For this month’s In the company of… we sit down with Dr. Taoufik Samaka, Global Category Manager at Vodafone Procurement Company, Luxembourg, and former Chief Procurement Officer at Telia Company, Uzbekistan.
Body text: A brief summary of your role and what your company does
I work in the telecom industry for Vodafone Procurement Company, where I focus on developing the supplier base while helping the network team to expand and modernise the mobile network across several European and African Markets.
How did you start working in procurement?
After graduating I joined Siemens AG as a field engineer and designer. My early work in the field helped me understand challenges on the ground and the gap between what is defined or designed in offices and the reality of implementation. With the increase of my responsibilities to include project management, general management and pre-sales/sales support, my involvement in cost design and pricing activities increased – which included negotiation with our key suppliers.
What has been the biggest highlight of your career to date?
Leading the procurement organisation and delivering critical projects for large global telecom operators in countries with high inflation rates and high corruption perception indexes, occupying the lowest ranks in the Doing Business index.
Which emerging trend do you think will be most crucial in your industry in the next ten years?
Obviously, AI will take a greater role in the procurement function. However, since a considerable amount of data inside organisations is nowadays unstructured, companies must work proactively to structure the data, cleanse it, secure it, and have proper governance in place in order to be ready for the AI era. I also profoundly believe that any business process that could be digitalised, can be handed over partially or fully to AI to manage with the help of robotic process automation, machine/deep learning and big data.
If you could spend a day in the life of another profession, what would it be and why?
I already get to do this in my spare time! It’s very important for me to keep a close tie with academia, as it helps me stay aware and updated regarding new trends, theories and models. Additionally, delivering lectures and giving back to the community provides me with a sense of fulfilment and recognition beyond the professional realm, from the academy and broader community.
Outside work, what helps you feel like the best version of yourself?
What I call the ‘Magic Triangle’ helps me recharge my batteries and renew my energy: family, academia and sport.
Family
The family is an unimaginable source of love and support, they are our biggest asset.
Academia
I am a member of the research centre at Wittenborg University of Applied Science, where I gather regularly with my academic colleagues to discuss research projects and opportunities. I am also a member of review boards for several journals and conferences, with my main responsibility being to review and assess academic manuscripts before a publishing decision is made.
Sport
As we advance in age, we need to stay cerebrally active and maintain our body in order to stay in shape. Sport helps me fight stress, distract from daily life and dispel any negative energies. It is also a space for reflection and introspection. My motto is ‘Healthy mind in a healthy body.’
Connect with Dr. Taoufik Samaka on LinkedIn.
