From Newbie to Leader: My Leadership Journey in Public Procurement

My initial introduction to procurement was through the private sector, where I did retail wholesale work for several years. However, the demanding travel schedule took its toll. At a certain point it didn’t work well with my lifestyle, so I transitioned to public procurement without knowing much about it at all.

Today, I lead a team of 31 people and am responsible for over $1 billion in spending at the City of Mississauga. The journey hasn’t always been easy, but I have been fortunate to have some great mentors and excellent training opportunities through NIGP to help me get to where I am today. I am excited to lead a team of procurement professionals and help them achieve their career and leadership goals.

My Experiences with NIGP

I’ve been involved with NIGP throughout my public procurement career. It started with me taking courses and eventually earning my NIGP-CPP certification. Things really escalated once I became the chair of the Ontario Public Buyers Association (OPBA), which is one of the few NIGP chapters in Canada.

One of the most valuable experiences for me was attending the NIGP Leadership Summit. I'll admit, as an introvert, the sheer number of people was a bit overwhelming at first. But the warm welcome from other chapter leaders and the engaging sessions quickly put me at ease. I was able to connect with peers, learn about their chapter initiatives, and bring back ideas to implement with my own team.

For example, we've been discussing ways to foster more cross-collaboration between our chapter and others, one example is sending staff to conferences like the NIGP Forum. The insights I gained on how different chapters engage their members have been invaluable. Even though the legal frameworks may differ between the US and Canada, there's so much we can learn from each other.

Beyond the formal programming, the informal networking at the Leadership Summit was just as impactful. I was able to have those "aha" moments in casual conversations, brainstorming solutions to common challenges. Building those personal connections with fellow leaders has been vital to my growth.

My Leadership Approach

Building personal connections is really the heart of my leadership approach. I prioritize cultivating genuine relationships and empowering my team. I've been fortunate to have had a fantastic mentor early in my career who showed me the power of an open-door policy and leading with empathy. I've tried to instill that in my own management style.

My team knows they can come to me directly with questions or ideas without worrying about hierarchy. I make a point to learn about their lives outside of work and celebrate their successes, big and small. This is particularly important for our remote team members who don’t have the chance for small interactions in person throughout the day. And when I see that spark of leadership potential among my team, I actively seek out opportunities to help them shine, whether it's encouraging them to take on speaking engagements or tackle new projects.

Advice for Up-and-Coming Leaders

Here’s my advice for procurement professionals looking to get more involved with NIGP.

Take the leap

The only way to get involved is to get started! Attend a local chapter meeting to get to know other procurement professionals outside of your organization. Then, consider attending national events, like the Edge leadership development program at Leadership Summit, or NIGP Forum. The connections and insights you'll gain at the chapter and national level are so critical for developing your leadership skills.

Get outside your comfort zone

Don’t be shy! The NIGP community is incredibly welcoming and supportive. Volunteer for a position that interests you and see where it takes you.

Be open-minded

NIGP’s leadership programs will introduce you to some ideas that might seem too far outside the box or inapplicable to your organization. However, I encourage you to be open-minded. Instead of writing off an idea at the start, think about how you can adapt it to your organization or career goals. Go in as a blank slate, then parse out the pieces that apply most to you as a leader.

I'm excited to see where this leadership journey takes me next. Maybe I'll even take the leap and do some speaking of my own at an upcoming NIGP event. In the meantime, I'm grateful for the chance to learn from and give back to this wonderful organization as I continue growing as a leader in public procurement.