OVER DEZE AFLEVERING
Mitzi Campbell shows why procurement is no longer about process, cost savings, or sitting behind a desk. It is about relationships, judgment, and the ability to operate beyond what automation can replace.
Mitzi is the Chief Procurement Officer at International Paper, with over 30 years of experience across industry and consulting. She has worked with global organizations, led transformation initiatives, and built procurement functions that balance strategy with real-world execution.
In this episode, Mitzi breaks down why procurement changed after the supply chain crisis, why relationships became the true competitive advantage, and why the next generation of professionals must go beyond technical skills. They talk about the future of AI in procurement, the roles most at risk of automation, and the skills that will remain valuable no matter how technology evolves.
Key Topics:
-Why procurement is now about relationships, not just cost savings
-How to build a career path from category manager to CPO
-Why sitting behind a desk will limit your growth in procurement
-How introverts can still win by mastering one on one relationships
-Why AI will replace task-based roles but not human judgment
-How top procurement leaders are quietly building AI-first teams
Timestamps:
01:56 The Real Question Young Procurement Talent Keeps Asking
02:48 The Exact Skill Path to Becoming a CPO
03:19 Why Procurement Changed Forever After 2020
03:42 The Career Mistake That Keeps You Invisible
04:18 Can Introverts Win in Procurement, Here’s the Truth
05:29 The Self-Awareness Tool That Changed How She Leads
07:31 The AI Prediction That Shocked Everyone in the Room
08:27 The Simple Test That Determines If Your Job Will Be Replaced
09:01 The Skills AI Still Can’t Replace
11:11 The Pandemic Lesson Most Procurement Teams Still Ignore
12:30 Why Going Fully Lean Might Be a Dangerous Move
14:05 How Top CPOs Are Quietly Building AI-First Teams
15:09 If You’re Not Using AI Yet, You’re Already Behind
16:48 Why Companies Are Still Struggling With AI Rollout
19:02 Why ChatGPT Is Replacing Google for Top Operators
20:11 How Transforming Weak Teams Creates Massive Growth
Connect with Mitzi Campbell:
LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/mitzi-campbell-a2aa841
Connect to Lightsource.ai
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/lightsource-ai
Website: https://lightsource.ai/
TRANSCRIPTIE 🔗
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Let's go back to 2020 and 2021 and 22 when the supply chain was broken.
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Those people who were really good and had really strong relationships with their suppliers were getting products.
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And those that were not did not get product.
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If you are the one really good at your job that you like to sit behind a desk and not go out and engage with people, it's gonna be a struggle.…
