97: Automation Where It Counts, Human Where It Matters: AI-Powered Procurement with Lateisha Thomas
What if the fastest procurement systems still needed a human in the loop?
In this episode, we welcome Lateisha Thomas, Director of Professional Services at Arkestro, whose path from learning and development into procurement technology gives her a distinctly people-first approach to enterprise software. Drawing on more than ten years implementing systems like SAP Ariba, Coupa, and Oracle for companies including Mary Kay and Verizon, Lateisha unpacks what changes when AI-powered procurement can get customers live in three days instead of months.
Throughout the conversation, Lateisha dives into the behavioral science and game theory behind Arkestro's negotiation engine, explaining how anchoring prices and giving suppliers real-time feedback builds transparency instead of eroding trust. She's candid about the anxiety that comes with any AI rollout — from buyers wondering what's left for them to do, to suppliers worried about losing control of their own pricing — and how her team addresses both head-on.
Lateisha also shares how her background in learning and development shapes the way she leads a growing team of procurement, consulting, and supply chain experts, and offers grounded advice for anyone making the leap from a tactical, hands-on role into strategic leadership. It's a conversation about trust, transparency, and what it really means to let automation handle the busywork so people can focus on what matters.
In this episode, we discuss:
3:08 – Lateisha's Path from Learning & Development into Procurement
4:19 – The “Aha” Moment: Accidentally Finding Procurement
7:32 – From SAP, Ariba, and Coupa to Arkestro's Predictive Approach
8:35 – Going Live on Day Three
10:43 – Behavioral Science and Game Theory in Supplier Negotiations
15:53 – Automation Where It Counts, Human Where It Matters
16:24 – Maintaining Trust as AI Compresses Cycle Times
20:43 – How Suppliers Are Reacting to Negotiation Science
23:24 – Supplier Science and Dynamic Award Modeling
27:14 – Predictive Error Handling and Anomaly Detection
30:49 – The Biggest Misconception IT Teams Have About New Systems
33:47 – Career Advice: Moving from Tactical to Strategic Leadership
39:34 – Bonus Story: From Dancer to Supply Chain
Listen in for more can’t-miss insights from Lateisha Thomas!
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