Key Takeaways from the Conversation

Great Teams Are Built on Trust, Not Just Performance

Shawn shares a career-defining moment when he realised that high performers who don’t collaborate can be toxic to teams. His leadership approach now focuses on team dynamics, shared goals, and ensuring that success is about "we" rather than "I".

How to Identify the Right People: Attitude Over Skills

Hiring the right people isn’t just about qualifications. Shawn always looks for:

• Team players over individual performers – People who put shared success ahead of personal gain.
• Growth mindset over experience – A willingness to learn is more valuable than a perfect résumé.
• Humility and self-awareness – The best employees can accept when they’re wrong and learn from it.

The Supplier-Client Relationship Needs a Reset

Too many businesses still treat suppliers as transactional vendors rather than strategic partners. Shawn explains why procurement leaders must:

• View suppliers as extensions of their teams – Collaboration creates more value than a "lowest cost wins" mentality.
• Invest in long-term supplier relationships – Short-term savings often lead to long-term supply chain risks.
• Create an ecosystem of mutual benefit – Companies that support supplier growth will gain better service, innovation, and resilience.

Why Some Companies Struggle to Retain Suppliers

Companies often push for supplier transparency without building enough trust first. Suppliers fear that revealing too much will lead to price-cutting tactics or margin squeezes. Shawn explains how companies can:

• Earn supplier trust by demonstrating fair, long-term partnerships.
• Use data responsibly, focusing on collaboration rather than negotiation leverage.
• Embrace technology (like blockchain) to improve supply chain transparency without compromising relationships.

Game Theory and Leaderships: How to Prepare for the Unexpected

Shawn shares how he uses game theory principles to train teams for real-world disruption. One of his key techniques? Role-playing crisis scenarios with a "three lives" approach—letting teams experiment with different decisions to understand consequences before they happen.

Final Thoughts: The Future of Leadership & Procurement

Shawn believes that businesses that prioritise relationships—both internally and externally—will outperform those that focus solely on short-term gains. Whether leading a team, working with suppliers, or adopting new technology, the winning formula is:

• Trust first, transactions second
• Attitude matters more than experience
• Invest in partnerships, not just processes
• Embrace disruption before it forces change