Gobble, Gobble, Wibble Wobble – Make Sure Your Holiday Budget Dollars Don’t Become a Squabble!
MS Category Management
November 24, 2020
It’s the beginning of the holiday season, so procurement and finance are all preparing for the year-end hockey stick budget spending.
Sometimes it happens by default. Projects are running behind. And you know you are going to come drastically under budget, so you spend like it’s on-fire in your pocket instead. Fear of loss is a thing (especially when it comes to money!)
Which depending on your organization, could be a big no-no.
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Tags: Procurement, Management
Rant: My So-Called 2020 Pandemic Life
MS Category Management
November 23, 2020
I quit. I’m done. I’m over it. Nothing sums up this year better than “it’s a hot mess, inside the dumpster fire, inside a train wreck.” Because as a working parent, it literally is. Every. Single. Day. It’s at a point now (with no end in sight) I’ve hit my breaking point – as I’m sure many of you feel the same! So what should change?
First, can we just forget about Zoom meetings? Can we just go back to conference calls so I don’t have to be video-ready every day? It’s getting to be exhausting. And sad when I throw on glasses so I don’t have to do my makeup that day. Who is with me?!
And I’m done with all things virtual. Conferences. Happy Hours. Let’s bring back water cooler talk. Office gossip. Annoyingly loud coworkers a few desks away on their phones. Where do I sign up?!
Also, I would do absolutely anything, not to deal with my kids when I’m working. This one is taking a toll on me. And everyone I work with. There, I said it!! Everything about working from home with a 2-year-old who doesn’t get it has ripened waaaaaay past its due date.
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Tags: Procurement, COVID19
A supplier coaching story. Who is to blame for the great flopperoo?
MS Category Management
November 17, 2020
Supplier coaching isn’t an exact science, which leaves ample opportunity to mess it up. But it’s not like we are trying to figure out how to time travel either.
Therefore, I decided to take a look back at what happened, and potentially where I went wrong. Hindsight is 20/20, so why not assess my own performance?
Nothing better to prepare for the next time of supplier coaching, by assessing what went wrong/what went well with the last time I did it! Being able to ensure you don’t repeat the same mistakes is always useful!
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Tags: Supply Chain, Procurement
Backstabbing Coworkers – Can Their Corrupt and Vicious Actions Ever Be Justified?
MS Category Management
October 27, 2020
Situations aren’t always black and white when it comes to backstabbing coworkers. There are many shades of gray when you dig into the backstory of events.
Which makes me ask, are there times when we should give someone a second chance based on circumstances?
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Tags: Procurement, Management
Marketing Procurement – Best Practices and Sourcing Strategies for 2021
MS Category Management
October 23, 2020
1 – Don’t treat agencies like any other category. You’re literally buying a team and people, not widgets. Structured scorecards that have to be followed and rigid RFP rules won’t work in marketing procurement.
2 – Brands don’t like to share agencies as they are fearful of getting the “B Team.” So don’t push for all brands to use a single AOR.
3 – To have influence with Marketing or any other business partner you must prove you are trustworthy. The best way to do that is to provide valuable insight by understanding their bu
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Tags: Procurement, Marketing
A Cautionary Tale: How to Ensure You are Never Invited Back Again to Another RFP. EVER.
MS Category Management
October 21, 2020
Just to clear the air, there are a TON of mistakes you can come back from during an RFP / pitch. I’ve seen it all over the past 10 years.
But this, for the first time, was something although the supplier thought was doing themselves a service, backfired spectacularly.
Therefore, I’m hopeful in sharing this cautionary tale, that it will make some people rethink their approaches.
Because even if you are the biggest or the best in the industry, you can still manage to screw up a relationship to the point of no return. And that’s not a good thing.
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Tags: Procurement, Management
The Magic of the Halloween Supply Chain
MS Category Management
October 21, 2020
There are certain jobs within the supply chain and procurement industry I’m glad I haven’t jumped into. One, in particular, is the demand planning for the $9B of spend on Halloween products.
Halloween, like any holiday, creates significant seasonal surges for specific product categories. Which makes demand forecasting absolutely ridiculous. But, what does that mean for the end consumer?
Well, when I walked through Target the other day – as always there was an excess of candy available on the shelves. But the costumes, decorations, and everything else were GONE (before the Holiday started too!). So who in Halloween Haunted House is to blame?
Advertisements
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Tags: Supply Chain, Procurement
Worst. RFP. Ever. Can we just pretend it never happened (like the rest of 2020) and move on?
MS Category Management
October 19, 2020
Now, I’m not one to complain, well maybe I am… but, I swear this RFP is out of hand. What’s the saying – you have to break a few eggs to make an omelet? Well, I’ve broke enough to feed a small army. And then some.
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Tags: Procurement, Management
Did You Miss The ABC’s of Building Your Personal Brand? Then Check out the Slides and Video Now!
MS Category Management
October 07, 2020
Most procurement professionals don’t think about building a personal brand, or the potential benefits to their careers.
But without it, you are always a step behind your colleagues.
Join me in learning the basic ABC’s of building your personal brand, and best practices in getting started.
Don’t miss out on this epic keynote presentation, along with other great conversations and groundbreaking presentations from Sievo Friends America 2020!
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Tags: Social, Procurement, Marketing
Didn’t you get the memo? It’s time to quit committing these procurement pet peeves!
Ms Category Management
September 29, 2020
Pet Peeve #1 – Doing everything in your power to go around us.
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Tags: Procurement, Management
Between 2 Screens – An Uninhibited and Unrestrained Interview With Victoria (no relation to the Queen) Vitale
MS Category Management
September 13, 2020
So check out Ms. Category Management’s (MCM) written version titled – Between 2 Screens! Which just might turn into a video series, interviewing some of your favorite business professionals!
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Tags: Procurement, Management
New virtual meeting suppliers have flooded the market to meet demand. Make sure you are picking the right ones!
MS Category Management
September 09, 2020
You would think finding a virtual meeting provider in this new environment is easy. And it is, to some degree.
You can very easily find providers (maybe too easily). Most of which have pivoted with the rise of virtual meetings/av production to meet the demand.
And that is where the problem lies.
Everybody and I mean everybody who has some type of event management or meeting / virtual meeting support is pivoting to meet this huge increase in demand.
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Tags: Management, COVID19
Creating and Enabling Partnerships Through Virtual Meetings
Procurement Foundry
August 27, 2020
How to connect with people remotely
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Tags: Procurement, Social, Supply Chain
The Red Review Podcast – What Does Procurement Really Think?
Import from wordpress feed
August 15, 2020
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Tags: Procurement
You May Hate Procurement, But Did You Know it Could be Your Ticket to the C-Suite?
Ms Category Management
August 14, 2020
We’re the cops of the business. Checking to ensure you did things right.
So I get it when most people don’t like us. Shoot, I wouldn’t say I like cops either. My heart starts racing whenever I get pulled over (even if I’ve done nothing wrong)!
But the point of procurement is to ensure the business is getting the best bang for their buck. If you try to go around this, you’ve only got to assume it’s not for the best reasons.
Despite all of that, C-Suite Executives look to us to provide value, cost savings, and streamline efficiencies, which puts us in the spotlight for several reasons.
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Tags: Supply Chain, Procurement, Management
Why are Women Getting the Short End of the Stick When it Comes to COVID-19?
Procurious
August 12, 2020
Guest blog for procurious on the pink recession
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Tags: COVID19, Diversity and Inclusion, Procurement
Ms Category Management’s 9 Circles of Negotiation Hell
Ms Category Management
August 05, 2020
We’ve all been in negotiations where it feels like you are stuck in purgatory or even limbo. Endless meetings, hardball tactics, the works. So join me for some fun and check out the nine levels of negotiation hell!
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Tags: Supply Chain, Procurement
Is There a Way to Avoid the Catch-22 When it Comes to Creating RFPs?
Ms Category Management
July 28, 2020
You need lots of information, and time to properly pick the best supplier for the job.
But you don’t want to overload the supplier with questions if they have a small chance of winning. Not to mention you may not have a lot of time for the RFP, and the overload of questions could drive away potential suppliers (due to a low ROI). It’s a catch-22 situation.
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Tags: Supply Chain, Procurement, Management
Whitepaper: Building an In-House Agency in a Mid-Size Biotech/Pharma. Company
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July 26, 2020
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Tags: Procurement
Business Impact – A Leading Supplier Just Closed its Doors in the Middle of the RFP, What in the Hell Do We Do NOW?!
Ms Category Management
July 25, 2020
True story, so I thought I’d share. (Especially since this is the first time I’ve ever had this happen!)
We got notification of a supplier closing its doors halfway through an RFP through a rejected email and website update that said: “Closed due to COVID-19.”
Industries, business environments, standard work attire, and so much more have started to change due to COVID-19. We are only starting to see some of the business impacts.
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Tags: Supply Chain, Procurement
Agencies: A Simplified Guide to Understanding Marketing, Advertising and Media Agencies
Ms Category Management
July 24, 2020
Do you know what’s annoying when you are trying to learn a Category like Sales & Marketing… when all of the terms overlap and can mean the same but different things! I think?!
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Tags: CRM, Marketing, Public Relations
Where’s The Supplier Diversity? The Problem With Procurement and Supplier Diversity Programs
Ms Category Management.com
July 21, 2020
You can call it supplier diversity, but I call empowering and supporting local suppliers. (Even if it is driven by government contract compliance within Pharma).
I’ve read supplier diversity programs, can have an amazing ROI. On average programs can add, $3.6 million for every $1 million in procurement operational costs. Not to mention the other benefits such as innovation, competition, and reputation.
So if creating a diversity program is so important, why are so many getting it wrong? What are some of the hurdles I’ve seen in my tenure? Well, let me tell you!
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Tags: Supply Chain, Procurement
Advertising Fails, Follies, and F-ups. Check Out these Painful and Cringe-Worthy Epic Advertising Fails
Ms Category Management
July 18, 2020
I took a look back at some of my initial blogs, and I think I had a little more fun and creativity that I miss.
And since I support the Advertising Agency world, I thought it might be fun to create a post on epic advertising fails.
Advertising fails are more common than you think. Especially, if you take a look back at some of the old-school ads. (Can you say misogyny?!). They definitely haven’t stood the test of time.
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Tags: Procurement, Management, Marketing
Women Procurement Leaders Event: Building Your Personal Brand Webinar 7/16 – Register NOW!
Ms Category Management
July 11, 2020
Everyone has a personal brand, whether they want to or not. Making sure your brand is positive, and authentic to you isn’t something that always comes naturally. You have to work at it. In this webinar you will hear from two professionals who have both built their personal brands using a wide range of skills and avenues.
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Tags: Supply Chain, Procurement, Leadership
Learning and Conquering Ambiguity in the Workplace
Ms Category Management
July 10, 2020
Dealing with Ambiguity in the workplace can be a nightmare. No directions, just a final goal with the sentiment “go figure it out” or “just get it done.”
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Tags: Procurement, Management
A Sizzling Strategic Sourcing Summer! See What is Heating Up in the World of Strategic Sourcing and Procurement.
Ms Category Management
June 16, 2020
It’s finally here, the summer of 2020! – Cue singing…. Summer, Summer, Summertime – sing it, DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince!
The world has changed, and we’ve changed with it. So are you ready yet to take a summer vacation? Or are you focusing on executing new strategic plans to ensure your corporation’s success?
Either way, find out what’s heating up for Strategic Sourcing and Procurement this summer!
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Tags: Procurement
What is the Optimal Advertising Agency Strategy? External, In-House, or a Hybrid Approach?
Ms Category Management
June 12, 2020
There’s a lot of market research, case studies, and examples on category strategies for Advertising Agencies.
That’s why it might be a bit difficult to understand what’s the right path for your company, franchise, or even brand.
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Tags: Procurement, Management
Negotiating with the Dark Side - Procurement's Problem
Negotiations Ninja
June 09, 2020
When you are in procurement, you’re not just an enemy—you are the enemy to almost everyone involved (or least that’s how it feels). That’s why I like to call it negotiating with the dark side.
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Tags: Supply Chain, Procurement
Back-Stabbing Coworkers
Procurious
June 07, 2020
Blog republished by Procurious
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Tags: Future of Work, Procurement, Social
Toxic, Tyrannical, and Treacherous People in the Workplace – When Back-Stabbing CoWorkers and Friends are the Least of Your Problems
Ms Category Management
June 04, 2020
Just when you think backstabbing coworkers are the worst you have to fear – you run into the toxic, tyrannical, and even treacherous types. Yikes!
You know who I am talking about. It’s the empire builders, the eternally unhappy, the power-hungry, or someone out gunning for your position. They have an agenda, and helping you isn’t on it.
I cover how to handle backstabbers in a previous blog (Handling the two-faced foe), but I neglected to dive deeper. So here’s how to tackle these nightmare coworkers with a few #protips (or Jedi Mind Tricks) for everyone to use.
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Tags: Supply Chain, Procurement
Personal Branding: What 7 Golden Rules I Learned from Working with Marketing Teams in the Past Decade
Ms Category Management
May 27, 2020
When I first had someone tell me I was good at personal branding, I wasn’t sure I ultimately agreed. But then I thought about it for a while.
I had created the Ms. Category Management blog and was able to carve my niche in the space of procurement. I even had people recognize me at a couple of conferences!
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Tags: Management, Marketing
I absolutely HATE goals but am still successful. Find out why some of the most talented people in business, detest strict goals.
Ms Category Management
May 15, 2020
Because most of the people will want to call BS on this, I figured I’d cite some of the sources I found to back-up my experience. I won’t say that this works for everyone, but it sure has for me. Either way, there’s something to it!
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Tags: Procurement, Leadership
Do You Hate and Avoid Networking? Then find out why NOW is the BEST time to dip your toe in the water!
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May 12, 2020
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Tags: Procurement
Do You Hate and Avoid Networking? Then find out why NOW is the BEST time to dip your toe in the water!
Ms Category Management
May 12, 2020
Most people absolutely loathe networking, and can you really blame them? It’s awkward, odd, and conversations can go nowhere. For those who are introverted, it must be a living nightmare. So, I don’t blame those who absolutely hate the thought of networking.
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Tags: Social, Procurement
The Classification Guru and Fixer of Dirty Data – Susan Walsh – #WSW – Women Supporting Women
Ms Category Management
May 10, 2020
Data just isn’t a thing in the procurement world; it’s the thing that drives all of our decisions, strategies, and so much more. So that’s why I was stoked to talk with Susan Walsh AKA The Classification Guru.
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Tags: Supply Chain, Procurement
World of Procurement Podcast – Building a Procurement Personal Brand – With Daniel Barnes
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May 07, 2020
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Tags: Procurement
Unorganized at Work? Check Out These 7 Hacks for the Organizing for the Unorganized Life
Ms Category Management
April 29, 2020
Now, don’t get me wrong. There are days where I wish I could keep my entire desk, notebooks, ideas, and about everything else perfectly organized. But that lasts for about a whole ten minutes… on a good day.
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Tags: Procurement, Change Management, Business Strategy
Why Millennials – Like Me – LOVE Procurement!
Ms Category Management
April 24, 2020
These days very few people love what they do for work. Luckily, for me, that’s not necessarily true. In fact, it’s scary how often I say the words ‘I Love Procurement’. It has confused many but intrigued a few people too, like Dana Small.
Dana and I met virtually through a close friend in the industry, then ran into each other at the 2019 SPARK Conference, where we spent two full days geeking out on the future of procurement. Dana asked me what opportunities that I see for the future of procurement and encouraged me to write about it.
Here I want to lay the framework for why millennials like me, dare I say, LOVE procurement. Followed by how I see procurement transforming as the function begins to attract more attention by both organization’s leadership and hot talent in the industry.
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Tags: Supply Chain, Procurement
Suppliers Should Embrace Working With Sourcing and Procurement, Instead of Fighting a Endless Battle
Ms Category Management
April 12, 2020
In the middle of finalizing a multi-million dollar deal, and then you get the dreaded call. Sourcing wants to chat...
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Tags: Supply Chain, Procurement
Reference Checks – What Are Your Business Partners Secretly Saying About You?
Ms Category Management
April 05, 2020
I’m not sure about you, but I’m surprised I even have to write about this topic. Unfortunately, given some co-worker’s recent experiences and also looking back at my own – I felt the need to address it. Reference Checks.
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Tags: Supply Chain, Procurement, Business Strategy
Celia Landesberg – Leading the Way in Sustainable Procurement #WSW
Ms Category Management
March 31, 2020
First, let me start by saying I had the pleasure of meeting Celia at a local GWPP event! We chatted after the panel discussion and I’m glad I got to meet her. I have great admiration for her and what she’s doing. Especially, since she’s on the cutting edge of the new black of procurement – Sustainability.
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Tags: Sustainability, Procurement, Diversity and Inclusion
Mission Impossible: Eliminating Maverick Spend
Ms Category Management.com
March 29, 2020
Let’s start with the obvious, what is Maverick (aka Rouge) spending? Here’s what I’ve been taught it’s defined as: Off-contract, Non-PO or out of Compliance Spending. And what are the typical causes of this? Well, there are a multitude of reasons.
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Tags: Procurement, Risk Management, Business Strategy
Working Moms During a Global Pandemic – What To Do to Get Rid of the Guilt! #WSW
Ms Category Management
March 26, 2020
I’m not sure about anyone else, but I am sure going un poco loco (a little bit crazy) after working from home these past couple of weeks. And it’s not from all of my computer and IT issues. I didn’t realize a laptop could not recognize it’s own internal keyboard, but hey, you learn something new every day!
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Tags: Procurement, Future of Work, Diversity and Inclusion
Annoying Buzzwords That Should Be Eliminated in 2020
Ms Category Management.com
March 25, 2020
Things have been pretty heavy lately with all the beer virus updates. So, I thought it would be a good time to lighten the mood for a quick laugh to distract us all for a minute. Especially since there’s all this talk of a major global recession. So here’s what I’ve been thinking about lately.
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Tags: Procurement, Future of Work, Change Management
Sustainability – It’s the New Black for Strategic Sourcing and Procurement
Ms Category Management.com
March 23, 2020
Sustainability – What Does it Really Mean?
The increasing effects of polution on the world, has changed consumer, business, and governemental behavior. No longer is it ‘ok’ to have an underwater oil spill causing irreperable damage to an entire ecosystem, or cutting down half the rainforest for profit, or even drive gas guzzling SUV’s that spew out obnoxious amount of air pollution.
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Tags: Sustainability, Supply Chain, Procurement
An Extreme Hangover From the Beer Virus, How Long Will It Last?
Ms Category Management.com
March 20, 2020
Okay, so we all know the story. Some are out hoarding decades worth of toilet paper, paper towels, hand sanitizers, and cleaning supplies. Some want to cash in, and price gouges others to make a profit. Which may have worked for a while, but eventually amazon and eBay banned them, and now they are stuck with 17k bottles and nowhere to sell them (boo-hoo).
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Tags: Supply Chain, Procurement, Business Strategy
Executive Insight: Richard Ham “They can exploit the 5% you don’t know, for a +>20% profit.”
Ms Category Management.com
March 19, 2020
Richard’s Categories: Uniform Rentals, Waste Management, and Pest Control Services
I am going to start by saying, I know absolutely nothing about strategic sourcing of Uniform Rentals, Waste Disposal, and Pest Control Services. So, this interview was a great learning experience. Not to mention if I ever had these categories, I knew who to call...
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Tags: Supply Chain, Procurement, Business Strategy
Managing Creative Ad Agencies Throughout a Product’s Lifecycle
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March 15, 2020
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Tags: Procurement
Executive Insight: Michelle Charpentier #WSW
Ms Category Management.com
March 08, 2020
In my first-ever Executive Interview, I decided to stick close to home. As my boss, Michelle Charpentier seemed the perfect person to talk with. As a Senior Director – Global Source to Pay at BioMarin, Michelle wears many hats from oversight of our Global Strategic Sourcing function to the P2P process and Global Travel and expense.
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Tags: Procurement, Management, Diversity and Inclusion
Promotional Products – The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. Protect Your Brand Image and Check out New Trends for 2020
Ms Category Management.com
March 06, 2020
Are Promotional Products Going Too Far?
Lately, I swear it’s the new black to send terrible promotional products. As if the new strategy was too make it so bad, that people will feel motivated to call you just to understand that bad decision.
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Tags: Procurement, Marketing, Sales
GWPP – Panelist for Global Women Procurement Professionals Event #WSW
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February 27, 2020
GWWP - Global Women in Procurement Professionals. Panelist for event in Foster City, CA. Roadmapping Your Career.
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Tags: Procurement
Developing Your Personal Brand Without Promoting Yourself – My Interview in ProcureRising Q1 2020 Magazine
Ms Category Management.com
February 26, 2020
“Almost 20 years later, Dana Gerenda is now Dana Small. Her name has changed, but her belief in hard work and humility remains. She credits her Midwest upbringing for her values. “To me, a ‘Midwest value’ is honest integrity. You don’t need to brag. You need to put your nose to the grindstone and put in a hard day’s work. This is very Midwest. You don’t need to go around telling everyone how great you are,” she explained.
Small believes that your work is the essence of your personal brand. “You don’t need to say, ‘I’m the master of the universe.’ If you are, people will know that you are the master of the universe. Your work will speak for you,” she stated.”
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Tags: Procurement, Management, Leadership
Does Size Matter? Effects of Company Size On Sourcing Strategy
Ms Category Management.com
February 24, 2020
I was originally going to have this as video only post, but after the time and effort it took to simplify strategy changes for a brief video, I figured some context was in order. This just isn’t an easy subject to cover!
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Tags: Supply Chain, Procurement, Management
9 Issues With a DIY Procurement Strategy
Ms Category Management.com
February 11, 2020
Procurement. Strategic Sourcing. Purchasing. Category Management. All of these terms, may seem simple enough at their core, but there is a lot more to the strategy than you think.
I’ll agree it’s not rocket science, but some parts aren’t intuitive either. That’s why having a DIY Procurement Strategy can lead to epic fails and disasters. Here is a summary of the video’s nine issues and their explanation.
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Tags: Procurement, Risk Management, Business Strategy
Amazing Advice From A Guru – Kelly Barner #WSW
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February 09, 2020
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Tags: Procurement
SUPPLIER CONTRACTING – THE REAL VALUE OF MANAGING CONTRACTS
Market Dojo
February 07, 2020
Guest blog written for market dojo
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Tags: Business Strategy, Procurement, Supply Chain
Under the Influence: The Coronavirus’ Disruption on Global Supply Chain
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February 07, 2020
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Tags: Procurement
What Payment Terms and George Constanza Have In Common (And Why They Matter!)
Ms Category Management.com
January 30, 2020
I know, I’ve finally run out of ideas that make any type of sense. But I promise, this will actually make it easier to digest (because who really cares about payment terms)! So check out these can similarities between George Constanza and the rest of the cast as they relate to contracts.
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Tags: Procurement, Risk Management, Business Strategy
7 Freshman Mistakes to Ditch in a Capabilities Presentation
Ms Category Management.com
January 22, 2020
Don’t pressure me for the next steps. I know it’s closing, but it’s like the movie “he’s just not that into you.” If someone wants your product, they’ll find you and make sure to start the next steps. Even if they have to climb a mountain and yodel from the top. Otherwise, well… he’s just not that into you (or your product).
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Tags: Supply Chain, Procurement, Business Strategy
WSW Event – GWPP Presents: Women in Procurement
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January 18, 2020
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Tags: Procurement
Have You Been a Victim of Scope Creep? Find out Why it’s the Ultimate Business Betrayal and What You Can Do About it
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January 15, 2020
Everything is going fine until you get a call and find out "unfortunately, this is going to take a lot more than we initially thought." Cue an increase in pricing and scope to give you the ultimate business betrayal scope creep.
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Tags: Procurement
Have You Been a Victim of Scope Creep? Find out Why it's the Ultimate Business Betrayal and What You Can Do About it
Ms Category Mangement
January 15, 2020
Have You Been a Victim of Scope Creep? Find out Why it's the Ultimate Business Betrayal and What You Can Do About it
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Tags: Supply Chain, Procurement
Martech WEBINAR! Keys to a Successful Martech Procurement
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January 14, 2020
Webinar on Martech Procurement: Please join Ms. Category Management and other amazing Sourcing Professionals in a Webinar in best practices in Sourcing the Martech Stack!
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Tags: Procurement
Putting the “CURE” back in Procurement in 2020
Ms Category Management.com
January 07, 2020
There are a lot of different types of problems across organizations (shocker, I know) , but there are always underlying themes. Problems tend to differ based organizational maturity, departmental goals, personnel, spend levels; but, there are some issues that are inherent to the industry.
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Tags: Supply Chain, Procurement
Tough Negotiations – Have You Been Stonewalled?
Ms Category Management.com
December 29, 2019
Ever thought to yourself “wow, this is moving absolutely no where!” when working with a supplier? You’ve had ten conference calls, six in-person meetings, you’ve sent 35 emails and you’ve done everything aside show up to a supplier’s worksite to get information or move a project along. Absolutely nothing works?
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Tags: Supply Chain, Procurement
Improving Your Work Relationships in 2020
Ms Category Management.com
December 15, 2019
Having the experience for the past six years of working in a non-mandated sourcing or procurement environment, I’ve learned a lot about building relationships.
Especially when it’s with my darling marketing business partners.
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Tags: Procurement, Leadership, Business Strategy
Conspiracy Theories about Procurement – Fact or Fiction?
Ms Category Management.com
December 08, 2019
If you’re like me, you enjoy a good conspiracy theory or two. Knowing half the time they are BS but enjoying the mental gymnastics people create to get there. It really makes me feel like I’ve cracked open their brains and caught a glimpse of the journey they go on.
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Tags: Supply Chain, Procurement, Business Strategy
Negotiating the Dark Side: Business Bullies
Negotiations Ninja
December 04, 2019
How to negotiate with Bullies.
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Tags: Business Strategy, Procurement
When Fighting for Equality Isn’t Enough #WSW
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December 01, 2019
Dec-2019 - When Fighting for Equality Isn't Enough, Sometimes You Need to Re-Write History.
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Tags: Procurement, Culture, Diversity and Inclusion
Proactive Management of Agencies throughout the Product Life Cycle
Ms Category Management.com
November 20, 2019
Agencies - Best practices when managing creative and strategy ad agencies throughout the product lifecycle.
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Tags: Procurement, Marketing
There’s no Participation Trophy for Showing up to Work
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November 09, 2019
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Tags: Procurement
There’s no Participation Trophy for Showing up to Work
Ms Category Management.com
November 08, 2019
Yes, you need to show up. It’s called work. And that’s quite frankly, WHY the companies pay you. To show up! Sheesh.
No, you don’t get a pass because you are a millennial or Gen Z (who probably is more of the problem). Or don’t like an office environment. Or think you should be promoted every six months for doing your job.
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Tags: Procurement
Bring it on Nightmare Negotiators, I’ve Been Black Swan Trained!
Ms Category Management.com
November 06, 2019
You haven’t been really trained, unless you’ve been Black Swan trained in negotiations. This course is great! So here’s my review.
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Tags: Procurement, Leadership
Why SRM (Supplier Relationship Management) Matters – It’s Your Business to Lose!
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October 09, 2019
SRM is important, why? Suppliers assume they have the business because they are the incumbents. But remember it's your business to lose!
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Tags: Procurement
Why SRM (Supplier Relationship Management) Matters – It’s Your Business to Lose!
Ms Category Management.com
October 04, 2019
I’ve said it, my boss has said it, and even previous bosses and colleagues have said it. It is your business to lose (incumbents).
If you decide to not show up with your game face on, you should try to exit gracefully and tactfully. Being a whiner isn’t going to get you anywhere. I promise.
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Tags: Procurement
Have We Stretched the Supplier Relationship Too Far?
Ms Category Management.com
October 04, 2019
The title sums it up pretty well. Let’s think of the relationship between buyers and suppliers like a rubber band. We all know there is give and take – elasticity between the two. But we also know, you stretch it too much, it never will go back to its original shape.
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Tags: Supply Chain, Procurement
Sourceit and the RSN Real Sourcing Network – Sarah Scudder #WSW
linkedin
September 29, 2019
This blog isn’t just to highlight this amazing tool, it’s also a #WSW blog. For all the amazing women like Sarah and what they do for our industry in creating a better place to work and grow in. If you don’t know Sarah, you should! She’s the President of the RSN – Real Sourcing Network.
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Tags: Procurement, Leadership, Diversity and Inclusion
More RFP Mistakes, Mishaps and Mayhem!
Ms Category Management.com
September 17, 2019
What do you do, when you’ve encountered writer’s block? That’s right! Exploit others’ pain anonymously! Kidding. I would never do such a thing!
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Tags: Procurement
How to Win with Finance! Best and Worst Practices in Reporting Procurement Savings
Ms Category Management.com
September 04, 2019
I get it, I at least I think I do. Before I started working in first finance role I was clueless. Budget what? Accounting who? How do expenses and savings change the bottom line (you mean the one on the floor?)
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Tags: Procurement
ProcureCon Marketing 2019 – Come See Me Speak and Keep Austin Weird!
Ms Category Management.com
September 02, 2019
Join me November 18th and 20th in Austin! Where I will be speaking about managing agencies through a product lifecycle and also on a panel for an agency-in house discussion. To find out more about ProcureCon Marketing – Click Here
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Tags: Procurement
The Woman Who Inspired the My Blog – #WSW
Ms Category Management.com
August 26, 2019
I am not going to start off by telling you who inspired this blog, what fun would that be? I’d rather tell you the story and have you guessing. The thing is, if you’ve read a few of my previous blogs you might be able to figure it out fairly quickly. Or if you’ve seen my latest screw up in hitting publish, instead of save…yeah. I did that. Again.
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Tags: Procurement, Leadership, Diversity and Inclusion
Webinar: The Global Tealbook Rollout – 9.4 at 2pm EST
Ms Category Management.com
August 23, 2019
The webinar will be a live case study on BioMarin’s global roll out of Tealbook’s master data management solution.
I will share the business drivers supporting the roll out, the phases of implementing Tealbook, successes, learnings and outcomes...
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Tags: Procurement
Webinar: The Amazing Global Tealbook Rollout – 9.4
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August 23, 2019
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Tags: Procurement
Pharmaceutical Marketing – Where Do We Draw the Line?
Ms Category Management.com
August 22, 2019
Sitting through a bunch of recent agency pitches it got me thinking, is there a line for Pharmaceutical Marketing that shouldn’t be crossed?
As you may know from one of my blogs, “Why Paying Doctors and Nurses Good Thing,” I am in support of the marketing efforts we have for Physicians. Because in short, if buying them lunch to give them updated drug or disease state information is the worst thing to happen, I’m all for it. And the alternative seems like a terrible idea
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Tags: Procurement, Marketing
What’s Next For Ms. Category Management?
Ms Category Management.com
August 20, 2019
Check out what’s next for Ms. Category Management in the above video…
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Tags: Procurement
Was this RFP a Complete Circus, Screw-up or a Trainwreck? You Decide!
Ms Category Management.com
August 07, 2019
When you see a RFP trainwreck coming, you typically move out of the way. Unfortunately for me, there wasn’t anything I could do. I was stuck on the tracks with that look of a deer in headlights plastered all over my face.
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Tags: Supply Chain, Procurement
When a Vendor Management Review Turns into an Epic Fail
Wordpress
August 06, 2019
When vendor management, isn't really managing the vendor. See why this 360 supplier review turned into something more insightful.
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Tags: Business Strategy, Marketing, Procurement
It’s Here! My Premiere Podcast with Art of Procurement’s (AOP) Phillip Ideson
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August 05, 2019
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Tags: Procurement
5 Clever Books to Sharpen Your Strategic Sourcing Skills
Ms Category Management.com
July 26, 2019
We all know there are loads of books on negotiating, soft skills and procurement basics. But what you may not know is which is worth your time to read (or listen to!). Time is our most precious commodity, so don’t waste it on outdated information or usless books.
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Tags: Procurement, Change Management, Business Strategy
Women in Procurement: Are We Winning the Battle, only to Seemingly Lose the War?
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July 24, 2019
Women in Procurement. It's akin to completing an Ironman. Read more to find out why we may have won some battles, but maybe losing the war.
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Tags: Procurement
The Godfather: Procurement Lessons Inspired by the Mafia
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July 21, 2019
July 19th, 2019. The Godfather. The Mafia. We can all learn something from their successful business management. So here's a guide to handling work like a mob boss.
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Tags: Procurement, Management, Business Strategy
Playing poker can improve your negotiation skills, here's how.
linkedin
July 05, 2019
I consider myself a pretty good negotiator, but when it comes to brokering a deal my husband can squeeze blood from a turnip. Whether it's a yard sale and he's after a $5 clock or $15k to renovate a bathroom, he always gets the opposition to bend.
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Tags: Procurement, Management
Backstabbing Co-Workers: How to Handle the Two-Faced Foe
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July 03, 2019
Backstabbing coworkers. It's happened to all of us, so read more about how to maintain your integrity and best practices to deal with these two-faced foes.
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Tags: Procurement
Playing poker can improve your negotiation skills, here’s how.
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July 02, 2019
Poker v. Negotiation Skills. I consider myself a decent negotiator, but I've recently met my match. Read more to learn why an obsession with poker has made him a pro at negotiations.
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Tags: Procurement
How to write an RFP that suppliers want to respond to
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June 27, 2019
Writing an RFP in the digital age is no easy task. Especially when you have lots of information to share. Find out how to write an RFP suppliers will WANT to respond to!
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Tags: Procurement
3 Epic Business Faux Pas you’ll be happy didn’t happen to you!
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June 20, 2019
3 epic business faux pas that will make you cringe! Join me and laugh at my pain!
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Tags: Procurement
Negotiation Donkeys – Quit Your Crying!
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June 18, 2019
It's 2019 and the Negotiation Donkeys are on my last nerve! Read more to hear what the top 5 common excuses are and what I think we should do moving forward.
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It’s an Inside Job: The Dirty Little Secret of Sourcing Fraud
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June 05, 2019
Sourcing Fraud. It's the dirty little secret and epidemic sweeping small businesses. So why haven't we heard more about it? Read more to find out.
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Tags: Procurement
The Time I Hired a Cat to Walk My Dog – The Art of Negotiation
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May 31, 2019
The time I hired a cat to walk my dog... ridiculous right? Thinking you're an expert in one area makes you an expert in another is just as ridiculous. Especially when it comes to negotiations.
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Tags: Procurement
The Time I Hired a Cat to Walk My Dog
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May 31, 2019
The time I hired a cat to walk my dog... ridiculous right? Thinking you're an expert in one area makes you an expert in another is just as ridiculous. Especially when it comes to negotiations.
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7 Amazing Fun Facts about Category Managers
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May 22, 2019
7 (Seven) Fun Facts about Category Managers that you may not have known!
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Tags: Procurement
Bull in a China Shop – #WSW
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May 18, 2019
Ms Category Management explains what a Bull in a China shop should really mean
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Nightmare Negotiations
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May 16, 2019
IT was my first major RFP outside of the Commercial Category. And IT was in the IT Category. So what could possibly go wrong?
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Tags: Supply Chain, Procurement
Nightmare IT Negotiations
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May 16, 2019
MsCategoryManagement blogs about IT Sourcing and Nightmare Negotiations
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Tags: Procurement
Nightmare IT Negotiations
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May 15, 2019
MsCategoryManagement blogs about IT Sourcing and Nightmare Negotiations
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Tags: Procurement
10 Things to Avoid When Networking
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May 10, 2019
10 things to avoid when networking from Ms. Category Management at mscategorymanagement blog
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10 Things to Avoid When Networking
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May 09, 2019
10 things to avoid when networking from Ms. Category Management at mscategorymanagement blog
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Tags: Procurement
2019 ANAFM Conference – Amazing Highlights
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May 05, 2019
The 2019 ANA Financial Management Conference Review by Ms. Category Management
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Tags: Procurement
Networking – Love or Hate?
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April 30, 2019
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Tags: Supply Chain, Procurement
Supplier Side: Insight into Rare and Ultra Rare Disease States
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April 07, 2019
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Tags: Supply Chain, Procurement
Insight into the Unique World of Ultra Rare Diseases
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April 07, 2019
Ms Category Management explores ultra rare and rare disease marketing
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Tags: Procurement
Insight into Ultra Rare Diseases
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April 07, 2019
Ms Category Management explores ultra rare and rare disease marketing
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Tags: Procurement
What’s Your Level of Transparency in Discussions with Sourcing Peers?
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March 22, 2019
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Tags: Procurement, Management
Strategic Sourcing in the Stone Ages
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March 08, 2019
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Tags: Procurement, Management
7 Deadly Sins of Sourcing
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February 24, 2019
The 7 Deadly Sins of Strategic Sourcing - blog by Ms Category Management
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Tags: Procurement
How I saved 1 Million with A Sole Source Supplier
linkedin
February 12, 2019
Let’s start at the beginning and talk about the product this supplier owns: the Physicians’ Desk Reference (PDR). Never heard of it? Don’t worry, here’s a short background.
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Tags: Supply Chain, Procurement, Management
Sole Source Suppliers – How I saved $1 Million
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February 11, 2019
How I Saved a $1M dollars with a Sole Source Supplier by Ms Category Management
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Sole Source Suppliers – How I saved $1 Million
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February 10, 2019
How I Saved a $1M dollars with a Sole Source Supplier by Ms Category Management
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Tags: Procurement
tealbook Global Launch – Lessons Learned
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February 08, 2019
The first ever tealbook Global Launch and Lessons Learned
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Tags: AI
tealbook Global Launch – Lessons Learned
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February 07, 2019
The first ever tealbook Global Launch and Lessons Learned
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Tags: Procurement
10 Things Technology Has Done to the Workplace that Drives Me Absolutely Bonkers!
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February 02, 2019
When technology is just... 10 issues by Ms Category Management
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Tags: Procurement
When Technology is …
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February 02, 2019
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Tags: Procurement, Management
Cvent – 1 Day Training
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February 01, 2019
Review of my one day training with CVENT by Ms Category Managgment
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Tags: Procurement
Cvent – My 1 Day Ultimate Training Review
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January 31, 2019
Review of my one day training with CVENT by Ms Category Managgment
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Tags: Procurement
Right Data. For the Right Decisions. Using the Right Technology – RightSpend.
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January 30, 2019
Learn more about Beekman Associates and their data driven marketing procurement tool - Rightspend. See what puts it into a category all of it's own.
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Tags: Procurement, Management, Marketing
Pulling Back the Advertising Agency Cost Curtain
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January 22, 2019
Pulling back the cost curtain on advertising agencies by Ms Category Management
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Tags: Procurement
Pull Back the Cost Curtain on Advertising
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January 22, 2019
Pulling back the cost curtain on advertising agencies by Ms Category Management
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Pull Back the Advertising Cost Curtain
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January 22, 2019
Pulling back the cost curtain on advertising agencies by Ms Category Management
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Tags: Procurement
It’s Time to Stop the Meaningless Meeting Maniacs!
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January 19, 2019
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Tags: Procurement, Management
Tealbook – The First Groundbreaking Global Launch
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January 17, 2019
The Global Launch of Tealbook by Ms Category Management
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Tags: Procurement
Tealbook – The Groundbreaking Global Launch
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January 17, 2019
The Global Launch of Tealbook by Ms Category Management
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The Sourcing Redemption – Suppliers and Vendors, This Rant is for You!
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January 13, 2019
The Sourcing Redemption by Ms Category Management
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Tags: Procurement
The Sourcing Redemption
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January 13, 2019
What sourcing professionals are doing to discredit their organizations. And what we can do to balance these things.
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Tags: Procurement, Management
How Service Based Companies Increase Profit Part 2: How to Defend Against Them
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January 10, 2019
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Tags: Procurement, Marketing
How Service Based Companies Increase Profit Part 2: How to Defend Against Them
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January 09, 2019
Part 2: How Service Based Companies Increase Profit and How to Defend Against Them
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Tags: Procurement
How Service Companies Increase Profit – Part 1
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January 08, 2019
How Service Based Companies Increase Their Profit Part 1 - by Ms Category Management
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Hourly Rate Analysis Made Easy – The Breakdown to the Build-up
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January 03, 2019
Rate Analysis Made Easy by Ms Category Management (Salary+OH+Profit=Rate)
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Tags: Procurement
Rate Analysis Made Easy
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January 03, 2019
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Tags: Procurement, Management
Women Supporting Women #WSW
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December 22, 2018
Christy Willmon (Willmon Consulting) In thinking about future blogs, and how I can give back to those who have inspired me, I’ve decided to talk about how they...
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Tags: Procurement, Management
Women Supporting Women #WSW – Christy Willmon
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December 21, 2018
Women Supporting Women WSW - Christy Willmon Consulting blog by Ms Category Management
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The Prequel – Gone with the RFP
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December 19, 2018
Gone with the RFP - The Prequel by Ms Category Management
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Paying Doctors and Nurses – Can be a GOOD Thing #Change My Mind
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December 16, 2018
Why Paying Doctors and Nurses can be a Good Thing - Change My Mind by Ms Category Management
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Tags: Procurement
Paying Doctors and Nurses – Can be a GOOD Thing
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December 16, 2018
Why Paying Doctors and Nurses can be a Good Thing - Change My Mind by Ms Category Management
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10 Terrible Gifts for Coworkers and Where to Find Them
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December 11, 2018
10 Terrible Gifts for Coworkers and Where to Find Them - Another Holiday Blog by Ms Category Management
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How to Grow the Grinch’s Heart – Tips for Suppliers in Creating and Maintaining Relationships with Sourcing and Procurement
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December 06, 2018
How to Grow the Grinch's Heart - Suggestions for Suppliers by Ms Category Management
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Tags: Procurement
How to Grow the Grinch’s Heart
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December 06, 2018
How to Grow the Grinch's Heart - Suggestions for Suppliers by Ms Category Management
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Join Grumpy Cat and get in the Holiday Mood….
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December 03, 2018
…For the 12 Days of Christmas! On the 12th day of Christmas my Supplier gave to me… *In Jest* 12 Compliance Corrections 11 Leery Lawyers 10 Distribution Disasters...
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Tags: Procurement
Ho, Ho, Ho – Here we go again!
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December 01, 2018
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Tags: Procurement, Management
Ho, Ho, Ho – Here we go again!
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November 30, 2018
Ho, Ho, Ho, Here We Go Again! What's in the Bag Santa? Sourcing Tools, SRM or a Sales and Marketing RFP?
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Tags: Procurement
Women in the Workplace – Behind Enemy Lines
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November 29, 2018
Women in the Workplace - Behind Enemy Lines. Read my stories and struggles with other Women in the Workplace and what I've done to overcome them.
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One Flew Over a Commercial Team’s Nest
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November 21, 2018
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Tags: Procurement, Management
One Flew Over a Commercial Team’s Nest
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November 20, 2018
One Flew Over a Commercial Teams Nest by Ms Category Management
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Tags: Procurement
Gone with the RFP …
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November 18, 2018
How to lose business in the final round… You’ve made through all the down selections into the final round of the RFP for on-site presentations. You came, presented...
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Tags: Procurement, Management
ProcureCon 2018 Re-Cap and Overview
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November 15, 2018
The 2018 ProcureCon Marketing Re-cap and Overview by Ms Category Management
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Tags: Marketing, Procurement
ProcureCon Marketing 2018 Re-Cap and Overview
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November 15, 2018
The 2018 ProcureCon Marketing Re-cap and Overview by Ms Category Management
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Tags: Procurement
ProcureCon Marketing 2018 Re-Cap and Overview
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November 14, 2018
The 2018 ProcureCon Marketing Re-cap and Overview by Ms Category Management
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Tags: Procurement
Executive MBA
Building an In-House Agency in a Mid-Sized BioPharma Company
Managing Advertising Agencies Throughout a Product's Lifecycle
Women in Procurement ( Global Council for the Advancement of )
ProcureCon Marketing Advisory Board
The ABC's of Building Your Personal Brand
In-House Agency Creation and Management.
BioPharma Business Case on Building An-Inhouse Agency
Managing Advertising Agencies Throughout a Product's Lifecycle
Category Sourcing Strategy Template
Ms Category Management
Category Management Mondays
Top 50 PRocurement Thought Leaders
100 Women B2B Thought Leaders to Follow in 2020
Thinkers 360 Supply Chain Top 50
Thinkers 360 Procurement Influencer
The Best Free Procurement Content Websites
Top 20 (#15) Global Thought Leader for Procurement in July
The ABCs of Building Your Personal Brand
My Epic Keynote Speaking Event! Join me at SievoFriends Americas on 9.15.20 – Learn the ABC’s of Building Your Personal Brand
Celebrating Rocks Stars in Marketing Procurement
CPO Strategy - Issue 12
CPO Strategy
ProcuRising - Developing Your Personal Brand Without Promoting Yourself
Stop Being a Wanger
264: Where Did The Money Go? Bridging The Procurement & Finance Gap W/ Dana Small
Forge – Marketing Virtual Conference by Procurement Foundry
ProcureCon Marketing EU
GWPP – Panelist for Global Women Procurement Professionals Event #WSW
Women in Procurement Panel - Foster City
Spend Culture Stories Podcast: Category Management Must Knows for Biotech Procurement Professionals
What Procurement Really thinks
Building your procurement brand
Another Podcast! The Red Review – Stop Being a Wanger
Where did the money go?
Join Me! AOP Mastermind LIVE 2020 – A New Day for Procurement – October 6th and 7th!
I’m speaking at ProcureCon Marketing Virtual Flagship Event – Join me on 9/23 for a Legendary Event!
I’m Speaking! An Epic Event: Forge – Marketing Virtual Conference by Procurement Foundry – 10.29.20. Don’t Miss out!
Building Your Own Brand
Marketing Procurement Day
Managing Agencies Throughout the Product Lifecycle
Implementation of Tealbook at BMSA
Tealbook Presentation at ProcureCon Pharma
APMP Winning Business Virtual Experience
Climbing the Digital Ladder
Managing Agencies Throughout the Product Lifecycle
Key to Successful Martech Procurement
Implementing Tealbook Globally
Managing Advertising Agencies Throughout a Product's Lifecycle