Explore every episode of the podcast Pondering Procurement

Join Ellen Lavender (MCIPS), Director, Global Commodities at GE Healthcare, as she shares how Procurement can play a pivotal role during mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures. From contract remediation to stakeholder alignment, Ellen offers practical lessons and strategic advice drawn from real-world experience. Hosted by Graham Crawshaw, this episode is essential listening for professionals navigating procurement through organisational change.

Timo Worrall, a former leader in Johnson & Johnson’s Responsible Sourcing programme, and co-chair of the Supplier Diversity Chapter at the Sustainable Procurement Pledge, joins Graham Crawshaw to talk about the roots of supplier diversity. They explore how inclusion in Procurement has evolved, and how organisations can respond to today’s shifting political and commercial landscape.

Khalid Al Barwani MCIPS, Head of Contracts (IT and Digitalisation Services) at Petroleum Development Oman, is a rising star in Procurement and a true success story of how a young professional can accelerate his career. He has previously achieved CIPS Talent and ISM 30 Under 30 Awards and is a part-time University lecturer and international speaker. 

Khalid discusses his fast-paced career journey, the emerging trends shaping the digitalisation of IT contracts, and how to build credibility and earn respect from senior stakeholders. He shares lessons from his leadership philosophy, which centres on empowerment with accountability, and the persuasive techniques he now teaches his team to influence effectively and win procurement hearts and minds.

Category management is evolving fast. So is the role of the procurement professional. Telia’s CPO Nicolas Passaquin joins CASME’s Graham Crawshaw to discuss how leaders are adapting strategies, embracing AI, and building data foundations to meet today’s cost, compliance, and technology demands.

Gain a fresh perspective on procurement in this insightful podcast! Join Jim Colangelo, former CPO for the State of Michigan and now Executive Director of the newly formed Michigan Institute of Public Procurement, as he challenges the cost-savings obsession in a thought-provoking discussion with CASME’s Graham Crawshaw. Together, they explore how shifting from cost-cutting to a customer-focused approach can deliver greater efficiency, strengthen stakeholder relationships, and create sustainable value. Discover the secret to empowering your team, transforming procurement culture, and still achieving meaningful savings—without the stress. 

Tamra Pawloski, Senior Director and Global Head of Leveraged Procurement and Corporate Real Estate at Corteva Agri-Science, joins host Graham Crawshaw to discuss the critical role of change management in Procurement. From harnessing technology and AI to revolutionise processes, to forging strategic relationships and uniting teams, they share actionable strategies for navigating change with precision and impact. With a wealth of practical insights, Tamra offers a deep dive into balancing people, processes, and tools to achieve sustainable outcomes in an ever-shifting business environment.

A diverse supply chain programme is essential for business today, as it enhances value, safeguards reputation, promotes sustainability, manages risks, and future-proofs procurement practices. In this episode, special guest Deaneesha Govender, Strategic Sourcing Category Manager at Intel Corporation, joins host Graham Crawshaw to explore Intel's globally-recognised supplier diversity programme and its role in contributing to both business success and positive community impact. Deaneesha shares insights into the programme's evolution, and she offers practical strategies for integrating diverse suppliers, achieving ambitious Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) goals, and leveraging these initiatives to deliver meaningful results.

Special guest Craig Butler, Senior Category Manager, Marketing Procurement, Europe at Kellanova discusses the pivotal role of Marketing Procurement in shaping business outcomes with host Graham Crawshaw. They highlight the need to apply diverse skill sets to navigate 3-pillar internal structures and manage the various business objectives, and simultaneously build trust both internally, and with external agencies. 

Join Chaminda Madduma, Head of Purchasing at 4Cabling, and host Graham Crawshaw in this engaging podcast about the complexities of talent management – one of the themes being tackled at this year’s ProcureCon Australia. 

Before they both appear at the event, they've taken the opportunity to discuss the critical role of talent in organisational success, and share insights on maximising internal resources while strategically integrating external talent. From career-development initiatives to fostering a positive internal culture. 

Chaminda provides practical strategies to navigate the intricacies of enhancing procurement talent skills, the effect of AI integration, and effective recruitment practices to build a resilient and dynamic Procurement workforce.

While environmental and economic sustainability have traditionally taken the spotlight for Procurement, it’s now the turn of social sustainability.  Ignoring it could mean risking your organisation's reputation, embracing it presents an opportunity for success. Discover more from our special guest Victoria Folbigg, Co-Chair of the Sustainable Procurement Pledge (SPP) Human Rights Chapter, as she explains why it’s essential to promote equality, justice, and human rights in supply chains - regardless of market location and type. Victoria highlights the risks for organisations that ignore these issues, and offers practical advice for category managers to consider human rights in their strategies, risk assessments and contracts. Tune in to learn why Procurement should lead the way in addressing human rights, how it can make a difference, and why everyone needs to be aware of these issues.

Given the rapid rise in the capabilities of generative AI, finding the right digital solution is crucial for transforming procurement processes; whether that be completely new tools, or existing system add-ons. Once again, the focus is on ProcureTech for special guest James Meads and host Graham Crawshaw.  Together, they explore business case strategies for justifying the investment - from supplier relationship management to achieving sustainability targets - plus some other interesting perspectives.

Business acumen training is not the exclusive entitlement of leadership; Procurement teams need it too!  Beyond gaining the essential technical skills of procurement, business skills such as effective communication, change management and relationship-building are crucial for adding value, improving purchasing processes, and gaining innovation within the organisation’s supply base.  In this episode, our special guest Malcolm Harrison and host Graham Crawshaw explore the possibilities and practicalities of being mentored as a means to broaden these skillsets through learned and lived experiences of a group or individual mentor.

Discover the essential steps to a successful digital transformation in this insightful podcast with special guest, Jennifer Sieber, Head of Global Procurement Data and Insights at Gilead Sciences, Inc. Listen as she explains how to manage an efficient digital metamorphosis for Procurement that not only embraces technology, but also focuses on the vital components of people, process and change management across the whole organisation.

Kylie McKinlay's journey with supplier diversity initiatives began in the late 1990s when she first ventured into the field of Procurement; becoming a diversity advocate, long before it gained global prominence.  In this podcast, she emphasises Procurement’s role in actively fostering inclusion alongside other aspects of ESG. Drawing from her own experiences supporting indigenous and diverse communities, she offers valuable guidance to those starting their journey, demonstrating how to seamlessly integrate supplier diversity into their procurement strategies and supply chains. Recorded before Australia's Voice referendum 2023, Kylie underscores the importance of authentic support for diverse suppliers, as a means to showcase an organisation's values and attract employees and investors, rather than regarding it as a standard compliance procedure.

Starting her career in Procurement as a graduate recruit in 2000, Brioney Moore, now NPS Procurement Director Global Marketing at Reckitt, talks with Graham Crawshaw about the deepening influence of the marketing category. She explains why Marketing Procurement is a core business partner in driving successful business transformation and offers her advice on building relationships with other stakeholders.  Together, they review some of the latest marketing procurement initiatives, having both appeared as guest speakers at ProcureCon Marketing 2023.

Go beyond the hype with practical examples from our special guest Sachin Kasture, Digital Excellence and Capability Director, Procurement at WPP Group. In this podcast, Sachin talks with host Graham Crawshaw about the mindset needed for an AI future, and how AI technology will streamline RFP processes to help both buyers and sellers.  They review ChatGPT’s accuracy during a live test, introducing an AI roadmap for Procurement, and discuss the added value of human sense-checking and responsible implementation.  

As a positive high-energy sports coach, and Global Head of Marketing Procurement at Seagen Inc., Garrett Clark shares his passion for applying the principles of athletics coaching to the practice of procurement.  In this episode, we learn how he’s become a self-proclaimed ‘unconventional procurement innovator’ who has a healthy love-hate relationship with Procurement, what mentality he adopts for productive collaborations, and why he believes the balance of power in supplier negotiations needs a paradigm shift to achieve real progress.

DISCLAIMER: The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of any organisation. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only. Reference to a brand name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organisation, product, or service.

Stimulate your brain with this fascinating ‘NeuroProcurement’ podcast!  Listen to Rob Halsall, certified NeuroLeadership™ Practitioner and CASME facilitator, as he reveals five simple and healthy habits to Graham Crawshaw for optimising your cognitive abilities, improving your executive performance, and ultimately setting you apart in the dynamic world of procurement.

If Procurement is to add value to the business, plans need to be continuously developed to optimise spend, improve supplier relationships and boost innovation.  Nicolas Passaquin, Head of External Spend Management at Telia Company AB, discusses the key challenges of category management with Graham Crawshaw and explains how the best use of talent and technologies can generate improvements that support its future evolution.

The dynamic duo of Omer Abdullah and Graham Crawshaw reunite to tackle some of the many questions submitted during the last joint webinar with The Smart Cube. In this special podcast, they look at key lessons learned and how Procurement is preparing for a potential recession in 2023.  

Listen to Sarah Collins (FCIPS), CPO of the ABC, as she shares her varied procurement career path with Graham Crawshaw.  During this podcast, Sarah gives her advice for those starting out in the function, explains the importance of women in Procurement, and reveals how she became involved in social and sustainable initiatives long before they became hot topics. 

Discover the strategic procurement talking points from a recent CASME RoundTable. Highlights include: Strategic Development and Value, Stakeholder and Supplier Engagement, Trends and Technology and Talent Management.

Are you puzzled or intrigued by the world of procurement technology, and how automation can streamline ineffective procurement processes? In this episode, CASME facilitator James Meads has a non-technical conversation with Graham Crawshaw about how procurement technologies can revolutionise business. Together they identify what's driving digitalisation, the problems it can solve, and why the benefits of e-tools and procurement technology should be embraced by Procurement.

Environmental, social and governance (ESG) compliance is now more important than ever.  Corporate transparency is a necessity and organisations are now required to prove high moral and ethical leadership through measurable data rather than intent. Graham Crawshaw and Brian Cunningham discuss various requirements for creating the next generation procurement model, where they explain the third crucial challenge: creating an ESG culture of compliance – what it is, why it matters and what Procurement needs to know to ensure it happens. 

Whether you’re looking for your first job, seeking a career change, or recruiting a talented individual for your procurement team, this is the podcast for you!  

Emma Steward (MCIPS), an experienced Senior Procurement Manager, chats with CASME’s Graham Crawshaw (FCIPS) about why working in Procurement is the best job in the world. 

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Inaction is not an option – Procurement must adapt in order to thrive.  In this podcast, a follow-on from Episode 2 in this series, Graham Crawshaw and Brian Cunningham continue to share thoughts on what it takes to succeed and maintain a competitive advantage for the organisation.  

Tina Fegent is one of the most experienced and best-known names in marketing procurement. During this episode, she talks with Graham Crawshaw about how Procurement provides vital support to the marketing function and the growth of digitalisation. They also discuss different agency models, the increasing importance of ethics and trust, and how Procurement’s value can be lost if the pitching process is not fully understood.  

Online negotiations have never been so important as the video-conferencing approach is likely to continue for the foreseeable future. This podcast offers key tips for maximising their effectiveness, with practical insights and tactics gathered from the CASME procurement community, that you too can follow when negotiating remotely with your suppliers.

Procurement has learned a lot through the pandemic and its credibility has grown significantly.  As a result, this presents an opportunity for the profession to move forward and provide even deeper strategic value to the business. In this podcast, Graham Crawshaw, Services Director CASME,  is joined by Brian Cunningham, an independent procurement facilitator. They discuss why a next-generation operating model is needed, creating the right internal conditions for change, and how to prepare for the shift. (Part 2 of this Podcast will cover examples of the new operating model.) 

Graham Crawshaw talks to business travel specialist Geoff Allwright, about the new challenges facing buyers of corporate travel as a consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic.