Proc-N-Roll : Your guide to practical procurement!

In a tough negotiation, where do you draw the line between a strategic bluff and an unethical lie? In this episode, Natasha, Conrad, and Zach continue their in-depth exploration of procurement ethics, focusing on the practical, in-the-moment dilemmas of negotiation. The hosts share candidly about their own personal values, the pressures they've faced, and the frameworks they use to make tough...

The conversation on procurement ethics and integrity continues, and this time, the hosts have brought in a special guest: a real "proc star," Ash Hall , former head of procurement at Lincoln Electric and Mercury Systems. Join Natasha Gurevich, Conrad Smith, and their guest Ash Hall as they dive deep into the practical, "in the trenches" dilemmas of the RFP process. They share c...

Is your procurement process truly ethical, or are there hidden gray areas you haven't considered? In this episode, the Proc & Roll team tackles the critical and complex topic of ethics and integrity. Join Natasha Gurevich, Conrad Smith, and Zachary Bachir as they move beyond clear-cut issues like bribery to explore the subtle, everyday dilemmas that professionals face in negotiations, RFPs...

Procurement reports millions in savings, but does the CFO actually believe the numbers? In this follow-up to our savings discussion, the Proc & Roll team tackles the biggest challenge in procurement: credibility . Join Natasha Gurevich, Conrad Smith, and Zachary Bachir as they share candid stories and practical strategies for building unshakeable trust with your finance partners. They break do...

It's the proverbial 2 a.m. call from the CFO: "The quarter is bad, I need your team to deliver savings". Do you become the "cost police" and start squeezing suppliers, or do you step up as a strategic partner? In this episode, Natasha Gurevich, Conrad Smith, and Zach Bachir tackle the "S-word" of procurement. They share a practical playbook for generating real val...

ESG is a top priority for many companies, but are we approaching it the right way? In this episode, Zachary, Natasha, and Conrad explore the realities of procurement's role in driving Environmental, Social, and Governance initiatives. They move beyond theory to discuss how to make ESG a practical, value-driving part of your strategy, not just another corporate checkbox. Drawing on decades of e...

AI is poised to change everything, but will it fix the strained relationship between Legal and Procurement, or make it worse? In this special episode, Natasha and Conrad are joined by two legal powerhouses, Alissa Harvey Dawson and Ana Erickson, to explore the critical intersection of technology, law, and procurement. They discuss how to move beyond friction, leverage AI responsibly, and build a t...

Contracts are a fundamental part of procurement, but are we making them more complicated than they need to be? In this episode, Zachary, Natasha, and Conrad dive deep into the realities of contracting in procurement. They discuss when a contract is truly necessary, how to balance speed with risk, and why procurement and legal teams often find themselves at odds. Drawing on their combined decades o...

🎸 Automate Like a Rock Star: AI Agents in Procurement 🎸 In this episode of Proc-N-Roll , Conrad and Zach explore how procurement professionals can harness the power of AI agents and workflow automation to revolutionize contract management and beyond. Zach walks through a practical demo of building an AI-driven contract analysis tool using Zapier , OpenAI’s GPT-4 , and Google Sheets , showing how...

🎉 New Podcast Alert! | Jam Session  Hosted by Conrad, Natasha, and Zach, Jam Session brings guests from procurement leaders to changemakers to talk candidly about the challenges they face, their strategies, and how they turn complexity into opportunity. When tariffs rise and trade tensions grow, how can procurement stay ahead of the curve? In this episode of Jam Session, Natasha, Conrad, and Zach...

How should procurement respond when the ground shifts beneath our feet? In this episode, Zach, Natasha, and Conrad break down how procurement teams can stay resilient in the face of trade disruptions, supply chain shocks, and global uncertainty. They cover proactive strategies for visibility, diversification, supplier collaboration, and why procurement must think beyond cost to lead through volati...

In this episode of Proc & Roll , Zach Bachir, Natasha Gurevich, and Conrad Smith unpack the real reason procurement policies are often ignored — and what it takes to make them actually work. They explore: Why most policies are too long and disconnected from reality How a 2-page policy worked at a $52B company The importance of embedding policy into workflows and tools When rules matter — and w...

In this episode of Proc & Roll, we’re joined by legendary procurement disruptor Elouise Epstein from Kearney to talk about the future of procurement — and what it really takes to lead in an AI-powered world. From spider charts to SaaS collapse to agent-based orchestration, Elouise breaks down what’s coming next and why most procurement teams aren’t ready for it. Plus, we dive into leadership g...

Procurement orchestration tools promise to simplify intake, speed up processes, and unify tech stacks. But is it really the solution teams need right now? In Part 2 of our orchestration deep dive, Natasha and Conrad go beyond the hype to ask the hard questions:Is orchestration worth the investment? Where does it fit in the tech stack? And most importantly—what problem are you really trying to solv...

“Orchestration” is showing up everywhere — conference panels, cold pitches, and LinkedIn posts. But what does it actually mean? And more importantly, should your procurement team care? In Part 1 of this two-part episode, Natasha and Conrad unpack the rise of procurement orchestration and why it’s suddenly in the spotlight.💡 In this episode: • What orchestration actually is (beyond the buzzword) •...

Feeling overwhelmed by the exploding procurement technology landscape? Join Natasha, Conrad, and Zach as they break down the evolution of procurement tech from paper-based systems to today's AI-powered solutions. Get practical advice on assessing your tech stack, learn why "less is more" with customization, and discover how to choose the right tools for your organization. From master data manageme...

Tired of playing the same old savings tune? Join the Proc & Roll crew as they turn up the volume on procurement's evolution from pure cost-cutting to driving real business value. Procurement veterans Zach, Natasha, and Conrad share war stories about breaking free from the "S-word" stigma and reveal how modern teams are becoming strategic rockstars. Discover how procurement is wri...

🎸 In this head-banging episode, your favorite procurement rockstars break down why nailing the basics is your ticket to procurement stardom. Join Zach, Natasha, and Conrad as they riff on stakeholder mapping, data visibility, and why chasing the latest tech won't save you if your fundamentals aren't solid. Get ready to rock the essentials to make your procurement function a chart-topper!...

🎸 Want to turn skeptical stakeholders into your biggest fans? Join procurement powerhouse Natasha, innovator Conrad, and expert Zach as they share real stories and strategies for breaking down business barriers and building trust. Learn how to move from being procurement's opening act to the company's headliner. Whether you're struggling with resistant departments or aiming for C-suite influence,...

Ready to level up your feedback game? In this episode of Proc-N-Roll, we're getting real about giving and receiving feedback in procurement. Our host Zach brings together procurement powerhouses Natasha Gurevich (ex-CPO at IBM, McKesson, and Salesforce) and Conrad Smith (former Intel CPO turned startup CEO) to discuss what makes feedback tick. There is no corporate fluff here—just honest talk...

What makes a procurement superstar? In this episode, we're breaking down the essential skills that can make or break your procurement career. Join former Adobe CPO Conrad Smith, procurement leader Natasha Gurevich, and host Zach Bachir as they reveal why EQ might trump technical skills, how AI is reshaping the procurement toolbox, and why being "radically open to feedback" could be y...

In this episode of Proc-n-Roll, our hosts Zach, Natasha, and Conrad tackle the crucial topic of risk management in procurement for 2025. Drawing from their combined 70+ years of experience, they discuss how procurement teams can prioritize and manage risks in today's complex business landscape. The conversation covers everything from supply chain disruptions and regulatory compliance to practical...

Conrad from Graphite, along with Natasha and Zachary, discuss the evolution of procurement, highlighting its transition from an essential, tactical function to a more strategic one, focusing on value, transparency, and integrity. They explore the challenges of having a centralized procurement process versus a "shadow procurement organization" and the importance of tailoring procurement p...

Join procurement experts Zach, Natasha Gurevich, and Conrad on Proc and Roll as they share their bold predictions for procurement in 2025. From mastering the basics and aligning priorities with business goals to navigating the rapid rise of AI and emerging technologies, this episode dives into how organizations can evolve amidst industry challenges. Explore the shift from cost savings to enterpris...

This episode of Proc&Roll dives into procurement transformation, exploring what it truly means and how to approach it. The hosts, Natasha, Zach, and Conrad, with their combined 70 years of experience, emphasize that transformation is a holistic endeavor encompassing people, processes, technology, and stakeholder engagement. They debate the merits of "big bang" versus incremental approaches, hi...