Podcasts about Procurement

Most companies aren't struggling with procurement because they're spending too little on technology. They're struggling because they're building intelligence on top of fragmented data, disconnected workflows, and outdated operating models. In this episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott W. Luton and Karin Bursa are joined by Mark Schenecker, VP of Manufacturing Industries at Coupa, for a data-driven conversation on the future of direct procurement. Drawing from Coupa's State of Direct Procurement 2026 report, Mark unpacks why procurement leaders are pulling away from the pack and why AI alone isn't the differentiator many organizations think it is. From fragmented data and disconnected workflows to the growing importance of supplier visibility and risk intelligence, the discussion explores what separates companies that react to disruption from those that anticipate it. Together, they explore why clean, connected data must come before AI, why leading organizations have moved beyond price-only sourcing decisions, and why procurement deserves a strategic seat at the table. Jump into the conversation: (00:00) Intro (01:04) Why procurement is becoming a strategic competitive advantage  (01:17) Moving away from a 1986 approach to procurement  (02:41) Meet Mark Schenecker: Three decades of supply chain innovation (07:13) Behind the State of Direct Procurement 2026 report (08:01) The critical leap from generative AI to agentic AI  (09:13) How a digital front door simplifies the employee experience (13:46) The $16 million cost of operating on fragmented infrastructure  (17:02) Why sophisticated analytics on messy data just produces more noise  (21:36) The three-pillar framework: Infrastructure and foundation first  (26:17) Moving beyond unit price to build supply chain resiliency  (28:25) Shifting from passive reporting to active decision intelligence  (30:09) Closing the procurement influence deficit at the executive table  (35:08) Breaking down the hidden silos between direct and indirect spend  (39:36) Real-world outcomes from Albemarle, Glencore, and ADM  (48:20) Key takeaways, maturity assessments, and closing thoughts Additional Links & Resources: Connect with Mark Schenecker: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schenecker/ Learn more about Coupa Software: https://www.coupa.com/ Learn more about our hosts: https://supplychainnow.com/about Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.com Watch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here: https://supplychainnow.com/program/supply-chain-now Subscribe to Supply Chain Now on your favorite platform: https://supplychainnow.com/join Work with us! Download Supply Chain Now's NEW Media Kit: https://supplychainnow.com/media-kit/ WEBINAR- AI that moves at velocity: Cut through latency with agentic workflows: https://bit.ly/4x4626t This episode was hosted by Scott Luton and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/infrastructure-gap-direct-procurement-at-breaking-point-1600 The content in this episode, including all audio, videos, visuals, and graphics, is the property of Supply Chain Now and is protected by copyright law. Unauthorized use, reproduction, distribution, modification, or re-uploading of this content in any form is strictly prohibited without explicit written permission from Supply Chain Now.For licensing inquiries or permissions, please contact us at production@supplychainnow.com© 2026 Supply Chain Now. All rights reserved. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Crisis in Air Force Procurement. Guest: General Blaine Holt and Gordon Chang. General Blaine Holt critiques the broken US procurement system, specifically the Air Force's contradictory stance on retiring the A-10 Warthog while keeping the B-52 bomber for a century. He advocates for reform to break contractor monopolies, allowing the military to innovate faster and field cheaper equipment. 81690

Preview for Later Today: Guest: General Blaine Holt. General Blaine Holt advocates for urgent military procurement reform. He highlights the shift from rapid wartime innovation to decades-long delays, blaming a "mafioso machine" of lobbyists and bureaucrats for staggering costs and inefficiencies.1922 France

"I measure success by the number of executives that come to us before they make decisions." - Gary Mizhir, Senior Director Head of Innovation & Excellence, FIS The pressure to move from tactical cost savings to strategic business impact is growing, especially as AI, data, and new business needs emerge faster than ever.  But what does it mean to drive innovation with AI and still keep procurement a credible and sought-after partner at the executive table? In this episode, Philip Ideson speaks with Gary Mizhir, Senior Director, Head of Innovation and Excellence at FIS. Gary brings a holistic perspective, shaped by experiences in the Navy, consulting, product management, and years leading Fortune 500 supply chain and procurement teams. His take on the future, from paradigm-shifting AI to building trust with stakeholders and translating procurement's value into corporate terms, offers practical guidance for CPOs and their teams. In this episode, Gary discusses: -Why we need to challenge traditional procurement roles  -How to use AI to redefine value and operating models -The importance of tying procurement's ROI directly to corporate outcomes  -How to build trusted partnerships with internal stakeholders  -Rethinking process design by experiencing it through your stakeholders' eyes   Links: Gary Mizhir on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-mizhir-b923344/  Subscribe to the AOP Newsletter: https://resources.artofprocurement.com/art-of-procurement-podcast-subscribe  Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ArtofProcurement   

In this exclusive Manufacturing Talk Radio, we look ahead to a critical conversation centered on the latest ISM Supply Chain Planning Forecast. This comprehensive outlook serves as a major barometer for commercial confidence, offering a dual-sector perspective on where the economy is headed, how corporate leaders are budgeting, and how businesses are adjusting their operational strategies. Join us as we break down the overarching trends from this pivotal forecast and discuss what these insights mean for the broader economy moving forward. About this Episode's Guests Susan Spence is currently serving as ISM Manufacturing PMI Chair and is a winner of the J. Shipman Gold Medal Award. Her distinguished career includes serving as vice president of the Sourcing & Procurement group at FedEx Corp. With 28 years of experience at United Technologies Corporation (UTC) in leadership roles across supply management and operations, Spence offers unparalleled insight into manufacturing trends and economic activity. Steven Miller is currently serving as ISM Services PMI Chair and is an accomplished supply chain management executive. His distinguished career includes 40 years of experience in procurement, supply chain management, IT implementation and operations, and operations management consulting at Disney, P.F. Chang's, Accenture, and Kearney. With 40 years of experience in procurement, supply chain management, IT implementation and operations, Miller offers unparalleled insight into services trends and economic activity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The AI revolution, shifting geopolitical alliances, and a new generation in the workforce. Mike Soutar, author of Next Gen CEO and star from the BBC's The Apprentice describes these as "the three storms". What does this mean for the next generation of leaders? Mike has 60 lessons, but here are just two: it's a leader's job to maintain momentum; and people don't follow pessimists. Plus, why procurement and supply chain professionals are in a unique position to lead organisations in an uncertain, fast-moving world. From creating space for constructive dissent to building culture in remote organisations, this revealing conversation with CIPS CEO Ben Farrell is a fascinating insight into the future of leadership. This episode is sponsored by Vantify, the vantage point for connected compliance. Find out more at Vantify.com  Related links... Where to buy: Mike Soutar's new book, Next Gen CEO What are your views on future leadership traits? Contribute to The Great Conversation Check out the GitLab Handbook mentioned by Mike Leadership training: Book your place on the CIPS behavioural leadership training course

Procurement Says No is now sponsored by Kodiak Hub - The SRM suite that makes you super smart.  With a nicely fitting suit.In episode 45 Rich and Ed have a super dooper packed podcast - including some exciting World Cup procurement facts to share; techy news from Zip (cutting and pasting is bad); Coupa (buying everyone but not necessarily integrating them); Google (a lovely review of your favourite podcast); Berrow's Beige procurement book (yes, beige); and our very own AI procurement bot - COMING SOON.And we said we'd never do politics, so have lots to discuss and rant about including:NHS carbon procurement targets and value-based procurement guidelinesUK defence industry enquiry stuffEU defence procurement easing and harmonising (what?)UK buys Russian fuel shockSo does EU shockUS economic growth and slavery tariffsAND we have another Secret Buyer - this time buying luxury goods in Edinburgh.AND we have the welcome return of Ask Rich & Ed - where we help our listener(s) negotiate with Trump on bombs and peace; and what to if your job is all about carbon reduction but your company is producing 120,000,000 plastic bottles which end up dumped in the sea.So much to talk about, so little time until the end of the World Cup, and indeed world (unless peace break out). GOAAAALLLLLLL.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/procurement-says-no--5886102/support.

⬥EPISODE NOTES⬥ At Infosecurity Europe 2026, Sean Martin sits down with Rik Ferguson, Vice President of Security Intelligence at Forescout, a day before Rik Ferguson takes the keynote stage with a deliberately provocative title: "Post-Quantum Cryptography Is a Way Off. We Can Wait, Can't We?" The honest answer, he says, is that waiting is a choice, and it is the wrong one. The threat is neither theoretical nor distant. Rik Ferguson walks through why the infrastructure for harvest-now, decrypt-later attacks already exists, pointing to Salt Typhoon, to BGP rerouting by unfriendly nations, and to intelligence agencies stockpiling encrypted data they cannot read yet but expect to read later. With NIST placing Q Day around 2035, Google pointing at 2029, and IBM's fault-tolerant Starling system slated for 2029, the distance between "someday" and "the hardware you purchase this year" has effectively closed. Sean Martin keeps steering the conversation back to the business. The parallel both of them keep returning to is Y2K, which became a non-event precisely because people did the work. The quantum question, Rik Ferguson argues, is not only about security or resilience, it is a budget and procurement question: which data has a long enough shelf life to still matter when it is finally decrypted? Pharmaceutical R&D, merger and acquisition strategy, sovereign debt positions, and legal negotiations all live under an assumed umbrella of privacy that encryption may not hold. The most unsettling point is what a harvest-now attack does to incident response. There is no time-bounding. Adversaries could have been collecting for a decade, and the first sign of trouble arrives only when the data is weaponized or made public, leaving the investigation disabled by chronology alone. Rik Ferguson closes with a message that reaches past cryptography itself: as attacks move toward autonomy, defense has to as well, which is why he wants the industry to move past Assume Breach and into Assume Autonomy. ⬥HOST⬥ Sean Martin, CISSP -- Co-Founder, ITSPmagazine & Studio C60 | Host, Redefining CyberSecurity Podcast & Music Evolves Podcast | https://www.seanmartin.com/ ⬥GUEST⬥ Rik Ferguson, Vice President of Security Intelligence, Forescout | https://www.linkedin.com/in/rikferguson/ ⬥RESOURCES⬥ Infosecurity Europe 2026 is taking place June 2-4, 2026 | ExCeL London -- Follow our coverage: https://www.itspmagazine.com/infosecurity-europe-2026-infosec-london-cybersecurity-event-coverage The Future of Cybersecurity Newsletter | https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7108625890296614912/ Redefining CyberSecurity Podcast | https://www.seanmartin.com/redefining-cybersecurity-podcast On Location | https://www.itspmagazine.com/on-location ⬥KEYWORDS⬥ sean martin, rik ferguson, infosecurity europe, post-quantum cryptography, pqc, harvest now decrypt later, hndl, q day, quantum computing, encryption, salt typhoon, quantum agility, crypto agility, post-quantum migration, procurement, on location, itspmagazine Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, hosts Ted Stank and Tom Goldsby welcome Wally Shaw, CEO of Red Stag Fulfillment, to explore how a purpose-built 3PL is carving out a competitive edge by focusing on what others avoid.Shaw shares how Red Stag built its model around big, bulky products—an overlooked segment of the fulfillment market—and why that specialization enables stronger service performance, tighter quality control, and meaningful differentiation. He also discusses the company's distinctive approach to service guarantees, including zero tolerance for shrinkage and financial accountability when service levels are missed.The conversation spans how leading 3PLs are navigating today's most pressing challenges: AI adoption and automation readiness, geopolitical uncertainty, tariffs, and shifting global sourcing patterns. Shaw also offers perspective on why customer selectivity and long-term decision making  can lead to better outcomes for both providers and brands.The episode was recorded virtually on June 9, 2026.Related links:Complete the Annual 3PL Study survey for 2027Register for virtual SCM Academies in Leadership, Finance, Procurement, and TechnologySave the date for the Fall Supply Chain Forum, Nov. 10–12 Download free white papers from UT experts Become a GSCI partner to learn, network, and recruit with the top supply chain education institution in North America  Join the Advanced Supply Chain Collaborative to explore advanced concepts in SCM with top industry experts and scholars   Fill out Tom Goldsby's survey on warehouse automationFollow GSCI on LinkedIn   Subscribe to GSCI's monthly newsletter    Read the latest news and insights from GSCI Text the Tennessee on Supply Chain Management team!

The Wall Street Journal reported that a $13 billion AI startup is betting on cheaper alternatives to OpenAI and Anthropic. Enterprises are shifting from pilots to production and seeking to control inference costs across support, copilots, and content workflows. Open source options such as Meta's Llama and models from Mistral enable targeted deployments with retrieval and fine-tuning to improve cost predictability. Procurement teams weigh SLAs, latency, security certifications, data retention, indemnity, and regional hosting against premium providers. Vendors distribute through AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud marketplaces, while access to Nvidia accelerators influences performance and cost. Pricing includes per token and per seat plans, with some platforms routing simple tasks to lower cost models and reserving premium models for complex work. Founders are advised to build evaluation harnesses, track cost per outcome, and negotiate for predictable terms.Learn more on this news by visiting us at: https://greyjournal.net/news/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Provider of the Week episode of the ProcureTech Insider podcast, host Jyothi Hartley speaks with Darshan Deshmukh, President of ProcureAbility. ProcureAbility is a leading procurement and supply chain services provider, offering advisory, managed services, digital solutions, and talent support to help organizations drive measurable value and build sustainable procurement capabilities. In this episode, Darshan shares how ProcureAbility has evolved from a traditional consulting model into a full-service partner, one that not only identifies opportunities but also helps clients execute and sustain results over time. From their focus on procurement-specialized talent to their emphasis on becoming a seamless extension of client teams, this discussion highlights what it takes for high-performing procurement teams to move beyond strategy and deliver consistent outcomes and value to the business. In this episode, you'll learn: -How ProcureAbility structures its services across advisory, managed services, staffing, and digital -Why talent specialization is a core differentiator in procurement delivery -How they measure success through both traditional KPIs and "client implied promise" -The growing importance of revenue enablement and supply chain resilience as procurement metrics -What procurement leaders should expect as AI reshapes service delivery models Links:  Darshan Deshmukh on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darshan-deshmukh/ AOP Provider Directory - ProcureAbility: https://artofprocurement.com/provider-directory/procureability  Subscribe to the AOP Newsletter: https://resources.artofprocurement.com/art-of-procurement-podcast-subscribe  Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ArtofProcurement   

AI tools can make learning design faster and more creative, but the moment a tool touches prompts, uploads, learner responses, employee information, or system integrations, approvals can feel like a hard stop. We talk through the real shift many instructional designers are living right now: AI tool selection is no longer only a learning design decision. It's also a technology decision, a security and data privacy decision, and a procurement decision tied to contracts, licensing, and long-term support.We walk step-by-step through what IT, security, and procurement actually care about, and how to stop showing up late to the conversation with vague requests. You'll hear four common traps that turn approvals into frustration, plus a simple reframe that makes collaboration easier: bring clarity before you bring urgency. We also keep the instructional designer's core responsibility front and center, connecting any AI tool to learning purpose, performance, practice, feedback, and transfer so “shiny” doesn't outrank “useful.”To make it practical, we share a one-page AI approval brief you can use before you recommend, request, or pilot a tool. It covers five essentials: the use case, the audience, the data involved, the risk tier with guardrails, and the value with a clear evaluation plan. We also point you to the AI Approval Compass companion resource and end with a checkpoint challenge you can complete in minutes. Subscribe, share with a colleague, and leave a review if you want more AI-ready workflows that stay human and responsible.

"You need to get visibility into the AI tokens, what workloads they are being used for, which users are using them, and what department they're coming out of. Most organizations don't have that visibility yet. They just get the bill." - Jon Winsett, CEO, NPI AI tokens have gone from a niche curiosity to a major line item practically overnight.  The cost models are new, spending is climbing at breakneck speed, and most enterprises can't actually see what's driving their biggest AI bills. For anyone tasked with managing technology spend, this is mission-critical territory for the rest of 2026 and beyond. In this episode, Philip Ideson speaks with Jon Winsett, CEO of NPI, to unpack everything procurement leaders need to know about AI tokens. Jon and his team advise some of the world's largest companies on navigating this new category and share what's working (and what's not). From budgeting pitfalls to guarding against runaway costs, Jon explains the challenges and opportunities associated with AI tokens. Jon tackles questions like: Where are organizations overspending? How do you negotiate when the rules keep changing? What practical steps can CPOs take right now?  Listen in for a pragmatic, insider's view on: -How and where rapidly rising AI token costs are hitting enterprise budgets   -Ways to build practical guardrails and learn from early missteps   -How to use open source models and contract negotiation as real levers   -Why current consumption-based pricing is likely to change again soon     Links: Jon Winsett | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-winsett-0734b/  Enterprise AI Pulse Study: https://arcana-research.com/study/npi - For Fortune 1000 enterprises that want to participate Governing AI Token Spend - A Five-Layer Defense Framework: https://www.npifinancial.com/knowledge-center/white-paper-governing-ai-token-spend/ - Whitepaper Learn more about NPI: https://www.npifinancial.com/  Subscribe to the AOP Newsletter: https://resources.artofprocurement.com/art-of-procurement-podcast-subscribe  Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ArtofProcurement   

The Department of Homeland Security is pushing cyber modernization across civilian agencies through CISA programs such as zero trust implementation, Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation, and Trusted Internet Connections 3.0. Budget requests have kept CISA funding near $3 billion, supporting multi-year investments in detection, response, and workforce. Leadership from Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, CISA Director Jen Easterly, and DHS CIO Eric Hysen emphasizes joint defense, binding directives, and cross-component coordination. Workforce constraints persist despite the Cyber Talent Management System, prompting greater use of training and managed services. Acquisition relies on vehicles like FirstSource III, PACTS III, GSA MAS, NASA SEWP, and CDM DEFEND task orders. Compliance requirements now center on OMB secure software guidance, NIST control baselines, FIPS 140-3, and FedRAMP. Vendors that map capabilities to CISA's Zero Trust Maturity Model and prepare attestations and authorizations can better align to agency buying priorities.Learn more on this news by visiting us at: https://greyjournal.net/news/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this engaging interview, Scott Conti, CEO of BB Merchant Services, shares insights into the world of merchant services, emphasizing the importance of transparency, fair market value, and strategic procurement. Discover how BB Merchant Services helps organizations optimize payment processing costs without switching providers and learn about the evolving landscape of payment solutions.

Bill Horan and Riya Pantel discuss food insecurity - which many don't even realize is a problem on Long Island.  They speak with Robert LaBarbara, the VP for Procurement & Supply Chain Oversight, at Long Island Cares, the Harry Chapin Regional Food Bank, a non-profit that benefits people dealing with food insecurity.

"Don't overvalue the top procurement spot, and don't undervalue the tools and the budget required. It's an ecosystem." - Stephen Rauf, Global Head of Indirect Procurement, Zoetis Delivering more value with fewer resources is an easy thing to want, but tough to execute consistently over time… unless procurement rethinks their entire approach, from operating model and team structure to technology and stakeholder influence. In this episode, Philip Ideson speaks with Stephen Rauf, Global Head of Indirect Procurement at Zoetis, the world's leading animal health company. Stephen unpacks how he has steered a lean, high-impact team through transformation, why "build vs. buy" is a weekly question, and what it takes to create true business partnership – while surfacing next-gen use cases for AI.  In this episode, Stephen shares his point of view on: -Building nimble procurement teams that can punch above their weight -Moving from managing spend to shaping demand with stakeholders -Using tech – and especially AI – to enable rather than overwhelm -Deciding when to build internal strength vs. partnering for expertise -Measuring a broader spectrum of procurement value, not just cost savings   Links: Stephen Rauf on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenrauf/  Subscribe to the AOP Newsletter: https://resources.artofprocurement.com/art-of-procurement-podcast-subscribe  Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ArtofProcurement   

Send us Fan MailToday's episode is a Q&A grab bag, packed with the best questions that have come in so far this year. These are the real issues designers are navigating right now, and while some of the questions are too specific to stretch into a full deep dive episode on their own, together they create a powerful, practical conversation.This is the episode to listen to if you want clear direction, language you can use with clients, and smart business moves you can implement this week to protect your time, your profit, and your peace.A major theme you'll hear throughout this Q&A is this: when things get quiet, it is usually easier to create momentum with the relationships you already have than it is to start from zero with strangers. Nurturing current clients, reactivating past clients, and staying connected to referral partners is often the fastest and healthiest path back to a full pipeline.In this episode, we cover:What to do when the phone goes quiet and your pipeline slows down, without spirallingHow to create momentum by nurturing current clients before chasing brand new leadsHow to reactivate past clients in a way that feels confident, not desperateWhat to say when referral partners are your fastest path to new projectsHow to have the tariff and price increase conversation with clarity and credibilityHow to raise prices without losing the client by presenting options and a planHow to respond to the “double dipping” objection and explain your procurement model with confidenceWhy scope creep is often a pricing and process problem, not a client problemHow to create boundaries that actually hold through clearer deliverables, approvals, and revision limitsWhat AI is actually worth your time in a design business, and what to keep off limitsWhy some small firms are quietly closing and what the firms who survive are doing differentlyHow to build a business that does not burn you out, through systems, capacity, and boundariesKey takeawaysSlow seasons are normal, but spiralling is optional. Switch into CEO mode and take strategic action.Your fastest wins often come from the people who already know you: current clients, past clients, and referral partners.Clear communication protects profit. Most client pushback starts where your process is unclear.Procurement is a service. When you explain it like a service, clients stop treating it like a transaction.Scope creep thrives in vague processes. Build fee structures and approvals that prevent it from starting.AI is an assistant, not a decision maker. Use it for drafts and systems, not creative direction or exact details.Burnout is a business model problem, not a personal weakness. Structure creates freedom.Mentioned in the episodeIf you have not embraced AI yet, do not worry. You are not behind, you are just busy. We have a beginner's guide to implementing ChatGPT and Claude available in our shop. It walks you through how to set up your brand voice, set up your bots, and get started using AI in your business in a way that actually makes sense for interior designers.In just one focused hour, we'll dive into whatever you need most—pricing strategies, client management, attracting high-end clients or building repeat business. You'll get clarity, strategy, and expert advice based on my 27+ years of running a thriving, seven-figure design firm.This is your chance to get real answers to the questions you've been dying to ask—from someone who's actually been there.Book your session as you need it—no strings attached. Step-by-step guides, AI Chat GPT Made Simple and Claude Made Simple, start at the very beginning and then walk you through building your own role-based AI assistants, complete with prompts, checklists, and plug-and-play workflows you can implement immediately. Get both guides (and more designer resources) here: https://thebusinessofbeautifulspaces.com/designer-resourcesBe sure to follow along on Instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces + @thorntondesign to stay up to date on what we're talking about next week. If you love our podcast, please, please, please leave us a review. If you have any questions or topic ideas OR you wish to be a guest email us thebusinessofbeautifulspaces@gmail.com or find us on instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspacesLaura Thornton is the  principle designer of Thornton Design Inc, located in Kleinburg, ON.  Since founding the company in 1999, Laura has been committed to creating a new kind of interior design experience for her clients. Thornton Design is an experienced team of creative talents, focused on curating beautiful residential and commercial spaces in the Toronto, Ontario area and beyond. Now sharing all the years of experience with other interior designers to create a world of collaboration and less competition. The Business of Beautiful Spaces  I @thebusinessofbeautifulspacesThornton Design                                      I @thorntondesign

Greg Brady spoke to Ryan O'Connor, partner with Taylor Mergui Law Group about him filed a complaint with the Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement against the City of Toronto for its apparent violation of section 2(3) of the Ticket Sales Act, after it admitted buying 3,500 World Cup tickets and scalping them for a profit Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The General Services Administration is positioning itself as the federal government's central hub for technology acquisition (GSA to Extend OneGov Software Deals in Next Phases ), helping agencies operate as one government through shared services and enterprisewide procurement strategies. At GovCIO Media & Research's 2026 Federal IT Efficiency Summit, Jonathan Plante, senior strategist for cloud hardware and software at GSA, discussed the key trends shaping federal cloud acquisition over the next six to 12 months. He outlined efforts to consolidate procurement vehicles under GSA, increase transparency into software and subscription spending, and leverage the federal government's collective buying power to drive greater efficiency and value. Plante also highlighted the growing importance of cybersecurity, asset management and interoperability as agencies modernize their IT environments. Looking ahead, he encouraged agency leaders to align cloud investments with mission outcomes, advance zero trust security strategies and prepare for emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and post-quantum cryptography.  

Sponsored By:→ Neuro | Go to ⁠https://getneuro.com⁠ and use code ONEDAY at checkout for 15% OFF your entire order.DescriptionHe licensed technology from Oxford, sold it to Navy SEALs and the US Department of Defense, brought the price from $30 a shot to $5, and is now stocking shelves at Chevron and Equinox. This is what it looks like to create a new category from scratch and refuse to stop.Jon Bier sits down with Michael Brandt — Stanford CS grad, 2:35 marathoner, and co-founder and CEO of Ketone-IQ — for one of the most genuinely nerdy, genuinely exciting conversations about building a brand that didn't exist before. Jon helped launch Ketone-IQ early on and didn't invest. He'll tell you that himself. This is the conversation where he probably fully processes that decision.Ketones aren't a trend. They're a nutritional primitive — a new macronutrient. The kind of thing you can't speed-run. And Michael Brandt is the rare founder who built his entire business philosophy around that truth.The category is coming. They just got here first.In this episode:• Why creating a new category is a decade-long bet — and why that's exactly the right bet if you want to build something fundamental instead of fast• How Ketone-IQ went from a $6M DoD contract and $30-a-shot margins to nationwide grocery stores and a near-half-billion-dollar valuation• What Jon and Michael actually talk about when they talk about celebrity deals, brand equity, and why the brands nobody can name are the real cautionary taleFind Michael & Ketone-IQ:• Michael on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaeldbrandt/• Ketone-IQ: https://ketone.com• Ketone-IQ on IG:https://www.instagram.com/ketone/Timestamps:0:00 - Building a New Category From Scratch: Why It's Harder (and Bigger) Than Anything Else1:18 - How Ketone IQ Started: Oxford, the Military, and $30-a-Shot Pro Athletes4:01 - What Ketones Actually Do and Why Michael Got Obsessed7:08 - The DoD Relationship: Research, Procurement, and On-Base Retail8:02 - The Early Positioning Problem: Ketones ≠ the Keto Diet10:22 - Why Sampling Is Everything for a Product You Actually Feel13:36 - Jon Bier's Regret: Why He Didn't Invest (And Why the Odds Were Against It)15:18 - How Marathon Running Gave Michael the Belief to Do the Impossible21:25 - The First Sign of Real Momentum: People Who Tried It Couldn't Stop23:17 - "We're Not Selling Ketones — We're Selling a Feeling"25:03 - Grün, Element, and How to Win Without a Product People Can Feel29:27 - Trend Proof vs. Trend Dependent: Why Ketones Are a Nutritional Primitive32:43 - How Jon Bier Spots Winners (And Why Most Brands Fail Because They're Too Early)35:26 - How to Cannibalize Yourself Before a Competitor Does39:10 - The Jake Paul and Jeff Wu Connection (and the Antifund Story)41:43 - What the Rogan Partnership Actually Means for a Brand45:40 - Why DTC Alone Is Dead and Retail Is the Startup Within the Startup49:08 - Why the Brands That Won DTC Stopped Innovating53:26 - How Celebrity Ambassadors Unlock Retail Doors56:03 - What Retailers Actually Want to Hear (It's Not About the Product)1:00:07 - Why Big Companies Destroy the Brands They Buy1:02:50 - Where Ketone IQ Is Now and What the Exit Math Looks Like1:05:10 - What Michael Would Actually Do With the Money

Defense is not just changing because the technology is changing. It is changing because the old way of buying, building, funding, and deploying that technology no longer matches the speed of the threat. For decades, aerospace and defense have been built around massive programs, long procurement cycles, and the assumption that the government could define a requirement, put it out to bid, and eventually get the capability into the hands of the warfighter. But Ukraine, Iran, China, unmanned systems, AI, cyber, and contested logistics have made one thing clear: “eventually” is no longer good enough. The next era will not be defined by one platform or one prime. It will be defined by systems, speed, supply chains, and the middle-market companies that can actually execute. Private equity is moving in, and venture capital is trying to understand defense tech. The primes are being forced to rethink what they build, buy, and divest. And founders who survived years of disruption are now sitting on businesses that may be more valuable than ever. Meghan Welch has a front-row view of all of it. As an investment banker focused on aerospace and defense, she joins me to break down why the industry is in the early innings of a major M&A boom, why the middle market has become the engine of the Defense Industrial Base, and why the companies that can scale, execute, and solve real bottlenecks may define the next era of American defense. You'll also learn; Why defense is moving away from single-platform thinking and toward systems, software, unmanned technology, and cross-domain capability How Ukraine, Iran, China, AI, cyber, and contested logistics are reshaping the way the industry thinks about future warfare Why traditional defense procurement has struggled to keep pace with commercial technology What OTAs, gauntlet-style competitions, and faster acquisition models mean for defense tech companies Why private capital needs stronger, multi-year demand signals before it can fully lean into national security technology Why the middle market has become the engine of the Defense Industrial Base What private equity sees in aerospace and defense, and why the sector is being treated as a safe-haven investment Why large primes may need to rethink bureaucracy, acquisitions, venture arms, and divestitures How dual-use technology, from Joby to SpaceX, could shape the future of defense logistics, launch, range, and payload Why energetics, precision manufacturing, MRO, maritime, and labor constraints are becoming critical investment and national security issues About the Guest Meghan Welch is the Managing Director of Brown Gibbons Lang & Company (BGL).  Brown Gibbons Lang & Company (BGL) is a leading independent investment bank and financial advisory firm focused on the global middle market. The firm advises private and public corporations and private equity groups on mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, capital markets, financial restructurings, valuations and opinions, and other strategic matters. BGL has investment banking offices in Chicago, Cleveland, Los Angeles, Boston, and New York, and real estate offices in Chicago and Cleveland. The firm is also a founding member of REACH Cross-Border Mergers & Acquisitions, enabling BGL to service clients in 30 countries around the world. For more information, visit www.bglco.com or connect with Meghan on LinkedIn.    About Your Host Craig Picken is an Executive Recruiter, writer, speaker, and ICF Trained Executive Coach. He is focused on recruiting senior-level leadership, sales, and operations executives in the aviation and aerospace industry. His clients include premier OEMs, aircraft operators, leasing/financial organizations, and Maintenance/Repair/Overhaul (MRO) providers, and since 2008, he has personally concluded more than 400 executive-level searches in a variety of disciplines. Craig is the ONLY industry executive recruiter who has professionally flown airplanes, sold airplanes, and successfully run a P&L in the aviation industry. His professional career started with a passion for airplanes. After eight years' experience as a decorated Naval Flight Officer – with more than 100 combat missions, 2,000 hours of flight time, and 325 aircraft carrier landings – Craig sought challenges in business aviation, where he spent more than 7 years in sales with both Gulfstream Aircraft and Bombardier Business Aircraft. Craig is also a sought-after industry speaker who has presented at Corporate Jet Investor, International Aviation Women's Association, and SOCAL Aviation Association.    For more aerospace industry news & commentary: https://craigpicken.com/insights/.  To learn more about Craig Picken, visit https://craigpicken.com/.     Check out this episode on our website, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify, and don't forget to leave a review if you like what you heard. Your review feeds the algorithm, so our show reaches more people. Thank you! 

Procurement teams are under increasing pressure to do more with less… less time, less headcount, and often less budget. But, at the same time, the volume of data they manage continues to grow, making it harder to uncover insights and act on them quickly. That's the challenge Suplari wants to solve. In this ProcureTech Insider Startup of the Week episode, Jyothi Hartley speaks with Jeff Gerber, Co-Founder and CEO of Suplari, about how AI-powered procurement intelligence can help teams move beyond visibility and into action. Suplari brings together fragmented spend, supplier, and contract data into a single, governed source of truth. From there, its AI capabilities identify opportunities, surface risks, and increasingly help teams take action by automating the path from insight to impact. Jeff shares Suplari's origin story, why traditional analytics fall short, and how procurement teams can start unlocking value from their data faster than they might expect. In this episode, Jeff discusses: Why connecting siloed procurement data is the foundation for better decision-making How AI can move procurement beyond analytics into action and orchestration What makes Supplari different in a crowded AI and analytics market How procurement teams can uncover hidden savings and inefficiencies Why imperfect data shouldn't stop you from getting started Links: Jeff Gerber on LinkedIn Subscribe to the AOP Newsletter Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube  

Caroline McAuliffe is Senior Vice President, Head of Corporate Finance (FP&A and Procurement) at Fannie Mae. In its Q1 2026 results, the government-owned mortgage giant boasted 33 consecutive quarters of profitability and $3.7B in net income in the quarter—delivered by a team of 7,000 employees. In this episode Caroline reveals the FP&A mindset and processes behind this success. The career progression from audit to controllership, and FP&A Combining procurement and FP&A  Shifting from an annual budget cycle to a 2-year rolling forecast How AI is transforming repetitive low value work including AI “flash reports needed supporting 50 officers at Fannie Mae Secrets to being a CTA (Challenging Trusted Advisor) at Fannie Mae 

At sixteen, with straight A's in math and science, Dr. Karen Panetta's school career assessment told her to sell makeup or be a cook. A male friend with lower scores got engineer or politician. No AI was involved. Just a rules-based system applying gender and biographical filters to two teenagers. That same logic now sits inside AI tools landing in admissions offices and HR systems across higher ed, with one critical difference: AI does not eliminate human bias, it removes the human accountability that used to make bias correctable. In this episode of the Changing Higher Ed® podcast, Dr. Drumm McNaughton speaks with Dr. Karen Panetta, Dean of Graduate Education for the School of Engineering at Tufts University and an IEEE Fellow. Panetta lays out a procurement framework presidents and boards can use to evaluate AI tools before signing a contract. She and McNaughton work through the four questions most vendors cannot answer, why IRB principles already give higher ed a working framework for AI, and what happens to graduate research when students ask AI for a unique contribution and accept whatever comes back. This conversation is especially relevant for institutional leaders making decisions about AI procurement, classroom adoption, and data governance who want a clear set of questions to ask before they buy and a clear standard for keeping humans accountable for the decisions AI tools are increasingly being asked to make. Topics Covered: The four procurement questions every higher ed leader should ask before signing an AI contract Why expert disagreement on ground truth limits what any AI tool trained on that judgment can do How IRB principles apply to AI deployments, and why every kind use of technology has a misuse case sitting next to it The risk of AI's interpretation of truth aging with the consensus Why faculty in English, history, and the arts are essential to AI policy What IEEE's 500,000 technical professionals are doing on AI standards that no single corporate vendor will do Real-World Examples Discussed: The career assessments that pointed a top math student toward cooking and a Navy veteran toward forest ranger work A cancer detection project where six doctors agreed on whether something was cancer but disagreed on every grade beyond that A conservation project where the same tracking data that helps park rangers could help poachers if security is weak Graduate admissions committees where different faculty weight credentials, projects, and volunteer work differently, and what gets lost when only one set of weights is encoded into an AI screen Three Key Takeaways for Leadership: AI does not create bias. It scales whatever bias is already in the institution's decision systems, at the speed and volume the institution chose to deploy. Every consequential decision needs a human in the loop who can explain the call out loud. Without that, the institution cannot defend the decisions it is making. The sticker price on the AI tool is not the story. The data behind it is, and most vendors cannot tell you what it is. This episode gives presidents, provosts, and boards a practical framework for AI procurement and governance, along with a clear answer to the trustee asking why the institution has not bought what everyone else is buying. Read the transcript: https://changinghighered.com/ai-bias-procurement-framework-higher-education/ #HigherEducation #AIinHigherEd #HigherEducationPodcast #AIGovernance #AIBias #HigherEducationLeadership

Strengthening Your Supply Chain is critical because "A resilient supply chain isn't built in a crisis—it's revealed by one".  Disruptions are inevitable but your recovery speed is what matters and in this episode we discuss strategies you can put in place to mitigate these challenges.

"Catalyst is really a unicorn. You walk in the room, check your ego at the door, and everybody is there to learn." - Christine Moore, Managing Partner, RAUS Global Procurement is racing to harness AI, but simply "doing more" won't be enough. At Catalyst San Francisco, the most recent in-person event hosted by Art of Procurement, procurement executives came together to confront what's truly needed right now: going beyond efficiency, investing in stronger change management, and breaking free of the old excuses that hold teams back. In this event recap conversation, Christine Moore, Managing Partner at RAUS Global, and Joe Postiglione Sr., author of the upcoming book Achieve Results with AI and Avoid the CFO Hot Seat, join Philip Ideson to discuss how intimate, curated professional gatherings like Catalyst drive practical, real-world progress.  Listen in to hear what sets this unique environment apart, why open dialogue matters more than buzzwords, and how procurement leaders can champion a culture that turns AI into a strategic advantage to deliver measurable, real-world results. Whether you're developing your own digital roadmap or guiding your business partners, these takeaways will help you reframe what's possible for procurement. In this episode, Christine and Joe describe how procurement can: Build a proactive, outcome-driven approach to AI projects   Lead change and create a sense of safety for candid discussions   Reframe the "data problem" and move initiatives forward   Recognize how compute and AI usage costs can impact value   Shift from pure efficiency to growth-focused thinking Links: Christine Moore on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-adamsson-moore/  Joe Postiglione Sr. on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joepostiglione/  Subscribe to the AOP Newsletter: https://resources.artofprocurement.com/art-of-procurement-podcast-subscribe  Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ArtofProcurement   

In this exclusive Manufacturing Talk Radio interview, hosts Lewis Weiss and Amy Nicklaus sit down with ISM Manufacturing PMI Chair Susan Spence to discuss the latest ISM Manufacturing Report released June 1, 2026. The group break down the key data points impacting the global supply chain and what the effects of that might mean. To shed light on the report's crucial findings, we speak with Susan Spence, a preeminent authority within manufacturing. Spence is currently serving as ISM Manufacturing PMI Chair and is a winner of the J. Shipman Gold Medal Award. Her distinguished career includes serving as vice president of the Sourcing & Procurement group at FedEx Corp. With 28 years of experience at United Technologies Corporation (UTC) in leadership roles across supply management and operations, Spence offers unparalleled insight into manufacturing trends and economic activity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sponsors: ◦ Visit Buildertrend to schedule a demo ◦ Marvin Windows and Doors ◦ Sub-Zero Wolf Cove Showroom Phoenix Connect with Emily Couture:  ◦ https://www.emmycouturedesigns.com  ◦ https://www.instagram.com/emmycouturedesigns Connect with Brad Leavitt: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Houzz | Pinterest | YouTube

Radio show host, Gary Calligas will have Jenifer Lightfell and Shainne Williams with Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency (LOPA) on his Saturday, May 30th “The Best of Times Radio Hour” at 9:05 AM on News Radio 710 KEEL to discuss how this agency saves lives. You can also listen to this radio talk show streaming LIVE on the internet at www.710KEEL.com. and streaming LIVE on the KEEL app on apple and android devices. For more information, please visit www.thebestoftimesnews.com This radio show is proudly presented by Hebert's Town and Country of Shreveport featuring – Dodge, Chrysler, Ram, and Jeep vehicles and service.

Sebastian Blum, head of mobility, and Jens-Oliver Schünzel, head of land based transportation for EMEA, at KFW-IPEX Bank, discuss the merits of Engineering, Procurement, Construction + Financing, offering expert insight on possible use cases for rail projects with International Railway Journal Editor-in-Chief Kevin Smith. (Intro music: Tired Traveller on the Way to Home by Andrew R Codeman)

As procurement looks toward 2035, leaders will have to face deeper transformation requirements than simply adding AI tools. They will have to rethink their operating models, talent, data, and decision-making. Uncomfortable though it might be, this will be essential if the function is to move from transactional purchasing to strategic value creation. In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes David Loseby. David is a former CPO, a speaker, an author, a “pracademic”, an advocate, and the editor of two very well regarded journals: The Journal of Public Procurement and the Journal of Responsible Production and Consumption. David shares and discusses some of the key points from his recent article on procurement leadership in 2035: How the role of Chief Procurement Officer will differ from today's version of the job How procurement leaders should think about AI as part of their operating model rather than just a tool layered on top of existing processes The new skills and mindsets procurement teams will need to succeed in an AI-enabled environment Links: David Loseby on LinkedIn Procurement Leadership in 2035… and why just adding a bit of AI won't do

Government contracting procurement readiness is the difference between being treated like a serious prime and being talked down to by a small business rep who thinks you don't know what you're doing. In this episode of the Federal Help Center Podcast, Randie Ward breaks down exactly how to show up to agency meetings, capabilities briefings, and DOD opportunities with your homework already done. If you've ever wasted a 25-minute meeting because you weren't prepped, this one is for you. Here's what you'll learn: How to control the room in a capabilities briefing so the small business specialist treats you like a peer, not a beginner Why your SAM.gov keywords and capability narrative function as the agency yellow pages and how to structure them so buyers can actually find you The exact project sheet format Randie uses with clients including scope, location, dollar value, and complexity details that move you faster through sources sought responses How to position past experience versus past performance on your capability statement when you're a newer company or bidding as part of a teaming arrangement How to surface real differentiators that survive AI-driven proposal screening and make you stand out among hundreds of capability statements Why PIEE registration is non-negotiable if you plan to do business with DOD and what lives inside the enterprise from RFP response to invoicing EPISODE CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Welcome to the Federal Help Center podcast 0:25 - First impressions set every future agency interaction 1:00 - Forest Service capabilities briefing client story 2:30 - SAM registration and keyword optimization for buyers 3:30 - Building project sheets that move you faster 4:30 - Gathering resumes for proposal team members 5:00 - Capability statements and past experience versus performance 5:45 - Finding real differentiators that beat AI screening 7:00 - PIEE registration requirement for DOD contractors 7:55 - Closing thoughts and community invite Market Intelligence gives you the federal opportunities, agency signals, recompete intel, and pursuit briefs that tell you not just what contracts exist, but which ones to chase and how to win them. Sign up for free Daily Alerts and get opportunities delivered to your inbox before the day starts.

How can the military adopt tech at the speed of relevance? Host Tom Galvin talks with Carlisle Scholars John Williams, Jeremy Jackson & Antonio Ilario on bridging the gap between bureaucratic acquisition timelines and rapid tech evolution.

Listen in as Jon Baker, president and general manager of AAR's Airvoyant, talks to James Pozzi and Lee Ann Shay about introducing agentic AI into procurement, what early adopters are seeing and where automation could have the biggest impact across the MRO supply chain.

"If you focus on stakeholders' needs and add value, the savings will always follow." - Brad DeHart, Senior Vice President, Customer Growth, Continuum Procurement leaders have always been expected to deliver value under pressure, but when resources are thin, the old playbook just doesn't cut it. What does it take to truly become a trusted partner to the business and move beyond savings-only conversations? Art of Procurement host Philip Ideson welcomes Brad DeHart, a seasoned leader who's helped shape marketing procurement functions across industries. Brad's experience spans both the buy and sell sides, giving him a front-row seat to what works, and what might set your team back. In this candid discussion, Brad challenges common assumptions about where procurement should focus their efforts, why some models falter, and how the right mindset (and soft skills) open real doors to influence. He shares memorable stories and actionable advice for CPOs and category leads navigating complexity and stakeholder fatigue. In this episode, Brad covers: - Redesigning relationships with marketing to move beyond 'just savings' - Recognizing why the 'strategic vs. tactical spend' debate misses the point - Structuring teams for trust, influence, and long-term results - Building soft skills that matter as much as procurement expertise   Links: Brad DeHart on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/braddehart/  Subscribe to the AOP Newsletter: https://resources.artofprocurement.com/art-of-procurement-podcast-subscribe  Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ArtofProcurement   

Industrial Talk is talking to Jay Allardyce, CPO at Octave about "Unleashing operational data for greater intelligence and insights for industrial success". Overview Scott Mackenzie hosts the Industrial Talk podcast, featuring Jay Allardyce, Chief Product Officer at Octave. Octave, formerly Hexagon, focuses on asset management and operations, leveraging data to drive efficiency and innovation. Jay discusses the importance of data accuracy and context, emphasizing the need for a robust data foundation to support AI applications. Octave's platform integrates design, construction, and operation phases, aiming to simplify workflows and reduce costs. The company also supports co-creation with customers through Octave Colabs. Upcoming Octave Live event is scheduled for June 17-18 in Austin, Texas. Outline Introduction to Industrial Talk Podcast and Jay Allardyce Scott welcomes listeners to the Industrial Talk podcast, celebrating industry professionals for their bravery, innovation, and problem-solving skills.Scott introduces Jay Allardyce from Octave, a new company in the market, and discusses the importance of technology and the speed of market changes.Scott mentions Octave Live, an event taking place on June 17-18 in Austin, Texas, and encourages listeners to support industrial education and the next generation of industrial leaders. Jay Allardyce's Background and Role at Octave Scott transitions to the main conversation with Jay Allardyce, who is introduced as the Chief Project Officer at Octave.Jay Allardyce shares his extensive background in technology, including roles at Hewlett Packard, GE, Uptake, Google, and Inside Software.Jay discusses his co-founding of Gen AI Works, an AI community focused on helping people discover, learn, and grow through AI.Jay explains his current role at Octave, focusing on the built environment and industrial applications, and his excitement about the future of data-driven experiences in the physical world. Octave's Mission and Market Position Jay elaborates on Octave's mission to drive lifecycle value in the design, build, operate, and protect phases of industrial projects.He emphasizes the importance of data in simplifying workflows and reducing costs for large EPCs (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) companies.Jay discusses the significance of repeatability and efficiency in the construction industry, and how Octave's platform helps manage changes and costs effectively.Scott and Jay discuss the importance of data in driving innovation and optimizing asset performance, highlighting the need for accurate and trustworthy data. Octave's Platform and Technological Advancements Jay explains the transition from Hexagon to Octave and the benefits of focusing on a pure-play software company.He describes the platform's ability to integrate multiple workflows across the lifecycle of a project, from design to operation.Jay highlights the role of AI in creating new value and optimizing supply chains and maintenance rounds.Scott and Jay discuss the importance of building a robust data foundation to ensure trust and accuracy in AI-driven insights. Octave's Customer Base and Future Plans Jay shares insights into Octave's robust customer base, including large EPCs and public safety organizations.He discusses the company's focus on expanding into new markets and creating new applications using AI.Jay emphasizes the importance of context and trust in data to drive innovation and value for customers.Scott and Jay discuss the potential for Octave's platform to revolutionize asset management and create a more efficient and reliable industrial ecosystem. Conclusion and Call to Action Scott wraps up the conversation by encouraging listeners to support industrial education and inspire the next generation of industrial leaders.He highlights the importance of telling industry stories to bring awareness and attention to the next generation.Scott invites listeners to connect with Jay Allardyce and Octave for more information and to explore the opportunities in the industrial sector.The podcast concludes with a reminder of the Octave Live event in Austin, Texas, and a call to action for listeners to engage with the Industrial Talk community. If interested in being on the Industrial Talk show, simply contact us and let's have a quick conversation. Finally, get your exclusive free access to the Industrial Academy and a series on “Why You Need To Podcast” for Greater Success in 2026. All links designed for keeping you current in this rapidly changing Industrial Market. Learn! Grow! Enjoy! JAY ALLARDYCE'S CONTACT INFORMATION: Personal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayallardyce/ Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/octaveintelligence/ Company Website: https://www.octave.com/ PODCAST VIDEO: https://youtu.be/M3yJCs3t9Ho THE STRATEGIC REASON "WHY YOU NEED TO PODCAST": OTHER GREAT INDUSTRIAL RESOURCES: NEOM: https://www.neom.com/en-us Hexagon: https://hexagon.com/ Arduino: https://www.arduino.cc/ Fictiv: https://www.fictiv.com/ Hitachi Vantara: https://www.hitachivantara.com/en-us/home.html Industrial Marketing Solutions:  https://industrialtalk.com/industrial-marketing/ Industrial Academy: https://industrialtalk.com/industrial-academy/ Industrial Dojo: https://industrialtalk.com/industrial_dojo/ We the 15: https://www.wethe15.org/ YOUR INDUSTRIAL DIGITAL TOOLBOX: LifterLMS: Get One Month Free for $1 – https://lifterlms.com/ Active Campaign: Active Campaign Link Social Jukebox: https://www.socialjukebox.com/ Industrial Academy (One Month Free Access And One Free License For Future Industrial Leader): Business Beatitude the Book Do you desire a more joy-filled, deeply-enduring sense of accomplishment and success? 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"Procurement has to become an ecosystem builder for the enterprise, because no enterprise can do everything by itself in today's world." - Saurabh Gupta Procurement leaders are feeling the pressure to "be AI-first," yet most struggle to get past the hype and deliver real business value. With AI reshaping buying categories and challenging process norms, now is the time to rethink procurement's role. In this ProcureTech Insider episode, Saurabh Gupta, President of HFS, joins Jyothi Hartley to talk candidly about how AI is forcing procurement to confront old habits and rethink category strategy. Saurabh introduces practical frameworks for CPOs striving to become strategic partners, not just operational gatekeepers. He shares how blending services and software is creating a new buying challenge, and why procurement must finally forge closer ties to business outcomes and work across traditional silos. In this episode, Saurabh discusses how to: Pinpoint the "debts" holding procurement back from adopting AI Build a balanced 4P framework for tracking AI's value Prepare for the rise of "services as software" and what it means for category management Shift the procurement mindset from reactive support to enterprise ecosystem builder Links: Saurabh Gupta on LinkedIn The CPO mandate: Seize the AI moment and claim the strategy seat Subscribe to the AOP Newsletter Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube  

You can't build or develop sustainably without a sustainable supply chain. This episode unpacks the groundbreaking Supply Chain Sustainability School. Hear from Elaine Billington, Dale Turner and Nick Baker on how this collaborative platform is upskilling thousands, reducing costs and raising industry standards for a more sustainable future.  Guests in this episode:  Nick Baker, Sustainable Supply Chain Manager, Skanska Group  Dale Turner, Director of Procurement and Supply Chain, Skanska UK  Elaine Billington, Chief People Officer, National Highways, UK    Host: John Ambrose 

In this episode, Brad Stutzman from O3 Energy discusses innovative renewable energy solutions for commercial properties, including solar, batteries, and energy procurement. Learn how technology and strategic networking are transforming energy efficiency and cost savings in real estate.   Professional Real Estate Investors - How we can help you: Investor Fuel Mastermind:  Learn more about the Investor Fuel Mastermind, including 100% deal financing, massive discounts from vendors and sponsors you're already using, our world class community of over 150 members, and SO much more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/apply   Investor Machine Marketing Partnership:  Are you looking for consistent, high quality lead generation? Investor Machine is America's #1 lead generation service professional investors. Investor Machine provides true 'white glove' support to help you build the perfect marketing plan, then we'll execute it for you…talking and working together on an ongoing basis to help you hit YOUR goals! Learn more here: http://www.investormachine.com   Coaching with Mike Hambright:  Interested in 1 on 1 coaching with Mike Hambright? Mike coaches entrepreneurs looking to level up, build coaching or service based businesses (Mike runs multiple 7 and 8 figure a year businesses), building a coaching program and more. Learn more here: https://investorfuel.com/coachingwithmike   Attend a Vacation/Mastermind Retreat with Mike Hambright: Interested in joining a "mini-mastermind" with Mike and his private clients on an upcoming "Retreat", either at locations like Cabo San Lucas, Napa, Park City ski trip, Yellowstone, or even at Mike's East Texas "Big H Ranch"? Learn more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/retreat   Property Insurance: Join the largest and most investor friendly property insurance provider in 2 minutes. Free to join, and insure all your flips and rentals within minutes! There is NO easier insurance provider on the planet (turn insurance on or off in 1 minute without talking to anyone!), and there's no 15-30% agent mark up through this platform!  Register here: https://myinvestorinsurance.com/   New Real Estate Investors - How we can work together: Investor Fuel Club (Coaching and Deal Partner Community): Looking to kickstart your real estate investing career? Join our one of a kind Coaching Community, Investor Fuel Club, where you'll get trained by some of the best real estate investors in America, and partner with them on deals! You don't need $ for deals…we'll partner with you and hold your hand along the way! Learn More here: http://www.investorfuel.com/club   —--------------------

In this episode of the Construction Corner podcast, host Dillon dives into the growing trend of design build projects and why more owners are choosing it over traditional plan-and-spec engineering. He breaks down the biggest advantage — procurement timelines — explaining how getting electrical equipment, switchgear, and mechanical units on order early can shave weeks or months off a project schedule. Dillon also covers how having engineers and contractors working as one team leads to smarter material choices, real cost savings, and smoother execution on the jobsite. He wraps up by examining why design build projects fail, pointing to misalignment between partners, unresponsive vendors, and lack of collaboration as the top culprits.

"Digital masters aren't just deploying technology. They're changing the way procurement runs." - Chris Riley, Partner - Supply Chain and Procurement, Deloitte As AI-enabled tools shift the landscape from efficiency to true strategic impact, CPOs are tasked with making sense of new operating models, changing expectations, and how to redeploy talent toward higher-value work. In this episode, Deloitte's Chris Riley, Ryan Flynn, and Jocelyn Mayfield join Philip Ideson to break down the findings of Deloitte's latest CPO and AI surveys. They reveal what sets digital masters apart, how top teams link digital investments to business outcomes, and what it takes to move from process efficiency to business advisor. Whether you're rolling out AI for the first time or redesigning your operating model, this conversation dives deep into practical lessons and next steps for forward-thinking procurement teams. In this episode, Chris, Ryan, and Jocelyn will discuss: - What "digital masters" do differently  - Why operating model design now has existential importance for procurement - The real opportunity (and challenge) in reskilling for the AI era - How cultural change and reward systems drive sustainable transformation Links: Chris Riley on LinkedIn Ryan Flynn on LinkedIn Jocelyn Mayfield on LinkedIn Subscribe to the AOP Newsletter Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube   As used in this document, "Deloitte" means Deloitte Consulting LLP, a subsidiary of Deloitte LLP. Please seewww.deloitte.com/us/aboutfor a detailed description of our legal structure. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting. This podcast contains general information only and Deloitte is not, by means of this podcast, rendering accounting, business, financial, investment, legal, tax, or other professional advice or services. This podcast is not a substitute for such professional advice or services, nor should it be used as a basis for any decision or action that may affect your business. Before making any decision or taking any action that may affect your business, you should consult a qualified professional advisor. Deloitte shall not be responsible for any loss sustained by any person who relies on this podcast.  

The episode highlights a structural transition from software systems that record tasks to platforms that actively participate in business decisions, particularly through agentic AI in procurement. This shift is anchored in the adoption of AI-driven SaaS solutions by mid-market organizations, as seen with Procurify, which reports managing over $100 billion in organizational spend. The mechanism moves beyond basic automation, assigning software agents responsibilities that were traditionally human—such as flagging compliance breaches or routing approvals—directly within operational workflows. According to Chad Gaydos, current deployments of such agentic AI commonly automate tasks like invoice detail verification, policy enforcement, and contract compliance. These developments are most prominent in mid-market environments, where limited staffing—sometimes with no dedicated procurement analysts—drives greater reliance on platforms to perform core operational functions. The focus is not on completely replacing personnel but on supplementing constrained teams and ensuring repeatable enforcement of controls, with organizations leveraging these systems to gain efficiency in both cost and process governance. Additional points discussed reinforce the central shift, such as the distinctive pace of adoption among mid-market firms compared to enterprises. He identifies that smaller organizations often approach these technologies with greater agility and willingness to accept risk, while also displaying heightened dependency on system trust and governance frameworks. The episode also references "frontier firms" co-defined by Microsoft and Procurify, characterized by their forward-leaning adoption of AI and structured standards for technological governance. Variability in governance, auditability, and trust across different organization sizes underlines the operational diversity in adopting agentic platforms. For MSPs and IT leaders, these shifts raise practical concerns around governance design, accountability for software-driven actions, and operational dependency on vendor platforms. Effective risk mitigation requires establishing audit trails, clear standards for automation versus human oversight, and robust compliance controls. Providers supporting mid-market clients should anticipate requests for prescriptive guidance on data and process governance, while also preparing for greater operational reliance on systems that automate, not merely record, business decisions.

Luxury guests feel the difference in the details, and procurement decides many of those details. I talked with Denis Klurfeld, SVP of Procurement for Luxury & Lifestyle at Accor, about how procurement shapes the luxury guest experience, balances standards with local authenticity, and protects long-term owner value.

"Isn't it true that everybody talks about supplier management, but nobody does it?"  This observation from Summit Procurement CEO and Founder Alan Veeck captures the delta between procurement's aspirations and the reality on the ground. It's a gap, he says, that AI might finally help close, but only if organizations resist the temptation to simply slash headcount when AI-powered efficiencies arrive. In this episode of "Buy: The Way...To Purposeful Procurement," co-hosts Philip Ideson and Rich Ham speak with Alan Veeck to explore what it might look like if procurement was unleashed to pursue actual value, and why the resistance to that vision remains so formidable. Alan presents listeners with a thought experiment: imagine a CPO given two directives: first, embrace AI to drive maximum efficiency, but second, keep every team member despite the bandwidth freed up by AI. His answer reveals momentous untapped potential: those 25 entry-level people whose salaries total $2.5 million annually? In a billion-dollar enterprise, he says, they could find 10x that value "in their sleep" within months through proper supplier engagement, category management, and relationship building.  This notion also brings procurement's existential challenge into the light. Without fixing flawed incentive structures, procurement will "continue to be the ones asking for a seat at the table."  One-off conversations and content won't solve these issues. Instead, Alan says it's time to convene "the smartest thinkers in our industry" into what Rich dubs a "fellowship." The goal: creating industry standards for measuring value across different contexts, giving organizations practical frameworks to escape the savings delusion. As Rich notes, there's no general ledger line item for savings, only costs. Procurement can be "the hero of the expense side of the ledger," but only if they muster the collective confidence to take the necessary steps. Links: Alan Veeck on LinkedInRich Ham on LinkedInLearn more at FineTuneUs.com

How are top transportation professionals turning overwhelming data into a competitive edge? Start making real-time and strategic moves for your business in this episode with Samantha Barone of GoodShip.  Samantha discusses the future of freight orchestration and procurement, why historical data is losing its throne to real-time insights, and how the best brokers are moving away from the "cheap rate" trap to build ironclad, dedicated carrier partnerships. We're talking straight about the grit it takes to build a book from scratch, why listening is your most powerful sales tool, and how leveraging tech like GoodShip can finally give you the clarity you need to scale. If you're tired of the constant fire drills and want to master the art of transparent communication and long-term network stability, this episode is your roadmap!   Connect with Samantha Website: https://www.goodship.io/  Email: samantha@goodship.io  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/goodship-io/  

"Right now, procurement needs to define their future role in the business. Procurement needs to drive that for themselves, because if we don't, then someone is going to drive it for us, and that could drive us out." - Gordon Donovan, Vice President Research - Procurement & External Workforce, SAP Business models are being disrupted, and so is procurement. This year's Economist Impact report reveals a sharp drop in C-suite confidence, a dramatic return to basics on cost and compliance, and AI taking center stage as both opportunity and challenge.  Amid these changes, how can CPOs set a strategy that's fit for tomorrow, not just today? Gordon Donovan, VP of Research for Procurement and External Workforce at SAP, returns to the show with exclusive data and a candid view on industry shifts. Gordon breaks down what really matters in this year's survey: the operational realities behind AI, the new direction for category management, and why rethinking old processes is the only way forward. In this episode, Gordon discusses: Why procurement confidence shrank up to 18% globally   The importance of zeroing in on cost and compliance as resurgent priorities   Rethinking category management for a complex new landscape   How to pinpoint where AI delivers and the barriers still holding teams back   Why now is the time to reinvent, not just digitize Links: Gordon Donovan on LinkedIn Subscribe to the AOP Newsletter Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube