Love Procurement: The Podcast

Ivalua
  • 5.0 (2)
  • BUSINESS
  • UPDATED SEMIMONTHLY

Welcome to the #loveprocurement podcast, where we bring you a fresh and lighthearted take on all things procurement. Join us as we dive into the fascinating world of Procurement with a twist of humor and a sprinkle of fun. We'll explore a different topic in each episode, inviting industry experts and special guests to share their insights, experiences, and stories. Whether you're a seasoned procurement professional or just curious about the field, this podcast is for you. Get ready to laugh, learn, and deepen your appreciation for procurement!

  1. Ep 26: Built on Trust: The Future of Supplier Relationships feat. Sonia Karim

    5D AGO

    Ep 26: Built on Trust: The Future of Supplier Relationships feat. Sonia Karim

    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

    29 min
  2. Ep 25: Procurement a Global Profession feat. Ben Farrell (CIPS CEO)

    FEB 3

    Ep 25: Procurement a Global Profession feat. Ben Farrell (CIPS CEO)

    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

    28 min
  3. EP 24: Data in the Age of AI feat Joseph Yacura & Alex Saric

    JAN 20

    EP 24: Data in the Age of AI feat Joseph Yacura & Alex Saric

    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

    32 min
  4. EP 23: Leadership is a Marathon: Inside the Reality of a CEO Role feat Franck Lheureux

    JAN 6

    EP 23: Leadership is a Marathon: Inside the Reality of a CEO Role feat Franck Lheureux

    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

    32 min
  5. Ep 22: Experimenting with AI feat. Joel Andersson (Ikea)

    12/16/2025

    Ep 22: Experimenting with AI feat. Joel Andersson (Ikea)

    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

    29 min
  6. Ep 21: Transformation at Konica Minolta ft Luca Sopranzetti

    12/09/2025

    Ep 21: Transformation at Konica Minolta ft Luca Sopranzetti

    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

    25 min
  7. Ep 20: Keeping the "Bad AI" Out feat. Dr. Cari Miller

    11/25/2025

    Ep 20: Keeping the "Bad AI" Out feat. Dr. Cari Miller

    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

    23 min
  8. Ep 19: Ivalua NOW 2026: Shaping New Horizons feat. Alex Saric

    11/11/2025

    Ep 19: Ivalua NOW 2026: Shaping New Horizons feat. Alex Saric

    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

    17 min
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About

Welcome to the #loveprocurement podcast, where we bring you a fresh and lighthearted take on all things procurement. Join us as we dive into the fascinating world of Procurement with a twist of humor and a sprinkle of fun. We'll explore a different topic in each episode, inviting industry experts and special guests to share their insights, experiences, and stories. Whether you're a seasoned procurement professional or just curious about the field, this podcast is for you. Get ready to laugh, learn, and deepen your appreciation for procurement!

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