ISM World 2025 Detailed Agenda

Those organizations bringing teams (5 or more attendees) will be invited to kick off the conference with a team building event. Teams also get a chance to win fun prizes with experiences you can enjoy together while in Orlando!

Teams

Grab a refreshment. Say hello to old friends and new. Grab your badge and ease into kicking off a great conference experience.

All

Experience the proven negotiation strategies used by 45% of the Fortune 500. Negotiating With Suppliers™ (NWS) is a dynamic, high-energy session designed to equip procurement professionals with practical approaches to reducing costs, optimizing supplier relationships, and enhancing organizational teamwork.

Through engaging negotiation simulations, participants will build a “gut-level” understanding of key principles and behaviors used by top performers. Attendees will leave with actionable techniques to reduce cycle times, manage inventory more profitably, improve quality, and boost supplier responsiveness. This session offers an impactful introduction to mastering supplier negotiations.

Managers/Directors

Individual Contributors

Dive into the transformative world of LLM and AI with a hands-on workshop, led by a distinguished product leader from Google. This session is crafted to not only inform but also inspire and equip you with the knowledge to transform your supply chain and procurement strategies using AI. Explore the latest advancements and trends in AI technology and their impact on supply chain and procurement processes. Learn strategies for fostering AI adoption within your organization, including best practices for team enablement and overcoming common challenges. Experience cutting-edge AI tools in action, including deep research tools, spend analytics, and data analytics. Witness the future of AI with multimodal audio/video demonstrations showcasing state-of-the-art directions. Don't miss this opportunity to gain practical knowledge and see AI's transformative potential firsthand.

Managers/Directors

Environmentally responsible and ethically sourced goods and services have become table stakes no matter what type of organization you are - corporation, government, or university. Learn about the benefits of addressing the environmental, social, and economic sustainability impacts from your spend. Understand the major components of a meaningful sustainable procurement program which addresses issues such as climate change, toxins, and labor rights while uplifting local economies and building supply chain resilience. HANDS-ON: Measure and benchmark your organization’s progress towards sustainable purchasing excellence and receive insights into addressing challenges. 

Managers/Directors

Sponsored by: Avetta

This workshop starts by (RE)defining Risk Management, identifying key challenges, and discussing the changes required to improve performance. Attendees will develop an understanding of the challenges and the opportunities. Discover how to deliver real ROI from SCRM by aligning people, process, and technology, while understanding the role of change management in evolving practices. Learn about the importance of evolving practices, shifting from monitoring and mitigation- to proactive actions based on leveraging information, people, process, and technology. With live polling and discussion tables, you'll benchmark your approach, learn from peers, and leave with practical takeaways to apply to drive true resilience and sustained performance.

Learning Objectives:

• - (Re) Define Supply Chain Risk *Discuss challenges and opportunities
• - Learn how to Act to achieve ROI from SCRM and realize resiliency
•  - Develop new perspectives around leveraging information to Design Resilient Supply Chains
• - Consider a balanced perspective on People, Process, Technology, and Change Management

Learn about the findings of the ISM & Plug and Play tech survey to inform your supply chain strategy for the short and long term innovation planning. Plug and Play will be joined by supply chain veteran, Sasha Koff (Fortune 50 Advisor / Former SVP Dell and Johnson & Johnson) to share her insights on what you need to look out for when working with tech startups and how to make the most of partnering with innovators.

Managers / Directors

Individual Contributors

Sponsored by: Avetta

In today's volatile global landscape, building supply chains that are both sustainable and resilient is no longer a luxury - it's a strategic imperative. This interactive workshop is designed exclusively for senior procurement and supply chain professionals seeking actionable strategies to navigate complex challenges and future-proof their operations. Participants will leverage primary research and proprietary data insights and engage in dynamic peer-to-peer learning as we collaboratively tackle the pressing issues of risk mitigation, proactive regulatory compliance, and meeting escalating customer demands for ethical and environmentally sound practices. Discover how to leverage data for enhanced visibility, drive genuine carbon reduction within your supplier network, and secure crucial internal alignment for impactful change.

Learning Objectives:

• - Risk Identification and Mitigation: Understand strategies to effectively navigate geopolitical risks, tariffs, and hidden vulnerabilities threatening supply chain stability and business continuity.
• - Improving Data Visibility and Quality: Explore proven approaches for overcoming data collection challenges, enhancing visibility across the supply chain, and ensuring the reliability of data for informed decision-making.
• - Navigating Regulatory Complexity: Review proactive methods for managing regulatory demands to mitigate legal and reputational risks.
• - Build Internal Alignment and Overcome Resource Limitations: Gain insights on how to effectively communicate the value of sustainable and resilient supply chains to internal stakeholders, secure buy-in, and strategically allocate resources.
• - Gain Peer Insights and Best Practices: Benefit from the collective knowledge and experiences of fellow senior procurement and supply chain professionals through dynamic roundtable discussions and shared problem-solving.
• - Develop Actionable Takeaways: Leave the workshop with concrete ideas and strategies that can be implemented within your own organizations to build more sustainable and resilient supply chains.

Sponsored by: ScottMadden

Explore advanced strategies for optimizing supply chain operating models, emphasizing efficiency, resilience, and adaptability. This workshop highlights cutting-edge technologies, organizational design, and process optimization to align capabilities with business goals. Senior leaders will gain insights into structuring operations and teams to achieve operational excellence and meet evolving market demands.

Learning Objectives:

• - Identify strategies for aligning organizational structures with supply chain goals.
• - Evaluate approaches for process optimization and efficiency enhancement.
• - Explore innovative capabilities to boost collaboration, customer service, and operational performance.

Global events are evolving rapidly, making it challenging for supply chain professionals to stay ahead. This session uses Summer 2025’s most relevant news headlines to highlight immediate actions and best practices for navigating international trade compliance risks.

Attendees will gain actionable insights on key topics, including supplier and customer vetting, import compliance, export controls, economic sanctions, anti-boycott measures, and anti-corruption strategies. Walk away with practical tools to address current challenges and safeguard your organization in an ever-changing global landscape.

Managers/Directors

Individual Contributors

Hosted by the Women’s Supply Management Community, this panel discussion explores key topics around navigating transitions that impact both men and women in the supply chain management profession. Gain real-world insights and practical strategies from a diverse group of industry leaders as they share their experiences and advice on managing personal and professional complexities, including organizational change, stepping into new roles, making bold career pivots, and balancing professional growth with personal life changes.

Managers / Directors

Individual Contributors

Want to connect and meet fellow conference attendees who work within the same region and geographic area to you or within your same industry? Join this highly interactive networking session that uses some fun icebreaker exercises to connect you with attendees from similar areas and industries.

Managers/Directors

Individual Contributors

Invitation-only and VIP pass exclusive networking event. 

Executives / Senior Leaders

Back by popular demand, this information (and networking) event is designed for first-timers and solo attendees to learn more on how to navigate the conference and make a friend or two in the process. 

All

Join the Women's Supply Management Community for a kickoff networking session before the conference Welcome Party. The networking will include facilitated discussions in small groups on navigating transitions and change. Discussions will expand upon the four themes addressed in the Navigating Change workshop immediately prior, including career pivots, new roles, organizational changes, and personal changes. Meet and make meaningful connections with community members you'll see and interact with throughout the remainder of ISM World.

All

ISM Welcome Reception
Sparking Innovation - Startup Speed Pitches

During the Welcome Reception, join ISM and Plug & Play for speed pitches from 8 top startups with innovative solutions for supply chain. Taking place on both Insights Stages, watch 5-minute pitches and quick Q&A sessions. It's a great way to "spark" new thinking and approaches as we kick off this year's conference.