In this episode, Zyad Khan, Chartered Procurement Leader and ESG advocate at Dubai World Trade Center, joins us to unpack a powerful but often overlooked driver of procurement transformation: Adaptability Quotient (AQ). Drawing on a rich career that includes senior roles at Emirates Airlines and the Private Office of the Ruler of Dubai, Zyad brings a practitioner’s lens to the intersection of AI adoption, organizational culture, and change leadership.
As procurement leaders grapple with digital transformation, Zyad explains why success hinges less on IQ or EQ and more on AQ. He shares real examples of how resistance to change, lack of internal alignment, and rigid decision frameworks often stall AI implementation, even when the technology itself is sound.
From building ESG-conscious procurement practices to enabling cross-functional innovation, the episode explores how procurement teams can nurture adaptability at every level, from systems and processes to mindsets and leadership behaviors. Zyad also shares candid views on balancing innovation with risk, the cultural barriers to AI adoption in legacy-heavy organizations, and the strategic importance of leadership buy-in.
If you’re leading a digital initiative, designing an AI roadmap, or tasked with embedding sustainability into sourcing, this episode offers both strategic perspective and actionable takeaways.
