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Kelly Barner
Co-Founder, Head of Content and Operations at Art of Procurement
Boston, MA, United States
Kelly Barner is a prolific writer and a highly visible thought leader with extensive experience creating live, pre-recorded, audio, and video content. In 2021, Kelly was selected as a member of the inaugural class of LinkedIn’s Creator Accelerator program, beating out thousands of other creators to earn one of 100 coveted spots.
Beyond being a creator, Kelly is an avid reader - partially for the joy of adding to her knowledge base but also because being informed on a wide range of topics is the best way to have engaging conversations with executive leaders. Natural, authentic conversations are the best source of raw material.
Available For: Authoring, Influencing Travels From: Boston, MA
Kelly Barner
Points
Academic
0
Author
1991
Influencer
348
Speaker
45
Entrepreneur
51
Total
2435
Points based upon Thinkers360 patent-pending algorithm.
Supply Market Information & Research 2023
Cottrill Research
December 03, 2023
This year’s annual post once again provides insights and reports on select trends and offerings that materialized in 2023. Kelly’s section focuses on the importance of maintaining quality standards for all content, regardless if it is from a podcast, blog, or is AI generated. Jeanette’s section follows with listings of resource-related trends that include AI (generative AI focus), space-based data, data unification, and commodity traceability. Associated examples are provided.
– Kelly Barner and Jeanette Jones (authors of Supply Market Intelligence for Procurement Professionals: Research, Process, and Resources)
Coke's Supply Chain Is the Real Thing
LinkedIn
November 02, 2023
Coca-Cola could have said no. When the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation asked the company to help improve healthcare supply chains across Africa, they could have said no. But they didn't. In this Dial P for Procurement, discover how Coca-Cola applied their supply chain expertise to improve inventory management, route optimization, and cold chain logistics in Africa - saving lives in the process.
Why Bed Bath & Beyond’s supply chain wasn’t on Target
CIPS Supply Management Magazine
October 30, 2023
How did one retail giant triumph over massive inventory issues, while another equally familiar high-street name collapsed? Kelly Barner examines their very different approaches to inventory management
All is fair in love, war, and supply chain - and yet I feel bad for LEGO. They have invested heavily and pushed to move to bioplastics, but they have yet to identify the right material. Despite these efforts, LEGO was still the victim of a brutal social media campaign led by Greenpeace. This week's Dial P for Procurement is eye-opening; if LEGO can’t find a way to be sustainable without compromising on product quality and customer experience, what hope is there for anyone else? The fight for sustainability is worthwhile, but it will require a lot more hard work and investment than most media coverage and advocacy suggest.
The LEGO Sustainability Saga
Art of Procurement
October 26, 2023
All is fair in love, war, and supply chain - and yet I feel bad for LEGO.
They have invested heavily and pushed to move to bioplastics, but they have yet to identify the right material.
Despite these efforts, LEGO was still the victim of a brutal social media campaign led by Greenpeace.
This week's Dial P for Procurement is eye-opening; if LEGO can’t find a way to be sustainable without compromising on product quality and customer experience, what hope is there for anyone else?
J. M. Smucker Can Have Their Cake and Eat It Too
LinkedIn
October 13, 2023
Snackers rejoice! Not only has the The J.M. Smucker Co. acquisition of Hostess Brands created stability for treats like Twinkies, but it also gives us an opportunity to learn about their supply chain synergies. In this week's Dial P for Procurement, I'll explore why "synergy" is far more than a consulting buzzword for these two packaged food giants.
Tags: Mergers and Acquisitions, Procurement, Supply Chain
Ideas = Innovation
LinkedIn
October 05, 2023
No one likes to talk about modern slavery, child labor, funding challenges faced by diverse-owned startups, or environmentally damaging materials and processes.
All of these things are trying to creep into our supply chains. Many are already there.
We have to call them out, shine a light on them, and refuse to look away.
That is going to take courage.
If we are afraid of being canceled or shamed because of how we address these challenges, we will never solve them. Period. In this week's Dial P for Procurement, Kelly Barner makes the connection between the importance of Banned Books Week and the work of procurement and supply chain.
Monopoly: Not Illegal to Have, Just Illegal to Keep
LinkedIn
September 28, 2023
U.S. et al. v. Google - currently playing out in a Washington D.C. courtroom - will decide whether Google Search's dominant market position is based on being the best or on unfair competitive practices. Who better to reference for more information than Michael Porter and his Five Forces. In this week's Dial P for Procurement newsletter and podcast, I look at what's been shared at trial and then apply the Five Forces to shed light on the underlying competitive dynamics.
The Opportunity and Challenge of Services Procurement
LinkedIn
September 25, 2023
Services procurement isn't easy... but it is fascinating to manage. Participate in our research here: https://lnkd.in/eBZGvwrp In this special edition of the Dial P for Procurement newsletter, I share some of my lessons learned from years in centralized and location-based services procurement and share this week's Art of Procurement podcast that Philip Ideson and I recorded on the topic.
Hershey's Sweet Supply Chain Success
LinkedIn
September 21, 2023
Remember Y2K? How about 2020? In both cases, society responded by self-medicating with chocolate and salty snacks. The Hershey Company has faced their fair share of challenges over the years, but they have demonstrated resilience - and a willingness to learn from their mistakes and invest in their supply chain capabilities. In this week's Dial P for Procurement, I look at the journey this company and their supply chain have been on over the last 25 years and ask the all important question... will there be enough Reese's peanut butter cups this Halloween??
Tags: Business Continuity, Digital Transformation, Supply Chain
Resilience, Circularity, and Positive Work Environments
Buyers Meeting Point
September 18, 2023
Did you know… the Buyers Meeting Point events calendar is color coded by event type? Red events are virtual and purple events are in person. Take a quick look at October’s schedule and it will quickly become clear that the procurement and supply chain conference scene is HOT this fall!
The Cold, Hard Facts About Cold Chain Logistics
Art of Procurement
September 14, 2023
In 2020, everyone and their mother was riveted by what supply chains can do. That only increased when people discovered today’s cold chain capabilities and saw them roll into action to make the COVID vaccine widely available.
The cold chain has largely slipped from the headlines, but we shouldn’t take it for granted.
The race is on to meet demand for refrigerated fleet equipment and warehouse space, to reduce the risk at transition points, and to ensure constant conditions through a seamless chain of custody.
Do you want to build a cold chain?
LinkedIn
September 14, 2023
In this week's Dial P for Procurement newsletter, Kelly Barner explores the modern marvel of cold chain logistics and thinks about the technological, regulatory, and contractual complexities required to deliver perishable food and medicine safely.
U.S. Steel is preparing for what looks like a career-ending fight. The U.S. steel industry is at the point where it is too much to ask four domestic steel producers to co-exist profitably, despite protective tariffs and the Federal government’s “buy American” tax credit provisions. In this week’s Dial P for Procurement, I examine U.S. Steel’s upcoming cage match with fellow steel producer Cleveland-Cliffs and the United Steelworkers (USW) union.
Tags: Mergers and Acquisitions, Procurement, Supply Chain
Dodging the Urban Doom Loop
Art of Procurement
August 31, 2023
In the book “Good to Great,” Jim Collins wrote about the flywheel effect, a prosperous cycle of work and adjustment that eventually picks up speed and builds its own momentum.
Fewer people talk about the flywheel effect’s evil cousin: the doom loop. This cycle of knee-jerk decisions and failed strategies has taken down many otherwise promising businesses. Collins characterizes it as “reaction without understanding.”
If the phrase doom loop sounds familiar, it may be because you’ve heard it used to describe the negative cycle at play in some of America’s largest cities. While the flywheel effect produces growth and profitability, the doom loop creates a downward spiral of societal decay: poverty, crime, lost value, and finally the relocation of people and businesses.
In this week’s episode of Dial P for Procurement, I consider the doom loop concept from both the public and private sector perspective – because the two meet in these large cities.
Who is to blame for Yellow’s demise?
Art of Procurement
August 24, 2023
On July 30th, 2023, Yellow announced that they would cease operations after 99 years and declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy just a week later. As with all things that are real but not simple, more than one problem led to the company’s downfall.
In this week’s episode of Dial P for Procurement, I retrace Yellow’s journey – from a single horse-drawn cab on the streets of Oklahoma City in 1906 to the events and business decisions that prevented them from reaching the 100-year milestone.
No “I” in Teamsters - But No “We” Either
LinkedIn
August 24, 2023
Yellow made their own bankruptcy coffin, but the Teamsters union hammered in the final nail. The question now is whether Teamsters General President Sean O'Brien's choice to play hardball with Yellow will win him the ultimate prize: Amazon In this week's Dial P for Procurement, I look at the four major factors that contributed to Yellow's bankruptcy filing earlier this month and speculate about what may be next in supply chain unionization.
Minds Poised Between Farm and Factory
LinkedIn
August 17, 2023
The seeming disconnect wasn’t theirs, however, it is mine. I think of Ford, Edison, and Firestone as businessmen, inventors, and industrialists. It almost seems silly to me that they would willingly sleep outside for weeks at a time. But to them it made perfect sense. They grew up in rural America and helped create the industrial world I think of them as inhabiting.
Restoring Business Imagination Through Nature
Art of Procurement
August 17, 2023
In 1918, Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, Harvey Firestone, and naturalist John Burroughs took a long road trip in the eastern United States. They slept under the stars, cooked outside, and made their way through the countryside, meeting people, investigating curiosities, and deepening their friendships as they went.
That journey, and the events leading up to and following after it, serves as the inspiration for my main summer read: American Journey: On the Road with Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, and John Burroughs by Wes Davis. In this week’s episode of Dial P for Procurement, I share my thoughts on the story – which is true – and how we can apply the wisdom it offers us 105 years after that road trip took place.
Tags: Health and Wellness, Innovation, Procurement
The Problem with Performative ESG
Art of Procurement
August 10, 2023
There is something troubling going on in the ESG movement. Recent news stories on ESG investing, the status of Chief Diversity Officers, and Pride month raise questions about the corporate commitment to such programs.
While ESG is not a new idea - in fact, the corporate social responsibility programs that preceded it date back to the 1970s - there has always been a tension between what companies say about environmental and social issues and what they are able to do.
In this episode of Dial P, Kelly Barner brings together three stories that touch upon where the ESG movement is right now and raises the question of where it is headed.
Tags: CSR, Diversity and Inclusion, Sustainability
Would ESG by any other name smell as sweet?
LinkedIn
August 10, 2023
What is more important: advancing social and environmental causes or having a fight over what we call them? If we can't talk about the core issues of the-initiative-formerly-known-as-ESG, we can't address them, regardless of how much money we throw at the problem. In this week's Dial P for Procurement, I take a hard look at the ESG movement based on recent news stories: the current plight of Chief Diversity Officers, the difference between successful and performative support for the LGBTQ community, and BlackRock Larry Fink's position on ESG.
Tags: CSR, Diversity and Inclusion, Sustainability
Tesla Takes the Socialist Pledge
Art of Procurement
August 03, 2023
China is one of the most important consumer, industrial, and raw materials markets in the world. They also happen to be a bad actor in terms of environmental practices and human rights. Companies looking to do business in China need to go in with their eyes wide open, prepared to handle a complicated set of decisions and PR maneuvers.
That is the backdrop for a very odd set of circumstances that played out at the 2023 China Automobile Forum in early July. Tesla was one of 16 EV companies - the only non-Chinese manufacturer, in fact - to sign a four point pledge that includes an agreement to adhere to “core socialist values.”
In this episode of Dial P, Kelly Barner explains why Tesla was asked to pledge adherence to “core socialist values” in Shanghai earlier this month and why the new pricing guidelines only stayed in effect for 48 hours.
Public Education as Corporate Social Responsibility
Art of Procurement
July 27, 2023
Skills gaps are a huge and costly problem in the corporate world.
According to Talent Guard, skill gaps currently cost the U.S. economy around $13 billion per month, and Deloitte recently cited an estimated $2.5 trillion total cost over the next decade.
Korn Ferry has projected that by 2030, more than 85 million jobs could go unfilled because there aren’t enough skilled people to take them.
Run those facts against the lagging performance of America’s public schools. Children lost one-third of a school year during the pandemic shutdowns. That figure increases to half a year when you isolate math. The average math score for 13 year olds fell 9 points from 2019 to 2021, the largest drop since the federal government started tracking in 1978.
In this episode of Dial P for Procurement, Kelly Barner makes the case that corporate social responsibility and public education must go hand in hand.
Where have the children gone?
LinkedIn
July 27, 2023
Stanford University and The Associated Press estimate that 230,000 K-12 students disappeared between 2020 and 2022.
Children who are still in school average between 1/2 and 1/3 of a year behind academically. If your company has a CSR program, these children - missing and lagging - will be gaps in your future workforce. The time to act is now.
In this week's Dial P for Procurement, Kelly Barner makes the connection between COVID learning loss and corporate talent challenges.
Tracking Procurement from Industry 1.0 – 5.0
Art of Procurement
July 20, 2023
Mankind has been on an industrial evolutionary journey since 1760. Starting with the steam engine, we have progressed through hundreds of years of innovation, advancement, and reinvention.
Procurement has been there every step of the way, harnessing the power of new technologies and meeting an ever-growing list of challenges and requirements presented to us by company leadership and industry competition.
In this episode of Dial P for Procurement, Kelly Barner takes listeners on a journey through time and the history of procurement.
On Becoming a Strategic Thinker
LinkedIn
October 31, 2024
If you ask 100 people what business strategy is, you will probably get 105 answers because 5 of the people would have more than one idea.
In this week’s episode of Art of Supply, I had the opportunity to interview Ashley Hubka, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Walmart Business. Her background is full of positions in consulting and with strategy in the job title - and she has a degree in Philosophy from Harvard University to boot.
I took the opportunity to ask Ashley how strategic thinking shapes her work as well as what B2B trends she is watching over the next 12 to 24 months.
Holding Our Breath: Supply Chain Impact of the 2024 Presidential Election
LinkedIn
October 24, 2024
The candidates for President of the United States are locked in a tight race.
Either could pull out a win, and we may not know right away who has come out on top.
We have about 60 days before a new President takes office. Deciding in advance which policies - supply chain, trade, tariffs, China, energy, the environment, etc. - will affect your company and suppliers the most will give you time to put new plans and strategies in place.
In this four-part podcast series, I lay out the policy areas of greatest concern to procurement and supply chain professionals, objectively summarize the candidates' positions, and compare them - looking for similarities as well as differences.
Four Lessons for Surviving Our ‘Brave New World’
LinkedIn
October 17, 2024
Would you accept mediocrity to get stability? Would you give up understanding if it meant being happy? Your answers to those questions determine how well you would fit in in Aldous Huxley's Brave New World.
Huxley’s focus on society and the role of science is particularly interesting in the context of today’s struggle to accept and embrace automation and AI.
In this week's Art of Supply, I re-read Brave New World for procurement and supply chain teams facing a very new - and very uncertain - future, bravely.
How Labor Costs Drive Supply Chain Strategy
LinkedIn
October 03, 2024
The cost of labor can be modified through product quality, production location, and level of automation. But should the cost of labor determine the price of a product or should it work the other way?
In this week's Art of Supply interview, I sit down with Thomas Goldsby, the Dee and Jimmy Haslam Chair of Logistics at the Haslam College of Business at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville.
Starting with a discussion of the various types of X-shoring and the factors that drive companies to make those sourcing and production decisions, we eventually transitioned to labor - where is automation up to the task and when do consumers expect more than is possible and affordable?
Digital Empathy: Squishy or Strategic?
LinkedIn
September 26, 2024
Do you practice digital empathy?
I understand the skepticism that might arise in response to the idea that empathy could make transformations succeed where Billions of dollars in budget could not.
But since transformation isn’t working without emotion and empathy, what do we have to lose?
In this week's Art of Supply newsletter and podcast, I dig into the meaning of digital empathy and the difference it can make in our professional relationships and business outcomes.
Investing to Build a Viable Alternative to China
LinkedIn
September 19, 2024
If there was an easy way out of China, someone would have found it by now.
It is going to take time and investment to strengthen the world's alternatives to China. Are companies ready to explore India as a viable option? They could be a business partner that offers many of the same advantages as China - albeit with their own set of challenges.
India isn’t an overnight bet, but China isn’t a steady long-term option.
In this week's Art of Supply, I speak with Samir N. Kapadia. Samir is a managing principal at Vogel Group and the Founder and CEO at India Index. We discuss how China built the advantage they enjoy today, what they are doing to defend it, and what the world must be prepared to do to escape their grip on global supply chains.
Continuous Improvement Requires Courage
Linkedln
September 12, 2024
GE Appliances has been on a journey to improve their supply chain since 2017, an effort that was accelerated in the aftermath of the pandemic. Although they have made news in recent months for completing a $2 Billion investment in digital tools, domestic production capabilities, and local labor, the company has been rationalizing how and where they manufacture for years.
Will the government go marching in?
Linkedln
September 05, 2024
In this week’s Art of Supply interview, I take a few steps outside of my comfort zone to discuss some fascinating and potentially concerning developments in the world of patents with return guest Wen Xie, a patent attorney and a Partner at Global IP Counselors, LLP in Washington D.C.
Will FedEx Freight pull ahead as 'pure play' LTL?
Linkedln
August 31, 2024
Less-than-truckload (or LTL) freight is a common way to move shipments smaller than - you guessed it - a full truckload. Shippers use it to move smaller loads in a cost effective way, and carriers increase revenue by combining smaller shipments into one trip.
Thank You for the Gift of Your Feedback
LinkedIn
August 29, 2024
I’ve had a number of conversations recently about the process I go through to create content and how it is received once I share it.
Do I face criticism? You had better believe I do.
I think it is important to be transparent, so in this week’s episode of Art of Supply, I address the importance of criticism (both constructively and crudely offered) and how I incorporate its inevitability into the planning process for every show.
Rethinking the Feasibility of Electric Trucking
LinkedIn
August 22, 2024
The data we reference and share in support of (or in objection to) change is important, and it is nearly always possible to come up with a data point to support any motivation.
The question we should be asking ourselves with the transition from diesel to electric road freight is whether each data point is representative. Is it forward looking or is it stuck in the past?
Starting to think differently about the data, and searching for business models that support change affordably at scale, is the first step on a journey that is likely to be a ‘long haul’ but one that is worth taking.
In this week's episode of Art of Supply, I speak with Ian Rust, Founder and CEO at Revoy, about how we can start the transition to electric semis without forcing undue burden onto fleet operators or disrupting the transportation sector as a whole.
Fishy Products in the Seafood Supply Chain
Linkedln
August 15, 2024
This week’s topic was on my mind as I looked over each restaurant menu. There was plenty of cod, calamari, haddock, lobster, and shrimp to choose from - I even had clam chowder for the first time since being diagnosed with Celiac disease in 2010.
Breaking Through the Wall of Retail Packages
LinkedIn
August 08, 2024
If consumers are given the power to decide how and when packages reach them, they will often prioritize a factor other than speed.
It might be sustainability, or convenience, or the value they assign to a product made in the U.S.A., but retailers should give them that option - and carriers can take it from there.
In this week's Art of Supply interview, I speak with Mike Robinson, Head of Retail Solutions and a Founding Member at The Eighth Notch, Inc. (T8N). He is working to solve a problem that everyone has experienced - the "wall of packages."
Protecting Cargo in the Wild, Wild West
LinkedIn
July 25, 2024
Cargo theft is a rampant and growing problem, especially in Los Angeles and especially for Union Pacific Railroad.
Despite moderately stronger locks, a private police force, and drone support, thieves still steal between $15-35 Billion in goods every year.
In this week's Art of Supply podcast and newsletter, I examine a criminal problem plaguing the supply chain that sounds like it belongs in the 1870s, not the 2020s.
3 Billion Packages Are Not a 'De Minimis' Problem
LinkedIn
July 18, 2024
“Rules are mostly made to be broken and are too often for the lazy to hide behind.” - General Douglas MacArthur
General MacArthur may have been concerned with people hiding behind the rules, but supply chain professionals need to worry about when they follow the rules right out in the open - to the tune of 3 Billion packages a year.
In this week's Art of Supply, I look at how just two companies - SHEIN and Temu - are overwhelming supply chain capacity through the de minimis provision of U.S. trade policy.
What kind of village are you building?
LinkedIn
July 11, 2024
In the July Art of Supply interview, I sat down with Adrian Ristow, Executive Director of Project Last Mile, and David Canarutto, Private Sector Relationship Manager at The Global Fund, to share the Project Last Mile story in their own words.
One thought from Adrian stands out to me as an idea we can all apply: “You can only get different cultures and values on the same page if you fully understand their context.”
That isn’t an NGO thought, or a Coca-Cola thought, or healthcare thought, or an African thought, or a supply chain thought. That’s the truth. And while it might not be easy to do, we owe it to ourselves to stand up and try - for the sake of the village.
How different would our world be if the people and organizations with critical expertise said YES to more requests to share them?
In this week's episode of Art of Supply, I'm re-sharing an example of how much good can be done when that happens.
Listen in to hear my original episode on Project Last Mile, and then tune in next week for my interview with Adrian Ristow, Executive Director of Project Last Mile and David Canarutto, Private Sector Relationship Manager at The Global Fund.
The Case For (& Against) Former Pioneer Oil CEO Scott Sheffield
LinkedIn
June 20, 2024
Did former Pioneer Natural Resources Company CEO Scott Sheffield collude with OPEC to constrain production and raise prices? Or was he simply sharing his perspective on increasing market efficiency?
It all depends on whose version of the story you believe.
The Federal Trade Commission was convinced enough to prohibit him from taking a seat on ExxonMobil's board as part of approving their acquisition of Pioneer, a move that has been called "unusual," "unprecedented," and even a "smear campaign."
The two sides are convinced that their position is the right one. In this edition of Art of Supply, we will consider both perspectives - and then you can decide for yourself.
UFLPA Compliance: The Stuff of Supply Chain Nightmares
LinkedIn
June 13, 2024
The UFLPA puts a huge burden on companies to keep Uyghur forced labor out of their supply chains. Unfortunately, the 2022 law is so specific that it seems to have driven forced labor underground, where it is hard to see and harder to track.
Ironically, it seems that the law may be increasing the number of goods potentially made with forced labor and broadening the risk of forced labor in supply chains.
The solution is not as simple as saying no sourcing in Xinjiang and no sourcing from companies on the federal entity list. Companies need to map out their supply chains. We need broad traceability, not just tracking from Xinjiang.
In this week's Art of Supply, I look into the simultaneously expanding and dissolving front line in the war against Uyghur forced labor.
Drug Shortages as a Matter of National Security
LinkedIn
June 06, 2024
In month’s Art of Supply interview, I am joined by Victor Suarez. He worked for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and was the Lead Vaccine Program Manager for Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine in Operation Warp Speed, 2020-2021.
Victor recently testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services, Subcommittee on Personnel, and I had an opportunity to speak with him shortly after, gathering his perspective on how we can start to address the massive problem caused by two decades of overseas pharmaceutical manufacturing market concentration.
Prescription for Trouble in the Pharmaceutical Supply Chain
LinkedIn
May 30, 2024
90% of all prescriptions written in the United States are for generic drugs. And that 90% represents just 20% of prescription drug spending.
Those precariously low margins present a huge threat to patients.
The margins for generic drug manufacturing are so low that most production has been pushed overseas, beyond the practical reach of the FDA and outside the nation’s ability to ensure reliable sources of supply.
In this week's Art of Supply, I explore the precarious but essential pharmaceutical supply chain - how did we reach this point and what can we do to remedy it?
Balancing Act: Free Speech and the Workplace
LinkedIn
May 23, 2024
The U.S. Constitution protects speech against retribution from the government. That protection does not extend into the private workforce, as 50 former Google employees learned in April.
In this week's edition of Art of Supply, Kelly Barner looks at what rights companies and employers do have where speech is concerned and observes the delicate balance executive teams are trying to achieve when it comes to diversity of thought and employee activism.
Beyond Handshakes: The Face of Empathy in the Workplace
LinkedIn
May 16, 2024
We talk about the power of empathy and prioritize it in promotion and hiring decisions, but how actively do we invest in the skill?
Recent research suggests that empathy can not only be tracked physically, but it can also be learned - or lost.
In this week's Art of Supply, Kelly Barner shares the findings and implications of research by Helen Riess, M.D. into the neuroscience of empathy, explains the differences between cognitive and emotional empathy, and shares some advice for being empathetic - even in analytical business roles.
The Real Energy Requirements of Artificial Intelligence
LinkedIn
May 09, 2024
There is a huge problem with generative AI that is not being discussed nearly enough. It isn’t data security, or the robots taking our jobs, it is energy consumption.
Tags: Digital Transformation, Procurement, Supply Chain
Don’t Try to Push Water Uphill
Linkedln
May 02, 2024
As we peel back the layers of what may be rolled into any ESG program and focus on one company’s opportunity for meaningful impact, the scope will naturally narrow. But doing so also means saying yes to some things, and no to other things that others consider a ‘standard’ part of environmental, social, and governance programs.
Finance Unleashed
Palgrave Macmillan
October 27, 2017
Finance Unleashed is based on a series of interactive interviews with a diverse group of global influencers and executives, all of which will challenge readers to think laterally and find inspiration in the new role of finance. Cases and interviewees represent organizations such as UPS and DHL, and the London School of Economics, and approaches such as Lean Six Sigma, innovation, customer-centricity, the financial supply chain, and behavioral procurement. The authors’ goal is to serve as a catalyst for leaders who are positioned to make meaningful changes today.
Tags: Digital Transformation, FinTech, Supply Chain
Procurement at a Crossroads
J. Ross
January 01, 2016
This book examines the 10 major questions regarding procurement’s role in the enterprise and how procurement is at a crossroads that will shape the future of the profession. The goal of this book is not to provide step-by-step directions on a hypothetical ‘correct’ path, but to illuminate the relative benefits of each choice available to procurement professionals. These thought leaders and subject matter experts also consider what the next phase of procurement’s evolution will be like by sharing the observations of others and taking some creative (but enthusiastic) license of their own.
Tags: Digital Transformation, Supply Chain, Procurement
Supply Market Intelligence for Procurement Professionals
J. Ross
November 02, 2015
This book provides procurement professionals with the process, skills, and resources to develop a supply market intelligence program that will deliver value to the organization as a whole. The authors clearly explain each of the concepts introduced and then provide the background and steps required to make execution possible.
Your Leadership Legacy: Becoming the Leader You Were Meant to Be
Buyers Meeting Point
May 17, 2023
Leadership is not easy – and it is not about you. This book does an excellent job balancing big picture principles with detailed examples that prove them out. Vision and execution are equally important, and everyone has a role to play in solving a problem or making a solution work.
Making the Case for Sourcing Optimization
Keelvar
April 30, 2021
For all the buzz around AI, ML, RPA, blockchain, etc., procurement seems to have forgotten about the huge potential of another high impact technology - sourcing optimization. Read Kelly Barner's foreword in this new ebook from the team at Keelvar.
Dive deeper into Procurement Data Ecosystems
Sievo
March 15, 2021
Procurement can be faster, more agile and more strategic through data ecosystems. Are you ready to dive deeper into your valuable assets?
Join top Procurement author Kelly Barner as she explores how procurement leaders can take advantage of procurement data ecosystems in interviews with top experts from Basware, EcoVadis, riskmethods, Supplier.io and Sievo.
Tags: Analytics, Digital Transformation, Procurement
1 Executive
General Manager
Art of Procurement
March 01, 2017
The Art of Procurement team helps procurement professionals of all levels deliver change with confidence. We do this by applying our community supported delivery model to a number of offerings that support clients wherever they are on their procurement maturity journey.
Primary focus: Apply my knowledge of the procurement space and community to the development, execution and promotion of Art of Procurement offerings... including the #1 weekly procurement podcast with over 270,000 downloads across 132 countries since its inception.
Drive marketing and content development efforts through community engagement, social media, and direct communication.
Support product development across Art of Procurement services, learning and development solutions and podcast/events
Enable the business to grow while also investing in the procurement community as a whole
Buyers Meeting Point
Buyers Meeting Point
July 01, 2009
Buyers Meeting Point is an online knowledge and professional development resource for procurement and supply management professionals owned and managed by career procurement professional Kelly Barner. Buyers Meeting Point was founded in 2009 to provide the procurement industry with an events calendar, blog, content, and active social media network, all of which have remained trusted sources of information for practitioners and solution providers alike. In 2020, Buyers Meeting Point acquired MyPurchasingCenter, a website designed to provide procurement professionals with the information required to keep their companies competitive in a dynamic global marketplace, to expand their audience, social media reach, and content base.
LinkedIn Podcast Network
Art of Procurement
March 14, 2023
And today, we’re excited to be expanding our commitment to audio with a new program - the LinkedIn Podcast Academy. This 6-month incubator pilot will connect emerging business podcasts with exclusive programming, coaching, tools and LinkedIn co-branding to expand and better reach their audience. This inaugural group of professional voices cover a wide range of topics in the professional arena: From leadership and entrepreneurship to human resources and technology.
Ready to listen? Find all LinkedIn Podcast Academy shows wherever you listen to podcasts then find the conversations exclusively on LinkedIn. The beauty of the LinkedIn Podcast Academy is that listeners across LinkedIn’s global community of more than 900 million get a chance to engage with hosts directly through their LinkedIn Profiles.
Top 7 Inspiring Women B2B Influencers to Follow in 2021
Tom Augenthaler
March 08, 2021
If building influence online was easy, everyone would do it.
But, we know it's not.
Creating value in the form of content is challenging. There's the research, planning, writing, editing, and more. I give big high-fives to these women for growing their influence by consistently adding value and engaging with their audiences each and every day.
Top 5 Procurement Influencers
CPOstrategy Magazine
July 29, 2019
CPOstrategy Magazine has ranked Buyers Meeting Point Owner and Managing Director Kelly Barner the top influencer in procurement based on a listing published by ProcurementIQ.
The opening of the article, available in the July 2019 issue, reads as follows:
"With direct access to audiences across a global stage, social media has redefined the idea of influencers. Looking to tap into and explore this ever expanding resource, industry giants have their very own influencers steering and engaging the conversation. CPOstrategy looks at 5 leading procurement influencers as ranked by ProcurementIQ." - Dale Benton
The other influencers included in the ranking are Lora Cecere, Founder of Supply Chain Insights; Tom Derry, CEO of the Institute for Supply Management; Omid Ghamami, CEO and Chairman of the Board at the Center for Purchasing and Supply Chain Management Excellence; and Dawn Tiura, CEO and President of the Sourcing Industry Group (SIG).
Dream Big Global 2020
procurious
November 18, 2020
The Big Ideas Summit brings together the best and brightest thought leaders from across the globe, to share their insights on how you can plan for next year and beyond.
Strategic Insight
Kelly Barner - Owner & Managing Director - Buyers Meeting Point
Be prepared for surprises - And don’t be afraid to say you don’t know. People appreciate a qualified, honest –‘I think…I suspect….However I respect your question enough to want to give you the right answer, so I’m going to do a bit of research and then I’ll come back to you.’
According to the Next Gen Rebels, this is what Procurement will look like in 2024
Procurement Insights
December 30, 2023
The best way to predict or anticipate the future of procurement is to talk to those professionals who want to influence the future versus being a spectator of it. These Next Gen Rebels are definitely not the spectator-kind, and here is what they had to say when Jon Hansen asked them the following three questions regarding 2024...
Learning from Leading Experts: Kelly Barner
Positive Purchasing
June 14, 2023
In this interview, Kelly Barner speaks with Positive Purchasing CEO Jonathan O'Brien about supplier diversity - what progress has been made and what challenges remain.
Tags: Diversity and Inclusion, Procurement, Supply Chain
Opportunities for procurement in uncertain times
Economist
May 24, 2023
How is the role of #procurement changing as a function to redefine, refine and progress? Listen to our latest podcast from “The Procurement Imperative”.
The Procurement Show Meets Kelly Barner
The Procurement Show
February 07, 2023
Jonathan and Paul are joined by are joined by Kelly Barner, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Buyers Meeting Point, a Partner and Head of Content with Art of Procurement and host of Dial P for Procurement and Sourcing Hero. They take a general look at what's going on in the world of procurement and give us plenty to think about in 2023.
The ProcureTech Podcast: The View on Tech from Both Sides
ProcureTech Podcast
October 17, 2022
We’re continuing our mini series where we ask influencers and industry experts for their thoughts on everything that’s happening in the digital procurement world.
Our guest today is a real stalwart in this space, and has had her own website and blog since 2009.
She’s seen many changes in her career, both as a Procurement Consultant with a procurement tech company back in the day, and now as an independent blogger, podcaster, and CIO.
Kelly Barner, founder of Buyers Meeting Point and partner at Art of Procurement, a very warm welcome to the show!
Boeing Australia Uses Relational Contracting With Indigenous Businesses
Forbes
October 04, 2022
Boeing Australia’s partnership with the Indigenous Defence and Infrastructure Consortium (iDiC) was recognized by Australia’s Supply Nation as the 2022 Supplier Diversity Partnership of the Year.
What may be surprising is how they got there. The answer? Formal relational contracting.
Tags: Diversity and Inclusion, Procurement, Supply Chain
eCommerce Master Plan Episode 400: Supply Chain Crisis – Solved
eCommerce Masterplan
August 22, 2022
Summary of our Guests 7 Supply Chain Crisis Action Points
Understand how the supply chain crisis is affecting your business. Ignore the hype, look at the data.
If you don’t have systems that make it easy for you to understand the data, then you need to put them in place.
The great thing about that software is that it’s going to save you time and money – lots of time and money through how it can automate activities, AND bring you data for better decision making.
Make sure you’ve got the right suppliers in place to give you the flexibility to adapt. AND make friends with your suppliers!
Get proactive with customer service – including returns process. Marketing can help here, but so can those software systems to put the right data in front of your customer service teams.
Be clear on what inventory you are selling and where. Failing to be proactive with this can cost you a lot.
Keep Optimising!
Learning to Hang in There: Walking an Unexpected Professional Path with Kelly Barner
Supply Chain Now
May 11, 2022
Despite its popularity as a profession now, no one grows up intending to work in procurement (no one!) And yet, many people that follow windy roads into the field fall in love once they are there. With supply chains in the spotlight over the last couple of years, procurement professionals have had the opportunity to drive a new range of value through initiatives like supplier diversity and sustainability. Enrique and Maureen chat with Kelly Barner, Owner of Buyers Meeting Point and the host of Dial P for Procurement on Supply Chain Now.
Tags: Diversity and Inclusion, Procurement, Supply Chain
Accelerating the Conversation About #SupplierDiversity w/ Kelly Barner
Art of Procurement
April 25, 2022
In late 2021, LinkedIn selected Art of Procurement Head of Content and Brand Partnerships Kelly Barner to be one of 100 creators – and the only procurement professional – to go through their first ever Creator Accelerator Program. For ten weeks starting in January 2022, Kelly had to post four pieces of new content per week related to her project, which was focused on supplier diversity.
Although the program wasn’t easy to complete, it was a great opportunity for Kelly to learn more about a critical topic, to receive personalized coaching about how to make the most of LinkedIn, and to show a broad audience how valuable and interesting procurement is.
Tags: Diversity and Inclusion, Procurement, Supply Chain
The Strategic Importance of SLM – From Tadpole to Frog
Trust Your Supplier
August 11, 2021
In this, our inaugural episode, Kelly Barner and I discuss supplier life cycle management and how our high school biology lesson of the lifecycle of a frog can be helpful. Listen in as we talk about important phases of supplier life cycle management, what are the key attributes to make a successful SLM, and how to address key challenges.
An Interview on Learnings From Podcasting on Supply Chain and Procurement with Kelly Barner
HICX
July 12, 2021
For this episode of Supplier Experience Live from HICX we are joined by Kelly Barner, Owner and Managing Director of Buyers Meeting Point, to discuss her experience of working in the supply chain podcast and procurement podcast space over the years, the changes and advancements in the industry in the last few decades and what we can expect to see in the future.
SAP #SAPPHIRENOW Procurement and Supply Chain After Party
LinkedIn
June 08, 2021
Join our LIVE "After Party" for the SAP SAPPHIRE NOW Procurement and Supply Chain Tracks to hear key takeaways from industry experts and thought leaders Ian Moyse, Kelly Barner, Dr. Marcell Vollmer, Scott Luton, and Rachael White.
Tags: Business Strategy, Procurement, Supply Chain
TEKTOK Digital Supply Chain Podcast: The Bounce Back Begins
Supply Chain Now
May 18, 2021
The pandemic uncovered some critical supply chain vulnerabilities around the world. As the vaccine gains traction and life begins to look a little more “normal” there is a sense of anticipation. However, it seems we are in short supply in a number of areas. The Bounce Back Begins is a great way to think this stage of the recovery as there will surely be ups and downs. Right now, shortages are popping up in a number of areas – some expected, some not. Here’s a list of a few items: Microchips, chicken, lumber, gas, steel, metals, plastic, chlorine, ketchup packets, etc.
Karin and team talk about how far we come on a few important themes around Digital Supply Chain and Procurement transformations:
o Can we recalibrate to reduce risk exposure?
o Are we seeing proof that leveraging advances in technology is accelerating response times?
o Are we gaining agility, resilience and better business continuity planning?
o Will we emerge from the pandemic stronger and with more resilient supply chains?
Tags: Digital Transformation, Procurement, Supply Chain
Communicating procurement's value for better relationships, results and business impact
Zivio
May 10, 2021
With Kelly Barner, Owner & Managing Director, Buyers Meeting Point
00:00:00 - Starting out in services procurement
00:15:50 - The relationship with information and the power of a good question
00:26:00 - Lessons from scaling diversity in the supply chain
00:39:15 - Honesty and pragmatism - the outside-in perspective
00:45:00 - Procurement's involvement in the C-suite - building a new legacy
00:57:40 - Evidence-based decision making in self-service buying models
01:07:20 - Data, automation and reporting as an enabler
01:16:15 - Predictions for the future of services procurement
Tags: Digital Transformation, Procurement, Risk Management
Unmuted: 600 Down with Supply Chain Now
Supply Chain Now
March 24, 2021
Scott W. Luton and Greg White with Supply Chain host a special livestream on 3/24 at 12 noon ET as we celebrate 600 Supply Chain Now episodes! Join Scott, Greg, and many other Supply Chain Now hosts and team members as they recall and share their favorite moments, quotes, and people from the last 100 episodes. Will they name your favorites? Join Us!
Tags: Supply Chain, Procurement, Business Strategy
A Celebration of International Women's Day 2021
DLA Ignite
March 08, 2021
Once again, we have had some breathtaking responses from contributors from around the world. This year’s theme is #ChooseToChallenge A challenged world is an alert world and from challenge comes change. So let's all choose to challenge. How will you help forge a gender equal world? Celebrate women's achievement. Raise awareness against bias. Take action for equality.
Tags: Diversity and Inclusion, Entrepreneurship, Leadership
Supply Chain Trends and the Future of SCM in 2021
SelectHub
February 03, 2021
We looked to the experts for their thoughts on the future of supply chain trends that we may see in the next few years. Between robots, the ever-growing cloud, a post-COVID-19 environment, security and more, we’ve gathered a lot of interesting topics to discuss. Here are the trends set to influence supply chains and their SCM software counterparts in the near future...
The Sourcing Hero podcast episode 14: Embracing a Big Picture Mindset featuring Kelly Barner
Una: The Sourcing Hero Podcast
January 25, 2021
People outside of procurement don’t always understand or even know what procurement does. Why? Kelly Barner believes it’s because procurement has lost the ability to connect with the rest of the business. How do you break away from that? How do you embrace creativity in your role? How do you widen your lens to see the big picture? Listen to this episode of The Sourcing Hero to hear Kelly’s enthusiastic viewpoint.
Don’t know who Kelly is? Kelly Barner is a Procurement & Supply Chain Writer and Influencer, and the Owner and Managing Director of Buyers Meeting Point. But her bio doesn’t stop there. She’s also the General Manager at the Art of Procurement and the Show Host for an upcoming Supply Chain Now monthly livestream, “Dial P for Procurement.”
Tags: Digital Transformation, Procurement, Supply Chain
The Brave New World of Procurement: Kelly Barner Shares Insights From 2020 & What's New in '21
Supply Chain Now
January 05, 2021
Scott Luton sits down with the new host of Supply Chain Now's Dial P for Procurement, and Buyers Meeting Point's very own, Kelly Barner! Listen as they discuss lessons learned in 2020 and what's to come for procurement in 2021.
Tags: Business Strategy, Procurement, Supply Chain
Procurement Priorities & Challenges: Kelly Barner with Buyers Meeting Point
Supply Chain Now Radio
October 25, 2020
If the lines between procurement and supply chain were 'fuzzy' before the pandemic, they have now been reduced to a mess of scribbles. Kelly Barner recently joined Scott Luton and Greg White for a Supply Chain Now podcast to provide the procurement POV on GPOs, reshoring, and what on earth we're all supposed to do about 2021 planning...
SCN LIVE: Procurement Priorities & Challenges: Kelly Barner with Buyers Meeting Point
Supply Chain Now
October 15, 2020
Scott W. Luton and Greg White sit down with Kelly Barner, Owner & Managing Director of Buyers Meeting Point, to gain her thoughts & insights on the wide-world of Procurement.
Tags: Business Continuity, Procurement, Supply Chain
Supernormal Influencer Series: Don’t be afraid to say you don’t know
Procurious
October 13, 2020
In the Supernormal Influencer Series, I’ll guide you through the unexpected, confronting surprises head-on and dealing authoritatively with sudden changes in circumstances. Catch my exclusive chat with Procurious founder Tania Series in the Supernormal Influencer Series, available now: https://bit.ly/3iFKeXt
DO YOU AGREE? 4 SUPPLY CHAIN INFLUENCERS ON WHAT’S CHANGED SINCE COVID-19
Procurious
July 16, 2020
In every industry, there’s a few powerful individuals who drive the conversation. These fortunate few are the ones that propel industries forward; they are the ones who decide what’s trending, what’s next and what our future might look like. They’re influencers, and within the procurement professional, we’re blessed with many whom we all aspire to.
And this year, with COVID ravaging our supply chains (and not to mention lives) as we know them, we’ve needed industry leaders and influencers more than ever to help guide us through and tell us what’s next. So that’s why, recently, we sought out the opinions of 30 of procurement’s top influencers. They shared some of their most profound and intriguing insights into what the COVID experience has been like for them, what they’ve learnt and what they expect to see in the future.
The art of last mile public health supply and demand
Project Last Mile
September 05, 2024
Project Last Mile was recently featured in two episodes of the Art of Supply Podcast (by Art of Procurement), which focuses on thought provoking content created to illuminate the complexity of global supply chains. Host, Kelly Barner, used Episode 124 to tell the story of how Project Last Mile came about, and then Episode 125 to interview Adrian Ristow, Executive Director of Project Last Mile, and David Canarutto, Private Sector Relationship Manager at The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, about some of the lessons learned along the Project Last Mile journey.
Both episodes yielded great insights and are worth a listen.
The 5 Most Expensive Mistakes AP Can Make – And How To Avoid Them
Tradeshift
August 16, 2018
The number one goal of any AP team – ensure that the company gets the most out of every dollar spent. The number one goal for strategic AP teams – become a driving force for positive cash flow. So what happens when the AP team makes a really expensive mistake? How long would it take for you to realize you had made one, and how much would it cost the business?
Automation Deployment And Change Management Best Practices
Zycus
June 19, 2018
In the past, eInvoicing and eProcurement solutions were an adjunct component of large back-end ERP platforms. As a result, the functionality regarding their practical use in the real world was limited and even restricted. In other words, technological limitations created a misalignment between the way that the ERP systems worked and the way global buying decisions were made. To address this disconnect, change management strategies were introduced to force compliance with these technologies. These strategies included a concerted effort to eliminate maverick spend and rationalize supply bases.
Fast forward to today, and what Gartner has called the Postmodern ERP Era. With the emergence of on-demand or “by the drink” solutions that can be implemented within weeks if not days as opposed to months and years, compliance with these “user intuitive” systems is no longer an issue. This transformation raises the question; is change management as we know it from Finance and Procure-To-Pay standpoints still relevant in the digital era?
Creating a B2C to B to C Improvement Cycle at Walmart Business
Art of Procurement
October 31, 2024
Corporate and consumer buying started and developed on separate tracks, and while there are some things that procurement has learned from and embedded in the B2B experience, others will always be beyond reach.
What would happen if you took a consumer shopping experience and expanded it to support institutional customers as well? Walmart Business is in the process of finding out.
Ashley Hubka is the Senior Vice President and General Manager at Walmart Business. She has held a number of consulting and strategy positions during her career and holds a degree in Philosophy from Harvard University.
The Sourcing Hero podcast EPISODE: 189 The Calm? After the Storms with Kris Lance
Una GPO
October 30, 2024
On September 26th, Hurricane Helene hit Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Hurricane Milton hit Florida less than two weeks later. The stories coming from these states are shocking, devastating, and inspiring - all at the same time.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes back Kris Lance, Vice President and General Manager at Una, for a monthly conversation about current news stories. Kris has experience in multiple industries and has his finger on the pulse of the trends and topics that procurement, sourcing, and supply chain professionals need to be aware of.
Procurement 6 - October 25, 2024
Art of Procurement
October 25, 2024
In this week’s Procurement 6, Kelly discusses:
- What non-techies need to know to get by in an increasingly AI-obsessed world
- How supply chain challenges can be attacked through increased visibility
- Why delegating the most important decisions is important, even if it is not always successful
And more!
The Sourcing Hero podcast EPISODE: 188 Solving Supply Chain Challenges with Increased Visibility with Aviv Castro
Una GPO
October 23, 2024
Every time the world is hit by a supply chain disruption, strategies are changed, new technologies are invented, implemented, and invested in, and everyone vows to be too agile and resilient for it to happen again.
And yet it does - there is always another surprise, another disruption around the corner.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Aviv Castro. Aviv is the CEO of Sensos, a company spun off from Sony that makes it possible to streamline supply chain operations through increased visibility.
2024 U.S. Presidential Election Special Series
Art of Procurement
October 21, 2024
There are two weeks to go until the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election. Interest, speculation, and tension have been building all year.
Most news coverage of the election is intended to sway voters, hyperbolic to a fault, and not tailored to the specific information needs of procurement and supply chain professionals. What we really need to know is what each major party candidate has said and what likely outcomes that would lead to.
In this four-part special series, we will cover the policies and plans of Democratic Candidate Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican Candidate Former President Donald J. Trump as well as how they compare.
Tips for Surviving in a Brave New World
Art of Procurement
October 17, 2024
‘Brave New World’ was published by Aldous Huxley in 1932, right between two World Wars and during a time of accelerated scientific discovery. It comes as no surprise, then, that this fictional dystopian society 600 years in the future had adopted Henry Ford as their spiritual leader.
92 years later, we find ourselves in another time of rapid technological advancement, innovation that often seems to be on a collision course with the most fundamental structures of society.
What can re-reading ‘Brave New World’ today teach us about change, innovation, chaos, and opportunity? More than you might expect.
Procurement 6 - October 3, 2024
Art of Procurement
October 04, 2024
Happy Friday everyone! Kelly Barner is up for the Procurement 6 this week:
Listen in to learn about:
- When procurement’s misperceptions about innovation may lead them astray
- The importance experimentation (and courage) when solving complex problems
- Why ‘good’ minority-supplier partnerships have to foster growth in addition to dangling opportunity
- And more!
Supply Chains as Business in Action
Art of Procurement
October 03, 2024
Business never allows us to stop learning. You might not take formal classes or participate in a training program, but real-world circumstances are a constant - and sometimes brutal - teacher.
In this week’s Art of Supply interview, Kelly Barner welcomes a real teacher, a professor actually, to share his point of view on X-shoring, but also to talk about how companies learn what they can and can’t do with supply chains and production and how government intervention and funding may or may not help reorient where in the world production takes place.
Thomas Goldsby is the Dee and Jimmy Haslam Chair of Logistics at the Haslam College of Business at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. He is also the Co-Executive Director of their Global Supply Chain Institute. Perhaps most importantly he is actively instructing and inspiring the next generation of supply chain management professionals.
The Sourcing Hero podcast EPISODE: 185 A Specific Vision for Fostering Minority-Owned Business Growth with James Lowry
Una GPO
October 02, 2024
Supplier diversity programs have gotten a lot of attention in recent years, but the values and vision that underpin them is hardly new. Some dedicated advocates have been working since the 1960s to create opportunities and develop capabilities at the same time. Our guest in this episode is one of those advocates.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes James Lowry. James is an Advisor at Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and his past work experience includes time at McKinsey, Toyota, the Peace Corps and an ongoing academic advisory role at the Kellogg School of Management.
What’s Driving Procurement Orchestration?
Art of Procurement
September 30, 2024
Procurement is in the midst of a transformational shift when it comes to technology and data, and many teams are now looking to procurement orchestration to unify their processes, improve spend and risk management, and position themselves as innovative and strategic leaders in the business.
In early 2024, Art of Procurement and ORO Labs partnered to conduct a study into the factors that are making procurement orchestration a top area of focus. The study also made it possible to gain a better understanding of how teams can use strategic orchestration to increase their visibility, effectiveness, and influence.
In this episode, Shachi Rai Gupta, Vice President of Strategy at ORO Labs, and Martin Ward, Digital Procurement Transformation at Roche, discuss the results of the survey and key insights learned about procurement orchestration.
Developing and Deploying Digital Empathy
Art of Procurement
September 26, 2024
Despite the fact that AI and automation seem to dominate business discussions, we haven’t stopped talking about relationships and soft skills. As the work environment and working conditions become increasingly digital, what sort of role does that carve out for empathy?
While sympathy politely expresses appropriate concern, empathy feels with you. It is a shared experience, allowing emotions to become ‘contagious’ in a way. That may be a natural response in our personal lives, but what does empathy look like in the context of digital innovation and disruption?
The Sourcing Hero podcast EPISODE: 184 Speculating About a 2024 October Surprise with Kris Lance
Una GPO
September 25, 2024
According to Merriam-Webster, an October Surprise is “a significant revelation or event in the month prior to an election that has the potential to shift public opinion about an election candidate and that is often orchestrated to influence the election's outcome.”
What will it be in 2024? Anyone’s guess could be right.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes back Kris Lance, Vice President and General Manager at Una, for a monthly conversation about current news stories. Kris has experience in multiple industries and has his finger on the pulse of the trends and topics that procurement, sourcing, and supply chain professionals need to be aware of.
Evaluating India as a Viable Alternative to China
Art of Procurement
September 19, 2024
“Folks from Dell to HP to Nike to Hasbro to Sony to Apple to Google to Goldman, they're all looking back at India and saying, let's go double down, triple down and build a presence here.” - Samir Kapadia, Managing Principal at Vogel Group and Founder and CEO at India Index
Most companies are obsessed with moving their supply chains out of and away from China - whether it is for regulatory, risk, or human rights-related reasons. That obsession is so strong, that in some cases, they are willing to embrace an “ABC strategy” as you will hear from this week’s guest: anywhere but China.
Samir Kapadia is a managing principal at Vogel Group, a lobbying and trade organization based in Washington, D.C. In 2019 and in 2020, he was ranked the number one tariff exemption lobbyist in Washington D.C.. Samir is also the founder and CEO of a B2B marketplace called India Index, which helps U.S. companies source from India, so he is uniquely qualified and also entirely willing to be honest about the opportunities and challenges of looking to India as an alternative to China.
The Sourcing Hero podcast EPISODE: 183 Reflections of a Procurement Optimist with Hugo Sanchez
Una GPO
September 18, 2024
Procurement is notorious for attracting professionals from all backgrounds and dispositions, so how could there possibly be one right way to ‘do procurement?’ There couldn't be. Each individual has an opportunity to put their own spin on everything from negotiation to strategy development and relationship building.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Hugo Sanchez. Hugo is a Senior Category Manager for supplies and MRO in the commercial real estate industry. In addition to being a pun lover (according to his LinkedIn profile), Hugo has a very clear philosophy on procurement that is tied closely to his philosophy on life.
Procurement 6 - September 13, 2024
Art of Procurement
September 13, 2024
In this week’s Procurement 6, Kelly Barner discusses:
The new AOP YouTube experience
How to calculate the cost of convenience in facilities services
How GE Appliances is reimagining their supply chain
And more!
Advancements & Adjustments in the GE Appliances Supply Chain
Art of Procurement
September 12, 2024
GE Appliances is a subsidiary of Haier Smart Home, a Shanghai-based company that purchased them from GE in 2016. Until then, they were part of the GE empire, the ‘House that Jack [Welch] Built’ but which was about to come falling down. In fact, they just completed their break into three companies (aviation, healthcare, and energy) this year.
As a manufacturer of durable consumer goods, GE Appliances has to be adept at managing global production and shipping even as economic conditions change. And change they do – over and over. The challenge facing the supply chain team is not just keeping up, but getting ahead whenever possible.
The Sourcing Hero podcast EPISODE: 182 Procurement Matchmaker, Make Me a Match! with Natalia Pickett
Una GPO
September 11, 2024
Procurement is laser focused on spend, suppliers, risk, sustainability, regulations and more… is it possible that we need to add LOVE to the list of things we are trying to contribute to the organization?
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Natalia Pickett. Natalia is Head of Procurement at Keolis Amey, a global transportation company focused on public transport, as well as a non-Executive Director for Woodenshark.
#LoveProcurement podcast Ep 16: Love Them or Leave Them – Procurement Buzzwords & Acronyms featuring Vishal Patel and Philip Ideson
Ivalua
September 10, 2024
Language has the power to unite a community. Not only does it create a feeling of belonging, using the same terminology as others makes the speaker’s meaning clear, despite challenging circumstances. On the other hand, language can also alienate, frustrate, and just plain annoy people who are not familiar with the acronyms and terminology used by others.
In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast, Kelly Barner is joined by Vishal Patel, Vice President Product Marketing at Ivalua, and Philip Ideson, Managing Director at Art of Procurement. They take on the issues and challenges of language head on – and with a healthy sense of humor.
Tags: Digital Transformation, Procurement, Supply Chain
Calculating the Cost of Convenience in Facilities Management
Art of Procurement
September 09, 2024
In the world of indirect spend management, there are few categories as complex - and high stakes - as facilities management. Delivery locations and sometimes provider networks are distributed and fragmented, making selection, implementation, and ongoing oversight especially difficult.
It is no wonder, then, that so many companies are tempted over to “the dark side” of convenience-based solutions in this category. Unfortunately, allowing third parties to manage the delivery of services may also give them more control over cost than procurement realizes.
In this episode, Kelly Barner is joined by Alex Carlson, former Vice President of Category Management within Wells Fargo’s Corporate Properties division and new VP of Facilities Management Services at Fine Tune.
The Sourcing Hero EPISODE: 181 Every Day in Procurement is a New Adventure with Keri Peña
Una GPO
September 04, 2024
We are all subject to stereotypes about what procurement professionals are like, what suppliers are like, and what procurement-supplier relationships are like. But those kinds of models are made to be broken, often to the benefit of everyone involved.
In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Keri Peña. Keri didn’t start her career in procurement - she started in IT - but she didn’t work in procurement for long before she was hooked! Keri reached out and offered to tell her story to help other procurement professionals succeed in the field while forming meaningful relationships and having FUN!
If we had a crystal ball… Mid-year check in with Philip Ideson and Kelly Barner
Art of Procurement
September 02, 2024
In this episode of the Art of Procurement podcast, Philip Ideson and Kelly Barner take a break from their usual roles interviewing procurement thought leaders and experts to reflect on the year so far in procurement.
The (Lost) Art of Accepting Criticism
Art of Procurement
August 29, 2024
The Art of Supply podcast regularly covers topics that come with a bit of discomfort: allegations of child labor and greenwashing, the role of government regulations in bringing about change, and China, and absolutely anything to do with China.
It isn’t possible to talk about topics like these without getting feedback, and that feedback often takes the form of criticism.
In this episode, Kelly Barner takes a break from the usual coverage of news stories and expert interviews to talk about criticism, and how its inevitability shapes her content and makes it better.
The Sourcing Hero podcast EPISODE: 180 Metacognition - Thinking About Thinking with Kris Lance
Una GPO
August 28, 2024
We’re all constantly being bombarded with breaking news about the most sensitive topics - and almost nothing seems to be off-limits anymore, even in the workplace. Add to that sensational, over-the-top media coverage and it can be hard to think straight - but it isn't impossible.
In this month’s discussion, Kris Lance from Una and Kelly Barner talk about techniques for thinking through a never-ending stream of complex topics:
- What factors influence the way we respond to new information and form opinions about it
- How to prepare for a conversation on a sensitive topic that is likely to start with disagreement
- Preventing passion-driven topics from dividing each of us from our friends and family
#LoveProcurement Ep 15: Firm but Empathetic: Procurement’s Role in Implementation feat. Katarzyna Fonteyn
Ivalua
August 27, 2024
No digital solution can deliver an ROI without a successful implementation, and yet procurement often finds themselves taking a key role in critical implementations without necessarily having the skills or experience to do so.
On the other hand, few efforts provide procurement with a greater opportunity to build relationships across the organization, improve efficiency and workflows, and strengthen their own understanding of how the business works.
In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast, Kelly Barner is joined by Katy Fonteyn, Head of Global Marketing and Partnerships for OJC Consulting. She has deep experience in managing technical implementations as well as many of the human elements that are encountered along the way.
Katy takes this opportunity to discuss the practices and preparation that will help procurement lead successful implementations:
- What an RFP may reveal about procurement long before the selection and implementation begin
- How procurement can serve as an effective ‘face’ for the project, communicating with stakeholders and turning their feedback into actionable information
- Ways procurement should invest in their own preparedness for implementation, especially given the change management-heavy nature of the effort
Tags: Digital Transformation, IT Operations, Procurement
Procurement 6 - August 23, 2024
Art of Procurement
August 23, 2024
In this week’s Procurement 6, Kelly Barner discusses:
- Why category management has failed to become more widely adopted
- The new business model that may actually make electrified road freight a possibility
- The surprising perk that has been granted to Starbucks’s new CEO
- And more!
LinkedIn Creator Accelerator Program
LinkedIn
November 30, 2021
LinkedIn recently announced a $25 million investment in creators, and on November 30th they announced the first U.S. class of our Creator Accelerator Program. These creators are subject-matter experts on topics that span the world of work: from diversity, equity and inclusion to cryptocurrency, from sustainability to entrepreneurship, and more. They have a story to tell and the passion to build meaningful communities.
Tags: Diversity and Inclusion, Procurement, Supply Chain
3 Speaking Engagements
Aligning Intent And Investment To Build (The Right) Procurement Capabilities
Art of Procurement
February 25, 2019
In this episode, AOP Host Philip Ideson and Kelly Barner (AOP Content Director and Owner of Buyers Meeting Point) discuss their major take-aways from February’s news, industry topics and podcast interviews.
In February, Andrew Daley (Edbury Daley) described the importance of conquering risk aversion when we scope out and fill open positions. Jens Hentschel (FIVIS Partnership) reminded us of the danger of “toiling away” at a tactical level while missing the big picture. Finally, Matt Clark (Corcentric) described the positioning challenges being faced by accounts payable organizations as well as the company’s recent acquisitions: Source One Management Services and Determine.
Don’t miss out on upcoming opportunities to connect with us in person at ProcureCon and Ariba Live, or the latest on the AOP Live schedule – including the free download on Building a Procurement AI Game Plan based on February’s session with Sievo.
This month’s discussion topic was driven by the findings of The Hackett Group’s 2019 CPO Agenda Report: Building Next-Generation Capabilities. The existing gaps between what procurement believes is important from a skills development perspective and what the enterprise values (and why) may be a quick read, but it deserves a lot of thought.