Samantha Shafran

Procurement Manager Talkdesk

I am a strategic procurement leader dedicated to optimizing global operations within the CX cloud space. At Talkdesk, I specialize in bridging the gap between innovative technology and fiscal responsibility. My focus is on building a world-class supply chain that supports our mission to help enterprises unlock the promise and power of Great Customer Experience. With a background in high-growth SaaS environments, I excel at vendor lifecycle management, complex contract negotiations, and implementing scalable procurement frameworks. I’m passionate about leveraging AI-driven insights to drive cost savings while fostering deep, collaborative partnerships that fuel long-term business agility.

September 28, 2026

11:55 AM Find Your People: Industry Insights Roundtables - Open to Procurement Practitioners Only

Start your experience in an intimate setting designed for industry-focused conversation and collaboration. Guided by procurement leaders, these discussions bring peers together to explore challenges and possibilities in a fun and engaging setting.

1. Financial Services & Banking

Angie Roworth, Senior Vice President, Sourcing Operations & Governance, Fulton Bank

2. Manufacturing, Industrial

Lance Dicker, Director, Indirect Purchasing North America, Saint-Gobain

3. Non-Profit, Education & Public Sector

Kim Moeller, Director, Contracts and Procurement Operations, City of Baltimore

4. Hospitality, Travel, Media & Entertainment

Olga Svirskaia, Director, Strategic Sourcing - Professional Services, American Airlines

5. Energy & Utilities

Brian DeCaires, Supervisor, Nuclear Procurement, PG&E

6. Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG)

Alex Kurnikov, Vice President Procurement, Johnvince Foods

7. Lifesciences, MedTech & Biotech

Brian Harman, Global Indirect Sourcing, Haemonetics

Alicia Waldman, Senior Global Category Manager, HR/Prof Services, Haemonetics

8. Retail & E-Commerce

Jeff Corbitt, Director Global Strategic Purchasing, New Balance

9. Technology, Telecommunications & IT Services

Samantha Shafran, Procurement Manager, Talkdesk

10. Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals

2:50 PM Panel: Beyond the Curtain: Inside How Decisions Are Really Made

This session pulls back the curtain on how procurement leaders and their stakeholders, truly make decisions, revealing the conversations, considerations, and internal dynamics that determine which vendors move forward and which quietly fall off the list.

Key takeaways:

Influencing procurement decisions beyond price and features
Why do deals stall or disappear, even when interest is high
How internal stakeholders shape final outcomes
What suppliers do to strengthen or weaken trust