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

Graphite Connect and Candor Procurement
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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. 8h ago

    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

  2. Jul 17

    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!

  3. Jul 10

    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

  4. Jul 3

    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

  5. Jun 25

    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

  6. Jun 18

    The Bravery of Leadership: Making the Hard Decisions in Procurement

    In this jam session of Proc n Roll, Conrad sits down with Limor David-Sternfeld, a seasoned executive with a fascinating career journey that spans from the defense industry to leading global sourcing and procurement in the Bay Area's big tech sector. Limor shares her practical insights on navigating unfamiliar sourcing categories, the changing dynamics of enterprise tech, and what it truly means to be a courageous leader. Whether you are an individual contributor looking to level up your stakeholder relationships or a CPO evaluating your next major software investment, this episode is packed with actionable advice. Topics Discussed in This Episode: The Accidental Career Path: How a job in defense procurement derailed an accounting career and sparked a lifelong passion for sourcing and procurement.The "Figure It Out" Mentality: Why curiosity, dedicated research, and cultural tenacity are your best tools when tackling brand-new procurement categories and challenges.Agents vs. Humans: A look at the future of complex enterprise negotiations, and why the most strategic relationships will still require humans, at least for now.Tech Stack Warnings: Why procurement organizations should be highly cautious about locking into long-term tech arrangements while the AI landscape is shifting so rapidly.The Bravery of Leadership: How to lead by example, have the hard conversations, and show up with confidence to support your team.Slashing Cycle Times: The urgency of incorporating AI into your workflows to reduce repetitive tasks before your stakeholders lose patience. About Proc n Roll Welcome to Proc n Roll, your guide to practical procurement! Hosted by industry veterans Conrad, Natasha, and Zachary, we dive deep into the strategies, operating models, and emerging technologies shaping the future of supply chain and procurement. Whether you are looking to navigate the AI tech boom, rethink your category management, or just survive your next boardroom meeting, the "three amigos" are here to break down the complex topics into actionable, practical insights. Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more procurement insights!

    The Bravery of Leadership: Making the Hard Decisions in Procurement

  7. Jun 4

    Procurement's Next Crisis: Who is Paying for All This AI?

    In this week's Proc n Roll, the trio tackles a billion-dollar boardroom debate: Who exactly owns AI in the enterprise? With 87% of companies increasing AI budgets by 2026, but only 14% having a clear C-suite owner, the lack of defined leadership is creating uncertainty. Conrad, Natasha, and Zachary debate the tension between decentralized, bottom-up innovation and top-down corporate governance. They explore the dangers of "shadow AI," why token consumption is about to become your company's biggest expense, and how to divide AI responsibilities across the CISO, Tech, and Procurement teams. Timestamps (00:00:00) - Cold Open: The billion-dollar tug of war over AI ownership, the risk of data leaks, and token consumption costs. (00:01:21) - Episode Intro: Welcome to Proc n Roll with the "Three Amigos" (Conrad, Natasha, and Zachary). (00:02:06) - The Main Topic: Who owns AI in the enterprise when 87% of companies have increased budgets but only 14% have a clear owner? (00:02:47) - Zachary's View (Decentralization): Why everyone should own AI and why innovation must come from the people doing the job today. (00:06:05) - Natasha's View (Centralization): The need for compliance, keeping the enterprise in sync, and why AI strategy should fall under a Chief Transformation Officer or CPO. (00:08:57) - The "Garage" Innovators: Zachary and Conrad discuss how the best AI users are experimenting off corporate machines using frontier models. (00:11:41) - Accountability in AI: Treating AI outputs with the same ownership expectations as building an Excel model or PowerPoint presentation. (00:14:34) - The Danger of Toy Agents: Natasha argues that building agents without a holistic enterprise strategy creates disconnected "toys" rather than solutions. (00:17:25) - Personal Productivity vs. Platform Execution: Zachary breaks down the difference between using personal prompts and deploying integrated agents on enterprise platforms. (00:21:49) - The Token Cost Crisis: Zachary predicts AI token consumption will become the biggest expense line for companies and why procurement must treat it like software asset management. (00:27:39) - Defining Cross-Functional Roles: The hosts agree that the CISO owns security, Procurement owns cost, and Tech owns the overarching strategy. (00:30:57) - The Policy Dilemma: The struggle to define who writes the AI guidelines without stifling innovation. (00:33:42) - The Inevitable Data Leak: Natasha predicts a major corporate data spill caused by rogue employees building shadow AI. (00:38:39) - Shadow AI & Swivel-Chairing: Conrad explains how employees are using external devices to bypass corporate AI restrictions for tasks like "should-cost" analysis. (00:43:01) - Episode Wrap-up: Final thoughts on the necessity of cross-functional collaboration to navigate enterprise AI. About Proc n Roll Welcome to Proc n Roll, your guide to practical procurement! Hosted by industry veterans Conrad, Natasha, and Zachary, we dive deep into the strategies, operating models, and emerging technologies shaping the future of supply chain and procurement. Whether you are looking to navigate the AI tech boom, rethink your category management, or just survive your next boardroom meeting, the "three amigos" are here to break down the complex topics into actionable, practical insights. Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more procurement insights!

  8. May 28

    Stop Begging for a Seat at the Table (This Fortune 500 CPO Says It's Fake)

    In this week's Proc n Roll, we are joined by procurement legend John Dixon, whose 40-year career includes serving as Chief Procurement Officer for global giants like AstraZeneca, GSK, Diageo, BP, and Rolls-Royce. John drops some serious truth bombs about the current state of our industry. He explains why procurement is facing a "perfect storm" of risk, cost, and AI, and why leaders need to completely drop the cliché of asking for a "seat at the table". Instead, he breaks down how to actually earn credibility by speaking the business's language, stopping the endless fights with the CFO over cost savings, and establishing simple, effective baselines. Finally, John issues a warning about the saturated procurement tech landscape —urging leaders to engage in "discretionary learning" so they truly understand AI rather than blindly buying platforms. Timestamps (00:50) – Intro: Welcome John Dixon, 40-Year Procurement Veteran & Global CPO(02:10) – The "Perfect Storm": Why Procurement is at an Inflection Point(03:55) – The Myth of the "Seat at the Table" & Earning Real Credibility(07:13) – Clashing with the CFO: Savings vs. True Business Value(10:53) – How to Establish Simple Rules and Baselines with Finance(19:04) – Moving from Tactical Buyers to Strategic Ecosystem Managers(20:28) – The Power of Speaking Their Language: Hiring Chemists to Buy Test Tubes(25:14) – Aligning Procurement's Value Proposition with Business Goals(33:13) – Category Strategy: Your Ultimate Tool to Learn the Business(39:01) – Navigating a Saturated Procurement Tech Landscape(42:14) – Why Procurement Must "Leapfrog" in Technology Investments(46:01) – "Discretionary Learning": Why CPOs Cannot Abdicate Tech Decisions(49:49) – Looking Back: John's First CPO Role and Greatest Turning Point About Proc n Roll Proc n Roll is your guide to practical procurement. Join industry veterans Conrad, Zach, and Natasha as we tackle real-world challenges for procurement leaders. From building agile operating models to leveraging the latest AI and data strategies, we bring you no-nonsense, actionable insights to help you transform your organization.

    Stop Begging for a Seat at the Table (This Fortune 500 CPO Says It's Fake)
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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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