From Sales to Broad Procurement Expertise
Sabine began her career on the other side of the table: in sales. When her employer reorganised, she was given the opportunity to move into procurement. “I thought: I’ll just give it a try,” she says. Thanks to her command of Spanish, she travelled frequently, especially to South America. Those supplier visits made a lasting impression. “When you’re standing there, you see first‑hand what challenges they face. That stays with you.”
With more than 20 years of procurement experience, she still takes on interim assignments alongside her work as a trainer. She deliberately brings that practical experience into the classroom. “I think it’s important to stay connected to what’s happening in the field. Otherwise, you miss what’s going on right now.”
Sabine was asked to help shape the Nevi 1 curriculum and, together with a colleague, developed the current structure. “AI is reducing repetitive work, and many calculations can now be automated. At the same time, sustainability deserves more attention.” The curriculum is therefore updated regularly. “The focus is now more on analysis, choices and relationships. That aligns with how procurement is evolving and where organisations increasingly see value.”
A Strong Foundation Makes the Difference
The Nevi 1 audience is diverse: beginning buyers, experienced professionals looking to validate their knowledge, and career switchers who understand their field but still lack a formal procurement framework. Yet Sabine sees that all participants benefit from the same foundation. “Some have been doing the work for years but lack the words and structure to explain why something works. Others know their product inside out but not the language of procurement.”
Learning that language and those concepts provides structure and direction. “Once you understand how the steps fit together, you don’t have to think as much about the approach. You stand more firmly, and that creates space for what really matters.”
Interaction Between Theory and Skills
Nevi 1 consists of a theoretical module, a skills module and a practical module in which everything comes together. The theory focuses on structure: models such as the Kraljic matrix, procurement steps, conditions and key concepts. “In the theory module, you organise what you do. You learn to recognise patterns,” Sabine explains. Working with the Kraljic matrix, for example, helps participants understand why a certain approach doesn’t work with a supplier of a bottleneck product. “That’s the moment it clicks,” Sabine says. “They understand why their approach got stuck and which choice fits better.”
In the skills module, the perspective shifts. Negotiation and collaboration often turn out to be less rational than participants expect. “That module is about you. What triggers you? Why does something clash? Those are insights that go beyond models.”
Small Adjustments, Big Impact
Procurement is constantly evolving, and Sabine notices this with every new group. During the programme, participants regularly discuss situations from their own work: suppliers not meeting agreements, unexpected price increases or unforeseen events that disrupt processes. Sabine immediately brings such examples into the lesson. “I always ask what’s happening in their organisations,” she says. “Real‑life examples often create instant insight because everyone recognises something in them.” That interaction between participants makes learning easier and more enjoyable.
One situation in particular stayed with her. A participant explained that her team received functionally specified requests from a client and then developed solutions themselves before approaching suppliers. In class, Sabine asked what would happen if they presented the original specification directly to the supplier.
The participant tried it. The supplier came back with a solution the team had not yet considered. “She said: ‘You made my day.’ Moments like that show how one small adjustment can suddenly open up new possibilities,” Sabine says.
A Network That Lasts Beyond the Programme
What makes Nevi 1 especially valuable for many participants is the network that forms along the way. Because the group composition changes throughout the programme, participants meet buyers from different sectors and organisations. Sabine sees this as a strength. “It helps when you can reach out to someone who knows a market you’re not yet familiar with.”
Many groups stay in touch afterwards through messaging groups. Sabine sometimes sees former participants congratulating each other on achievements or helping one another with current challenges. “That’s when you know the network truly continues.”
Take What Works for You
By the end of the programme, Sabine sees participants returning to their work with fresh ideas. They recognise opportunities to improve processes, look more critically at their own approach and feel more confident experimenting with what they practised in class. In conversations, she hears that participants view suppliers differently or approach challenges with more curiosity. “You can see that people use the programme to discover what works for them,” she says. “It’s wonderful when someone walks out thinking: I can really build on this.”
