Episode show notes
“From my perspective, data is the foundational resource that we now need to use in terms of how we think about our procurement transformation.”
As apps like TikTok innovate the tools that curate content for us, it’s clear that the future of procurement is one in which we won’t settle for inadequate tools.
We’ve been seeing gradual digitisation for decades, and as the need to process data and implement automation grows, we speak to Kantar’s CPO Stephen Day about how digital tools will help us tackle industry challenges.
In this rich conversation touching on so many of the profession’s most pertinent issues, Stephen shares how to implement digitisation in a way that justifies its continued use, the skill sets sought from new procurement professionals, how data can help drive a more diverse and inclusive industry, and much more.
This episode of Talent Talks covers:
- How Stephen build up his varied series of prior roles and experiences
- What digitisation means and how it should be implemented with consideration for stakeholders
- The benefits of an empowering, empathetic leadership style
- How data can be used to improve diversity, inclusion and representation in the industry
- The skills sought in the next generation of procurement professionals
The Talent Talks Podcast is proudly sponsored by Barkers Commercial Consultancy. Barkers are a multi-award-winning ethical, procurement consultancy offering specialist services including cost and procurement transformation, contract lifecycle management, procurement managed services, bid writing services and digital procurement https://barkersprocurement.com/
Episode highlights
“At this point, I could amaze the audience by ‘the foresight with which I’ve been able to navigate my career’, but I think like a lot of people that are listening, actually it was really good fortune that has presented me with these opportunities, although someone wants told me that luck is about opportunity and preparation. ” – 2:10 – Stephen Day
“I think what’s really happening is that we’re seeing this amazing transformation in the use of data. From my perspective, and certainly from the work that Kantar does, data is very much the foundational resource that we now need to use in terms of how we think about our procurement transformation.” – 5:20 – Stephen Day
“The heart of the problem is that people really aren’t institutionalising the transformation and the changes that they make, such that the behaviours regress back to how things were pre-transformation.” – 8:30 – Stephen Day
“What I’ve learned over time is that actually allowing people to bring the best parts of them to the workplace also requires allowing people to create what I describe as psychological safety – creating the opportunity for people to talk about challenges or problems or issues that they’ve got, and then helping them work through problems.” – 14:00 – Stephen Day
“What I wanted to make sure of is that we don’t just foster a piece of technology into the business, without people really being able to understand how they’re going to use it.” – 20:25 – Stephen Day
“If you don’t have a basis of measurement, and you actually don’t know what you’re doing, I think everything else becomes a little bit superficial if you don’t start measuring where you’re coming from or where you want to go.” – 25:45 – Stephen Day
“Historically, people used to talk about talent attraction and talent retention as two very distinct chapters. I actually think you have to talk about those two things at the same time now. Think about the talent you want to bring in and how you want to retain them, by giving them interesting work.” – 34:15 – Stephen Day
Links & References
- Kantar
https://www.linkedin.com/company/kantar/
- Stephen Day CPO at Kantar
https://www.linkedin.com/in/procurementtransformationchange/
- Martin Smith, Founder & Director of Talent Drive
https://www.linkedin.com/in/martinsmith2009/
