The Future of Procurement Leadership with Savita Mace

In this episode of Powering Procurement, hosts Sian Lloyd and Gareth Burch are joined by Savita Mace, the Chief Procurement Officer for University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust. Together they explore the critical role of risk management in procurement, the transformative impact of technology, and the importance of mentoring the next generation of professionals.

As the Chief Procurement Officer at University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (UHSFT), Savita leads a team of eighty procurement and supply professionals who deliver value for money, quality, and efficiency across the health system. With over twenty years of experience in procurement and supply chain management, Savita has directed world-class procurement functions for global companies such as AstraZeneca, Roche, and Sony, driving and accelerating business growth and innovation.

Savita is passionate about developing and mentoring the next generation of procurement leaders, and she shares her expertise and insights as a visiting lecturer and course mentor at University of Sussex and Durham University. She is also the UK representative of the Membership Committee at CIPS - The Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply, the leading professional body for procurement and supply chain management. She holds a Master's degree in Strategic Procurement from University of South Wales, and is a chartered fellow of CIPS.

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Episode Highlights:

[13:11] The Humbling Experience of Public Sector Procurement - Savita discusses her transition from the private sector to the NHS, describing it as a humbling experience that deepened her understanding of accountability in procurement. She says that “This is the real world. This is the most vulnerable people”, emphasising the critical role her position plays in ensuring that patients receive necessary care and services. This shift brought her closer to the end-users of her work, forcing her to confront the pressures of timely supply chain management and the impact of procurement decisions on patient outcomes. Savita’s experience underscores the importance of being directly connected to the customers served and understanding the real-world implications of procurement decisions.
[27:48] Importance of Adaptability and Self-Reflection in Leadership - In today's fast-paced environment, effective leadership in procurement necessitates a commitment to adaptability and self-reflection. Savita emphasises the significance of checking in with one's resilience and energy levels to avoid overstretching oneself and letting down both professional responsibilities and personal commitments. This proactive approach fosters a supportive team culture where members feel empowered to express their challenges and collaborate on solutions. Furthermore, maintaining a forward-looking perspective enables leaders to stay informed about evolving legislation, such as the CS Triple D EU regulations, which impact supply chain management and corporate responsibility. Savita asserts that understanding these developments not only aids compliance but also contributes to improving living standards, showcasing a leader’s role in driving positive change within their organisation and beyond.
[33:05] Embracing Failure as a Learning Opportunity - Savita articulates that embracing a "fail fast" mentality is crucial in procurement, as it fosters a culture of innovation and learning. She underscores the need for organisations to view failure not as a setback but as an essential component of growth and development. This approach encourages teams to experiment and iterate without fear, leading to quicker problem-solving and adaptability in response to challenges. Moreover, by engaging in quality circles that promote collective learning from mistakes, procurement professionals can enhance collaboration and resilience. As Savita points out, failure is inevitable, but the key lies in how organisations respond—by failing fast, learning quickly, and moving forward with renewed insights.

[49:00] Technology's Role in Procurement - Savita highlights the transformative power of technology in procurement, particularly in managing reputational risk and enhancing decision-making through data analytics. She emphasises that utilising sentiment data can protect organisations from aligning with companies that pose a reputational threat, whether due to cultural misalignment or negative media coverage. This approach not only influences purchasing decisions but also impacts share prices, illustrating how critical it is for procurement professionals to leverage technology for comprehensive risk assessment and informed decision-making. She remembers evaluating craft sentiment data software using 400 different data points to generate one report in about 2 minutes, and highlights how that would be near impossible to do on pen and paper.

Episode Resources:

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Savita Mace on LinkedIn
University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust Website