AI in Action How IBM uses data and AI to modernize procurement
10 snips
Jan 13, 2026 Lorie Meola, Chief Procurement Officer at IBM, shares her insights on transforming procurement with data and AI. She discusses how embracing 'good-enough' data fosters faster insights and informed decisions. Lorie emphasizes the cultural shifts needed for digital transformation, highlighting the importance of leadership support. She reveals how agentic AI streamlines operations, allowing teams to focus on high-value tasks, and shares impressive outcomes, including over $2 billion saved in early results. Lorie's unique journey from math teacher to CPO adds depth to her perspective on effective leadership.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
CEO Question That Sparked Urgency
- Lorie Meola recalled taking two and a half days to answer a CEO question about a vendor and feeling horrified by the delay.
- That moment crystallized the emotional need to transform procurement beyond just intellectual recognition.
Culture Is As Much A Constraint As Data
- Slow responses were caused by both fragmented data and a culture of excessive checking and fear of imperfection.
- Fixing culture and reducing layers of approval mattered as much as fixing systems.
Good-Enough Data Beats Perfection
- Lorie Meola realized procurement data only needs to be 'good enough' to make progress and build trust.
- She emphasized transparent labeling of gaps so stakeholders remain forgiving and engaged.