The Co-operators

- Software and hardware contract management
- SaaS and Technology Consulting contract negotiations
- Cost savings and value maximization
- Lead the RFx process
- Risk Management
- Compliance management
- Vendor relationship management

IT Category Manager

Self 

I forgot how to play, the wonderous way, full of imagination, like children play. I think many of us do, hence why I decided to create beautifully illustrated books about dads and the wonderful ways they can play with their kids. Available internationally on Amazon: 

- *New book* Trilingual: Tatusiu, Zatańcz Ze Mną! Daddy, Dance With Me! Papa, Danse Avec Moi!
https://a.co/d/5YVq7So  

- Daddy, Papa - Bilingual English and French version:
https://a.co/d/iJLAucs 

- Tatuś, Daddy, Papa - Trilingual Polish-English-French https://a.co/d/aNlQWwM 

- Papi, Daddy, Papa - Trilingual Spanish-English-French https://a.co/d/boPNMwW 

*Coming soon* - Chinese (simplified)-English-French, and a new Dad book 📖

Children's Book Author - trilingual and bilingual books

Jack Welch Management Institute

MBA Student Ambassador

Procurement Foundry

The largest digital community for Procurement and Supply Chain Management professionals
A place where industry practitioners come to gather, learn, share and grow.

Book Club: Currently reading "Software The Silent Killer Of Your Company's Budget" by Brad Veech.

Member, Forge Conference Panelist and Book Club Lead

Lean In Canada

Member

Legislative Assembly of Ontario

* Plan, manage and conduct the purchasing activities for a diverse range of commodities
* Work in a fast-paced, politically sensitive environment when dealing with MPPs, staff of the Legislative 
* Advise on best purchasing methods, principles and practices
* Aid internal client's in developing specifications, prepare tender/proposal documents, evaluate bid submissions, and award tenders, quotations and proposals for a variety of contracts
* Negotiation to ensure value added and timely solutions to satisfy the initiatives deadlines and priorities of all internal clients
* Maintain purchasing records, electronic filing systems/databases and contact lists
* Educate clients by effectively communicating the procurement strategy
* Foster relationships with vendors and monitor emerging market trends

Sr Purchasing Specialist

Duo Bank

Manager Vendor Relations

Responsible for supporting all IT categories with a particular focus on Software, Software Maintenance and Renewals, and Software-as-a-Service categories.

Transformation Projects:
- Participated in Kaizen training, process review and future state implementation plans
- Led the implementation process of GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) for IT related purchases
- Led the streamlining and implementation of frequent purchases
- Led the implemented of requisition creation, approval and PO automation
- Suggested streamlining vendor checks through automating request tracking and renewals

Negotiation:
- Negotiate scope and price
- Work with vendors identify value add opportunities
- Assist in building implementation plans and requirements
- Conduct market research to compare rates
- Conduct RFXs (request for quote/price)

Cross-Department Communication:
- Assist in gathering reviews and approvals between Legal, IT Security, Finance and Business Areas

Sr Procurement Specialist, IT & Telecommunications

Walmart Canada Head Office

Managed contract reviews and updates, RFx, sourcing, supplier relations, negotiations and implementation for indirect products and services for the Store Support Centre (Head Office), including IT software, HR, Marketing and Goods Not For Resale.

- Led the Strategic Sourcing process: data collection and spend analysis, market research, RFx strategy and documentation, negotiations, contracting, implementation and continuous improvement
- Worked with various business units and stakeholders across the organization on alignment to drive the RFx process to successful implementation and completion
- Explored areas and opportunities to optimize and add value across the organization
- Indirect (Marketing, Shared Services, Technology, HR)

Associate Manager, Strategic Sourcing, Indirect - Contract

Aimia Inc

Worked closely with two senior buyers and the fulfillment team to analyze the merchandise inventory and identify areas of opportunity for consolidation and gaps, updated and improved the vendor portal, strategically reviewed and re-organized the inventory selection focusing on key vendor partners, created an annual sales forecast and tracked monthly and promotional sales data to the yearly forecast.

•  Created, updated and implemented strategic procurement processes (the process of deciding which items to purchase, the optimal time for purchase and vendors to purchase from).
•  Devised the procurement strategy and expectations for fulfilment of its requirements based on historical data, market changes and financial forecasting.
•  Advised on vendor selection so that it falls in line with the procurement strategy.
•  Participated in the supplier selection process, led contract negotiations and new supplier on-boarding.
•  Put in place and maintain an updated vendor management system.
•  Applied analytical approaches to strategically streamline vendors and products in order to increase sales profits.

Procurement Planner

*Winner of the Applause Annual Internal Team Award, December 2013*
*Winner of the Applause Semi-Annual Internal Team Award, June 2013*

Aim of the Continuous Improvement Committee is to annually identify savings of $400,000 through call centre improvements; simply put to increase revenue streams and reduce costs. Areas identified for improvement to date: planned reduction of incoming calls, increased agent sales, improved customer experience and communication, reduced average handle time, and optimized processes and services.

The committee reaches its goal through projects focused on: improvements to IVR scripts, specialized agent training, gathering customer feedback, improvements to client websites, spotting technical system glitches and errors, and identifying upgrades to dated programs.

With over 15 projects currently in-progress, the CIC has reached its goal for 2012 and is on track for 2013.

Role Summary:
• Assist team members in identifying areas of improvement in their respective departments.
• Review cost-benefit, ROI and savings proposed improvements would bring.
• Prioritize projects.
• Organize and lead bi-weekly committee meetings.
• Meet with committee sponsor to follow-up on items currently in-progress.
• Update ‘Next Steps’ required for each line of business in order for implemention of improvements to take place.
• Engage committee members through mentoring and leadership activities.

Team Lead, Continuous Improvement Committee

*Winner of the Applause Semi-Annual Internal Team Award, June 2014*

Project Summary:
• Maintain monthly forecast variances below 5%; industry standard is 10%.
• Assisted one line of business in meeting its service level targets and reducing agent attrition by analyzing the implementation of split queues. Agents were divided into two groups with senior agents receiving retention calls that drive revenue. Agents were able to specialize in services of the queue they were placed into.
• Identified areas for improved service levels by focusing on schedule optimization and reduction of in-office shrinkage. Within 3 months there were significant service level and shrinkage improvements to this particular line of business.
• Once lower call volume was identified, assisted in merging of two lines of business.  This allowed agents to build their skills through cross training, while agent vacation allocation, service level and attrition improved.

Role Summary:
• Create and maintain call centre forecasts across 9 lines of business.
• Create and improve long and short-term forecasts for various clients based on trend, marketing plans, business shifts and seasonality.
• Collect and analyze monthly, weekly and daily data that drives call centre forecasting. 
• Analyze and report on various agent metrics, including: absenteeism, in-office shrinkage, attrition, vacation allocation, average handle time, email and call back requirements.
• Coordinate and lead monthly resource optimization meetings with various operations management teams.
• In addition to empirical analysis, continuously merge science and art through gathering information in order to update Capacity Plans - "the process of determining the production capacity needed by an organization to meet changing demands for its products". 
• Constantly on the look out for ways to optimize processes and bring improvements to the call centre.

Sr Workforce Analyst

As a curious problem solver I help businesses understand their purchasing needs, in ways that solve pain points, map their value chain and increase savings potential with a direct impact to their bottom line.

Main sourcing categories: sourcing software, hardware, telecommunications and professional services.

Key Skills:
RFx (Request for Quote, Tender, Proposal, etc) - full cycle
Cost Optimization
Negotiation Skills
Process Creation and Improvement
Change Management - Experienced in Kaizen Methodology
Adaptable Team Player
Self-Motivated Learner

Dual Citizen with current Canadian and European Union passports.

I can be reached on LinkedIn

I used to think that success had a look. 

Evidence of victory. 

You had to be tough. 

Suck it up. 

Play the game. 

Don’t say “I’m sorry.” 

Say “Thank you for your flexibility.” 

“Don’t take notes in a meeting (It makes you look weak)”
Maintain eye contact and look confident. 

"Leave your personal life at the door."

When I first entered the corporate world, I read a lot about how I should act. 

Everything I read went against everything that I knew a successful woman was. 

The world and I may have a different definition of success. 

I say I’m sorry when I mess up (often). 
I take a lot of notes (pen and paper). 
I show vulnerability in business meetings. 
I negotiate with other people's interests at heart. 
I talk about my failures ( how I didn’t know when to shut up, or what CLM or TCO meant for a long time). 

It hasn’t hurt me. 

I don’t have metrics on the relationships I've created. 

I haven’t calculated how much I’ve laughed and cried with my professional community.

I can’t tell you how valuable it is to have Procurement professionals mentor me as I grow a business. 

I don’t think you can put a number on that. 

There is such a need for real connection. 

Talk about your kids, your passions and interests…

Let them know you’re overwhelmed. 

Share your story, experiences, your failures, what you want… 

Life is messy. 

Don’t fake it till you make it anymore. If you truly want to build trust and relationships, be honest about who you are, and where you’re at. 

Faking it is killing us.  

We’re humans working with humans. We don’t have it all together, and that’s a powerful truth. Put down the walls and use your unique experiences to help others feel comfortable to do the same.

Joanna Marks

Want to be a negotiation ninja? Mastering these ten traits is a great way to start your journey.

1. Preparation: Meticulous planning and research.
2. Assertiveness: Clearly stating what you want without aggression. Using the minimum amount of force necessary to get what you want.
3. Empathy: Understanding and respecting the other party's perspective.
4. Patience: Taking the time to listen and think before reacting.
5. Flexibility: Adapting to changing circumstances and information.
6. Social Skills: Building rapport and maintaining positive relationships.
7. Ethicality: Upholding integrity, honesty, and fairness.
8. Reliability: Following through on commitments and promises.
9. Persistence: Staying determined in the face of challenges.
10. Optimism: Maintaining a positive outlook and focusing on solutions.

So, how can you cultivate these powerful traits?

Begin by conducting a self-assessment to identify your strengths and areas for improvement. 

Mindfully incorporate one trait in your daily interactions to explore when it works and when it doesn't. 

View challenges as opportunities for growth because we all make mistakes.  

By committing to continuous learning, we can all master these traits and enhance our negotiation prowess.



#negotiation #leadership #influence #strategy #growth

Negotiation Ninja

We have a time-sensitive contract opportunity in Procurement!

Our client in Management Consulting has an immediate need for a contractor to manage their Corporate Card (P-Card) program.

You will:
-Manage the SharePoint site for the company’s Corporate Card Program
-Handle inquiries sent to the Corporate Card mailbox
-Provide reporting about the use and performance of the Corporate Card program
-Communicate with cardholders about changes to the program and incentives
Manage governance of requests for new cards from staff

Key skills:
-2-3 years of Procurement experience, ideally providing administration for Corporate Cards or other corporate purchasing programs. 
-Strong organization skills, communications skills, and attention to detail to liaise with a variety of internal stakeholders

It’s a fantastic opportunity to work in the Management Consulting industry. Located in Toronto (Hybrid), this contract will run until the end of September, 2024, with opportunity to extend. If it sounds like a fit and you’re interested, please reach out!

I'll be in Toronto next week for the FutureIT Toronto 2024: AI, Security & The Future of IT. Anyone else going Tue, Apr 23?

event.ciofutureit.com • 1 min read

FutureIT Toronto 2024: AI, Security & Future of IT Agenda

Conference time at IDC Canada Events  CIO downtown #Toronto
#ciofutureit 

#cio #ai #machinelearning #leadership #genai #cto #technology

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