Pondering Procurement

Join Chaminda Madduma, Head of Purchasing at 4Cabling, and host Graham Crawshaw in this engaging podcast about the complexities of talent management – one of the themes being tackled at this year’s ProcureCon Australia.

Before they both appear at the event, they've taken the opportunity to discuss the critical role of talent in organisational success, and share insights on maximising internal resources while strategically integrating external talent. From career-development initiatives to fostering a positive internal culture.

Chaminda provides practical strategies to navigate the intricacies of enhancing procurement talent skills, the effect of AI integration, and effective recruitment practices to build a resilient and dynamic Procurement workforce.

While environmental and economic sustainability have traditionally taken the spotlight for Procurement, it’s now the turn of social sustainability. Ignoring it could mean risking your organisation's reputation, embracing it presents an opportunity for success. Discover more from our special guest Victoria Folbigg, Co-Chair of the Sustainable Procurement Pledge (SPP) Human Rights Chapter, as she explains why it’s essential to promote equality, justice, and human rights in supply chains - regardless of market location and type. Victoria highlights the risks for organisations that ignore these issues, and offers practical advice for category managers to consider human rights in their strategies, risk assessments and contracts. Tune in to learn why Procurement should lead the way in addressing human rights, how it can make a difference, and why everyone needs to be aware of these issues.

Given the rapid rise in the capabilities of generative AI, finding the right digital solution is crucial for transforming procurement processes; whether that be completely new tools, or existing system add-ons. Once again, the focus is on ProcureTech for special guest James Meads and host Graham Crawshaw. Together, they explore business case strategies for justifying the investment - from supplier relationship management to achieving sustainability targets - plus some other interesting perspectives.

Business acumen training is not the exclusive entitlement of leadership; Procurement teams need it too! Beyond gaining the essential technical skills of procurement, business skills such as effective communication, change management and relationship-building are crucial for adding value, improving purchasing processes, and gaining innovation within the organisation’s supply base. In this episode, our special guest Malcolm Harrison and host Graham Crawshaw explore the possibilities and practicalities of being mentored as a means to broaden these skillsets through learned and lived experiences of a group or individual mentor.

Discover the essential steps to a successful digital transformation in this insightful podcast with special guest, Jennifer Sieber, Head of Global Procurement Data and Insights at Gilead Sciences, Inc. Listen as she explains how to manage an efficient digital metamorphosis for Procurement that not only embraces technology, but also focuses on the vital components of people, process and change management across the whole organisation.

Kylie McKinlay's journey with supplier diversity initiatives began in the late 1990s when she first ventured into the field of Procurement; becoming a diversity advocate, long before it gained global prominence. In this podcast, she emphasises Procurement’s role in actively fostering inclusion alongside other aspects of ESG. Drawing from her own experiences supporting indigenous and diverse communities, she offers valuable guidance to those starting their journey, demonstrating how to seamlessly integrate supplier diversity into their procurement strategies and supply chains. Recorded before Australia's Voice referendum 2023, Kylie underscores the importance of authentic support for diverse suppliers, as a means to showcase an organisation's values and attract employees and investors, rather than regarding it as a standard compliance procedure.

Starting her career in Procurement as a graduate recruit in 2000, Brioney Moore, now NPS Procurement Director Global Marketing at Reckitt, talks with Graham Crawshaw about the deepening influence of the marketing category. She explains why Marketing Procurement is a core business partner in driving successful business transformation and offers her advice on building relationships with other stakeholders. Together, they review some of the latest marketing procurement initiatives, having both appeared as guest speakers at ProcureCon Marketing 2023.

Go beyond the hype with practical examples from our special guest Sachin Kasture, Digital Excellence and Capability Director, Procurement at WPP Group. In this podcast, Sachin talks with host Graham Crawshaw about the mindset needed for an AI future, and how AI technology will streamline RFP processes to help both buyers and sellers.  They review ChatGPT’s accuracy during a live test, introducing an AI roadmap for Procurement, and discuss the added value of human sense-checking and responsible implementation.  

As a positive high-energy sports coach, and Global Head of Marketing Procurement at Seagen Inc., Garrett Clark shares his passion for applying the principles of athletics coaching to the practice of procurement.  In this episode, we learn how he’s become a self-proclaimed ‘unconventional procurement innovator’ who has a healthy love-hate relationship with Procurement, what mentality he adopts for productive collaborations, and why he believes the balance of power in supplier negotiations needs a paradigm shift to achieve real progress. 

Stimulate your brain with this fascinating ‘NeuroProcurement’ podcast!  Listen to Rob Halsall, certified NeuroLeadership™ Practitioner and CASME facilitator, as he reveals five simple and healthy habits to Graham Crawshaw for optimising your cognitive abilities, improving your executive performance, and ultimately setting you apart in the dynamic world of procurement.