New York starts early and means business – that was the first of many lessons from Procurement Leaders’ Next Decade Series.

Whether yours is an industry characterised by cautious growth or facing another bleak winter, there’s no ignoring the increasing intensity of the cash flow struggle across key sectors.

Global risk hasn't made the headlines in recent months the way that it dominated last year's agenda, yet the signals coming from China and the lull in the commodity markets look like they could be big warning signs for the coming months.

Say what you will about the direction of the global economy, the commodity markets have remained sharply in focus this year and put pressure on margins, even if the pattern of dangerously high prices has been less endemic than it was at points last year.

It wasn’t that long ago that one of the most recognisable carmakers in the Western world was in trouble. Procurement’s part in it’s turnaround was both telling and dramatic.

Mickey North Rizza is not only a well-known voice of authority for procurement and supply chain professionals – she’s also frank and honest about where function heads need to direct their attention.

Last year I wrote about the tremendous opportunity procurement has to become a more strategic asset by collaborating more closely with finance. This has been a common theme in discussions with many CPOs regarding the future of procurement.

While Chicago was jumping with ideas and innovation at our Forum, some big shifts were abound elsewhere in the procurement world.

Earthquakes, rising fuel prices, diversity - there’s any number of reasons for the business to coming knocking on the CPO’s door. We’ve looked a lot this week at where the bigger issues are and how procurement has been reacting.

Bertrand Russell and Bjork are sitting across a packed table putting the world to rights. If you’ve ever played the ‘dream dinner party’ game, you might know what I’m on about – imagine a scenario where you can pick interesting or influential figures to sit round a table together. What would they talk about? What might they achieve? OK – now try the same with procurement professionals...