Inside Zip: Danielle McQuiston finally found what procurement’s been missing

At Zip, we know that procurement transformation isn't achieved through technology alone. It requires deep expertise and a commitment to guiding each customer's unique path to success.

That's why we launched the Enterprise Transformation Office: a dedicated team of former Fortune 500 procurement leaders working directly with customers to drive large-scale transformation. Zip's ETO is comprised of leading practitioners who've sat in the seat, managed billions in spend, and led the kind of change most companies only talk about.

In this series, we're sitting down with each member of the ETO to learn how they got into procurement, what brought them to Zip, and what advice they have for enterprises navigating the AI era.

Meet Danielle McQuiston

What brought you into the world of procurement?

A happy accident! I took a job doing data entry for a Clinical Research Organization just after university and quickly advanced into other parts of the clinical business, moving into the business side of clinical development in the bids and contracts team within a year. After further advancement in various roles on the business side of the CRO world, I was recruited by Sanofi to be their first Clinical Purchasing Buyer in the United States.

What kept me in procurement for 20 years was the breadth of topics and functions I was able to be involved with, the criticality to the business, and the innovation opportunities to elevate the function, specifically in the area of indirect procurement.

What inspired you to join Zip?

I wanted to join an organization that was leading the way and forging new paths in the procurement technology space, and Zip was top of my list.

What was your reaction the first time you encountered Zip?

Finally! Someone has finally delivered the very thing that I'd been asking other large procurement tech companies to do for me for over 15 years. Game changer.

What are some of the problems in procurement you believe Zip helps solve?

Making buying something in a large company as easy as it is to buy in our personal lives—while ensuring compliance with company policies, leveraging preferred suppliers, giving full visibility to all stakeholders, and optimizing workflows to expedite the entire process.

In addition, Zip's agents allow teams to automate many tasks that take up too much time, freeing them to focus on higher-value work.

What are you most excited about in the next era of procurement?

Nothing will inspire you more than seeing the impact procurement can have on business once it removes itself as a blocker and focuses on business outcomes and innovation, rather than tasks and policies.

What advice can you give for those seeking digital transformation in 2026?

Define what great looks like, then just do it. Digital transformation can seem daunting. It touches so many areas of the business and involves many unconnected moving parts. But simply start somewhere. Take it in bites. Go after large pain points that can bring results quickly, then build as you go, keeping the big picture as the overarching goal.

What's your favorite Zip feature?

Insights and contract compliance checks!

‍

Ready to work with us?

‍

It's time to find out how Zip can transform your procurement processes. Connect with our expert team to learn more.

‍