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LightSource

Spencer Penn, CEO & Co-Founder at LightSource talks with procurement and supply chain leaders, operators, and builders about what's actually happening in direct materials sourcing. The tradeoffs. The lessons that came hard. Where the industry is headed. For anyone building, sourcing, or trying to untangle a supply chain that won't stop getting more complex.

  1. 5 days ago

    Chris Chandler, Founder & Managing Partner at Creovia Group - How Procurement Creates Value in Private Equity

    In this episode, we sit down with Chris Chandler, founder and managing partner of the Creovia Group, to explore how procurement creates value inside companies and private equity portfolios. Drawing from his experience across General Motors, Kellogg’s, Dr Pepper Snapple, MoneyGram, and the private equity world, Chris shares why strong procurement goes far beyond negotiating prices. He explains why speed matters in private equity, how procurement can directly improve margins, and why the best teams know when to follow a process and when to move quickly. The conversation also dives into the role of technology, process, and policy in making procurement savings actually stick. Chris explains why companies can negotiate great agreements but still fail to capture the value if employees are not guided toward them. He also discusses the role of GPOs, the growing demand for procurement leaders in private equity, and why procurement professionals need to get out from behind their screens to truly understand the business. Chris also shares his approach to supplier relationships and negotiation, including why trying to beat a supplier into the lowest possible price can work against you. He explains why transparency, credibility, respect, and understanding what the other side needs can lead to stronger deals and long-term partnerships. Key Topics: -Why procurement creates so much value in private equity -How speed can make or break procurement results -Why procurement professionals need to get out from behind the screen -How technology and process turn cost savings into real results -Why GPOs should be used strategically instead of for everything -How to work with procurement leaders without creating resistance -Why great negotiation is about more than getting the lowest price -How transparency, credibility, and respect lead to better deals Timestamps: 00:59 How Chris Built a Career in Supply Chain and Procurement 06:22 Where Young Procurement Professionals Should Start 08:32 Why Procurement Process Should Never Exist Just for the Sake of Process 10:53 The Biggest Difference Between Private Equity and Corporate Procurement 12:32 How Procurement Creates Value in Private Equity 14:36 Why Procurement Savings Can Be More Powerful Than Revenue Growth 18:22 Why Great Procurement Professionals Can't Just Sit Behind a Screen 20:34 How to Work With Procurement Leaders in Portfolio Companies 25:15 How to Make Procurement Leaders Look Like Superheroes 28:15 Why Cost Savings Mean Nothing Without the Right Process and Technology 33:31 When GPOs Make Sense for Indirect Procurement 38:41 Why Great Negotiation Isn't About Beating Up Suppliers 39:26 The Best Procurement Deal Chris Ever Negotiated 42:07 The Three Things Every Great Negotiation Needs 43:20 The Negotiation Question Most People Forget to Ask 46:55 The Weirdest Thing Chris Ever Had to Source Connect with - Chris Chandler: LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/cmchandler Connect to Lightsource.ai: LinkedIn - ⁠  / lightsource-ai   Website: https://lightsource.ai/

  2. 5 Aug

    Doug Johnson, VP, Global Supply Chain at Emerson - 34 Years of Supply Chain Leadership

    In this episode, we sit down with Doug Johnson, former VP of Global Supply Chain at Emerson, to explore the lessons he learned from more than three decades leading global supply chain and procurement teams. Doug shares how an unexpected career path led him to the top, why great leaders spend more time listening than talking, and how the right culture and people matter more than compensation. He also explains why procurement should never focus on cost alone, but instead align every decision with what the business and the customer truly need. The conversation also explores how global sourcing has evolved, what it takes to build strong supplier relationships, and why speed, quality, and customer value often matter more than securing the lowest price. Doug shares practical leadership lessons from building teams across the world, encouraging healthy disagreement, and creating an environment where people are empowered to make better decisions. Doug also discusses the growing role of AI in procurement and supply chain, including why many companies struggle to adopt it successfully. He explains why clean, structured data is the foundation for any successful AI strategy, why technology should solve real business problems instead of chasing trends, and how better forecasting could become one of AI's biggest opportunities for the future of the supply chain. Key Topics: -Why Cost Should Never Be Procurement's Top Priority -The Leadership Trait That Separates Great Managers From Average Ones -The Biggest Mistakes Companies Still Make With AI -Why Clean Data Matters More Than the Latest AI Tools -The Supply Chain Forecasting Problem AI Still Can't Solve -How Great Leaders Build Teams That Challenge Their Ideas Timestamps: 01:20 How Doug Accidentally Built a 34-Year Career at Emerson 03:48 The Real Reason Doug Almost Left the Company 05:29 The Leadership Lesson That Changed Doug's Career 07:46 How Emerson Built Its Supply Chain in China 08:41 What Most Companies Get Wrong About Supplier Quality 11:22 Why Cost Shouldn't Always Come First 14:10 Why Speed Beats Cost in Supply Chain 15:18 How Procurement Can Drive Business Growth 17:59 The Supplier Doug Thought Would Never Succeed 21:30 What Remote Work Is Still Missing 25:24 Why Most AI Solutions Fail in Large Companies 27:45 The Biggest AI Mistake Companies Still Make 31:43 The Supply Chain Problem AI Still Can't Solve 34:04 The Forecasting Challenge Every Business Faces 39:27 Why Great Leaders Don't Force Agreement Connect with - Doug Johnson: LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/supplychainleadership Connect to Lightsource.ai: LinkedIn - ⁠  / lightsource-ai   Website: https://lightsource.ai/

  3. 29 Jul

    Victoria Folbigg, CEO of Folbigg Consulting & AI Procurement Academy Co-Founder - Why AI Won't Replace the Best Procurement Professionals

    In this episode, we sit down with Victoria Folbigg, CEO of Folbigg Consulting and co-founder of the AI Procurement Academy, to explore how artificial intelligence is changing the future of procurement. Drawing from decades of leadership at companies including Procter & Gamble, Barclays, and SAP Ariba, Victoria shares why the biggest opportunity isn't simply adopting AI, but understanding where it creates real value. She explains why procurement teams need to stop chasing AI for the sake of it and instead focus on solving the right business problems. The conversation dives into the practical side of AI adoption, from choosing the right tools and avoiding common mistakes to understanding hallucinations, data privacy, and the growing impact of regulations like the EU AI Act. Victoria also shares how procurement professionals can use AI to improve research, contract analysis, supplier management, and decision-making without losing the human judgment that still matters most. Victoria also discusses why the future of procurement will look very different from today. She explains why behavioral science, psychology, and hyper-personalization will become just as important as commercial skills, how AI will reshape procurement roles instead of simply replacing them, and why the leaders who thrive will be those who combine technology with a deep understanding of people. Key Topics: -Why procurement needs a smarter approach to AI -How the AI Procurement Academy was built from scratch -The biggest AI mistakes procurement teams still make -Why solving business problems matters more than chasing AI -How AI can transform contract analysis and supplier decisions -What the EU AI Act means for procurement leaders -Why hyper-personalization is the future of procurement -How behavioral science will shape the next generation of CPOs Timestamps: 01:05 How Victoria Accidentally Built a Career in Procurement 03:16 Why Procter & Gamble Was the Perfect Place to Start 05:04 What Made P&G's Procurement Team Different 08:49 How Procurement Worked Before the Internet 10:22 The Packaging Lesson Every Brand Should Understand 12:24 Why Victoria Co-Founded an AI Procurement Academy 15:17 The Biggest Problem With AI Training Today 17:17 How Procurement Professionals Should Actually Use AI 18:06 The AI Mistakes Most People Still Make 20:27 The AI Use Cases That Matter Most in Procurement 22:12 AI Skeptic or AI Believer Which Side Should You Be On 23:31 Why AI Should Never Be the Starting Point 26:01 How the EU AI Act Will Change Procurement 27:09 Why Victoria Isn't Blindly Following the AI Hype 28:28 The Right Way to Build AI Products 30:03 Why Procurement Should Focus on Outcomes Not Solutions 31:22 The AI Opportunity Hidden in Contract Management 32:51 Why Hyper Personalization Is Procurement's Future 35:50 Where AI Still Gets It Wrong 38:05 Why Clean Procurement Data Still Matters 39:06 Will AI Replace Procurement Jobs 40:38 The Skills Procurement Leaders Need Next 42:21 Why Behavioral Science Will Shape Procurement 43:42 How Future CPOs Should Build Their Teams 45:06 The Procurement Work AI Will Replace First Connect with - Victoria Folbigg: LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/victoria-folbigg-19664b12 Connect to Lightsource.ai: LinkedIn - ⁠  / lightsource-ai   Website: https://lightsource.ai/

  4. 23 Jul

    Shashi Mandapaty, Chief Procurement Officer, Former Johnson & Johnson Executive - Lessons From Leading Global Procurement

    In this episode, we sit down with Shashi Mandapaty to explore a journey that goes far beyond procurement. After leading global procurement at one of the world's largest healthcare companies, Shashi is now helping build what could become the world's largest cancer biorepository in India. As a stage four cancer survivor himself, he shares how personal experience, business leadership, and healthcare innovation came together to shape a mission focused on improving cancer research and patient outcomes. The conversation also looks at the unique cancer challenges facing India, why local research is essential, and how global collaboration can speed up medical breakthroughs. Shashi explains how procurement thinking can help build sustainable healthcare initiatives, why strong partnerships matter, and what it takes to turn an ambitious vision into reality. His story shows how leadership skills developed in business can create meaningful impact far beyond the corporate world. Shashi also reflects on his career path from engineering to becoming Chief Procurement Officer at Johnson & Johnson, the lessons he learned while leading global teams, and the qualities that separate great procurement leaders from the rest. He shares why taking risks accelerated his career, why understanding the business matters more than simply managing suppliers, and why he believes a "plural career" can create both personal fulfillment and long-term impact. Key Topics: -How surviving stage four cancer inspired a new mission -The vision behind the world's largest cancer biorepository -Why cancer research in India needs a different approach -How procurement leadership can drive healthcare innovation -The career decisions that led to becoming a global CPO -Why the best procurement leaders stay close to the business -What it takes to build a meaningful career after the C-suite -Why relationships and collaboration matter more than ever Timestamps: 05:12 Why Cancer Outcomes Are So Different in India 07:51 The Preventable Cause Behind Millions of Cancer Cases 09:16 Why India Needs Its Own Cancer Research 12:01 The Cancer Resource That Could Change Global Research 13:14 Why Researchers Wait Years for the Right Samples 14:49 The Healthcare Model That Changed India 17:30 How Procurement Skills Can Save Lives 19:00 The Challenge of Funding Cancer Research 23:02 What Comes After Becoming a Chief Procurement Officer 25:13 Why Shashi Doesn't Believe in "Giving Back" 28:33 How an Engineer Became a Global Procurement Leader 33:43 The Question Every Future CPO Should Ask 35:17 The Career Risks That Changed Everything 36:30 The #1 Skill Every Procurement Leader Needs 42:14 What Separates Great Chief Procurement Officers 46:39 Why One Career Is No Longer Enough Connect with - Shashi Mandapaty: LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/shashi-mandapaty-synapsys Website: thesynapsys.vercel.app Connect to Lightsource.ai: LinkedIn - ⁠  / lightsource-ai   Website: https://lightsource.ai/

  5. 15 Jul

    Rick McDonald from Clorox - The $7B Cyber Attack That Exposed Real Leadership

    Rick McDonald spent decades inside one of the most complex parts of business, the part most people only notice when something breaks. At Clorox, that break came in the form of a cyber attack that forced the company to operate without normal systems for months. Suddenly, procurement, payments, planning, manufacturing, and supplier communication became a test of trust, speed, and judgment. His story is not just about surviving a crisis. It is about what years of supplier relationships can do when the playbook stops working. Rick explains why the company kept plants running, how business continuity plans helped but also exposed gaps, and why suppliers continued showing up even when payments were delayed. That kind of support does not happen by accident. It is built through years of consistent treatment and credibility. This conversation also moves into the bigger shifts happening across supply chain, cybersecurity, AI, and sustainability. Rick shares why cyber risk now belongs to everyone in the company, why AI makes fraud more believable, and why the next generation of supply chain tools must prove value faster. He also digs into supplier visibility, sustainability claims, consumer behavior, refill packaging, and why some ideas fail not because they are bad, but because the timing or execution was not ready yet. Key Topics: -How Clorox operated during a months-long cyber disruption -Why supplier relationships became critical when payments stalled -What business continuity plans get right and where they break down -Why cybersecurity cannot sit only with IT -How AI is making impersonation and fraud harder to spot -Why sustainability still struggles when cost becomes the deciding factor Timestamps: 00:28 Knowing When It Was Time to Step Away 02:19 From Manufacturing Plants to Supply Chain Leadership 04:19 The Procurement Lesson Behind Kingsford Charcoal 05:23 When Supplier Trust Becomes the Real Safety Net 06:30 Building a War Room Without Systems Access 07:09 The Decision to Keep Plants Running 08:29 How Retailers and Suppliers Responded 09:18 Managing Supplier Payments During a Crisis 12:21 Why BCPs Must Be Tested Beyond Short Outages 13:45 What Strong Continuity Planning Actually Requires 16:11 Why Cyber Threats Are More Convincing Now 18:17 Cybersecurity Is No Longer Just an IT Problem 20:48 The AI Image Story That Felt Too Real 22:52 Advising the Next Wave of Supply Chain Startups 23:46 Why Speed to Value Matters in Software 26:41 The Procurement Tool Rick Wants to See Built 28:47 Why Deeper Supplier Visibility Is So Hard 30:14 The Cost Problem Behind Sustainability 34:54 What Burt’s Bees Shows About Customer Alignment 35:32 Why Refill Models Still Struggle With Shoppers 38:57 Lightweight Products and Smarter Packaging 40:27 Why Good Ideas Deserve Another Shot Connect with - Rick McDonald LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/rickmcdonald82 Connect to Lightsource.ai LinkedIn - ⁠  / lightsource-ai   Website: https://lightsource.ai/

  6. 8 Jul

    Jason Busch Former CEO of Spend Matters - Will AI Make Procurement Obsolete?

    Jason Busch makes a strong case that procurement was never really about the auction. The auction was just the visible moment. What actually drove results was everything leading up to it and everything that followed, how clearly the requirements were defined, how well suppliers were prepared, and whether the business could turn a negotiated number into something real. What makes Jason interesting in this conversation is that he did not come up through a typical procurement path. He started in history, moved out of academia, then built a career across consulting, research, analysis, and startups. That gives him a wider lens than most. He is not just talking about procurement as a function. He is talking about how the field has changed, what parts of it were overhyped, what parts actually created value, and where it may be headed next. In this episode, Jason unpacks why reverse auctions were often misunderstood, why so many companies chased savings without building the process needed to realize them, and why specification quality still shapes the outcome more than most teams admit. He also gets into a deeper question that sits underneath the whole conversation: as AI improves, what part of procurement still needs human judgment? From RFQs and RFPs to direct versus indirect spend, and even the future of manufacturing and the automotive industry, this is a thoughtful conversation about where procurement creates real value and where it may need to reinvent itself. Key Topics: -Why the real work in procurement happens before and after the negotiation -Why e-auctions failed in many companies despite showing savings -How better specifications create stronger supplier outcomes -How AI could reshape sourcing, supplier matching, and procurement workflows -Whether procurement will still matter in an AI-driven future -Why the future of the automotive industry may look completely different Timestamps: 01:06 How a Failed Historian Ended Up in Procurement 08:14 The Political Shift That Proves We’re Living Through History 09:13 The Real Legacy of Reverse Auctions Was Never the Auction 12:18 Why E-Auctions Faded Even Though the Idea Was Powerful 13:19 The Mistake That Made Most Auctions Fail 15:22 Why Spec Alignment Is the First Step to Better Sourcing 18:20 Why Good Data Still Decides Everything in Procurement 20:00 Why RFPs Should Really Be About Supplier Potential 22:46 Is Cost Savings Still the Real Objective of Procurement 24:10 The Tesla Formula for Deciding What Weight Reduction Is Worth 27:41 Why Indirect and Direct Procurement Are Completely Different Games 30:34 Do We Even Need Procurement Anymore 33:01 Does the U.S. Even Have an Auto Industry 30 Years From Now 33:45 Why Autonomous Vehicles Could End Personal Car Ownership Connect with Jason Busch: LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/jason-busch-96075 Connect to Lightsource.ai: LinkedIn - ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/lightsource-ai Website: https://lightsource.ai/

  7. 1 Jul

    Danny Wang, former SVP at Canada Goose on Consulting, Sourcing, and Supply Chain Trust

    Danny Wang shows why great procurement is not about chasing the lowest price or hiding behind process. It is about knowing what really matters, asking better questions, and making decisions that actually work in the real world. Danny has built his career across contract manufacturing, consulting, retail, apparel, and hospitality, with experience at Accenture, Walmart, Canada Goose, Aqor, and Efficio. That mix gives him a sharp view of procurement from both sides, structured sourcing discipline and hands-on execution. In this episode, Danny breaks down why procurement is a field many people fall into but few truly master, why consulting can sharpen your thinking but industry teaches you what actually works, and why the best teams focus on outcomes instead of overcomplicating the process. They also talk about supplier discovery, factory visits, traceability, trade compliance, buyer power, and why hospitality procurement is only partly about strategy. The harder part is getting every property and stakeholder to actually adopt the deal. Key Topics -Why procurement is more than cost savings -Why industry experience gives procurement real depth -How to spot strong suppliers before problems happen -Why factory visits still matter more than paper claims -How traceability and compliance changed sourcing -Why hospitality procurement is mostly deployment, not just strategy Timestamps 02:05 The MBA Shift That Made His Experience Finally Click 02:35 The Consulting Move That Leveled Up His Sourcing Game 03:49 Is Consulting the Fastest Way Into Procurement 05:19 When Too Much Process Starts Killing Results 07:12 How AI Is Quietly Changing Procurement Faster Than Most Think 09:42 Why Consultants Keep Overbuilding Slides No One Needs 11:32 The Simple Supplier Test He Used at Canada Goose 13:52 Why a Factory Visit Tells You What a Spreadsheet Never Will 17:33 The Truth About ISO Certifications Most Buyers Miss 19:31 Why Generic Audits Miss What Actually Matters 23:04 Why Traceability Is No Longer Optional in Global Sourcing 25:52 The Transparency Shift Tariffs Forced on Suppliers 28:53 Why Buyers Keep Asking Suppliers for the Wrong Things 33:41 Why Brand Power Can Shape Supplier Negotiations 34:06 Why the Best Procurement Teams Build Relationships, Not Just Deals 36:21 What Bigger Hospitality Brands Often Get Wrong 39:06 Why Sourcing Is Only 40 Percent of Hospitality Procurement 39:18 The Hardest Part of Procurement No One Talks About Connect with Danny Wang: LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/danny-wang-38b800 Connect to Lightsource.ai LinkedIn - ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/lightsource-ai Website: https://lightsource.ai/

  8. 24 Jun

    Mitzi Campbell, CPO from International Paper: How AI Is Reshaping Procurement Leadership

    Mitzi Campbell shows why procurement is no longer about process, cost savings, or sitting behind a desk. It is about relationships, judgment, and the ability to operate beyond what automation can replace. Mitzi is the Chief Procurement Officer at International Paper, with over 30 years of experience across industry and consulting. She has worked with global organizations, led transformation initiatives, and built procurement functions that balance strategy with real-world execution. In this episode, Mitzi breaks down why procurement changed after the supply chain crisis, why relationships became the true competitive advantage, and why the next generation of professionals must go beyond technical skills. They talk about the future of AI in procurement, the roles most at risk of automation, and the skills that will remain valuable no matter how technology evolves.  Key Topics: -Why procurement is now about relationships, not just cost savings -How to build a career path from category manager to CPO -Why sitting behind a desk will limit your growth in procurement -How introverts can still win by mastering one on one relationships -Why AI will replace task-based roles but not human judgment -How top procurement leaders are quietly building AI-first teams Timestamps: 01:56 The Real Question Young Procurement Talent Keeps Asking 02:48 The Exact Skill Path to Becoming a CPO 03:19 Why Procurement Changed Forever After 2020 03:42 The Career Mistake That Keeps You Invisible 04:18 Can Introverts Win in Procurement, Here’s the Truth 05:29 The Self-Awareness Tool That Changed How She Leads 07:31 The AI Prediction That Shocked Everyone in the Room 08:27 The Simple Test That Determines If Your Job Will Be Replaced 09:01 The Skills AI Still Can’t Replace 11:11 The Pandemic Lesson Most Procurement Teams Still Ignore 12:30 Why Going Fully Lean Might Be a Dangerous Move 14:05 How Top CPOs Are Quietly Building AI-First Teams 15:09 If You’re Not Using AI Yet, You’re Already Behind 16:48 Why Companies Are Still Struggling With AI Rollout 19:02 Why ChatGPT Is Replacing Google for Top Operators 20:11 How Transforming Weak Teams Creates Massive Growth Connect with Mitzi Campbell: LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/mitzi-campbell-a2aa841 Connect to Lightsource.ai LinkedIn - ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/lightsource-ai Website: https://lightsource.ai/

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Spencer Penn, CEO & Co-Founder at LightSource talks with procurement and supply chain leaders, operators, and builders about what's actually happening in direct materials sourcing. The tradeoffs. The lessons that came hard. Where the industry is headed. For anyone building, sourcing, or trying to untangle a supply chain that won't stop getting more complex.

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  • Creator
    LightSource
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 LightSource
  • Show Website
    Source Code