Find partners
Pondering Procurement

Pondering Procurement

Hosted by CASME

BusinessInterviews guests

Episodes

36

Latest episode

May 2026

Language

EN-GB

About the show

Insights and conversation about the latest issues in indirect procurement, bought to you by CASME, the global membership community for procurement professionals.

Listen to episodes

36 recent
May 21, 202638 min

Marketing Procurement: From Category Driven to Business First

Daniel Ebert, Global Head of Procurement Marketing Activation and Intelligence at Beiersdorf, explores how transforming the Marketing Procurement vision increases end-to-end accountability from strategy to execution. Discover how connecting the dots between Procurement, Marketing and Finance can improve products, unlock innovations, and enhance the consumer experience.

March 30, 202633 min

AI-Enabled Procurement: Driving Profit, Keeping Trust

Tim Major, VP of Global Procurement at Zendesk, explores what it takes to position Procurement as a strategic, front-and-centre business function.Drawing on 20+ years across pharma, the public sector and global tech, he shares how Zendesk’s shift to private ownership accelerated Procurement’s evolution. With strong executive backing, robust data and a partnership-led approach, Tim guided a lean global team to deliver $90m+ in savings while enabling innovation, growth and smarter decision-making.The discussion centres on practical AI use cases, from improving intake and stakeholder experience to automating contract reviews, freeing teams to focus on higher-value work. Tim also reflects on the skills modern procurement teams need, how to develop talent, and why the future lies in enablement, insight and human–AI collaboration, not cost cutting alone.

February 3, 202639 min

AI & the Human Touch in Procurement

Alessandro Comerci reflects on his 25-year procurement journey, sharing how human leadership and relationships shaped his growth. He explores the practical use of AI in procurement, reminding us that technology is an enabler not a replacement, and that success lies in blending digital intelligence with people-first leadership.

January 8, 202640 min

Why Procurement Needs to Keep Quiet

Procurement doesn’t build credibility by explaining more, it builds it by solving more. Richard Beaumont and Graham Crawshaw discuss why Procurement can sometimes over-communicate to prove its value, and how that can unintentionally weaken its influence. They explore why stakeholders want outcomes, not processes, and why judgment and clarity will matter even more as AI changes the function.

September 22, 202539 min

Bias, Behaviour & Buying Decisions

From human instincts to AI algorithms, bias is everywhere in procurement; often leading to unobjective and unhelpful outcomes. Irma Kopaliani and Luana Pagano, ambassadors for Women in Procurement, share compelling real-world stories and practical strategies into how to use behavioural economics to challenge assumptions and make more confident, data-informed procurement decisions.

September 8, 202551 min

The Art of Negotiation with Giuseppe Conti

Discover the powerful art of negotiation with Graham Crawshaw and the #1 Global Negotiation Guru, Giuseppe Conti. From knowing when to make the first move, to mastering tender strategies and active listening, gain practical insights to elevate every negotiation you make at work and beyond.

July 16, 202536 min

Behind the Deal: Procurement’s Role in Mergers & Divestitures

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.

June 10, 202537 min

Supplier Diversity in Flux: Mapping the Road Ahead

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.

April 30, 202539 min

Winning Procurement Hearts and Minds

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.

April 1, 202536 min

Future-Proofing Category Management

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.

Is this your show?

Claim this listing to keep it up to date, reach guests who want to pitch you, and manage bookings with Guestify.

Claim this listing

More Business podcasts