Talent Talks Podcast
The Talent Talks Podcast provides regular insights and guidance to procurement and supply chain professionals. Host, Martin Smith interviews CPO's within large corporations and brands in the UK such as John Lewis, Mars, Babcock International, Managing Directors of procurement specialist companies including as Procurement Excellence and Embedded IT as well as thought-leaders and authors from the sector. Martin Smith, founder of Talent Drive is a specialist procurement and supply chain recruiter. He uses his network and expertise to provide insightful, thought provoking discussions, as well as providing tips on building your own career in the industry. The podcast is just one area of #projectprocurement; Martin's network of like-minded procurement professionals including webinars, content and events. Register your email to find out about our next meet-up and get involved: https://bit.ly/talenttalksmailinglist We'd love to hear your thoughts on the podcast, and do please reach out if you'd like to be a guest; [email protected]. All links and references at https://talentdrive.co.uk/
- Update frequency
- every 12 days
- Average duration
- 40 minutes
- Episodes
- 109
- Years Active
- 2019 - 2025
Procurement Power Moves: Strategies for Success in the Interim Market with Brian Lombard #89
In this episode of the Talent Talks podcast, Martin Smith interviews Brian Lombard, a manager at Talent Drive. Brian shares his background and how he transitioned from procurement into procurement re…
Embracing Challenges and Change to Succeed in the Ever-Evolving World of Procurement with Tim Elliott, Head of Procurement at Leaders Romans Group #88
“The most critical thing right now is to really develop the relationships with the people you work with, spend time with them understand them really well and form as trusting a relationship as you po…
Why Supplier Relationship Management is Second-to-None in Today’s Market with Head of SRM at Coventry Building Society, Rebecca Howard #87
“We need suppliers who understand what it's like from underrepresented groups’ perspectives, because those often are the groups that we're looking to speak to.”
Supplier diversity is essential to any …
Push the Comfort Zone and Stand Out: Part 2 with Head of Procurement & Properties at Bibby Financial Services, Tom Mills #86
“Really push yourself out there - pushing your comfort zone is where you really feel alive.”
Soft skills in procurement are one thing, but employing them to become one of procurement’s most prominent …
The Evolution of Soft Skills & How to Flip the Narrative: Part 1 with Head of Procurement & Properties at Bibby Financial Services, Tom Mills #85
“Everyone should be learning right through their career. It's actually the power of saying very little, and listening.”
Soft skills are an undoubtedly vital part of any procurement professional’s skil…
Taking the Leap Into Procurement Business Ownership with Staverton Consulting Director & Co-Founder, Will Bowley #84
“Procurement has been really effective in seeing growth opportunities and saying ‘Let us manage this, we can look after this’.”
While Will Bowley’s route into procurement may not be conventional, his …
The Art of Procurement’s Sales Pitch & Competing for Talent with Bourne Leisure’s Group Procurement Director (CPO), Sermet Baykaner #83
“It’s not hard to find bodies if you want bodies, but the best people have options. You’ve got to be approaching them.”
When good procurement people have the power to choose their path, it takes proac…
Talent Talks LIVE Sept 2023 with Visa’s S-J Aldridge, Specsavers’ Carl Ferrand and AWE’s Jonathan Patrick #82
“We have all these other things that we can do, but the end game that the Chief Executive wants is the value that you're giving them.”
The procurement industry is ever-evolving with shifting skillsets…
Engaging New Talent Through High-Level Apprenticeships with Emma Law #81
“The challenge is finding somebody with a really good set of soft skills, and that transcends both public and private sectors.”
When it comes to recruiting exciting new procurement talent, good appren…
Adapt to Survive: How to Abort the Extinction of Procurement with Thames Water’s Commercial & Procurement Director, David Wylie #80
“Procurement was once the gatekeeper to the marketplace. Technology speeds up how we do things, and brings the external market to internal stakeholders.”
The one defence we have against extinction of …
Nike’s Consumer-First Approach to Marketing Procurement with Founder & Managing Director of Don’t Forget to Look, Stuart Dunk #79
“Marketing, arguably more so than other categories, needs to be seen as an investment for growth, not a cost to be cut.”
There’s a boldness that roles in Nike, Danone and Reckitt would give anyone, an…
Empathetic Leadership & How to Start Category Management from Scratch with Oliver Cock #78
“Build yourself a great team, and build a team that challenges you. You can't do it all yourself, you're only as good as the people around you.”
With huge, long-spanning roles at Diageo and Compass Gr…
How to solve IR35: Mark Coulson Discusses 7 Figure Savings and Creating a Competitive Advantage #77
“There’s a hidden cost - the cost of bad deals because you don’t choose to use interim resources.”
Since 2021’s reforms, IR35 has been a major factor in the channels through which procurement resource…
Unlocking a Team’s Potential and Combining the Perks of Private & Public Sectors with United Utilities’ Head of Commercial Services, Divyesh Lad #76
“I love seeing people grow and flourish. It’s fulfilling and quite humbling that you've been part of someone else's success and growth..”
Bringing together the best of both worlds is a powerful procur…
The Trick to Confident Negotiation & the True Value of Time vs Money with Head of Procurement at Epos Now, Isabella Moise #75
“We should always remember opportunity cost - sometimes time itself is much more valuable and important than a potential monetary saving.”
Across a career that’s spanned THG, Sky and now Epos Now, Isa…
Consultancy vs In-House: Making Widespread Impact in Any Procurement Team with Procurement Consultant at Efficio, Daniel Abda #74
“As a consultant I had direct access to the chief executive. As a secondee, to go anywhere near the chief executive wasn’t going to happen.”
The procurement consultancy world has its draws, from inten…
The Freeing Transition to Community Fibre’s Greenfield Function with Senior Procurement Manager, Robert Jones #73
“Procurement’s relevance depends on our ability to embrace technological change.”
Greenfield procurement presents an opportunity that most procurement professionals would relish, a chance which Robert…
The Avis Budget Experience that Proved the Power of Adaptability with Former General Manager/Managing Director, Andrew Smith #72
“This is actually a great time to be in procurement, because it's a time to shine.”
Andrew Smith’s career has taken him from huge roles in Royal Mail to international leadership with Avis Budget in Co…
Procurement’s ‘Holistic’ ROI and the Value of EQ with Elixirr Managing Consultant, Oliver Jones #71
“People make the world go round. If you ever have a problem, it's often the people that you've won over who will back you up or help you out.”
Whether it’s through his own procurement leadership roles…
Applying Decades of Coca-Cola Experience to the Startup World with Mum & You’s Chief Supply Officer, David Cowell #70
“It comes back to innovation: what could we do differently to get ourselves through this difficult period?”
Whether you’re among the largest corporations in the world, or the bustling startups growing…