Kate Vitasek is an international authority on the art, science and practice of highly collaborative business relationships. Her Vested® business model for highly collaborative relationships has been featured on CNN International, Bloomberg, NPR and Fox Business News. Vitasek is the author of seven books, including Vested: How P&G, McDonald’s and Microsoft Are Redefining Winning in Business Relationships; Getting to We: Negotiating Agreements for Highly Collaborative Relationships; and Contracting in the New Economy. Her work has been featured in more than 300 articles including in the Harvard Business Review, Chief Executive Magazine, Forbes and Journal of Commerce.

Vitasek is in the Sourcing Industry Group’s Hall of Fame and is a World Commerce and Contracting Fellow. She has been named a Rainmaker by DC Velocity Magazine, Woman on the Move in Trade and Transportation by the Journal of Commerce, and a Power Influencer by World Financial Magazine.

She is the lead faculty for UT’s Certified Deal Architect Program.

Publications

• The Vested Way: How a “What’s In It For We” Mindset Revolutionizes Business Relationships
  Publication Date: 2016
• Vested Outsourcing: Five Rules that Transform Outsourcing
  Publication Date: 2013
• The Vested Outsourcing Manual: A Guide for Creating Successful Business and Outsourcing Agreements
  Publication Date: 2011
• Strategic Sourcing in the New Economy: Harnessing the Potential of Sourcing Business Models for Modern Procurement
  Publication Date: 2015
• Contracting in the New Economy: Using Relational Contracts to Boost Trust and Collaboration in Strategic Business Relationships
  Publication Date: 2021
• Getting to We: Negotiating Agreements for Highly Collaborative Relationships
  Publication Date: 2013
• Vested: How P&G, McDonald’s, and Microsoft are Redefining Winning in Business Relationships
  Publication Date: 2012
• From Research to Relevance: 28 Case Studies From Companies Changing the World One Business Relationship at a Time
  Publication Date: 2023
• Unpacking Trading Partner Trust: Research and Insights into the Building Blocks for Boosting Compatibility and Trust in Strategic Partnerships
  Publication Date: 2022
• Unpacking The Impact of Relationships: A Comparison of Good vs Typical Suppliers in the Oil & Gas Business
  Publication Date: 2023
• Unpacking the Utility of Relationships: Factors that Boost Trust and Compatibility in Supplier Relationships
  Publication Date: 2024
• Unpacking the Academics of Sourcing: Lessons Learned from Great Academics
  Publication Date: 2024
• Unpacking Vested Outsourcing: A Better Way to Structure Outsourcing Contracts
  Publication Date: Dec-21
• Unpacking Sourcing Business Models: 21st Century Solutions for Sourcing Services
  Publication Date: Oct-16
• From Research to Relevance: Lessons Learned from Implementing Vested Contracts in the Nordics
  Publication Date: 2020
• Unpacking Relational Contracting: The Practitioner’s Go-To Guide Understanding Relational Contracts
  Publication Date: 2019
• Unpacking Relational Contracts: The New Generation of Franchise Agreements
  Publication Date: 2020
• Unpacking the Standing Neutral: A Cost Effective and Common-Sense Approach for Preventing Conflict
  Publication Date: 2019
• Implementing the Standing Neutral: A Practitioner’s Guide to Understanding & Implementing the Standing Neutral
  Publication Date: 2023
• Unpacking Collaboration Theory: What Every Negotiator Needs to Know to Establish Successful Strategic Relationships
  Publication Date: 2013
• Unpacking Request for Partner: Getting to a Vested Agreement Using a Competitive Bidding Process (2nd Edition)
  Publication Date: 2019
• Unpacking Competitive Bidding Methods: The Essential ABCs of the Various RFX Methods
  Publication Date: 2017
• Unpacking Competitive Bid Debriefs: A Study of the Value and Process for Providing Debriefs to all Parties
  Publication Date: 2022
• Unpacking Oliver: Ten Lessons to Improve Collaborative Outsourcing
  Publication Date: 2016
• Unpacking Pricing Models: Making “You Get What You Pay For” Real for Business Relationships
  Publication Date: 2019
• Unpacking Best Value: Understanding and Embracing Value Based Approaches for Procurement
  Publication Date: 2017
• Unpacking CRO Outsourcing: Harnessing Innovation and Added Value in Pharma CRO Outsourcing
  Publication Date: 2016
• Unpacking Labor Procurement: A Whitepaper Challenging Industry Practices for Buying Labor Services
  Publication Date: 2019
• Unpacking Risk Shifting: A Whitepaper Challenging Unreasonable Risk-Shifting in the Transportation and Logitics Industry
  Publication Date: 2016
• Unpacking Outsourcing Governance: How to Build a Sound Governance Structure to Drive Insight vs Oversight (2nd Edition)
  Publication Date: 2022
• Unpacking B2B Data Integration Pricing: Why Buyers Should Challenge the Status Quo
  Publication Date: 2013
• Unpacking Transportation Pricing: A Whitepaper Challenging Transportation Pricing Models
  Publication Date: 2016
• Identifying and Developing the Future Skills Needed in Sourcing and Procurement
  Publication Date: 2019
• End-To-End Supply Chain Collaboration Best Practices: Creating Supply Chain Value By Working Together
  Publication Date: May-18
• Selecting and Managing a Third Party Logistics Provider: Best Practices
  Publication Date: Jan-16
• BP and JLL: Reimagining Real Estate and Facilities Management Outsourcing
  Publication Date: 2022
• How Dell and FedEx Supply Chain Reinvented Their Relationship to Achieve Record-Setting Results
  Publication Date: 2018
• Innovation in Health Care Outsourcing: How the Discovery Health Medical Scheme and Discovery Health (Pty) Limited Create Value Through Their Innovative Vested Outsourcing Relationship
  Publication Date: 2016
• A Journey to Vested Outsourcing: The Story of How Diversey and Wipro are (R)Evolutionizing IT Outsourcing
  Publication Date: 2011
• Facility Management Outsourcing: From Performance-Based to a Vested Agreement
  Publication Date: 2016
• The Royal Australian Navy FFG Enterprise: A Journey from Antagonism to High-Performing Relationship
  Publication Date: 2018
• How a Small Business Wins Big with Vested
  Publication Date: 2012
• The Innovators Dilemma: How Intel and DHL Drove a Paradigm Shift in Procurement
  Publication Date: 2012
• Intel and DHLSC’s European Expansion of Vested
  Publication Date: 2017
• A New Day, New Way: The Island Health – Hospitalist Journey to Vested
  Publication Date: 2019
• McDonald’s Secret Sauce for Supply Chain Success
  Publication Date: 2012
• How Microsoft and Accenture Transformed Global Finance Operations
  Publication Date: 2010
• From Tragedy to Triumph: How the Minnesota Department of Transportation Turned the I-35 Bridge Tragedy to Triumph
  Publication Date: 2011
• How P&G and JLL Transformed Corporate Real Estate
  Publication Date: 2012
• How One Small Business Competes with China Building Circuit Boards and Building Relationships
  Publication Date: 2019
• How the U.S. Department of Energy Transformed a Weapons Wasteland into a Wildlife Refuge
  Publication Date: 2011
• Innovating in the Telecom Industry: How Telenet and Solutions 30 are Transforming Telecom Service Operations to Deliver Innovation
  Publication Date: 2021
• From Supplier to Strategic Partner: How Telia Took Their Tech Site Maintenance to the Next Level
  Publication Date: 2019
• Transforming Healthcare Outsourcing: How Vancouver Coastal Health Used Vested to Drive Innovation in Outsourcing
  Publication Date: 2016
• How Water for People’s Quest to Vested is Redefining Success for Charities
  Publication Date: 2012
• From Supplier to Strategic Partner: How Telia Used a Request for Partner Process to Take their Facilities Management Operations to the Next Level
  Publication Date: 2024
• A New Approach to Contracts: How to Build Better Long-Term Strategic Partnerships
  Publication Date: Sept-Oct 2019
• Top Executive Education Courses – 2024
  Publication Date: 10/31/2023
• 10 Elements Every Strategic Contract Should Have
  Publication Date: Mar-24
• Hard Data Makes the Case for Soft Skills
  Publication Date: Oct-22
• A Lesson On Learning By Doing: How One University Is Rethinking How It Teaches Contracting
  Publication Date: Apr-18
• Innovations in Virtual Contract Negotiations
  Publication Date: May-22
• Time for a Change: 10 Essentials for Developing a Successful Outsourcing Agreement
  Publication Date: Jul-11
• Ten Ways to Shake Your World
  Publication Date: 2011
• The Path to a Long Term Win Win Contract
  Publication Date: Jul-12
• 10 Ailments of Outsourcing Relationships
  Publication Date: Jul-10
• 12 Ailments of Strategic Sourcing and Supplier Management and How to Prevent Them
  Publication Date: Oct-18
• Twelve Ailments of Outsourcing CRE: What They Are and How to Prevent Them
  Publication Date: Oct-19
• The Evolution of the Vested Business Model
  Publication Date: Jun-17
• Transform Outsourcing in a Genuine Win-Win
  Publication Date: May-18
• How Diversey and Wipro are Creating an ITO (R)Evolution
  Publication Date: Jan-12
• McDonald’s Suppliers Are Vested For Success
  Publication Date: Dec-12
• McDonald’s Secret: Seek to Achieve the Triple Win
  Publication Date: Oct-12
• McDonald’s “Secret Sauce” for Supply Chain Success
  Publication Date: Dec-16
• Playing to Win
  Publication Date: Jan-11
• Changing the Game of Outsourcing: The Microsoft OneFinance Case
  Publication Date: 2012
• Creating Value with Your Strategic Partners
  Publication Date: Summer 2015
• Vested Outsourcing: How P&G Brought its Focus on Innovation to Facilities Management
  Publication Date: 2013
• Vested Outsourcing in Corporate Real Estate and Facilities Management
  Publication Date: Mar-17
• The Rolls-Royce of Effective Performance-Based Collaboration
  Publication Date: Jun-12
• Tennessee Inks Collaborative Facilities Management Contract With JLL
  Publication Date: 29-Jun-17
• New Strategy Could Shake Up Outsourcing
  Publication Date: Jun-16
• A Prescription For Collaborative Healthcare Outsourcing: The Evolution of Outsourcing at VCH
  Publication Date: Oct-16
• The ABCs of Competitive Bidding
  Publication Date: May-June 2022
• The Best Bidding Method For Your CRE Sourcing Initiative: A Comparative Analysis of Popular Competitive Methods
  Publication Date: 18-Dec-19
• Driving Innovation with Collaborative Bidding: Advice for CRE Professionals
  Publication Date: 19-Mar-20
• Collaborative Bidding Can Transform the Competitive Process
  Publication Date: Nov-16
• Why and How Organisations Should Adopt More Collaborative Bidding Methods
  Publication Date: June-July 2023
• Vested Outsourcing: A Better Practice For Better Results
  Publication Date: Nov-10
• Go “Back to the Basics” for Strategic Outsourcing and Contracting
  Publication Date: May-21
• The Evolution of the Vested Business Model: From Research to a Methodology to a Movement
  Publication Date: Jun-19
• Finding the Right Sourcing Business Model
  Publication Date: Jul-16
• Contract Management the Vested Way
  Publication Date: Aug-12
• Are You Suffering From The Contracting Paradox? Introducing The “Relational Contract”
  Publication Date: May-17
• Unpacking Pricing Models: The Five Essential Questions Contracting Professionals Should Know the Answers To
  Publication Date: Oct-19
• Reimagining Real Estate and Facilities Management Outsourcing: A bp and JLL Case Study
  Publication Date: 9-Feb-23
• The Rise of the Standing Neutral: An Easy, Economical, and Effective Way to Prevent Contractual Conflicts
  Publication Date: Summer 2023
• Go Back to School for Strategic Outsourcing
  Publication Date: Autumn 2016
• The Economics of Outsourcing: Lessons From Nobel Prize-Winning Economists on Better Outsourcing
  Publication Date: Nov-10
• Oliver’s Twist
  Publication Date: Oct-10
• What Five Great Economists Can Tell Us About Outsourcing
  Publication Date: July-Aug 2012
• Five Rules: How CEOs Can Redefine Winning with Strategic Suppliers
  Publication Date: Apr-14
• The Five Rules that will Transform Outsourcing: Changing The Business Mindset From “Me” To “We”
  Publication Date: Sep-14
• Playing to Win
  Publication Date: Summer 2011
• Transform Outsourcing Into a Genuine Win-Win
  Publication Date: May-18
• Vested For Success
  Publication Date: Dec-16
• Five Rules to Strategic Outsourcing
  Publication Date: Jan-19
• A Better Way to Outsource
  Publication Date: Nov-20
• Vested Outsourcing: Five Rules That Transform Outsourcing
  Publication Date: Sept-Oct 2022
• 5 Steps to Improving your 3PL Relationship
  Publication Date: Feb-11
• Dyer and Singh – The Relational View for Alliances and Alignment
  Publication Date: 9/6/2013
• Five Steps for a Collaborative 3PL Relationship
  Publication Date: Spring 2016
• Five Steps in Getting to We: A New Negotiations Paradigm
  Publication Date: Aug-19
• The Fine Art of Negotiation
  Publication Date: Mar-12
• Outsourcing Governance: Why Insight Beats Oversight
  Publication Date: Jan-12
• Vested Outsourcing: How P&G Brought its Focus on Innovation to Facilities Management
  Publication Date: Dec-13
• Choosing the Right Sourcing Model for CRE Outsourcing Agreements
  Publication Date: 2-Feb-18
• Comparing the Why, What and How of Performance-Based and Vested Outsourcing Models in CRE
  Publication Date: 20-Jun-18
• Outsourcing Real Estate Services: A Time to Reset
  Publication Date: May-21
• Making ‘Getting What You Pay For’ a Reality in CRE Outsourcing Deals
  Publication Date: Jan-19
• Pricing 101: Understanding the Basics of Pricing a Corporate Real Estate Outsourcing Deal
  Publication Date: Oct-18
• Why and How Formal Relational Contracts Will Improve Your Next Corporate Real Estate Outsourcing Deal
  Publication Date: Sep-21
• How do I Know I’m Getting a Good Deal in a Vested Arrangement
  Publication Date: Mar-Apr 2014
• Collaboration Without Gainsharing
  Publication Date: “Volume 18 / Issue 3
• The 3PL Industry: Time to Reset
  Publication Date: Apr-20
• 3 Big Wins From Healthcare Companies To Contain Costs
  Publication Date: 7-Jun-16
• Map Your Way to an Effective Sourcing Strategy
  Publication Date: Dec-16
• Negotiating Through a Translucent Lens
  Publication Date: Nov-23
• Avoid Buyer-Seller Remorse: Get What You Pay For
  Publication Date: Oct-14
• Beyond Gainsharing: Understanding Different Economic Models/Incentives in Outsourcing Agreements
  Publication Date: Apr-13
• Don’t Re-shore a Priceberg
  Publication Date: Apr-14
• Best Practices for Supplier Debriefs
  Publication Date: Nov-23
• An Innovative Way to Prevent Adversarial Supplier Relationships
  Publication Date: Oct-20
• Contracting in the New Economy
  Publication Date: May-23
• The Future of Formal Relational Contracting Is Now
  Publication Date: Dec-22
• Formal Relational Contracting in the ‘New Economy’
  Publication Date: Feb-23
• Relational Contracts: Countering the Contracting Paradox
  Publication Date: Autumn 2018
• Boeing Australia Uses Relational Contracting With Indigenous Businesses
  Publication Date: Apr-24
• The Vested Way: A Model of Formal Relational Contracts
  Publication Date: Dec-20
• Contracting in the New Economy: What is New? Why the Need to Change? And a Suggested Approach for Creating Strategic Contracts
  Publication Date: Jun-22
• Risk Management
  Publication Date: 24-Jul-14
• Breaking the Outsourcing Conundrum: How Service Providers Can Create a path to Unlocking a Vested Relationship
  Publication Date: Apr-13
• Procurement’s ‘Gold Standard’ Tools: Time for a Reset?
  Publication Date: May-18
• Sourcing as an Evolving System
  Publication Date: Spring 2019
• Outsourcing is Not Make Versus Buy: It is a Continuum
  Publication Date: Apr-12
• Consider the Best Strategic Sourcing Model for Your Business
  Publication Date: Sep-15
• Your Sourcing Model Can Make or Break the Deal
  Publication Date: Mar-15