In this episode of "What the Duck?!", host Sarah Scudder talks with Jane Zhang of Edge Sourcing about her transition from MBA to procurement, the role of procurement in business, and overcoming industry biases. Jane shares her experience in sustainable packaging and her journey into entrepreneurship, detailing the operations and focus areas of her company. She emphasizes the importance of communication in supplier management and the surprising depth of passion she found in the procurement field. The episode encapsulates insights for procurement professionals and offers advice for transitioning skills across borders.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS

Pursuing an MBA to Gain an International Perspective 

Career Evolution: From Business Development to Large Corporations

Strategic Aspect of Procurement 

Diverse Skills Needed in Procurement 

Overcoming Bias and Changing Perception of Procurement 

Transformational Impact Jane Had on Procurement Perspectives 

Advice on Transitioning Procurement Skills Globally 

Best/Worst Parts of Starting Your Own Business

Open Communication and Relationship Building 

MOMENTS TO DUCK AROUND

JANE: Global Impact of Sustainability in Procurement 

“The work that we do now today in sustainable procurement, working with large organizations to really transform how they purchase, that has so much impact on the world in terms of positive social impact, positive environmental impact. And I have seen these organizations and these corporations really unlock their purchasing potential and leverage that buying potential to drive good in the world and the environment that they operate in is absolutely fantastic.”

JANE: Dynamic Nature of Procurement and For Versatility 

“What surprised me the most about procurement was how varied it is and how… how at the same time you can build your core skill sets to become very, very strong in it. Your challenges are still going to change. New contracts change, your fires change. We've dealt with everything from very tactical contracts to, you know, million-dollar, multi-million dollar audits, to trying to resolve highly confidential and negotiate non-existent tangibles into a massive contract. So these challenges change constantly. The tools and the skills that you're applying are constantly maturing, but the challenges that you're faced with are ever-changing.” 

Connect with Jane and learn what she’s been duckin’ around with:

Jane Zhang| ETCH Sourcing

Connect with Sarah and find out more about what the duck she’s up to

LinkedIn |Twitter |SourceDay |SourceDay.com

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