Ep 181: Every Day in Procurement is a New Adventure feat. Keri Peña

We are all subject to stereotypes about what procurement professionals are like, what suppliers are like, and what procurement-supplier relationships are like. But those kinds of models are made to be broken, often to the benefit of everyone involved.

In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Keri Peña. Keri didn’t start her career in procurement - she started in IT - but she didn’t work in procurement for long before she was hooked! Keri reached out and offered to tell her story to help other procurement professionals succeed in the field while forming meaningful relationships and having FUN! 

In this interview, Keri talks about how she puts herself into her role and how connecting on a personal level can help drive desired business outcomes:

• How to progress from the name or email address of a supplier representative to the beginnings of a bond
• What to do when someone is not receptive to forming a collaborative relationship
• The importance of empathy, transparency, trust, being genuine, and humor, to personal and professional success

Links:

• Keri Peña on LinkedIn