The Sourcing Hero

“I’m having an issue with one of my suppliers.”  That is how many conversations begin between procurement and the business. While a problem has been recognized, and the business knows it needs to be resolved, they can’t risk their day-to-day relationship with that supplier. Enter their friends in procurement. In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Joseph Scull. Jo...

On September 26th, Hurricane Helene hit Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Hurricane Milton hit Florida less than two weeks later. The stories coming from these states are shocking, devastating, and inspiring - all at the same time. In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes back Kris Lance, Vice President and Senior Director at...

Every time the world is hit by a supply chain disruption, strategies are changed, new technologies are invented, implemented, and invested in, and everyone vows to be too agile and resilient for it to happen again. And yet it does - there is always another surprise, another disruption around the corner. In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Aviv Castro. Aviv is t...

Sometimes procurement says “savings” and people’s eyes light up with the possibilities associated with a budget poised to go further. Other times, their eyes glaze over and their attention drifts… elsewhere. Like anywhere else.  The trick for procurement teams who want to build strong internal relationships is knowing the difference - and communicating accordingly. In this episode of The Sourcing...

Procurement is a difficult field to work in. Days are busy, unpredictable, and often stressful. Each person’s ability to perform despite the challenges determines not only their evaluation or procurement’s evaluation, but the financial success of the entire company. Doesn’t it make sense to look for guidance and support from a higher power? In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly...

Supplier diversity programs have gotten a lot of attention in recent years, but the values and vision that underpin them is hardly new. Some dedicated advocates have been working since the 1960s to create opportunities and develop capabilities at the same time. Our guest in this episode is one of those advocates. In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes James Lowry....

According to Merriam-Webster, an October Surprise is “a significant revelation or event in the month prior to an election that has the potential to shift public opinion about an election candidate and that is often orchestrated to influence the election's outcome.” What will it be in 2024? Anyone’s guess could be right. In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes back...

Procurement is notorious for attracting professionals from all backgrounds and dispositions, so how could there possibly be one right way to ‘do procurement?’ There couldn't be. Each individual has an opportunity to put their own spin on everything from negotiation to strategy development and relationship building. In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Hugo Sanch...

Procurement is laser focused on spend, suppliers, risk, sustainability, regulations and more… is it possible that we need to add LOVE to the list of things we are trying to contribute to the organization? In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Natalia Pickett. Natalia is Head of Procurement at Keolis Amey, a global transportation company focused on public transpor...

We are all subject to stereotypes about what procurement professionals are like, what suppliers are like, and what procurement-supplier relationships are like. But those kinds of models are made to be broken, often to the benefit of everyone involved. In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Keri Peña. Keri didn’t start her career in procurement - she started in IT...

We’re all constantly being bombarded with breaking news about the most sensitive topics - and almost nothing seems to be off-limits anymore, even in the workplace. Add to that sensational, over-the-top media coverage and it can be hard to think straight - but it isn't impossible. In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes back Kris Lance, Vice President and General Ma...

Procurement thinks that the accounts payable team ‘just’ pays suppliers. Accounts payable teams think that procurement ‘just’ finds suppliers and negotiates contracts. In reality, both teams do quite a bit more - and the better they understand each other’s priorities, contributions, and challenges, the more they can do for each other and for the business. In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podca...

Although AI is not new, applications of it are constantly evolving. This is especially true of generative AI. The low barrier to use encourages innovation and experimentation, and people are learning to use it personally and professionally. Over time, it is likely to become so pervasive that anyone who does not develop a basic understanding may be left behind.  In this episode of The Sourcing Hero...

Procurement professionals need to have excellent soft skills, especially when they are working across geographies and cultures. A simple gesture like a handshake is expected in one culture, and may offend in another. Knowing the difference and being able to read the room are essential. In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Dupre Jones. Dupre is a Regional Categor...

After the ‘working from home’ movement that began a few years ago, the professional world then passed through ‘quiet quitting’ on its way to something that feels a little heavier. Whether we call it apathy, nihilism, or inertia, the current mood is affecting individuals and teams in a way that we should all be aware of. In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes back...

When we think about what excellence looks like, especially on a podcast about heroism, it would be reasonable to assume that it involves feats of superhuman strength, altruistic triumph, and being 100% on point 110% of the time. Not so, says this episode’s guest. Excellence is doing just that much better than the competition - and your own past performance - consistently over the long term. In thi...

Fast growth company leadership teams have a lot on their plates. They are balancing building a solution or offering, building brand recognition, and closing deals. But no concern is higher priority than funding. In order to secure that funding, they also need to invest in accounting - and it is never too soon to get started. In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes...

When procurement needs to deliver savings, the reflexive response is usually to go to market, approaching suppliers for discounts or putting a contract out to bid. While this approach works, the results often pale in comparison to what procurement can deliver by having internal conversations about specifications, requirements, and projected demand.   In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, H...

For all of the hopes and expectations around AI’s ability to support human decision making, it is important to acknowledge that people and companies make decisions for different kinds of reasons. According to Aristotle (384 BCE – 322 BCE), there are three persuasions: logos, pathos, and ethos. Thousands of years after his death, we are still making decisions on logic, emotion, and character, or so...

Most of us think about Taiwan, China, and - to some extent - the U.S. when it comes to semiconductor manufacturing… but Japan is just as critical. They are a primary (and dominant) supplier of semiconductor related chemicals, packaging materials, and tools. In fact, Japan views the industry as part of their national security strategy, and is currently investing nearly one percent of GDP in those c...

The volume of data available at our fingertips can sometimes create the illusion that any information is accessible, that decision making is improved, and that failure is avoidable. Once we get past that illusion and accept the reality of even data-driven decision making, we can finally be on the road to success. In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Blake Tablak...

There will always be challenges to overcome - personally, professionally, and combined - but by finding the courage to work in community and to receive all each employee has to give, leaders can allow themselves and their teams to attain a new level of achievement. All it takes is a bit of generosity, purposefully carried out. In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcome...

The public and private sectors both have a great need for top procurement talent. And while their stakeholders, objectives, and processes differ in some ways, they are also subject to the same economic forces and market trends. Sometimes the dynamics in one of their sectors even has an impact on the other. In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Dwight Gibbs. Dwigh...

The H5N1 virus (a.k.a. ‘Bird flu’) is not just spreading among birds in the supply chain. It has recently jumped to beef cattle and - in just a few cases - human beings. It has now been found in 32 herds in 8 states. But is it time to worry?  In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes back Kris Lance, Senior Director at Una, for a recurring monthly conversation about...

Every single day, successful retailers overcome challenges that few other industries will ever have to face. Complex supply chains, uncertain demand, and - increasingly - regulations that not only force them to consider the big picture but also vary by geography. In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Eric Linxwiler. Eric is the Senior Vice President of Retail Sol...