Dial P for Procurement
Art of Procurement
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Dial P for Procurement, hosted by Kelly Barner, takes a critical but unbiased look at current events, ongoing trends, and dynamics in global supply chains. Intended to make listeners think, each episode tells the story of a different complex issue by prioritizing reality over simplicity.
Available episodes
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19 hours ago
Artistic Revolutions: Comparing the Impact of Photography and Generative AI
Many professionals are worried about the risk associated with advances in generative AI like ChatGPT. Predictions have been made about who and what will be rendered obsolete first, as though people living in 2023 are the first ever to face a challenge from new technology.
This summer, the Tate Modern in London is running an exhibition called “Capturing the Moment: A Journey Through Painting and Photography.” It considers the rise of photography, first as a technology and then as a fine art, and how it affected painters working at the time, individuals such as Pablo Picasso, Edvard Munch, Gustav Klimpt, and Salvador Dali.
In this week’s episode of Dial P for Procurement, Kelly Barner compares the rise of photography 100 years ago with the present journey to understand generative AI:
* How photography was viewed at the time, and how it developed into a fine art
* Ways painters were impacted by improvements in (and acceptance of) photography as a technology and a creative medium
* Reactions from critics and consumers - and what we can learn from their response today
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Jun 1, 2023
The Laws of Supply and Demand Meat at Tyson Foods
In his book, An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations, Scottish Enlightenment thinker Adam Smith described the ‘invisible hand’ at play in free market economics.
One of the keys to letting that invisible hand work efficiently is the concept of self-interested interdependence. Producers do what is best for themselves, consumers do what is best for themselves, and the economy reaches equilibrium. If only it were that simple in practice.
In this week’s episode of Dial P for Procurement, Kelly Barner covers a current day example to illustrate the complexity and sensitivity of the laws of supply and demand:
* Tyson Foods is the largest U.S. meat company by sales, and they are caught in a margin squeeze
* The meat supply chain, literally from farm to table, includes many factors that make profitability far from a sure thing
* Why the Federal government’s effort to increase competition and stability in the highly concentrated meat market may actually lead to more instability
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May 25, 2023
A GAAP in Judgement at Kraft Heinz
Procurement is used to being under pressure to deliver savings, but is that pressure enough to make procurement break the law?
That is exactly what happened at Kraft Heinz after their 2015 merger. The low-hanging fruit had all been picked, savings targets remained high, and all sense of oversight had fallen away in favor of a corporate culture that incentivized hitting targets no matter what the cost.
In this week’s episode of Dial P for Procurement, host Kelly Barner covers:
* What happened at Kraft Heinz when procurement was expected to hit aggressive savings goals post-merger
* Internal oversight breakdowns that allowed questionable activity to continue for far longer than should have been possible
* The fall out… which continues to this day
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May 18, 2023
JPMorgan Chase Stops the Financial Contagion
In 1907, J.P. Morgan was called back from a trip to help stop a series of bank runs on Wall Street. After watching a string of insolvent banks fail, he decided that the Trust Company of America was worth saving. He said, "This is the place to stop the trouble, then."
Over 100 years later, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon made a very similar decision about First Republic bank. He and treasury Secretary Janet Yellen came up with the idea of “stopping the contagion” affecting regional banks. When the auction was over and the smoke had cleared, JPMorgan Chase was the owner of First Republic - with a little help from their friends in the Federal government.
In this week’s episode of Dial P for Procurement, host Kelly Barner covers:
* The role that JPMorgan Chase plated in the rescue of First Republic and in the 2008 rescue of Bear Stearns and Washington Mutual
* How JPMorgan Chase has become by far the largest bank in the country by skirting the regulations put in place to prevent just that
* The details of the auction that allowed JPMorgan Chase to acquire First Republic, and why knowing the rules and the decision criteria is the best way to win
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May 11, 2023
Supply Chain Cyber Attack: Expeditors and iRobot
Cyber attacks have been on the rise since 2020, occurring with increasing frequency and having a more detrimental impact to the companies affected. Cyber risk regularly tops C-level risk rankings as a high priority and short term concern.
Almost 20% of all data breaches are associated with third-parties in a company’s supply chain. We can see how this plays out by looking at the case of Expeditors International and how a 2022 cyber attack not only impacted them as a company, but it also led to a lawsuit brought by a customer: iRobot.
In this week’s episode of Dial P for Procurement, host Kelly Barner covers:
* What happened to Expeditors International of Washington just over a year ago
* How the cyber attack impacted iRobot’s business
* The options available to companies, like cyber risk insurance and internal safeguards, and how industries may respond when a cyber attack takes down one of their own
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May 4, 2023
Bed Bath & Beyond’s Decline from from Superstore to No-more
Bed Bath & Beyond was founded in New Jersey in 1971. Popular for its effective use of the ‘superstore’ concept, packed stores, and 20% off coupons, the chain quickly expanded, peaking in 2013 with a market value of $17 Billion.
Their end began in 2019, when activist investors pushed out much of the executive leadership team and brought in former Target Chief Merchandising Officer Mark Tritton. He only lasted 18 months in the position, and every effort to spark a turnaround led to accelerated failure.
On April 23, 2023, the chain filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protections and announced that all stores would be closed within two months.
In this episode of Dial P, host Kelly Barner covers:
* How BB&B went from a successful international chain to one that couldn’t put inventory its shelves
* What the executive team did in an effort to save the chain, and how some of those ideas actually made their situation worse
* The insider trading scheme that not only proved to be a damaging and costly distraction for the company at a very bad time, but may have also led to the suicide of CFO Gustavo Arnal
Note: This episode discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
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Apr 27, 2023
Negotiating The Big One: UPS and the Teamsters Labor Union
The labor contract between UPS and the Teamsters union is the largest private collective bargaining agreement in North America - and it expires on July 31, 2023. It covers 70 percent of UPS employees: package car drivers, air drivers, feeder drivers, part-time loaders, unloaders, sorters, clerks and mechanics.
The current contract was signed in 2018, and took effect even though 54 percent of the union membership voted against it. That act led to a change in Teamster leadership, and it is shaping the tone of the current negotiation.
If there is a strike, it would be the largest in U.S. history, and it would have a significant economic impact: 27 percent of product-based GDP moves on brown trucks.
In this episode of Dial P, host Kelly Barner covers:
* What’s at stake in the negotiation between UPS and the Teamsters Union
* Some of the colorful personalities we’ve met through news coverage
* What might happen if the two sides cannot come to an agreement, and what might happen if the Teamsters are successful
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Apr 20, 2023
The Power and Danger of Asking Good Questions
In the 5th century BC, Socrates was teaching the Athenian people to think for themselves. He taught by asking questions: What is truth? How do you know? Is the truth good? Again - how do you know?
2,500 years later, we continue to struggle with big complex questions. Are we reducing costs if we have not eliminated human rights abuses in the supply chain? Is energy renewable if we are still reliant on rare earth minerals from China? Applying the Socratic Method may make it possible to answer these questions by asking others… but use caution. This approach is not without danger.
In this episode of Dial P, host Kelly Barner covers:
* What the Socratic Method is and what the benefits are to using this approach to problem solving
* How companies can use the Socratic Method to solve the complex problems procurement and supply chains face today
* What is required in a corporate culture where the status quo is actually going to be challenged
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Apr 13, 2023
Loss Aversion Theory and the Collapse of SVB
On March 10th, there was a run on Silicon Valley Bank. Days of concerning news and regulatory filings from the bank caused depositors to panic and withdraw their cash.
The bank had already been sitting on a gap - a $17B variance between the paper value of their bonds and their market value. When $42 Billion was withdrawn in a very short period of time, it was a “death blow” as characterized by Hugh Son, a banking reporter at CNBC.
Although concerns weren’t raised publicly more than a couple of days prior to the run, all of the signs were there. Could the response to this risky situation be just as much a matter of psychology as mismanagement?
In this episode of Dial P, host Kelly Barner covers:
* What loss aversion theory is and how it relates to risk aversion
* How loss averse decision making can quickly pervade a company’s culture
* Innately human responses that are hardwired into all our thinking and dictate our decision making in stressful situations
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Apr 6, 2023
Case Dismissed: Spencer Patton Prevails Over FedEx
In August of 2022, the relationship between FedEx Ground and their network of delivery contractors looked like it was about to implode. Led by major contractor and industry consultant Spencer Patton, thousands of contractors pushed back on the logistics giant - claiming that increasing costs were making it impossible for them to operate profitably.
FedEx sued Route Consultant, Patton’s consultancy, and canceled the Ground territory held by his 4 firms. The case has now worked its way through the federal court system, with Spencer Patton and Route Consultant winning the day with a full dismissal. FedEx has until April 11th to appeal, so the story continues, but there is already a lot this story can teach us.
In this episode of Dial P, host Kelly Barner covers:
* The basis of the very public dispute between Spencer Patton and FedEx Ground
* The details of the court ruling, effective March 10, 2023, in favor of Route Consultant
* Why the differences between constitutionally protected speech and commercial speech created a distinction that played in Patton’s favor
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Mar 30, 2023
Data and Derailment in East Palestine, OH
On February 3rd 2023, a Norfolk Southern train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio. 38 cars derailed, 11 of which contained hazardous materials, and 5 of those contained vinyl chloride - a chemical used to make polyvinyl chloride. The community, including both animals and humans, have been suffering from the side effects of the chemical, as has the local environment.
This devastating story has much to teach, far beyond the rail industry. It is an opportunity to consider how data-driven decision making works in practice, for better or for worse.
In this episode of Dial P, host Kelly Barner covers:
* The question of ownership and responsibility
* What worked as designed - and yet still led to failure
* What changes may be made as a result, and whether they would have prevented the disaster in East Palestine
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Mar 23, 2023
The Next Phase of Dial P for Procurement Begins
Nothing that is simple is real, and nothing that is real is simple.
Procurement and supply chain professionals excel at solving problems like supply uncertainty and cost mitigation against the backdrop of ESG initiatives, changing regulations, and high stakes geopolitics. There is never a dull moment, but would we want it any other way?
After a brief break between seasons, Dial P for Procurement is back… ready to cover the complexity that surrounds us with a critical eye and endless enthusiasm about the opportunity to learn something new.
In this episode of Dial P, host Kelly Barner covers:
* Big news about the Dial P for Procurement podcast
* The major news stories she’s covered via the newsletter in 2023
* What you can expect from this show going forward
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Jan 5, 2023
Dial P Updated Classic: Tentatively Making the Trains Run on Time
In 2022, we saw more than our fair share of high profile strikes. There were the Canadian truckers and the South Korean truckers (who actually went on strike twice). we saw longshoremen and dock workers walk off the job in Long Beach, California. Even the New York Times newsroom employees went on strike.
The (almost) railway workers strike was the most dramatic and the most educational of them all. It was on again, off again, and then on again and off again. It also taught us a lot about all of the players and stakeholder groups that get involved in these matters.
In this Dial P updated classic, host Kelly Barner brings the story up to date and manages to avoid saying, "I told you so."
- What was the tipping point that led to the federal government getting involved?
- What was the major sticking point that led some of the largest unions voting down the approved agreement?
- What is next for the railway industry and its labor force?
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Dec 29, 2022
Real World Advice from a Life Well-Lived
We all have advice from a trusted source that we carry with us everywhere and always. For Dial P host Kelly Barner, much of that advice came from her dad. In this uniquely personal episode, which first aired on what would be Timothy J. McCarthy’s 71st birthday, Kelly shares the best of his advice so that you can benefit from it too.
• Embrace ownership in your life, whether that means learning to ride a bike or admitting to your mistakes. Unless you own your shortcomings, you can’t own your successes.
• There is no substitute for hard work, certainly not luck – don’t ever point to luck. Call your shot and then go get it; don’t let anyone or anything slow you down.
• It doesn’t matter what your goal is or who you are. All that matters is that you have the dedication and perseverance to make your vision a reality.
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Dec 22, 2022
Dial P Updated Classic: Social Mission v. Business Fundamentals
On June 2nd, Dial P released an episode explaining how Unilever CEO Alan Jope may have been 'losing the plot' by putting his company’s social mission before fundamental business practices. Unilever had asked each of its 400 brands to tie a social or environmental mission into their branding and marketing efforts, a mandate that delivered mixed results in a difficult year.
In 2022, the company failed to acquire GSK’s healthcare division after three attempts, saw its stock value fall 25 percent from where it was in 2019, and raised prices by 12.5 percent as consumers switched to less expensive store brands. When activist investor Nelson Peltz took a seat on the Unilever board in July, the writing was on the wall. Social agenda notwithstanding, Unilever was underperforming.
In this Dial P Updated Classic, Kelly Barner brings the Unilever story up to date and considers what may be next for the consumer brands giant.
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Dec 15, 2022
2022 Procurement & Supply Chain News in Review
2022 was a wild year… The speed and complexity of the world seem to keep increasing. The news stories that made headlines this year seemed to defy prediction and logic… and yet, each month brought new and surprising events.
As we get ready to boldly go forward into 2023, host Kelly Barner pauses and takes a look back at the major procurement and supply chain news stories that captured the world’s attention this year.
In this episode of Dial P, she reviews:
• The results of a LinkedIn poll that gave Dial P audience members the opportunity to rank the top procurement and supply chain news stories of 2022
• A few honorable mentions that stood out but didn’t make the top of the list
• The overarching challenges and lessons learned that all of us should be carrying into 2023
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Dec 8, 2022
Speculating About the Future of Taiwan
The world is so complicated today… we could play the ‘what if’ game all day long.
• What if the railroad workers push back?
• What if retailers can’t shed all that unwanted inventory?
• What if Ukraine starts to lose ground?
• What if China invades Taiwan?
There’s a ‘what if’ where we have evidence to consider: we can just look to Hong Kong. On July 1st, 1997, sovereignty over the city of Hong Kong transferred from the United Kingdom to China. The events that followed give us more than enough to project what Taiwan could expect if they were to become a full part of the People’s Republic of China.
In this episode of Dial P, Kelly Barner reviews:
• What was supposed to happen in the years following the transfer of Hong Kong to China
• How the actual course of events has impacted Hong Kong’s citizens, economy, and press
• The current news story that is placing Hong Kong’s legal system back in the headlines
• What all of this may mean for Taiwa…
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Dec 1, 2022
The State of Supplier Diversity in 2022: Progress. Process. Empowerment.
Supplier diversity professionals have good reason to celebrate in 2022. Companies clearly see a connection between supplier diversity and workplace culture. They recognize that their commitment to supplier diversity is also an investment in the employee experience.
The 2022 State of Supplier Diversity Report received the highest level of annual participation since it was first run in 2017. Over 200 companies of different sizes and industries shared their current status, best practices, operational challenges, and vision for the future. They see evidence that the good news is real but also recognize that there is still work to be done.
In this livestream-based interview, Aylin Basom, CEO of supplier.io., and Lois Eichacker, Vice President of Customer Success at supplier.io, joined Kelly Barner and Scott Luton to share the most compelling findings from this year’s report and interact with the exceptional Dial P audience.
They took this opportunity to comment on the report’s three…
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Nov 24, 2022
Dial P Updated Classic: The Baby Formula Crisis
Some of the stories Dial P covers during the year are so big, impactful, and educational, that they warrant revisiting long after they have faded from the headlines.
In this Dial P updated Classic, host Kelly Barner looks back at the baby formula shortage that rocked the nation earlier this year by providing a few updates to the story since we covered it in May. The most important update of all is that families, especially families with babies who have special nutritional needs, continue to struggle.
For instance:
- The baby formula shortage peaked in July – when the national average out of stock rate was 31%. As of October, out of stock rates are down, but still double what they were before the Abbott facility closed and recalled a significant volume of product.
- The Abbott plant in Sturgis, MI reopened on July first - after an additional two-week delay due to heavy flooding at the facility.
There are no signs that the WIC (Women Infants and Children) program is being reexamin…
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Nov 17, 2022
Winter is Coming: Trouble in the Energy Supply Chain
Energy costs are surging, partially because of a lack of supply and partially about the constraints placed on the movement of existing supplies. The Northeastern United States is in a particularly precarious position because of the supply chain modes used to transport the fuel needed to heat people's homes.
As with all Dial P topics, energy is complicated - and the sources of fuel that we think of as separate actually quite interconnected.
In this episode of Dial P, host Kelly Barner reviews a few energy-related questions which sound simple enough but get very complicated when you put them together:
• What determines the cost and prices of diesel fuel, home heating oil, natural gas, and electricity?
• How available are these different sources of energy?
• When is product availability an issue and when is the ability to move them from point A to point B the real problem?
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Nov 10, 2022
Tracking Recent Layoffs: It’s Getting Bad Out There
Last week’s business news was all Twitter all the time. With Elon Musk as the new owner of the company, and the company losing $4 Million per day, something had to give. Then came the announcement that about half of the company’s employees would be laid off, entire teams in some cases. And yet, Twitter is hardly the only company laying people off this year.
There have been many stories in the papers about individual companies having layoffs. Less common are overarching discussions of all of the layoffs.
In this week’s Dial P audio podcast, Kelly Barner looks into the differences and similarities between the companies associated with recent layoffs:
• Reported layoff details by company and industry
• The varied reasons for those layoffs
• How these layoffs connect to the overall employment situation in the United States… including the looming potential recession
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Nov 3, 2022
NATO Discovers a Classic Strategic Sourcing Dilemma
NATO was formed in 1949, in the aftermath of World War II, to ensure peace in Europe. Under article 5 of the treaty, an attack on one member nation is considered an attack on all - and therefore a military response is required. Since 2006, NATO countries have committed to spend a minimum of 2 percent of their GDP on the military - a promise most have not upheld.
Now there is a proposal to standardize military equipment across countries. The hope is that this will make battlefield coordination easier and simpler. In practice, however, it would lead to far more negative consequences - cancelled contracts, broken supplier relationships, and unhealthy national interdependencies - than they realize.
In this episode of Dial P, Kelly Barner reviews the classic dilemma presented by multi-stakeholder strategic sourcing projects and the unintended consequences they can have:
- You don’t get something for nothing… what would NATO have to trade to get military standardization?
- What are t…
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Oct 27, 2022
The Downside of Supplier Diversity at McDonald’s
There’s a reason that the road to hell is paved with good intentions, and there are many examples of this principle playing out in business today. Many of them boil down to two specific scenarios:
-An idea is conceived of by one person, but handed over to another for execution, or
-An idea that works when led as a one-off, but which does not scale well at all.
One of those could easily be at play in a case of supplier diversity efforts gone wrong… in this case, at McDonald’s. They segment a portion of their $1.6 Billion annual advertising budget for black-owned firms, but Byron Allen, owner of Allen Media Group, doesn’t want an opportunity in this segment – he wants McDonald’s commercials to run on his stations nationwide.
In this week’s episode of Dial P for Procurement, host Kelly Barner covers:
* The federal court case pending against McDonalds, brought by Allen Media Group, which owns the Weather Channel as well as 36 ABC, CBS, and Fox television stations
* T…
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Oct 20, 2022
Can the EU Function as a Single Market in an Emergency?
On September 19th, 2022, the European Commission released a proposal for a new Single Market Emergency Instrument. The instrument, which is effectively a toolbox of options that can be leveraged in case of future supply chain disruptions, is one of the many changes the world has seen since the start of the pandemic.
The proposal includes flowery phrases like “unity and solidarity” and “cooperation and cohesion.” And they sound very nice - in theory. The question is whether they will survive both another macro emergency and also the provisions of the emergency instrument once invoked.
In this episode of Dial P for Procurement, host Kelly Barner reviews:
• The basic framework and provisions of the European Union Single Market Emergency Instrument
• The challenges associated with putting it into practice in the real world
• Objections and concerns that have already been voiced from EU member states
• A present day example of the power dynamics in Europe that may reve…
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Oct 13, 2022
The Rise and Fall of Apple Procurement VP Tony Blevins
Procurement never makes the news, but when we do, we don’t hold anything back. Case in point: a viral video featuring (former) Apple Vice President of Procurement Tony Blevins. He recently made headlines for all the wrong reasons.
The question is whether he was truly fired for what he said in that viral TikTok or whether it was an opportunity for the company to distance themselves for his ‘old school’ approach to procurement, carried out in grand style over the last 22 years.
In this week’s Dial P audio podcast, Kelly Barner preserves the professional story of Tony Blevins before it is all pulled down off the Internet and considers:
• What we know about his role at Apple over the last two decades
• The real rationale behind his sudden and dramatic departure
• What this story tells us about Apple and their procurement function: past, present, and future…
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Oct 6, 2022
Tentatively Making the Trains Run on Time
Global supply chains are decidedly intermodal, and rail plays a much larger role than many people may realize. The potential for a rail workers’ strike recently dominated news headlines… until it didn’t. The strike was averted at the 11th hour by efforts made by Labor Secretary Marty Walsh.
But is the strike risk really behind us? Nothing is over until it is over, and the membership of the 12 unions involved in the agreement still have to vote. If they don’t ratify the agreement, the potential impact has been estimated at $2 Billion per day.
In this week’s Dial P audio podcast, Kelly Barner moves beyond the headlines about the rail workers’ strike to better understand the real status of this important supply chain channel:
• What did the rail unions want from their new contract?
• The terms and conditions are on the table for union vote
• What we learned from news coverage of the strike, and whether there will be future implications of the new agreement
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Sep 29, 2022
FedEx Ground’s Contractor Woes
FedEx has been in the news a lot lately, and for all the wrong reasons. They are facing a challenge from many of the 6,000 contractors that handle their FedEx Ground and FedEx Ground Economy deliveries.
Spencer Patton has been the loudest voice in the dispute. As FedEx’s largest Ground contractor – at least until August 26th when his contract was cancelled – he has used his voice to call attention to the financial and operational difficulties faced by contractors. Many of those independent service providers gathered together in person at the 2022 Contractor Expo, held just days before Patton was terminated and FedEx sued his company in Federal Court.
In this week’s Dial P audio podcast, Kelly Barner looks into the source of the dispute between FedEx and their Ground contractors:
• What is the current status of the FedEx Ground contractor dispute and where did it begin?
• What of we know about Spencer Patton?
• What are the contractors main pain points?
• What has…
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Sep 22, 2022
Banned Books Week 2022: Fighting for Intellectual Freedom
Banned Books Week is an annual effort to call attention to censorship and intellectual freedom. This year it runs from September 18th through the 24th.
While Banned Books Week is mostly marked by libraries around the country, the drive behind it is something that all adults need to understand. Banned books are the physical representation of banned ideas. The idea of banning (or burning) a book, may send a chill up your spine, but are we taking the steps that are needed to protect the more abstract but just as important freedom of thought.
In this week’s Dial P audio podcast, Kelly Barner – who holds a Masters Degree in Library Science from Simmons College in Boston – extends the mission behind Banned Books Week to the free exchange of ideas that is REQUIRED to succeed in the face of today’s procurement and supply chain challenges:
• Having the stomach to participate in a world with diversity of thought
• Maximizing the ROI of ideas by letting them all crash around toget…
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Sep 15, 2022
Taking a Thoughtful Approach to Relentless Improvement Featuring Tom Burke with ButcherBox
Although the most memorable shortage of 2020 was toilet paper, there was a span of time in the spring and early summer when the food supply chain was under strain as well. Concerned about lockdowns and being able to feed their families, people bought huge quantities of groceries and stocked up their homes.
This kicked off a strong bullwhip effect, clearing supermarket shelves and creating shortages that reverberated through the supply chain to wholesalers and distributors.
ButcherBox is a Boston-based meat subscription service that delivers high quality meat and seafood directly to consumers’ homes. Demand for their services skyrocketed overnight, with thousands of people hitting their website hourly at the peak. As a self-described “member obsessed” team, ButcherBox had some important decisions to make. How fast could they expand? How would they protect their existing customer experience? How many people could they help while preserving their quality standards?
Tom Burke is t…
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Sep 8, 2022
Intent v. Effect of Uyghur Forced Labor Regulation
The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, which took effect on June 21, 2022, is aimed at stopping human rights abuses taking place in the Xinjiang Autonomous Region of China. All goods coming from the region are assumed to be the result of forced labor unless the importer can prove otherwise – an uphill climb to be sure.
Despite the good intent behind the law, many challenges remain. The United Nations recently found that human rights concerns exist, but China still holds a seat on the U.N. Human Rights council. Of all the supply chains affected by the law, solar panels are facing the greatest scrutiny and disruption so far.
Can the impact of the UFLPA live up to the expectations?
In this week’s Dial P audio podcast, Kelly Barner follows up on the UFLPA post-enactment to see how the good intent of this new law is playing out in practice:
• What the UFLPA is hoping to accomplish?
• What has the implementation of the law been like so far?
• What questions remain unanswered…
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Sep 1, 2022
Looking at ESG Investing with a Critical Eye
Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) programs are at the top of many C-suite agendas, and they have held their place despite economic challenges and sustained supply chain disruption. And yet, in the world of investing, ESG Funds are starting to come under scrutiny – do they satisfy requirements for fiduciary responsibility?
Although most conversations about ESG focus on the environmental and social benefits they promise to deliver, it may be the G – Governance – that ultimately keeps everyone on the straight and narrow.
In this week’s Dial P audio podcast, Kelly Barner looks at recent news stories and lawsuits related to ESG investing and speculates what they may mean for other corporate ESG initiatives:
• How are ESG scores issued, and how closely do they mirror what is happening operationally?
• What kind of leverage does passive investing give influential funds over the companies they invest in?
• Can advancing environmental and social causes be done witho…
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Aug 25, 2022
Can These Supply Relationships be Saved? Featuring Philip Ideson
With today’s challenging economic conditions, all companies are under pressure to remain profitable and hit earnings expectations. Retailers may be feeling the greatest stress of all, simultaneously dealing with inflation, changes in consumer sentiment, and loads of unwanted inventory. The result? Working capital problems galore.
Watching for evidence of how retailers handle this combination of circumstances is an education in and of itself. In some cases, it is instructional and in others it is a clear what NOT to do.
Case in point… a recent news story involving Target, Walmart, and a few suppliers who are decidedly unhappy with recent changes in their business arrangements. According to those suppliers, they have been asked to pay for their own logistics costs, hold inventory longer than expected, and accept reductions in order volume. How do we know about this frustration? They spoke to the media about it: on the record.
Philip Ideson is the Founder and Managing Director of A…
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Aug 18, 2022
Sustained Empathetic Leadership in Turbulent Times
Empathy is frequently cited as one of the most important qualities in hiring, management, and corporate culture in general. Empathy peaked in 2020 as communities and companies rallied to withstand the pandemic, but time has a way of wearing away all things.
Are we finally succumbing to ‘empathy fatigue?’
In this week’s Dial P audio podcast, Kelly Barner gathers data and anecdotes – plus a little custom research – to assess how effective our current empathy practices are:
• What empathy really means on individual and leadership levels
• The costs associated with practicing empathy
• Why empathy is not happiness and can’t be mandated
• How we can all get better together
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Aug 11, 2022
Does the CHIPS Act provide the Helpful Incentives the U.S. needs?
On July 27th, the Senate passed the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022. It is now awaiting President Biden’s signature. Proponents of the bill say it will reduce U.S. dependence on foreign producers of semiconductor chips by building manufacturing capabilities at home. Skeptics – which oddly include both progressive Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and conservative Republicans – say it amounts to “corporate welfare.” So who is right?
The CHIPS in the CHIPS Act stands for ‘Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors.’ But are the incentives, and the resulting changes, actually “Helpful” for the U.S. semiconductor industry?
In this week’s Dial P audio podcast, Kelly Barner digs into the global semiconductor market and talks about some relevant considerations not covered in the language of the legislation:
• What’s in the bill?
• What can and can’t be done with the funding?
• Why has U.S. semiconductor manufacturing capacity has been falling since the…
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Aug 4, 2022
Why is Fuel So Expensive?
Why is fuel so expensive? Consumers have been feeling the pain at the pump for a while, and now large companies like Amazon and Walmart are adding fuel surcharges to cover their costs. If they can’t negotiate their way out of high rates, the rest of us have very little hope of being able to do so.
In this week’s Dial P audio podcast, Kelly Barner digs into the oil supply chain, considering:
– What the margins, investments, and risks are like at each tier of production
– The impact sanctions against Russia and Iraq are having on gas prices
– Strategies for procurement and supply chain professionals trying to contain their commercial and personal fuel costs
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Jul 28, 2022
Guarding Private Incentive to Innovate featuring Patent Attorney Wen Xie
On June 17, 2022, the member countries of the World Trade Organization (WTO) accepted a proposal made by the U.S., E.U., India, and South Africa that modifies nationally granted intellectual property rights related to the COVID-19 vaccine.
The proposal was leaked early, so the world knew the vote was coming. But other than the WTO and a few media organizations, most of the world shrugged at the news, despite the big picture implications for private industry.
The COVID-19 vaccine was made available on an impressive timeline, thanks to the incentives created by Operation Warp Speed. But if for-profit companies fear losing their intellectual property rights, what choice will they make in the future?
Many innovations, including mRNA vaccines, are the result of private investment and risk tolerance. If companies do not believe their intellectual property rights will be respected and protected, they have less incentive to innovate and almost no incentive to collaborate.
Wen Xie is a pate…
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Jul 21, 2022
Refillable v. Recyclable: The EPA Takes on Domestic Production
Corporate sustainability initiatives are critical to the health of our planet – but the distance between objectives and regulated execution on a detailed level can sometimes be very broad.
Case in point: Worthington Industries, the last U.S. based manufacturer of lightweight recyclable cylinders for transporting refrigerants. Because their cylinders are used to transport hydrofluorocarbons (or HFCs), they’re on a collision course with the EPA… cue the drama.
In this week’s Dial P audio podcast, Kelly Barner breaks down the good news, bad news, and surprising news in this supply chain related story:
– Why the precise difference in meaning and usage of words like disposable, non-refillable, recyclable, and refillable matter
– The complexities caused by the intertwined nature of government regulators and global supply chains
– The role of legislation and interpretation in enacting sustainability requirements
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Jul 14, 2022
Heavy Traffic and Human Trafficking at the U.S. Border
If you joined Art of Procurement and Supply Chain Now for the 2022 Supply Chain and Procurement Awards, you know that we partnered with Hope for Justice, a global non-profit dedicated to ending human trafficking and modern slavery, as our philanthropy partner. This is a cause that supply chain and procurement professionals can do more than support; we can play an active role in the fight against human trafficking.
For an example, look no further than the truck discovered in San Antonio, Texas in June. 48 deceased migrants were found on the scene, and 5 more would die later because of the conditions they experienced in the trailer of that truck.
In this week’s Dial P audio podcast, Kelly Barner examines what has been described as the deadliest migrant smuggling incident in recorded history and what supply chain professionals need to know:
– Massive delays and backups at border crossings as the United States tries to thwart human and drug smugglers
– U.S. DOT regulations requir…
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Jul 7, 2022
American Supply Chain Revolution
“When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.”
-Declaration of Independence
It would be easy to think of supply chains as a purely modern phenomenon. We think about Global logistics networks that leverage digital platforms using AI and predictive analytics and provide real time monitoring of package locations and conditions. It is absolutely amazing what is possible today – despite the challenges that persist.
But the concept of global supply chains goes as far back as the spice trade and silk roads to and through Asia in 2000 BC. And the expression, “follow the money” – well that dates back as old as mankind as wel…
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Jun 30, 2022
Leverage on 18 Wheels: The South Korean Driver Strike
In late January 2022, hundreds of heavy-duty trucks headed for Ottawa, Canada. They parked in front of the national legislature building and in nearby streets. Period. They parked. Those drivers shut down most of central Ottawa for 23 days in protest of the nation’s vaccine mandates and related requirements.
But did you know that just a couple of weeks ago there was another truckers strike, one that had the potential to drive even more global business and supply chain disruptions?
In this week’s Dial P audio podcast, Kelly Barner shares the details of the recent heavy-duty truck driver strike in South Korea:
• What drove the drivers to go on strike
• Which global industries were affected and how badly
• The impact and outcomes of the strike
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Jun 23, 2022
The Resurgence and Economic Impact of Supplier Diversity Programs in America Featuring Ken Yearwood with McKinsey
Supplier diversity is not a new corporate initiative. In 1968, General Motors started what is generally recognized as one of the first supplier diversity programs in America.
The death of George Floyd in 2020 raised awareness of supplier diversity programs in the C-suite. Widespread demonstrations and public outcry drove renewed corporate interest and activism across industries and in companies of all sizes.
Almost immediately, the operational challenges associated with turning those intentions into reality at scale set in. Finding suppliers to partner with, setting the most appropriate KPIs, and positioning supplier diversity relative to other ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) programs is not easy. Companies must embrace the cause as part of their overall culture to make it sustainable.
In this Dial P for Procurement interview, Kelly Barner welcomes Ken Yearwood, an Associate Partner at McKinsey & Company and one of the authors of the research based-article ‘Expand dive…
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Jun 16, 2022
Race Against the Clock: Getting the Grain Out of Ukraine
Although no one expected it, the war in Ukraine is now approaching the end of its fourth month. Refugees continue to flee the country and calls for weaponry persist. President Zelenskyy and his leadership team are hanging tough, advocating for their citizens, and requesting as much military assistance as they can get from the rest of the world.
But now the war in Ukraine is starting to claim casualties on foreign shores… not in the form of refugees, but in a hunger crisis of global proportions.
Before the war, Ukraine was the 4th largest exporter of grain in the world. Now, 20 metric tonnes of grain are sitting in silos as hunger increases worldwide and the next crop not only has no place to go – if it can’t be sold, there won’t be funds to pay for next year’s harvest.
In this week’s Dial P audio podcast, Kelly Barner considers the diplomatic, humanitarian, and logistics issues that have to be overcome to get the grain out of Ukraine:
• Rail and sea options that all s…
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Jun 9, 2022
Is the WTO Jeopardizing Innovation by Failing to Protect IP?
The innovation we saw play out in the development of multiple COVID-19 vaccines was evidence of the power of modern medicine when combined with the determination of the human spirit. Global collaboration plus investment plus information sharing compressed the time from start to finish from 10-15 years to just one year.
But now that the smoke has started to clear, questions are beginning to arise about the IP associated with those vaccines. How can the world ensure equitable access to vaccines and treatments now and into the future?
In May of 2022, a draft proposal leaked from a few member countries in the World Trade Organization: United States, European Union, India, and South Africa. If the proposal is presented to other member companies on July 7-9 (it has already been delayed from a planned vote on June 9th), we will have the opportunity to see the official wording as well as the response it gets from the rest of the world.
In this week’s Dial P audio podcast, Kelly Barner rev…
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Jun 2, 2022
Losing the Plot: Social Mission v. Business Fundamentals
ESG – or environmental, social, and governance – programs are high visibility opportunities for companies to grab headlines, earn goodwill and brand loyalty from consumers, and hopefully make the world a better place. But if not pursued strategically, they can also be a company’s downfall.
In this week’s Dial P audio podcast, Kelly Barner shares the lessons learned from companies who have chosen to put social mission before business fundamentals:
• Consumer brands that are required to have a social or environmental mission or risk divestment from the company
• Why inclusive sizing sounds nice but comes with costs that can’t easily be passed along to consumers
• Social missions that were wildly successful in their ability to improve brand reputation without distracting the team from their operational marks
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May 26, 2022
Does it Matter if We Go Into a Recession?
Recessions are more common than most people realize. We have had 12 recessions in the last 75 years and 4 in the last 30. Some were caused by wars, and others by tech and housing bubbles, but they each left their mark on the American people and businesses.
What everyone wants to know today is whether another recession is on the horizon? Many signs point to an increasing probability of recession, most strictly defines as two consecutive quarters of negative GDP growth, but the “experts” can’t seem to agree on timing and severity.
In this week’s Dial P audio podcast, Kelly Barner explains the parameters of recession and what we should be on the lookout for in future economic reports.
• Why is there such a long lag time between the beginning of a recession and official declaration?
• What is the connection between today’s record-high inflation numbers and the likelihood of recession?
• Are there any silver linings to a recessionary economy?
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May 19, 2022
Hunting for the True Source of the Baby Formula Shortage
In this week’s Dial P audio podcast, Kelly Barner makes a thorough and data-driven examination of the current baby formula shortage. Although the earliest news coverage started in January of 2022, we actually have to go back to September of 2019 to fully understand the source of the crisis parents are facing today.
From out of stock rates that have been increasing since November of 2021, to plant closures and recalls, to any available prognostication about when the shortages are expected to end, this story is a complex one – and it serves as a sad but fascinating study of what can go wrong when quality concerns meet lagging inspections and unpredictable consumer demand.
Kelly covers relevant information about:
• How long the Sturgis, Michigan plant was an issue – and who (beyond the whistleblower) knew about it
• How the federally funded Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) assistance program may have contributed to the market over-concentration we have today
• What proc…
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May 12, 2022
Preparing for the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act and Regulations Featuring Constantine Limberakis with riskmethods
Governments and regulators across the globe are stepping up their oversight of corporate operations so they can drive more ethical and environmentally sustainable business practices. Each effort to uncover harmful and unethical business practices - such as environmental degradation, unfair or unsafe working conditions, and modern slavery – increases the challenge for procurement and supply chain professionals increases.
One such example, the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, takes effect on June 21, 2022. It states that all goods made in Xinjiang, China will be presumed to involve slave labor unless the company can prove otherwise. Like other ESG laws, the Uyghur FLPA will require companies to increase visibility into first-tier suppliers as well as sub-tier suppliers. What do we need to do to prepare for this act and other ESG laws and regulations?
In this livestream-based episode of Dial P for Procurement, Kelly Barner and Scott Luton welcome Constantine Limberakis, Senior Dire…
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May 5, 2022
Elon Musk Bought Twitter. What Happens Next?
In this week’s Dial P audio podcast, Kelly Barner answers the question so many of us have been thinking since the news broke on April 25th that Elon Musk and Twitter had come to an agreement to allow the company to be taken private: What happens now?
We’ll leave the social and journalistic implications to the pundits, but buying a company as big as Twitter is far more complicated than buying a Tesla. There are layers of review, votes, and a few unknowns before the deal is completely done.
By examining primary sources and recent news coverage, Kelly explains all of the business details and behind-the-scenes machinations that will have to come to pass before the world’s richest man becomes the outright owner of Twitter.
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Apr 28, 2022
Hey CEOs – Love the One You’re With
In this week’s Dial P audio podcast, Kelly Barner wonders whether CEOs have to – or even can – love their customers. What does that require from executives and what happens if they are unable to muster such a personal emotion in the workplace?
In most B2C companies, but especially in retail, there are some key differences between the ‘typical’ CEO and his or her customers. From age to gender, annual salary to the place they call home, CEOs and the average middle American have very little in common. And while CEOs can’t make themselves like their customers, they can certainly understand what appeals to them about the company’s offerings and why… and give them more of that.
Using real life examples – both good and bad – we will see what CEO love looks like and what the opposite earns them. Building a community, even a community of one, based on value, respect, and communication, is a foundation. But as LinkedIn Creator Accelerator Program member Nicky Saunders asked…
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Apr 21, 2022
Don’t say Digital: A Hitchhiker’s Guide to the New Economy
In this week’s Dial P audio podcast, Kelly Barner thinks back through one of the core concepts from the March livestream featuring Koray Kose and Rik Vera: moving from the old economy to the new economy – and making the most of the time between. As you might guess, the old economy was marked by transactions, economies of scale, and clear boundaries between what was ‘in scope’ for corporations and what was not. The rules were clear but the potential for innovation was constrained.
In the new economy, opportunities will abound, but success will not be easily won by the faint of heart. If you’re looking for proof of that, consider Elon Musk. He is a confirmed time traveler from the new economy who has arrived to shake things up and give us a look into the future.
In the new economy, everything is far more interrelated and interdependent, and the lines are blurred between companies, governments, and humanitarian organizations.
Will you have the courage, vision, and energy to s…
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Apr 14, 2022
Boots on the Ground in Shanghai, China feat. Jeffrey Goldstein, President of ONWARD Global
The distance between the United States is far, and that statement remains true whether you are describing geography, culture, or business practices. But how much of what we have been led to believe about the country with the world’s second largest economy is true and how much is hype?
We decided to ask someone who is there, making a living bridging the gaps in supply chains and understanding between Chinese companies and their Western customers.
In this week’s Dial P for Procurement interview, Kelly Barner is joined by Jeffrey Goldstein, Founder & President of ONWARD Global. More important than his title though, is his location. Jeffrey has been based in Shanghai, China for the last 12 years. He works with international startups, brands, and retailers, serving as their on-the-ground representation in China, managing their sourcing, manufacturing, and ethical compliance.
In this interview, Kelly asks Jeffrey frank questions about:
• How companies have partnered with firms base…
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Apr 7, 2022
Are Inflation Expectations a Self-Fulfilling Prophesy?
In this week’s Dial P audio podcast, Kelly Barner gets back to basics to address one of the dominating news stories and business concerns today: inflation. What is it, what causes it, and isn’t there SOMETHING we can do to make It stop??? Listen in for a refresher on the basics, some examples of how it connects all of the different major forces in the economy, and some strategies and tactics you can employ as a corporate employee to get through today’s heavily inflationary times.
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Mar 31, 2022
Escaping the Clutches of the Old Economy by Building Supply Ecosystems with Koray Kose and Rik Vera
People and companies talk about technology constantly, but they don’t know what to do with it. Fortunately, procurement is in a position to be an initiator of supply ecosystem relationships that are trust-based even though they are distributed. To achieve this, we will have to de-hype technologies by looking beyond the surface - which, in most cases, is a thin digital frosting on the same old cake.
If we want to escape the old economy, we have to root out everything that serves as a connection to old ways of thinking: experiences, KPIs, language, and thinking of our supply chains from the bottom up.
Everyone in a supply chain wants to have contact with the customer, so the only way to win is for everyone in the ecosystem to work together. That said, change can be deceptive; in many cases, the things that change fastest do not indicate meaningful change.
In this Dial P for Procurement livestream, Rik Vera, international thought leader and author of the Guide to the Ecosystem Econom…
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Mar 24, 2022
Building Out Business Diversity Programs with Constance Jones from NMSDC
In this week’s Dial P audio podcast, Kelly Barner shares a special interview with Constance Jones, Senior Director of Network Delivery Services at NMSDC. NMSDC is the National Minority Supplier Development Council. They are responsible for certifying minority-owned business so that they can strengthen their partnerships with corporate supplier diversity programs.
Kelly conducted this interview as part of the LinkedIn Creator Accelerator program she was selected to participate in as a member of the first creator group. Listen in as Constance shares her passion and ability to present a business case in equal measure.
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Mar 17, 2022
Does the Development of Expertise Naturally Lead Us to Fail?
In this week’s Dial P audio podcast, Kelly Barner takes two ideas, both desirable, and asks if they can co-exist. One is paradigm shifts, and the other is expertise. It is easy to see that people don’t like change, but are we rewarded for building up expertise in the exclusion of new ideas? Do we build walls around our mindset and point of view that make us impervious to paradigm shifts?
To underscore the need to find inspiration from a number of sources, Kelly quotes and pulls perspectives from John Dominic Crossan, Jennifer Ulrich, Malcolm Gladwell, Charles Darwin, Max Planck, Thomas Kuhn, Rita Gunther McGrath, and Barbara Kingsolver.
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Mar 10, 2022
Corporate Involvement in Ukraine in the Era of ESG
In this first Dial P audio podcast, Kelly Barner takes the newspaper dominating conflict in Ukraine and looks at the active role some companies and leaders from private industry have played so far. While companies have gotten involved in armed conflicts before, it has usually been indirect – as suppliers to the government or respondents to official orders and sanctions. In 2022, however, large global corporations have the ability to enable or disable communications, shipments, and access to funds with the click of a button – changing the course of history much more quickly than governments can make policy decisions. And in the ESG era, consumers expect the companies they buy from to act in accordance with their values, not stand by idly.
While we are all watching from the sidelines, some of us are sitting closer than others to the action. Each set of circumstances is an opportunity to think through what we would do… because we never know when the call will come, and a decision w…
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Feb 16, 2022
The Prepared will Prevail: Investing in Collaborative Supply Chain Resilience
Supply chain risk management is at the top of every corporate priority list right now. And while businesses have never had a time free from risk, the stakes are so high right now that the issue has become all-consuming. Since it is not an option to wait the risk out, wise organizations are investing in their own resilience and partnering with suppliers to strengthen their options.
Today’s business challenges are creating demand for a “new risk management,” one that turns visibility into actionability and connects enterprise responsibility with individual incentives for improved outcomes that stand the test of time.
In this episode, based on a Dial P for Procurement livestream, riskmethods’ Chief Product Officer & Managing Director of the Americas, Bill DeMartino, and Senior Director of Product & Solutions Marketing, Constantine Limberakis, discuss rebuilding confidence in the face of risk by establishing a single source of truth that people can trust and act upon:
- How comp…
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Feb 15, 2022
Supplier Diversity Comes to the Forefront: The 2021 State of Supplier Diversity Report w Neeraj Shah
Of all the initiatives to grab the headlines over the last two years, none has united the global business community like the call for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). For procurement and supply chain teams, supplier diversity presents an opportunity to make an immediate difference in traditionally underrepresented communities and to ensure that their commitment stands the test of time.
supplier.io recently completed its comprehensive annual study of supplier diversity programs across industries and from newly launched programs to those that have been in place for over a decade. Their 2021 State of Supplier Diversity Report not only captures the passion of the moment, but it also reflects trends dating back to 2017.
One of the most compelling findings of the 2021 report is that the number of new supplier diversity programs has skyrocketed. In fact, there was a 60% increase in representation from programs less than three years old. These new programs bring with them fresh enthus…
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Feb 14, 2022
P is Also for Payments and (Credit Card) Processing with Jim Luff and Kris Lance
Dial P regulars know that when you ‘dial p’ you get procurement - usually. But sometimes, p is for payments and credit card processing. Keeping in mind that one company’s payments become another company’s cash flow is absolutely critical in today’s hyperconnected supply ecosystems. All procurement professionals need to know how multiple forms of invoicing and payment work – and how they can support all suppliers’ desire to get paid sooner.
In this month’s episode of Dial P for Procurement, Kelly Barner and Scott Luton are joined by Jim Luff, Marketing Manager at Chosen Payments, and Kris Lance, Senior Director at Una. They answered all of our questions about how payment processing works, including credit card payments, chargebacks, and contactless payments.
During a conversation recorded live with the full participation of the Supply Chain Now ‘skybox’ audience, Jim and Kris answer questions such as:
• The basics of payment processing in the context of corporat…
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Feb 13, 2022
Delivering an Experience that Builds Strong Relationships
Everyone wants their customers to have a good experience but being able to live up to that standard consistently and at scale is not easy. Ideally, someone will take responsibility for creating positive experiences no matter the exact requirements. In this Dial P for Procurement livestream, Kelly Barner and Scott Luton are joined by Crystal Villareal, Member Services Manager at Una, and Philip Ideson, Founder and Managing Director at Art of Procurement.
In addition to hearing directly from Crystal and Phil, we also got solid advice from the best experience managers in the business: our canine colleagues. We got professional advice from Louie, Una’s VP of Snuggles, Rosalie, AOP’s Director of Canine Experience, Jasper, AOP’s SVP of Barkalytics, and Ruby and Dexter, "The Muscle" at Supply Chain Now.
During a conversation recorded as a livestream with the Supply Chain Now audience, Crystal and Phil shared their best practices for:
• How to convert your vision for customer experi…
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Feb 12, 2022
Move Faster, Save More, and Look Better Doing It! With Anthony Clervi and Kris Lance from Una
In this episode of Dial P for Procurement, produced in partnership with Una, hosts Kelly Barner and Scott Luton welcome Anthony Clervi and Kris Lance with Una to the podcast.
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Feb 11, 2022
Collaborating with Suppliers Through Challenging Times
Collaborating with suppliers isn't easy - and it doesn't always come naturally either. One silver lining to the last 18 months is that there are plenty of opportunities to work together, whether procurement is helping suppliers or vice versa. If done right, those opportunities will become relationships that offer significant value for both parties well into the future.
In this episode of Dial P for Procurement, Lori B. Chennault, Jeanette Nyden, and Kurt Albertson examine the process of collaborating with suppliers ‘under pressure’ from three different perspectives: head of procurement at a large enterprise, contract negotiation expert, and industry analyst.
During a conversation recorded as a livestream with the Supply Chain Now audience, Lori, Jeanette, and Kurt share the following with co-hosts Kelly Barner and Scott Luton:
• How procurement can work with suppliers, through relationships and contracts, to make the best of challenging circumstances for all parties
• The r…
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Feb 10, 2022
The Intersection of International Culture and Talent in Procurement, Guest Jacinta Taliauli
Although industries and supply chains are increasingly global, the cultural norms that prevail in each region vary. As we begin to work within those regions, it often becomes apparent that there are cultural differences at the country and even city or regional level. Each person has to be aware of their own cultural background as well as how those tendences align with the people they work with.
Jacinta Taliauli is a Senior Procurement Advisor at the Ministry for Pacific Peoples. Her parents moved from Tonga, a small island nation in the Pacific Ocean with a population of around 100,000 people, to New Zealand before she was born. Although they moved so she they could raise her in a country with more opportunities, they still raised her in “the Tongan way,” a set of cultural values that combine flawless politeness, deference to authority, and a commitment to hard work.
In this episode of Dial P for Procurement, Jacinta tells special guest Kim Winter and co-hosts Kelly Barner and Sc…
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Feb 9, 2022
Telling a Human Story About Digital Procurement Transformation
In this episode of Dial P for Procurement, hosts Kelly Barner and Scott Luton welcome Jacob Gorm Larsen and Marcell Vollmer to the show.
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Feb 8, 2022
Approaching Procurement with a Growth Mindset
There are many paths people follow to start a career in procurement, but not a single one of them is a straight line. Although this can present challenges from a skills consistency perspective, more often than not, it actually serves to expand what procurement is capable of by ensuring that the team has a broad range of perspectives and experiences.
Over the last decade or so, procurement has ceased to be the place that people are sent so that they can’t do too much damage to the company. Procurement leaders are actively recruiting the best and brightest people from other functions and roles to join their ranks. Sam Achampong, the Regional Head and General Manager of the MENA Region for CIPS, is a perfect example. After playing a project management role in a cross-functional personnel rationalization effort, he was invited to join procurement. He accepted, and the rest is history.
In this episode of Dial P for Procurement, Sam tells special guest Kim Winter and co-hosts Kelly Barne…
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Feb 7, 2022
Positioning for Success at the Intersection of Transformation, Risk, & Technology with Koray Kose & Philip Ideson
These days, it seems like everyone is in the risk business. From high consumer expectations to the challenging final mile, and from ships stuck sideways in far away canals to an uncertain global economy, all business decisions come with elevated risk. But - and this is a BIG BUT - the riskiest move of all is giving in to the fear.
Risk may 'live' in the supply chain, but as the key relationship-holder with thousands of first tier suppliers, procurement is often in the driver's seat when it comes time to better understand the risks currently facing the enterprise and what can be done today and in the future to address them better than the competition. Historically, procurement has been a highly risk-averse function, but industry leaders now realize that their ability to impact the top and bottom lines of the company may only be constrained by their willingness to take strategic, qualified risks.
In this episode of Dial P for Procurement, Koray Kose, Senior Director of Supply Chain Res…
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Feb 6, 2022
Driving Innovation Through the Supplier Experience with Quentin Roach and Costas Xyloyiannis
Many business leaders have added an emphasis on 'experience' in their approach to management. There is user experience, customer experience, and - from a procurement and supply chain perspective - a supplier experience. Each one of these needs to be understood and fostered before the associated relationships can live up to their full potential.
In this episode, based on a Dial P for Procurement livestream, Quentin Roach, Senior Vice President of Supply Chain & Chief Procurement Officer at Mondelez International and Costas Xyloyiannis, CEO and Co-founder at HICX, join Supply Chain Now Co-hosts Kelly Barner and Scott Luton to discuss the supplier experience from both the buy-side and technology provider perspectives.
- Where friction is most likely to exist in the corporate procurement process, how companies can reduce it, and why most procurement teams are probably overthinking what they need to do first
- Whether or not the Pareto Principle (the 80/20 split) is still a valid methods…
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Feb 5, 2022
Rethinking Supplier (Information) Management with Jeffrey Ostrander and Ragnar Lorentzen
Procurement is currently being faced with two parallel challenges: to improve the supplier experience and also to improve the quality of the data that we gather from and make available to suppliers. One challenge is relational, and the other is transactional, but we have to address them both at the same time if we are going to realize the full ROI of either.
In this podcast based on a Dial P for Procurement livestream, Jeffrey Ostrander, Head of Supply Transactions, Western Hemisphere for Schlumberger, and Ragnar Lorentzen, Chief Commercial Officer at HICX, join co-hosts Kelly Barner and Scott Luton to share their perspectives on the huge potential of collaborative supplier partnerships, including the strategic value of trustworthy data.
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Feb 4, 2022
Dial P for Procurement- Featuring Supply Chain Humanitarians Anna McGovern & Kathy Fulton
In this inaugural episode of Dial P for Procurement, program co-hosts Kelly Barner (Buyers Meeting Point, Art of Procurement) and Scott Luton (Supply Chain Now) welcome two professionals who have put their procurement and supply chain experience to work in the service of others. Anna McGovern is the Chief Supply Chain Officer at the Food Bank for New York City and Kathy Fulton is the Executive Director of the American Logistics Aid Network. They joined the show to discuss the differences between commercial and nonprofit supply chains, where they would like to see procurement professionals ‘slow down’ in the execution of their duties, and why delivering an amazing customer experience is critical, no matter who your customers are.
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