Welcome back to Proc n Roll! In this week's episode, Conrad reconnects with long-time colleague and procurement powerhouse Omid Ghamami to discuss a fundamental shift in how we source.

Are you spending 70% to 90% of your day firefighting supplier issues? Omid argues that this happens because procurement teams are stuck in a 1970s mindset, focusing entirely on buying "goods and services" instead of contracting for business outcomes.

Omid shares incredible stories—from the LED traffic light disaster to the $30 million payroll blunder—that illustrate exactly why focusing on activities instead of results costs organizations millions. Tune in to learn why your legal team isn't actually protecting you commercially, why "ignorance" is your greatest procurement weapon, and how to stop asking for permission so you can crown yourself as a true business leader.

Timestamps:

(00:55) – Welcome & Reconnecting 30 Years Later

04:40 – The Accidental Career: Nobody Plans for Procurement

(08:16) – Stop Parasitic Negotiations: The Hidden 18% Cost

(12:39) – Why We Buy The Wrong Things: Custom vs. Standard

(15:33) – The Brutal Truth: Why Stakeholders Don't Engage Us Early

(21:23) – The Problem with "Goods and Services" Contracts

(25:59) – Embrace Ignorance: Your Greatest Procurement Tool

(32:57) – The Know, Like, and Trust Triangle

(42:27) – The San Francisco $30M Payroll Blunder

(46:19) – Response Time vs. Resolution Time (The Baseball Game Story)

(51:05) – The Wisconsin LED Traffic Light Disaster

(55:13) – Why Legal Isn't Protecting You Commercially

(01:01:46) – Leadership Lesson: Crown Yourself

About Proc n Roll

Proc n Roll is your guide to practical procurement. Join Conrad, Zach, and Natasha as we tackle real-world challenges for procurement leaders. From building operating models to leveraging data and AI strategy, we bring you no-nonsense insights to help you transform your organization! Be sure to hit that like button, comment your thoughts, and subscribe so you never miss an episode.