Episode show notes
“Ultimately, the challenges for a procurement function are very similar, but going into a different environment helps you grow.”
There’s no substitute for the level of depth and breadth of experience that Tracey Williamson has developed over the course of her illustrious career as a procurement leader.
From roles in several major blue chip organisations like Nissan, Tesco, Vodafone and many more, she’s cracked the key to creating transformative change in any procurement function.
We dive into her focus on good data, the conscious effort to diversify skills and sectors, and how diversity and inclusion has evolved throughout her time in the industry.
This episode of Talent Talks covers:
- Why you should broaden your experience rather than strive to just climb the ladder
- The nuances of public sector roles
- Managing and using spend data to create transformation
- The key attributes of successful procurement professionals
- How everyone can better support the growth of diversity and inclusion across the board
This episode of Talent Talks is sponsored by 4C Associates – a leading European procurement and supply chain consultancy, who work collaboratively with forward-thinking clients to deliver real business value across a wide range of transformation and cost optimisation service offerings. Visit https://www.4cassociates.com/ for more information.
Episode Highlights
“Ultimately, I think the challenges for the procurement function seem to be very similar. But I would say that going into a different environment helps you grow more.” – 9:00 – Tracey Williamson
“The sourcing process is well managed, but there still requires to be a lot of attention, I believe, on the bookends: defining the requirement and contract management.” – 12:35 – Tracey Williamson
“You need to have data in the right place because you need to be able to publish what and where you’re spending, then you need the right capability in your team to manage that spend.” – 14:30 – Tracey Williamson
“As a leader, you’re often instigating change. So you need to bring people along on the journey with you. It’s critical to listen to the needs of your team, your stakeholders, and your supply partners. Each would have a different perspective.” – 21:10 – Tracey Williamson
“I worked with a group of ladies who, when I said I wanted to lead a function, burst out laughing. There weren’t really any female leaders in those positions at the time.” – 27:00 – Tracey Williamson
“Supply chain risk will continue to dominate for many, especially given the economic and geopolitical challenges that exist. I’m seeing organisations seeking to either onshore or have multiple supply options to mitigate the current challenges they’re facing.” – 36:20 – Tracey Williamson
Links & References
• Tracey Williamson
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracey-williamson-fcips-chartered-a251373/
• Martin Smith, Founder & Director of Talent Drive
https://www.linkedin.com/in/martinsmith2009/
