestamps: (00:01:06) - Intro & Natasha’s Background: A look at Natasha's incredible career at Nike, Salesforce, IBM, and McKesson. (00:03:09) - Leaving the Enterprise: Why Conrad and Natasha left the corporate world to build their own startups. (00:05:56) - The Biggest Supplier Misconception: Why the old-school "sharpen your pencil" and "throat to choke" mentalities are wrong, and why suppliers are actually your greatest partners. (00:13:27) - The Outsider Advantage: Why enterprise leaders often ignore their internal experts but will pay top dollar to listen to external consultants. (00:18:59) - The "Infection" of an Idea: Conrad shares how the vision for Graphite took hold of him and the importance of waiting for the "gears to align" in your career. (00:27:51) - What Natasha Would Do Differently as a CPO: The absolute imperative of aligning procurement's goals (like being a cash machine vs. risk prevention) with the enterprise's true priorities. (00:33:40) - Finding "Ease" in the C-Suite: How experience and leaving the corporate safety net gives you the fearless confidence to engage with senior leadership. (00:41:39) - The Deafening Silence of Startups: The brutal reality of entrepreneurship and the psychological shock of losing the daily corporate "cortisol and dopamine yo-yo". (00:52:48) - The Real Test of a Business: Why compliments from friends don't matter until a customer actually pulls out their wallet to pay you. (00:59:47) - Keep Learning: Why "learning is more valuable than earning" and the one metric that dictates your career success. About Proc n Roll: Proc n Roll is your ultimate guide to practical procurement. Hosted by industry veterans, we navigate the complex intersections of procurement, supply chain, digital transformation, and the cutting-edge technology redefining the enterprise landscape. Join us as we interview top leaders, unpack hard-learned lessons, and explore how to build resilient, forward-thinking organizations.

  4. 24 Jul

    The 30-Day Leadership Hack: Why New CPOs Should Always Talk to HR First

    Conrad and Zach sit down with Bart Reekmans, a former Belgian Air Reserve Commando who transitioned into a powerhouse career as a global Chief Procurement Officer. With experience leading multi-billion-dollar procurement teams at GE, Suez, Honeywell, and WorldPac, Bart brings a wealth of knowledge on building elite teams and navigating extreme corporate cultures. Whether you are stepping into a new leadership role, struggling to drive innovation with suppliers, or trying to decide whether to build or buy procurement technology, this episode is a masterclass in executive leadership and adaptability. Bart shares his unique strategy for "engineering a crisis" to build team muscle memory and explains exactly why the phrase "seat at the table" needs to be retired forever. Topics Tackled: Intro & The Air Commando: Conrad introduces Bart’s fascinating background, from the Belgian Defense Forces to pioneering digital procurement in the 90s. Culture Shock & Military Leadership: How military service taught Bart to listen, and how he adapted to extreme corporate cultures—from the "shouting" of automotive to the military precision of GE. The Day One HR Hack: Bart’s brilliant practical advice for any new leader: go to HR to find out exactly what success looks like and who the successful people are. Engineering a Crisis: Why great leaders intentionally create "sprints" or crises to build organizational muscle memory and prepare for real disruptions. Becoming the Customer of Choice: The keys to unlocking true supplier collaboration and innovation during both good and bad times. Taking Over a Mega-Team: Bart details his strategy for stepping into a 400-person organization at Honeywell during COVID—focusing on business outcomes and stakeholder alignment first. Build vs. Buy in AI & Tech: Bart's framework for procurement technology investments and why agility often beats owning the platform. Rapid Fire Questions: Banning the phrase "seat at the table," executing the ultimate fixed-price contract flex during a negotiation, and why The Goal by Eliyahu Goldratt is a must-read. About Proc n Roll: Proc n Roll is your ultimate guide to practical procurement. Hosted by industry veterans, we navigate the complex intersections of procurement, supply chain, digital transformation, and the cutting-edge technology redefining the enterprise landscape. Join us as we interview top leaders, unpack hard-learned lessons, and explore how to build resilient, forward-thinking organizations. Don't forget to subscribe, like, and share!

    The 30-Day Leadership Hack: Why New CPOs Should Always Talk to HR First

  5. 17 Jul

    Are You Leading, or Just Managing? The Crucial Difference

    Welcome to the kickoff of the Proc n Roll Leadership Series! Conrad, Natasha, and Zach pause the standard procurement talk to dive deep into the philosophy of leadership, the meaning of work, and the true purpose of life in an AI-driven future. If you've ever wondered about the real difference between a manager and a leader, or why landing that massive promotion didn't make you as happy as you expected, this episode is for you. The crew tackles everything from what 4:00 AM meditation retreats teach us about human empathy, to why a bus driver might be a better leader than a CEO. Grab a notebook—this conversation is packed with raw insights on building elite teams, seeking honest feedback, and finding lasting fulfillment.Timestamps: (01:19) - Intro: Kicking off the brand-new Proc n Roll Leadership Series. (03:31) - Meditation & Leadership: What 4:00 AM retreats teach us about human struggle and the privilege of elevating others. (06:35) - Stepping Into the Dark: Zach explains why true leaders must walk into the unknown to show others what is possible. (09:47) - Level 5 Leadership: Conrad discusses building a "machine" that continues to run and thrive long after you leave. (20:45) - Leadership vs. Management: Why you can't just be a visionary cheerleader—great leaders must also be strong managers. (29:15) - The Bus Driver Test: Can anyone be a leader regardless of their title or authority? (34:23) - The Stakes of Bad Leadership: How toxic management directly jeopardizes the physical and mental health of employees. (40:32) - The Phil Jackson Approach: Natasha shares her experience building a legendary team at Nike and coaching individuals to "play together". (48:24) - AI & The Purpose of Life: If AI eventually removes the human need to work for survival, where will we find our meaning? (1:02:29) - The "7th Bite of Steak": A powerful metaphor on why money, titles, and material success fail to provide lasting fulfillment. (1:14:22) - The Feedback Junkie: How elite leaders actively seek out their blind spots without getting defensive. (1:17:42) - Final Thoughts: Conrad's ultimate advice: wherever you stand, lead and make things better. About Proc n Roll: Proc n Roll is your ultimate guide to practical procurement. Hosted by industry veterans, we navigate the complex intersections of procurement, supply chain, digital transformation, and the cutting-edge technology redefining the enterprise landscape. Join us as we interview top leaders, unpack hard-learned lessons, and explore how to build resilient, forward-thinking organizations. Don't forget to subscribe, like, and share!

  6. 10 Jul

    Why Today is the SLOWEST AI Will Ever Be

    Are you prepared for a future where your company rewrites its software every single night?In this episode of Proc n Roll, Zach and Natasha sit down with Sanjay Srivastava—former Chief Digital Officer at Genpact, serial entrepreneur, and founder of the Executive Technology Board—for a masterclass on enterprise AI. Sanjay unpacks why the current breakneck pace of AI development is actually the slowest it will ever be, and why companies must shift from episodic IT projects to a permanent state of continuous business adaptation.From the hidden "Day 2" costs of tokenomics to the rising stress levels of AI-enabled employees, this episode is packed with counterintuitive insights and practical frameworks for business leaders trying to stay ahead of the curve. Timestamps: (01:12) - Intro: Welcoming Sanjay Srivastava, tech visionary and author of the digitally Substack.(02:46) - The Pace of Change: Why the AI acceleration we see today is structurally set up to be the slowest it will ever be in the future.(07:43) - Transformation as a Permanent State: Moving away from episodic software updates to a culture of continuous adaptation. (10:59) - The 20x Performance Gap: Why employees with the exact same AI tools and training are yielding wildly different results.(12:33) - The AI Stress Paradox: How AI reduces chore work but increases employee stress due to constant context switching.(17:59) - The End of Code: Why the marginal cost of software is dropping to zero, making domain knowledge your ultimate durable advantage.(23:13) - Tokenomics & Day 2 Costs: Why you should multiply your current AI token costs by three before approving a business case. (27:49) - Headless Applications: Rethinking capital allocation as enterprise apps lose their user interfaces to AI control planes.(31:25) - Organizational Strategy: The difference between a "10,000 Wildflowers" experimentation approach and a focused "10 Oak Trees" strategy.(36:26) - Who Owns AI?: Why AI run by IT is just a tech project, but AI run by the business is true transformation.(42:34) - Re-engineering the Enterprise: Collapsing 30-year-old sales and service silos into a single end-to-end agentic workflow.(47:00) - The 4x4 Board Framework: A practical matrix for CEOs and boards to navigate cost takeout, growth, industry transformation, and new threats.About Proc n Roll:Proc n Roll is your go-to podcast for navigating the complex intersections of procurement, supply chain, and cutting-edge technology. Join hosts Conrad Smith, Natasha Gurevich, and Zacharcy Bachir as they interview industry leaders, unpack digital transformation, and explore how AI is redefining the future of enterprise work.

    Why Today is the SLOWEST AI Will Ever Be

  7. 3 Jul

    The Biggest Mistake You're Making With Your AI Experiments

    Welcome to another Jam Session on Proc n Roll! This week, Conrad sits down with Ajay Khosla from Google to dive deep into the reality of agentic procurement and enterprise AI. They discuss the rapid evolution from simple generative chatbots to powerful, proactive agents (like Open Claw) and how these tools are fundamentally changing the user experience in sourcing. Discover why the future of procurement looks a lot like the corporate travel agents of the 1990s, how to safely boost your "AIQ," and why your traditional CLM might just become a glorified data repository. Hit play to learn how to move from last year's AI pilots to delivering actual, measurable value today. Timestamps: (00:01:01) - Intro: Welcoming Ajay Khosla to the jam session. (00:02:25) - The Evolution of AI: From Zapier workflows to Open Claw and agentic procurement. (00:05:14) - The Dangers of Access: Setting up guardrails and controlling bad actors in AI. (00:07:05) - Real-World AI: Using agents to build complex Excel spreadsheets and manage data. (00:12:47) - The Google Perspective: Standardizing procurement across a 25-year-old enterprise. (00:15:37) - The Travel Agent Analogy: Bringing the "white-glove" concierge experience back to sourcing. (00:19:25) - Guardrails & Policy: Orchestrating procurement dynamically based on company rules. (00:26:08) - Will AI Take Your Job?: Escaping administrative onboarding tasks to focus on strategic advising. (00:31:50) - Getting Practical: Moving beyond proofs-of-concept to actual value implementation. (00:36:13) - The Data Foundation: Why getting your data right is critical to prevent hallucinations. (00:41:52) - Boosting Your AIQ: 3 practical tips to level up your agentic intelligence right now. (00:47:23) - The Reverse Mentorship: Why you should find a digital-native Gen Z mentor. (00:55:37) - Rethinking the Tech Stack: Modular approaches and why the traditional CLM is dead. (01:00:01) - Leadership Lessons: Choosing relationships and doing the right thing over raw results. About Proc n Roll: Welcome to Proc n Roll, the ultimate podcast for procurement, supply chain, and enterprise technology. Hosted by Conrad, Zach, and Natasha, we cut through the corporate noise to deliver honest, hype-free conversations with top industry leaders, innovators, and digital mentors. Whether we are breaking down complex AI agent frameworks, debating the future of the ProcureTech stack, or sharing practical leadership strategies to help you level up your career, our goal is to deliver actionable insights you can apply on Monday morning.

    The Biggest Mistake You're Making With Your AI Experiments

  8. 25 Jun

    Build vs. Buy is Officially Dead: The Surprising New Strategy Taking Over ProcureTech

    In this episode of Proc n Roll, Zach and Conrad sit down with Joël Collin-Demers, the digital procurement mentor and author of the Pure Procurement newsletter. Joël unpacks the new "buy-to-build" paradigm in procurement technology, explaining how to successfully blend pre-packaged software suites with customizable, AI-driven toolboxes. From deep dives into the Model Context Protocol (MCP) to the urgent need for technical talent within sourcing teams, this conversation is a masterclass in modernizing your tech stack.Timestamps:(01:15) - Introduction of Joël Collin-Demers and his background in digital procurement. (02:56) - Defining the "Buy-to-Build" concept in procurement technology. (06:11) - The risks of using AI to code from scratch and the importance of software architecture.(07:25) - History repeating itself: Comparing modern configurable suites to legacy procurement software promises.(09:41) - Why procurement still needs business analysts and the role of the Digital Procurement Lead.(11:37) - The argument for hiring technical engineers directly into procurement teams.(14:21) - Practical tips for smaller organizations: Leveraging IT sourcing roles and fractional digital leads.(17:50) - Moving the conversation to AI Agents: Should you build or buy them?.(18:48) - Joël’s definition of an agent and deciding where an agent should reside based on cross-functional needs.(22:22) - Managing AI context: The importance of deterministic business rules over statistical guessing. (30:48) - AI vs. the 150-page procurement policy and managing AI hallucinations.(33:27) - Re-evaluating the tech stack: How to handle high-risk software decisions today.(36:03) - Treating ProcureTech as a strategic category and the shift away from massive IT business cases.(40:01) - Explaining the Model Context Protocol (MCP) using a restaurant menu analogy.(42:58) - Addressing security, data governance, and permissions when using MCP.(45:22) - Analyzing SAP's controversial API policy and the "App Store" approach to data security. (47:45) - Final practical tips: Why procurement leaders need to start experimenting with AI immediately.About Proc N Roll: Welcome to Proc n Roll, the ultimate podcast for procurement, supply chain, and AI! Hosted by Conrad Smith, Zachary Bachir, and Natasha Gurevich, we cut through the corporate noise to deliver honest, hype-free conversations with top industry leaders. From AI and tech stack strategies to career growth, we give you the tactical insights you need to level up. Subscribe and join the jam session!

    Build vs. Buy is Officially Dead: The Surprising New Strategy Taking Over ProcureTech
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About

Welcome to Proc n Roll, where nearly 70 years of combined procurement expertise come together. Join Natasha, the PRO CPO with experience at IBM, McKesson, Salesforce, and Nike; Zach, the procurement guru from London; and Conrad, the visionary innovator behind transformational procurement at Intel and Adobe. We dive into the latest trends shaping the procurement landscape while breaking down the essential building blocks for success. Whether you’re new to procurement or a seasoned expert, our discussions will inspire you and keep you grounded in real-world value.

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