Proc-N-Roll : Your guide to practical procurement!

ESG is a top priority for many companies, but are we approaching it the right way?In this episode, Zachary, Natasha, and Conrad explore the realities of procurement's role in driving Environmental, Social, and Governance initiatives. They move beyond theory to discuss how to make ESG a practical, value-driving part of your strategy, not just another corporate checkbox.Drawing on decades of experience at companies like Nike, Salesforce, and Intel, the hosts share hard lessons and practical strategies for making ESG a powerful engine for innovation and positive change, all while strengthening the business.You’ll hear candid views on:✔️ Why ESG should be viewed as a strategic opportunity, not just another 'deliverable'.✔️ The difference between chasing metrics (the letter of the law) and making a real impact (the spirit of the law).✔️ The surprising economic multiplier effect of spending with diverse suppliers.✔️ How to navigate conflicting priorities like supplier consolidation vs. supplier diversity.✔️ A creative negotiating tactic that trades price cuts for sustainability investments.✔️ Why you don't need a big budget to get started and can achieve up to 80% of your goals without new tech.✔️ How to use scorecards and QBRs to drive meaningful change with your suppliers.If you've ever felt that ESG is just a 'flavor of the month' or wondered how to make a real difference from your role in procurement, this conversation is for you.

AI is poised to change everything, but will it fix the strained relationship between Legal and Procurement, or make it worse?

In this special episode, Natasha and Conrad are joined by two legal powerhouses, Alissa Harvey Dawson and Ana Erickson, to explore the critical intersection of technology, law, and procurement. They discuss how to move beyond friction, leverage AI responsibly, and build a truly aligned partnership that drives business forward.

With decades of combined experience from companies like HubSpot, Gusto, IBM, and McKesson , our guests provide an unparalleled view from both inside the legal department and from the perspective of a procurement-pro-turned-lawyer.

Topics in this episode include:

• Why legal is often the slowest function to adopt new technology—and how to overcome the resistance.

• Practical ways to use AI for contract summarization, clause comparison, and initial drafting today.

• The secret to getting Legal and Procurement on the same page by aligning on business strategy and risk tolerance.

• The human element: What AI can't replace in understanding deal dynamics and complex relationships.

• Building proactive supplier resiliency in an era of tariffs and global disruption.

• The biggest risks of AI, like hallucinations and bias, and how to manage them responsibly.

  
  

If you’re a professional caught between legal hurdles and procurement deadlines, or wondering how to safely harness the power of AI, this conversation provides an expert playbook for the future of your field.

Contracts are a fundamental part of procurement, but are we making them more complicated than they need to be? In this episode, Zachary, Natasha, and Conrad dive deep into the realities of contracting in procurement. They discuss when a contract is truly necessary, how to balance speed with risk, and why procurement and legal teams often find themselves at odds.

Drawing on their combined decades of experience at companies like Nike, Adobe, and KPMG, the hosts share personal stories, lessons learned, and practical strategies to help procurement professionals streamline their contract processes.

Topics in this episode include:

• Why most contracts are never referenced again after signing

• The hidden costs of over-engineering contracts

• When legal teams should step in, and when they shouldn’t

• Reducing friction between procurement and legal

• Using AI and automation to handle routine contract work

• Building smarter intake and approval processes that actually work

If you’ve ever found yourself bogged down by contract redlines, approval delays, or legal bottlenecks, this conversation offers actionable advice on making contracting faster, smarter, and more business-friendly.

🎸 Automate Like a Rock Star: AI Agents in Procurement 🎸

In this episode of Proc-N-Roll, Conrad and Zach explore how procurement professionals can harness the power of AI agents and workflow automation to revolutionize contract management and beyond.

Zach walks through a practical demo of building an AI-driven contract analysis tool using Zapier, OpenAI’s GPT-4, and Google Sheets, showing how anyone can get started in just 5-10 hours — no coding experience required!

Tune in to learn:
✅ What agentic AI really means for procurement✅ How to build smart workflows with low-code tools✅ Real-world use cases for automating contract review
✅ Tips to future-proof your procurement team with AI skills

This episode is a must-listen for procurement pros looking to stay ahead of the curve and make AI a core part of their practice.

🎧 Hit play and let’s Proc-N-Roll!

#Procurement #AI #Automation #Workflows #Zapier #OpenAI #ContractManagement #ProcNRoll

🎉 New Podcast Alert! | Jam Session 

Hosted by Conrad, Natasha, and Zach, Jam Session brings guests from procurement leaders to changemakers to talk candidly about the challenges they face, their strategies, and how they turn complexity into opportunity.

When tariffs rise and trade tensions grow, how can procurement stay ahead of the curve? In this episode of Jam Session, Natasha, Conrad, and Zach sit down with Mark Raffan, founder of Negotiation Ninja, to talk about turning global uncertainty into strategic advantage.In this episode, they cover:

• Thriving through tariffs and trade disruption

• Why “win-win” is a myth in real negotiation

• How to strengthen supplier relationships under pressure

• Tactical tips: true-ups, flexible contracts, and pricing strategies

• Using AI wisely in negotiation prep

How should procurement respond when the ground shifts beneath our feet? In this episode, Zach, Natasha, and Conrad break down how procurement teams can stay resilient in the face of trade disruptions, supply chain shocks, and global uncertainty.

They cover proactive strategies for visibility, diversification, supplier collaboration, and why procurement must think beyond cost to lead through volatility.

🎧 Tune in for real-world insights and practical steps you can take — whether you're reacting to today’s disruptions or preparing for tomorrow’s.

#Procurement #SupplyChain #Resilience #RiskManagement #ProcAndRoll

In this episode of Proc & Roll, Zach Bachir, Natasha Gurevich, and Conrad Smith unpack the real reason procurement policies are often ignored — and what it takes to make them actually work.

They explore:

• Why most policies are too long and disconnected from reality

• How a 2-page policy worked at a $52B company

• The importance of embedding policy into workflows and tools

• When rules matter — and when trust matters more

• The cultural factors that drive (or kill) compliance

Plus, Conrad recommends No Rules Rules by Netflix’s Reed Hastings — a must-read on trust and accountability.

A must-listen for procurement leaders, compliance pros, and anyone shaping buying behavior in large organizations.

#Procurement #Compliance #Leadership #DigitalProcurement #BusinessStrategy #ProcAndRoll

In this episode of Proc & Roll, we’re joined by legendary procurement disruptor Elouise Epstein from Kearney to talk about the future of procurement — and what it really takes to lead in an AI-powered world.From spider charts to SaaS collapse to agent-based orchestration, Elouise breaks down what’s coming next and why most procurement teams aren’t ready for it. Plus, we dive into leadership gaps, soft skills, supplier risk, and the role of curiosity in surviving what’s ahead.🎧 You’ll hear: • Why GenAI won’t replace procurement — but will replace how we work • How modern procurement teams can manage 20+ AI agents each • Why most tech stacks fail (and what to do instead) • The surprising truth about supplier risk and vendor overload • What it means to become a business person who “does procurement” — not the other way around🔥 “If procurement doesn’t evolve — it will be left behind. But if it does, it might just lead the way.” – Elouise Epstein🛠️ Whether you’re a CPO, a practitioner, or a rising star in procurement — this is the wake-up call you didn’t know you needed.

Procurement orchestration tools promise to simplify intake, speed up processes, and unify tech stacks. But is it really the solution teams need right now?In Part 2 of our orchestration deep dive, Natasha and Conrad go beyond the hype to ask the hard questions:Is orchestration worth the investment? Where does it fit in the tech stack? And most importantly—what problem are you really trying to solve?💡 In this episode: • Orchestration vs. intake—what’s the difference, and why it matters • A practical framework for evaluating orchestration tools • Why simplifying your process might be more important than buying new techWhether you’re considering orchestration or just trying to make procurement work better for your stakeholders, this episode breaks it down in plain language with real-world advice.📌 Stick around for a sneak peek at our next guest: Dr. Eloise Epstein joins us to talk future-of-procurement and the end of the spider diagram.

“Orchestration” is showing up everywhere — conference panels, cold pitches, and LinkedIn posts. But what does it actually mean? And more importantly, should your procurement team care?In Part 1 of this two-part episode, Natasha and Conrad unpack the rise of procurement orchestration and why it’s suddenly in the spotlight.💡 In this episode: • What orchestration actually is (beyond the buzzword) • How it compares to intake, workflow, and automation • Why some see it as a game-changer — and others remain skepticalWe’ll share practical frameworks, examples, and a few strong opinions about what orchestration can (and can’t) do for procurement teams.📌 Subscribe to catch Part 2 — where we dive into tech stacks, user experience, and whether orchestration is a smart investment or a wait-and-see trend.