According to Merriam-Webster, an October Surprise is “a significant revelation or event in the month prior to an election that has the potential to shift public opinion about an election candidate and that is often orchestrated to influence the election's outcome.”

What will it be in 2024? Anyone’s guess could be right.

In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes back Kris Lance, Vice President and Senior Director at Una, for a monthly conversation about current news stories. Kris has experience in multiple industries and has his finger on the pulse of the trends and topics that procurement, sourcing, and supply chain professionals need to be aware of.

In this month’s discussion, Kris and Kelly speculate about the sources of an October Surprise, ranging from concerning to entertaining:

A major financial or economic shock that puts policies and campaign promises to the test
Geopolitical risk stemming from world leaders or political/military activist groups who decide to seize the moment… and the headlines
Humanitarian, entertainment, or sports-based stories that dominate headlines and occupy hearts and minds

Links:

Ep 184: Speculating About a 2024 October Surprise feat. Kris Lance

The Sourcing Hero