Art of Procurement

"The biggest risk today is not making the wrong AI decision. It is making no decision at all while everyone else is learning." Samir Khushalani, Senior Advisor, Art of Procurement
Procurement leaders now face more technology choices than ever, with new AI-enabled solutions emerging constantly. In this environment, picking the right tools can be overwhelming, and procurement often struggles with knowing where to start, how to avoid analysis paralysis, and ensuring their tech choices drive real business outcomes. 
In this episode, Philip Ideson speaks with Samir Khushalani, Art of Procurement Senior Advisor and a former McKinsey digital procurement leader. Samir has guided Fortune 500 companies and is helping to shape the ProcureTech100, the industry's top guide to procurement technology. He breaks down how to navigate a fragmented market, balance risk and urgency, and scale impact without getting stuck in "pilot purgatory." 
In this episode, Samir covers how to:  
-Take practical steps to avoid technology indecision  
-Identify true AI-native solutions versus "AI-wrapped" legacy tools  
-Partner with providers who aim for business impact, not just automation  
-Build a flexible procurement tech stack for lasting competitiveness
 Links:
Samir Khushalani on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samirkhushalani/ 
Art of Procurement Welcomes Samir Khushalani as Senior Advisor: https://artofprocurement.com/blog/blog-art-of-procurement-welcomes-samir-khushalani-as-senior-advisor 
Download the 2025-26 ProcureTech100 Yearbook: https://artofprocurement.com/procuretech100-2026 
Subscribe to the AOP Newsletter: https://resources.artofprocurement.com/art-of-procurement-podcast-subscribe 
Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ArtofProcurement

"Procurement's future is bright, when we continue to do it the right way for the right reasons." - Travis Hodge, Director of Enterprise Sourcing & Procurement at nVent
Procurement is no longer just a back-office function. As business models shift and digital transformation accelerates, procurement leaders face more pressure (and more opportunities) than ever to become true business partners. 
Supplier experience, strategic talent, and AI-enabled efficiency are fast becoming the new playbook for teams aiming to drive results in hyperscale markets.
This episode features Travis Hodge, Director of Enterprise Sourcing and Procurement at nVent, who shares how his organization is reinventing both its processes and culture to keep pace with customer needs and rapid growth. Recorded at Ivalua's 'Procurement Innovation on Tour' Summit in Chicago, Travis offers candid insights on supplier segmentation, why executive sponsorship matters, and the operational and emotional impact of genuine employee engagement.
His approach starts with treating suppliers as partners and ensuring procurement is measured not just on savings, but on real business value delivered in order to position procurement as a growth engine.
In this episode, Travis discusses:
-Reframe supplier experience as a cornerstone of transformation and value
-Leverage executive sponsorship to unlock strategic change
-Connect AI, automation, and data strategy to tangible business outcomes
-Prioritize employee experience as a real differentiator
 
Links:
Travis Hodge on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/travis-hodge-phd-612139125/ 
Procurement Innovation on Tour: https://www.ivalua.com/procurement-innovation-on-tour/ 
Subscribe to the AOP Newsletter: https://resources.artofprocurement.com/art-of-procurement-podcast-subscribe 
Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ArtofProcurement

"Visibility is not the end goal. The end goal is how does that visibility enable me to make a quick decision." - Mohit Ahuja, Strategy & Transformation Leader, Caterpillar
Business leaders can no longer afford to think about digital procurement as "plug and play." This is especially true in manufacturing, where the risks of disruption run deep. Legacy systems, change-weary teams, and rapid-fire market shifts all raise the stakes for today's CPOs.
In this episode, Mohit Ahuja, a strategy and transformation leader at Caterpillar, shares what it takes to navigate these challenges. Drawing on over 16 years across engineering, supply chain, and operations, Mohit offers candid stories and actionable strategies for moving the needle on digital transformation without leaving people behind.
Whether you're wrestling with technical debt, siloed teams, or cultural resistance, this episode delivers perspective for CPOs and procurement professionals trying to drive lasting impact.
In this episode, Mohit covers how procurement can:
-Move from reactive to proactive and enable real-time, predictive risk management
-Build trust on the shop floor by practicing adaptive leadership
-Focus on early, low-risk wins to build momentum for transformation
-Shift from cost minimization to resilience as a core procurement goal
 
Links:
Mohit Ahuja on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mohit--ahuja/ 
Subscribe to the AOP Newsletter: https://resources.artofprocurement.com/art-of-procurement-podcast-subscribe 
Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ArtofProcurement

"It's amazing how you can rise to the top just by doing what you say you're going to do and being honest about what you can't do." - Anthony Clervi, Managing Partner, Una
Procurement teams today are under intense pressure to deliver savings, manage risk, and do more with less… all while digital transformation reshapes the landscape. For many, group purchasing organizations (GPOs) sound good on paper, but open questions about control and fit. 
What does it take to find a true partner in this space?
In this Provider of the Week episode, Anthony Clervi, Managing Partner at Una, joins us to break down what's changed in indirect spend and what CPOs should look for in a partner. From the "dietician, not the butcher" mindset to embracing AI and ongoing alignment, Anthony shares why a consultative, agile approach beats one-size-fits-all solutions. 
In this episode, Anthony covers:
-How GPOs balance speed, savings, and transparency 
-When to bring in partners like Una (and why earlier is better)
-Ways to adapt GPO services to your team's resource and maturity levels
-How ongoing supplier alignment drives long-term value
-Why a human, empathy-first approach matters now more than ever
 
Links:
Anthony Clervi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyclervi/ 
Provider Profile: Una: https://artofprocurement.com/provider-directory/una 
Subscribe to the AOP Newsletter: https://resources.artofprocurement.com/art-of-procurement-podcast-subscribe 
Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ArtofProcurement

"If you build AI on top of weak foundations, you're going to have a very broken system." - Gaël De Martelaere, Chief Procurement Officer, Hexion
AI is driving enormous change in procurement, but success relies on more than just new tools. The real challenge is rebuilding the foundations (data, process, and team mindsets) while still delivering results for the business today.
In this episode, Gaël De Martelaere, CPO at Hexion, joins Philip Ideson to share how his team is moving beyond traditional procurement and redefining value for both customers and stakeholders. Gaël brings decades of experience, a healthy dose of curiosity, and a pragmatic focus on experimentation, not perfection.
In this episode, Gaël also speaks about:
-Transforming procurement to support broader business reinvention
-Rebuilding foundational processes with AI in mind
-Building digital fluency and accountability at every level
-Focusing on experimentation over multi-year perfection plans
-Why curiosity and sound judgment matter now more than ever
 
Links:
Gaël De Martelaere on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gaeldemartelaere/ 
Subscribe to the AOP Newsletter: https://resources.artofprocurement.com/art-of-procurement-podcast-subscribe 
Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ArtofProcurement