Picture this: you’re a pregnant woman and you want to speak up for yourself, but it can be daunting to go up to your boss and ask for a spot in a leadership program. On top of that, you know people will judge you based solely on your condition, which adds a whole extra layer of stress. Unfortunately, women professionals (including alpha females in procurement) encounter situations like this all the time. But the good news is, there are women out there who can handle it with grace and courage, and come out on top.

Have you ever come across someone who transformed their childhood struggles into a source of strength to succeed in their career? And let’s not forget the women who found support from their colleagues and suppliers – their stories are equally valuable and offer a different perspective. But unfortunately, many of us have also had to deal with sexist bosses at work. It’s important to acknowledge and discuss these challenges because they can have a significant impact on women’s careers, irrespective of their chosen fields.

In honor of International Women’s Day, we wanted to hear these stories — from none other than the top shots in procurement — and share them with all of you. After all, isn’t this what Women’s Day is all about? Learning from each other’s struggles, discussing challenges, and finding solutions while offering words of advice and encouragement to young women? That’s why we’re thrilled to bring you a special series on alpha females in procurement, where we celebrated the amazing women within the profession who have broken barriers and achieved success with their courage and determination.

Alpha Females in Procurement – Episode 1 with Susan Spence

“You’ll have to prove yourself every day, but the most important person that you wanna please is yourself.”

When it comes to building strong networks that support and empower women in male-dominated industries, Susan Spence is a real trailblazer. In this insightful video, she shares her invaluable insights on how to create an inclusive network and prevent women from being side-lined or discarded.

On top of that, she talks about the importance of playing an active role in sparking change. By using their unique purchasing power and influence, Susan and Helene highlight how procurement professionals can help close the gender gap and foster diversity moving forward.

It’s clear that Susan truly knows what it means to advocate for women’s rights – so if you’re looking for proven strategies on accelerating female representation in the workplace, then this video is definitely one you have to watch!

Alpha Females in Procurement – Episode 2 with Vera Rozanova

“It’s a very good opportunity for women to work in procurement because it requires a lot of emotional intelligence, a lot of communication skills that historically or genetically women are very strong in.”

Vera Rozanova is truly an inspiration for women around the world. As the Global Director at Open Forum Enterprise Ltd and a MCIPS, she has broken gender stereotypes and excelled in the field of procurement and supply chain management.

She has become a beloved coach and mentor to many, exhibiting her empathetic nature towards her mentees. And together with her immense success, she has also worked tirelessly towards awareness and implementation of climate change initiatives in order to make the world a better place.

In her interview with us, Vera talks about how she continues to motivate women in pursuing their careers in procurement by citing how their unique qualities of communication skills and emotional intelligence can prove invaluable. It’s certainly no surprise that today Vera stands as a beacon of success and leadership across countries.

Alpha Females in Procurement – Episode 3 with Donna Donato

“I would say, walk into your area of discomfort, embrace that. That’s where the real change, real growth, and learning happens. Embrace what you don’t know. And I would say, remind yourself that you are probably like most of the people.”

Donna Donato, a seasoned leader in the procurement world with more than 25 years of experience, brings a powerful and knowledgeable presence to Chain IQ Americas.

As CEO of a leading independent procurement services company, she is leading the charge for collaboration and networking amongst others in the field. In a candid interview with Consulting Quest, Donna speaks with Helene on several topics such as leadership, women’s voices in procurement, and ways collaboration can propel success.

Alpha Females in Procurement – Episode 4 with Helene Laffitte

“That simple yet profound advice – “just be yourself” – turned out to be the best thing anyone could have said to me. It set me on a path of self-discovery, where I learned that authenticity is key to building meaningful connections and achieving success.”

In Episodes 1, 2, and 3, we saw inspiring interviews from top females in procurement – Susan Spence, Vera Rozanova and Donna Donato. And Helene Laffitte, our CEO and host of these interviews, sure knows how to bring out the best in everyone.

She’s hosted a number of engaging conversations, full of interesting questions and wry insights. For Episode 4 though, that dynamic was reversed – Helene became the star of the show herself!

With her background as an accomplished CEO and sourcing expert, Helene speaks about women in male-dominated fields and she shares valuable advice for young professionals striving to follow their dreams.

Closing Thoughts

To wrap up, it has been an honor to share the stories of these dynamic and inspiring alpha females in procurement with you. This series has demonstrated that procurement is a field full of opportunity and possibilities.

We have seen the amazing things this group of women have achieved despite the challenges they face. This series has highlighted how, when given a dedicated opportunity, even the least experienced can shine in procurement and make an impact on their organization and industry.

Procurement is a growing field, making it increasingly important for people everywhere to tell their stories so others may become inspired and take the first step in procuring what dreams are made of.

We look forward to continuing this series as well as sharing more other bright minds’ tales. Thank you for following along!