Women in Procurement Feature – Brittany Thomas

From Accounts Payable to Procurement Trailblazer: Brittany Thomas Shares Her Leadership Journey

In the world of procurement, adaptability and continuous learning form the cornerstone of success—principles that Brittany Thomas has embraced throughout her professional evolution. What began as a career in accounts payable transformed when an opportunity on the procurement team opened doors to her true calling.

"I thought I wanted to be an accountant, but a role on the procurement team opened up and that was it for me," Brittany reflects, describing her initial administrative position managing P-card, fuel card, and travel programs. This early exposure revealed procurement's wide-ranging impact as she collaborated with diverse teams and witnessed firsthand the function's organizational value.

The varied interactions and visible results captivated Brittany, setting her on a path where she could thrive at the intersection of business relationships and strategic value creation. "I really enjoyed the work. Got to work with a lot of different groups and people and got to see firsthand the impact that procurement could have," she shares, recalling the revelation that shaped her career trajectory.

This formative experience has informed Brittany's perspective on what it takes for women to succeed in today's rapidly evolving procurement landscape. She emphasizes that the field's constant change demands perpetual skill development. "Being in procurement today really requires continuous reskilling just because everything's changing so quickly," she explains, advocating for three critical capabilities: adaptability, comfort with discomfort, and effective learning habits.

For young women aspiring to make their mark in procurement, Brittany's advice is grounded in reality rather than wishful thinking. "There are no shortcuts," she states firmly. "Nothing is going to replace putting in the work to hone your skills and get that experience." She encourages emerging professionals to view each opportunity as a learning experience, building a foundation of knowledge and expertise that compounds over time.

Those with leadership ambitions will find particular value in Brittany's insights about perfectionism—a trap that often disproportionately affects women in business. "Don't fear failure or strive for perfection," she counsels. "Instead, strive to learn from your experiences—what worked, what didn't—so that you can make better decisions faster." This perspective aligns with her observations of seasoned leaders who maintain composure during challenges because they've developed sound business judgment through their own trials and errors.

Looking at procurement's broader position within organizations, Brittany identifies an image issue that needs addressing. The function must elevate its visibility beyond traditional cost-saving metrics to highlight its strategic contributions. "Procurement needs to get better at positioning itself as a trailblazer and a value driver in an organization and focusing on building that brand, not just internally but externally as well," she advocates.

This brand-building extends to showcasing procurement's role in driving innovation and enabling revenue growth—making it "that cool group that everybody wants to join because we're doing the most cutting-edge and innovative things." Such repositioning would help attract fresh talent and strengthen procurement's strategic influence within organizations.

As for the future, Brittany envisions procurement professionals taking on expanded responsibilities, particularly in sustainability, risk mitigation, and technology adoption. Being uniquely positioned to connect with every stakeholder group makes procurement the natural "go-to change agent of the organization," she believes.

Success in this expanded role will require procurement leaders to cultivate courage and stamina "to be relentless in their pursuit of digital transformation," coupled with exceptional communication and storytelling abilities to secure necessary support. These skills, Brittany suggests, will define the next generation of procurement leadership.

Throughout her journey from accounts payable specialist to procurement advocate, Brittany Thomas exemplifies the progressive thinking that continues to transform procurement from a back-office function to a strategic business partner. Her story serves as both a roadmap and inspiration for women charting their own paths in this dynamic field.