“You really have to intimately understand what the organization needs out of you, and that happens through good discourse, good conversation, good communication.”
- Jack Skerry, Vice President of Supply Chain, Moosehead Breweries

Transforming procurement performance demands more than technical expertise.

Senior leaders know that without strong communication skills like active listening, transparency, and empathetic engagement, procurement’s impact is, at best, limited. As organizations adapt at speed, active communication is a non-negotiable difference-maker.

In this Art of Procurement podcast episode, Moosehead Breweries’ Vice President of Supply Chain, Jack Skerry, sits down with Philip Ideson at the Supply Chain Canada National Conference.

Jack’s two decades spanning marketing, HR, sales, and supply chain provide an uncommonly broad background for a procurement leader. He shares practical ways to align teams, build trust with both internal stakeholders and suppliers, and move procurement from cost center to valued business partner.

Jack’s insights on transparency, negotiation, and the power of a ‘T-shaped career’ resonate in a market where supplier relationships and stakeholder engagement define competitive advantage.

In this episode, Jack discusses:

• The value of creating internal credibility through diverse business experience
• How procurement can build trust by sharing all information (not just good news)
• Using active curiosity and conversation to align with the business
• How to balance technical and relational skills when building teams
  

Links:

• Jack Skerry on LinkedIn
• Subscribe to This Week in Procurement
• Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube

Procurement 6 is a short podcast from Art of Procurement that publishes in the Art of Procurement feed every Friday morning at 6am US Eastern Time.

Presented by a member of the Art of Procurement team, each episode has 6 short segments that summarize the week in procurement.

Segments range from procurement tips to podcast summaries, from details of events to news or overviews of blog posts that capture our attention.

“It’s not going to take much to push us back into a shortage market where demand would exceed supply.” - Graham Scott, Vice President, Global Procurement at Jabil

Semiconductor volatility is grabbing headlines again, but what’s really happening beneath the surface for organizations buying and managing critical components?

Graham Scott, Vice President of Global Procurement at Jabil, knows this landscape inside and out. In this episode, Graham speaks with Philip Ideson about the biggest pressures facing procurement teams, from AI-driven shifts in global supply, to the real cost of building resilient risk-management strategies.

Graham discusses how transparency and agility will set the winners apart, and why procurement teams must stay close to both operational details and C-suite priorities. For procurement teams steering spend, pushing for greater optionality or navigating complex geopolitical headwinds, Graham shares strategies they can use right now.

Graham also covers:

• Assessing hidden risks behind “healthy” inventory levels
• Rethinking supplier relationships to secure mission-critical data
• Calculating the tradeoffs and ROI of dual sourcing
• Navigating the impact of AI and geopolitics on future investment
  

Links:

• Graham Scott on LinkedIn
• Subscribe to This Week in Procurement
• Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube

Procurement 6 is a short podcast from Art of Procurement that publishes in the Art of Procurement feed every Friday morning at 6am US Eastern Time.

Presented by a member of the Art of Procurement team, each episode has 6 short segments that summarize the week in procurement.

Segments range from procurement tips to podcast summaries, from details of events to news or overviews of blog posts that capture our attention.

Between annual targets and cost-focused KPIs, procurement leaders find themselves in an impossible bind when it comes to decarbonization: they know sustainability matters, yet the very incentive structures designed to reward their performance actively undermine their decarbonization efforts.

In this episode, co-hosts Rich Ham and Philip Ideson speak with Martin Chilcott, Founder and CEO of 2 Degrees Limited and Founder of Manufacture 2030, to explore how procurement incentives could rapidly accelerate corporate decarbonization.

Martin works with global corporations across manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and automotive industries, and he's seen firsthand how carbon strategies succeed or stall based on the commercial relationship between procurement and their suppliers.

Martin points out an important truth that many procurement leaders understand but struggle to quantify: "Carbon costs exist right now, even if they don't appear on your budget line." He shared concrete examples like Panama Canal disruptions and cocoa price hikes, with climate disruptions already impacting business financials.

The problem, he says, isn't awareness, but short-termism and narrow financial definitions that discourage investment. As Martin says, "If reducing emissions isn’t explicitly worth the effort financially, suppliers won’t make the effort."

The way forward requires fundamental changes to how procurement defines value. By reframing total cost of ownership to explicitly include carbon, implementing longer-term contracts with carbon reduction targets, and building targeted supplier incentives, procurement can make decarbonization both profitable and achievable.

Links:

• Martin Chilcott on LinkedIn
• Rich Ham on LinkedIn
• Learn more at FineTuneUs.com

“My number one rule for being a professional procurement person is to be fair and consistent. You've got to give every supplier the same opportunity, the same amount of time, and the same pieces of information, so you've got a level playing field.” - Michael Bertalli

Today's procurement teams must deliver value through strong relationships and a reputation for professionalism that extends far beyond cost savings alone. Exceptional relationship skills – both within organizations and with external suppliers – have a significant strategic impact and can dictate lasting business outcomes.

In this episode, experienced procurement leader Michael Bertalli outlines exactly what it takes to build impactful relationships and project authentic professionalism.

Michael reveals practical insight on internal and external relationship strategies, explores actionable steps for deeper stakeholder collaboration, and emphasizes the nuanced art of supplier engagement.

Michael also discusses:

• The value of fostering deeper internal collaboration with proactive, informal engagement
• How to navigate supplier relationships through strategic openness rather than price pressure
• Why utilizing strategic preparation and research is procurement’s key relationship-building tool
• How to establish and sustain an ethical, professional image through consistency and fairness
• Ways to strengthen relationships with suppliers through transparent and valuable feedback

Links:

• Michael Bertalli on LinkedIn
• Subscribe to This Week in Procurement
• Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube

Procurement 6 is a short podcast from Art of Procurement that publishes in the Art of Procurement feed every Friday morning at 6am US Eastern Time.

Presented by a member of the Art of Procurement team, each episode has 6 short segments that summarize the week in procurement.

Segments range from procurement tips to podcast summaries, from details of events to news or overviews of blog posts that capture our attention.

“During COVID, we went from just in time to just in case. Unfortunately, now supply chains have to factor in risk mitigation. Finding alternative sources of supply might be a little more pricey, but it reduces the risk.” - Alan Arcand, Chief Economist at Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters

Economic uncertainty and tariff volatility continue to shape procurement strategies and supply chain decisions across North America. As businesses grapple with unpredictable policy shifts, the need to interpret nuanced economic signals accurately has become critical to maintaining stable operations and safeguarding organizational profitability.

To decode these trends and recommend timely strategies, Philip Ideson spoke with Alan Arcand, Chief Economist at Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters, at the Supply Chain Canada National Conference.

In this conversation, Alan highlights key factors procurement leaders should monitor, including the inflation implications of tariff decisions, investment behaviors influenced by economic uncertainty, and the profound impact all of this has on manufacturing sectors, particularly automotive.

Alan also discusses:

• How to navigate conflicting economic indicators in the U.S. to improve procurement foresight
• Understanding tariff-driven supply chain disruptions in manufacturing sectors, particularly related to steel and aluminum
• Ways to adapt procurement strategies to shifting North American economic and political fluctuations
• Utilizing strategic diversification, including nearshoring and friendshoring, to mitigate risk

Links:

• Alan Arcand on LinkedIn
• Subscribe to This Week in Procurement
• Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube