Art of Procurement

Philip Ideson
  • 4.8 (64)
  • MANAGEMENT
  • UPDATED SEMIWEEKLY

Learn from procurement experts. Host Philip Ideson talks with thought leaders who share the trends, strategies and tactics that you can lever to elevate the role of procurement - and your career.

  1. 5D AGO

    851: Reframing Procurement as a Revenue Enabler W/ Sergio Martin

    "There is a limit on how much you can save, but there is no limit on how much you can make." - Sergio Martin Procurement is evolving fast. The true differentiator now is how the function can become a partner for growth and resilience. That means reimagining "customer experience" at every touchpoint, not just inside the business, but with suppliers as well. In this episode, procurement advisor and former procurement and supply chain executive Sergio Martin explains what it takes to deliver that value. Sergio shares practical stories from his experience at companies like Burberry and Dyson, explores what it means to move beyond "cost control," and reveals why empathy, expertise, and credibility are non-negotiable. In this episode, Sergio discusses: Defining the idea of a "customer" for stakeholders and suppliers Shifting procurement's mindset from savings to growth Building credibility through continuous expertise Becoming the customer of choice for innovation and resilience Links: Sergio Martin on LinkedIn Subscribe to This Week in Procurement Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube

    34 min

  2. JAN 26

    850: Persuasion Is a Procurement Power Skill – When It's Done Right W/ Martin John

    "Persuasion is about your intent. If your intent is solely to win at the other person's expense, that's manipulation. If you want the other party to also benefit from the conversation, then that's collaborative, and that's ethical persuasion." - Martin John Procurement leaders know that success often depends on more than just negotiating skills or cost models; it demands the ability to influence people at every level.  But what does it take to move from presenting facts to truly persuading suppliers, stakeholders, and executives to take action? This is a question that's more urgent than ever in today's complex business environment. In this episode of Art of Procurement, Philip Ideson speaks with Martin John, a seasoned procurement pro and licensed ethical persuasion trainer. Martin shares tools and science-backed frameworks that chief procurement officers and their teams can use right away. He pulls back the curtain on Cialdini's principles, real-world negotiation stories, and how to avoid crossing the line into manipulation. In this episode, Martin discusses how to: Recognize the thin line between ethical persuasion and manipulation Build trust and rapport faster using evidence, not guesswork Move beyond data to engage the emotions and subconscious drivers of decision-makers Translate behavioral science into everyday procurement Links: Martin John on LinkedIn Subscribe to This Week in Procurement Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube

    31 min

  3. JAN 19

    849: Reinventing Direct Procurement in the Digital Age W/ Spencer Penn

    "Direct materials is the most under-innovated, untouched by modern technology of any spend area." - Spencer Penn, Co-Founder and CEO, LightSource Direct spend makes up the lion's share of the procurement budget, but all too often, it's still managed in spreadsheets and disconnected tools. Today's volatile supply market and relentless cost pressures demand more.  What is holding companies back from real transformation in direct procurement, and where do the smartest teams focus their innovation efforts? In this AOP podcast episode, host Philip Ideson speaks with Spencer Penn, co-founder and CEO of LightSource. Drawing from his hands-on experience at Tesla and Waymo, Spencer explains why direct procurement's digital journey has lagged behind indirect, and what it takes to move from manual, reactive "firefighting" to scalable, collaborative value creation.  If you're wondering how to unite engineering, procurement, and finance to drive structural cost reduction, or how to leverage tech for more than basic automation, this episode is a must-listen. In this episode, Spencer talks about how to: Make sense of why most direct procurement processes are still manual Learn how collaboration between procurement, engineering, and suppliers drives lasting savings See where legacy thinking and incentives stall change (and how to overcome it) Discover what tech can enable and when people are essential Find out why small sourcing decisions at scale become huge bottom-line wins Links: Spencer Penn on LinkedIn Subscribe to This Week in Procurement Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube

    49 min

  4. JAN 12

    848: Relationship Builder or Robot? Keeping Procurement Human in a Digital Age W/ Brad Keighley

    "AI has fantastic value when you look at spend analytics, sourcing decisions, and process efficiency, but to replace the infancy stage that allows you to have a relationship with stakeholders, I think, is a mistake." – Brad Keighley Digitization and automation promise so much for procurement, but what gets lost if we let technology run the show? As organizations scale and regulatory pressure mounts, the ability to connect on a human level can become a procurement superpower. Ignore it, and procurement risks becoming just another system, not a strategic partner. As a multiple-time CPO and procurement transformation leader, Brad Keighley has built teams for startups, pre-IPO rocket ships, and tech giants. In this episode, he shares how to structure procurement for growth while staying close to stakeholders, explains why focusing only on savings is a mistake, and offers practical approaches to scaling service without losing the personal touch. In this conversation, Brad discusses how to: Diagnose and fix legacy issues to win skeptical stakeholders Sell the true value of procurement by leading with risk management and compliance Build a "white glove" centralized service model for maximum spend capture and influence Layer automation and analytics where it matters, without sacrificing partnership Use stakeholder feedback to drive continuous improvement and protect procurement's reputation Links: Brad Keighley on LinkedIn Subscribe to This Week in Procurement Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube

    41 min

  5. JAN 5

    847: 2026: A Defining Moment for Procurement

    "Efficiency should fund the future, not erase the people needed to deliver it." – Philip Ideson, Founder and Managing Director of Art of Procurement 2026 is going to be another year of volatility, but it will also be a year of immense opportunity for procurement pragmatists, the ones who are willing to do the work to build the future rather than just waiting for it to arrive. In a tradition that dates back to 2018, Art of Procurement rings in the new year with Founder and Managing Director Philip Ideson's Annual Message. Each year's perspectives are shaped by hundreds of conversations with procurement leaders, providers, subject matter experts, and people both inside and outside the world of procurement. This year, Philip reflects on changes being felt across the professional community and also shares his vision for the next evolution of Art of Procurement.  In this episode, Philip elaborates on: Which path to take in an exciting, but also overwhelming, digital procurement landscape How procurement operating models need to adjust to take not just AI into account, but also the pure intent of the function The 'elephant in the room' - which is not AI, but the readiness and culture that have to be prepared to receive and leverage the new opportunities it creates Links: Art of Procurement Annual Letters Philip Ideson on LinkedIn Subscribe to This Week in Procurement Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube

    23 min

  6. 12/15/2025

    846: Building Agility Through Emergency Procurement Readiness W/ Rick Bond and Tammy Rimes

    "The first time that you speak with a supplier shouldn't be in a time of crisis. Our best customers work with us regularly, and we're constantly hearing from them." - Rick Bond, Chief Revenue Officer, Safeware When a crisis hits, procurement must move at lightning speed… but without cutting corners.  How do public agencies build systems that are nimble, compliant, and ready for anything? The answer to that question lies in proactive preparation, robust cooperative agreements, and the partnerships that power an effective emergency response. In this episode, Philip Ideson speaks with Tammy Rimes, Executive Director of National Cooperative Procurement Partners, and Rick Bond, Safeware's Chief Revenue Officer. Together, they share what really happens behind the scenes when disaster strikes, and how contract strategies and supplier relationships can turn from routine to lifesaving overnight. They also examine hard lessons learned from the pandemic, the critical role of due diligence, and why warehousing strategies are making a comeback. From practical war stories to high-level frameworks, this episode is a playbook for anyone navigating risk and rapid response. In this episode, Tammy and Rick discuss how to: Create ready-to-launch emergency contracts before you need them Run fast but thorough due diligence, even with "easy" agreements Build supplier relationships that go beyond the transaction Balance just-in-time strategies with smart warehousing investments Hold both parties accountable for resilience, not just price Links: Executive Briefing: Cooperative Procurement as a Tool for Emergency Preparedness Tammy Rimes on LinkedIn Rick Bond on LinkedIn Subscribe to This Week in Procurement Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube

    41 min

  7. 12/10/2025

    BTW EP 24: Phil-out Season Finale: A Procurement Roast With Purpose

    After 23 episodes of dissecting procurement's incentive flaws, behavioral blind spots, and structural contradictions, the "Buy: The Way…To Purposeful Procurement" podcast team closes season one with something different: reflection, humor, a little chaos, and a first look at what comes next. In this episode, Rich Ham seizes the mic for a surprise "hostile takeover," pulling Philip Ideson and Kelly Barner into a rapid-fire look back at the most memorable moments of the season. What follows is part game show, part roast, and part highlight reel. In short, the perfect way to close a project built on saying the quiet parts out loud. Rich counts down his "top seven" insights from guests like Martin Chilcott, Thomas Udesen, Kate Vitasek, and Omid Ghamami, and the topics they discussed, from decarbonization realities to incentive design failures, from short-termism to purpose-driven procurement.  The list captures what this season repeatedly revealed: procurement isn't held back by a lack of talent or ambition, but by systems and incentives that don't reflect the impact leaders know they can deliver. This episode isn't just a retrospective. It also marks the transition from discovery to design.  After months of interviews, research, and internal debate, the team announces what's next: The Buylaws – a set of guiding principles for a healthier, more purposeful procurement incentive system. Early 2026 will bring a new mini-series dedicated to unpacking each one of these recommendations. As we've learned, procurement's potential is enormous, but potential becomes purpose only when incentives, behavior, and business outcomes finally align. Links: Rich Ham on LinkedIn Learn more at FineTuneUs.com

    49 min

  8. 12/08/2025

    845: Inside the AI Foundation Behind Next-Gen Procurement W/ Fang Chang

    "If you don't go on the journey, you risk being left behind. The key is to try, learn, and apply AI in a way that creates real value." - Fang Chang, EVP and Chief Product Officer at SAP AI isn't just another feature on your tech checklist. It's changing the way procurement teams deliver impact… but only for those bold enough to rethink from the ground up.  In this podcast episode, host Philip Ideson speaks with Fang Chang, EVP and Chief Product Officer at SAP, who shares what it looks like to rebuild an established platform like Ariba on a true AI foundation. Fang's team didn't just layer new tech onto old workflows; they tore everything down and rebuilt with AI at the core.  If you've ever asked whether your team should wait for the "next" wave of AI innovation or start learning by doing, this conversation is a must-listen. Fang walks through technical choices, balancing agility with reliability, and what an AI-powered procurement experience now enables for the business. In this episode, Fang discusses: Why simply layering AI onto legacy tools leaves value on the table How to decide where AI creates business outcomes… and where it doesn't What real agility looks like in a fast-evolving AI landscape How contextual "insights to action" bring value at every step The new balance of human oversight with AI-driven workflows Links: Fang Chang on LinkedIn Subscribe to This Week in Procurement Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube

    33 min
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About

Learn from procurement experts. Host Philip Ideson talks with thought leaders who share the trends, strategies and tactics that you can lever to elevate the role of procurement - and your career.

Information

  • Creator
    Philip Ideson
  • Years Active
    2015 - 2026
  • Episodes
    873
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright (c) Art of Procurement
  • Show Website
    Art of Procurement

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