Love Procurement: The Podcast

Hosted by Ivalua

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Episodes

Latest episode

Jun 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Welcome to the #loveprocurement podcast, where we bring you a fresh and lighthearted take on all things procurement. Join us as we dive into the fascinating world of Procurement with a twist of humor and a sprinkle of fun. We'll explore a different topic in each episode, inviting industry experts and special guests to share their insights, experiences, and stories. Whether you're a seasoned procurement professional or just curious about the field, this podcast is for you. Get ready to laugh, learn, and deepen your appreciation for procurement!

Listen to episodes

59 recent

June 9, 2026Episode 734 min

Ep 7: Transforming Direct Materials Sourcing feat Douglas Keeley

Direct materials sourcing sits at the center of operational performance, profitability, and supply chain resilience. Because even a single disruption can create ripple effects across both production and revenue, companies increasingly view direct materials sourcing not as a transactional activity, but as a cross-functional discipline that requires deep collaboration, strong data visibility, disciplined supplier management, and ongoing transformation enabled by technology and process improvement. In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast, host Kelly Barner welcomes Douglas Keeley, Ivalua's Director of Product Marketing, to the show. With more than two decades of relevant experience he offers a practical, supply-chain-first perspective to the evolving role of procurement in manufacturing and product development. Douglas and Kelly discuss the unique complexities and meaningful opportunities associated with transformed direct material sourcing: Why direct materials sourcing has become a strategic priority amid supply chain disruption, geopolitical uncertainty, and increasing pressure for resilience. How leading organizations are improving collaboration between procurement, engineering, supply chain, finance, and their supply base to support better product launches and sourcing decisions. The critical role that data, supplier visibility, and technology-enabled transformation play in managing risk, controlling costs, and strengthening supply chain performance. Links: Douglas Keeley on LinkedIn

May 26, 2026Episode 630 min

Ep 6: The Future of Procurement: Powered by AI feat Jose Bustillo

Procurement professionals find their way into the field from many different directions and in many different ways, so it is not unusual to meet 'accidental' procurement converts. At the same time, very few people end up in procurement because they participated in an implementation that was so impactful and transformative that they wanted to keep repeating the experience. In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast, host Vishal Patel welcomes Jose Bustillo to the show. Jose has held executive roles at companies like KPMG, BVLGARI, and LVMH, and is a digital transformation and change management advisor. He was won over to procurement through an Ivalua transformation several roles ago. Jose shares his journey into procurement, and talks about his perspective on the current state and future potential of the profession. As he points out: People (and not technology) ultimately determine whether transformation succeeds AI is a powerful enabler, but it doesn't replace the human element Most implementation failures come down to avoidable mistakes Links: Jose Bustillo on LinkedIn

May 12, 2026Episode 530 min

Ep 5: Rethinking the Role of AI feat Alastair McDermott

AI doesn't have to be flashy to be transformative. In fact, some of its biggest wins come from tackling the most repetitive, time-consuming work procurement faces every day. The challenge for procurement is working with the tension between hype and reality, exploring how to thoughtfully experiment with AI, discover where it delivers real value, and recognize why (and when) human judgment still matters more than ever. In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast host Kelly Barner welcomes Alastair McDermott to the show. Alastair is the host of the Fewer Late Nights, Not Fewer Humans podcast. He is also an AI consultant, speaker, and trainer at HumanSpark.ai. Alastair answers the following questions about the impact (and absorption) of AI: What's the gap between the hype and the reality in terms of how organizations are using AI today? Is there a risk that "boring" AI will be deprioritized in favor of flashier but less impactful use cases? What does a successful AI rollout look like, and how should we think about the role it can hold in our workflows? Links: Alastair McDermott on LinkedIn

April 28, 2026Episode 419 min

Ep 4: Parenthood, Priorities, and Procurement feat Michaela Lippke

What does it take to build a meaningful procurement career while also navigating major life transitions and evolving priorities? Most people are working in personal and professional comfort zones. While they provide much needed stability, they may also be holding us back. To escape this, we have to balance goals and support systems with a healthy attitude towards new opportunities and exploring the unknown. In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast host Kelly Barner welcomes Michaela Lippke to the show. Michaela is the Senior Director Regional Management and Process Management Indirect Procurement and Early Phase at Volkswagen. Michaela shares what she has learned on her journey to balance personal and professional opportunities: Growth is unlikely to happen inside a comfort zone Knowing what you want and communicating it clearly is critical to getting the right support and opportunities Mentors, managers, and peers can all play different roles, as can a wider network that complements their advice Success depends on setting clear priorities and focusing on what matters most, even as that changes Links: Michaela Lippke on LinkedIn

April 14, 2026Episode 321 min

Ep 3: The Truth About Tail Spend in Modern Procurement feat Arnaud Malardé

Tail spend usually consists of low-value, highly fragmented transactions, but its impact on procurement's performance is anything but small. Hidden within it are opportunities to improve visibility and streamline processes, as well as unlock untapped value and shine a light on risk. Understanding and addressing tail spend can transform it from a persistent challenge into a strategic advantage. In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast, host Kelly Barner welcomes Arnaud Malardé back to the show. Fresh off of a wildly popular session at Ivalua NOW in Paris focused on - what else? - tail spend, Arnaud shares what new approaches and mindsets are being applied to this common and ongoing spend management challenge. Arnaud talks about the causes of and cures for tail spend: Why tail spend continues to challenge procurement teams despite increasing maturity, digital advancement, and spend oversight How limited visibility and fragmented data make it difficult to identify and manage tail spend effectively Where the biggest opportunities lie to turn tail spend into a source of value and improved procurement performance Links: Arnaud Malardé on LinkedIn

March 31, 2026Episode 237 min

Ep 2: Digital Procurement Transformation Is Thriving in MENA feat Sara Omer

Procurement is gaining unprecedented momentum across the Middle East. Driven by large government-led "mega projects" and rapid digital transformation, procurement is becoming a central driver of economic development and private sector modernization. This shift is influencing talent, technology adoption, and the growing expectations placed on businesses and suppliers throughout the region. In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast host Kelly Barner welcomes Sara Omer to the show. Sara is Ivalua's Sales Director for the Middle East, North Africa, and Turkey, and she has seen firsthand a sharp uptick in procurement influence and excitement. Sara describes the vision and resulting transformation being seen across the Middle East: The effect all of this procurement-centered energy and attention is having on talent How small to medium-sized businesses are being supported and "incubated" so they are prepared to innovate at the rate desired by the government The role AI is playing in procurement and how willingly teams are adopting it Links: Sara Omer on LinkedIn

March 17, 2026Episode 124 min

Ep 1: Fraud, Data & AI feat Baptiste Collot

As procurement teams gain greater influence, they also face new challenges around data quality, trust, and the complexity of working across multiple functions and systems. Evolving expectations, affecting everything from fraud prevention to AI readiness, are reshaping procurement's priorities and what it takes to build the data foundation needed to support them. In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast host Kelly Barner welcomes Baptiste Collot to the show. Baptiste is the Co-founder and CEO of Trustpair, a payment fraud prevention platform for large companies worldwide. They discuss the connections between data quality and trust, and how both are coming under greater scrutiny as procurement's scope expands and AI use is increased: How procurement can assess the current level of "trust" colleagues have in their data Ways that AI is increasing data quality expectations/requirements Where data quality and workflows combine to ensure procurement is prepared to meet each new challenge or opportunity Links: Baptiste Collot on LinkedIn Ivalua is the only truly unified, enterprise AI platform for managing spend and suppliers. We seamlessly connect people, AI agents, workflows, and data, making businesses more profitable, resilient, and sustainable. We are trusted by over 500 of the world's most admired brands and consistently recognized as a leader by Gartner and other analysts. Learn more at https://brnw.ch/21wZ8yH

February 17, 2026Episode 2628 min

Ep 26: Built on Trust: The Future of Supplier Relationships feat. Sonia Karim

How procurement thinks about the value suppliers provide to the organization has an outsized impact on the relationships they are able to form. Regardless of company size, procurement is a person-to-person effort, a reality that will either be embraced and lead to innovative, mutually beneficial relationships, or cap the potential experienced on the buy and sell sides. In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast host Stephen Carter welcomes Somia Karim to the show. Sonia is an accomplished and results-oriented professional with extensive experience in managing and optimising strategic procurement projects across global operations. Sonia and Stephen discuss the opportunities, challenges, and critical methodologies procurement must work with to form fruitful supplier relationships: What "good" looks like in supplier relationship management, and how to reach that point The importance of trust and transparency that extend far beyond contracted SLAs Ensuring internal stakeholders play an active role in strengthening supplier relationships How AI may be able to help with supplier relationship building Links: Sonia Karim on LinkedIn Stephen Carter on LinkedIn

February 3, 2026Episode 2527 min

Ep 25: Procurement a Global Profession feat. Ben Farrell (CIPS CEO)

As business changes, procurement must change with it. There are many voices that want to weigh in on how change happens, what it looks like, and where it is led from. Making sure those voices are heard, and that their message resonates in C-suites around the world, is an ongoing effort being supported by the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply Chain (CIPS). In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast, host Vishal Patel welcomes Ben Farrell to the show. Ben is wrapping up his first year as the Global CEO of CIPS after spending 20 years in the British Army and over a decade in retail, working for John Lewis Partnership. During the conversation, Vishal and Ben discuss: The history of CIPS as a professional organization and what their global footprint looks like today What he heard from procurement professionals on CIPS's recent world tour, including on the topic of AI The surge of energy and enthusiasm being shown for procurement in the developing world and what that means for the future of the profession

January 20, 2026Episode 2431 min

EP 24: Data in the Age of AI feat Joseph Yacura & Alex Saric

Technology is advancing at a rapid pace, but even though data is a critical input to AI, automation, and analytics, it remains a secondary (or tertiary…) priority for most procurement organizations. If they want to realize the full potential impact of cutting-edge tech, that prioritization is going to have to change. In this episode of the #LoveProcurement podcast, host Kelly Barner welcomes Joseph Yacura and Alex Saric to the show. Joe is a senior advisor to M.I.T.'s Chief Data Officer Information Quality Program and was CPO at several leading financial services firms, and Alex is the Chief Marketing Officer at Ivalua. Joe and Alex discuss considerations and opportunities related to data, including how to ensure it supports rather than hinders your AI strategy: Why the move from process efficiency to knowledge efficiency that is underway will be very disruptive to traditional thinking and require new sets of skills. How procurement can establish a data strategy that addresses accuracy, accessibility, relevance, and completeness The challenges presented when organizations don't trust their own data - and the doors that open when they do Best practices and critical success factors related to data that all companies should keep in mind Links: Joseph Yacura on LinkedIn Alex Saric on LinkedIn

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