ProcureCon IT Sourcing 2025
June 02 - 03, 2025
The Westin Copley Place, Boston, MA
DAY 1: Monday, July 18, 2022 Driving Value During Unpredictable Times
7:15 am - 8:15 am
Continental Breakfast & Registration (Grand Opening Of The Solutions Zone)
8:15 am - 8:25 am
Welcome Remarks And Icebreaker
Michael Dunlap -
Event Director,
ProcureCon
8:30 am - 8:45 am
Chairpersons Remarks
Michael Shaw -
Executive Director,
American Council of IT Sourcing and Procurement Executives (ACSPE)
Michael Shaw
Executive DirectorAmerican Council of IT Sourcing and Procurement Executives (ACSPE)
8:45 am - 9:25 am
Keynote Panel: The State Of The Union: Driving IT Procurement Success In 2022 And Beyond
Michael Shaw -
Executive Director,
American Council of IT Sourcing and Procurement Executives (ACSPE)
Angela Zou -
Sr. Director, Indirect Procurement, (IT, Telecom & Professional Services Global Category Management), Global Supply Chain,
Schneider Electric
Kenny Markford -
Director, Software as a Service, Global Technology Procurement,
PwC
Thomas Trappler -
Associate Director, IT Strategic Sourcing,
University of California
Christopher Murphy -
Program Vice President, Sourcing Advisory Services,
IDC
Edward Scott -
Chief Executive Officer,
ElectrifAi
This exciting panel will discuss some of the key trends impacting IT procurement this year, how to, and then makes predictions about what could lie ahead in 2022....and beyond.
• IT Investments – what technology will our stakeholders be buying in the short and long term – what are trends vs. reality?
• Risk Management and Cybersecurity Threats – what should procurement be concerned about and how can procurement stay ahead of the game. Is there an overreliance on cloud infrastructure, if so, what should procurement do about it?
• Supplier Engagement – Unique ways procurement can involve suppliers to help obtain cost and efficiency goals in an era of unprecedented inflation.
• Supply chain shortages – How supply chain shortages, particularly around microchips, will continue to challenge IT procurement efforts and what you can do about it.
• Supplier Engagement – Unique ways procurement can involve suppliers to help obtain cost and efficiency goals in an era of unprecedented inflation.
Michael Shaw
Executive DirectorAmerican Council of IT Sourcing and Procurement Executives (ACSPE)
Angela Zou
Sr. Director, Indirect Procurement, (IT, Telecom & Professional Services Global Category Management), Global Supply ChainSchneider Electric
9:25 am - 10:05 am
Interactive Case Study: Software: The Silent Killer Of Your Company’s Budget: How To Negotiate And Manage Your Software Portfolio Without Getting Taken Advantage Of By Your Suppliers
Brad Veech -
Sr. Director IT Sourcing,
Walmart
The fuse on your software budget is BURNING fast! Software companies have crafted a one-sided business model, and they are the only winners… until now! This interactive session, led by author and 20-year IT Procurement veteran Brad Veech will enable you to
• Level the playing field as you navigate the complexities of one of the most critical contracts in your business
• Provide both a suppliers and buyer’s perspective during the negotiation process
• Give you one-of-a-kind insight on how to negotiate not only new software agreements but also annual renewals
10:05 am - 10:45 am
Panel: Application Overload: Taming The Proliferation of SaaS Within Your Organization
Munish Ghandi -
Chief Operating Officer,
Productiv
Kimberly Master -
Technology Sourcing Leader,
Netflix
Thomas Le -
Senior Sourcing Manager,
F5 Networks
David Campbell -
CEO and Co-Founder,
Tropic
Ed Sawma -
VP of Marketing,
Zip
There’s an app for everything now and it may seem like you’re stakeholders are looking to buy each one. As procurement professionals, we’re often in the precarious position of wanting to please the end user yet also be the voice of financial and risk management. Is it possible to balance all these demands? This panel of IT sourcing experts helps answer that question and more as they review
• Assessing your company’s official and unofficial intake processes – how are incoming software requests managed and prioritized by your team. Is it possible to be customer centric yet hold your ground?
• How are leading firms getting a handle on software asset management?
• When and how to say no to stakeholders due to duplication of services and risk management concerns
• How to partner with other corporate teams (e.g., legal, IT Security, etc.) to provide a coordinated approach
10:45 am - 11:25 am
Bakeshop Morning Break
Join us in the Solutions Zone & indulge in a variety of pastries & muffins with a cup of coffee as we kick off Day 1!
11:25 am - 11:45 am
Fireside Chat: Outsourcing vs Offshoring Strategies In A Post-Covid World
Michael Shaw -
Executive Director,
American Council of IT Sourcing and Procurement Executives (ACSPE)
Sameer Syed -
Global Director IT Porcurement,
ADM
11:45 am - 12:05 pm
Presentation: The IT Spend Paradox: Influence The Biggest Cost Reduction Opportunity To Invest In Strategic Initiatives
Hari Candadai -
SVP, Service Innovation and Global Thought Leadership,
Origina
With 90% of IT spend locked up maintaining existing systems, procurement can be instrumental in identifying new savings opportunities that can help drive your organization’s business roadmap and accelerate innovation. Hear how Procurement teams are helping companies break free from traditional software and support models driving down ‘keeping the lights on’ costs and capturing dramatic savings to accelerate transformation projects.
12:05 pm - 12:20 pm
Ask The Experts – Additional Q&A Time With This Morning’s Speakers
Kimberly Master -
Technology Sourcing Leader,
Netflix
Thomas Le -
Senior Sourcing Manager,
F5 Networks
Angela Zou -
Sr. Director, Indirect Procurement, (IT, Telecom & Professional Services Global Category Management), Global Supply Chain,
Schneider Electric
Having burning issues on your mind? We’ll use this time for a quick recap of our morning sessions and also give you the chance to ask any outstanding questions or share perspectives on this morning’s sessions.
Angela Zou
Sr. Director, Indirect Procurement, (IT, Telecom & Professional Services Global Category Management), Global Supply ChainSchneider Electric
12:20 pm - 12:40 pm
Presentation: How IT Sourcing Can Lead In The Age Of AI
Jon Winsett -
Chief Executive Officer,
NPI
AI’s role in IT sourcing is rapidly evolving. Capabilities that seemed visionary just five years ago are now at our fingertips. This is causing many IT procurement practitioners to take a pragmatic look at AI capabilities embedded across their procurement technology stack. How can AI deliver a meaningful impact on IT sourcing effectiveness? How can it be leveraged to deliver world-class purchasing outcomes? Jon Winsett, CEO of NPI, will discuss how IT procurement can harness AI to dismantle some of the fundamental challenges of managing IT spend.
12:40 pm - 2:00 pm
Lunch For All Attendees
Track A: Hardware/Telecom
2:00 pm - 2:40 pm Workshop: Carrier Sourcing Tactics in a Rapidly Changing Environment JP Crametz - Principal Consultant, OnceptAs you can imagine 2+ years of highly disruptive change in corporate telecom infrastructure requirements have brought significant changes to the way we procure network services. This workshop will provide timely insights on how the latest shifts in pricing, spend, carrier relationship management and operational practices are driving new and innovative telecom sourcing strategies.
Key takeaways include:
Pricing trends
o Cash flow engineering as carriers prefer “cash now” vs later
o Having to pay for previously included account support services
Managing Carrier Relationships
o Changing expectations in spend level & commitments
o Negotiating tactics for both established legacy vendors and new upstarts
Mobility
o Mobility price structures and where & when to avoid costly RFPs
Operational Considerations
o Importance of maintaining an operational inventory
Track A: Hardware/Telecom
2:40 pm - 3:20 pm Workshop: Enterprise Telecom Procurement: Learn New Best Practices and Recent Trends Dennis Thankachan - CEO and Co-Founder, Lightyear Prashanth Vijay - CEO and Co-Founder, FlumeThe status quo for enterprise telecom features little to no provider and price transparency, manual workflows, error-prone installations, and in many cases poor customer support. Whether enterprises are sourcing large-scale telecom solutions for internet, WAN, colocation and/or voice across many locations or expanding individual facilities, the process can be costly and time consuming. In this session, industry experts, Dennis Thankachan, CEO and Co-Founder of procurement software platform Lightyear, and Lightyear customer Prashanth Vijay, CEO and Co-Founder of Flume, will share best practices and recent trends in telecom procurement informed by data-driven insights from both of their respective industry vantage points. During this workshop we’ll briefly introduce Lightyear, the first software platform that allows enterprises to buy and manage their global telecom footprint online.
Key Workshop Takeaways:
· Learn how enterprises procure and manage telecom solutions today (internet, WAN, colocation, voice)
· Understand the pros and cons of various different approaches to telecom procurement - direct procurement, indirect procurement (agent channel), aggregator approach, and more
· Learn best practices and observations informed by data on cost and long-term customer NPS
· Discover recent trends in telecom procurement - what are enterprises buying, what are they getting rid of
Track B: Software License Management
2:00 pm - 2:40 pm Workshop: Eliminating SaaS Toxic Spend on Salesforce, Office 365 and Workday Charles Hoop - Global Lead- IT Platforms Category Management, Aon Service Corporation Mike Beals - Vice President, Advisory Services, NPISaaS toxic spend is a multi-billion-dollar problem. It’s estimated that 30% of enterprise cloud spend is for licenses or subscriptions that are dormant or for features that are not being used. IT procurement has a vital role in helping to eliminate SaaS cost waste. In this session, we’ll discuss the root causes of SaaS overspending and the steps companies can take to get rid of it.
Track B: Software License Management
2:40 pm - 3:20 pm Workshop: Oracle License Negotiations: Pitfalls And Strategies Craig Guarente - Chief Executive Officer, Palisade ComplianceThis workshop will provide the procurement professional with an overview of Oracle software and cloud licensing best practices, pitfalls, and recommendations. Attendees will gain an understanding of current Oracle trends that could impact your organization’s future. The goal of this session is to help you negotiate the best deal with Oracle so you can gain access to their solutions while maintaining your technical independence and financial responsibilities.
Boardroom: IT Sourcing Leadership Corner (Designed For IT Sourcing Leaders with direct reports and Heads of Indirect)
2:00 pm - 2:40 pm Workshop: Developing And Executing An IT Procurement Talent Management Strategy Julia Bradane - Global Head of Procurement for Digital & IT, SanofiIn today’s tight labor market, IT Procurement is under increased pressure to allocate precious staff resources in the most optimal method possible. This interactive workshop will help you take your talent strategy to the next level by:
• Reassessing your current talent needs and approach
• Determining how Discussing approaches to retrain/repurpose resources to fulfill high demand roles.
• Making the business case for headcount/resources to senior leadership.
3:20 pm - 4:00 pm
Chill Out Afternoon Break
Boston heat got you beat? Chill out with an ice cream bar in the Solutions Zone before heading back into sessions!
4:00 pm - 4:40 pm
Keynote Presentation: Improving Your Stakeholder Relationships: How To Deliver Excellence In Today’s Inflationary and Dynamic Environment
Eric Dulin -
Procurement Director| Yum Digital and Technology,
Yum Brands
As procurement professionals, we know stakeholder relationships matter but are you still being left out of crucial and time-sensitive discussions and negotiations? This engaging session will give you the framework to enhance those relationships to be a true partner within your organization. As a leader at Yum Brands, our speaker, Eric Durin, will talk you through how to up your game and set your team up for success. Key takeaways will include:
- How to structure your IT Sourcing team to deliver success
- Techniques to build on your stakeholders expertise and knowledge
- What you can do differently today to improve your stakeholder relationships
4:40 pm - 5:40 pm
Interactive Roundtables
Jimit Arora -
Partner,
Everest Group
Achint Arora -
Vice President,
Everest Group
These interactive roundtable sessions take a deep dive into the specific areas you came to learn about. Sit and learn in an intimate format from the speakers who have had an impact on their company and industry. Take control of your own event experience and don’t be shy! Ask questions (or answer them!) alongside other conference attendees who are dealing with the same challenges as you network with industry peers with very similar challenges, interests and responsibilities.
1. The Future of Pricing in IT Services: Optimizing Value in Inflationary Times Jimit Arora, Partner, Everest Group and Achint Arora, Vice President, Everest Group
2. TBD
3. TBD
4. TBD
5:40 pm - 6:40 pm
Bites and Brews Reception In The Solutions Zone
Celebrate a successful Day 1! Wind down in the Solutions Zone with some pub favorites while sipping on a local brew or cocktail!