From The Sourcing Paradox series · Week 2: The talent pipeline · First shared on LinkedIn, October 13, 2026
Early in my career, RFPs taught me a lesson I still use: the result is only as good as the requirements.
Vague requirements get you vague bids, and suppliers fill the gaps on their own terms. Clear requirements and understanding of the impact (variance) enable a clear vision of needs that should translate clearly. A high-quality RFP usually drives higher-quality responses that you can actually compare for value.
AI can now draft an RFP in minutes. In my view, that makes the lesson more important, not less. Someone still has to know what good requirements look like, and that judgment comes from doing the work.
Hand that to AI too early and you get faster RFPs with the same vague requirements.
So where will your juniors learn the FOUNDATION skills?: writing RFPs themselves, reviewing the AI's drafts, or shadowing a senior buyer?
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