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Art of Procurement

Philip Ideson

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.

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Wednesday · 26 min
EP 016: Startup of the Week: FlockScore W/ Matthew Spencer
"The earlier you can catch risk, the cheaper it is to solve." - Matthew Spencer, Founder of FlockScore Procurement teams have access to plenty of information when evaluating a new supplier, from certifications and financials to technical capabilities. What they often lack is visibility into a more practical question: How does this supplier actually perform? In this episode of Art of Procurement's Startup of the Week, we talk with Matthew Spencer, Co-Founder and CEO of FlockScore, a platform building a collective intelligence layer for supplier decisions by bringing together anonymized, real-world supplier performance data. Matthew shares the experience that led him to start FlockScore, why he believes external supplier performance data can help procurement make faster and more confident decisions, and how the platform is designed to complement the supplier data companies already have. Listen to this episode to hear: -Why internal supplier scorecards only provide part of the performance picture -How peer performance data can help procurement evaluate new and alternative suppliers -Why supply chain volatility is increasing the need for faster supplier qualification -How FlockScore combines anonymized peer data with AI-generated supplier signals -How earlier visibility into issues such as supplier capacity can help teams respond before disruption reaches their own operations Links: Matthew Spencer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewjspencer1?originalSubdomain=be Visit FlockScore's Profile in the AOP Provider Directory: https://artofprocurement.com/provider-directory/flockscore 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
Monday · 35 min
882: Reengineering Procurement for Greater Impact W/ Polly DeSouza
"If you want a seat at the table, you've got to pull up the chair." - Polly DeSouza, APAC Transformation Leader Procurement teams have spent years talking about the need to move away from tactical and transactional work and create more time for strategic priorities. As AI begins to take on more of that work, the opportunity to finally make the shift is growing. The question is whether procurement teams are ready to take advantage of it. In this episode, Philip Ideson is joined by Polly DeSouza, an APAC transformation leader whose career spans finance, procurement, consulting, and operational transformation. Polly shares lessons from working across more than 20 transformation projects and explains why successful transformation requires procurement to think beyond processes and technology. They discuss what procurement can learn from finance, why teams need to understand the language of the business, and how strong stakeholder relationships can help procurement earn earlier involvement in business decisions. Polly also explains why she sees procurement as a "guardian of resilience," responsible for creating supplier ecosystems capable of supporting the business through continued uncertainty. In this episode, Polly discusses how to: -Connect procurement priorities more directly to financial and business value -Earn earlier involvement by becoming a trusted partner to stakeholders -Strengthen procurement's role in organizational resilience -Use AI-created capacity to tackle higher-value priorities -Help teams move beyond familiar ways of working -Build transformation around clear business problems and desired outcomes -Develop the skills and mindset needed for procurement's next chapter Links: Polly Desouza on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pollyana-desouza-52304a85/ 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
September 2 · 30 min
EP 015: Provider of the Week: Tradeverifyd
"It's more the translation of visibility. It's not so much visibility. Visibility is there, but it's what do you do with that?" - Mike Prorock, CEO, Tradeverifyd Supply chain risk has become both more complex and harder to anticipate. Geopolitical shifts, regulatory changes, multi-tier supplier dependencies, and an overwhelming volume of data are forcing procurement teams to look further into their supply chains and make decisions faster when something changes. In this episode of the ProcureTech Insider, Jim Cahalan speaks with Mike Prorock, CEO of Tradeverifyd, for a Provider of the Week discussion about turning supply chain visibility into timely, actionable decisions. Drawing on Tradeverifyd's roots in machine learning, global risk intelligence, and cross-border trade data, Mike explains why simply seeing risk isn't enough. Procurement teams need to understand what a disruption actually means to their business, determine what requires action, and focus their attention on the handful of decisions that matter most. In this episode, Mike also covers how to: -Look deeper into multi-tier supply chains to uncover hidden dependencies and potential bottlenecks -Combine external intelligence, internal business data, and emerging signals while protecting sensitive company information -Translate supply chain visibility into prioritized actions rather than overwhelming teams with alerts -Use AI agents to analyze changing conditions, explore potential responses, and reduce the manual work required to chase down data Links: Mike Prorock on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mprorock/ Visit the Tradeverifyd profile in the AOP Provider Directory: https://artofprocurement.com/provider-directory/tradeverifyd 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
August 31 · 35 min
881: Owning Transformation: How to Successfully Lead Procurement Through Change W/ Gretchen Vance
"Don't ask AI to do something that you don't know how to do yourself." - Gretchen Vance, Vice President Procurement at Forest Lawn Parks and Mortuaries Procurement transformation often comes down to a leader's willingness to push for change, even when the path forward requires taking a risk. For Gretchen Vance, Vice President of Procurement at Forest Lawn Parks and Mortuaries, that once meant putting two pieces of paper on her CFO's desk: a proposal for an e-procurement system and her resignation. In this episode, Philip Ideson speaks with Gretchen about the transformation she has led during her 18 years at Forest Lawn, from digitizing a previously paper-based purchasing function to taking responsibility for the full procure-to-pay process. She shares how procurement supports Forest Lawn's deeply service-oriented mission and why that same commitment to service shapes the suppliers her team chooses to work with. Gretchen also offers a practical perspective on AI. Her team is already using it to analyze data, support RFQs, and streamline contract reviews, but she is clear that procurement professionals still need the knowledge and judgment to recognize when an AI-generated answer is wrong. She discusses why digitization and good data matter, how bringing procurement and AP together can strengthen supplier relationships, and what it takes to lead people through continued change. In this episode, Gretchen also explains how to: -Build supplier relationships around shared culture and purpose -Position procurement as a problem-solving partner to the business -Use AI to save time without sacrificing human expertise and judgment -Create a strong data foundation for digitization and AI -Connect procurement and AP to improve the end-to-end supplier experience -Take calculated risks when meaningful transformation requires leadership commitment -Embrace continuous learning and change as a procurement leader Links: Gretchen Vance on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gretchen-vance-cpsm-6869794a/ 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
August 26 · 24 min
EP 014: Provider of the Week: Sievo W/ Sammeli Sammalkorpi
"The expectation level of procurement is rising. Today's stuff that was not possible a year ago, that felt like science fiction three years ago, is something that we can create for our customers today." - Sammeli Sammalkorpi, Co-founder & CEO, Sievo For CPOs and their teams, procurement data has never been more abundant… or more challenging to harness. Demands go far beyond savings: teams are being asked to link procurement value to broader business goals, manage complexity, and adapt to the rapid rise of AI. In this episode of the ProcureTech Insider we speak with Sammeli Sammalkorpi, Sievo's co-founder and CEO, for a candid "Provider of the Week" discussion about what it takes to turn chaotic data into actionable business value. With Sievo handling data equivalent to more than two percent of global GDP, Sammeli shares why long-term data investment, proprietary benchmarks, and hands-on integration are making the biggest difference for large enterprises. In this episode, Sammeli also covers how to: -Build an enterprise-wide data foundation ready for AI and rapid business change -Turn procurement analytics into prioritized, actionable insights -Benchmark your spend and risk using truly global, anonymized industry data -Translate procurement results into the language of margin, revenue, and business value Links: Sammeli Sammalkorpi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sammeli-sammalkorpi/ Visit the Sievo profile in the AOP Provider Directory: https://artofprocurement.com/provider-directory/sievo 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
August 24 · 33 min
880: The State of AI in Procurement: Who's Getting the ROI? W/ Nick Heinzmann
"There's an absolute risk of procurement's role and scope being diminished by AI, unless we embrace new ways of working." - Nick Heinzmann, Head of Research, Zip According to new research from Zip, only 17 percent of organizations can demonstrate clear ROI from AI today. The difference between those seeing results and those still struggling offers some timely and important lessons for procurement. In this episode, Philip Ideson welcomes back Nick Heinzmann, Head of Research at Zip, to unpack findings from Zip's 2026 State of AI in Spend report. They explore what separates organizations achieving measurable returns from those still dabbling with AI, and why deeper adoption requires procurement teams to rethink how work gets done. Nick also shares what the research reveals about procurement's changing operating model, including the emergence of new AI-focused roles and the growing importance of evaluating AI outputs rather than simply generating them. He discusses how leaders can create room for experimentation while managing shadow AI, why traditional three-to-five-year transformation roadmaps are becoming less practical, and how procurement can use its unique position across the enterprise to help shape AI governance and adoption. In this episode, Nick discusses how procurement can: -Establish a stronger role in enterprise AI adoption and governance -Move beyond AI experimentation to achieve measurable ROI -Treat shadow AI as a signal for unmet demand while maintaining appropriate governance -Move past common blockers and use early AI challenges to guide what comes next Links: Nick Heinzmann on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-heinzmann-787a5041/ 2026 State of AI in Spend Report: https://zip.com/resources/state-of-ai-in-spend-2026 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
August 17 · 28 min
879: The AI Pilot Phase is Over: How to Move From AI Investment to Genuine Business Impact W/ Joseph Postiglione, Sr.
"If you're not completely sure about what you want to try to achieve, how will you know you ever achieved it?" - Joseph Postiglione, Sr., Author, Protecting Expected Outcomes in the Age of AI AI investments are accelerating, but many organizations are still struggling to turn promising pilots into the business outcomes they expected. The technology may work as intended, but the original business case can quickly get lost once implementation begins. In this episode, Philip Ideson welcomes back Joseph Postiglione, author of Protecting Expected Outcomes in the Age of AI: Why AI Implementation Must Evolve - And the Emergence of Commercial Control. Drawing on his experience in management consulting and procurement, Joseph explains why organizations need to be more intentional about defining, monitoring, and protecting the outcomes behind their AI investments. Joseph introduces the concept of "commercial control" as a complement to traditional technology implementation methodologies. He and Philip explore what it takes to build stronger business cases, why efficiency gains need a clear plan for how freed capacity will create value, and how AI itself could help organizations identify when expected outcomes begin to drift. They also discuss an important opportunity for procurement: bringing their commercial expertise into enterprise-wide AI investments and helping the business connect technology decisions to measurable results. In this episode, Joseph discusses how to: -Define expected outcomes before an AI implementation begins -Build business cases that go beyond savings and efficiency metrics -Monitor performance and identify why expected outcomes are drifting -Use commercial control to create earlier opportunities to intervene and adjust -Position procurement as a valuable contributor to enterprise technology investments -Turn stronger AI implementation discipline into a source of competitive advantage Links: Joseph Postiglione 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
August 12 · 29 min
EP 13: Making Sense of the Procuretech Landscape: Practical Insights for CPOs W/ Samir Khushalani
"The biggest risk today is not making the wrong AI decision. It is making no decision at all while everyone else is learning." Samir Khushalani, Senior Advisor, Art of Procurement Procurement leaders now face more technology choices than ever, with new AI-enabled solutions emerging constantly. In this environment, picking the right tools can be overwhelming, and procurement often struggles with knowing where to start, how to avoid analysis paralysis, and ensuring their tech choices drive real business outcomes. In this episode, Philip Ideson speaks with Samir Khushalani, Art of Procurement Senior Advisor and a former McKinsey digital procurement leader. Samir has guided Fortune 500 companies and is helping to shape the ProcureTech100, the industry's top guide to procurement technology. He breaks down how to navigate a fragmented market, balance risk and urgency, and scale impact without getting stuck in "pilot purgatory." In this episode, Samir covers how to: -Take practical steps to avoid technology indecision -Identify true AI-native solutions versus "AI-wrapped" legacy tools -Partner with providers who aim for business impact, not just automation -Build a flexible procurement tech stack for lasting competitiveness Links: Samir Khushalani on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samirkhushalani/ Art of Procurement Welcomes Samir Khushalani as Senior Advisor: https://artofprocurement.com/blog/blog-art-of-procurement-welcomes-samir-khushalani-as-senior-advisor Download the 2025-26 ProcureTech100 Yearbook: https://artofprocurement.com/procuretech100-2026 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
August 10 · 36 min
878: Building Procurement as a Strategic Growth Engine W/ Travis Hodge
"Procurement's future is bright, when we continue to do it the right way for the right reasons." - Travis Hodge, Director of Enterprise Sourcing & Procurement at nVent Procurement is no longer just a back-office function. As business models shift and digital transformation accelerates, procurement leaders face more pressure (and more opportunities) than ever to become true business partners. Supplier experience, strategic talent, and AI-enabled efficiency are fast becoming the new playbook for teams aiming to drive results in hyperscale markets. This episode features Travis Hodge, Director of Enterprise Sourcing and Procurement at nVent, who shares how his organization is reinventing both its processes and culture to keep pace with customer needs and rapid growth. Recorded at Ivalua's 'Procurement Innovation on Tour' Summit in Chicago, Travis offers candid insights on supplier segmentation, why executive sponsorship matters, and the operational and emotional impact of genuine employee engagement. His approach starts with treating suppliers as partners and ensuring procurement is measured not just on savings, but on real business value delivered in order to position procurement as a growth engine. In this episode, Travis discusses: -Reframe supplier experience as a cornerstone of transformation and value -Leverage executive sponsorship to unlock strategic change -Connect AI, automation, and data strategy to tangible business outcomes -Prioritize employee experience as a real differentiator Links: Travis Hodge on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/travis-hodge-phd-612139125/ Procurement Innovation on Tour: https://www.ivalua.com/procurement-innovation-on-tour/ 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
August 3 · 28 min
877: Building Trust for Digital Supply Chain Success W/ Mohit Ahuja
"Visibility is not the end goal. The end goal is how does that visibility enable me to make a quick decision." - Mohit Ahuja, Strategy & Transformation Leader, Caterpillar Business leaders can no longer afford to think about digital procurement as "plug and play." This is especially true in manufacturing, where the risks of disruption run deep. Legacy systems, change-weary teams, and rapid-fire market shifts all raise the stakes for today's CPOs. In this episode, Mohit Ahuja, a strategy and transformation leader at Caterpillar, shares what it takes to navigate these challenges. Drawing on over 16 years across engineering, supply chain, and operations, Mohit offers candid stories and actionable strategies for moving the needle on digital transformation without leaving people behind. Whether you're wrestling with technical debt, siloed teams, or cultural resistance, this episode delivers perspective for CPOs and procurement professionals trying to drive lasting impact. In this episode, Mohit covers how procurement can: -Move from reactive to proactive and enable real-time, predictive risk management -Build trust on the shop floor by practicing adaptive leadership -Focus on early, low-risk wins to build momentum for transformation -Shift from cost minimization to resilience as a core procurement goal Links: Mohit Ahuja on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mohit--ahuja/ 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
July 29 · 33 min
EP 12: Provider of the Week: Una
"It's amazing how you can rise to the top just by doing what you say you're going to do and being honest about what you can't do." - Anthony Clervi, Managing Partner, Una Procurement teams today are under intense pressure to deliver savings, manage risk, and do more with less… all while digital transformation reshapes the landscape. For many, group purchasing organizations (GPOs) sound good on paper, but open questions about control and fit. What does it take to find a true partner in this space? In this Provider of the Week episode, Anthony Clervi, Managing Partner at Una, joins us to break down what's changed in indirect spend and what CPOs should look for in a partner. From the "dietician, not the butcher" mindset to embracing AI and ongoing alignment, Anthony shares why a consultative, agile approach beats one-size-fits-all solutions. In this episode, Anthony covers: -How GPOs balance speed, savings, and transparency -When to bring in partners like Una (and why earlier is better) -Ways to adapt GPO services to your team's resource and maturity levels -How ongoing supplier alignment drives long-term value -Why a human, empathy-first approach matters now more than ever Links: Anthony Clervi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyclervi/ Provider Profile: Una: https://artofprocurement.com/provider-directory/una 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
July 27 · 41 min
876: AI with Purpose: Designing Procurement's Next Chapter W/ Gaël De Martelaere
"If you build AI on top of weak foundations, you're going to have a very broken system." - Gaël De Martelaere, Chief Procurement Officer, Hexion AI is driving enormous change in procurement, but success relies on more than just new tools. The real challenge is rebuilding the foundations (data, process, and team mindsets) while still delivering results for the business today. In this episode, Gaël De Martelaere, CPO at Hexion, joins Philip Ideson to share how his team is moving beyond traditional procurement and redefining value for both customers and stakeholders. Gaël brings decades of experience, a healthy dose of curiosity, and a pragmatic focus on experimentation, not perfection. In this episode, Gaël also speaks about: -Transforming procurement to support broader business reinvention -Rebuilding foundational processes with AI in mind -Building digital fluency and accountability at every level -Focusing on experimentation over multi-year perfection plans -Why curiosity and sound judgment matter now more than ever Links: Gaël De Martelaere on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gaeldemartelaere/ 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
July 20 · 47 min
875: How to Transform Every Procurement Partnership W/ Kate Vitasek
"When you have a great partnership, the value that you can create is unbelievable if you know how to do it." - Kate Vitasek Despite the best intentions, nearly 70% of business partnerships unravel within three years. Why is it so difficult to build relationships that deliver value, and what are the practical steps procurement leaders can take to break the cycle? Kate Vitasek, pioneering researcher and author of the Vested series of books, joins host Philip Ideson to share hard-won lessons from decades in the field. Her new book, The Vested Way: Five Rules for Achieving the Impossible, offers a flexible set of principles that work for deals of any size, in any industry. These stories (from Fortune 500 cases to community partnerships) reveal what really makes collaboration succeed… or stall. Whether you're negotiating your next billion-dollar outsourcing contract or building a local alliance, Kate's Vested rules can help you unlock real, lasting value. In this episode, Kate covers: -Why partnerships fail and how you can avoid the common traps -How to apply the five rules for outcome-focused, trust-based partnerships -Measuring and managing cultural fit, even when there are big gaps -Using automation to support (not replace) strategic relationships -Moving your team from buying transactions to architecting business outcomes Links: Kate Vitasek on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katevitasek/ The Vested Way: Five Rules for Achieving the Impossible: https://a.co/d/09An1hNu 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
July 15 · 24 min
EP 11: Provider of the Week: Valdera
Chemical procurement's complexity isn't news, but the pace of change – and risk – is climbing fast. With AI sweeping through every corner of the business, leaders charged with sourcing chemicals and raw materials have reached a fork in the road: modernize, or fall behind. Dheev Arulmani, COO and co-founder of Valdera, brings deep chemical and consulting experience to this Provider of the Week episode of the ProcureTech Insider podcast. He shares how Valdera's AI-powered sourcing platform is transforming the end-to-end procurement workflow, empowering both seasoned category managers and less specialized teams to deliver better costs, reduced risk, and faster innovation. If you want practical advice on what "AI-native" procurement looks like in chemicals and where the value is proven, this is an episode to queue up. In this episode, Dheev discusses: -Why "one size fits all" tech rarely delivers for chemical sourcing -How to equip non-specialists to manage sophisticated materials at scale -Digitizing high-impact steps like spec-sheet mapping, tariff estimates, and supplier feedback -How to move quickly by starting small (then expand after proving ROI) -Balancing cost, resilience, and innovation to drive measurable outcomes
July 13 · 37 min
874: Building Resilience Beyond Tier One: Hard Truths About Risk and Visibility W/ Harald Nitschinger
"Resilience doesn't mean a supply chain that doesn't see risk. That's impossible. It means setting yourself up to withstand shocks and disruptions." - Harald Nitschinger, Co-founder and CEO, Prewave Today's supply chains operate in a world of constant shocks, but the risks that matter most rarely show up on procurement's tier one dashboard. Often, the real trouble is buried further downstream, so procurement leaders have to redefine how and where resilience is built and risk is monitored. In this episode, host Philip Ideson speaks with Harald Nitschinger, CEO and Co-founder of Prewave. Harald's team helps some of the world's largest manufacturers map and monitor their supply chains beyond what's visible, harnessing AI and public data to reveal risks buried at tier two, three, and beyond. His insights are especially pertinent for procurement teams wrestling with supply chain visibility or struggling to connect risk data to executive business cases. Harald also shares real-world strategies for unlocking upstream visibility, making the business case for resilience investments, and building an operating model that actually responds when risk hits. In this episode, Phil and Harald discuss: -Surfacing hidden supplier risks using public data and intelligent mapping -Leveraging supply chain transparency in supplier qualification and negotiations -Identifying and monitoring bottlenecks in categories like semiconductors and rare earths -Tying risk scenarios to hard financial impact for practical resilience investments Links: Harald Nitschinger on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harald-nitschinger-88488280/ Prewave company profile in the AOP Provider Directory: https://artofprocurement.com/provider-directory/prewave 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
July 6 · 39 min
873: Creating Capacity for Complex Problem Solving W/ Israel Santiesteban
"We need to evolve from procurement professionals into business leaders with procurement expertise." - Israel Santiesteban, Former Chief Procurement Officer and Head of Supply Chain The next evolution of procurement is about so much more than cost savings. With new digital tools and relentless business change, leaders are being asked to deliver value in new ways and, as a result, develop talent for roles that didn't exist a few years ago. In this episode, Philip Ideson speaks with Israel Santiesteban, a former CPO and supply chain leader with experience across Danone, Kraft Heinz, Schreiber Foods, and more, who's spent decades delivering end-to-end transformation in fast-moving sectors. They discuss what it really takes to unlock the power of data and AI, and why the next generation of procurement jobs will look very different. Israel also opens up about the risks and opportunities of working with startups, the reality behind scenario planning, and why high-performing teams need to shift from transactional work to strategic value-creation. In this episode, Israel also discusses: -How to cut through the hype and use AI for quick wins in neglected indirect spend -Discovering how CPOs can partner with startups for tailored solutions -Ways to move from reactive firefighting to true predictive scenario planning -The importance of building new procurement roles that blend digital fluency with business acumen -Rethinking procurement metrics that show value, not just savings Links: Israel Santiesteban on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/israel-santiesteban-43627b1b/ 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
July 1 · 31 min
EP 10: Supplier Management as a Connected Discipline W/ Jesse Lee
"If your business is getting bigger, then supplier management is going to be ever more important to you." - Jesse Lee, Co-founder, CEO of Brooklyn Solutions Procurement's role in managing suppliers is transforming fast: scope is growing, expectations are higher, and the risks are real. Getting supplier management right is essential to business resilience, especially when the entire organization depends on partners and external providers. In this episode, Brooklyn Solutions CEO Jesse Lee joins ProcureTech Insider host Jyothi Hartley to zero in on today's big challenges and the practical answers that have worked in enterprise environments. Jesse brings experience across engineering, law, and SaaS product management, giving him a unique vantage point on how supplier management actually drives (or stalls) value. Hear their frank conversation about what "good" truly looks like in supplier management, how to connect data and teams, and which steps CPOs should prioritize right now. In this episode, Jesse discusses how procurement should: -Redefine supplier management to accelerate your business roadmap -Address expanding scope: onboarding, third-party risk, and relationship management -Make operational resilience a built-in feature, not an afterthought -Connect data and policies for seamless end-to-end supplier oversight -Build a holistic roadmap when evaluating new solutions Links: Jesse Lee on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesse-lee-64310a/ Visit the Brooklyn Solutions profile in the AOP Provider Directory: https://artofprocurement.com/provider-directory/brooklyn-solutions 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
June 29 · 28 min
872: Beyond Automation: Accelerating Agentic AI Transformation in Procurement W/ Vishal Patel
"The future of procurement isn't actually AI. It's people using AI to improve business outcomes and improve their own value add." - Vishal Patel, SVP Product & Customer Marketing at Ivalua Many procurement teams have adopted AI in some aspect, but only a few have figured out how to turn those early experiments into sustainable, scalable business value. With market expectations rising and teams overstretched, leaders are being challenged to translate AI's potential into measurable outcomes. In this episode, Philip Ideson speaks with Vishal Patel, SVP of Product and Customer Marketing at Ivalua, at their Procurement Innovation On Tour event. Vishal candidly shares what separates companies truly scaling value from those still spinning their wheels, from focusing on quick wins to treating AI as strategic muscle instead of just another tool. He also shares several practical ways procurement can accelerate their AI journey, without waiting for perfect conditions… or data. In this episode, Vishal discusses how to: -Identify quick-win AI projects that unlock real business value -Turn data challenges into progress instead of roadblocks -Build confidence and trust through transparency and feedback -Avoid "agent sprawl" and focus on scalable skills -Make AI a capability, not just software Links: Vishal Patel on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vishal-patel-841574/ 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
June 22 · 46 min
871: The New Rules of Procurement Leadership W/ Gary Mizhir
"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
June 17 · 25 min
EP 09: Provider of the Week: ProcureAbility
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

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