Procurement's Role in Driving Positive Change

In this episode of Procurement Reimagined, host Daniel is joined by Jen Barclay, ESG at Narta Procurement and Sustainable Solutions. Join us as we discuss the evolving procurement landscape and the exciting opportunities for positive change in the industry.

From sustainability to collaboration and the role of AI, this podcast offers valuable insights and practical strategies for procurement professionals. 

Jen’s career in procurement spans over 23 years, and in her own words, she loves what she does. Jen is a strong team leader focusing on developing her team members' careers while achieving organisational goals. 

Key highlights:

• 02:04 - 05:15 - The Role of ESG in Procurement

There is a rise in ESG consciousness as companies develop their sustainable sourcing programs. There is a greater focus on sourcing from vendors who comply with anti-slavery and human rights. Competitors are now working together to create self-assessment questionnaires (SAQs) that track the social angle of ESG. There is a greater focus on reducing waste and self-governance in limiting the use of single-use plastics. 

• 05:47 - 07:52 - What is a Procurement Brand Strategy?

A procurement brand strategy starts with a well-defined purpose owned by the organisation, the procurement leader, and their team.  It’s a top-down strategy that includes the values and goals of the organisation. At its heart, the procurement brand strategy provides collective scale and scope to deliver the best value for an organisation while complying with best practices and processes sustainably and efficiently. 

• 19:05 - 21:00 - The Positive Impact of Procurement

Procurement can have a positive impact across the organisation because procurement teams provide the inputs that keep the organisation running. However, the real value of procurement is driven home during a crisis. Jen cited the example of the COVID pandemic when all eyes were on the procurement teams to provide essentials like pens, paper, and toilet paper.

Quotes:

• “Not only are we procuring things, but we're also creating solutions for the companies that we're working with to ensure they can be sustainable and sufficient in the future”.

• “So, to me, the procurement strategy is having that identity and understanding who we are as a team and what we can offer the business we work in”.

• “The whole supply chain and the people part of the supply chain, I think, became more visible during the pandemic. So I think that was a good lesson for everyone”.