Buying for work can be just as easy as buying for home. When we share approaches and collaborate, it becomes even simpler. The Smart Business Buying Podcast speaks to purchasing professionals looking to stay informed on industry trends and solve challenging problems. Hear from industry experts and leaders as they share trends, stories, and tools for smarter purchasing.
S3E5: Overcoming procurement challenges in the public sector
How do government and nonprofit organizations tackle procurement and resource management challenges in the face of limited resources and strict compliance requirements?
Hear from professionals at the City of North Miami Beach, Chickasaw Nation, and Vinfen Corporation as they share insights on navigating compliance, educating stakeholders, addressing food insecurity, and building scalable systems. Discover how collaboration and compliance play a crucial role in achieving success in public sector procurement.
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18 Mar 2026
S3E4: Responding to emergency procurement
Ever wondered how organizations handle the urgent need to support people during global crises?
This episode features Laura Shojaei from International Rescue Committee (IRC), who reveals how effective emergency procurement goes beyond everyday buying: requiring agility, strategy, and smart use of solutions like Amazon Business. Discover key takeaways on building supply chain resilience and supporting humanitarian efforts worldwide, and learn how you can apply these insights to your own organization.
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3 Mar 2026
S3E3: Advancing mission-based outcomes in education
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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23 Feb 2026
S3E2: Shifting the culture of procurement with data-driven insights
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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6 Feb 2026
S3E1: Automating reconciliation for efficiency
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.
19 Nov 2025
S2E7: Powering prosperity through purposeful procurement
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. If you enjoyed this episode, follow the Smart Business Buying Podcast to stay up to date.
5 Nov 2025
S2E6: Innovating for impact in the circular economy
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.” If you enjoyed this episode, follow the Smart Business Buying Podcast to stay up to date.
15 Oct 2025
S2E5: Driving sustainability and equity through public transit procurement
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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1 Oct 2025
S2E4: Creating a value chain through purchasing
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. If you enjoyed this episode, follow the Smart Business Buying Podcast to stay up to date. Mark your calendars! Prime Big Deal Days is coming October 7-8. Visit amazon.com/primebigdealdays to take advantage of savings opportunities.
17 Sept 2025
S2E3: Leading with AI in procurement
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.
How do hospitals and clinics work with suppliers to keep care running smoothly? When delivering exceptional patient care, reliable operations are essential. Dr. Michael Ash from Nebraska Medicine shares how their health system manages daily operations across multiple facilities while advancing medical care and research. In this episode, we’ll explore how they approach supplier partnerships, resource management, and operational strategies to maintain quality care. Learn how they're reshaping healthcare operations while staying focused on their core mission of transforming lives through exceptional care. If you enjoyed this insightful discussion, follow the Smart Business Buying Podcast for more.
21 Aug 2025
S2E1: Celebrating 10 years with Amazon Business
How have customers and Amazon Business helped shape each other's growth over the years? In our season two premiere, Ray Hsu from the University of Washington, one of our earliest customers, reflects on their decade-long journey with Amazon Business. Explore how this collaboration has evolved over the years, improving campus efficiency and maximizing resources. Plus, hear from Todd Heimes of Amazon Business as he shares insights into our beginnings and vision for the future. If you enjoyed this episode, follow the Smart Business Buying Podcast to stay up to date.
13 Aug 2025
Introducing Season Two
Welcome to the second season of the Smart Business Buying Podcast. Host Brit Moorer and new co-host Kelly Rogers expand on last season's foundation with deeper insights into today's purchasing landscape. Join us bi-weekly as we connect with industry leaders, procurement experts, and peers to deliver fresh perspectives and explore tools and tips for smarter purchasing. Follow today to stay up to date.
18 Mar 2025
S1E5: Building stronger university supplier partnerships
Are your suppliers helping you stay on mission?
In our first season finale, Greg Muller shares how UC San Diego sparks innovation and cultivates strong supplier partnerships to support the university’s vision and community. Tune in to hear about their strategic approach and how they’re also using technology to simplify processes.
If you enjoyed this insightful discussion, follow the Smart Business Buying Podcast for more and stay tuned for Season 2.
11 Mar 2025
S1E4: Overcoming purchasing challenges in credit unions
What if having full visibility into spending data can help your organization save tens of thousands of dollars?
In this fourth episode of the season, Barb Lowman from CUNA Strategic Services explores economic trends and purchasing challenges within the financial services industry. Discover how credit unions empower their branches with smarter purchasing by using data-driven insights and strategic relationships to reduce costs while maintaining autonomy.
If you enjoyed this episode, follow the Smart Business Buying Podcast for more industry insights and stories.
4 Mar 2025
S1E3: Redefining cooperative purchasing in higher ed
How can universities maximize their resources?
In this third episode of the season, Jamon Hill shares how the University of North Texas System looks beyond cost savings to create long-term value through cooperative procurement. Learn how they're collaborating with other institutions to make more impactful purchasing decisions.
If you enjoyed this great discussion, follow the Smart Business Buying Podcast for more insights.
25 Feb 2025
S1E2: Navigating through cross-border purchasing
What does it take to successfully expand a company's purchasing footprint globally?
In this second episode of the season, Katherine Vaillancourt shares how Samuel, Son & Co., Limited — a leading metals and industrial products manufacturer, processor, and distributor — successfully expanded its purchasing operations across North America. Katherine highlights the key drivers and strategies that have contributed to their growth, such as leveraging data and building strong relationships in new markets.
If you enjoyed this insightful conversation, follow the Smart Business Buying Podcast to stay up to date.
18 Feb 2025
S1E1: Diving into the procurement skills for the future
What skills will define the future of procurement?
Host Brit Moorer sits down with Vaibhav Sahgal (Economist Impact) and Oloyede Olumide (Amazon Business) to discuss findings from the recent Economist Impact "Procurement skills for the future" report.
This first episode of the season covers how priorities in procurement are shifting, the impact of technology adoption, and the challenges organizations face in addressing skills gaps.
If you enjoyed this episode, follow the Smart Business Buying Podcast to stay up to date. For the full research, visit amazonbusiness.com/podcast.
7 Feb 2025
Welcome to the Smart Business Buying Podcast
Amazon Business introduces the Smart Business Buying Podcast, a new podcast series designed for purchasing professionals. From trends to solutions and stories, Amazon Business will bring insights from industry experts and leaders to help you make better decisions when buying for work. New episodes air monthly. Follow to stay up to date.
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5.0 / 5
12 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
16 ratings
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