873: Creating Capacity for Complex Problem Solving W/ Israel Santiesteban

"We need to evolve from procurement professionals into business leaders with procurement expertise." - Israel Santiesteban, Former Chief Procurement Officer and Head of Supply Chain

The next evolution of procurement is about so much more than cost savings. With new digital tools and relentless business change, leaders are being asked to deliver value in new ways and, as a result, develop talent for roles that didn't exist a few years ago.

In this episode, Philip Ideson speaks with Israel Santiesteban, a former CPO and supply chain leader with experience across Danone, Kraft Heinz, Schreiber Foods, and more, who's spent decades delivering end-to-end transformation in fast-moving sectors.

They discuss what it really takes to unlock the power of data and AI, and why the next generation of procurement jobs will look very different. Israel also opens up about the risks and opportunities of working with startups, the reality behind scenario planning, and why high-performing teams need to shift from transactional work to strategic value-creation.

In this episode, Israel also discusses:

-How to cut through the hype and use AI for quick wins in neglected indirect spend

-Discovering how CPOs can partner with startups for tailored solutions

-Ways to move from reactive firefighting to true predictive scenario planning

-The importance of building new procurement roles that blend digital fluency with business acumen

-Rethinking procurement metrics that show value, not just savings

Links:

Israel Santiesteban on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/israel-santiesteban-43627b1b/

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