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

In this episode of The Way We Source, host Sam Jenks engages with Jan-Henner Theissen, founder and managing director of Target P, to explore the evolving landscape of procurement. They discuss the cultural differences in procurement practices between Europe and the U.S., the importance of decision-making speed, and the need for a balanced approach to cost, risk, and ESG. Jan emphasizes the significance of supplier relationship management and the necessity for procurement leaders to embrace technology and foster collaboration. The conversation also touches on the future of procurement leadership and the critical role of data analytics in driving success.

This episode, we’re joined by Chris Sawchuk - Principal & Global Procurement Advisory Practice Leader at The Hackett Group. With over 20 years of experience in supply management, Chris works directly with the Global 2000 and midsized companies around the globe, and in a variety of industries, to improve all aspects of supply management, including process redesign, technology enablement, operations strategy planning, organizational change, and strategic sourcing. Mr. Sawchuk specializes in working directly with CPOs to help define a long-term strategy. He is a regular contributor to business publications, a frequent presenter at industry events, and author of numerous research papers and books. Mr. Sawchuk’s background includes engineering, operations, and sales roles with both United Technologies and IBM.

Timestamps:

(00:37) - Introducing Chris 

(02:02) - How has the Hackett Group been either reactive or proactive with tall the volatility in the Procurement industry? 

(04:28) - How have the dominant priorities at the beginning of 2025 changed or held up throughout the year?

(07:28) - What do Procurement teams and leaders mean when they say “transforming the operating model” is a top priority?

(11:11) - Is AI at the center of a Procurement operating model in 2025?

(13:36) - Are Procurement’s changing priorities a result of direct de-prioritization or bandwidth limitations?

(21:05) - Is the deprioritization of SRM contradictory to Procurement’s other higher priorities? 

(25:56) - Where does Procurement fit into the top priorities of a CEO or broader business? 

(31:02) - Why does volatility the biggest driver of transformation in Procurement? 

(32:32) - Should companies invest through volatility to get a competitive edge or tighten the purse strings during the crisis? And how does this apply to AI adoption? 

(41:00) - Chris answers Sam’s round of quick-fire questions 

(44:54) - What does Chris think will define Procurement in 2026? 

Daniela Osio is a trailblazer in sustainable procurement and technology - and another returning Hall of Fame guest to The Way We Source! A former DuPont executive, she played a pivotal role in the Dow-DuPont merger and led global risk management for a $4B business unit. Now CEO and Founder of Kloopify, Daniela is transforming procurement by equipping teams with data-driven tools to cut costs, reduce risk, and embed sustainability into every decision. Her work has earned her the Innovation Award from the Future Insights Network and recognition as an ISM 30 Under 30 Supply Chain Star. Passionate and visionary, Daniela is redefining what modern procurement can achieve.

Connect with Daniela on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielaosio/

Learn more about Kloopify: https://www.kloopify.com/

Get in touch with Kodiak Hub: https://www.kodiakhub.com 

TIMESTAMPS: 

(00:38) - Introducing Daniela 

(01:44) - What are Daniela’s biggest learnings since founding Kloopify? 

(02:39) - What was the turning point for Daniela to go from procurement practitioner to procuretech founder? 

(04:34) - What did Daniela see that Procurement leaders were missing that inspired her to found Kloopify?

(08:37) - Does Daniel think that companies are turning their backs on sustainability and is she concerned by this? 

(11:00) - What are Procurement teams getting right and wrong about AI? 

(14:52) - How does Daniela think that Procurement should tackle the challenges of these turbulent times? 

(18:40) - Does Daniela see a difference between the early adopters and laggards of AI in Procurement? 

(21:28) - How was Kloopify’s founded driven by trends in the Procurement market? 

(26:05) - What is Daniela spending her week on as a procuretech founder and CEO?  

(28:51) - What does Daniela see as the next chapter of Kloopify? 

(30:38) - What other AI solutions in the market does Daniela find exciting? 

(32:35) - Daniela answers our round of quick-fire questions!

In our first cross-over episode, Kodiak Hub's Sam Jenks sits down with Ed Cross & Richard Beattie of the "Procurement Says No" podcast for candid convo about Procurement, full of hot takes, laughs, and learnings.

"Procurement Says No" is an irreverent but insightful take on all things procurement through podcasting - with the thoughts of two CIPS award-winning procurement Gods who want to share their love of procurement with newbies, oldies and the procurious. 

TIMESTAMPS:

(00:36) - Introducing Ed Cross & Richard Beattie of the “Procurement Says No” podcast

(01:55) - What is Procurement Says No’s philosophy of Procurement and what do they say no to?

(03:50) - Why do Procurement professionals take themselves so seriously? And does it play into their role? 

(07:12) - How can Procurement reposition itself to align with the order and be seen as helpful rather than hindering? 

(11:13) - How can Procurement avoid having their process get in the way for the business?

(15:20) - How have Ed & Richard seen AI in Procurement work and not work?

(25:06) - How should Procurement respond to geopolitics and tariffs?

(30:50) - How should Procurement respond to the tariffs in their sourcing?

(37:40) - What should business professionals do to navigate these challenges?

(40:23) - How does Procurement get beyond the spreadsheets and act?

James Meads is a seasoned Procurement practitioner-turned-consultant and the Founder of ProcurementSoftware.site, a free to access website for anyone seeking a simple way to filter, compare and shortlist digital procurement solutions. Built by practitioners and completely unbiased, Procurement Software and James offer an easy-to-use, free resource for practitioners and solution providers alike. James also advises procurement technology start-ups / scale-ups, helping them understand their market, develop their product and reach their target audience – along with hosting, MCing, and moderating webinars for ProcureTech SaaS providers and hosting the Procurement Software podcast.

James returns to The Way We Source podcast for a fantastic discussion with Sam Jenks about the current state of Procurement, technology adoption, Procurement advocating and investing in itself, and more!
Get in touch with James Meads on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-meads/

And visit ProcurementSoftware.site 

To learn more about Kodiak Hub and our world class Supplier Relationship Management solutions, check out: https://www.kodiakhub.com 

(00:37) - Introducing James Meads

(01:34) - What does Sourcing & Procurement mean to James now?

(02:23) - Does James see anything that will help Procurement be more strategic? 

(03:33) - James talks about his journey with ProcurementSoftware.site 

(06:30) - What sets ProcurementSoftware.site apart from other Procurement agencies?

(07:25) - What does James think about build vs. buy with procure tech? 

(12:38) - What are the biggest barriers for Procurement to get new technology? 

(16:26) - How can more of an entrepreneurial spirt empower Procurement?

(21:10) - How can Procurement sell in the idea of pragmatism to their business? 

(24:20) - Why does Procurement prioritize technocracy over entrepreneurialism? 

(29:23) - Does Procurement have a problem with improving soft skills? 

(30:39) - What have been the major eras of James’ 23 year career in Procurement? 

(33:31) - Does James think Procurement has become the function of “No”?

(34:51) - James answers our round of quick-fire questions

Richard Struthers, Procurement Interim Practitioner and Chartered MCIPS professional, brings nearly two decades of hands-on experience delivering strategic procurement solutions across interim, consultancy, and in-house roles. Based in Surrey UK and working across the South East, Richard has led high-impact projects in HR, Professional Services, Consultancy, Fleet, and Contingent Labour across FTSE 100s, global corporates, the public sector, utilities, and startups—both in the UK and internationally.

In this episode, Richard joins Sam to explore the realities of interim procurement—how to deliver measurable value fast, build trust within teams, and navigate complex transformation projects. He shares insights on how businesses can get the most out of procurement interims and how he connects clients with top-tier professionals from his trusted network through his consultancy.

As a mentor to aspiring procurement interims, Richard also dives into the freelance market, offering practical advice for those getting started. Whether you're looking to strengthen your procurement delivery or develop your interim career, this episode is packed with real-world guidance and inspiration.

Connect with Richard on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/richardstruthers

(00:38) - Introducing Richard Struthers

(01:21) - What does Procurement & Sourcing mean to Richard?

(02:38) - What does Richard see as the variety of the role of Procurement?

(04:22) - What advice would Richard give to someone thinking about starting with Procurement?

(06:20) - What services does Richard provide at Rosemae Procurement?

(08:44) - What attracts Richard and others to an interim Procurement role?

(11:18) - What does an interim Procurement role teach you that a permanent role doesn’t?

(13:01) - What are some of the primary challenges that Richard meets in his interim work?

(14:57) - What sort of common challenges does Richard face when he starts an interim role?

(16:50) - Why would a Procurement organization bring in an interim instead of a consultant?

(18:16) - How do organizations scope for and bring in interims and how do they succeed or fail?

(21:08) - What is the importance of CIPS for Purchasing professionals in the UK? 

(23:35) - Are there any particular skills that Richard has developed in his interim Procurement work? And how has CIPS contributed?

(25:45) - How has Richard seen Procurement evolve during his 20+ year career?

(28:18) - What areas of Procurement will be changed most by technology over the coming years?

(31:48) - How can Procurement improve supplier relationships?

(35:42) - What makes a good interim Procurement leader?

(38:48) - Richard answers our round of quick-fire questions

Susan Walsh, Founder & Mistress of Data at The Classification Guru, is a globally recognised expert in data classification, cleaning, and transformation who has spent over a decade helping organisations across many industries resolve their "dirty data" issues.  

In 2017, she founded The Classification Guru Ltd to provide innovative solutions to data problems, particularly in procurement, where clean and accurate data is critical. Since then, Susan has successfully worked with over 90 clients worldwide, unlocking the true potential of their data. Beyond being an entrepreneur, Susan is an influential thought leader, global speaker, and advocate for clean data and the author of the acclaimed book, “Between the Spreadsheets: Classifying and Fixing Dirty Data,” a practical guide for professionals tackling data issues. 

In this fantastic episode, she joins Sam to discuss the importance of data quality in Procurement for insights, efficiency, & AI excellence, the challenges that Procurement teams face with their data, how teams can best clean & harness the power of their data, and more!
Connect with Susan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanewalsh/ 

Learn more about Kodiak Hub’s SRM platform: https://www.kodiakhub.com 

TIMESTAMPS:

(00:39) - Introducing Susan Walsh

(01:40) - What does Sourcing & Procurement mean to Susan today vs. 3-5 years ago?

(03:08) - What does Susan think that Procurement is getting wrong?

(04:26) - What is Susan’s mission and offerings with The Classification Guru?

(05:13) - What is the end state of Procurement data that Susan helps teams to achieve?

(06:40) - Where does data play a role in Procurement driving value for their business? 

(08:18) - What are the barriers that teams have to fix their data?

(09:40) - What are the eras of data management in Procurement that Susan has seen in her career?

(11:47) - Are centers of excellence and data ops essential for successful Procurement teams of today and tomorrow?

(13:49) - Where does Susan see teams struggling most to get the most value out of their data?

(14:27) - Can Data Analysts make the transition to being a solid hire in a Procurement team?

(15:00) - Why would Data Analysts struggle to work in Procurement? 

(18:00) - Can AI drive value for Procurement without clean, complete data?

(19:00) - Will teams with clean procurement data be able to harness the value of AI?

(19:38) - Where does Susan see AI making the biggest impact in Procurement?

(21:05) - Does Susan think that technology can do more complex actions like strategic work?

(22:23) - Susan talks about her book “Between the Spreadsheets” and her upcoming follow-up 

(25:00) - Susan explains her COAT Methodology  

(27:43) - How does Susan get businesses to focus on fit-for-purpose accuracy in their data?

(30:25) - What is a data horror story that Susan has seen?

(32:38) - How did Susan solve her data horror story?

(36:01) - Where does Susan see that Procurement teams can get started with their data cleaning and classification?

(39:17) - Susan answers our quick-fire round of questions

This episode, we’re joined by Nicolas Passaquin, Chief Procurement Officer & Supply Chain Officer for Telia, the multinational telecommunications company and mobile network operator, and Ambassador at The Sustainable Procurement Pledge. 

As a seasoned Procurement practitioner and leader with previous experience at Thomas Reuters, Efficio, Refinitiv, Air France, and more, Nicolas shares his knowledge with Sam Jenks about setting up Procurement orgs for success, staying energized to drive continual transformation, and future-proofing Procurement to stay ahead of the curb.

He and Sam also explore the changes that Nicolas has seen his career and the lessons he’s learned, what to look for with new talent, digital inclusion within Procurement, how to make Procurement be seen as a strategic function, the importance of your network, and more!

Connect with Nicolas on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/passaquin/

Learn more about Kodiak Hub's SRM platform:

https://www.kodiakhub.com

Timestamps:

(00:38) - Introducing Nicolas Passaquin

(01:15) - What does Sourcing & Procurement mean to Nicolas? 

(02:07) - What does a Procurement leader need to do to make the function to be understood as strategic? 

(03:30) - How would Nicolas say that the businesses in his career have differed?

(05:26) - How has Nicolas seen Procurement evolve in the 20 years of his career?

(08:14) - What is the business case that should be made for sustainable sourcing? 

(09:43) - What is digital inclusion in Procurement?

(10:37) - As a Procurement leader, what does Nicolas look for when he hires new talent into his team? 

(11:46) - What are the tactical skills that need to be focused on in 2025? 

(12:46) - What are some examples of data savviness and technical literacy in Procurement?

(14:27) - How does Nicolas stay close to the operational practices of the business as a Procurement leader?

(16:14) - As a CPO, what does Nicolas’ executive team look like?

(17:33) - Was Nicolas’ center of excellence in place when he joined Telia or did he build it? 

(19:02) - What advice would Nicolas give to himself just starting out his career?

(20:33) - What are some of the practical ways that Nicolas builds up his network?

(23:04) - How does Nicolas go about gauging the maturity of a business when he joins?

(23:58) - What checklist does Nicolas go through? 

(25:46) - Nicolas shares his experience from working in different roles and companies throughout his career

(28:24) - How do you keep the sense of execution and focus in a business to continually reenergize? 

(29:52) - What are some of the challenges and successes that Nicolas has experience in his current role at Telia? 

(33:17) - How does Nicolas keep his team motivated during times of consolidation? 

(35:35) - How does Nicolas see the phases of his career and the learnings he got from each?
(37:59) - Nicolas answers our quick fire round of questions

Keith McCabe is the Founder & Managing Director of AVAM Solutions, a specialist procurement and supply chain consultancy focused on cost reduction, supplier performance, project delivery, and strategy. Before taking his knowledge into consultancy, Keith was an experienced Procurement practitioner and leader at organizations such as NHS, United Biscuits, Carillion, and Aramark. Keith is also a Procurement and Supply Chain thought leader as the Co-Founder and Host at Proctopus. 

(00:40) - Introducing Keith

(01:29) - How did Keith start with Procurement? Did he choose it or did it choose him? 

(04:18) - Does creativity play a role in Procurement?

(06:19) - Why does Keith say that Procurement is one of the last entrepreneurial roles?

(09:08) - Is there an experience where Keith felt truly entrepreneurial in Procurement? 

(13:46) - What does Keith think it takes to make the transition from a Procurement practitioner into a leader?

(16:55) - What are the key ways that Keith has seen Procurement’s role evolve in the last 25 years?

(21:24) -  Does Keith think that savings will ever be less important for Procurement than sustainability?

(22:57) - What’s the most interesting learning that Keith has had in his journey?

(28:55) - What has kept Keith still working in Procurement? 

(30:41) - Is it okay to get creative in negotiating with suppliers? 

(37:23) - What helped Keith make the transition into Procurement consulting?

(43:45) - Does humor have a place in Procurement? 

(48:04) - Keith answers our round of quick-fire questions

(50:23) - Get in touch with Keith!