Not actively in business school.
Not in your industry certification.
Not in that leadership programme you did early in your academic career, when you finally had a budget and no idea how to spend it responsibly.
You learn procurement the way most people learn anything that matters: by getting it wrong, paying for it, and quietly vowing never to do it again.
That’s where this blog starts.
I’m Sylvia Luchian, founder of D1 Advisory. I’ve spent years sitting across the table from business owners who are smart, capable, and completely exposed when it comes to buying. Not because they’re careless. Because this stuff genuinely does not get taught. The system isn’t designed to help you buy well. It’s designed to help suppliers sell well. There’s a difference, and it’s worth knowing.
This blog exists to close that gap.
Before you read on, I want to set a few ground rules. Not for my benefit, but for yours.
What you’ll find here comes from real work.
These are not theoretical frameworks cooked up in a boardroom. They are observations, lessons, and the occasional hard truth from years of procurement work across industries and buying categories. Test them against your situation. Push back if something doesn’t fit.
You are still the decision-maker.
My job is to make sure you’re informed, not to decide for you. Read critically. Apply what’s useful. Leave what isn’t.
Nothing here is a prescription.
Procurement isn’t one-size-fits-all. Context matters. Your business, your risk appetite, and your relationships with suppliers all shape what good looks like for you. Use this blog as a thinking tool, not a checklist.
One more thing: I have opinions. Strong ones. You’ll find them here. You don’t have to agree with all of them. A good procurement outcome doesn’t require you to see everything the way I do. It only requires that you go in with your eyes open.
That’s what this blog is for.
Now, go forth and buy better. Some suppliers may certainly be hoping you won’t.
Sylvia
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