𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐦𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐏𝐎 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐰𝐚𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐚 𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐤𝐞𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞.

It was how honest the conversations became once procurement leaders started talking peer-to-peer.

Behind almost every discussion around AI was a much more operational question: How do we transform faster while already operating lean?

Tariffs.

Geopolitical uncertainty.

Fuel surcharges.

Supplier resilience.

Execution pressure.

Different industries. Very similar tensions.

What I appreciated most was the ability to exchange openly with leaders navigating many of the same realities, while also building connections with potential future partners ahead of upcoming RFPs and strategic initiatives.

One question Joe Theismann (former NFL MVP, Super Bowl champion, and entrepreneur) particularly stayed with me:

“𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥?”

A good reminder that long-term differentiation, whether in sports, leadership, or procurement transformation, rarely comes without resilience, discipline, and adaptability.

In a business environment where procurement is expected to move faster, absorb more complexity, and contribute far beyond savings alone, conversations like these matter more than ever.

Thank you to Marcus Evans and everyone who contributed to the discussions throughout the week.