881: Owning Transformation: How to Successfully Lead Procurement Through Change W/ Gretchen Vance

"Don't ask AI to do something that you don't know how to do yourself." - Gretchen Vance, Vice President Procurement at Forest Lawn Parks and Mortuaries

Procurement transformation often comes down to a leader's willingness to push for change, even when the path forward requires taking a risk. For Gretchen Vance, Vice President of Procurement at Forest Lawn Parks and Mortuaries, that once meant putting two pieces of paper on her CFO's desk: a proposal for an e-procurement system and her resignation.

In this episode, Philip Ideson speaks with Gretchen about the transformation she has led during her 18 years at Forest Lawn, from digitizing a previously paper-based purchasing function to taking responsibility for the full procure-to-pay process. She shares how procurement supports Forest Lawn's deeply service-oriented mission and why that same commitment to service shapes the suppliers her team chooses to work with.

Gretchen also offers a practical perspective on AI. Her team is already using it to analyze data, support RFQs, and streamline contract reviews, but she is clear that procurement professionals still need the knowledge and judgment to recognize when an AI-generated answer is wrong. She discusses why digitization and good data matter, how bringing procurement and AP together can strengthen supplier relationships, and what it takes to lead people through continued change.

In this episode, Gretchen also explains how to:

-Build supplier relationships around shared culture and purpose

-Position procurement as a problem-solving partner to the business

-Use AI to save time without sacrificing human expertise and judgment

-Create a strong data foundation for digitization and AI

-Connect procurement and AP to improve the end-to-end supplier experience

-Take calculated risks when meaningful transformation requires leadership commitment

-Embrace continuous learning and change as a procurement leader

Links:

Gretchen Vance on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gretchen-vance-cpsm-6869794a/ 

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