The Sourcing Hero

Ep 147: Successful Companies Need Strong Communities feat. Erica McMannes

Supporting 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, she connects companies with military spouses that have the talent they need.
In this conversation, Erica talks about being a ‘people person’ in a people business and creating value in and through her community:
What she thinks about the value and the process of getting certified as a woman-owned and a military spouse-owned business
How being a Chief People and Community Officer affects the way she has built and managed her team 
How a combination of creativity and communication has helped her achieve remote team leadership and absorb the impact of flexible working arrangements 
Links:
Erica McMannes on LinkedIn

Ep 146: Calling all solution enthusiasts! feat. A’Keela Johnson

Procurement 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 importantly, she is focused on strategic operations management. A’Keela is on a mission to evangelize the benefits of working in procurement to people that are already here as well as aspiring sourcing professionals.
In this conversation, A’Keela combines her personal experience with humorous stereotypes about procurement to illustrate why procurement is a great field to work in:
Why it is just as important to ‘preach to the choir’ about the joys of working in procurement as it is to try and win over new recruits
The most effective hooks for winning professionals in other disciplines over to opportunities in procurement
Why she believes delivering bad news well is a skill critical to her success
Links:
A’Keela Johnson on LinkedIn

Ep 145: Looking Back and Looking Ahead feat. Kris Lance

There 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 the pulse of the trends and topics that procurement, sourcing, and supply chain professionals need to be aware of.
In this conversation, Kris and Kelly talk about the trends and news stories they think were most impactful in 2023 and the ones they are already watching for 2024: 
The impact of border policies and human rights challenges on the U.S. economy and supply chain efficiency
Why 2023 was the Year of the Union and what all negotiators can learn from this year’s new agreements
Upcoming changes to digital currency and global currency standards
And the impact that another contentious presidential election cycle is bound to have on business in general and supply chains more specifically
Links:
Kris Lance on LinkedIn
Episode 142: 2023 Listener Favorites with Kris Lance
Episode 138: Procurement Out of This World with Kris Lance
Episode 134: The Complexity of Navigating the Panama Canal with Kris Lance
Episode 130: Building and Understanding Trust with Kris Lance

Ep 144: Building Trust in a Disconnected World feat. Julienne Ryan

What 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 communication skills.
In this interview, Julienne speaks honestly about :
The importance of bringing the idea of affirmation into personal and professional decisions
Why modern digital capabilities make it easier to communicate but harder to connect 
How to stay plugged into the person you are speaking to so that you hear everything they are saying
Links:
Julienne Ryan on LinkedIn

Ep 143: Increasing the Liquidity of the Supply Chain feat. Richard Gusmano

Entrepreneurs 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 they need to grow. He uses his own experience as a small business owner to help others manage cash flow and credit so they can reach their growth goals.
In this interview, Richard shares his first-hand experience working with small to medium-sized businesses:
The most common mistakes small business owners make when it comes to credit and cash flow
Why selecting the right bank it so critical
How procurement and sourcing professionals can assess the potential for risk associated with smaller prospective suppliers
The important role that small business play in the overall economy, especially in terms of revenue and job creation
 
Links:
Richard Gusmano on LinkedIn

Ep 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 supply chain professionals need to be aware of.
In this conversation, Kris and Kelly talk about the top three episodes of 2023, taking a key lesson away from each one: 
Learning to Work Side-by-Side with ChatGPT with Joshua Palacios, Senior Sourcing Manager at Ro (the episode with the most listens of all time, not just for 2023!)
Telling a Business Story Beyond the Numbers with Christian Frantz Hansen from the Business Partnering Institute
Making Procurement Research Actionable with Denis Wolowiecki, Executive Managing Director at CAPS Research
Links:
Kris Lance on LinkedIn
EPISODE 113: Learning to Work Side-by-Side with ChatGPT with Joshua Palacios, Senior Sourcing Manager at Ro
EPISODE 110: Telling a Business Story Beyond the Numbers with Christian Frantz Hansen from the Business Partnering Institute
EPISODE 126: Making Procurement Research Actionable with Denis Wolowiecki, Executive Managing Director at CAPS Research

Ep 141: Supply Chain Tech and Supplier Onboarding feat. Toni Ann Careccio

Change 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 port to its destination. 
In this interview, Toni applies her experience onboarding customers to procurement’s constant need to successfully onboard suppliers:
Why tech providers with an operational background in transportation have an advantage over newcomers to the space 
Thoughts related to the ongoing debate about which is better: a best-of-breed ecosystem or an end-to-end platform
How a positive onboarding experience can form the foundation for a long, valuable partnership
 
Links:
Toni Ann Careccio on LinkedIn

Ep 140: Dispelling Common Myths About Carbon Emissions feat. Alexis Normand

Businesses 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 an ideal guest to speak with us about some of the practical business challenges facing procurement and supply chain professionals tasked with responsibility for their company’s ESG or sustainability program.
In this interview, Alexis provides critical information about the ongoing effort to manage carbon emissions as well as his perspective on the associated complexity:
What the differences are between Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions
Whether building a more sustainable supply chain will also make it more expensive
How the broader ESG movement is impacting emission reduction initiatives
What decision makers need to know about offsetting carbon emissions as opposed to reducing them
Links:
Alexis Normand on LinkedIn