The Procurement Game Changers Consulting Quest

Guess what? Our Procurement Game Changers podcast has unveiled a fascinating secret—none of our guests willingly chose to enter this field. For each of them, it was either a stroke of luck or an unexpected twist of fate that led them here. In today's episode, our esteemed guest, Thejo Kote, shed light on the underlying reason: "In business school, they teach you how to make money, not how to spend it efficiently. You only realize the importance of managing expenses once you're running a business."
 
This episode is a treasure trove of insights, with two thought leaders in the realms of spend management innovation and consulting sourcing engaging in profound discussions and sharing their perspectives.
 
And, by the way, did we mention that this is a special episode of our Procurement Game Changers series, where we introduce the most promising solutions leaders to you? We're thrilled to introduce you to Thejo Kote in this episode.
 
Join us for this captivating conversation between your beloved host, Helene, and the eminent entrepreneur and spend management innovator, Thejo Kote. Together, they navigate the world of spend management solutions, unveiling their ability to streamline operations, provide real-time data, and revolutionize decision-making in procurement.

The digital procurement trend is gradually replacing traditional practices, and it's not just a trend; it's a reality. What essential skills and tools do procurement leaders need in this digital age? They need to be familiar with the end-to-end "procure-to-pay" process.
This involves understanding the company's external needs, market dynamics, finding suppliers, creating contracts, receiving deliveries, making payments, and managing suppliers, their performance, and associated risks. To manage these steps effectively, they require a variety of tools in their toolkit. These tools encompass different aspects such as category management, market analysis, price quote requests, tender management, order systems, catalogue maintenance, contract administration, stock level monitoring, and risk management.
With numerous new digital tools available, it's crucial to comprehend their potential benefits for your organization. Our host, Ozan, will guide us through best practices, challenges that may arise when using these tools, and much more. Are you ready to elevate your game in procurement? Tune in.

Burnout, like a global epidemic, casts its dark shadow over both genders. However, its grip on women is particularly tight, leaving them more vulnerable to its detrimental effects. It's as if women find it challenging to hit the "off" switch, constantly grappling with concerns about the impact on their career progression. Startlingly, only 45% of women rate their ability to disconnect from work as good or extremely good, while a disheartening 34% deem it poor or extremely poor.
 
Don't you think, it's time to equip ourselves with the knowledge and tools to create a healthier, more balanced professional landscape for women in procurement. Well, in an enlightening discussion, our guest of this episode, the Shameless Mind Boss, Monica Rose unveils the secrets behind women's experiences in procurement and uncovers strategies to prevent and combat burnout.
 
What are the unique stressors that women face in the procurement field compared to their male counterparts? How do these challenges contribute to the immense burnout experienced by women in this industry? In this captivating episode, join Monica as she delves deep into these questions, about the battle against burnout.

There is no denying the fact that Generative AI is about to disrupt the professional services landscape like never before. It's like a storm of innovation brewing on the horizon, ready to revolutionize procurement as we know it. And guess what? We can't afford to be left in the dust! We need to be the pioneers, the ones who ride this wave of change and come out on top. That's where our extraordinary guest, Offer Hacmon, steps in. He's not only a negotiation maestro but also an expert in partnerships, negotiations, and strategic advice. With his deep understanding of technology and cloud procurement, Offer brings a fresh perspective to the table. He's here to help us navigate the uncharted territory of Generative AI in procurement and show us the ways how to grab this whirlwind of technology by the horns and make it work for us. Don't miss it.

We were blown away by the amazing response to our women's day special podcast! And you know what? We're not done celebrating all the incredible women out there just yet. So, we've decided to keep the momentum going by continuing the series. And, Today's episode is going to be a real treat! We've got Carmella Long, a procurement veteran who's going to give us the inside scoop on her journey through the procurement world. And let me tell you, she's got some serious street cred.
With over 30 years of experience in procurement and supply chain, Carmella's worked in some of the toughest industries out there, from oil and gas to petrochemicals and even environmental. She's seen it all, folks.
But what really sets Carmella apart is her unique perspective. Having worked in a technical sales role for five years, she's seen the procurement world from the other side of the table. And let me tell you; it's an eye-opener. Carmella realized that as a supplier, her interests aligned with those of the procurement team - both want to help the company achieve better performance. It's like procurement is just a mirror image of sales.
Now, let's talk about the challenges. Carmella started her career in an overly male-dominated arena, which wasn't easy. But with the help of some fantastic female colleagues (not even from procurement!), she was able to thrive in her role. let's say she's come a long way since then.
So, if you want to hear about Carmella's journey and how she navigated the challenging path to get where she is today, you do not want to miss this episode! Tune in now!
 
 

In this Women's Day special podcast series, Alpha Female in Procurement - the Lone Road to Leadership, host Helene introduces Alejandra Garcia, Senior Vice President of Global Procurement at DSM. Alejandra has 25 years of experience in procurement and shares her valuable insights on procurement challenges and strategies for success. In this episode, Alejandra talks about the biggest challenge she has faced in her career, which is to prove the value of procurement outside of just standard KPIs and metrics. She also discusses the importance of building networks and relationships, understanding the end customer's needs, and stepping out of the box to bring a solution to procurement. Tune in to this episode to learn from the best in the field.