The Journey of a Rising Star in Procurement – Lauren Sabat, REI
The Sourcing Industry Landscape
Release Date: 11/17/2025
Navigating Supply Chain Risks and Costs with Nari Viswanathan of Coupa Software
The Sourcing Industry Landscape
In this podcast episode, Nari Viswanathan, Senior Director of Supply Chain Strategy at Coupa Software, discusses the evolving landscape of supply chain management, particularly in the context of direct materials and procurement. He emphasizes the need for collaboration between CFOs and CPOs to address the challenges posed by global volatility, risks, and costs. The conversation explores the importance of understanding financial metrics, the role of AI in transforming procurement workflows, and the necessity of creating unified dashboards for better visibility into financial outcomes. Nari also...
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Balancing Cost and Value in Technology Sourcing with NPI’s Mike Megehee
The Sourcing Industry Landscape
In this podcast, NPI's Mike Megehee, will share practical frameworks and negotiation strategies that help IT procurement teams make smarter, value-aligned decisions. We’ll discuss how to quantify vendor value, use data-driven benchmarks to strengthen your position, and unlock savings that don’t compromise performance or partnership quality.
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Sivuno: The SIG Startup Pitch Winner Solving Procurement’s Data Problem
The Sourcing Industry Landscape
In this conversation, Dawn Tiura speaks with David Wild and Mike Simms, founders of Sivuno - winning company of the SIG Startup Pitch session. They explore how Sivuno is tackling one of procurement’s biggest challenges: bad data. David and Mike share how their AI-powered platform rapidly cleanses, structures, and normalizes procurement data, enabling teams to access clearer insights with far less manual effort. The discussion covers the real impact of poor data quality, showcases success stories from early adopters, and highlights how accurate, actionable data can transform procurement...
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The Journey of a Rising Star in Procurement – Lauren Sabat, REI
The Sourcing Industry Landscape
In this podcast episode, Lauren Sabat, a senior manager of procurement at REI and winner of the Future of Sourcing Rising Star award, shares her journey into the procurement field, her experiences balancing work and family, and the importance of authenticity and emotional intelligence in her career. She discusses her passion for process improvement and the supportive work environment at REI, highlighting the significance of community and diversity in the workplace.
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Transforming Talent Development with Celeste Anderson, CRO of Jalasoft
The Sourcing Industry Landscape
In this conversation, Dawn Tiura interviews Celeste Anderson, Chief Revenue Officer of Jalasoft, discussing the innovative approach of Jalasoft in developing engineering talent through Jala University. They explore the transition from traditional staff augmentation to managed services, emphasizing the importance of outcomes over headcount. Celeste shares insights on how this shift enhances procurement relationships, the evolution of statement of work, and offers advice for sourcing leaders looking to implement managed services. The discussion highlights the flexibility and commitment of...
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What’s Next for Procurement Technology? - With Anders Lillevik of Focal Point
The Sourcing Industry Landscape
In this conversation, Dawn Tiura and Anders Lillevik, CEO of Focal Point, discuss the evolution of procurement technology, focusing on the transition to AI-powered procurement management. They explore the significance of an AI procurement operating system, its impact on efficiency, and how it can enhance supplier relationships and quarterly business reviews. The discussion highlights the importance of strategic thinking in procurement and the potential ROI from adopting advanced technologies. Here more from Anders Lillevik at the Global Executive Summit in Scottsdale AZ, where he will...
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A Glimpse into NPI’s Closing Keynote- Procurement’s Next Move: What to do Now, What to do Next
The Sourcing Industry Landscape
In this conversation, Dawn Tiura interviews John Winsett, the CEO of NPI, about his upcoming panel discussion at the SIG Summit. They discuss the importance of IT procurement, the challenges faced by CPOs in managing technology stacks, and the diverse expertise of the panelists joining him. The conversation highlights key topics that will be addressed during the session, including vendor management and cost optimization strategies.
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Mastering Vendor Communication – How to Control the Message and Protect Your Leverage
The Sourcing Industry Landscape
In any IT negotiation, what you say (and what you don’t) can dramatically shape the outcome. In this episode, NPI CEO Jon Winsett shares how to plan and execute vendor communications that strengthen your negotiation strategy. He covers what information vendors are trying to uncover and how to protect it, how to create productive uncertainty without damaging relationships, and best practices for message ownership, timing, and internal alignment. You’ll learn how to balance transparency with control while positioning your organization as a unified, prepared buying team.
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Building Trust Through Data: Insights from Candiss Kumar's Summit Session
The Sourcing Industry Landscape
In this podcast episode, Dawn Tiura interviews Candiss Kumar, an associate director of strategic sourcing for Wolters Kluwer. Candiss gives a sneak peek into her upcoming Summit session, Building Trust Through Data: The Strategic Sourcing Leader’s Guide to Credibility and Compelling Narratives. Candiss shares her insights on the importance of understanding one's business, the role of storytelling in data presentation, and the necessity of curiosity and problem-solving in procurement. The conversation emphasizes the need for sourcing professionals to engage with stakeholders effectively and...
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The $800B Marketplace Opportunity — A Conversation with Procurement Leaders Ahead of SIG’s General Session
The Sourcing Industry Landscape
In this episode, Dawn Tiura of SIG talks to procurement leaders Ankur Srivastava of Flywl, Mazen El-Haideri of McAfee, and Lawrence Kane of Transamerica. Together, they discuss their upcoming general session, “The $800B Marketplace Opportunity: How CPO’s are Turning Cloud Spend into Savings and Speed” which takes place on Wednesday, October 8th at the Omni Resort & Spa in Scottsdale, AZ. They share their perspectives on how sourcing and supply chain professionals can elevate their role from tactical operators to trusted strategic partners. Drawing on real-world experiences,...
info_outlineIn this podcast episode, Lauren Sabat, a senior manager of procurement at REI and winner of the Future of Sourcing Rising Star award, shares her journey into the procurement field, her experiences balancing work and family, and the importance of authenticity and emotional intelligence in her career. She discusses her passion for process improvement and the supportive work environment at REI, highlighting the significance of community and diversity in the workplace.