Between Two COO's with Michael Koenig

In this episode of Between Two COOs, Michael Koenig sits down with Justin Etkin, COO of Tropic.io, to discuss how procurement has evolved into a strategic function in today’s businesses. Justin shares his insights on how companies can use procurement as a growth lever rather than just a cost-saving measure, the impact of AI on procurement, and best practices for negotiation. If you’re a COO, CFO, CEO or anyone dealing with vendor contracts, this episode is packed with actionable insights on optimizing procurement.

Don't forget to check out www.fellow.app/coo for a 90-day free trial of their AI Meeting Assistant.

Show Notes

Don't forget to check out www.fellow.app/coo for a 90-day free trial of their AI Meeting Assistant.

[00:00] Introduction – Michael introduces Fellow as a trusted AI meeting assistant.
[01:00] Welcome to Between Two COOs – Introducing Justin Etkin and Tropic.io.
[02:00] The evolution of procurement – From cost-cutting to strategic value creation.
[05:00] When should companies start formalizing procurement?
[07:00] Common mistakes businesses make in procurement.
[10:00] Using data and AI to improve procurement efficiency.
[12:00] Negotiation strategies and dealing with vendors.
[16:00] The role of AI in procurement and automation potential.
[20:00] How companies are shifting towards integrated procurement platforms.
[23:00] The intersection of procurement and legal, finance, and security.
[28:00] Justin’s wildest COO experience – Painting walls before an office move-out.
[30:00] Closing thoughts – Where to follow Justin and learn more about Tropic.io.

Tropic - https://www.tropicapp.io/

Between Two COO's - https://betweentwocoos.com 

Episode URL - https://betweentwocoos.com/tropic-coo-justin-etkin

Michael Koenig - https://linkedin.com/in/michael-koenig514

Justin Etkin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/justintropic/

Don't forget to check out www.fellow.app/coo for a 90-day free trial of their AI Meeting Assistant.

What is Between Two COO's with Michael Koenig?

Between Two COOs is hosted by veteran COO Michael Koenig and brings together Chief Operating Officers, executives, and business leaders to share real insights on operations, leadership, scaling, AI, and execution. Featuring COOs from companies like LVMH, Vodafone, Automattic, Lime, JumpCloud, Grafana Labs, and Cotopaxi, plus top VCs like Brad Feld and Seth Levine. Whether you're a COO, VP of Ops, founder, or aspiring operator — this is the podcast for people who actually run companies. New episodes weekly. betweentwocoos.com | b2coos.com