Here I Go Again

'Cause I know what it means

To walk along the lonely street of dreams

Here I go again

When I first met Jill I thought this woman was born to lead. Being an entrepreneur runs through her veins and that’s why “Here I Go Again”?by Whitesnake was an easy pick for the soundtrack for her legacy.

She knows what it means to walk along the lonely street of dreams.?

She’s a speaker, an author, a wife, a mother, and a fierce entrepreneur. Her story inspired me so much as a working mom, and I think it will certainly light a fire in you to start thinking about your legacy.?

Jill spent years working as a Procurement professional and now she’s using her skills to help sales professionals bridge the gap when selling to and through Procurement & Supply Chain, closing deals faster with higher margins.

TPG: Jill, I admire you so much. You are fierce and I love that your business emphasizes that fact. I'm sure it didn't happen overnight - what sparked your fierce-ness? How did you get into Procurement??

JR: By chance…

While working at IU Health in 2002, I worked in IT business operations supporting medical information technology.? Which basically meant running “old school” RFPs, and negotiating with suppliers on contract T&Cs and SRM.

The old adage, the internal negotiations are the toughest, rings true to my first rodeo.

Then I went to Ingersoll Rand supporting IT and G&A spend, and had a great boss and mentor who really showed me the ropes.? This is where I found my passion for Procurement.

TPG: Why did you leave your head of indirect job and start your own thing??

JR: My husband and I had been entrepreneurs for several years and I knew eventually that was my path.

Corporate politics isn’t my thing, then COVID hit and I was home with my then 4-year-old son.? He called me on the mat, seeing my work basically from the time he got up until the time he went to bed… “Mommy, aren’t you tired of working all the time”.? That was it, I was and within a few months took an extended leave of absence from corporate.

TPG: What did you want to be when you were growing up??

JR: Independent.

I don’t like to be reliant on anyone for anything.

I am a self-starter, motivated to make a positive impact.

The path can change, and living below your means to pave the way for a future of freedom is the way.? Our society seems to have strayed from basic common sense, which is very sad.

Find your passion, embrace your God-given talents, and put them to good use; do the hard work day in and day out, and then God will make a way.

TPG: How did early experiences in life prepare you for where you are today??

JR: Good parents (loving, God-centered, strict, and disciplined), who taught me the benefits of hard work and living debt-free.? Cash is king and know that your life is what you make it.? Do things the right way, even if it takes longer, there are no shortcuts in life. It’s ok to make mistakes, just learn and move on.

TPG: What was your experience like as a woman in procurement...did you feel respected??

JR: Respect is what you earn.

I learned the ropes, delivered value, and pushed the envelope.

It is a man’s world, and that is ok.? Now people are getting “jobs” they may truly not be qualified or the “best”, which makes me sad.

Do good work and earn a seat at the table.

TPG: Tell me about a failure in your career...how did that help you in the long run??

JR: Too many to count!

I view stumbling as an opportunity vs. failure?

I took a role in core finance, to check the box to “move up the chain”, which I was told was necessary to advance in procurement.

I lived in Excel hell, was not an accounting major, etc.

But once I did learn financial modeling, valuing assets, and how deals were done in business development; my eyes were opened to the possibility of life as an entrepreneur.

So the struggle of learning something completely new, opened up my eyes and heart to what I was truly called to be doing.

TPG: Was there a moment, a win that made you realize that procurement was a career worth pursuing??

JR: Yes, I negotiated a 75% savings on a technology deal very early in my career, by just asking for it with a new supplier.

Which has become my tagline…

You don’t get what you don’t ask for

Applicable to every facet of life and business.

TPG: Did other women at work support and encourage you??

JR: Yes.??

However, some women can be your worst enemy.? So find ones that are supportive vs. petty and self-centered.

I encourage all women to have both male and female mentors.? Different experiences and perspectives are good.

TPG: How do you balance being an entrepreneur, a wife, and a mother??

JR: It’s a constant juggling act.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help and say NO, as needed to put your family first.

Pray every day and keep God first, stay humble, and slow down to speed up.

When Jill is not working, she enjoys focusing her energy on family, fitness, faith, reading, spending time with friends, and being a positive role model for her mentees, helping them achieve the life of their dreams.

When her son was a baby she started writing a children's book and it is a must-read for any new parent bringing home a baby to meet their furry sibling.

“Adventures with Dolly and Jett: Always By My Side”

"Jill Robbins has written an amazing tale on what it's like bringing a new baby home, from the perspective of the beloved family dog, and how great their bond can be as the years go by. Most people can remember that experience of growing up with their childhood best fur friend...they are never forgotten! The illustrations also make the book come alive too - a great book for children."

Adventures With Dolly and Jett

Jill has a deep respect for animal charities. A portion of the proceeds from all sales of the Adventures with Dolly and Jett series will go to the following charities: Best Friends Animal Society and Midwest Mastiff Rescue.

Jill leverages years of being sold to and negotiating with the largest companies in the world to elevate relationships with Procurement and Supply Chain.

I assumed that she must have had some pretty bad sales encounters during her time in Procurement to be so fiercely passionate about helping sales teams improve.

TPG: Were the salespeople that you dealt with during your time in procurement that bad? Was there something that pushed you over the edge??

JR: Sales are really not “bad”, it’s just the incentive for salespeople is reversed in my opinion.

Sales should be rewarded partly for closing a deal and partly for keeping a deal going long-term, while delivering on what was committed.

I always say, the deal only begins after the contract is signed… not when the contract is signed.

TPG: How do you help salespeople understand how to influence Procurement??

JR: Know when to listen and when to sell.

The best selling happens when you truly understand the business and our solving problems they didn’t even know they had or solving them in a different way or preventing future problems

Jill provides advice and tips for both the buy and sell side. Make sure to follow her!

so you don’t miss out on posts like this…

The gap is WIDE between Sales and Procurement...

? Haters don't have to hate!

Stop being a hater on either side of the bridge; find common ground, because Procurement is here to stay and it's time for both Sales and Procurement to collaborate productively!

?? In order to bridge this long standing and slowly closing gap, It is critical for both sales and procurement to invest in understanding each other.

Both Sales and Procurement must:

?? Ask open ended questions

?? Actively listen to collectively solve and prevent problems

?? Do research to understand what challenges and opportunities are on the table

?? Be collaborative

? Stop assuming the worst in each other

?? Sales folks... know your value proposition, connect this to the customer; you will win more deals and upsell more than you thought possible

Sell Smart.

You don’t get what you don’t ask for…

TPG: What do you think needs to change in procurement??

JR: The internal view that procurement is only there to add unnecessary process or time to close a deal.

TPG: How can our readers/listeners learn more about you and your work??

I’m pretty low key on social media these days, so they can connect with me on LinkedIn, my website or setup a virtual or live coffee.

Connect with Jill

TPG: What kind of legacy do want to leave??

JR: A challenger of the status quo?

A person who does the right thing, even when it might call for more work.

Helping others, being generous and kind.

God first, truth teller and someone who knows how to have fun and work hard!

The Procurement Girl News

New Partnership:?

Did you know that 83% of executives say that their company’s investments in supply chain and procurement technology HAVE NOT fully delivered the expected results, especially user adoption?*

That’s why I’ve been looking for one digital adoption solution for all the adoption issues across the entire supply chain and procurement technology stack.

A solution that provides contextual step-by-step guidance, support, training, and tracking to detect usage issues and correct them in real-time.

A solution that empowers leaders to optimize how every app is used and every process is completed across their organization.

A solution that helps employees actually use the software that a company has paid for. Because true software ROI comes when employees adopt any software AND use it in the right way.?

That’s why I added a new category to the Procurement Rocks Hall of Fame…

Please help me welcome Apty, your Enterprise Software Value Realization Platform to the Procurement Rocks Hall of Fame!?

Apty is the only digital adoption solution that focuses on helping organizations fully utilize and realize the power of their supply chain and procurement technology stack.?

No more “I don’t know how to use that software.” Apty solves the “get people to use it” problem.?

Apty fixes the culture of resistance of adopting new tech, realizing true value from any software investment.

The company, people, and product rock! And they are offering a complimentary consultation for those who are interested in a solution that helps organizations that have the common problem of “our people aren’t using the tools we invested millions of dollars in.”

Apty empowers employees to adopt any software that you’ve already paid for and use it in the right way.

By effectively managing your procurement and supply chain tech stack and ensuring visibility, compliance, and software adoption, you can achieve the cost savings you need to prove a strong ROI for the systems and solutions your organization has implemented.?

These days we have to get creative to prevent ROI leakage and drive cost savings.

That’s why Apty is offering a complimentary consultation to discuss the lack of adoption in your tech stack and how it’s causing ROI leakage.

Click the link in the comments if you’d like to learn more about the big cost savings and ROI opportunity that already exists in your procurement tech stack without having to change a thing.

SCHEDULING LINK

* PWC Survey Results

mysupply

Excited to see mysupply featured in the German AI Startup Landscape of 2023 by appliedAI Institute for Europe gGmbh! ?appliedAI Institute for Europe gGmbH!

EqualLevel?

EqualLevel’s platform has empowered Tucson USD to enhance its purchasing processes, save money, streamline operations, and leverage innovative technology. By showcasing our collaboration, EqualLevel and TUSD have demonstrated how technology can be a game-changer in improving procurement efficiency and bolstering fiscal responsibility.

Learn more about EqualLevel Inc. and their recent collaboration with Tucson Unified School District. ?

Thank you for reading this edition of Procurement Legacy. I am grateful for all of your support and encouragement this year. I hope that you have a joyful holiday season with family and friends.?Merry Christmas!

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Coming soon

The Procurement Girl LIVE!?

Our next guest?Kelly Miller, CRO at Nitor Partners and author of Unexpected Joy, and Jill Robbins joins the show in December to discuss Procurement and to share their legacy.

We've got a rockstar lineup that will make you proud to work in Procurement.

Stay tuned...

We would love to hear your Procurement story if you're willing to share.

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Rock on!