Supply chain management in healthcare might sound like a dry topic to some, but for Olivia Ramandanes, it’s where technology meets patient care in meaningful ways. With years of experience at Kaiser and a background spanning tech and manufacturing, she brings fresh perspectives on making healthcare operations more efficient and secure.
Entering Healthcare Procurement
Like many successful leaders, Olivia didn’t start out planning to work in healthcare procurement. “It was definitely something I kind of fell into,” she says. Her background in raw material procurement and tech caught Kaiser’s attention, leading to a role that opened her eyes to healthcare’s possibilities. “I really got exposure to the medical side of things and seeing the impact that I can make from the business side definitely propelled my career in that direction.”
Climbing the corporate ladder as a single mom with two kids taught Olivia valuable lessons about partnership and sacrifice. When taking on a demanding role at Kaiser, she had a frank discussion with her high school-aged son, who had disabilities requiring extra support. “We had a conversation – look, I’m going to take on this job at Kaiser, it’s going to take more time. I’m not going to be as involved, might not necessarily be there every day to pick you up.” 
The experience shaped her view of success as a shared achievement. “It became a collaborative relationship to make it to the end goals,” she says. Years later, she still acknowledges his role: “I have never stopped to look at him and say you did this too – it wasn’t just me. We’re both reaping the benefits of the hard work and sacrifices we both made.”
Sparking Innovation Through Curiosity
Olivia takes an unusual approach to team leadership, focusing on curiosity as much as results. “There are things that spark your curiosity – you want to see those things through and understand them. Even those who don’t have a huge ambition, when you see something new, you see something working, you see what you’ve done, that’s where the fun comes in.” She believes many companies overlook curiosity’s potential: “The effects and the outcomes of being curious can be astounding – in innovation, the partnerships you learn, the interesting people along the way.”
When it comes to working with Group Purchasing Organizations (GPOs), Olivia pushes for deeper partnerships. “You really need a strong negotiator when you’re talking about those GPO contracts that really know the ins and outs,” she explains. She sees GPOs as more than just purchasing partners – they should help with disaster planning and supply chain resilience. “If a hurricane hits they should be able to tell you your alternative vendors quickly. They know them, where they’re comparable.”
Mitigating Security Threats
Olivia shares a revealing story about cybersecurity vigilance. During a two-year contract negotiation with a major vendor claiming no offshore operations, a simple email signature exposed the truth. “That’s how we found out they had offshore operations. When we found that out, we had to back up and renegotiate the terms of cybersecurity.” In another case, she discovered a major vendor was using Ukrainian contractors to translate healthcare files – a serious compliance issue affecting many big-name clients. Her response was direct: “Either you tell your vendors you’re in Ukraine or I will, but this needs to stop.”
Learning from Other Industries
For keeping ahead of industry changes, Olivia takes an expansive view. She regularly talks with supply chain leaders outside healthcare: “I’m talking to people from automotive, energy – I can take something from energy and apply it to what I’m doing now.” She expects the same curiosity from her team: “I need you to bring something new to me every day as a team member. I don’t want to hear just the mundane. What did you learn new today?”
Looking ahead, she sees AI and blockchain reshaping supply chain management, but emphasizes human judgment remains crucial. “AI is obviously hot buzz but it has to be done right and most people forget there’s a human element to it. You have to be sure when you’re doing your road map or strategy you’re partnering it with human interaction.” Throughout her career, Olivia has shown how technical expertise, emotional intelligence, and persistent curiosity can transform healthcare operations. Her experience offers valuable lessons for anyone looking to make an impact in healthcare supply chain management.
To learn more about Olivia Ramandanes and her approach, check out her LinkedIn profile.
