Focus on Procurement interview – Sophia Hadef

Where are you from?

I'm from Paris, France. I grew up there and only moved abroad in my twenties. I've now been living in Ireland for almost 6 years.

What did you train in and where did you study?

My academic background wasn’t originally procurement focused. I studied music business in London, literature in Paris, and journalism in Galway, a truly international experience that shaped my perspective.

More recently, I’ve been pursuing a high-level certification in purchasing and procurement, aiming to become an expert in the field.

What attracted you to a role in procurement? And what keeps you here?

Procurement is at the heart of how businesses and economies function, but what drew me in was its balance between strategy and problem-solving.

I love the challenge of navigating supplier relationships, mitigating risks, and ensuring the best outcomes for an organisation. What keeps me here is the constant evolution, no 2 days are the same.

Global supply chains, sustainability, and technological advancements mean there’s always something new to learn and improve. We work within a set of regulations for the European Union that all 27 member states share so they are complex and run to hundreds of pages across 4 separate regimes (general, utilities, defence and concessions).

A huge part of my journey has been my team at Keystone, who have been incredibly supportive in helping me understand the complexities of procurement. Their guidance and expertise have made this field even more engaging, and I learn from them every day.

It’s a truly studious and rewarding experience to work alongside them in the consultancy world, gaining insights that continuously shape my perspective.

What advice would you give anyone considering a career in procurement?

Be curious and adaptable. Procurement is more than just buying, it’s about strategy, negotiation, risk management, and sustainability. A strong foundation in business, economics, or supply chain management can help, but so can a broad, multidisciplinary background.

Never underestimate the value of networking, continuous learning, and staying informed about market trends. Most importantly, don’t let self-doubt hold you back. This is a field where critical thinking and a willingness to learn matter more than having all the answers upfront.

What are 3 things the public do not know about the role of procurement in their lives?

Procurement shapes what’s available on the market. The choices procurement professionals make influence what products, services, and innovations reach consumers. It’s a key player in sustainability.

Ethical sourcing, reducing waste, and selecting sustainable suppliers all depend on procurement decisions. And it's quite critical in crisis management. Whether during pandemics, natural disasters, or conflicts, procurement ensures essential goods, medical supplies, food, and emergency infrastructure, are delivered where they’re needed most.

Can you detail your top 3 achievements from your time in procurement?

Adapting quickly to a complex field, I immersed myself in procurement and developed a strong understanding of the industry, navigating challenges with a hands-on approach. I have worked on some interesting projects like procuring security for major national festivals like the St Patrick’s day parade in Dublin city.

I have also worked on tenders for electoral logistics (how ballots get printed, distributed, issued to voters, collected and then brought to count centres for manual counting). At this stage the key thing is adaptability and being open to working on tenders, regardless of the sector, category or area.

I am developing a brand-new suite of materials for our supplier education training (bid management) right now, so that’s been fun. All procurement people should be able to put themselves in the shoes of the people responding, you’ll write better tenders if you do and get more competition.

What is the most exciting thing happening in procurement right now?

A significant shift towards sustainability and digital transformation. In both France and Ireland, companies are adopting more transparent and ethical sourcing practices, driven by new regulations and consumer demand.

The integration of AI and automation into procurement processes is also transforming efficiency, making strategic decision-making faster and more data-driven.

Can you talk about the impact COVID-19 had on procurement practices that you observed?

From my research and discussions with colleagues and mentors at Keystone Procurement, COVID-19 exposed the vulnerabilities of global supply chains.

The sudden demand shocks, transport restrictions, and supplier shutdowns forced procurement teams to become more agile, diversify supply sources, and strengthen risk management.

The crisis accelerated the adoption of digital procurement tools and reinforced the importance of strong supplier relationships and local sourcing. I don’t know about Aotearoa, but it exposed huge weaknesses in the cold chain in Ireland and there was almost total dependency on the private sector for vaccine distribution and storage.

How did the pandemic impact you and influence your outlook?

It reinforced the idea procurement isn’t just about cost, it’s about resilience.

Seeing how supply chains were disrupted and how organisations adapted made me appreciate the strategic importance of procurement even more. It also strengthened my belief in sustainability and the need for more robust, ethical, and transparent sourcing practices.

The procurement directives are under review in the EU now and strategic autonomy is a key focus of them so this bears testament to the lessons of COVID and unstable geopolitics in general.

You’ve written a piece on how procurement can play a role in balancing operational demands and humanitarian efforts amidst significant ethical, logistical, and security challenges. What motivated you to explore this issue and what did you find out?

I was drawn to this topic because procurement decisions don’t just impact businesses, they affect people’s lives, especially in crises.

Whether in disaster relief, refugee aid, or conflict zones, procurement plays a vital role in getting essential goods to those who need them while balancing cost, efficiency, and ethics.

Through my research, I found the most effective procurement strategies in these situations involve collaboration between governments, NGOs, and private companies, ensuring transparency, accountability, and rapid response. Keystone works with funded bodies (NGOs) domestically and internationally.

How can people working in procurement help their communities, especially if those communities enter a conflict? Any advice for procurement professionals on what to do once the conflict ends?

Procurement professionals can support their communities by prioritising ethical sourcing, securing essential supplies, and working with organisations that provide aid. During conflicts, ensuring the continuity of supply chains for food, medicine, and infrastructure is critical.

Post-conflict, the focus should shift to rebuilding supply networks, supporting local businesses, and fostering long-term economic stability through responsible sourcing.

Some practical advice is, no matter the circumstances (even if you’re bluffing), get 3 quotes. In a crisis, the seller can often be as desperate as the buyer. They don’t know you don’t have another quote so negotiate, negotiate, negotiate.

Another key point is if a supplier is key in a crisis, you have co-dependency. Treat them well and like colleagues. Be hard on problems, not on people. Emotional intelligence and good judgement are important skills.

In an ideal world where you were not confined by a budget, what would you introduce to procurement that could help the industry function and develop?

I would invest in advanced AI-driven supply chain analytics and advanced secure workflows for full transparency in sourcing. This would ensure ethical practices, reduce waste, and create more resilient supply chains.

Additionally, I’d fund global procurement training programmes to equip professionals with the most up to date skills needed to navigate future challenges.

In your opinion, what is New Zealand’s greatest contribution to the procurement community, either locally or internationally?

New Zealand has been a leader in sustainable procurement, particularly in its approach to government contracts and environmental responsibility. You have more flexibility than EU members to reflect your national priorities within World Trade Organisation’s rules.

The emphasis in New Zealand on social procurement (for example, Te Puni Kōkiri – Māori reserved contracts) ensuring that purchasing decisions benefit communities and causes with a social value, is something the rest of the world could learn from.

It’s a fascinating place to study in terms of how procurement can drive both economic and social progress. Hopefully, I’ll have the opportunity to visit someday and explore it firsthand!