What happens when a state with the world’s fourth-largest economy revolutionizes how it buys everything from office supplies to life-saving fire retardant? Angela Shell, California’s Chief Procurement Officer, takes us behind the scenes of procurement modernization in the Golden State.

Through data transparency initiatives, California has transformed how government agencies make purchasing decisions. Their enterprise procurement system captures every state purchase—revealing everything from multi-million dollar contracts to that time someone accidentally ordered “a million packages of ketchup.” This wealth of information drives smarter buying decisions and allows unprecedented public visibility into government spending through dashboards anyone can access.

Whether you’re a government buyer, supplier, or simply curious about how your tax dollars are spent, this conversation offers fascinating insights into procurement’s evolution and its critical role in public service.

Season 6, Episode 3

Season 6, Episode 3 Transcript

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