WALGREENS BOOTS ALLIANCE
networking and negotiating with other professionals on a daily basis – isolation and social distancing has been difficult .
“ Personally , I ' ve missed the face-toface human interaction over the last couple of years that many of us derive a lot of personal energy from ,” he says . “ And those conversations that generate new opportunities and new ways of thinking , inspiring us all to do something different – that ' s definitely more difficult in the virtual world .
“ RETAIL AND HEALTHCARE HAS REVOLUTIONISED OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS , AND THE PANDEMIC HAS FURTHER ACCELERATED DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THESE SECTORS ”
JIM TOWNSEND CHIEF PROCUREMENT OFFICER , WALGREENS BOOTS ALLIANCE
Townsend adds : “ I ' m not suggesting it can ' t be done , but the whole thing about a virtual meeting is that it ’ s typically very structural , targeted with a particular outcome . It ' s about , ‘ let ' s think about where we ' ll go tomorrow ’; it ' s rarely that kind of broad conversation you ’ d have in person where you strengthen connectivity and develop your left-field thinking .”
Regardless of the rigidity that can halt creativity in digital meetings , Townsend has a more ebullient attitude about technology in general , recognising its role in WBA ’ s strategy and transformation over the last few years .
40 July 2022