How Procurement Leaders Are Connecting Differently in 2026

On 20 April 2026, Procurement Magazine, part of BizClik, in partnership with Jabil Procurement and Supply Chain Services, hosted an exclusive, invite-only boat party in Chicago.

Before proceedings officially began at Procurement and Supply Chain LIVE: The US Summit, senior leaders gathered for a more informal, experience-led networking event, designed to spark early conversations and meaningful connections.

Set against the Chicago skyline, the evening brought together sponsors, speakers and senior executives from across procurement and supply chain. The relaxed setting offered a contrast to the structured nature of conferences, creating space for open dialogue and relationship building ahead of Day 1.

Setting the tone before the summit

The evening began as guests boarded the private vessel, quickly moving into a drinks reception as the boat set sail. Conversations flowed naturally, with attendees discussing shared challenges across global organisations, from cost pressures to supply chain resilience.

Unlike traditional networking environments, the setting encouraged more candid, unfiltered exchanges. Without the constraints of formal agendas, leaders were able to connect on both professional and personal levels.

The guest list reflected a carefully curated group of decision-makers, including CPOs, procurement directors and senior supply chain leaders responsible for navigating complexity at scale.

Why experience-led networking matters

As procurement continues to evolve, so too does the way leaders connect. The boat party highlighted a growing shift towards experience-led engagement, where environment plays a key role in the quality of interaction.

In 2026, the challenges facing procurement are increasingly interconnected. Cost management, supplier risk and resilience strategies require collaboration, not just within organisations, but across industries.

Creating the right setting is critical.

By moving away from traditional venues and into a more immersive environment, the event enabled:

• More authentic conversations
• Faster relationship building
• Stronger peer-to-peer engagement
• Greater openness around shared challenges

This format reflects a broader trend across executive communities, where smaller, curated experiences are delivering greater value than large-scale networking sessions.

"Our private events are intentionally designed to be curated and highly personal, creating an environment for meaningful connection," says Millie Wyatt, Global Events Director at BizClik.

"The boat party was a perfect example of this. By bringing people together in a relaxed, experience-led setting, we saw conversations develop naturally, relationships form quickly and, most importantly, meaningful outcomes begin to take shape.

"There’s something powerful about taking people out of traditional settings. It changes the tone of interaction - conversations become more open and considered, and we see people engage with a greater sense of presence. That shift is what makes these experiences so effective for our clients."

Conversations shaping procurement, supply chain and sustainability

While informal in structure, discussions throughout the evening reflected the realities shaping procurement today.

Leaders spoke about the need to:

• Balance cost pressures with long-term resilience
• Strengthen supplier relationships amid ongoing disruption
• Improve visibility across complex, global supply networks
• Deliver measurable strategic impact at board level

These themes carried through naturally, with the setting allowing conversations to evolve organically rather than being confined to panels or presentations.

Strengthening partnerships in a premium setting

The partnership with Jabil Procurement and Supply Chain Services played a central role in shaping the evening.

By co-hosting the event, Jabil was able to engage directly with senior leaders in a high-value, low-pressure environment, reinforcing its position within the procurement and supply chain ecosystem.

At the same time, BizClik Media Group demonstrated its strength in curating premium experiences that go beyond traditional event formats.

The value of Day 0 engagement

Hosting the boat party ahead of the main summit proved to be a strategic move.

By the time attendees arrived at Sustainability LIVE: The US Summit 2026, many had already established key connections. This early engagement translated into:

• More productive conversations during the conference
• Increased collaboration between attendees
• Stronger overall event participation

Day 0 experiences like this are becoming an essential component of modern conferences, helping to maximise both networking outcomes and attendee value.

A new model for executive engagement

The Chicago boat party reflects a wider shift in how procurement leaders are choosing to connect.

Rather than relying solely on formal sessions and structured networking, there is a growing demand for environments that encourage genuine interaction and relationship building.

By combining exclusivity, experience and a carefully curated audience, events like this are redefining what effective networking looks like in 2026.

As procurement leaders continue to navigate increasing complexity, these moments of connection, away from the conference floor, are proving just as valuable as the sessions themselves.

Interested in joining a future event?

Get in touch to be part of upcoming exclusive experiences with Procurement Magazine, BizClik Media Group and industry partners.