______________ __________________________________________________________________________________ Main Interview
room , as well as the only woman in the room . I was always coached that I am in the room to speak up , add value , and create change , so that ’ s how I approached my leadership role .
“ Although I have faced some adversity , I always had the confidence to provide feedback and challenge norms . However , sometimes women get labeled as aggressive when in reality we are being assertive . This stereotype remains a challenge for women who own their role , create their space , and challenge norms , so we must educate people on the difference between being aggressive and assertive .”
To connect women across the procurement industry , Amanda set up the Global Women Procurement Professionals ( GWPP ) organization . “ I can ’ t claim to have started the vision for the organization , as it was started by a gentleman called Michael Shaw who approached me to kickstart the organization ,” she explains . “ Michael had the idea when he was interacting with two women in procurement who lived only five miles apart but didn ’ t know each other .
“ As an active individual within the community , Michael approached me to leverage my extensive network of contacts . When I started researching the issue , I could not believe there is not one global organization focused on women in procurement . We still have a long way to go within procurement and I recognized the importance of having an organization where women can support one another and get the support they need to really grow and thrive in the profession .
“ We launched our first event in San Francisco in March 2020 , shortly before the pandemic , which forced us to host virtual events . We ’ re currently in the middle of relaunching GWPP , ensuring there is always space for women to share both their challenges and success stories .”
Realizing potential
Amanda ’ s broad understanding of the industry is sure to accelerate Wonder Services ’ further growth and success as new technologies and advancements emerge . As an advocate for women , we ’ re also looking forward to seeing how Amanda will continue to connect and amplify women through her work in the GWPP .
Amanda shares her vision : “ I am committed to building an organization that can genuinely and seamlessly support company transformations . As businesses increasingly realize that they need to adapt to new , ever-evolving expectations , I ’ d like to see Wonder Services capitalize on these opportunities and grow into a boutique firm . However , we ’ re preparing behind the scenes for a slight shift in our strategy as we move away from large scale AI deployments and towards smaller , more focused projects , which equally require strong change management .
“ From an industry perspective , the ways in which procurement is organized will be subject to change ,” she concludes . “ AI will play a huge role in how procurement is organized , and I also anticipate less focus on driving cost savings and instead a commitment to adding overall value to an organization .” ■
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