We have a tradition on The Sourcing Hero podcast: at the end of every episode, host Kelly Barner asks the guest what their idea of heroism looks like in sourcing or in business. Every answer is unique, spontaneous, and authentic. They’re sometimes funny, even a little surprising, but often full of insight and truth.
And then, every now and again, we come across that rare gem of a guest who is so inspiring and thought-provoking in their wisdom that we just have to revisit them.
Defining Moments of Heroism
Here’s a look back at the most memorable responses in 2024 from James Lowry, Lisa Haitz, and Hugo Sanchez, who each have a unique perspective on what makes a true sourcing hero and how you can become one too.
These leaders show us, through their thoughtfulness and experience, that being a hero in business isn’t just about individual success, but about making a lasting impact, challenging the status quo, and always doing the right thing to help others, even when it’s difficult.
James Lowry: Heroes See the Bigger Picture
Episode 185: A Specific Vision for Fostering Minority-owned Business Growth
James Lowry has been a dedicated advocate for advancing minority-owned business growth and opportunity since the 1960s. An advisor at Boston Consulting Group, his career includes time at McKinsey, Toyota, the Peace Corps, and the Kellogg School of Management.
James is much more than an advisor, though – he’s a pioneer in supplier diversity and business equity who has dedicated much of his professional life to creating opportunities for minority-owned businesses. He has seen heroism in many different contexts over the years. In fact, he’s a business hero himself.
Legacy and integrity are true markers of heroism in business, according to James:
“You will be a hero if you hit or even go past and exceed your goals. You leave behind not only the achievement of the goals, but you did it with quality. You did it with honor. And if you do that, you go to bed and you feel good.
I’m in my 80s, and I’ve devoted my whole life to this. I’ve affected change in a lot of corporations and governments, both federal, state, and local. I feel good because if I meet my maker, I feel that I have had an impact and that’s very important. It’s a larger question – we all have to think beyond next quarter.”
Lisa Haitz: Heroes Challenge the Status Quo
Episode 164: Aligning Procurement and Legal Operations
Lisa Haitz has over 20 years of experience in finance, legal, commercial operations, sourcing, and procurement. As a strategic sourcing and procurement advisor and fractional CPO, Lisa understands the transformative power of speaking up, challenging the status quo, and pushing the business to become the best it can be, even when it pushes back.
It’s not easy to rally people around change, but business heroes know how to face this resistance with persistence, energy, and an unwavering eye towards what they’re trying to achieve.
“Heroism in business is being brave and not being afraid to raise your hand when you see something that you think can be done better, can be done differently. It’s about not being afraid to put yourself out there and do the right thing.
If you really want to leave a legacy, be brave and raise your hand, even if it’s just a small piece and challenge people to think differently. It’s really hard, especially when organizations are slow to change or the people you work with don’t want to change, so it requires a lot of energy to be brave and continue to push change.”
Hugo Sanchez: Heroes are Helpers
Episode 183: Reflections of a Procurement Optimist
Hugo Sanchez is an eternal optimist. That optimism and a willingness to put people and relationships first makes his interpretation of heroism especially tangible for sourcing and procurement professionals.
Hugo is a Senior Category Manager for supplies and MRO in the commercial real estate industry, and he views everyday heroism in business through the lens of connection, creativity, and problem solving.
According to Hugo, heroes turn potential business disasters into success stories, they listen to and care about their stakeholders’ needs and perspectives, and they are relied on by the business as dependable problem-solvers who are always on hand to help.
“A sourcing hero is someone who knows how to be a good listener and knows how to be creative and manage the situation they’re put in without being oppressive or dismissive. And they ask questions. Because we’re never going to have the silver bullet 100% of the time, but if we can come close to that, I think we’re going to be seen as heroes in our stakeholders eyes.
The stakeholder is going to see you as that shining light who will come to the rescue every time. So a hero is someone who is willing to help. Look for the helpers. Be that helper.”
Defining Heroism on Your Own Terms
As you can see from these three examples, there are as many types of heroes as there are people. Everyone has their own perspective on what makes a hero, and everyone has the opportunity to step up and be one.
What does the idea of a sourcing hero mean to YOU? If you are interested in participating in an upcoming episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, reach out and let us know!
