Shows
The Sourcing HeroEp 232: ‘Holding the Rope’ on Supplier Risk and Sustainability feat. Dru KrupinskySupplier due diligence is one of the most important and impactful activities that procurement leads. Managing risk and ensuring visibility into supplier commitments on sustainability-related business objectives requires constant involvement and careful oversight. These programs depend upon senior-level commitment, but they must also be flexible enough to work across complex, decentralized organizations, and to allow different stakeholder groups inside and outside of the organization to participate.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Dru Krupinsky. Dru is a Senior Manager in procurement at Gilead Sciences. More specifically, he is focused on supplier r...
2026-02-1125 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 231: Respecting the Challenge of Transformation feat. Ketul PatelSupply chain transformation isn’t easy. Statistics suggest that 70 percent of all transformations fail and 88 percent stop short of achieving their original objectives.
Compare that to another kind of challenge - like climbing to Everest Base Camp, where 60-70 percent of all people who start the journey make it to the top. Could this possibly mean that climbing Mount Everest is easier than transformation?
No, says this episode’s guest - but we can take a lot of lessons from why the Mount Everest success rate is higher. For one thing, climbers respect the challenge from...
2026-01-2832 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 230: Turning Human Relationships into Business Outcomes feat. Matthieu GarnierProcurement may just be one of the most social functions in the company. Not only does the team have to interact successfully with the executive team, budget holders, other stakeholders, and suppliers, but they must do so without having authority over any of them. Their relational skills - including communication, negotiation, and influencing - are constantly being put to the test.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Matthieu Garnier. Mattheu has extensive procurement experience, including in the automotive industry, where the results of a negotiation or a relationship are f...
2025-12-1729 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 229: Procurement as a Talent Launching Pad feat. Pamela GerberThe range of skills and talent procurement professionals need in order to be successful is dizzying, but that also means that they end up being prime candidates for other roles. As procurement professionals deliberately build and add to those skills, they both increase their individual career trajectories and also increase the impact and output of the function.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Pamela Gerber. Pamela is a senior procurement executive with a long track record of working in sourcing and procurement roles across industries. That experience has given her many...
2025-11-1232 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 228: Procurement Skills That Save Money feat. Philip IdesonThere was a time when the only objective procurement had to satisfy was saving the company money, and the only way to do that was to negotiate tough with suppliers. Today, however, the business’s expectations are much greater - a shift that is raising the bar for procurement professionals in all industries and across categories of spend.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes back Philip Ideson, Founder and Managing Director at Art of Procurement. They take the opportunity to discuss one of the broader themes we are hearing about in pr...
2025-09-1723 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 227: The Power and Sophistication of Payments feat. Brian GoudieWhile the options available to consumers may make payments seem simple, the underlying complexity is enough to make small to mid-sized business owners’ heads spin. Selecting the right payments provider can set a small business up for success - by allowing them to do what they do best.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Brian Goudie. Brian is the Executive Chairman at Aurora Payments. By providing secure payments solutions, Aurora has built a portfolio of more than 29,000 small and medium-sized merchants that process $12 billion annually. Brian is also a small business ow...
2025-09-1638 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 226: Understanding and Celebrating Inclusive Teams feat. Andrés TapiaHow we think about inclusivity in today’s workforce has a lot to do with how we view diversity. The strongest, most resilient teams take the best characteristics, experiences, and approaches that each individual member has to offer, shine a light on those qualities, and then weave them together into an unbreakable fabric.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Andrés Tapia.
Andrés is one of the authors of the book The 5 Disciplines of Inclusive Teams: Unlocking Collective Power to Achieve Breakthrough. Andrés was a Senior Client Partne...
2025-07-3026 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 225: Building a Dynamic Board of Directors feat. James Drury IIIA Board of Directors plays a critical role in the success of the company they advise. Ensuring that the right members are on that Board, and that each Board has the right mix of personalities, experiences, and functional knowledge is a significant and ongoing challenge - but one that is worth the effort to get right.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes James Drury III, the Founder, Chairman, and CEO of JamesDruryPartners. Jim has over 30 years of experience advising Fortune 100 CEOs and senior executives, and has placed hundreds of leaders on t...
2025-07-2322 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 224: A Middle Eastern Perspective on Global Supply Chains feat. Samah Mahdi AbdullaSupply chains must be a product of the geography they support, leading to specific requirements around transport modes, temperature control, and even warehousing capacity. This also means that supply chain experts must be as well versed in the infrastructure and logistics of their local area as they are that of their suppliers.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Samah Mahdi Abdulla. Samah is a supply chain professional with over 15 years of experience and a master's degree in Logistics, Procurement, and Supply Chain Management. She is based in Bahrain and has worked...
2025-07-1612 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 223: Success at the Intersection of Leadership, Culture, and Technology feat. Dr. Shanda GoreMost professionals have had the opportunity to work for both wonderful and less-than-wonderful leaders at one time or another. But while we are likely to notice the difference, being able to explain what makes one individual more successful than another may be challenging.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Dr. Shanda Gore. Dr. Gore is the Founder and CEO of Mays Associates, and the author of a new book titled The PinLeader Path: Identify, Engage, and Develop Effective Human and AI Leadership for Your Organizational Culture. Dr. Gore has been studying...
2025-07-0930 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 222: Communication as Persuasion in Procurement & Beyond feat. Liz MilanCommunication is a complex craft. It involves speaking clearly and with a consistent message, actively listening to see how the message is received, and - the ultimate test - if we are communicating to persuade, watching to see if that message has the desired motivating effect.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Liz Milan. Liz is a former procurement executive and adjunct at the University of Portland Pamplin Business School where she teaches a course on Negotiation and Persuasion. She is currently doing board work for Open Adoption and Family Services.
2025-07-0220 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 220: Hitchhiker’s Guide to Procurement & Sales feat. Mike LanderProcurement thinks sales is always trying to sell them something that isn’t what they want, is over priced, or won’t live up to the hype. Sales thinks procurement is deliberately trying to throw a wrench in a long proposal process, only cares about price, and has no feelings at all.
What if they are both wrong?
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Mike Lander. Mike is the CEO of Piscari, a coaching firm that helps sell-side teams improve their negotiating skills, better understand procurement buyers, and - ulti...
2025-07-0131 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 221: Building Supply Chain Resilience in an Uncertain World feat. Sunder Balakrishnan"It ain't about how hard you get hit, it's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward." - Rocky Balboa
Supply chain professionals know how to take a hit. In most cases, they are strong enough to get back up time and time again. How quickly they are back on their feet each time is an indication of resilience, an essential quality that can be improved through reflection, examination, and analysis.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Sunder Balakrishnan. Sunder is the Director of Supply Chain...
2025-06-2524 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 219: Why and What… but the HOW? feat. Tara MilburnIt is common for business strategy discussions to start with a definition of ‘Why?’ This makes it easier for leadership teams to formalize and articulate the reasons behind a set of decisions, and to share that vision with the rest of the company. As hard as it is to define a shared ‘Why?’ pairing that with an effective ‘How?’ may be even harder.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Tara Milburn. Tara is the President and CEO at Ethical Swag, a Certified B Corp and the leading on-line distributor of sustainably sourced promo...
2025-06-1125 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 218: Taking the Lead in Technical Procurement feat. Chuck ShehadiThe discussion about how much technical category knowledge procurement should have is ongoing - and the right answer depends a lot on the company in question. When close collaboration is needed between procurement, R&D, and suppliers, technical expertise is a must, but so are humility and curiosity.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Chuck Shehadi. Chuck is the COO at Solugen, a chemical manufacturing company based in Houston, Texas. When it comes to the skills required to be considered a talented procurement professional in his world, that means technical...
2025-06-0420 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 216: Looking at Procurement Through the Lens of Finance feat. Mark GilhamFor most procurement professionals, the only contact they have with finance is when their savings projections are being audited or approved for internal communication. Those are hardly the circumstances under which collaborative relationships form - but that doesn’t have to be the extent of their contact.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Mark Gilham. Mark is the Vice President and Head of the Enable Advisory practice. Most of his past positions have been strategic finance and accounting roles, allowing him to develop a first hand perspective that can certainly help pr...
2025-05-2126 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 215: Pranks, Purpose, and Procurement Leadership feat. Dr. Cindie BurkettProcurement is the kind of job where success is largely fueled by the strength of your relationships. Having trust and respect between procurement and the business, as well as between procurement and suppliers, can often make or break an effort. But it all starts with the team dynamic that exists within procurement.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Dr. Cindie Burkett. Cindie is the Vice President of Procurement for Specialty Dental Brands where she is busy building out her procurement team and forging relationships with suppliers for the good of the...
2025-05-1423 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 214: Making a Deal from Both Sides of the Table feat. John LathamProcurement has come a long way over the last few decades, but the fact that they always want to achieve more shouldn’t lead them to discount or overlook how good they have it today. Whether that means the quality of supplier relationships, the speed of spend analytics, or the regard they enjoy from stakeholders, there is a lot to be grateful for.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes John Latham. John has a really interesting mix of experience - deep category expertise on the buy side of the procurement process, bu...
2025-05-0720 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 213: Trying Regenerative Sportswear on for Size - feat. Kris LanceActivewear company Under Armour unveiled a line of regenerative sportswear at Milan Fashion Week in 2025. This is their first collaboration with recent acquisition Unless Collective, a producer of zero-plastic, plant-based fashion.
The effort to remove non-degradable textiles from landfills is admirable, but will it work?
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes back Kris Lance, Vice President and Senior Director at Una, for a monthly conversation about current news stories. Kris has experience in multiple industries and has his finger on the pulse of the trends and topics that procurement, s...
2025-04-3020 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 212: Learning to Appreciate the Value of Time feat. Vytas SliesoraitisWhat would it feel like if all of the tasks, meetings, obligations, and pressures of work were suddenly… gone? Would it be a relief or would the stress associated with making the decision to step away from work be so strong that it ruined your newfound freedom?
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Vytas Sliesoraitis. Vytas is a career procurement professional with experience at companies like Intel, Google, Epic Games, and Gilead Sciences. That said, it is the time he has spent away from the office, taking a deliberate sabbatical, that ha...
2025-04-2322 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 211: Is your ‘happy place’ hiring? feat. Gale DaikokuA career is a heck of a thing to manage - especially when it is your own. You change with each phase of growth and new experience, and your job prospects change as well. The better you know yourself and what makes you happy - yes, HAPPY - at work, the more successful you will be in your next endeavor.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Gale Daikoku. In addition to having deep experience in the procurement space and the global influencer marketing space, Gale is a highly professional networker. She...
2025-04-1624 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 210: Totally Understanding TCO feat. Louis BastoneWhile procurement often thinks about purchase price as equal to cost, some purchases come with a longer term cost to own and maintain. Being able to understand the concept of total cost of ownership (TCO) and factor that into sourcing and award decisions will ultimately determine whether procurement’s negotiated savings reach the bottom line or evaporate into costs for waste, downtime, and maintenance.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Louis Bastone. Louis is the Senior Indirect Procurement Category Manager - Real Estate and Facilities at ASML. After holding sourcing specialist an...
2025-04-0920 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 209: Emotions Aren’t Baggage feat. Ryan ChristensenCould how you think - about yourself - change the way you experience the world around you?
We all have past experiences that we carry with us, often for life. Those experiences and how we process them not only become a part of who we are, they influence how we process later events and circumstances.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Ryan Christensen. Ryan is a professional hypnotist specializing in peak mental focus and performance. After 23 years of experience in the intelligence community, he’s now worked with hundreds of...
2025-04-0832 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 208: All Cracked Up - Understanding Today’s Egg Prices feat. Kris LanceHard boiled. Over medium. Scrambled. Poached. Deviled. There are lots of ways to enjoy eggs, one of the most popular and least expensive sources of healthy protein available, but lately there has been only one way to describe them: expensive.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes back Kris Lance, Vice President and Senior Director at Una, for a monthly conversation about current news stories. Kris has experience in multiple industries and has his finger on the pulse of the trends and topics that procurement, sourcing, and supply chain professionals need to...
2025-03-2623 minThe Sourcing HeroEp. 207: Balancing Big Bold Bets with Small Pragmatic Moves feat. Priya KumariWe all know that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, but it is easy to forget how intimidating those first few feet can be. Whether procurement is focused on strengthening their core skills or pushing for larger scale impact, it is essential for everyone to be aligned in their thinking, to leverage their strengths, and to know where the journey is expected to end.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Priya Kumari. Priya is a manager at Kearney where she specializes in strategic operations, sustainability, and...
2025-03-1921 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 206: Driving Successful SRM at Scale feat. Celia SGARMost procurement professionals will acknowledge that supplier relationship management (SRM) is a core part of value creation and risk management, but how many organizations are effectively carrying SRM out at scale to the benefit of their company and their suppliers?
Not as many as would like to be successful at supplier relationship management.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Celia SGAR. Celia is the co-founder of Vendor Score IT, a solution based on the premise that procurement can and should improve the way they manage supplier relationships and performance.
2025-03-1223 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 205: Procurement’s Unique Form of Influence feat. Richard BeaumontImagine a group of people is having lunch on the deck of a ship, and that ship is sailing into a storm. Along comes a waiter with a tray of drinks, and that waiter is riding… a monocycle. Even as the seas start to rise and the wind blows, the tray can’t be allowed to fall.
That waiter… is procurement.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Richard Beaumont. Richard is the Founder of Eruditic, a professional training and coaching organization, and the co-host of "The Procurement & Finance Coffee Break"...
2025-03-0522 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 204: Hot Times in the Arctic Circle feat. Kris LanceOne minute you’re going about your business, and the next minute all of the news headlines are focused on the Arctic Circle. What may initially seem like overblown geopolitical drama and hyperbole quickly comes into sharp focus with just a bit of reading: especially where ocean trade routes are concerned.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes back Kris Lance, Vice President and Senior Director at Una, for a monthly conversation about current news stories. Kris has experience in multiple industries and has his finger on the pulse of the trends an...
2025-02-2623 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 203: Alleviating Common Sourcing & Supply Chain Pain Points feat. Eric WesterduinRegardless of the industry you work in, deciding which third parties to work with requires strategic trade-offs, such as choosing between cost, quality, and lead time. Procurement and sourcing professionals play a critical role helping decision makers discuss and rank those variables and then use them to select and contract with suppliers.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Eric Westerduin. Eric is the Founder and Chief Problem Solver at GO Get Made, a global sourcing and manufacturing company that specializes in helping businesses optimize their supply chains and scale efficiently with...
2025-02-1924 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 202: Becoming a Procurement Polyglot feat. Bennett GlacePolyglot - noun. A person who knows and is able to use several languages.
The spoken or written word can divide people as easily as it can unify them - even when they are speaking the same language. Terminology, shorthand, and acronyms may be convenient or efficient, but when they get in the way or fail to communicate the desired meaning, they aren’t doing us any favors.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Bennett Glace. Bennett has held a number of content marketing and communications roles, both inside an...
2025-02-1219 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 201: Setting the Stage for Sustainable Change feat. Ron CrabtreeDepending on your point of view, the idea of transformation is either alluring or terrifying - or maybe a little bit of both? And while procurement teams rarely have the formal skillset to lead transformation projects, they are often tasked with just that. Fortunately, with a bit of planning and some well asked questions, it is possible to keep your transformation on track.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Ron Crabtree. Ron is the CEO of MetaOps and MetaExperts, organizations focused on business process improvement. He has over 30 years of experience...
2025-02-0524 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 200: Fostering the Conditions That Lead to SuccessThe vast majority of podcasts fizzle out before they reach 10 episodes, so making it past that point is a real achievement. 100 episodes is seen as a tipping point, both for the host and the audience. But 200? That puts a show above the crowd.
In this very special 200th episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner is joined by Anthony Clervi, Principal Owner at Una, and Kris Lance, Vice President and General Manager at Una, to mark this milestone with an in-studio conversation.
Listen to - or watch - their conversation to hear about:
2025-01-2933 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 199: A Broader Perspective on Social Procurement feat. Jaime H. PaivaCompanies - and their procurement teams - are always looking for opportunities to differentiate. These opportunities take many forms, but few appeal to leadership, shareholders, customers, and the supplier community as universally as social procurement. Of course, that broad appeal brings systemic challenges with it that procurement will have to be prepared to overcome.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Jaime H. Paiva. Jaime is the Head of Procurement and Vendor Management at Zurich, an insurance company that covers both global and local markets. We met through Colin Downie, a previous...
2025-01-2227 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 198: Testing the Elasticity of Procurement feat. Peter SharoffProcurement is a function whose time has arrived. The question is whether they are ready to make the changes necessary to seize the opportunity and meet business-wide expectations for process and experience at the same time.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Peter Sharoff. Peter has executive-level experience in a number of functional areas, including transformation, integration, finance, and… of course… procurement. As he describes it, he has worked a ‘puzzle piece’ career, having the opportunity to see what each of the pieces of the business is capable of - and the imag...
2025-01-1528 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 197: Sourcing Initiatives That Take Into Account the Strategy of the Business feat. Karen BetancourtWorking for a large ‘household name’ company has both advantages and disadvantages. On the plus side are the established processes, time-tested pathways that keep everything rolling. At the same time, these same processes can be a bit restrictive. Fortunately for procurement, striking a balance of structure and creativity can create the perfect environment for innovation at scale.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Karen Betancourt. Karen is the CEO of Vanguard Medical Logistics, a company that supports the manufacturing, storage, and transportation needs of medical supply chains in Central and South Amer...
2025-01-0824 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 196: The Best of Kris Lance in 2024As listeners know well, the goal of The Sourcing Hero podcast is to capture the epic stories of people who are rising up and beating the odds to create exceptional value within procurement directly from those heroes themselves.
Kris Lance is definitely one of those people. Kris is the Vice President and General Manager at Una, and for the last few years, he has occupied a monthly spot on The Sourcing Hero podcast schedule, discussing current news stories, trends, and supply chain issues.
In today’s very first episode of 2025, Kelly Barner take a look ba...
2025-01-0114 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 195: Basking in the Golden Hour feat. Kris LanceAs we approach the end of the year - not to mention the holiday season - many of us will be taking time to stop and reflect. Was the year gone by what we expected? What hopes, wishes, and aspirations will we step into the new year holding high?
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes back Kris Lance, Vice President and General Manager at Una, for a monthly conversation about current news stories. Kris has experience in multiple industries and has his finger on the pulse of the trends and topics...
2024-12-1823 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 194: Top Sourcing Hero Episodes of 2024The goal of The Sourcing Hero Podcast is to capture the epic stories of people who are rising up and beating the odds to create exceptional value within procurement - directly from those heroes themselves.
Over the last 12 months, we’ve heard from some of the most innovative minds in procurement and beyond to explore topics that range from cutting-edge optimization strategies to deeply personal journeys of purpose and passion.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Kelly Barner takes a look back at the most downloaded episodes of 2024 - wrapping the year by cel...
2024-12-1118 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 193: Driving Social Impact on a Massive Scale feat. Michael AmosLots of organizations want to ‘do good’ through environmental programs, social programs, or both. But scaling those programs and making them truly successful on a commercial level requires a different level of strategic planning - especially when the impact and the opportunity are global.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Michael Amos. Michael is the Managing Director of Waste to Wonder Worldwide, an organization with a unique origin story that has been able to deliver amazing results over the last two decades.
In this interview, Michael speaks about:
Waste...
2024-12-0428 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 192: The Surging Power of the Podcast Format feat. Kris LanceCanadian media studies philosopher Marshall McLuhan rose to prominence in the 1960s when he declared, “The Medium is the message.” For McLuhan, it was the medium itself that shaped and controlled "the scale and form of human association and action." We saw this dynamic in full force this year, with podcasts rising to the top of the media landscape during the 2024 presidential election cycle.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes back Kris Lance, Vice President and General Manager at Una, for a monthly conversation about current news stories. Kris has experience in m...
2024-11-2028 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 191: Building a Procurement Culture for Continuous Improvement feat. Jonathan GardnerContinuous improvement is as desirable as any other strategic business objective, but making it happen, or - better still - starting an ongoing cycle of continuous improvement is the ultimate goal. If procurement wants to be part of that positive cycle, they have to collaborate with, listen to, and communicate effectively with the business.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Jonathan Gardner. Jonathan has worked in supply chain, sourcing, and procurement at a number of well-known companies, including Starbucks, GM, and Dell. Today, he is using that combined experience to help...
2024-11-1325 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 190: Why the Business Needs a Friend in Procurement feat. Joseph Scull“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. Joseph has deep experience managing functions like real estate, operations, and procurement - and sometimes all three at once - at the enterprise level.
In this interview...
2024-11-0618 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 189: The Calm? After the Storms feat. Kris LanceOn 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 Una, for a monthly conversation about current news stories. Kris has experience in multiple industries and has his finger on the pulse of the trends and topics that procurement, sourcing, and supply chain professionals need...
2024-10-3027 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 188: Solving Supply Chain Challenges with Increased Visibility feat. Aviv CastroEvery 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 the CEO of Sensos, a company spun off from Sony that makes it possible to streamline supply chain operations through increased visibility.
In this interview, Aviv...
2024-10-2322 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 187: Building Relationships to Broaden Procurement’s Impact feat. Barry KullSometimes 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 Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Barry Kull. Barry is the Senior Director, Category Management Americas for AstraZeneca. His experience has given him the opportunity to develop capabilities in a broad range of spend categorie...
2024-10-1627 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 186: A Faith Journey That Leads Through the Workplace feat. Jennifer SterblingProcurement 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 Barner welcomes Jennifer Sterbling, a Senior Manager of Indirect Procurement. Jennifer has expertise in both indirect and direct procurement as well as category management, sourcing, supplier management, and contract negotiation.
In t...
2024-10-0924 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 185: A Specific Vision for Fostering Minority-owned Business Growth feat. James LowrySupplier 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. James is an Advisor at Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and his past work experience includes time at McKinsey, Toyota, the Peace Corps and an ongoing academic advisory role at the Kellogg...
2024-10-0234 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 184: Speculating About a 2024 October Surprise feat. Kris LanceAccording 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 Kris Lance, Vice President and Senior Director at Una, for a monthly conversation about current news stories. Kris has experience in multiple industries and has his finger on the pulse of the...
2024-09-2527 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 183: Reflections of a Procurement Optimist feat. Hugo SanchezProcurement 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 Sanchez. Hugo is a Senior Category Manager for supplies and MRO in the commercial real estate industry. In addition to being a pun lover (according to his LinkedIn profile), Hugo has a very clear philosophy on procurement that is t...
2024-09-1824 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 182: Procurement matchmaker, make me a match! feat. Natalia PickettProcurement 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 transport, as well as a non-Executive Director for Woodenshark.
In this interview, Natalia shares her passion and enthusiasm for procurement, with a focus on the relationships they should aim to build:
Pro...
2024-09-1120 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 181: Every Day in Procurement is a New Adventure feat. Keri PeñaWe 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 - but she didn’t work in procurement for long before she was hooked! Keri reached out and offered to tell her story to help other procurement professionals succeed in the f...
2024-09-0417 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 180: Metacognition - Thinking About Thinking feat. Kris LanceWe’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 Manager at Una, for a monthly conversation about current news stories. Kris has experience in multiple industries and has his finger on the pulse of the trends and topics that procurement, so...
2024-08-2828 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 179: Focusing on Procurement’s Relationship with AP feat. Anders LassenProcurement 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 podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Anders Lassen. Anders is the Owner and Senior Procurement Consultant at Gradus Consult and the Founder of P2Connct, a Danish boutique consultancy focused on procure-to-pay process optimisation and transforma...
2024-08-2126 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 178: Losing a Fear of Failure in Order to Succeed feat. Alan J. RiceAlthough 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 podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Alan J. Rice. Alan is the Managing Director of Caché Procurement, LLC, a boutique provider of procurement and AI advisory services.
In this interview, Al...
2024-08-1423 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 177: Cross Cultural Understanding in Global Business feat. Dupre JonesProcurement 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 Category Manager, specializing in Logistics & Warehousing for CSL. He also has an MBA from the Thunderbird School of Global Management, where he no doubt learned many of the skills needed to navigate today’s co...
2024-08-0717 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 176: Fighting off the Impact of Slow Onset Inertia feat. Kris LanceAfter 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 Kris Lance, Vice President and Senior Director at Una, for a monthly conversation about current news stories. Kris has experience in multiple industries and has his finger on the puls...
2024-07-3129 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 175: Making the Journey from Procurement Pro to Entrepreneur feat. Keith WrightWhen 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 this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Keith Wright. Keith is an independent procurement consultant and the author of The Power of Professional Procurement, a bo...
2024-07-2427 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 174: Financial Positioning for Lasting Growth feat. Lonnie BloomFast 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 Lonnie Bloom. Lonnie is a Partner at Withum, where he specializes in auditing and supporting the growth of some of the most well-known tech and emerging growth companies in...
2024-07-1724 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 173: Savings Start at Home feat. Omid GhamamiWhen 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, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Omid Ghamami. Omid is the CEO of the Procurement and Supply Chain Management Institute – PSCM Institute for short. He is the innovator of the CPSCM™ certification program and works with Fortune 500 companies to ele...
2024-07-1025 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 172: Applying Aristotelian Intelligence When Considering Artificial intelligence feat. Matt PalackdharryFor 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 some combination of the three.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Matt Palackdharry. Matt is the Chief Strategy Officer at Apty, a digital adoption platform companies can use when worki...
2024-07-0325 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 171: Japan: Silent Player in the Semiconductor Supply Chain feat. Kris LanceMost 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 companies.
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 current news stories. Kris has...
2024-06-2622 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 170: Understanding Data and Risk in Decision Making feat. Blake TablakThe 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. Blake is the CEO of Trax Technologies, a company that provides transportation spend management visibility for freight audit and payment solutions. With data at the heart of everything procurement is looking...
2024-06-1926 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 169: Aspiring to Generous Leadership feat. Joe DavisThere 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 welcomes Joe Davis. Joe is a Managing Director and Senior Partner at the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and author of The Generous Leader: 7 Ways to Give of Yourself for Everyone's...
2024-06-1231 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 168: Adventures in Public Sector Procurement feat. Dwight GibbsThe 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. Dwight is the CEO of Contraqer, a procurement solution uniquely suited to the challenges and complexities faced in public procurement.
In this interview, Dwight talks about the differences and...
2024-06-0525 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 167: Bird (Flu) Watching: Tracking the Spread of H5N1 feat. Kris LanceThe 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 current news stories. Kris has experience in multiple industries and has his finger on the pulse of the trends and topics that...
2024-05-2921 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 166: Cutting Edge Strategies in Tier 1 Retail feat. Eric LinxwilerEvery 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 Solutions at TradeBeyond, a platform that helps retailers, brands, and trading partners collaborate quickly and easily.
In this interview, Eric shares some of the external pressures and internal priorities that are dominating...
2024-05-2226 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 165: Making Mentorship Possible at Scale feat. Jason EdmondsMentors have the opportunity to provide valuable, trusted advice to the individuals they work with, but those relationships are often formed haphazardly. One team of entrepreneurs is working to pair ascending college students with recent graduates who can mentor them through the college selection process. Pairing them effectively requires a lot of data, and more empathy, but it is well worth the effort.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Jason Edmonds. Jason is the Co-Founder & COO at Mentee and 2023 Venture for America Fellow. He’s a lifelong learner passionate about operational sys...
2024-05-1523 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 164: Aligning Procurement and Legal Operations feat. Lisa HaitzProcurement’s relationship with legal is one of the most important they have. Whether it is allowing procurement to meet (or exceed) their objectives or protecting the company from risk, they need to be “joined at the hip” as we learn from this week’s guest.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Lisa Haitz. Lisa has over 20 years of experience in finance, legal, commercial operations, sourcing, and procurement. Today she applies that experience as a strategic sourcing and procurement advisor and fractional CPO, meeting procurement teams where they are and getting them on...
2024-05-0823 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 163: Keeping Up with Changing Workforce Opportunities feat. Mika CrossWhile most people hungered for a return to ‘normal’ after the pandemic shut downs, many of the workforce trends that companies experimented with offer lasting lessons and value. From flexible work schedules to innovative sources of talent, the opportunities for hiring managers and prospective employees are as diverse as the roles that need to be filled.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Mika Cross. Mika is a U.S. Army Veteran and a workforce futurist. She was focused on distributed team workforce requirements two decades before the world went home to work...
2024-05-0125 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 162: Remembering the Port of Baltimore feat. Kris LanceAt 1:30 am on March 26th, the container ship Dali struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge and sent it falling into the Patapsco River. Six members of a construction crew lost their lives and the port of Baltimore has been partially closed since.
Dueling investigations are underway, with the FBI working to determine whether any federal laws were broken and the NTSB looking to reconstruct the accident and learn from it. The ship is still in place, with the bridge on its bow and the crew onboard, and The Army Corps of Engineers hopes to have the port o...
2024-04-2421 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 161: The Truth About Procurement Transformation feat. Nataša CikačRecognizing the need for procurement transformation sometimes comes from within procurement, and in other cases it is driven by management-level goals and expectations. Regardless of where the idea for transformation begins, few stones in the organization will be left unturned by the time it is over.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Nataša Cikač. Nataša is the CEO of Cronata, a Croatia-based company that provides procurement transformation support and coaching.
In this interview, Nataša shares her perspective on effective procurement transformation - including a story or two...
2024-04-1724 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 160: Leadership Advice from the Battlefield to the Boardroom feat. Tom WilliamsFew environments require leadership in higher concentration than the military. And yet the development of leadership skills is still a highly personal journey - where each individual has to find their own style and improve it over time through training, observation, and repetition.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Tom Williams. Tom enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2013 as an Airborne Intelligence Analyst. He has served in locations from the Middle East to the Arctic, displaying exceptional dedication and forming his own unique philosophy on leadership.
In this...
2024-04-1024 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 159: All Travel is Personal feat. J. Grant CaplanIt goes without saying that travel has changed since the pandemic - although not in the way most of us might assume. There have certainly been adjustments to logistics and expectations, but, most of all, companies are doing a better job of recognizing the wellness considerations intertwined with business travel, and finding purposeful ways to accommodate their travelers without onerous increases to the budget
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes J. Grant Caplan. Grant is the President of Procurigence, a managed travel consulting and conference resource firm specializing in optimizing spend...
2024-04-0324 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 158: All Eyes Should Remain on the Red Sea feat. Kris LanceHuman nature has a way of becoming numb to that which we absorb as part of the status quo. Sadly, this doesn’t just pertain to the weather; it also applies to human suffering and warfare, especially if it is far away. Today this applies in the form of the Red Sea attacks that continue, and which have escalated, turning global supply chains into a literal battlefield.
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 current news stories. Kris has exp...
2024-03-2719 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 157: Telling a Compelling Procurement Story feat. Alex BallMarketing requires a combination of data and storytelling to motivate people to take a desired action, whether that is making a purchase, supporting a cause, or providing their email address. Procurement can leverage a marketing-esque combination of information and storytelling to build consensus, increase influence, and even control the narrative when plans go awry.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Alex Ball. Alex has spent most of his career in marketing and demand generation, helping companies connect with and engage their target personas. He has also had the opportunity to work w...
2024-03-2025 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 156: Accelerating the Data Feedback Loop feat. Emilie ScharioIn 1748, Benjamin Franklin wrote “Time is money.” All of the changes and advancements we have seen in nearly 300 years have not managed to render that advice obsolete. Certainly, time has inherent value (whether measured in dollars or otherwise), but time can also cost money - through delays, misalignment, and poor decision making.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Emilie Schario. Emilie is the Founder and CEO of Turbine. A data engineer by training, she is now applying her skills to the supply chain space. Emilie has seen the difference that...
2024-03-1330 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 155: Don’t Get Fired feat. Mark Grieco“Victory is about meaningful connections.” - Mark Grieco
Procurement professionals constantly find themselves in a tough spot, multiple cost and non-cost based objectives to hit, stakeholders to appease, suppliers to wrangle with, and that is just the beginning. They’re also finding ways to do all of the above in a work environment where we have less in-person access to their colleagues.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Mark Grieco. Mark has a very unique background: he is a procurement attorney and educator, accustomed to being in the tre...
2024-03-0624 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 154: The Sourcing Hero Gets a Sidekick feat. Kris Lance“People who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do.”
Isaac Asimov
After 3.5 years and over 150 episodes, it had to happen eventually: The Sourcing Hero now has a Sidekick. This sidekick may be a monthly newsletter, but it is no less ready to fight the good fight than Robin, Chewbaca, or Dr. Watson.
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 current news stories. Kris has experience in multiple industries and h...
2024-02-2816 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 153: Finding Purpose in Procurement and in Life feat. Paul NilsenMeeting a new friend
To ponder the color of
Unripe bananas
Paul Nilsen
Talking to heroes
Who earn their hidden capes while
Loving procurement
Kelly Barner
Ikigai is a Japanese philosophy focused on finding purpose and meaning. The parts of the word are “iki” which means “alive” and “gai” which means “worth.” Given how much time procurement spends thinking about value and worth, their personal and professional choices should absolutely make them feel alive.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podca...
2024-02-2123 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 152: Spending for Maximum Social Impact feat. Colin DownieIs it possible to change the life of someone, and their family, and their community just by making purposeful decisions about corporate spending? Yes it is - and it doesn’t cost as much as you might think.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Colin Downie. Colin is the Sales and Partnerships Director for WildHearts Group, an organization that enables large enterprises to have a positive social impact at home and abroad through how they spend. Since they reached a fully operational state in 2010, the WildHearts Group has transformed 2 Million lives...
2024-02-1430 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 151: What You Don’t Know About Shipping Can Hurt You feat. Nick DiNataleWhat could possibly be even more complicated than tax accounting? Managing your detailed shipping costs - and the carrier logic that drives them. Details change every year, and the high level information released to the media rarely reflects the nuanced information that appears on shipping invoices.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Nick DiNatale. In addition to being an accountant by training, Nick is the Founder and CEO of ShipPlug, a platform that leverages his extensive supply chain experience to streamline shipping costs and simplify related business processes.
In...
2024-02-0720 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 150: 2024: The Year of the Dragon? feat. Kris LanceIn Chinese culture, the dragon represents good luck, strength, and health. Given the challenges dominating this year’s headlines, all of us are probably going to need a balance of all three to make it through the year successfully.
Every new day’s headlines remind us that no matter where we live and work, global forces can swoop in and change everything at a moment’s notice. When geopolitics is the focus, some players on the world stage have an outsized impact - none more than China.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Ke...
2024-01-3120 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 149: Finding a Workable Model for Zero Emissions Fleets feat. Ron HuntDespite the understandable enthusiasm around supply chain sustainability, there are many challenges associated with the fight to lower emissions: regulations, costs, and engineering, just to name a few. One of the challenges procurement will appreciate most, is the journey towards a workable business model that reflects today’s infrastructure reality and companies’ ability to invest.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Ron Hunt. Ron is the Director of Business Development for Forum Mobility, a company working to make it realistic for fleets to achieve their zero emissions goals without having to buil...
2024-01-2420 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 148: Optimization of Procurement in the Automotive Industry feat. Robert ČačkovićProcurement professionals often talk about how they ‘fell’ into the field without a plan. And while this means procurement has a diverse range of skill sets in their ranks, it does leave many teams without a solid educational foundation like what might be found in marketing or operations.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Robert Čačković. Robert is a sourcing buyer for Bugatti Rimac, a Croatian company that develops and produces cutting-edge hypercars. He has been in procurement since college and is currently completing his MBA, with a master's thesis focused...
2024-01-1715 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 147: Successful Companies Need Strong Communities feat. Erica McMannesSupporting decisions about which suppliers to work with is one of procurement’s most critical responsibilities. But, like so many other business decisions, the ‘Why’ matters, both to the supplier being chosen and to the potential for value creation associated with that partnership.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Erica McMannes. Erica is an entrepreneur who has deep experience working to support the military community by working in the private sector as well as for the Department of Defense. In her current role as Chief People and Community Officer at Instant Teams...
2024-01-1022 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 146: Calling all solution enthusiasts! feat. A’Keela JohnsonProcurement is used to dealing with a whole series of stereotypes associated with the profession: bean counters… pencil sharpeners… and penny pinchers, just to name a few. Those nicknames stand in sharp contrast to the value procurement delivers on a daily basis - value that extends far beyond savings to improve the competitive position of the whole company.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Today my guest on The Sourcing Hero podcast is A’Keela Johnson. A’Keela is the Director of IT and G&A Procurement at Molson Coors, but more imp...
2024-01-0316 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 145: Looking Back and Looking Ahead feat. Kris LanceThere are so many news stories and events contained in any one year that it can boggle the mind trying to remember them all, let alone process their combined impact. But the end of one year and the start of another is a natural time to reflect back before looking ahead to what the new year may hold.
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 current news stories. Kris has experience in multiple industries and has his finger on...
2023-12-2025 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 144: Building Trust in a Disconnected World feat. Julienne RyanWhat we experience personally cannot be completely separated from what we experience professionally, and vice versa. This is as true for the impact of digital communications on relationships and trust building as it is our ability to ‘hear’ and connect with others.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Julienne Ryan. Julienne is an author, an executive coach, a storyteller, and - most importantly - a true people person. Her career includes an impressive number of leadership roles, and she was able to be succesful in each one because of her interpersonal and...
2023-12-1330 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 143: Increasing the Liquidity of the Supply Chain feat. Richard GusmanoEntrepreneurs found businesses because they believe they have formulated the best new product or the most innovative way of providing a service. They are focused on their customers, value proposition, and their hope for the future. Unfortunately, there is one thing that - if left unmanaged - can bring all of their hopes and dreams to a sudden halt: cash flow.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Richard Gusmano. Richard is the Founder and CEO of Business Credit Consultants, a company that is focused on helping small businesses secure the credit...
2023-12-0621 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 142: 2023 Listener Favorites feat. Kris Lance“The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.” - George Bernard Shaw
The Sourcing Hero podcast releases 50 new interviews every year, and while every episode offers unique value and insights to listeners, a few are bound to become listener favorites.
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 current news stories. Kris has experience in multiple industries and has his finger on the pulse of the trends and topics that procurement, sourcing, and su...
2023-11-2925 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 141: Supply Chain Tech and Supplier Onboarding feat. Toni Ann CareccioChange is as hard as it is inevitable. Even the most exciting new project can quickly go from “This is fantastic!” to “What on earth were we thinking!” when unexpected questions arise. How those moments are managed, and the tone that is kept in place through the process, ultimately determine the potential for value and success for everyone involved.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Toni Ann Careccio. Toni is the Chief Customer Officer at PortPro, a company that provides transportation management software for drayage carriers - they move freight from an ocean...
2023-11-1525 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 140: Dispelling Common Myths About Carbon Emissions feat. Alexis NormandBusinesses that want to see long term impact in terms of sustainability need to commit to short term changes. And while there are many ways to incentivize these changes - such as regulations and customer requirements - procurement and supply chain professionals are absolutely on the front lines, as the overwhelming majority of a company’s emissions are associated with its supply chain in some capacity.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Alexis Normand. Alexis is the CEO and Co-founder at Greenly. Given his expertise in carbon accounting and management, he is...
2023-11-0826 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 139: Speaking the Language of Non-Verbal Communication feat. Laura ScarfeAs human beings, being able to read and use non-verbal cues can determine the outcome of a situation, keeping us safe or strengthening the bonds we build with those around us. For procurement professionals in particular, being aware of non-verbal communication is absolutely essential, especially in situations of high intensity or where first impressions make the difference in measurable outcomes.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Laura Scarfe. Laura is the Director of Business Academy Online, specializing in CIPS procurement training,
negotiation, influencing, and emotional intelligence. Laura helps busy...
2023-11-0127 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 138: Procurement Out of This World feat. Kris LanceThe U.S. military is accustomed to taking 7 years and a cost plus method to build billion dollar satellites with te help of their supply base. With instability around the world starting to ratchet up concerns about space, the Space Development Authority (SDA) is responding by disrupting traditional procurement practices.
As SDA Director Derek Tournear recently said, “Change is hard; change is necessary. And nothing fights change like the paralyzing behavior of going along to get along.”
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes back Kris Lance, Senior Director at Una, f...
2023-10-2519 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 137: Using Visibility to Combat Supply Chain Abstraction feat. Frank KenneyIn the race to build global empires of data and digital systems, today’s businesses must not risk forgetting what all of those zeroes and ones mean. Sometimes walking a mile in someone’s shoes and listening to their firsthand experience is the only way to pull together all of the pieces of a modern supply chain puzzle.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Frank Kenney. Frank is the Director of Market Strategy at Cleo, where he is focused on helping companies get ahead and stay ahead despite persistent suppl...
2023-10-1728 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 136: Making the Impossible Possible in Global Sourcing feat. Chris VolzGlobal supply chains reach the furthest corners of the earth, bringing back valuable, well-made goods and putting us in touch with people we may never meet. Some of the challenges of this are logistical like time zone differences and travel delays. Others are more cultural, and tie into the most core issues of relationship building: culture, communication, and trust.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Chris Volz, a Client Success Manager at China Performance Group. Chris has over two decades worth of experience in different verticals. He prides himself o...
2023-10-1123 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 135: Packaging is a Magical Place feat. Matthew WrightPackaging is everywhere, from plastic clamshells to cardboard boxes, and protective wraps to banana peels. The most successful packaging gets the core product where it needs to go in the right condition, and contributes to the customer experience in a way that it rewards the purchase process.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Matthew Wright. Matthew is the Founder and CEO of Specright, where he applies his 25+ years of experience in packaging to help companies derive maximum value from this constantly changing and highly strategic category. Matthew is also the author...
2023-10-0420 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 134: The Complexity of Navigating the Panama Canal feat. Kris Lance40 percent of all U.S. shipping containers travel through the Panama Canal each year, representing an annual cargo value of $270 Billion. It is the shortest operational ocean route between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, and plays a critical role in U.S. supply chains and those of global trading partners as well.
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 current news stories. Kris has experience in multiple industries and has his finger on the pulse of the trends and...
2023-09-2724 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 133: Fostering a Sense of Belonging feat. Michaela PaytonIt is always hard to be the ‘new kid’ whether in a neighborhood, at the office, or across the world. Learning to fit in, and finding a place to belong is as much a journey of self-discovery as it is a pursuit of acceptance. Going on this journey, and connecting with others in the process, can enhance personal happiness as well as professional performance.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Michaela Payton. Michaela is an Indirect Senior Procurement Manager at Lidl’s U.S. National Contracts Service Center. She grew up in Germ...
2023-09-2016 minThe Sourcing HeroEp 132: The Innovative Power of Raw Curiosity feat. Wes DavisIn 1918, Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, Harvey Firestone, and naturalist writer John Burroughs took one of many long distance road trips together. The combination of their unique forms of genius, especially when viewed against the backdrop of WWI and the Influenza pandemic, makes it possible to see just how critical their curiosity was to every form of success they achieved.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Wes Davis. Wes has a Ph.D. in English Literature from Princeton University and taught at Yale for nearly a decade. His writing has appeared in...
2023-09-1333 min