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.
Listeners of Art of Procurement that love the show mention: philip, even better, industry, top, guests, great, best, procurement podcast.
The Art of Procurement podcast is a top-notch resource for anyone interested in the field of procurement. Hosted by Philip Ideson, this podcast features interviews with industry experts and thought leaders, providing valuable insights and actionable advice. One of the best aspects of this podcast is the quality of the guests that are invited on the show. Philip's interviewing skills are excellent and he is able to draw out valuable information from his guests, making for insightful and engaging conversations. The podcast is also well-produced, with excellent audio quality.
One potential downside to The Art of Procurement podcast is that some listeners may find that Philip could push a bit more during interviews, especially with certain guests. While he does a great job overall, there may be moments where it feels like he could dig deeper into certain topics or challenges raised by his guests. However, this is a minor criticism and doesn't detract significantly from the overall quality of the podcast.
In conclusion, The Art of Procurement podcast is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in procurement. It provides access to top thought leaders and contributors in the industry, offering insights that can inform and improve procurement practices. The host's expertise and genuine interest in his guests shines through in each episode, creating an enjoyable listening experience. Whether you're a seasoned professional or new to the field, this podcast offers something for everyone looking to expand their knowledge of procurement.
There is no template for transformation. You have to build transformation for the organization that you're in. Go and learn as much as you can about the organization and then pivot where you need to.” - Tanya Roach, Director of Procurement, Federated Co-operatives Limited Building procurement from scratch is never easy… let alone within a 90-year-old organization, during a pandemic, and with business demands changing faster than ever. Resilient, adaptable team members are the key to overcoming challenges and creating lasting transformation. In this episode, Tanya Roach, Director of Procurement at Federated Co-operatives Limited, speaks to Philip Ideson at the 2025 Supply Chain Canada National Conference. Tanya shares her transformation journey: from assembling a new team during COVID to designing processes with flexibility, and the lessons learned from steady, people-centered change. In this candid conversation, she details how picking the right talent, using technology as a true enabler, and upskilling for AI set the stage for procurement success in a complex cooperative model. Whether you're leading a transformation or shaping day-to-day change, Tanya's story offers practical strategies: How to build and scale procurement teams amid uncertainty Why adaptability, curiosity, and resilience trump job titles in transformation How to introduce technology and AI in ways that add lasting value The essentials of aligning stakeholders in a distributed organization Links: Tanya Roach on LinkedIn Subscribe to This Week in Procurement Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube
Halfway through their journey toward purposeful procurement, the co-hosts confront a fundamental question: if procurement drives value in so many ways beyond cost savings, why do incentive structures ignore virtually everything else? In this episode of "Buy: The Way...To Purposeful Procurement," Philip Ideson, Rich Ham, and Kelly Barner discuss insights from their recent conversations with Martin Chilcott and Paul Polizzotto to explore a troubling pattern: procurement consistently creates value despite their flawed incentive structures, not because of them. The conversation maps procurement's hidden value drivers… from supplier-enabled innovation that harnesses R&D capabilities many times larger than any single organization, to supplier diversification efforts that identify alternatives but rarely get implemented, to risk mitigation strategies that could free companies from incumbent supplier traps. The hosts also examine why procurement tends to abandon innovation initiatives precisely when they're most needed, creating self-defeating cycles that damage supplier relationships. Kelly adds a practitioner's perspective into the mix, pointing out the frustration of extensive supplier qualification work that gets shelved due to entrenched decision structures, systematically wasting value creation that never appears on any scorecard. The episode also sets up the series' next phase: conversations with executives who've successfully broken the mold on traditional incentive structures, proving that purposeful procurement is achievable at any scale. Links: Rich Ham on LinkedIn Learn more at FineTuneUs.com
“Deglobalization is a nice soundbite, but the reality is, we need more focus on risk management and mitigation.” – Philip Ideson, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Art of Procurement Deglobalization is a hot topic right now, but behind the big headlines and boardroom buzzwords, real change is proving to be slow, complicated, and deeply influenced by geopolitics and regulation. Are companies really bringing supply chains home, or is the story much more nuanced? In this episode, Art of Procurement co-hosts Philip Ideson and Kelly Barner get candid on what's behind deglobalization: from shifting away from China and the reality of “diversifying in name only,” to why risk management and local expertise matter now more than ever. They discuss why many global supply strategies often move in cycles, and what procurement leaders can do to shape smarter, more resilient portfolios (despite increasing uncertainty). In this episode, Philip and Kelly cover: How to reframe deglobalization beyond the headlines and signal real risk Why China +1 isn't always the diversification strategy it seems The value of local presence in mitigating global risk How to connect cost, optionality, and stakeholder alignment for practical deglobalization Which supply chain trends are actually moving (and which are just noise) Links: Subscribe to This Week in Procurement Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube
Procurement 6 is a short podcast from Art of Procurement that publishes in the Art of Procurement feed every Friday morning at 6am US Eastern Time. Presented by a member of the Art of Procurement team, each episode has 6 short segments that summarize the week in procurement. Segments range from procurement tips to podcast summaries, from details of events to news or overviews of blog posts that capture our attention.
"I think we have hit a tipping point where procurement has become a pretty complicated practice. There's so many options and choices and optimizations with concepts that are just so alien to the typical user." - Jason Kim, Senior Director of Product Management, Coupa The procurement technology landscape demands solutions that work for both power users and occasional requesters, yet many organizations struggle with platforms that create friction rather than facilitating smooth workflows. Usability isn't just about the user experience. It's about adoption, compliance, and ultimately the strategic perception of procurement itself. In this episode, Jason Kim, Senior Director of Product Management at Coupa, explains how AI, integration capabilities, and user interface design are reshaping the procurement experience for everyone from seasoned buyers to infrequent requesters. Jason shares practical insights on designing systems that eliminate cognitive overhead, the critical importance of transparency in procurement workflows, and how meeting users where they are (rather than forcing them into rigid interfaces) drives better outcomes for procurement organizations. Jason also discusses: How the procurement technology landscape has evolved from suite-based to point solutions and back again over the past decade Why successful procurement platforms must meet users in their existing workflows rather than forcing context switches The critical difference between designing for power users versus infrequent requesters (and why both matter) Why eliminating cognitive overhead is essential for user adoption and spend management compliance The evolution from centralized to truly decentralized procurement models enabled by intelligent orchestration Links: Jason Kim on LinkedIn Subscribe to This Week in Procurement Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube
Procurement 6 is a short podcast from Art of Procurement that publishes in the Art of Procurement feed every Friday morning at 6am US Eastern Time. Presented by a member of the Art of Procurement team, each episode has 6 short segments that summarize the week in procurement. Segments range from procurement tips to podcast summaries, from details of events to news or overviews of blog posts that capture our attention.
“Businesses are wasting more money than they're making.” This stark assessment from serial entrepreneur Paul Polizzotto frames a provocative question: what if procurement's greatest untapped opportunity lies not in negotiating better prices, but in redirecting the millions corporations already squander on ineffective sales and marketing spend? In this episode of "Buy: The Way...To Purposeful Procurement," Paul Polizzotto, founder of Community AI and former CEO of EcoMedia (which was sold to CBS), joins co-hosts Philip Ideson and Rich Ham to explore how procurement can transform transactional moments into powerful engines for social impact - without paying a penny more for goods and services. Paul's track record speaks for itself: at EcoMedia, he redirected over $600 million of incremental advertising revenues toward community projects, powering solar installations on schools and city halls (including making Miami's City Hall the first major municipal building powered entirely by renewable energy), while making CBS more profitable. The secret? Tapping into the 10-30 percent of gross revenues that Fortune 500 companies routinely waste on ineffective SG&A expenses. The conversation reveals a fundamental misunderstanding about social impact procurement. While procurement teams worry about paying extra for "do-good" initiatives, Paul demonstrates how suppliers can fund meaningful community projects from their existing – and often wasteful – advertising, marketing, and event budgets. These are dollars that currently provide zero value, yet can be redirected to create measurable local impact while strengthening supplier relationships. As Paul notes, 92 percent of CEOs surveyed by BCG believe that embedding social impact in procurement significantly elevates the function's importance and relevance within their organizations. If procurement seeks to demonstrate value beyond traditional cost savings, community impact offers a measurable, strategic pathway to C-suite relevance. Links: Paul Polizzotto on LinkedInRich Ham on LinkedInLearn more at FineTuneUs.com
“You really have to intimately understand what the organization needs out of you, and that happens through good discourse, good conversation, good communication.” - Jack Skerry, Vice President of Supply Chain, Moosehead Breweries Transforming procurement performance demands more than technical expertise. Senior leaders know that without strong communication skills like active listening, transparency, and empathetic engagement, procurement's impact is, at best, limited. As organizations adapt at speed, active communication is a non-negotiable difference-maker. In this Art of Procurement podcast episode, Moosehead Breweries' Vice President of Supply Chain, Jack Skerry, sits down with Philip Ideson at the Supply Chain Canada National Conference. Jack's two decades spanning marketing, HR, sales, and supply chain provide an uncommonly broad background for a procurement leader. He shares practical ways to align teams, build trust with both internal stakeholders and suppliers, and move procurement from cost center to valued business partner. Jack's insights on transparency, negotiation, and the power of a ‘T-shaped career' resonate in a market where supplier relationships and stakeholder engagement define competitive advantage. In this episode, Jack discusses: The value of creating internal credibility through diverse business experience How procurement can build trust by sharing all information (not just good news) Using active curiosity and conversation to align with the business How to balance technical and relational skills when building teams Links: Jack Skerry on LinkedIn Subscribe to This Week in Procurement Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube
Procurement 6 is a short podcast from Art of Procurement that publishes in the Art of Procurement feed every Friday morning at 6am US Eastern Time. Presented by a member of the Art of Procurement team, each episode has 6 short segments that summarize the week in procurement. Segments range from procurement tips to podcast summaries, from details of events to news or overviews of blog posts that capture our attention.
“It's not going to take much to push us back into a shortage market where demand would exceed supply.” - Graham Scott, Vice President, Global Procurement at Jabil Semiconductor volatility is grabbing headlines again, but what's really happening beneath the surface for organizations buying and managing critical components? Graham Scott, Vice President of Global Procurement at Jabil, knows this landscape inside and out. In this episode, Graham speaks with Philip Ideson about the biggest pressures facing procurement teams, from AI-driven shifts in global supply, to the real cost of building resilient risk-management strategies. Graham discusses how transparency and agility will set the winners apart, and why procurement teams must stay close to both operational details and C-suite priorities. For procurement teams steering spend, pushing for greater optionality or navigating complex geopolitical headwinds, Graham shares strategies they can use right now. Graham also covers: Assessing hidden risks behind “healthy” inventory levels Rethinking supplier relationships to secure mission-critical data Calculating the tradeoffs and ROI of dual sourcing Navigating the impact of AI and geopolitics on future investment Links: Graham Scott on LinkedIn Subscribe to This Week in Procurement Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube
Procurement 6 is a short podcast from Art of Procurement that publishes in the Art of Procurement feed every Friday morning at 6am US Eastern Time. Presented by a member of the Art of Procurement team, each episode has 6 short segments that summarize the week in procurement. Segments range from procurement tips to podcast summaries, from details of events to news or overviews of blog posts that capture our attention.
Between annual targets and cost-focused KPIs, procurement leaders find themselves in an impossible bind when it comes to decarbonization: they know sustainability matters, yet the very incentive structures designed to reward their performance actively undermine their decarbonization efforts. In this episode, co-hosts Rich Ham and Philip Ideson speak with Martin Chilcott, Founder and CEO of 2 Degrees Limited and Founder of Manufacture 2030, to explore how procurement incentives could rapidly accelerate corporate decarbonization. Martin works with global corporations across manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and automotive industries, and he's seen firsthand how carbon strategies succeed or stall based on the commercial relationship between procurement and their suppliers. Martin points out an important truth that many procurement leaders understand but struggle to quantify: "Carbon costs exist right now, even if they don't appear on your budget line." He shared concrete examples like Panama Canal disruptions and cocoa price hikes, with climate disruptions already impacting business financials. The problem, he says, isn't awareness, but short-termism and narrow financial definitions that discourage investment. As Martin says, "If reducing emissions isn't explicitly worth the effort financially, suppliers won't make the effort." The way forward requires fundamental changes to how procurement defines value. By reframing total cost of ownership to explicitly include carbon, implementing longer-term contracts with carbon reduction targets, and building targeted supplier incentives, procurement can make decarbonization both profitable and achievable. Links: Martin Chilcott on LinkedIn Rich Ham on LinkedIn Learn more at FineTuneUs.com
“My number one rule for being a professional procurement person is to be fair and consistent. You've got to give every supplier the same opportunity, the same amount of time, and the same pieces of information, so you've got a level playing field.” - Michael Bertalli Today's procurement teams must deliver value through strong relationships and a reputation for professionalism that extends far beyond cost savings alone. Exceptional relationship skills – both within organizations and with external suppliers – have a significant strategic impact and can dictate lasting business outcomes. In this episode, experienced procurement leader Michael Bertalli outlines exactly what it takes to build impactful relationships and project authentic professionalism. Michael reveals practical insight on internal and external relationship strategies, explores actionable steps for deeper stakeholder collaboration, and emphasizes the nuanced art of supplier engagement. Michael also discusses: The value of fostering deeper internal collaboration with proactive, informal engagement How to navigate supplier relationships through strategic openness rather than price pressure Why utilizing strategic preparation and research is procurement's key relationship-building tool How to establish and sustain an ethical, professional image through consistency and fairness Ways to strengthen relationships with suppliers through transparent and valuable feedback Links: Michael Bertalli on LinkedIn Subscribe to This Week in Procurement Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube
Procurement 6 is a short podcast from Art of Procurement that publishes in the Art of Procurement feed every Friday morning at 6am US Eastern Time. Presented by a member of the Art of Procurement team, each episode has 6 short segments that summarize the week in procurement. Segments range from procurement tips to podcast summaries, from details of events to news or overviews of blog posts that capture our attention.
“During COVID, we went from just in time to just in case. Unfortunately, now supply chains have to factor in risk mitigation. Finding alternative sources of supply might be a little more pricey, but it reduces the risk.” - Alan Arcand, Chief Economist at Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters Economic uncertainty and tariff volatility continue to shape procurement strategies and supply chain decisions across North America. As businesses grapple with unpredictable policy shifts, the need to interpret nuanced economic signals accurately has become critical to maintaining stable operations and safeguarding organizational profitability. To decode these trends and recommend timely strategies, Philip Ideson spoke with Alan Arcand, Chief Economist at Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters, at the Supply Chain Canada National Conference. In this conversation, Alan highlights key factors procurement leaders should monitor, including the inflation implications of tariff decisions, investment behaviors influenced by economic uncertainty, and the profound impact all of this has on manufacturing sectors, particularly automotive. Alan also discusses: How to navigate conflicting economic indicators in the U.S. to improve procurement foresight Understanding tariff-driven supply chain disruptions in manufacturing sectors, particularly related to steel and aluminum Ways to adapt procurement strategies to shifting North American economic and political fluctuations Utilizing strategic diversification, including nearshoring and friendshoring, to mitigate risk Links: Alan Arcand on LinkedIn Subscribe to This Week in Procurement Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube
Procurement 6 is a short podcast from Art of Procurement that publishes in the Art of Procurement feed every Friday morning at 6am US Eastern Time. Presented by a member of the Art of Procurement team, each episode has 6 short segments that summarize the week in procurement. Segments range from procurement tips to podcast summaries, from details of events to news or overviews of blog posts that capture our attention.
Halfway through their 24-episode journey, the co-hosts of “Buy: The Way...To Purposeful Procurement” pause to assess what they've learned so far about how procurement has and is evolving, and, more importantly, what's ahead for the future. In this reflective episode, Philip Ideson, Rich Ham, and Kelly Barner bring together insights from their recent conversations that confirm a troubling trend in procurement: not only are the P&L-related harms of procurement's flawed incentive structures real, they're also worsening over time. It is time for procurement to course correct. Rich explains why by pointing out an important lesson learned from previous episodes: suppliers have figured out the game. They've learned that winning the initial deal is what matters, because procurement's incentives usually revolve around projected savings rather than actual P&L impact. This discovery has unleashed an avalanche of post-contract margin-grabbing tactics, from billing for non-existent inventory to charging premium rates for basic services during crisis situations, that are diluting procurement value creation. This episode reveals a fundamental paradox within procurement: while they consistently report driving value in multiple ways (sustainability, risk mitigation, social impact, strategic sourcing for M&A targets), procurement is still measured almost exclusively by narrow, often dysfunctional savings definitions. This misalignment doesn't just harm savings outcomes; it may be crippling procurement's ability to deliver value across the business. Finally, this episode sets up the series' pivot from problem diagnosis to solution exploration, as the co-hosts discuss their plans for future episodes to examine how organizations can move beyond “savings” toward comprehensive “value” metrics that more accurately reflect the depth and breadth of procurement's true contribution. Links: Rich Ham on LinkedIn Learn more at FineTuneUs.com
"The way we start looking at every unit of work in a workflow flips from being something that's truly human-led to something that can be increasingly human-reviewed and driven, but not necessarily initiated as a human." Nick Heinzmann, Head of Research at Zip The pressure for procurement to do more with less means innovation is no longer optional… It's necessary for survival and growth. The game changer? Agentic AI: artificial intelligence capable of perceiving, analyzing, and taking action, all with minimal supervision. In this Art of Procurement podcast episode, Philip Ideson interviews Nick Heinzmann, Head of Research at Zip, to dive deep into real-world applications and opportunities that Agentic AI holds for procurement. Nick demystifies this powerful technology, showcasing practical ways it is already being used to automate workflows, solve procurement headaches, and address age-old data challenges. In this episode, Nick covers: How to identify workflows ideally suited to AI-driven automation Understanding what Agentic AI is (and isn't) Procurement use cases where Agentic AI adds immediate value How to overcome traditional roadblocks like data quality concerns Links: Nick Heinzmann on LinkedIn Unleashing the Power of Generative AI in Procurement Subscribe to This Week in Procurement Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube
Procurement 6 is a short podcast from Art of Procurement that publishes in the Art of Procurement feed every Friday morning at 6am US Eastern Time. Presented by a member of the Art of Procurement team, each episode has 6 short segments that summarize the week in procurement. Segments range from procurement tips to podcast summaries, from details of events to news or overviews of blog posts that capture our attention.
“The greatest challenge facing the world today isn't tariffs or monetary uncertainty – it's stagnating productivity.” - Baber Farooq, Senior Vice President, Product Marketing SAP Ariba & SAP Fieldglass Navigating today's interconnected global business landscape has thrust procurement directly into the heart of strategic risk management. Supply chain disruptions, new AI-driven realities, looming ESG regulations, and shifting diversity initiatives pressure leaders to redefine procurement's strategic impact. In this episode, Baber Farooq, Senior Vice President, Product Marketing SAP Ariba & SAP Fieldglass, joins Philip Ideson to unveil pivotal findings from the latest SAP Economist Impact report: “The Resilient Edge: Procurement in an Era of Polycrisis.” Baber shares why procurement leaders everywhere must proactively align their operating models to evolving global challenges – especially in preparation for generative AI, stringent sustainability standards, and shifting supply chain landscapes. Baber covers how to: Navigate escalating supply chain and geopolitical risks Prepare teams for an inevitable AI-driven procurement environment Prioritize ESG initiatives to anticipate regulatory impacts effectively Apply advanced spend analytics to move beyond simple reporting and drive actionable insight Links: Baber Farooq on LinkedIn Optimizing Procurement's Source-to-Pay Strategy Bridging the Confidence Gap to Achieve the Best Business Outcomes Learn more about SAP Subscribe to This Week in Procurement Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube
Procurement 6 is a short podcast from Art of Procurement that publishes in the Art of Procurement feed every Friday morning at 6am US Eastern Time. Presented by a member of the Art of Procurement team, each episode has 6 short segments that summarize the week in procurement. Segments range from procurement tips to podcast summaries, from details of events to news or overviews of blog posts that capture our attention.
Sometimes the most damning evidence about an industry or an organization comes from the inside. In this second installment of “Buy: The Way…To Purposeful Procurement's” deep dive into supplier tactics, two former supply executives continue exposing the ins and outs of the supplier playbook they used on procurement when they were on the other side of the fence. Bob Schreiner, former CIA section chief and G4s operations executive, explains how security guard service providers can obscure margin increases within seemingly reasonable wage adjustments for officers. He also exposes the “position rate variance” tactic, where suppliers charge premium rates for senior guards to fill junior positions, and also how disasters can become margin-grabbing bonanzas for suppliers. Keith Robinson, one of only 150 board-certified entomologists working commercially in North America, exposes seasonal billing schemes in the pest control industry, where compliance rates plummet in colder months, yet billing continues unchanged. Perhaps most shocking is his revelation that 80-90 percent of fogging and fumigation services are often completely avoidable. These true stories from industry insiders point to a troubling reality: procurement is sometimes so focused on up-front savings that they inadvertently signal to suppliers exactly how to game the system. In effect, procurement ends up creating the perfect conditions for the kind of post-contract chicanery that can create significant cost increases for the business over the years, without any change in service scope or delivery. Links: Bob Schreiner on LinkedIn Keith Robinson on LinkedIn Rich Ham on LinkedIn Learn more at FineTuneUs.com
“Procurement officers are going to have to go hunt for the solutions they need and the workflows that can help their business. I do feel like to do this job properly moving forward, it's an offensive job, and you don't have the luxury of sitting back.” - Matt Ziskie, Co-Founder, Bungalow Capital How procurement approaches working with smaller, innovative startups can look quite different than other supplier relationships. From lengthy sales cycles, complex negotiations, and mismatched expectations… these and other roadblocks can crop up in different ways depending on the size, scale, needs, and maturity level of the supplier. Procurement has to understand the unique needs and constraints that each type of supplier brings to the table. In this episode of Art of Procurement, recorded on stage at Catalyst LA, Philip Ideson speaks with Matt Ziskie, Co-Founder of Bungalow Capital, about bridging the gap between enterprise procurement and startup innovation. Matt offers a unique perspective, having worked as a procurement leader at companies like Box and Airbnb, and now as an investor helping startups navigate enterprise sales. In this episode, Matt explains: Why enterprise procurement teams should consider segmented processes when working with startups How to mitigate the "fragility" of startup partnerships without ignoring the tremendous value they can provide The importance of communication and transparency to understanding the real financial impact of enterprise contract terms Practical ways to support startups beyond contract terms, including coaching, references, and protection from scope creep Links: Matt Ziskie on LinkedIn Subscribe to This Week in Procurement Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube
Procurement 6 is a short podcast from Art of Procurement that publishes in the Art of Procurement feed every Friday morning at 6am US Eastern Time. Presented by a member of the Art of Procurement team, each episode has 6 short segments that summarize the week in procurement. Segments range from procurement tips to podcast summaries, from details of events to news or overviews of blog posts that capture our attention.
“I was humbled by the buy-in from the AOP community because, ultimately, people came on trust. They came on the trust that we would deliver what we said we would for our first in-person event.” - Philip Ideson, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Art of Procurement Now that Art of Procurement's first-ever in-person event, Catalyst LA, is in the rear-view mirror, co-hosts Philip Ideson and Kelly Barner sit down for a candid debrief about what it took to launch a new kind of procurement event and how it may impact procurement's approach to learning, community, and collaboration going forward. From their initial vision of creating something different in the procurement event space to the unexpected challenges on the May 6th conference day itself, Philip and Kelly share the behind-the-scenes story of how they transformed their digital-first community into a world-class experience focused on procurement operating model transformation. In this episode, Philip and Kelly reflect on: Why they chose to focus on experience for AOP's first in-person event in the company's 10-year history What the response from procurement executives reveals about the evolution of today's CPOs How pairing attendees based on procurement maturity, organization size, and roles maximized event-based learning Unexpected moments that tested the team's stress levels (but ultimately enhanced the attendee experience!) Links: Subscribe to This Week in Procurement Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube
Procurement 6 is a short podcast from Art of Procurement that publishes in the Art of Procurement feed every Friday morning at 6am US Eastern Time. Presented by a member of the Art of Procurement team, each episode has 6 short segments that summarize the week in procurement. Segments range from procurement tips to podcast summaries, from details of events to news or overviews of blog posts that capture our attention.
Much like the classic plot twist in old thriller movies where the characters realize the threat is coming from inside the house, the most revealing insights about supplier tactics are coming from inside Fine Tune's own house in this eye-opening tenth episode of Buy: The Way…To Purposeful Procurement. Co-host Rich Ham was initially reluctant to tap into his own team's expertise for this podcast series, but the guests' insight and insider knowledge proved too valuable not to share. In this episode, Philip and Rich interview two former supplier-side executives – Alex Carlson and Angie Claeys – who are now working on the opposite side of the fence at Fine Tune, and therefore perfectly positioned to divulge the very tactics they once used against procurement teams. They are, indeed, “poachers turned game wardens.” First, Alex, a former CBRE executive and Wells Fargo procurement leader, explains how janitorial service providers deliberately underbid with limited scopes to help procurement “check the box” on savings goals. Likewise, he's seen elevator maintenance providers bill for preventative maintenance that is never performed. Just because a category of spend is managed on paper doesn't mean it's being actively managed where it counts the most, on the ground. Similarly, in the second half of the episode, Angie Claeys, former VP of Operations at Aramark, lays out the uniform industry's playbook (a notoriously complex category). Here too procurement has to watch out for “presumptive” billing that can cost the business unnecessarily if procurement isn't on top of it. Alex and Angie's experiences on the supplier side point to a troubling dynamic: procurement's incentive structures actually encourage these nefarious supplier behaviors and, by not focusing more on ongoing cost management, procurement is inadvertently signaling to suppliers precisely how they can ‘game the system.' This episode, part one in a two-part series full of insider insights, provides an unfiltered look at the consequences of half-hearted spend management and makes a powerful case for extending procurement's influence beyond the contract. Stay tuned for part two, where Bob Schreiner and Keith Robinson expose similar tactics in security services and pest control. Links: Alex Carlson on LinkedIn Angie Claeys on LinkedIn Rich Ham on LinkedIn Learn more at FineTuneUs.com
“Change is about first having an awareness. Once you have that awareness, then that other party that you're trying to drive that awareness has an understanding. And when that understanding is there, then they're motivated to take action.” Pratik Patel, Director - Category Management - Labor/North America Technology Spend, Mastercard Services procurement can be a rewarding field, but it also has some unique (and fairly complex) challenges that require procurement to develop a strong approach to spend and performance management. In this episode, Philip Ideson speaks with Pratik Patel, Director - Category Management - Labor/North America Technology Spend at Mastercard, about his own experience transforming technology services procurement from a decentralized, inefficient process into a streamlined, data-driven program that delivers unprecedented business value. Pratik walks listeners through: Four key requirements for successful outcome-based contracting How to use lean methodology to identify pain points in the procurement process and build buy-in for transformation Steps to build scalable services procurement processes that create efficiency, stakeholder trust, and value for the business Links: Pratik Patel on LinkedIn Business Waste: The Silent Value Killer W/ Pratik Patel Subscribe to This Week in Procurement Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube
Procurement 6 is a short podcast from Art of Procurement that publishes in the Art of Procurement feed every Friday morning at 6am US Eastern Time. Presented by a member of the Art of Procurement team, each episode has 6 short segments that summarize the week in procurement. Segments range from procurement tips to podcast summaries, from details of events to news or overviews of blog posts that capture our attention.
"I'm a big believer in market intelligence, where we educate the business on the providers and the levers to pull. It's not about just pricing; it's understanding the market." - Amy Fong, Partner, Sourcing and Vendor Management, Everest Group Service categories are experiencing unprecedented change driven by generative AI, which is shifting workforce models and evolving commercial structures across the business. Procurement has to be continuously focused on how these changes are affecting the business. For procurement leaders managing these services categories, navigating this transformation requires new ways to think about areas like contracting, relationship management, and value measurement. In this episode of Art of Procurement, Philip Ideson speaks with Amy Fong, Partner, Sourcing and Vendor Management at Everest Group, about the rapid evolution of business services sourcing. Amy brings unique insights from analyzing thousands of contracts and observing what leading companies are doing to adapt their sourcing strategies and their approach to output- versus outcome-based contracts. In this episode, Amy explains: Why outcome-based contracting remains an aspiration, not a reality, for many companies (and how to change that) How generative AI is fundamentally changing service delivery models and what that means for performance measurement and cost structures What procurement teams must bring to the table to earn their place in strategic make-or-buy decisions Links: Amy Fong on LinkedIn Get $100 off the super early bird ticket for Engage with code AOPFRIEND Subscribe to This Week in Procurement Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube
Procurement 6 is a short podcast from Art of Procurement that publishes in the Art of Procurement feed every Friday morning at 6am US Eastern Time. Presented by a member of the Art of Procurement team, each episode has 6 short segments that summarize the week in procurement. Segments range from procurement tips to podcast summaries, from details of events to news or overviews of blog posts that capture our attention.
Twenty-five years after co-founding Corporate United, the first indirect GPO in the United States, David McCarty points out an inconvenient truth: the very tools procurement once developed to leverage spend are no longer as effective in today's supplier-dominated landscape. In this episode of "Buy: The Way…To Purposeful Procurement," David joins co-hosts Philip Ideson and Rich Ham to discuss the evolution of Group Purchasing Organizations (GPOs), from their early promises of dramatic savings (15-30% back in the early 2000s) to their current state, where GPOs are much more limited in their ability to determine and optimize spend. With refreshing candor and a healthy dose of optimism about today's forward-thinking GPO leaders, David confirms what many procurement leaders have long suspected: most GPOs are less effective today than when they were founded, partly because they've become a kind of checkbox solution that gives procurement a "false sense of security" rather than a true route to optimized expense management. For procurement leaders who are worried that their suppliers might be gaming the GPO system, David provides realistic guidance on how to select the right GPO partner (from looking at contract age and rebidding frequency to volume transparency and customization options). He also points out the key areas where GPOs can still deliver differentiated value, but only if they are leveraged appropriately and procurement puts the time and effort into measuring the value they expect to receive. While there are still benefits to using this model, it's clear, says David, that in 2025, strategic procurement through GPOs requires a more discerning, purpose-driven approach than ever before. Links: David McCarty on LinkedIn Rich Ham on LinkedIn Learn more at FineTuneUs.com
“In a transformation, make your good examples in the beginning, where you think you will make a difference.” - Joel Andersson, Process development and digitalization project leader - indirect procurement, IKEA Building a mature indirect procurement function that's strategically aligned with the rest of the business is a journey filled with problem-solving, stakeholder relationships, and continuous learning. It requires a ‘thinking-on-your-feet' approach and a willingness to adapt as the business and its priorities evolve. For IKEA, this transformation began about five years ago when they moved from a self-organized approach to a centralized, strategic function that drives measurable value beyond just cost savings. In this episode of Art of Procurement, Philip Ideson speaks with Joel Andersson, Process development and digitalization project leader - indirect procurement at IKEA, about the company's indirect procurement transformation journey. Joel shares insights on how his team built credibility through early wins, implemented foundational technology, and is now exploring advanced capabilities including services procurement optimization and generative AI. Listen in to hear: Why establishing visibility through spend analytics was their critical first technology investment before implementing a source-to-pay suite How demonstrating value through early "low-hanging fruit" wins created the business case for expanding the procurement function The unique challenges of indirect procurement compared to direct, particularly around stakeholder management and services procurement Links: Joel Andersson on LinkedIn Subscribe to This Week in Procurement Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube
Procurement 6 is a short podcast from Art of Procurement that publishes in the Art of Procurement feed every Friday morning at 6am US Eastern Time. Presented by a member of the Art of Procurement team, each episode has 6 short segments that summarize the week in procurement. Segments range from procurement tips to podcast summaries, from details of events to news or overviews of blog posts that capture our attention.
"If you can't understand how procurement affects the ultimate end users in your organization, whether it's a state prison, or whether it's a manufacturing facility in Germany, then you're abdicating your role, you're just a robot. And that's why procurement has a superpower." - David Yarkin, CEO, Procurated Long before "DOGE" became a buzzword in government efficiency, the state of Pennsylvania led a pioneering strategic procurement transformation that saved taxpayers millions… $140 million to be exact (and on a recurring basis, at that). The key to their success wasn't just smart buying strategies, but highly effective communication that helped secure executive support and turn resisters into supporters. In this episode of Art of Procurement, Philip Ideson speaks with David Yarkin, CEO of Procurated and former Chief Procurement Officer for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. David brings a unique perspective influenced by his background as a former press secretary and in procurement leadership. In this episode, David shares how he led Pennsylvania to unprecedented savings through strategic sourcing initiatives and a powerful approach to communication: How to build support for procurement transformation, even against significant resistance, while also staying aligned with company leadership Why supplier performance management should be a high priority for procurement and how a lack of visibility into early warning signs can lead to major failures How procurement leaders can break through organizational barriers by getting out from behind their desks and experiencing operations firsthand Links: David Yarkin on LinkedIn Pennsylvania Did DOGE Before Elon Musk Made It Cool Subscribe to This Week in Procurement Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube
Procurement 6 is a short podcast from Art of Procurement that publishes in the Art of Procurement feed every Friday morning at 6am US Eastern Time. Presented by a member of the Art of Procurement team, each episode has 6 short segments that summarize the week in procurement. Segments range from procurement tips to podcast summaries, from details of events to news or overviews of blog posts that capture our attention.
More than one hundred years after John C. Dinsmore wrote in Purchasing Principles and Practices that “there should be no great chasm between the board of directors who represent the stockholders whose money is spent and the person who does the spending,” procurement is still struggling with the same fundamental problem of misalignment. In the eighth episode of “Buy: The Way…To Purposeful Procurement,” Philip Ideson, Kelly Barner, and Rich Ham, CEO at Fine Tune, convene to grapple with the insights – and even a few uncomfortable truths – uncovered in their recent conversations with procurement veterans Rob Hills and Kate Vitasek (episodes 6 and 7, respectively). Rich, Phil, and Kelly challenge conventional wisdom about cost avoidance (is it just “funny money,” after all?), the gap between negotiation and execution, and why procurement's performance metrics have remained largely unchanged over the years, despite their obvious flaws. This conversation challenges procurement to think about the practices, processes, or assumptions that no longer serve them, and it also sets the stage for upcoming episodes that will begin to explore tangible solutions to these and other challenge areas. Tune in as the co-hosts gear up for their upcoming discussion with David McCarty and prepare to tackle new definitions of procurement value that could finally liberate procurement from its self-imposed “savings jail.” The path to purposeful procurement is becoming clearer with each episode…
“I understand that tension between procurement and legal could happen, but it really is a disservice to each other. It's like two brothers fighting. It doesn't make any sense.” - Paul Bagley, Director of Commercial Contracting, Acosta Group Procurement and legal often find themselves at odds, despite the fact that they're usually working toward the same goals for the business. We can usually trace this tension back to a few key areas like contract cycle times, risk management approaches, decision-making processes, or contract negotiations. But, when procurement and legal are true collaborators and combine their expertise, they can create measurably better outcomes for the business. To get to that point, both sides need to get to the root of the tension and develop workable processes and expectations that leverage the strengths of both teams without creating bottlenecks or roadblocks… for anyone. In this episode of Art of Procurement, Philip Ideson speaks with Paul Bagley, Director of Commercial Contracting at Acosta Group. Paul has a unique perspective as both an attorney and an experienced procurement professional. Because of that, he is able to directly challenge the notion that conflict between procurement and legal is inevitable, and he advocates instead for a more collaborative, supportive approach between the two. In this episode, Paul explains: How effective category management is the key to creating alignment between procurement, legal, and business stakeholders The importance of empowering procurement with clear contract guidelines and fallback provisions so legal doesn't become unnecessarily overinvolved Best practices for working with outside council or third-party legal teams Practical ways procurement can level-up their knowledge about legal's role, improve their contracts, and stay current on what risks to look out for Links: Paul Bagley on LinkedIn The Future of Digital Contract Management Subscribe to This Week in Procurement Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube
Procurement 6 is a short podcast from Art of Procurement that publishes in the Art of Procurement feed every Friday morning at 6am US Eastern Time. Presented by a member of the Art of Procurement team, each episode has 6 short segments that summarize the week in procurement. Segments range from procurement tips to podcast summaries, from details of events to news or overviews of blog posts that capture our attention.
“You're not going to be able to completely eliminate your tariff exposure. There are three frames under which to think about tariffs: How will you mitigate in the short term? How will you think about it in the medium term from your customer's perspective and pricing? And how will you think about a long-term realignment of supply chains?” - Richeek Maitra, Director, AlixPartners With tariffs dominating the news cycle and sending global markets on a wild ride, procurement is scrambling to figure out the practical implications of tariffs on global supply chains and their own organization's procurement strategy. In this timely Art of Procurement podcast episode, host Philip Ideson welcomes Richeek Maitra, a Director at AlixPartners and an expert on tariffs and their effects on the global supply chain and procurement operations. As Richeek advises, procurement shouldn't (over) react to every single news story about tariffs, but everyone should be planning both short- and long-term strategies to safeguard their organizations from negative tariff-related fallout while still maintaining a competitive advantage. In short, procurement shouldn't act as if the sky is falling, but they shouldn't stick their heads in the sand and pretend it's just business as usual either. In this episode, Richeek explains: How procurement should interpret new tariff announcements and estimate potential impacts on specific spend categories and supplier relationships A practical response framework to tariffs that includes immediate tactical moves (like duty engineering) to long-term supply chain restructuring How to adopt a rational approach to China sourcing decisions that balances global trends with company-specific circumstances Links: Richeek Maitra on LinkedIn Subscribe to This Week in Procurement Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube
Procurement 6 is a short podcast from Art of Procurement that publishes in the Art of Procurement feed every Friday morning at 6am US Eastern Time. Presented by a member of the Art of Procurement team, each episode has 6 short segments that summarize the week in procurement. Segments range from procurement tips to podcast summaries, from details of events to news or overviews of blog posts that capture our attention.
In this seventh episode of the “Buy: The Way…To Purposeful Procurement” podcast series, Art of Procurement's Philip Ideson and Fine Tune CEO Rich Ham take a deep dive into procurement history with Kate Vitasek, Faculty of Graduate and Executive Education at the University of Tennessee, and architect of the groundbreaking Vested methodology. With over 15 years of research and eight books dedicated to buyer-supplier strategic partnerships, Kate shares her insight into how procurement has traditionally tended to extract value from suppliers through power plays, as opposed to creating value through collaboration and alignment around mutually ‘Vested' interests. She traces the historical roots of this dysfunction back to the 1980s with the rise of the Kraljic Matrix and Michael Porter's competitive strategies, both of which further embedded power-based negotiations into procurement's DNA. Drawing inspiration from the Vested approach, Kate: Advocates for moving away from transaction-based buyer-seller relationships to outcome-based strategic partnerships where both parties have a genuine vested interest in one another's mutual success, and Explains this dynamic by sharing examples of organizations that have transformed their supplier relationships by transforming how they measure success, structure contracts, and distribute value across their supplier network. This episode challenges procurement to recognize when they're spinning their wheels with outdated supplier management tactics and encourages them to reimagine what's possible when buyers and suppliers align their interests toward genuine value creation and purpose-driven procurement. Links: Kate Vitasek on LinkedIn Rich Ham on LinkedIn Learn more at FineTuneUs.com
“Procurement isn't just a cost center; it's a true value driver. So when they're recruiting, CPOs and heads of procurement are looking for someone who's current and who is bringing ideas to the table. They're not just hiring buyers anymore.” - Derek Lutz, Founder and CEO, Lean Six Search As economic and geopolitical instability sends ripples of doubt across global supply chains, the question of which procurement skills will remain valuable, as well as which ones are becoming obsolete, has never been more relevant. In this episode, host Philip Ideson talks about the evolving challenges of procurement talent acquisition and retention with Deerek Lutz, Founder and CEO of Lean Six Search. Derek has filled roles in over 50 countries (and has himself travelled to 173), and he offers a truly global perspective on procurement talent trends. Derek shares his perspective on the shifting nature of procurement leadership, as well as what makes candidates stand out in today's job market. His insights include commentary on: The most resilient (and recession-proof) procurement jobs that remain in high demand, even in uncertain markets The ways CPOs are looking beyond traditional backgrounds to level-up their teams, including recruiting from adjacent functions like finance, sales, or operations The evolution of procurement's most valuable skills, and storytelling and commercial innovation have eclipsed technical experience Links: Derek Lutz on LinkedIn Subscribe to This Week in Procurement Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube
Procurement 6 is a short podcast from Art of Procurement that publishes in the Art of Procurement feed every Friday morning at 6am US Eastern Time. Presented by a member of the Art of Procurement team, each episode has 6 short segments that summarize the week in procurement. Segments range from procurement tips to podcast summaries, from details of events to news or overviews of blog posts that capture our attention.
“Transformation is not just about how it's going to impact procurement, but about how it's going to impact the entire enterprise through the efforts that will be happening within the procurement function.” - Natasha Gurevich, Founder & CEO, Candor Procurement Going through procurement transformation without the right approach in place and without support from the business is a bit like sailing into a storm… with a blindfolded crew. Your chances of making it to the other side in better shape than you started are slim to none. In this Art of Procurement podcast episode, co-hosts Philip Ideson and Kelly Barner speak with returning AOP guest Natasha Gurevich. Natasha is a former CPO of Nike and Salesforce, and she is currently the Founder and CEO at Candor Procurement. This wealth of procurement leadership makes Natasha the perfect mainstage guest at Art of Procurement's upcoming live, in-person event – Catalyst LA – taking place on May 6, 2025, in Los Angeles, California. In this episode, Natasha explains why Catalyst LA promises to be one of the most unique and value-generating procurement events she's ever attended and what attendees can expect to take away from the event. Natasha also discusses: The difference between business-as-usual changes and full-scale transformation, and why transformation is such an urgent priority for so many procurement teams this year How CPOs and CFOs look at transformation differently, including ways to bridge that perception gap Why rethinking the current operating model is top of mind for most procurement leaders right now, and what Catalyst LA can do to help Links: Catalyst LA - May 6, 2025 Subscribe to This Week in Procurement Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube Leading Through Change with Former Fortune 100 CPO Natasha Gurevich Natasha Gurevich on LinkedIn
Procurement 6 is a short podcast from Art of Procurement that publishes in the Art of Procurement feed every Friday morning at 6am US Eastern Time. Presented by a member of the Art of Procurement team, each episode has 6 short segments that summarize the week in procurement. Segments range from procurement tips to podcast summaries, from details of events to news or overviews of blog posts that capture our attention.
It's been a long, winding road that has brought procurement to its current state of flawed incentive structures and measurement challenges. Rob Hills, CEO of Hills Advisory Services and former Deloitte partner, has seen it all unfold firsthand. But recognizing problems and how they were created is only half of the battle. With over three decades of procurement experience that stretches back all the way to the formative days of strategic sourcing at A.T. Kearney in the mid-1990s, Rob has seen the classic procurement dilemma play out more times than he would have liked. CPOs “plant a victory flag” on savings while CFOs fail to see procurement's win materialize on the P&L. In the sixth episode of “Buy: The Way…To Purposeful Procurement,” co-hosts Rich Ham and Philip Ideson speak with Rob about this measurement gap, how it has evolved over time, and why procurement's measurement and incentive systems have remained largely unchanged over the years, despite their obvious flaws. Rob also offers a unique historical perspective of the disconnect between negotiation and execution, especially as procurement grapples with balancing increasing workloads and larger portfolios of spend with shrinking resources. Rob, Phil, and Rich also explore potential innovative thinking about incentives, metrics, and process design that could finally address the longstanding challenges in demonstrating procurement's full purpose, value, and impact for the business. Links: Rob Hills on LinkedIn Rich Ham on LinkedIn Learn more at FineTuneUs.com
“We're seeing data around the acceleration of procurement having to ‘do more with less' and this is compounding year over year, so at some point, procurement's operating model is going to break.” – Philip Ideson, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Art of Procurement Procurement teams are facing unprecedented and compounding pressure to “do more with less,” and, because of that, it's more important than ever for procurement's operating model to evolve and mature to meet these growing demands. In this episode, co-hosts Kelly Barner and Philip Ideson explore why procurement operating models have become such a top-of-mind topic in 2025 and what this reveals about process change, talent needs, and digital transformation. They examine how procurement's organizational approach has changed over the years and the pendulum swings we've seen – from decentralized buying to centralized control, then from center-led and now to a kind of “invisible” procurement model. In this episode, Phil and Kelly also discuss: The major trends and changes in procurement operating models and how, at each stage, this has affected procurement's reputation and role in the business How to create more capacity by maturing your operating model and the different stages of operational maturity The CPOs role in establishing a strong operating model, including how and when to leverage orchestration platforms and AI Links: Positioning Procurement for Strategic Success in 2025 w/ Samir Khushalani Mastering the First 100 Days as a CPO w/ Darshan Deshmukh The Hackett Group's 2025 Key Issues Study: Insights on Procurement Priorities, Technology, and Operating Models w/ Chris Sawchuk Subscribe to This Week in Procurement Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube
Procurement 6 is a short podcast from Art of Procurement that publishes in the Art of Procurement feed every Friday morning at 6am US Eastern Time. Presented by a member of the Art of Procurement team, each episode has 6 short segments that summarize the week in procurement. Segments range from procurement tips to podcast summaries, from details of events to news or overviews of blog posts that capture our attention.
“We are seeing a labor-for-technology swap as organizations become much more dependent and scalable, and what's driving that scale and that productivity is technology.” – Christopher Sawchuk, Principal and Global Procurement Advisory Practice Leader at The Hackett Group Procurement is no stranger to change. Over the last decade or more, procurement has seen significant shifts in priorities, in their role in the business, in how they are measured, and even in their daily processes and workflows. This change has brought countless new opportunities for impact, but it has also brought disruption, uncertainty, and challenges. In this episode, Philip Ideson speaks with long-time procurement colleague and regular AOP guest Christopher Sawchuck, Principal and Global Procurement Advisory Practice Leader at The Hackett Group. Chris shares key findings from The Hackett Group's 2025 Key Issues Report, which reveals how procurement leaders are responding to today's most pressing challenges, like balancing increased workloads with lean teams and a growing demand for technology investment. In this episode, Phil and Chris discuss: The evolution of procurement in the 21st Century, from basic supply assurance to cost management and now to broader value value creation and the demands this puts on CPOs to redesign their operating models The critical gap between increasing workload and decrease in staffing and how procurement is leveraging technology to keep their heads above water The ways AI and automation will transform procurement within the next 3-5 years, driving both efficiency and effectiveness gains Links: Christopher Sawchuk on LinkedIn Subscribe to This Week in Procurement Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube
Procurement 6 is a short podcast from Art of Procurement that publishes in the Art of Procurement feed every Friday morning at 6am US Eastern Time. Presented by a member of the Art of Procurement team, each episode has 6 short segments that summarize the week in procurement. Segments range from procurement tips to podcast summaries, from details of events to news or overviews of blog posts that capture our attention.
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