The Sourcing Hero

Ep 171: Japan: Silent Player in the Semiconductor Supply Chain feat. Kris Lance

Most of us think about Taiwan, China, and - to some extent - the U.S. when it comes to semiconductor manufacturing… but Japan is just as critical. They are a primary (and dominant) supplier of semiconductor related chemicals, packaging materials, and tools. In fact, Japan views the industry as part of their national security strategy, and is currently investing nearly one percent of GDP in those 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 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 semiconductor supply chain and ALL of the countries and political concerns that will have to align to increase resilience: 
Why market overconcentration continues to surprise and affect businesses worldwide
The role that governments play in private sector innovation through subsidies and investment
How procurement and supply chain leaders should be factoring geopolitics into their management of spend and suppliers
Links:
Kris Lance on LinkedIn
Subscribe to “The Sidekick”
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
Episode 154: The Sourcing Hero Gets a Sidekick with Kris Lance

Ep 170: Understanding Data and Risk in Decision Making feat. Blake Tablak

The volume of data available at our fingertips can sometimes create the illusion that any information is accessible, that decision making is improved, and that failure is avoidable. Once we get past that illusion and accept the reality of even data-driven decision making, we can finally be on the road to success.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Blake Tablak. 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 to achieve today, his perspectives on data and risk are valuable and highly applicable.
In this interview, Blake shares his perspective on data and the very human conditions that have to be in place for companies to deploy data successfully:
How much data is “a lot” today
The current state of data confidence
Where “doing nothing” falls on the business risk continuum
Links:
Blake Tablak on LinkedIn

Ep 169: Aspiring to Generous Leadership feat. Joe Davis

There will always be challenges to overcome - personally, professionally, and combined - but by finding the courage to work in community and to receive all each employee has to give, leaders can allow themselves and their teams to attain a new level of achievement. All it takes is a bit of generosity, purposefully carried out.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner 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 Gain, which was published in April 2024.
In this interview, Joe speaks candidly about the personal and professional experiences that showed him the true power of generosity and inspired his book:
How an emphasis on generosity in leadership could change a company’s decisions about who to elevate
What a lack of generosity might feel like on an otherwise solid team
Understanding the ‘ROI’ of generosity in all its forms
Links:
Joe Davis on LinkedIn

Ep 168: Adventures in Public Sector Procurement feat. Dwight Gibbs

The public and private sectors both have a great need for top procurement talent. And while their stakeholders, objectives, and processes differ in some ways, they are also subject to the same economic forces and market trends. Sometimes the dynamics in one of their sectors even has an impact on the other.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Dwight Gibbs. 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 similarities between private and public sector procurement:
The intentions behind the regulations that drive so much complexity
The division of responsibility for developing specifications v. sourcing v. making award decisions 
How the transition from buying ‘things’ to buying ‘services’ (including IT) has changed public procurement’s focus
Links:
Dwight Gibbs on LinkedIn

Ep 167: Bird (Flu) Watching: Tracking the Spread of H5N1 feat. Kris Lance

The H5N1 virus (a.k.a. ‘Bird flu’) is not just spreading among birds in the supply chain. It has recently jumped to beef cattle and - in just a few cases - human beings. It has now been found in 32 herds in 8 states. But is it time to worry? 
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes back Kris Lance, Senior Director at Una, for a recurring monthly conversation about 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 concerns associated with the bird flu, whether it becomes a larger issue or stays largely contained to animals: 
Questions that are being raised about why the federal government is missing its own reporting deadlines and providing incomplete data
The direct connection between transparency and trust in the face of troubling news
Why this is yet another reminder for supply chain professionals to double down on the fundamentals like testing and data quality
Links:
Kris Lance on LinkedIn
Subscribe to “The Sidekick”
Episode 162: Remembering the Port of Baltimore with Kris Lance
Episode 158: All Eyes Should Remain on the Red Sea with Kris Lance
Episode 154: The Sourcing Hero Gets a Sidekick with Kris Lance
Episode 150: 2024: The Year of the Dragon? with Kris Lance

Ep 166: Cutting Edge Strategies in Tier 1 Retail feat. Eric Linxwiler

Every single day, successful retailers overcome challenges that few other industries will ever have to face. Complex supply chains, uncertain demand, and - increasingly - regulations that not only force them to consider the big picture but also vary by geography.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Eric Linxwiler. Eric is the Senior Vice President of Retail 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 the conversation in retail executive suites:
The role of AI across the operation
How increasing regulation is changing the way tier 1 retailers make decisions
The confidence horizon that retail decision makers are working towards
Links:
Eric Linxwiler on LinkedIn

Ep 165: Making Mentorship Possible at Scale feat. Jason Edmonds

Mentors 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 systems and product development. He’s a startup enthusiast that seeks to revolutionize the college admissions industry with efficient, impactful solutions.
In this interview, Jason is open about his experience as an entrepreneur and professional relationship builder:
How he turned a ‘fun’ summer project into a tech based startup
The most empowering and the most challenging parts about being an entrepreneur
The approach he uses to balance creativity and brainstorming with sustained operational growth
Links:
Jason Edmonds on LinkedIn

Ep 164: Aligning Procurement and Legal Operations feat. Lisa Haitz

Procurement’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 their way to where they want to be.
In this interview, Lisa talks about some of the ways procurement and legal can work together that benefit both groups - and the whole organization as well:
When and how procurement should get legal involved in sourcing and contract management
The impact of digital platforms on legal and procurement, whether that is CLM, Blockchain, or generative AI
Different models that companies may use to access legal expertise and how procurement can ensure they get what they need in each case
Links:
Lisa Haitz on LinkedIn