How can a procurement relationship evolve into something more?

Michael Niehoff (Fresno Unified School District) and Doug Hassett (Amazon Business) reflect on how their collaboration sparked the creation of the Amazon Future Leaders Program. What started as a practical need evolved into a program that gives students hands-on logistics experience, builds critical soft skills, and opens doors to new career paths while advancing their educational mission.

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What role do data-driven insights play in transforming procurement?

Amy Hooker from Shaw Industries Group and Rajiv Bhatnagar from Amazon Business explore how leveraging analytics reduces inefficiencies, enhances compliance, and drives strategic decision-making across organizations.

To learn more about Business Analytics, visit: https://business.amazon.com/en/solutions/spend-insights/business-analytics

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What are the hidden costs of manual reconciliation?

Kevin Permenter from IDC and Lak Palani from Amazon Business share insights from IDC research and explore how automation boosts productivity and transforms financial operations.

How can procurement drive efficiency and economic impact?

Today, Intuit takes us inside their procurement transformation story with Chief Procurement Officer Emma Chontos and Director of Procurement Kelly Mathis. From developing Swift – a simple, AI-powered entry point into procurement that routes requests, connects people to the right solutions, and helps them move with speed and clarity – to supporting small and climate-conscious suppliers, see how Intuit's $530M annual economic impact starts with purposeful purchasing decisions. Their approach shows how procurement can drive both business efficiency and broader economic value.

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How can over 100 years of history meet cutting-edge innovation?

Evergreen Goodwill of Northwest Washington is showing the way. In this episode, Libby Johnson McKee, CEO and President of Evergreen Goodwill, shares how her team is redefining the circular economy through forward-thinking logistics, local recycling partnerships, and innovative reuse strategies. Learn how Evergreen Goodwill keeps 89 million pounds of items – close to 75% of all donations – out of landfills, with proceeds fueling job training and education programs that address growing needs for digital literacy and digital equity in Washington communities.

We’ll also explore how Amazon Business helps power their operations, from tackling transportation challenges with Business Prime to supporting the new Georgetown facility's logistics hub. Libby discusses how technology, sustainability, and community impact go hand in hand, and why people remain at the heart of Goodwill’s mission: “People, Planet, Purpose.”

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How can transit systems modernize their purchasing process to better serve their community?

The Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District, also known as AC Transit, is the largest public bus-only system in California, the 3rd largest bus-only transit agency in the United States and currently serves 1.5 million East Bay Area residents. AC Transit’s mission is to deliver safe, reliable, and sustainability transit services and they have a fierce commitment to environmental sustainability, equity, and innovation. Our guest, Chellate Young, shares insights around how AC Transit leverages business buying tools to meet their procurement goals, while also adhering to federal and state purchasing regulations and supporting Small Business Enterprises and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises. Learn how they’re leveraging procurement tools to serve East Bay residents, help maintain compliance, and drive buyer behavior.

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How can procurement create more value for public agencies and their communities?

In this episode, discover how Multnomah County's collaboration with Amazon Business evolved from emergency purchasing to supporting vital community programs through grant funding and strategic buying. Shawn Postera from Multnomah County shares insights on managing large-scale projects while creating value that aligns with community needs—from supporting local vendors and serving low-income communities with essential supplies to providing disability services and advancing sustainability goals. Learn how they're reshaping purchasing to be better stewards of public funds while serving their community's diverse needs.

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Mark your calendars! Prime Big Deal Days is coming October 7-8. Visit amazon.com/primebigdealdays to take advantage of savings opportunities.

How is AI changing procurement?

Pierre Mitchell from Spend Matters shares insights from the recent AI Leadership Guide and explores real-world examples of AI adoption across procurement. Tune in to learn practical steps for teams starting their AI journey and what’s next for leaders in this space.

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the Smart Business Buying Podcast to stay up to date. For the full research, visit: https://business.amazon.com/en/cp/ai-leadership-guide-procurement