Zip Community Spotlight: Irina Poliakov, Director of Global Procurement at Appsflyer

Head of Global Procurement @ AppsFlyer

About Irina: Say hello to Irina Poliakov! Irina started her career in industrial engineering and ended up building the global procurement function from the ground up. She has held leadership roles across pharma, semiconductors, and now SaaS, and she is currently diving deep into agentic AI to scale operations across IT, security, and legal.

What first led you into procurement? I actually got into procurement by accident. I studied industrial engineering and management and started my career in that field. Then I came across a very cool tech company that was looking for someone to handle procurement and supply chain. It wasn’t part of the plan, but I really wanted to work there, so I went for it - and that’s how it started.

Since then, I’ve worked across multiple industries - automotive, pharma, semiconductors, and now SaaS - managing both direct and indirect procurement. At AppsFlyer, I had the opportunity to build the global procurement function from scratch, which has been one of the most meaningful parts of my journey.

What is an interesting trend or challenge you are currently thinking through in your role? Like everyone else, I’ll say it: agentic AI - but I mean it. I’m currently focused on integrating AI agents throughout the procurement lifecycle to streamline and automate decision-making. It’s not just about procurement anymore; we’re extending these capabilities to support IT, security, and legal operations. The goal is to unlock scalable efficiency across functions.

What is the best career advice you have ever received? "Don’t be afraid to ask - worst case, they say YES!" One of my former managers told me he valued how I constantly asked questions and challenged the status quo. He said it pushed him to think differently, too. That stuck with me, and it still drives how I show up at work every day.

Outside of work, what is your hobby or passion that brings you joy? I train almost every day - whether it’s spinning, CrossFit, yoga, or strength workouts. Movement clears my mind. And the beach. That’s my happy place. If I can be by the ocean, everything feels right.

What about the Zip community are you most excited to explore as it develops? I love the idea of a community that brings procurement professionals together with a shared product experience. Zip has a unique opportunity to be more than just a tool - it can become a platform for connection, feedback, and innovation. I’m especially excited to engage in roadmap discussions, influence new features, and build meaningful peer relationships through this community.