The Sourcing Hero TheSourcingHero

Entrepreneurs found businesses because they believe they have formulated the best new product or the most innovative way of providing a service. They are focused on their customers, value proposition, and their hope for the future. Unfortunately, there is one thing that - if left unmanaged - can bring all of their hopes and dreams to a sudden halt: cash flow.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Richard Gusmano. Richard is the Founder and CEO of Business Credit Consultants, a company that is focused on helping small businesses secure the credit they need to grow. He uses his own experience as a small business owner to help others manage cash flow and credit so they can reach their growth goals.
In this interview, Richard shares his first-hand experience working with small to medium-sized businesses:
The most common mistakes small business owners make when it comes to credit and cash flow
Why selecting the right bank it so critical
How procurement and sourcing professionals can assess the potential for risk associated with smaller prospective suppliers
The important role that small business play in the overall economy, especially in terms of revenue and job creation
 
Links:
Richard Gusmano on LinkedIn

“The single biggest  problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.” - George Bernard Shaw
The Sourcing Hero podcast releases 50 new interviews every year, and while every episode offers unique value and insights to listeners, a few are bound to become listener favorites. 
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes back Kris Lance, Senior Director at Una, for a recurring monthly conversation about current news stories. Kris has experience in multiple industries and has his finger on the pulse of the trends and topics that procurement, sourcing, and supply chain professionals need to be aware of.
In this conversation, Kris and Kelly talk about the top three episodes of 2023, taking a key lesson away from each one: 
Learning to Work Side-by-Side with ChatGPT with Joshua Palacios, Senior Sourcing Manager at Ro (the episode with the most listens of all time, not just for 2023!)
Telling a Business Story Beyond the Numbers with Christian Frantz Hansen from the Business Partnering Institute
Making Procurement Research Actionable with Denis Wolowiecki, Executive Managing Director at CAPS Research

Links:
Kris Lance on LinkedIn
EPISODE 113: Learning to Work Side-by-Side with ChatGPT with Joshua Palacios, Senior Sourcing Manager at Ro
EPISODE 110: Telling a Business Story Beyond the Numbers with Christian Frantz Hansen from the Business Partnering Institute
EPISODE 126: Making Procurement Research Actionable with Denis Wolowiecki, Executive Managing Director at CAPS Research

Change is as hard as it is inevitable. Even the most exciting new project can quickly go from “This is fantastic!” to “What on earth were we thinking!” when unexpected questions arise. How those moments are managed, and the tone that is kept in place through the process, ultimately determine the potential for value and success for everyone involved.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Toni Ann Careccio. Toni is the Chief Customer Officer at PortPro, a company that provides transportation management software for drayage carriers - they move freight from an ocean port to its destination. 
In this interview, Toni applies her experience onboarding customers to procurement’s constant need to successfully onboard suppliers:
Why tech providers with an operational background in transportation have an advantage over newcomers to the space 
Thoughts related to the ongoing debate about which is better: a best-of-breed ecosystem or an end-to-end platform
How a positive onboarding experience can form the foundation for a long, valuable partnership
 
Links:
Toni Ann Careccio on LinkedIn

Businesses that want to see long term impact in terms of sustainability need to commit to short term changes. And while there are many ways to incentivize these changes - such as regulations and customer requirements - procurement and supply chain professionals are absolutely on the front lines, as the overwhelming majority of a company’s emissions are associated with its supply chain in some capacity.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Alexis Normand. Alexis is the CEO and Co-founder at Greenly. Given his expertise in carbon accounting and management, he is an ideal guest to speak with us about some of the practical business challenges facing procurement and supply chain professionals tasked with responsibility for their company’s ESG or sustainability program.
In this interview, Alexis provides critical information about the ongoing effort to manage carbon emissions as well as his perspective on the associated complexity:
What the differences are between Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions
Whether building a more sustainable supply chain will also make it more expensive
How the broader ESG movement is impacting emission reduction initiatives
What decision makers need to know about offsetting carbon emissions as opposed to reducing them
Links:
Alexis Normand on LinkedIn

As human beings, being able to read and use non-verbal cues can determine the outcome of a situation, keeping us safe or strengthening the bonds we build with those around us. For procurement professionals in particular, being aware of non-verbal communication is absolutely essential, especially in situations of high intensity or where first impressions make the difference in measurable outcomes.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Laura Scarfe. Laura is the Director of Business Academy Online, specializing in CIPS procurement training,
negotiation, influencing, and emotional intelligence. Laura helps busy procurement professionals achieve their qualifications to help with their employability, while also helping them understand and manage their emotions and relationships to improve their confidence.
In this interview, Laura draws from a wealth of research and experience to shed some light on the complex world of non-verbal cues:
Why it is best to stay away from behavioral generalizations, instead focusing on observations that are rooted in science
Typical gender-based advantages and differences based on gender
The role that clothing, especially dress level and color, play in how each of us is perceived before we ever speak a word 
 
Links:
Laura Scarfe on LinkedIn

The U.S. military is accustomed to taking 7 years and a cost plus method to build billion dollar satellites with te help of their supply base. With instability around the world starting to ratchet up concerns about space, the Space Development Authority (SDA) is responding by disrupting traditional procurement practices. 
As SDA Director Derek Tournear recently said, “Change is hard; change is necessary. And nothing fights change like the paralyzing behavior of going along to get along.” 
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes back Kris Lance, Senior Director at Una, for a recurring monthly conversation about current news stories. Kris has experience in multiple industries and has his finger on the pulse of the trends and topics that procurement, sourcing, and supply chain professionals need to be aware of.
In this conversation, Kris and Kelly talk about how the Space Development Agency, part of the U.S. Space Force, is shaking up procurement processes and approaches: 
Finding ways to speed up the procurement process so the U.S. can stay competitive with China in satellite manufacture
Breaking free from the ‘going along to get along’ mentality in order to deliver vastly different results
Putting pressure on suppliers to go beyond traditional demonstrations of capabilities and competitive advantages