The Sourcing Hero

Ep 179: Focusing on Procurement’s Relationship with AP feat. Anders Lassen

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 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 transformation.
In this episode, Anders talks about the common misperceptions and missed opportunities that keep procurement and AP apart:
The type of relationship most procurement teams have with AP
How procurement reporting into finance (versus the CEO or operations) might influence their relationship with AP 
The value opportunities that can be created by strengthening this - and all other - internal relationships
Links:
Anders Lassen on LinkedIn

Ep 178: Losing a Fear of Failure in Order to Succeed feat. Alan J. Rice

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 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, Alan talks about how AI - and mindsets around AI - are changing procurement:
Why embracing AI is a matter of survival
How procurement can achieve professional courage at scale
The level of AI expertise procurement should be expected to develop 
Links:
Alan J. Rice on LinkedIn

Ep 177: Cross Cultural Understanding in Global Business feat. Dupre Jones

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 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 complex business landscape.
In this interview, Dupre shares his point of view on why cultural understanding and active empathy should be considered in all business strategies:
Expectations for cross cultural communications and mannerisms
The role that empathy can and should play in contract negotiations
How procurement can help decision makers determine what they want before selecting a supplier
Links:
Dupre Jones on LinkedIn

Ep 176: Fighting off the Impact of Slow Onset Inertia feat. Kris Lance

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 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 be aware of.
In this month’s discussion, Kris and Kelly talk about the sense of emotional fatigue that seems to be spreading across companies: 
Why it is affecting our ability to be at our best and even find enjoyment in our work
How leadership methods and incentive programs need to adapt in response
Advice for pulling ourselves and our colleagues out of the malaise
Links:
Kris Lance on LinkedIn
Subscribe to “The Sidekick”
Episode 171: Japan: A Silent Player in the Semiconductor Supply Chain with Kris Lance
Episode 167: Bird (Flu) Watching: Tracking the Spread of H5N1 with Kris Lance
Episode 162: Remembering the Port of Baltimore with Kris Lance
Episode 158: All Eyes Should Remain on the Red Sea with Kris Lance

Ep 175: Making the Journey from Procurement Pro to Entrepreneur feat. Keith Wright

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 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 book for businesses and decision makers determined to make a material difference for their supply chain.
In this interview, Kelth talks about his idea of excellence and why it is actually much more attainable than many of us think:
The importance of investing in ourselves as professionals and creators and what that looks like in practice
Why having an active network is an essential part of individual success
Ways customer expectations of all kinds continue to evolve, and how procurement can continue to meet them
Links:
Keith Wright on LinkedIn

Ep 174: Financial Positioning for Lasting Growth feat. Lonnie Bloom

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 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 the country. He also co-leads the firm's e-commerce practice which serves hundreds of brands and household names in the e-comm industry. 
In this interview, Lonnie talks about the importance of solid accounting procedure and documentation to fast growth companies:
The unique financial challenges faced by growth stage tech firms
Advantages, such as specific decisions, leadership qualities, etc., that can position firms for long term growth
How contract management practices can contribute to a company’s success
Links:
Lonnie Bloom on LinkedIn

Ep 173: Savings Start at Home feat. Omid Ghamami

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, 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 elevate their procurement and negotiation capabilities.  
In this interview, Omid shares his point of view on leveraging procurement influence with both stakeholders and suppliers:
The relationship procurement needs to forge with internal colleagues to maximize savings
Ways procurement can support better outcomes from suppliers - before even reaching the negotiating table
The danger of a misplaced focus on SRM, and how it can negatively impact procurement 
Links:
Omid Ghamami on LinkedIn

Ep 172: Applying Aristotelian Intelligence When Considering Artificial intelligence feat. Matt Palackdharry

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 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 working to coordinate their people, processes, and technology.
In this interview, Matt talks about how the power of AI is (and is not) changing the way we make decisions:
Understanding the differences between how humans and computers learn
Supporting human creativity and multi-factored decision making with today’s analytical capabilities
Ensuring that business processes keep up with the investments being made in people and technology
Links:
Matt Palackdharry on LinkedIn