Pulling off my vision!

In one of my former lives I fell in love with what I still do as work, negotiation! Better said…I fell in love with the fact that, what I did and still do today, touches so many lives in the organization and eventually, if properly executed, it supports the organization “bottom line”. And, simply said, I love my job because it is so much me. Me, my personality, how I think, interact and “analyze/plan/execute”. Yep there’ll be people who doubt that planning is a strength, quite the opposite, a nuisance on their way…but I can’t help myself.

After university, when I started my working career, I admit, I really didn’t predict what eventually was “my calling” and what I loved to do so much. I stumbled upon it, just by coincidence! And since then, I have been cultivating and nurturing it, to become the best in my field…Hold your horses…not there yet! For now, I have to settle for “I am good at it”.

One day, the fate brought me to Irdeto. More than 10 years went by since then.

When I started to work at Irdeto, the Procurement department didn’t really exist. There was just an “embryo” of what, no one would even refer to as, a Procurement department. Fast-forward 10 years and we have a fully formed Procurement department with Purchasing, Strategic Sourcing with influence on Indirect and Direct Procurement, strategic negotiations and…I could finally fully utilize my negotiation skills and been recognized for it.

It has been a journey for me worth to tell.

Re-wind 10 years. When I joined the company, I found a “green field”. What an opportunity! I had my vision and, despite the challenge ahead, I set my mind to do my best to accomplish it.

You might think “Oh yes, so ambitious, starting from...virtually nothing!” But it gave me so many opportunities, coupled with risks of course. I could not resist to lead a dangerous life in Procurement!

I saw the potential. I knew it could be achieved! What I needed was time, and “buy in” to make it a reality.

I can tell that it has not been an easy ride, with ups and downs, high turnover of colleagues and managers. I changed 7 direct managers in 10 years and every time I had to start all over to “sell” my vision and my skills. Some of those managers were more open to my ideas than others.

Colleagues left due to the high pressure and stress on an “immature” department that was constantly understaffed and underappreciated, often a reality in many companies. In most companies, Procurement is seen as an “obstacle” you can’t avoid but…if you could…Surely this reputation worth an article by itself…or maybe even two. Fact is, I truly believe it shouldn’t be an “obstacle” but an enabler.

One day, not by accident, I was travelling with a colleague to a conference. We had many hours to kill together in the train and, as I love to talk about my job, I shared my ideas and vision to the “poor” (because I talk a lot) listener. Later in the evening we had dinner with a larger group and he decided to sit close to me and…music to my ears…he desired to talk more about my job. At this point, keep in mind that not everything happens by accident!

At first he was intrigued by my passion for what I do, he was fascinated by the multiple aspects that my job covers and the multitude of activities and then he was almost dazzled by the variety of skills I needed to execute it. He eventually stated, “I have discovered a new rather interesting reality I didn’t know existed*. (*quote based on my best recollection).

That was it! He was brought into my world. He could see my vision and its potential to achieve the next level at Irdeto.

By that time, the Procurement department had matured and had become more visible and engaged with the business. I had successfully contributed to implement the P2P process, channeled negotiations and Purchase Agreements into the Procurement Department and I was involved in more and more strategic negotiations and strategic relationships management. However due to my workload and the one of my team, I knew that I still was short on my vision. What was still in my bucket list for the Department was:

• Visibly, support and validation at “C” level
• A sit at the table with the “Decision Makers”
• Be recognized as a “profit center”

It takes time to evangelize!

When the priorities are to support the bottom line…well, that took the precedence, leaving behind what I had set in my heart to accomplish.

That’s where my travelling companion fits in! A few years ago, Rob took a new position at Irdeto, he became the Director of Finance and Procurement Department! That was it! A new opportunity that could enabled Procurement to unlock the next level!

Thanks to his skills, his believe in our shared vision and his enthusiasm, there was finally the opportunity and manpower for the next move, stepping up our game.

The new journey began and since then, so many things evolved. Like a domino effect, one tile hit another and slowly but surely steadily, we hit the next milestone and…today we have a sit at the table with the “Decision Makers” and we are recognized as a “profit center”.

Let’s make it clear it doesn’t take one person to do it, it takes a vision, at least one believer and it takes a team to execute it…and not any team but the right people with the right skills and the right set of mind! I am so proud to say that our team succeeded!

A surely long journey for me, less long for other team members however, all aligned from one vision and with the same goal and values. Now united even more to achieve the next level:

Buying Right

Process Light

Data Tight

And…the next level has just started! Stay tuned.

I owe a few thank you to those that enabled and supported this achievement, providing me with this amazing journey and opportunity.

Thank you, @RobZoon for your endurance on that train journey, to listen to my “passion” and later on supporting this amazing ride to achieve what is now our vision, that you so greatly enhanced and encouraged.

Thank you to our CFO that supported us creating the opportunities for the team to step up and position ourselves into the fabric of the organization.

Thank you to the business that has walked with us during this long and amazing transformation.