Proc-N-Roll : Your guide to practical procurement!

Conrad and Zach dive into the hype and reality of AI in procurement tech directly from DPW Amsterdam. They tackle the industry's biggest question: is the new tech genuinely "AI-native," or is it just marketing spin? They break down what it actually means to build around a probabilistic core, why traditional dashboards are dying, and how natural language interfaces will fundamentally change how we interact with ERPs like SAP.Timestamps:(00:00) - Cold Open: AI architecture and natural language(01:07) - DPW Amsterdam recap and the blend of tech and entertainment(07:22) - What does "AI-Native" actually mean?(15:37) - The problem with isolated AI use cases and the need for an operating model(17:19) - Conrad’s "vibe coding" surf app project(22:22) - Why vibe-coding enterprise apps can cause security hacks(26:31) - When to let AI make decisions vs. strictly internal tools(30:23) - Natural language is the new procurement interface(40:47) - AI governance: The danger of everyone being a builder(49:52) - Will AI replace jobs in procurement and sales?(56:53) - Final Takeaways: Start experimenting with AI before buying the tech About Proc and Roll:Proc and Roll is your guide to practical procurement, hosted by Conrad, Zach, and Natasha. The podcast tackles industry trends, technological transformations like AI, and practical advice for CPOs and procurement professionals. Don't forget to like, comment, and share!

Why is the procurement cycle always so slow, and why are stakeholders constantly complaining? In this week's Proc and Roll, Conrad, Zach, and Natasha tackle the biggest bottleneck in the industry: the contract and risk process.The hosts break down why forcing an ironclad contract for every single purchase is a massive waste of time, and how redundant approval cycles turn necessary compliance into useless "risk theater". If you want to stop frustrating your stakeholders and start actually mitigating risk, you have to follow the money, stop over-contracting, and rebuild your relationship with Legal. Timestamps:(00:00) - Cold Open: Contracts rarely leave the file cabinet(00:58) - Intro: The cycle time bottleneck(02:52) - Quick wins: NDAs, templates, and tracking changes(06:27) - Keep it simple: Stop designing 8-document processes(08:30) - "Follow the money" and stop unnecessary contracts(13:11) - Building a progressive partnership with Legal(15:22) - Empowering requesters vs. risk-averse clicking(20:31) - Natasha's pushback: Stakeholders aren't always risk-averse(23:06) - The redundant approval trap(24:13) - The invisible hand: Designing process for stakeholder interest(26:22) - Why the best process won't stop a bad actor(30:13) - TPRM maturity and the reality of "Risk Theater"(34:02) - Supplier integrity is saving your enterprise(37:35) - Final Takeaways: Playbooks, AI, and Legal relationshipsAbout Proc and Roll:Proc and Roll is your guide to practical procurement. Hosted by industry veterans, we cut through the corporate jargon to tackle the real, everyday challenges of enterprise procurement, supply chain risk, and contract negotiations. Whether you are navigating AI-native tech stacks or figuring out how to stop your stakeholders from bypassing your process, we bring you the actionable insights you need to become a genuine business partner. Don't forget to like, comment, and share!

What does it actually take to rocket-ship your career, build unshakable leadership skills, and completely transform your mindset?In this week's Proc and Roll, Conrad sits down with his former Adobe colleague, Adam Lancaster. Adam shares his wild journey from surviving a mountain lion attack to navigating the high-pressure environments of Intel and Adobe, and eventually becoming the number two real estate agent in North America.This episode goes far beyond traditional procurement advice. Adam breaks down the exact three traits he looks for when hiring rock stars—Emotional Intelligence (EQ), data analytics, and critical thinking—and explains why raw transparency is the true foundation of leadership. Finally, he reveals the "wildly uncomfortable" daily affirmation practice that completely rewired his behavior and drove his massive career success.Timestamps:(01:05) - Welcome Adam Lancaster to the Studio(01:52) - The Mountain Lion Survival Story(06:37) - From Real Estate to Procurement: Charting a Career Path(16:19) - "In God We Trust, All Others Bring Data"(22:17) - The 3 Traits to Hire For: EQ, Analytics, and Critical Thinking(26:08) - What Leadership Actually Means: Raw Transparency(29:27) - Balancing Relationship Building with Hard Results(40:19) - The Core Difference Between Management and Leadership(45:18) - "Become Worthy of the Fee"(50:48) - The 5 Uncomfortable Morning Affirmations That Drive Success Mentioned in this Episode:The Mountain Lion Encounter: Adam’s wild survival story was actually immortalized on canvas! The painting, titled "Out of Nowhere" by Western artist Clark Kelley Price, depicts the exact moment Adam took aim from the horses while his father, Kellen, defended himself on the ground. (https://clarkkelleyprice.com/products/out-of-nowhere?utm_source=gemini&hl=en-US)Adam’s A Cappella Days: We teased it at the end of the episode, and yes, the footage is real. Watch Adam singing "I'm a Believer" with his college a cappella group here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wGNNfonSEIAbout Proc and Roll:Proc and Roll is your guide to practical procurement. Hosted by industry veterans, we roll up our sleeves to tackle the real, unglamorous challenges of enterprise procurement, leadership, and career growth. Tune in for candid conversations, actionable frameworks, and unfiltered advice on how to build a world-class career and drive real business value.

Is your procurement process holding the business back? Everyone dreams of a two-day PR to PO cycle, but reality often averages 10 to 15 days. When the process is that slow, business stakeholders will bypass procurement entirely to get things done.In this week's Proc and Roll, Conrad, Natasha, and Zach break down exactly why cycle times drag and how to fix them. They unpack the massive delays caused by legal, security, and onboarding, and explain why treating every purchase as high-risk is a recipe for failure. Learn how to leverage P-cards, optimize internal catalogs, and hold cross-functional teams accountable to realistic SLAs to speed up the business.Timestamps(01:06) - The 15-Day PR to PO Dilemma(04:42) - Procurement as the Pit Stop: "Fix It or Get Out of the Way"(07:19) - Identifying the Real Process Bottlenecks(09:10) - The Trap of the One-Size-Fits-All Approach(12:03) - Accelerating Cycle Times with P-Cards(22:50) - Automating Repeat Buys with Catalogs(28:00) - The AI Fallacy: Can Tech Fix a Broken Process?(32:39) - The Massive Time Drain of Legal and Security Reviews(36:41) - CPO Accountability & Budgeting Your RiskAbout Proc N RollProc and Roll is your guide to practical procurement. Hosted by industry veterans Conrad, Natasha Gurevich, and Zach, we roll up our sleeves to tackle the real, unglamorous challenges of enterprise procurement, leadership, and supply chain management. Tune in for candid conversations, actionable frameworks, and unfiltered advice on how to build a world-class procurement engine that drives real business value.

In this week's PNR, Conrad, Zach, and Natasha roll up their sleeves to tackle one of the most critical elements of leadership: how we actually make decisions.Moving beyond high-level theory, the hosts reveal their personal, battle-tested decision-making frameworks. From using AI to analyze our own subconscious biases, to navigating hidden corporate agendas and short-term quarterly earnings pressures, this episode is a raw, unfiltered look into the reality of boardroom dynamics. Whether you lean on hard data, intuition, or political capital, you'll walk away with actionable strategies to bulletproof your next big choice.Timestamps(00:00:00) - Cold Open: The danger of short-term quarterly goals and why altruism doesn't exist in business.(00:01:02) - Intro: Welcoming Natasha and Zach, plus Conrad's "The Smith" t-shirt.(00:03:25) - Zach’s 5-step analytical framework (and how he used Claude AI to uncover his own process).(00:11:42) - Natasha’s pragmatic approach: Balancing the enterprise, the team, and political capital.(00:16:11) - Conrad’s problem-solving framework and weighing the "believability" of experts.(00:20:49) - Business vs. Personal choices: Are corporate decisions ever truly unemotional?(00:34:05) - Navigating egos, hidden agendas, and the "HIPPO" (Highest Paid Person's Opinion) in the boardroom.(00:46:55) - The Altruism Debate: Does selfless decision-making actually happen?(00:53:19) - The temporal aspect of choices and why execution is where the money is.(01:06:20) - Career Advice: Why you should never "phone it in" when pivotal decisions are being made.About Proc and RollProc and Roll is your ultimate guide to practical procurement. Hosted by industry veterans, we explore the realities of supply chain, digital transformation, and the deeply human elements of leadership in the corporate world. We are passionate about helping procurement professionals learn, innovate, and grow their careers.