CIPS Women in Procurement

November 2017

What I’ve been asked to cover (I may have

changed some of the order)

Background about me

Work experience and current role

Key skills, support and any investments in oneself

Any challenges I’ve had along the way, how these were overcome, lessons learnt, with examples

What support do I need to get there?

Which skills are required?

Advice, recommendations, key tips

My Background

1988 - First job “What’s this area of Marketing that Procurement aren’t working with?”

2003 – Ad agency life 2006 to today– my own Consultancy

Work experience in current and hopefully

last career role

Other stuff Chair of the CIPS Specialist Knowledge Group on Marketing

since it was founded in 2006

Fellow of CIPS

Women in Marketing Award Winner 2013/14 - Best Female

Marketer: Independent Consultant

2017 – 1st entry in Campaign A list (it’s quite a big

Marketing thing)

Avid tweeter on all things marketing procurement (@ 3k

followers)

OR

Skills needed

Skills needed

Relationships with Stakeholders and Agencies is key

Understanding and experience of the supply market

is vital

Ability to use procurement tools and processes with – not

tight and regimented

Creative in all elements of procurement

Skill sets needed

1. Softer skill set

2. Thick skinned

3. High level of Stakeholder Management

4. Creative

5. Quick thinking

6. Proactive

7. Appreciates the win:win set up

8. Takes time to understand the process & ways of working

9. Multi tasker due to category width

10.Can add standard procurement tools to match Marketing

11.Senior Management dialogue

12.Keeps up to date on the market

Challenges

Challenges I’ve faced

1. Frustration with CPO on the category

2. Outwitted by politics & feminine charms / other women I worked with

3. Unsuccessful promotion

4. Lack of female role models

5. Reflecting back whilst preparing this deck!

Challenges I’ve faced – overcome - lessons

1. Frustration with CPO on the category -> tears -> sleep on it

2. Outwitted by politics & feminine charms other women I worked with -> do your job to the best of your ability -> common sense prevails

3. Unsuccessful promotion -> listen to the feedback -> focus on what you are good at and enjoy -> have a career plan

4. Lack of female role models -> may not be in procurement

How do you get the skills?

Push for training – general and specific

Always learn mode – mine is by reading and using social

media

Say yes to different things – tasks, projects, a secondment

Practical experience – getting your hands dirty

Investments in oneself

Support needed – “it’s good to talk”

Advice, recommendations, tips

1. Know what you want and what you can offer

2. Go for your target but be open to serendipity

3. Don’t hide behind technology

4. Find an advocate (it is who you know)

5. Ask great questions

Advice, recommendations, tips

6. Don’t be shy about your achievements

7. Raise your profile

8. Make it personal to build relationships

9. Find a mentor from outside your company

10. Start simple

(with thanks to Jane Barnett and BA High Life magazine)

Advice, recommendations, tips

Advice, recommendations, tips

My last word……being a woman in

procurement has to raise its profile

There needs to be a mentoring programme run ideally by

CIPS

The next CIPS President and or new CEO should be a

woman

There needs to be more encouragement for female school

leavers to choose Procurement as a career (CIPS iBuy) and

also returning Mum’s with flexible working patterns

Positive inclusion on all panels – conference speaking –

think thanks to ensure an equal split of female:male