Kira Mielonen
From Forensic Scientist to Procurement Consultant, we meet Three P’s Kira Mielonen and find out what took her from working in a morgue to supporting procurement organizations at leading global enterprises.Hi Kira, tell us a bit about your background.
I studied forensic science in the UK and spent five and a half years working as a forensic medical assistant and investigator at the Swedish National Board of Forensic Science. After taking on some procurement responsibilities I became an Administrator, before joining the Swedish Police Authority’s IT procurement team, where I worked with strategy and public tender management. After 13 years in the public sector, I decided to leave and become a procurement consultant. I’ve been at Three P for 1.5 years.
So, not your typical path into procurement?
Not really, but then I’m not sure there is a typical path into it. What drew me into procurement was exploring the different opportunities in order to save costs and therefore reduce public spending. When I wasn’t conducting an autopsy I was interested to see how the procurement process was handled and then find ways to improve it.
What is your role at Three P?
As a procurement consultant I have different roles such as category manager, project manager and sourcing manager. But it’s the diversity of assignments and endless possibilities for personal growth that I really love. Initially, I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to impact my assignments but I couldn’t have been more wrong because at Three P our consultants journey is as important as the company journey.
What is essential to consider as a Procurement Consultant?
When looking to implement change for the better at a clients it’s essential to understand a company and its challenges before developing a tailored solution. Company culture, risk appetite, operative strategy, and procurement/digital maturity; there are many factors that impact the procurement strategy. These must be considered and often influenced to ensure a procurement organization delivers the optimal results for a business.
What are the biggest challenges facing the procurement industry?
1) As in most industries, AI is having a big impact in procurement. New tools can offer companies considerable benefits, but the challenge is knowing which ones to use and how to get the most out of them. Embracing AI can also require a change in organizational mindset, which may be the biggest challenge of all.
2) With the war in Europe and relations between the largest and most powerful producing nations becoming more strained, building procurement resilience is vital. Covid forced companies to reassess the supply chain and find alternatives and plan Bs. The pandemic may be over but you cannot return to the way things were.
3) In financially tough times costs are top of mind, no matter if you are leading a multi-billion dollar company or taking personal finance decisions. When looking for savings, ethics, quality, and environmental aspects can take a back seat. We must develop and integrate these aspects into procurement organizations so they remain viable and in focus when costs rise. It shouldn’t be expensive to procure and sell sustainable products – this is important for all our futures!
Any final thoughts?
Despite or because of these challenges, it’s an exciting time to be in procurement. It’s up to us to make a positive difference, and that’s what I love about what we do here at Three P.
