CIPS Women in Procurement November 2017 What Ive been asked to cover - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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 – 1 st entry in Campaign A list (it’s quite a big Marketing thing)  Avid tweeter on all things marketing procurement (@ 3k followers)

Skills needed OR

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