For this month’s In the company of… we sit down with Kevin Clarke, Director of Procurement (Global Sourcing Lead) at Zendesk.
A brief summary of your role and what your company does.
Currently, I lead the global sourcing team at Zendesk, a powerful customer service platform and leader in the CX industry.
How did you start working in procurement?
My career journey is quite typical for the procurement industry: I never set out to be in procurement. I was working in the mailroom of a large finance company while studying IT at night when I was approached about a junior buyer role. I quickly realised I had found my career and have never looked back.
What has been the biggest highlight of your career to date?
I’ve always been passionate about two things: people and customer service. Leading the global sourcing team at Zendesk is the pinnacle of my career. I’ve always wanted to be a people manager and take great pleasure in discussing issues with my team and seeing them succeed.
Which emerging trend do you think will be most crucial in your industry in the next ten years?
The continued evolution of AI is the most crucial trend currently top of mind for many. There’s a misconception that AI will remove human interaction, but my experience in the CX industry shows that it will streamline our lives and allow empathy and human connection to become the differentiating factor in every interaction.
If you could spend a day in the life of another profession, what would it be and why?
I would choose to be a novelist, particularly in crime fiction and thrillers. I love the idea of taking the inner worlds we all have and transcribing them for others to enjoy.
Outside work, what helps you feel like the best version of yourself?
I enjoy typical activities like going to the gym and reading, but my guilty pleasure is disappearing for the day to go fly fishing. Nothing helps me disconnect more than walking the riverbank for hours, even if I rarely catch anything.
Before we go, what advice would you like to share with our readers?
Give people the benefit of the doubt and show empathy. We interact with many people daily, and we never truly know their stories or what they are going through. I appreciate my colleagues in the procurement team at Zendesk, knowing they have my back. It’s a pleasure to work alongside them.
Connect with Kevin on LinkedIn.
Learn more about Zendesk here.
