How Forum Helps Me Give Back to the Procurement Community

To be honest, I can’t tell you exactly when I first attended Forum. It was at least 20 years ago, maybe even 25. What I can tell you is that the event is unlike any other professional development event I have attended. The knowledge I gain every year and the people I meet and reconnect with make me want to keep going back.

Since I first started attending Forum, I’ve had some changes in my professional life. I started going when I had just transitioned from private to public procurement. Now, I serve as the Assistant Vice President and Chief Procurement Officer for the Univesity of Texas at Austin. I am particularly interested in procurement for higher education and helping students discover all the procurement career paths available.

Shifting from Private to Public Procurement

What struck me most about the Forum was how open people were about sharing their knowledge and experiences. In public procurement, people are very receptive to asking questions and offering advice to others—there’s a “we’re all in this together” mentality that you don’t necessarily have in the private sector. That was refreshing, and I’m happy to say it hasn’t changed since I started attending the Forum. If anything, it has evolved as the event has grown to include more people.

NIGP has opened many doors for me by helping me meet people to collaborate on projects and initiatives. It has also created career opportunities through certifications that have helped me advance in my career. I’m excited to share my love of procurement with the next generation of leaders.

Giving Back to the Procurement Community

I was so inspired by the speakers I saw at Forum that I decided to become one. For me, it’s all about giving back. Everyone has a story to tell and a lesson to share. If I can share my experiences, maybe someone else can avoid making the same mistakes I did. Of course, they’ll probably make new mistakes, but that’s progress – that’s how we all learn to do better.

In addition to speaking at the event, I love getting out and networking with colleagues I know and those I haven’t met yet. I always sit by new people at panels and encourage my teams to do the same. I have a rule that we all sit next to someone we don’t know instead of clustering together. We’ll have time to connect on the way home and when we get back to work. Forum is about bringing people from the profession together who might otherwise never meet. This is one way I hope to help guide the next generation of procurement professionals.

The call to bring up the next generation of professionals is part of what attracts me to the world of higher education. Speaking at Forum is a natural progression of that calling. I’ve even stepped in as a co-presenter for some younger colleagues who were nervous about presenting. I serve in more of a support role, encouraging them to take the lead and share their knowledge with the group. In addition to presenting at Forum, I encourage students in our supply chain program to engage in projects and connect with our local NIGP chapter. Everyone on our small but mighty team has an NIGP membership, which gives them access to a ton of educational and networking opportunities.

Advice for First-Timers

This year, I’m bringing some first-timers to Forum. I have some advice for them and for anyone else who is going to the event as a new attendee, whether you are going with your team or by yourself.

1. Come with an open mind: Be ready to learn and grow at Forum. You’ll hear some amazing talks from people from all levels of their procurement careers. Go to some panels on unfamiliar topics to get a more well-rounded picture of the procurement field.
    
2. Be open to sharing: As I said, everyone has a story to share and a lesson to teach. Even if you’re brand new to the profession, you have your own story and experiences that could benefit others. Don’t be afraid to share your story with colleagues or to ask them questions about anything related to your procurement career.
    
3. Don’t be shy: I know introverts especially might be tempted to go to the panels and then back to the hotel. But Forum presents an amazing opportunity to network with people from across the continent. Introduce yourself to the people around you and go to at least some of the networking events. Everyone is friendly and helpful, so you’ll be right at home.

Forum is a fantastic event for people at all levels of their procurement careers. Even if you are brand new to the field, if you have the chance to go to Forum, do it!

This year, I’m excited to bring some team members to Forum to learn more about procurement, especially as it relates to higher education. If you see me around, please feel free to introduce yourself. I can’t wait to meet you!