The Way We Source

Hosted by Kodiak Hub

Business ManagementInterviews guests

Website RSS feed LinkedIn Instagram YouTube

Episodes

Latest episode

Jun 2026

Language

About the show

A podcast hosted by Kodiak Hub SRM Software, where we interview professionals, tech vendors, researchers and people we find inspiring in Procurement, Sourcing, Supply Chain and Sustainability. The way we source and procure impacts they way we live and has an effect on every person on the planet in some way. We want to dig a bit deeper into the lives and the profession of the people behind this scene.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

June 11, 2026Episode 6947 min

69. Hidden Dangers in Your Supply Chain: A Million-Dollar Risk

Discover the hidden risks in supply chains that could cost your business millions. Justin Dillon, CEO of Freedom AI, reveals how legislation, consumer demand, and ethical challenges are reshaping responsible sourcing. This episode uncovers why supply chain visibility is not just a moral issue but a strategic necessity.Justin shares insights from his work with the White House, UN, and Google, explaining how companies are shifting from reactive compliance to proactive risk management. Learn how to use AI and real-time data to uncover bottlenecks before they become crises, embedding ethical sourcing into everyday operations.In an era where legislation and consumer voices grow louder, ignoring these invisible risks can lead to reputational damage and missed opportunities. Tune in to transform your supply chain approach, leveraging transparency as a competitive edge.

May 28, 2026Episode 6840 min

68. From Daimler to Startups: Lessons from a Procurement Leader Who Has Seen It All

In this insightful episode, we sit down with Andreas Schulz, a procurement leader whose career spans from major corporations like Daimler, Allianz and Bosch to innovative startups.Andreas shares his wealth of experience, offering listeners a deep dive into the challenges and triumphs of procurement transformation. He unveils his acclaimed 7-step framework, designed to shift procurement from a mere cost center to a vital strategic partner within organizations.Listeners will gain valuable insights into the importance of cultural change, the power of strategic partnerships, and the real-world application of AI in procurement. Andreas also addresses common pitfalls and provides actionable strategies to overcome them, making this episode a must-listen for anyone looking to elevate their procurement practices and drive meaningful results.

April 29, 2026Episode 6746 min

67. Surprising Lessons From Manufacturing on How Supply Chain Disruptions Are Managed

Most manufacturing procurement teams overlook a critical opportunity: leveraging AI and strategic communication to unlock their true potential. Wilbert Baerwaldt, a seasoned expert with over 30 years in supply chain and procurement, reveals for Kodiak Hub how organizations can shift from reactive order takers to trusted strategic partners, without falling into common pitfalls.When procurement is buried in bureaucracy or seen merely as an administrative function, companies miss out on huge value. Wilbert shares concrete signs of trust - like direct reporting lines to leadership - and warns of red flags such as fragmented supplier management or poor data quality that undermine strategic influence. He emphasizes that a well-organized procurement function, embedded within the leadership structure, is essential for not just surviving but thriving in today's volatile market.You'll discover: how to align procurement and planning for smoother operations; the role of communication and stakeholder management in building trust; and how AI can optimize supplier screening, risk assessment, and negotiation prep, if used correctly. Wilbert discusses the importance of clean data, responsible AI application, and the dangers of overestimating AI's current capabilities, especially around data quality and interpretation.The stakes are high: organizations that neglect strategic procurement and AI integration risk losing efficiency, competitive advantage, and resilience. The opportunity lies in embracing automation to handle routine tasks, freeing teams to monitor risks, foster supplier relationships, and innovate. The future favors proactive, data-driven procurement that anticipates disruptions rather than reacts to them.

April 16, 2026Episode 6649 min

66. The Hidden Power of Sourcing: How Strategic Procurement Unlocks Hidden Value

Most procurement teams miss the potential of sourcing by treating it as a one-and-done task - Oscar Fernández reveals how shifting to continuous discovery can unlock hidden value you didn't know was there. If you’re tired of sourcing being a boring checkbox or an overhead activity, this episode will challenge your assumptions about how to truly leverage sourcing for competitive advantage.Oscar Fernández, founder of Procurement & senior partner at Plima, brings over 15 years at the intersection of manufacturing discipline and software chaos. With a background from automotive and high-growth tech companies, he challenges the conventional wisdom that sourcing is just about price and compliance. Instead, Oscar shares how authentic competition, stakeholder alignment, and early leverage create real power—beyond the typical RFP process. You’ll discover why many procurement functions fall into the trap of process obsession and how shifting focus to market insights, cost modeling, and vendor shaping transforms sourcing from tactical to strategic.In this episode, we break down:Why most organizations view sourcing as a tedious, compliance-driven activity—and how to turn it into a continuous competitive advantage.The key to creating real, authentic competition instead of superficial "artificial" bids.When leverage is actually created—before the RFP hits the table, not during.How transparency, market intelligence, and timing can unlock massive savings and strategic value.Why the same principles of cost breakdown and vendor transparency from manufacturing can revolutionize SaaS and service sourcing.Tune in!

March 31, 2026Episode 6549 min

65. How a Non-Traditional Background Transformed Procurement Strategy

The future of procurement isn’t about categories - it’s about strategic, end-to-end partnerships that drive revenue, not just cut costs. Bobby Baszynski, Head of Procurement at Mercury and former energy sector negotiator, shares how her unorthodox path taught her to operate in uncertainty and build relationships that lead to transformative business impact.Discover how procurement can elevate from a cost gatekeeper to a strategic partner by embracing agility, reskilling negotiation muscle, and shifting from siloed categories to integrated business workflows. Bobby breaks down proven tactics for navigating VUCA markets, managing vendor risks in AI-backed innovations, and designing scalable processes that support rapid growth. She reveals why moving away from rigid silos unlocks better ownership and outcomes, and how procurement’s true value lies in enabling revenue growth - not just savings.You’ll learn concrete frameworks, from negotiation preparation to risk mitigation and stakeholder choreography that can instantly reshape your approach. Whether you’re scaling a startup, leading large enterprise transformation, or just rethink how procurement can influence the top line, this episode offers actionable insights to make your team more strategic, more adaptable, and more valued.

March 11, 2026Episode 6447 min

64. From FOMO to Confidence: How Procurement Leaders Are Stepping Beyond AI Anxiety

Stop scrolling the AI hype and start building a strategy.Every procurement leader is feeling it: the pressure to "do AI" without a clear map of where to start. In this episode, Sam Jenks sits down with Marijn Overvest, founder of Procurement Tactics, to move past the anxiety and look at the actual reality of procurement in 2026.Marijn breaks down why 2024/25 was the "year of experimentation" and why 2026 is officially the Year of the AI Agent. We move beyond ChatGPT prompts to discuss how autonomous agents will soon handle the "boring" administrative tasks, finally freeing up procurement pros to do what they do best: build relationships and drive strategic value.In this episode, we cover:The 4 Stages of AI Maturity: Where does your team actually sit?The "Skills Gap" Myth: Why digital literacy is more important than buying new software.Sustainability vs. Survival: How to handle ESG goals when margins are under fire.Future-Proofing: Why empathy and "soft skills" are your ultimate shield against automation.

February 26, 2026Episode 6342 min

63. The Surprising Secrets Behind Successful SRM & What Most Companies Miss

Unlock the secret to transforming procurement from a cost center into a powerhouse of value with Simon Frost, a true procurement adventurer and a seasoned strategist known for turning procurement into a strategic, value-creating function.After two decades working with giants like Mars and Innocent, Simon reveals how visionary sourcing and strategic supplier relationships can revolutionize your business - no matter the industry or size. If you’re a procurement leader feeling overlooked, overwhelmed, or underperforming, this episode is your blueprint to step into your true potential.Simon shares gripping stories from sourcing $5,000 tons of mango in India to building procurement functions from scratch - showing that procurement is less of a back-office support role and more of a high-stakes adventure. You’ll discover how elite teams leverage advanced cost modeling to slash costs, boost supply chain resilience, and embed sustainability directly into the P&L. He breaks down the often-misunderstood world of Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) and exposes the wild-west landscape of SRM technology, revealing how mature organizations turn supplier partnerships into strategic long-term alliances.We dive deep into the critical mindset shifts necessary to elevate procurement’s impact. Simon explains why positioning procurement as a true business partner - rather than a support function is fundamental to winning C-suite buy-in. Plus, he reveals why many teams fail at technology adoption and shares practical strategies that turn software implementations into lasting success stories.This episode isn’t just for procurement specialists - it's for any business leader eager to unlock procurement’s full potential.

February 13, 2026Episode 6343 min

62. Beyond the Shiny Toys: Why Organizational Readiness is the Real Key to ProcureTech Success

Canda Rozier shares her insights from over 30 years as a procurement practitioner and CPO. The discussion centers on the current state of procurement technology, the hype surrounding AI, and the critical importance of organizational readiness before implementing new tools.The Reality of AI and Tech HypeRozier explains that while AI is currently the "new shiny toy" , it feels different from past trends due to its widespread personal and professional adoption. However, she warns that many companies are simply using "phrase du jour" marketing—like "AI-enabled" or "AI-powered"—without changing their underlying technology. She advises buyers to watch for "tells" of fake AI, such as sales teams who get a "deer in the headlights" look when asked about their underlying Large Language Model (LLM) or vendors who refuse to show a live sandbox demo in favor of a recorded video.The Inconvenient Truth of ImplementationA significant portion of the discussion addresses why procurement tech often fails. Rozier points out that failure or abandonment rates can reach 80% to 90%. The "inconvenient truth" is that many organizations simply aren't ready for the tech they buy. She compares buying complex software without readiness to buying a Lamborghini without knowing how to drive a manual transmission. Success requires "absorption capacity," which includes the corporate appetite to handle process changes, policy updates, and the realignment of job responsibilities.Defining Readiness and the "Why"To be truly ready, Rozier argues that a company must have a unified goal and understand their "why" before purchasing. This includes having a multi-dimensional governance structure and involving cross-functional stakeholders like Finance early on to avoid surprises like mismatched charts of accounts. She also emphasizes that "dirty data" is often a symptom of "dirty processes". Companies must standardize their processes to ensure that once data is cleaned, it stays clean going forward.Risk as a New MandateWhile procurement has traditionally been "cash motivated" and focused on savings , Rozier notes that risk management is becoming a top-tier mandate due to global regulatory requirements like CSRD and EUDR. She suggests that the fastest way to waste a year in procurement is to chase a shiny toy without a clear purpose , whereas the fastest way to "win a year" is to understand business drivers and partner closely with internal stakeholders.

January 28, 2026Episode 6140 min

61. Make Stakeholders “Dangerous” (In a Good Way): Indirect Procurement Enablement with Steve Walton

Indirect spend gets dismissed as “pens and paper” - but Steve Walton (NMCB Consulting, Everything Counts) explains why that mindset quietly creates risk, bloats the supplier base, and leaves value on the table. In this episode, Steve shares practical stories from marketing procurement (including why media auditing can save millions), plus a stakeholder-friendly enablement approach that turns procurement from a late-stage blocker into an early-stage accelerant - with frameworks for better RFPs, contracting, negotiation, and supplier relationships.

November 27, 2025Episode 6048 min

60. Jon Hansen - Strategic Procurement Advisor @ Procurement Insights

In this episode of The Way We Source, our host Sam Jenks welcomes Jon Hansen, a seasoned voice in procurement with over four decades of experience. Jon, the founder of Procurement Insights, shares his unique 360-degree perspective on why many procurement initiatives fail and how technology can succeed or falter. The conversation delves into the challenges of tech-led approaches, the importance of human-centric models, and the often-overlooked mid-market segment. Jon's insights offer a compelling look at the future of procurement and the critical role of practitioners in driving success.Timestamps:(00:00) Introduction to Jon Hansen and his background in procurement(05:12) The evolution of procurement technology over the decades(12:45) Challenges with tech-led approaches and the importance of human-centric models(20:30) The role of mid-market organizations in procurement(28:15) The Hanson Fitts score and measuring practitioner readiness(35:50) The future of procurement and the need for practitioner-led success(45:00) Quick-fire round with personal insights from Jon Hansen