Episode Highlights

1:00 – C-suite perception and procurement transformations

Leslie and Steve set the scene around the C-Suite perception, its increased relevance in 2020 and what we can learn about making procurement a key value driver from companies like Juniper who are taking bold steps with digital transformation plans.

2:52 –  Who is Velkumar?

Introduction to Velkumar and his role as Director of Indirect Procurement at Juniper Networks.

4:07 – Who are Juniper Networks?

Juniper as an organisation and how the procurement function is positioned and structured to align with the C-Suite.

6:34 – Velkumar’s procurement background

Velkumar’s professional career in procurement of over three decades, along with the lessons he’s learned along the way.

8:06 –  A five year procurement transformation

J-Procure, Juniper’s 5-year procurement digital transformation program, encompassing innovation, sustainability and value goals simultaneously.

9:06 – Future-proofing transformation

How J-Procure promises to deliver value by preparing Juniper to be adaptable to the next changes in technology.

11:40 – Tackling 2020 disruptions

Velkumar explains why it was important for his team to boldly push ahead with this program, despite the disruptions of 2020, and which skills and characteristics of his – suddenly virtual – team helped them do so.

14:59 – Procurement and the ESG agenda

Procurement’s role in delivering to the ESG agenda via Velkumar’s experiences and suggested action points for CPOs.

16:00 – Culture and passion

Why culture and passion are important components in addition to C-suite support.

21:45 – Change Management

Velkumar talks about managing team buy-in and upskilling to get them to adapt to new technologies, and how he measures that process.

24:20 – Velkumar’s view on successful procurement transformations

Challenges and lessons from Velkumar to other CPOs when considering a transformation of this size.

About our hosts