822: Active Communication as a Procurement Game Changer W/ Jack Skerry

"You really have to intimately understand what the organization needs out of you, and that happens through good discourse, good conversation, good communication." - Jack Skerry, Vice President of Supply Chain, Moosehead Breweries

Transforming procurement performance demands more than technical expertise.

Senior leaders know that without strong communication skills like active listening, transparency, and empathetic engagement, procurement's impact is, at best, limited. As organizations adapt at speed, active communication is a non-negotiable difference-maker.

In this Art of Procurement podcast episode, Moosehead Breweries' Vice President of Supply Chain, Jack Skerry, sits down with Philip Ideson at the Supply Chain Canada National Conference.

Jack's two decades spanning marketing, HR, sales, and supply chain provide an uncommonly broad background for a procurement leader. He shares practical ways to align teams, build trust with both internal stakeholders and suppliers, and move procurement from cost center to valued business partner.

Jack's insights on transparency, negotiation, and the power of a 'T-shaped career' resonate in a market where supplier relationships and stakeholder engagement define competitive advantage.

In this episode, Jack discusses:

• The value of creating internal credibility through diverse business experience
• How procurement can build trust by sharing all information (not just good news)
• Using active curiosity and conversation to align with the business
• How to balance technical and relational skills when building teams

Links:

• Jack Skerry on LinkedIn
• Subscribe to This Week in Procurement
• Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube