Procurement Leadership in Southeast Asia (Part 4): Richard Waugh

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If Rai A. De Jesus gave us the playbook for strategic agility, and Matthew Quimba delivered the ethical operating system, and Jon Hansen forced a radical realist’s reset—then Richard Waugh shows us how to conduct the entire orchestra.

Richard doesn’t just talk about the future of procurement—he’s helping shape it. As VP of Corporate Development at Zycus, he’s sat across the table from CPOs at Fortune 500s, fast-growing disruptors, and government institutions. But what makes his voice so vital in this conversation is his ability to translate complexity into clarity.

When I heard him speak about the 3 Cs—Control, Cost/Benefit, and Competitive Advantage—I knew it was the final piece this series needed.

Because while strategy, ethics, and realism matter, the best CPOs also need mechanics—a framework to navigate the real roadblocks between GenAI intent and implementation.

Let’s dive into Richard’s 3Cs.

1. From Process Police to Process Conductors: Rethinking Control

CPOs have long worn the badge of “policy enforcers.” And who could blame them? With procurement overseeing 50% or more of organizational spend, compliance is non-negotiable.

But Richard’s take reframes that role entirely.

“Agentic AI lets procurement drop the badge and pick up the baton.”

Instead of being bottlenecks, CPOs can now become orchestrators—leveraging GenAI-powered intake tools that don’t just route requests but guide users through policies conversationally, contextually, and intuitively.

Think: a “front door to procurement” that speaks the user’s language, adapts to regional nuances, and enforces compliance without making anyone feel policed.

It’s not just policy automation—it’s policy intelligence. And it frees procurement to finally lead from the front, not just guard from the gate.

2. The True ROI of GenAI: Rethinking Cost/Benefit

One of Richard’s sharpest insights is that most digital transformation promised 10–20% efficiency. GenAI, by contrast, offers 10X productivity—not by making tasks faster, but by making some tasks disappear altogether.

But here’s the trap: many organizations still don’t know where their time goes.

That’s why Richard advocates for benchmarking reality—using time-and-motion studies, process audits, and prompt analytics to identify the tactical work eating up strategic bandwidth.

Once that baseline is clear, GenAI pilots in targeted areas (like intake, supplier screening, or contract drafting) can deliver a visible “before and after.”

“You can’t prove transformation if you don’t know what you’re transforming.”

Richard’s advice? Start small, measure fast, scale smart.

3. Build Your Moat: Rethinking Competitive Advantage

Here’s a provocative truth from Richard: everyone will have access to GenAI platforms soon. The tech alone won’t differentiate you.

So how do you stay ahead?

By making your GenAI yours.

Richard champions platforms that embed AI governance and privacy protections—ensuring your proprietary prompts, responses, and workflows remain confidential and don’t train public models.

“Your AI knowledge base is intellectual property. Protect it like you would your patents.”

In other words, advantage won’t come from using AI—it will come from how well you train it, who you train it with, and how you safeguard what you learn.

Richard’s Message to Future CPOs

For aspiring leaders looking to master this new frontier, Richard’s 3C framework is both a diagnostic and a playbook:

Control: Let GenAI embed compliance so you can focus on orchestration.
Cost/Benefit: Quantify before you automate. Then scale what works.
Competitive Advantage: Choose partners that protect and personalize your AI edge.

But there’s one insight he shared that stayed with me:

“AI is the UI. The real transformation isn’t in the interface—it’s in how procurement chooses to lead from it.”

Wrapping Up: The New CPO Archetype

With this, our series comes full circle.

Rai A. De Jesus taught us that strategy and speed are not opposites—they’re essentials.
Matthew Quimba reminded us that ethics is not optional in AI leadership.
Jon Hansen challenged us to prioritize people before platforms.
And now, Richard Waugh equips us with the executional mindset needed to overcome inertia and unlock real value with Agentic AI.

Together, they define the Great CPO of tomorrow:

Strategically bold
Ethically grounded
Realistically adaptive
Operationally orchestrated

This isn’t just a regional shift. It’s a global evolution.

And if you’re reading this, you’re already part of it.

So here’s my final takeaway:

Becoming a great CPO isn’t about choosing AI over people. It’s about choosing the kind of leadership that brings both into harmony.

This blog series draws to a close, but the movement it highlights is only gaining momentum. The insights shared by Rai, Matthew, Jon, and Richard reflect the mindset of a new generation of leaders—visionaries we proudly recognized in the CPONext Top 30 Southeast Asia Edition. If you haven’t yet explored their stories, now’s the time to meet the CPOs shaping the future of procurement.

Want to see how Zycus helps future-ready CPOs with Agentic AI, policy orchestration, and protected competitive advantage?
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Kunjal Suri

Kunjal Suri is a talented writer with a passion for all things technology. She graduated with an MBA in Marketing from XIME Bangalore in 2020, where she honed her skills in crafting compelling content. Kunjal’s love for technology and her ability to convey complex concepts in a clear and accessible manner make her articles a valuable resource for readers. With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the industry, Kunjal provides insightful perspectives on the latest technological advancements. Her expertise and dedication to sharing her knowledge make her a valuable voice in the tech writing community.