Rosalia La Corte, Director, Strategic Sourcing
Ask any member of our Strategic Sourcing team why they work at WSIB, and you’ll hear a range of answers—opportunities for growth, a strong commitment to diversity and mental health, a culture of innovation, work-life balance, employee engagement, our values —but two common themes emerge: purpose and community. We are a resilient team of procurement professionals, with over 200 years of combined supply chain and procurement experience, spanning both private and public sectors, and we choose to work here because we believe in the impact we can make.
Procurement as a Strategic Partner
As I reflect on my nine plus years at the WSIB, I’ve experiencedfirsthand how the role of public procurement is evolving. It is no longer viewed as a roadblock, but as a strategic enabler. We work closely with clients and other internal stakeholders to ensure that we are aligned with their needs rather than being a checkbox in the process. We listen, we solve problems, and we help navigate complexity so that our clients can focus on their core priorities.
As many of us know, the procurement landscape is always evolving, and with it, the expectations of how we deliver value. Continuous evolution of ourselves and how we do business, or as some may refer to it, continuous improvement is crucial in today’s dynamic environment where demands and expectations are constantly shifting due to socio-economic, environmental, and political influences. By leveraging flexibility and agility in our approaches, adopting technologies and advances in search engines, optimizing governance frameworks, and enhancing public benefits, our Strategic Sourcing department is evolving to be a service-driven provider and partner.
Expertise That Drives Impact
Our team is more than just a second-line function, it’s a key driver of success. Guided by Smart Buying principles, we focus on creating real impact rather than following traditional processes. Our team brings a wealth of experience from industries like healthcare, technology, infrastructure, public administration, and others, which helps us navigate the complexities of contracts, regulations, and supply chain challenges, all while staying aligned with WSIB’s overall mission.
What makes us distinctive is how we combine our technical expertise and personal strengths. While knowledge of the technical side is essential, it’s our ability to communicate, collaborate, and think critically and outside the box that helps make a difference. We work closely with our fellow divisional teams in Vendor Management, Third-Party Risk, Analytics & Reporting, and Quality Management to create solutions that not only meet our objectives but also build lasting relationships with our clients and vendors based on trust.
Our senior leadership’s effectiveness in driving changes is essential to who we have become across the industry of compensation boards. They champion innovation, support new ways of working, and empower us to embrace change confidently.
Why It Matters
At the end of the day, we work here because we believe in the work we do not because we procure close to $2B annually in goods and services for our client groups. We are part of something bigger than ourselves, a team that is evolving, improving, and making an impact. We get to apply our expertise in meaningful ways, collaborate with talented colleagues, and be part of a team that is driving change.
Upon reflection, I am grateful for the opportunity to have been welcomed into WSIB, as a Category Specialist in 2016. More than just a job, it has become a rewarding career filled with purpose and community.
WSIB’s Strategic Sourcing and Vendor Services Team:
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