The Sourcing Hero

The Sourcing Hero | Episode 17: A Lesson in Perseverance with the Classification Guru

Now—more than ever—data is becoming a focus in the procurement and supply chain industry. The global pandemic led to every business tightening their spending and attempting to track every penny and every piece of data. That’s where Susan Walsh i.e. The Classification Guru steps in. We’ve never had anyone on this show that specializes in data like Susan Walsh. Listen to this episode of The Sourcing Hero to hear why a focus on data is so important.

The Sourcing Hero | Ep 16: Putting the Human Back into Hiring feat. Naseem Malik

According to Naseem Malik, sourcing talent is just as important as sourcing goods and services. After 15+ years in the procurement space, Naseem has been with MRA Global—an executive search firm that focuses on supply chain, procurement, and operations—for 8 years. 
Whenever someone says “We need to save money. We need to foster better supplier collaboration. We need to become better negotiators.” they stress that it’s all about the people. Everything is related to talent. It should be focus #1 for any sourcing organization looking to achieve its objectives. 
How does MRA Global do it? What do they look for in candidates? How do they put the human back into hiring? Learn more in this episode of The Sourcing Hero!

The Sourcing Hero | Ep 15: Stepping Out into the Fog feat. Dawn Tiura

Dawn Tiura—the President and CEO of Sourcing Industry Group (SIG)—firmly believes that we are in a world that is constantly changing. Sourcing and procurement must change and adapt with the world. If you can’t adapt—retire. Because things won’t slow down. 
How has Dawn embraced the never-ending change? How does SIG help the sourcing industry embrace the uncomfortable and continue to innovate? How does Dawn stay on top of what’s happening in the world? Listen to this episode of The Sourcing Hero for her insight. 

The Sourcing Hero | Ep 14: Embracing a Big Picture Mindset feat. Kelly Barner

People outside of procurement don’t always understand or even know what procurement does. Why? Kelly Barner believes it’s because procurement has lost the ability to connect with the rest of the business. How do you break away from that? How do you embrace creativity in your role? How do you widen your lens to see the big picture? Listen to this episode of The Sourcing Hero to hear Kelly’s enthusiastic viewpoint. 
Don’t know who Kelly is? Kelly Barner is a Procurement & Supply Chain Writer and Influencer, and the Owner and Managing Director of Buyers Meeting Point. But her bio doesn’t stop there. She’s also the General Manager at the Art of Procurement and the Show Host for an upcoming Supply Chain Now monthly livestream, “Dial P for Procurement.” Don’t miss this one!

The Sourcing Hero | Ep 13: How Collaboration Won 2020 feat. Sarah Barnes-Humphrey

Every bit of supply chain has stepped up to the plate in various ways in 2020, according to Sarah Barnes-Humphrey. In this episode of The Sourcing Hero, Sarah shares about the eye-opening collaborations she’s seen in the space. She walks through the huge wins that she’s seen, how her podcast and business has grown, and what she thinks 2021 will bring.
Sarah is the host of Let’s Talk Supply Chain, with series under it such as Women in Supply Chain and Blended. She is also the founder and CEO of SHIPZ, a bid-and-ship platform for mid-market shippers. Listen as Sarah shares a viewpoint that this podcast doesn’t normally get.

The Sourcing Hero | Ep 12: Changing the Sourcing Game feat. Edmund Zagorin

Generally speaking, every procurement professional I've spoken to or interviewed for this show is highly intelligent with bits of wisdom seeping from each sentence.  This episode is no exception, and I'd go as far to say that Edmund Zagorin is right at the top.  He's got a unique perspective as the CEO and founder of Bid Ops, having solved for a major gap in strategic sourcing with their game-changing platform.  He'll share how they've helped customers shine through the pandemic, the vision that founded the company, and where they are headed next. Oh, and Edmund reveals what he believes will be the biggest factor in the success of procurement's future.  Don't miss this one!

The Sourcing Hero | Ep 11: Saving the World with Data Tech featuring Stephany Lapierre

While she isn't exactly saving the world single-handedly, Stephany Lapierre's passion for digital transformation in procurement is making a massive impact on many organizations through the pandemic. She’s the founder of a supplier data platform that is making a significant impact in the industry and is clearly passionate about what she does. Prior to becoming the founder of Tealbook, she worked at a consulting firm for hyper-growth companies creating strategic sourcing plans and all kinds of incredible procurement solutions. Join the show as she shares her unique perspective and some of the groundbreaking things her company is doing!

The Sourcing Hero | Ep 10: Doing Better Deals with Robert Wright

Time after time you hear from procurement leaders that what is needed most is education. ICN, led by Robert Wright, provides education, training, access to documents, and tools that are leading the way! Robert joins us on The Sourcing Hero to share his journey from negotiating sponsored research agreements for the University of Louisville to becoming a Principal at ICN. He talks about lessons learned and how changing his mindset impacted both what he brings to the table and others’ desire to have him at that table. He has much insight to offer so be sure to check out the episode!