When you relish the hard problems, courage, culture and vision turn challenges into the spark of business success.
In this episode, host Martina Buchhauser speaks with Barbara Stolle-Amedick, Global Head of Supply Chain Management, Transformers Business at Hitachi Energy, about the journey of repositioning procurement inside a 100-year-old organisation.
Barbara explains how her team moved beyond being seen as “order writers” to becoming recognised as business enablers. She shares how silos were broken down and replaced with a truly end-to-end organisation, why culture and leadership proved just as vital as process and KPIs, and how recognition was built step by step, both internally and externally.
This is a story of transformation driven not by big-bang change, but by consistency, transparency, and the courage to push for more. It shows how procurement can thrive as a trusted partner and become a key driver of company-wide success.
You’ll learn:
1. How transparency, vision and courage can dismantle silos and build trust
2. Why people, culture and leadership matter as much as processes
3. How to move from “order writing” to enabling business success
4. How end-to-end structures and KPIs deliver speed and recognition
5. How to grow supplier partnerships into long-term success factors
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Get in touch with Barbara Stolle-Amedick on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbara-stolle-amedick-45a381156/
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About the host Martina Buchhauser:
Martina Buchhauser is a global leader with extensive knowledge of the automotive industry, and its shift towards sustainable technologies and low-carbon business practices. Her leadership journey includes executive roles in Global Procurement and Supply Chain Networks at General Motors, MAN, BMW, and Volvo Cars, where she served as Chief Procurement Officer and on the management board. She is a senior advisor at H&Z Management Consulting and a non-executive director on several company boards. Martina enjoys hiking, golfing, and skiing, and values time with her family and friends from around the world. She is passionate about leadership and actively engaged in developing and promoting talent.
Get in touch with Martina Buchhauser on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martina-buchhauser/
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The Procurement Initiative Leaders Podcast is powered by H&Z Management Consulting in collaboration with SAWOO.