The Intersection of International Culture and Talent in Procurement, Guest Jacinta Taliauli

Although industries and supply chains are increasingly global, the cultural norms that prevail in each region vary. As we begin to work within those regions, it often becomes apparent that there are cultural differences at the country and even city or regional level. Each person has to be aware of their own cultural background as well as how those tendences align with the people they work with.

Jacinta Taliauli is a Senior Procurement Advisor at the Ministry for Pacific Peoples. Her parents moved from Tonga, a small island nation in the Pacific Ocean with a population of around 100,000 people, to New Zealand before she was born. Although they moved so she they could raise her in a country with more opportunities, they still raised her in “the Tongan way,” a set of cultural values that combine flawless politeness, deference to authority, and a commitment to hard work.

In this episode of Dial P for Procurement, Jacinta tells special guest Kim Winter and co-hosts Kelly Barner and Scott Luton about:

• The importance of culture, understanding what we share and the nuances of difference between and within each geographical region

• How public procurement differs from private sector or commercial procurement

• Ways to attract talented young professionals to the field of procurement, and the benefits to be realized by having a culturally diverse workforce