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. 10 Sept

    The Anatomy of a Great Decision: 3 Frameworks Every Leader Needs

    In this week's PNR, Conrad, Zach, and Natasha roll up their sleeves to tackle one of the most critical elements of leadership: how we actually make decisions. Moving beyond high-level theory, the hosts reveal their personal, battle-tested decision-making frameworks. From using AI to analyze our own subconscious biases, to navigating hidden corporate agendas and short-term quarterly earnings pressures, this episode is a raw, unfiltered look into the reality of boardroom dynamics. Whether you lean on hard data, intuition, or political capital, you'll walk away with actionable strategies to bulletproof your next big choice. Timestamps (00:00:00) - Cold Open: The danger of short-term quarterly goals and why altruism doesn't exist in business. (00:01:02) - Intro: Welcoming Natasha and Zach, plus Conrad's "The Smith" t-shirt. (00:03:25) - Zach’s 5-step analytical framework (and how he used Claude AI to uncover his own process). (00:11:42) - Natasha’s pragmatic approach: Balancing the enterprise, the team, and political capital. (00:16:11) - Conrad’s problem-solving framework and weighing the "believability" of experts. (00:20:49) - Business vs. Personal choices: Are corporate decisions ever truly unemotional? (00:34:05) - Navigating egos, hidden agendas, and the "HIPPO" (Highest Paid Person's Opinion) in the boardroom. (00:46:55) - The Altruism Debate: Does selfless decision-making actually happen? (00:53:19) - The temporal aspect of choices and why execution is where the money is. (01:06:20) - Career Advice: Why you should never "phone it in" when pivotal decisions are being made. About Proc and Roll Proc and Roll is your ultimate guide to practical procurement. Hosted by industry veterans, we explore the realities of supply chain, digital transformation, and the deeply human elements of leadership in the corporate world. We are passionate about helping procurement professionals learn, innovate, and grow their careers.

  2. 1 Sept

    Everything is Rented: Leaving a Leadership Legacy Beyond Your Title


    In this special in-studio jam session, Conrad sits down with Natasha Gurevich live at Graphite Headquarters. Fresh off her week at Sundance Mountain Resort for a senior leadership program, Natasha shares powerful reflections on executive integrity, the danger of corporate "storytelling," and why every leader needs a personal board of directors. Whether you are navigating volatile times, learning to balance your head, heart, and hands, or wondering if AI can ever truly replace empathetic leadership, this episode is packed with raw, authentic wisdom. Timestamps (00:00:00) - Cold Open: Why your position, salary, and title are only temporary. (00:01:00) - Intro: Welcoming Natasha to the live in-studio jam session at Graphite HQ. (00:03:08) - The "Everything is Rented" leadership philosophy. (00:05:06) - Discussing Level 5 leadership and leaving an organization better than you found it. (00:08:15) - Leadership lessons from top sports coaches and the Chicago Bulls. (00:09:57) - The AI Debate: Can artificial intelligence actually be empathetic and lead teams? (00:12:57) - Why integrity is complex and how corporate values often fall short. (00:19:14) - Stop suffering alone: The power of a personal board of directors. (00:24:00) - The Redwood metaphor: Building strong, intertwined professional networks. (00:26:32) - Do people want authenticity, or do they just want you to do your job well? (00:28:41) - The manipulative nature of corporate "storytelling" versus actual truth-telling. (00:34:19) - Navigating volatility: How to know when to withhold the truth. (00:40:04) - The Leadership Trifecta: Aligning your head, heart, and hands. (00:41:44) - Celebrating the 2-year anniversary of the Proc and Roll podcast! Mentioned in this Episode Good to Great by Jim Collins: Conrad references this book when discussing the principles of "Level 5 leadership" and how great leaders build systems that thrive in their absence. The Practice of Groundedness by Brad Stulberg: This is the book Conrad mentions regarding the California Redwoods metaphor, illustrating how trees (and leaders) support each other by intertwining their roots rather than standing alone. The Playbook (Netflix): Natasha highly recommends this series featuring interviews with six coaches, highlighting that their real job is teaching individuals how to play as a team. The Last Dance (Netflix): A documentary about Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, and coach Phil Jackson that perfectly captures the joy, energy, and dynamic of true teamwork. Diary of a CEO Podcast with Seth Godin: Conrad references a discussion from this podcast regarding the boundaries of professional authenticity. About Proc and Roll Proc and Roll is your ultimate guide to practical procurement. Hosted by industry veterans, we explore the realities of supply chain, digital transformation, and the deeply human elements of leadership in the corporate world. We are passionate about helping procurement professionals learn, innovate, and grow their careers. Don't forget to like, comment, and share!

  3. 21 Aug

    Vibe Coding 101: How to Build Your Own Procurement Tech

    In this week's Proc N Roll, Conrad and Zach dive deep into the world of Artificial Intelligence and how it is revolutionizing the way procurement professionals work. They discuss how the "language barrier" of traditional coding is gone, meaning anyone can use plain English to build complex systems like a Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) tool. The duo also debates the new "Build vs. Buy" reality, the importance of clear requirements when working with AI agents, and why human imagination remains irreplaceable. Timestamps: (00:00) - Cold Open: The language barrier is gone, and English is the new coding language. (01:05) - Intro: Conrad welcomes Zach from London for a jam session on AI in procurement. (02:27) - Zach discusses the rapid evolution of AI over the past 18-24 months and how enterprises are adapting. (03:40) - Conrad shares his journey from struggling with early AI tools to easily building a CLM system using open AI models. (13:19) - Zach explains why providing clear scope and requirements is crucial so AI doesn't over-engineer your app. (20:50) - The importance of spending time upfront on design and documentation before rushing into "vibe coding". (27:23) - The new "Build vs. Buy" dilemma: When should procurement teams build their own tools instead of spending $150,000 on software? (36:27) - Evaluating the cost of failure: Why you shouldn't build your own ERP, but building a CLM or RFP tracker is low risk. (46:06) - Zach shares his massive learnings from iterating and building an autonomous procurement agent. (51:18) - Why AI won't take all our jobs: Humans still need to bring imagination, learning, and decision-making to the table. (54:36) - Outro: Upcoming AI workshops, a potential meetup in London for DPW, and an invitation to reach out. About Proc and Roll: Proc and Roll is your ultimate guide to practical procurement. Hosted by industry veterans, we explore the cutting edge of supply chain, digital transformation, and how tools like AI are reshaping the enterprise landscape. We are passionate about helping procurement professionals learn, innovate, and automate their workflows.

  4. 13 Aug

    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.

  5. 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.

  6. 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.

  7. 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

  8. 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!

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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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