Helping buyers, VPs, CPOs, and CEOs unlock the full strategic potential of procurement.

Four roles. Four programs. Four books. One mission.

Every company relies on suppliers.

But few unlock their full value.

That’s where I come in.

I’m Christian Schuh — engineer, author, and guide to high-impact procurement decisions.

For over 30 years, I’ve helped companies shift procurement from a cost center to a competitive advantage.

I work directly with decision-makers.

No layers. No noise. Just clear, strategic guidance — delivered through four focused programs.

Each program is limited in capacity.

Pricing and availability are fully transparent — no surprises, no sales pitches.

If there’s a fit, we move. If not, we part with clarity.

Explore what’s possible — and turn procurement into a source of growth, not just savings.

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Category Strategy Engine

A structured decision system for procurement strategy

Category Strategy Engine evaluates the structural position of a procurement category — demand power and supply power — and derives strategy recommendations from the 64 methods of the Purchasing Chessboard.

The system assesses 15 structural market factors, representing more than 105 million possible category situations.

The output is not a generic recommendation. It is a diagnosis: which sourcing method fits a category’s structural situation — and why.

  • Structured, not generated — deterministic strategic logic, not LLM guesswork
  • 105,168,320 configurations — every category situation mapped to the right method
  • Human oversight built in — a starting point for strategic thinking, not a black box
Explore the Strategic Buying Accelerator

Programs

Strategic Buying Accelerator

For Buyers

AI-enabled category strategy transformation — powered by the logic of The Purchasing
Chessboard and the proprietary Category Strategy Engine.

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Value Beyond Savings

For Procurement VPs

Unlock strategic advantage beyond cost — guided by the supplier interaction models in Supplier Relationship Management.

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Executive Reflection Partner

For CPOs (limited to 2–3 clients at a time)

Make smarter decisions, faster — inspired by real-world dilemmas from The CPO, a novel on procurement leadership.

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Procurement for Profitable Growth

For CEOs (only one client per year)

Put suppliers at the core of your strategy — using the CEO playbook from Profit from the Source.

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Christian Schuh

Austrian engineer, PhD in Artificial Intelligence, and lead author of The Purchasing Chessboard, Supplier Relationship Management, The CPO and Profit from the Source — four widely used books for unlocking supplier value and transforming procurement, with the latest published by Harvard Business Review Press.

At the start of my career, I had the privilege of working with the pioneers of Global Sourcing. Since then, I’ve made it my mission to help reinvent procurement — not through theory, but through tools and books now used by universities and companies around the world.

In recent years, I have focused on translating procurement strategy into scalable decision logic. This led to the development of Category Strategy Engine — a structured decision system built on the proven logic of The Purchasing Chessboard. The engine evaluates 13 structural market factors across more than five million possible category situations and derives strategy recommendations from the 64 methods of the Chessboard.

I help companies unlock the full strategic potential of procurement — by building capabilities, shifting mindsets, and changing what’s possible with suppliers.

Today, I work directly with decision-makers. No layers. No noise. Just clear, high-impact guidance — whether it’s helping a buyer choose the right method, supporting a CPO through transformation, or helping a CEO reposition procurement as a driver of growth.

I’ve developed four programs — for Buyers, Procurement VPs, CPOs, and CEOs. Each one is tailored, sharply focused, and delivered exclusively by me — by Christian Schuh.

I also host a YouTube channel sharing insights with professionals around the world.

If you believe procurement can do more — I’m here to help you make it happen.

Strategic Buying Accelerator

Powered by Category Strategy Engine

A strategic capability transformation program delivered personally by Christian Schuh
€150,000 | Online Only | English, Spanish or German

Who this is for

This 90-day, result-focused program is for companies that want to build true category strategy capability in procurement. It is limited to five high-potential professionals responsible for major categories.

Objective

To enable five selected participants to achieve savings with suppliers in any conceivable situation — by selecting and applying the right method from the 64-method Purchasing Chessboard.

What’s included

Over the 90-day program, participants work on real categories using Category Strategy Engine — the same AI-enabled decision system now attracting attention from leading procurement organizations. The engine diagnoses each category’s structural situation and identifies the sourcing method that fits, giving participants a structured starting point for every strategy they develop.

  • Day 1 – Strategic Foundations (Half Day)
    Introduction to the Purchasing Chessboard by its lead author
    Strategic logic of the 4 basic strategies and 64 methods
  • Day 2 – Application in Action (Full Day)
    Mapping of participants’ categories to Chessboard positions
    Commitments for 30-60-90 day implementation
  • Day 30 Milestone Review: Strategy & Action Plan
    Participants present a complete category strategy and roadmap
    CPO or direct managers participate to reinforce ownership
  • Day 60 Milestone Review: Results & Roadblocks
    Review of early results, roadblocks, and requests for support
    Strategic issues addressed live
  • Day 90 Milestone Review: Results & Peer Scaling
    Participants share final results and key lessons learned
    Present how they will train peers internally

Over the 90-day period, participants have direct access to Christian Schuh, equivalent to one full working day per week.

This program is delivered exclusively by Christian Schuh, lead author of The Purchasing Chessboard. You work directly with the originator — no surrogates, no junior trainers.

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Value Beyond Savings

From segmentation to action — unlock supplier value with precision
€150,000 | Online Only | English, Spanish or German

Who this is for

This program is designed for companies that want to turn select supplier relationships into a sustained competitive advantage beyond just cost reduction. It is limited to three senior procurement leaders (typically VP or SVP level) who manage high-potential supplier portfolios — and want to align internal stakeholders behind focused, actionable roadmaps.

Objective

To enable senior procurement leaders to segment their supplier base and build strategic roadmaps for their most promising suppliers — based on performance, potential, and Christian Schuh’s nine supplier interaction models — with the ultimate goal of changing the rules of the game in their industry.

What’s included

  • Launch – Segmentation Logic (Half Day)
    Introduction to the SRM framework and the 95/5 paradox.
    Supplier segmentation by current performance and strategic potential.
  • Milestone 1 – Mapping and Roadmap Design (Full Day)
    Identification and prioritization of high-potential suppliers.
    Initial design of supplier-specific strategic roadmaps.
  • Milestone 2 – Cross-functional Deep Dives (Full Day)
    Working sessions with key stakeholders in engineering, operations or marketing.
    Integration of business priorities into each supplier roadmap.
  • Milestone 3 – Strategic Review (Half Day)
    Presentation of roadmaps to the CPO and functional leaders.
    Agreement on sponsorship, rollout, and next steps.

Over the course of the program — typically one to two months — participants have direct access to Christian Schuh, equivalent to one full working day per week.

The sessions are delivered personally by Christian Schuh, lead author of Supplier Relationship Management, and shaped by real-world procurement strategy cases. You work directly with the originator — no surrogates, no junior trainers.

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Executive Reflection Partner

Helping top procurement leaders think more clearly and act more decisively.
€150,000 | Online Only | English, Spanish or German

Why CPOs choose this

The higher you rise, the harder it becomes to think clearly. CPOs today operate in a world of conflicting agendas, mounting pressure, and limited time. They must align internal stakeholders, manage strategic suppliers, lead large global teams — all while driving transformation. And yet, they’re often surrounded by people who agree, not those who challenge.

This retainer offers something rare: a neutral, experienced voice. Someone who helps you reflect, ask better questions, and see around corners — with practical insights drawn from the best in automotive, tech, and beyond.

The program is grounded in the ideas of The CPO — a novel written by Christian Schuh, based on real-world leadership dilemmas and strategic choices. As the lead author, he brings both intellectual clarity and deep personal experience to every conversation.

What you get

  • A trusted advisor for your highest-stakes decisions
  • 1–2 focused interactions per month via video
  • Sharp feedback on strategies, transformations, supplier moves, or team design
  • Clear, real-world examples from leading procurement teams and industries

Example conversations

  • “How do I get the CEO to back our reshoring strategy?”
  • “Can this supplier segmentation work in the boardroom?”
  • “Should I centralize category ownership — or double down on regions?”
  • “What should we prioritize when rolling out AI in procurement?”

Getting started

We begin with a 60-minute kickoff session to understand your context, your current priorities, and how to best support you. After that, access is ongoing and flexible — always adapted to your needs and rhythm.

This program is strictly limited to 2–3 clients at a time to ensure exclusivity and depth of support and is delivered exclusively by Christian Schuh — lead author of The CPO. You work directly with the originator. No surrogates. No junior trainers. Just candid, high-impact conversations shaped by three decades of advising CPOs at the world’s leading companies.

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Procurement for Profitable Growth

Confidential advisory for CxOs, — grounded in the ideas of Profit from the Source
€500,000 | Online or in-person | English, Spanish or German | One client per year

Who this is for

This program is designed for top executives — CEOs, COOs, or CFOs — who believe that their suppliers hold untapped potential for growth, innovation, resilience, and sustainability.

Whether you are launching a transformation or challenging your executive team to think differently, this program offers you a confidential space to explore strategic levers beyond the usual playbook.

Objective

To help you rethink your company’s posture toward suppliers — and unlock competitive advantage by applying the principles of Profit from the Source.

You’ll explore how procurement can:

  • Drive profitable growth, not just cost reduction
  • Accelerate innovation and time-to-market
  • Reinforce resilience and ESG leadership
  • Act as a shaping force in corporate strategy

This is not consulting. This is strategic sparring with the originator — to help you think more clearly, challenge assumptions, and align your leadership team around a new paradigm.

What’s included

  • 12 to 18 private sessions over the course of 12 months
  • Unlimited access via voice note, email or short calls
  • Strategic narratives and framing
  • Applied examples from high-performing organizations
  • No competing clients during the engagement — only one client per year

You work directly with Christian Schuh, lead author of Profit from the Source, for candid, strategic conversations grounded in decades of experience. No surrogates. No intermediaries.

For leaders ready to outpace the competition by putting suppliers at the heart of business strategy.

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