Ep 23: The Doctor is In feat. Karthik Rama

Procurement has been talking about transformation for a very long time - but sometimes they are better talking the talk than walking the walk. And while change isn’t easy, the need for it isn’t going to go away anytime soon. In some cases, it is critical to bring in experienced transformation experts - people who have helped lots of other organizations take their own change journey - to get a realistic and objective look at what needs to be done to help procurement achieve their stated objectives.

In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner is joined by Karthik Rama, known to his friends and colleagues as ‘The Procurement Doctor.’ He has made a career out of procurement transformation, spending almost two decades helping organizations from varied industries all over the world generate the greatest possible value from their procurement organizations. He has experience with all of the dimensions involved with procurement transformation, including technology, training, and processes.

In this conversation, Karthik shares his perspective on:

• The value of having an objective but experienced ‘outsider’ advise procurement teams before they embark on a transformation journey
• What procurement teams have the most difficulty letting go of when the time comes to make lasting and meaningful change
• How leaders can balance experience and innovation when building the right mix of team members after a transformation