The Sourcing Hero

Ep 139: Speaking the Language of Non-Verbal Communication feat. Laura Scarfe

As 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 procurement professionals achieve their qualifications to help with their employability, while also helping them understand and manage their emotions and relationships to improve their confidence.
In this interview, Laura draws from a wealth of research and experience to shed some light on the complex world of non-verbal cues:
Why it is best to stay away from behavioral generalizations, instead focusing on observations that are rooted in science
Typical gender-based advantages and differences based on gender
The role that clothing, especially dress level and color, play in how each of us is perceived before we ever speak a word 
 
Links:
Laura Scarfe on LinkedIn

Ep 138: Procurement Out of This World feat. Kris Lance

The 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, 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 how the Space Development Agency, part of the U.S. Space Force, is shaking up procurement processes and approaches: 
Finding ways to speed up the procurement process so the U.S. can stay competitive with China in satellite manufacture
Breaking free from the ‘going along to get along’ mentality in order to deliver vastly different results
Putting pressure on suppliers to go beyond traditional demonstrations of capabilities and competitive advantages

Ep 137: Using Visibility to Combat Supply Chain Abstraction feat. Frank Kenney

In 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 supply chain complexity.
 
In this interview, Frank talks about the importance of supply chain visibility for the sake of optionality and accountability:
Why the ultimate goal of supply chain visibility is not just to ‘see’ but also to make effective decisions
The importance of leveraging systems and data without losing connection with the real-life meaning and impact they represent
The risk that abstraction poses to procurement and supply chain professionals - and consumers as well
 
Links:
Frank Kenney on LinkedIn

Ep 136: Making the Impossible Possible in Global Sourcing feat. Chris Volz

Global 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 on his empathy, attention to detail, and innovative ideas… traits we could all use in greater concentration!
 
In this interview, Chris shares his experience and perspective on how businesses from different parts of the world and in countries with very different cultures can come together for mutual gain:
What he suggests companies focus on when sourcing internationally
How procurement teams can invest in communication and then build on that to establish long term trust-based relationships
The importance of recognizing the ‘win-win people’ in every situation
 
Links:
Chris Volz on LinkedIn

Ep 135: Packaging is a Magical Place feat. Matthew Wright

Packaging 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 of “The Evolution of Products & Packaging: How a spec-first approach is revolutionizing the way companies make things.”
In this interview, Matthew shares his point of view on some of the procurement-specific challenges and opportunities associated with packaging category spend:
What is packaging and what are some of the top business challenges and objectives that intersect with this category of spend?
How should companies think about what they are communicating (or not) and achieving (or not) through their packaging?
What are some of the common data challenges associated with packaging specifications?
How can procurement encourage the business to make decisions that take a broad range of objectives into consideration when selecting packaging designs and suppliers?
 
Links:
Matthew Wright on LinkedIn

Ep 134: The Complexity of Navigating the Panama Canal feat. Kris Lance

40 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 topics that procurement, sourcing, and supply chain professionals need to be aware of.
In this conversation, Kris and Kelly talk about recent news stories associated with the Panama canal, some of which are getting a lot of attention and others almost none at all:
Drought conditions have led authorities to reduce traffic through the canal, leaving as many as 200 ships stuck waiting to get through
Other opportunities for Panama to be a strategic partner to the United States, including semiconductor production
Geopolitical risk associated with the safety and ownership of the Panama canal given recent activity from China and Iran
Links:
Kris Lance on LinkedIn
Episode 130: Building and Understanding Trust with Kris Lance
Episode 125: When Implanted Neuro Chips Are Top of Mind with Kris Lance
Episode 121: Agriculture as a Political Hot Topic with Kris Lance

Ep 133: Fostering a Sense of Belonging feat. Michaela Payton

It 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 Germany and has spent time living in California, Las Vegas, Nevada, and Virginia (with a brief time back in Germany in between). 
In this interview, Michaela shares what she has learned on her personal and professional journey about what it means to truly belong:
Learning how and where you belong each time your join a new community of any kind
The cultural aspects of communications, including adapting to the customs of each community
Why actively investing in creating a sense of belonging gives us an opportunity to deepen our empathy towards others
Links:
Michaela Payton on LinkedIn

Ep 132: The Innovative Power of Raw Curiosity feat. Wes Davis

In 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 the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and The Nation. Wes is also the author of multiple books, one of which is the recently released ‘American Journey: On the Road with Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, and John Burroughs’ - and that book will be the focus of our conversation today.
In this interview, Wes talks about some of the unique characteristics of these consequential historical figures and sheds light on how we can learn from their mindset today:
Why the ability of Ford and Edison to thrive in the industrial and natural worlds was part of their collective genius
How unique and changeable the social and business landscape was in the early 20th century
Whether Ford, Firestone, and Edison were, in fact, Sourcing Heroes in their own right