Host Stacy Joslin sits down with Aparna Thornton, Director of North America Commercial Procurement at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), to unpack how business partnering, supplier relationships, and cross-functional trust turn procurement into a true enabler for commercial teams. The conversation emphasizes modern procurement and highlights that when procurement treats stakeholder and supplier relationships as strategic priorities, not just tactical sourcing, the entire organization moves faster, operates smarter, and experiences less friction.

With more than 20 years of experience spanning the pharmaceutical, financial services, retail, and food industries, Aparna Thornton brings deep global procurement and supply chain expertise to her role within GSK’s North America Commercial Procurement organization. Over the past three years, she has driven measurable value through strategic sourcing, operational excellence, and strong cross-functional collaboration. A Penn State graduate, Aparna holds Lean Six Sigma Green Belt and APICS certifications. Outside of work, she is a CASA Child Advocate and serves on the Darlington Arts School Board. Aparna lives in the Philadelphia suburbs with her husband and two teenage sons.

Listen in to hear actionable insights you can apply right away, from playbooks and stakeholder listening to the art of candid feedback and vendor development.

Note: All opinions and perspectives expressed and/or information shared by Aparna Thorton on this podcast are hers alone, and do not represent those of her firm, GSK.

Today, we’re joined by longtime procurement leader Katie Levesque for a candid conversation about the often non-linear path into procurement—and what it truly means to operate as a strategic partner who delivers measurable value to the business.

In this episode, we explore the twists and turns that shaped her career, the hard-won lessons she learned along the way, and why procurement’s greatest impact comes from building trust and influence—not just managing process. It’s a discussion about relationships, credibility, and redefining what C-suite-level, strategy-led procurement really looks like.

We'll focus on how Katie elevates procurement from an internal check-the-box function to an indispensable business partner.

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Katie has been a professional in the Financial Services space for more than twenty years, and has partnered across many categories, including Marketing, Advertising, Professional Services, IT, and Non‑IT Contingent Labor. Katie also serves on the Marketing & Communications Committee for the Financial Services Roundtable for Sustainable Development and previously spent over a decade with Brighthouse Financial and MetLife in roles that led her into Procurement. She holds degrees from the University of Connecticut and the University of Hartford and stays active in her community as the PTO Communications Chair at her local elementary school in Lake Wylie, SC.

In this inaugural episode, ProcureAbility Chief Talent Officer Lauren Gallagher reflects on the evolving role of the procurement professional—sharing insights on candidacy, culture, and how life-work integration shapes long-term success at every stage of a procurement career.