SIG University Certified Supplier Management Professional (CSMP) program graduate Megan Moore shares her experience of the direct application of the training material in real life and how important it is to understand your company's governance program.
I became a member of SIG University in June 2022 and started taking advantage of the Learning Labs to expand my knowledge as an HR Vendor Manager. I was happy to discover the certification programs that were available and went on to take the sample lessons from each program to determine the best fit and learning experience based on my current role. I quickly realized the CSMP’s benefits and eagerly enrolled in the program.
I have always enjoyed the learning process and challenging myself to be a subject matter expert in every role. The weekly modules were jam-packed with extremely helpful information, and the quizzes were a terrific way to assess my knowledge. The overall pace of the training was perfect because it allowed me to carve out specific time during the work week to dedicate to self-paced study. The discussion forum was also a fantastic way to stay engaged with faculty and connected with other classmates on key areas of each module.
The course did a fantastic job breaking down the importance of having a governance program. At first, I was curious to know if my company had an official governance program outside the key contractual clauses we expect our suppliers to abide by. During this training, I was delighted to learn that a governance committee was recently established within our Procurement Team and aimed at improving our relationships with all suppliers. The timing could not have been more perfect!! Knowing this committee exists, I now have a team of experts to share some of the best practices highlighted in the modules.
For instance, week 4, module 7, lesson 3 referenced the importance of making a business case. Although the HR Businesses and key BU stakeholders I support are tasked with creating a business case, I have never seen one or understood when they are required. Based on everything I have learned so far, I am surprised that these business cases are not shared with me, as their HR Vendor Manager, or with the Procurement Team, who is responsible for drafting the contract. I’m eager to present the benefits of doing so to my business stakeholders as it will ensure all parties involved in the contractual process understand when a business case is needed, along with potential risks and challenges.
Week 4, module 8, lessons 2 and 3, specific to facilitating and capturing innovation, also resonated with me. Now that my company has a dedicated governance committee focused on increasing supplier lifecycle and performance, I am thrilled to start connecting with committee members to suggest we implement an idea channel to foster solicitation, evaluation, and the validation of ideas to improve internal governance with our business partners in Procurement, Corporate Technology, Enterprise Cybersecurity, and our Vendor Risk Committee.
I also appreciated the focus on tools and technology from week 5, module 9, lesson 2, to drive governance execution. We have a contract database we leverage at the company I work for; however, locating specific SOWs, Order Forms, and multiple amendments to supplier MSAs has been challenging, especially when a supplier has numerous amendments.
A significant issue we have is the poor naming convention which makes it even more challenging to locate the correct contract. This is another example of an idea I can bring up to our governance committee, along with the need for a separate database just for our suppliers, where my team could conduct a search on a specific service offering. The anticipated output would be a list of all suppliers in our network that provide that service.
Last but not least is the knowledge I have gained regarding the Exit Management Process discussed in week 5, lessons 1 and 2, and the benefits of having a transition plan that includes target timelines, personnel, and responsibilities, information for continued services, knowledge transfer, and communication plans, to name a few. My only experience terminating a supplier relationship is the off-boarding process to remove them from our systems.
Now that I support suppliers with access to highly confidential information and provide key benefits to our associates, I can see why having a formal exit management strategy is so important. I will share these key components with my peers to ensure a smooth transition for us, our associates, and our suppliers.
Reflecting on the past five weeks, I am genuinely thankful I signed up for the CSMP course, as it has reinforced everything my company is doing well. It has also been a fantastic way to highlight specific gaps in our governance program that could be implemented. I am excited to share the knowledge I have gained from this course with my peers and look forward to connecting with our governance committee to provide opportunities to strengthen our internal processes and overall relationship with our suppliers. I know, without a doubt, that I’ll be referring to the course materials for years to come.
Thank you, SIG, for this amazing experience!! I highly recommend this course to anyone with an interest in supplier management.
The Certified Supplier Management Professional program is a five-week course delivered through SIG University’s unique education platform. Visit our website to learn more about the discipline of governance and enroll for the upcoming semester.
Megan Moore graduated from Rivier College in Nashua, NH, in 1998 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. She joined Fidelity Investments in September 1998 as a Registered Representative earning her Series 7 and Series 63 certifications to trade Mutual Funds and provide customer service to mutual fund and brokerage services customers. When joining Fidelity, she knew she had a passion for helping people and was eager to get her foot in the door to land a role in Corporate HR eventually.
During her 24-year tenure with Fidelity, Megan has held various positions, from Human Resources Representative 1 to Leave of Absence Specialist, Immigration Team Leader, HR Generalist, and Relocation Specialist, where she earned her CRP, GMS, and GMS-T Designations before joining the HR Vendor Management Team as an HR Vendor Manager Analyst in 2019. In 2021, she was promoted to HR Vendor Manager, where she manages a portfolio of moderate to complex vendors across HR with a strong focus on vendor risk, vendor performance, and impacting overall financial benefit to the firm.
SIG University Certified Supplier Management Professional (CSMP) program graduate Megan Moore shares her experience of the direct application of the training material in real life and how important it is to understand your company's governance program.
The Certified Supplier Management Professional program is a five-week course delivered through SIG University’s unique education platform. Visit our website to learn more about the discipline of governance and enroll for the upcoming semester.
Megan Moore graduated from Rivier College in Nashua, NH, in 1998 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. She joined Fidelity Investments in September 1998 as a Registered Representative earning her Series 7 and Series 63 certifications to trade Mutual Funds and provide customer service to mutual fund and brokerage services customers. When joining Fidelity, she knew she had a passion for helping people and was eager to get her foot in the door to land a role in Corporate HR eventually.
During her 24-year tenure with Fidelity, Megan has held various positions, from Human Resources Representative 1 to Leave of Absence Specialist, Immigration Team Leader, HR Generalist, and Relocation Specialist, where she earned her CRP, GMS, and GMS-T Designations before joining the HR Vendor Management Team as an HR Vendor Manager Analyst in 2019. In 2021, she was promoted to HR Vendor Manager, where she manages a portfolio of moderate to complex vendors across HR with a strong focus on vendor risk, vendor performance, and impacting overall financial benefit to the firm.