Cultural Adaptability and Soft Skills: A New Era in Procurement with Canberk Incekara

In this episode, Martin Smith interviews Canberk Incekara, Head of Indirect Procurement at OCS. Canberk shares his extensive experience in procurement and supply chains, discussing the evolution of the industry, the importance of understanding the end-to-end value chain, and the challenges of navigating external factors like COVID and Brexit.  He emphasises the need for a balance between globalisation and local support, the significance of soft skills in talent management, and the changing expectations of the new generation in the workforce.  The conversation also touches on cultural adaptability in negotiations, with Canberk discussing the differences between Turkey and the UK. He also discusses the importance of retaining talent through job satisfaction and growth opportunities.   Takeaways   · Canberk’s journey reflects the interconnectedness of procurement and supply chain. · Understanding the total cost of ownership is crucial in procurement. · COVID and Brexit have reshaped procurement strategies. · Supporting local businesses is essential in a globalised market. · Procurement is evolving into a more strategic function. · Cultural adaptability is key in international negotiations. · Soft skills are increasingly important in talent management. · Retention challenges stem from new generation expectations. · Transferable skills in procurement can apply across industries. · Agility in approach is necessary for success in procurement. Chapters  00:00 Journey Through Procurement and Supply Chain 02:23 End-to-End Value Chains 04:42 External Factors in Supply Chain 06:00 Globalisation and Local Support 09:09 The Evolution of Procurement 12:52 Cultural Adaptability 16:17 Talent in Procurement 19:30 Retention Challenges 22:08 Transferable Skills 23:34 Quickfire Questions