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 – 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
• n 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