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Send us Fan Mail You already have a personal brand. The question is, does it reflect who you are today, what you want to be known for and where you're heading next in your procurement career? Personal branding can be an uncomfortable topic. It can sound loud, showy or inauthentic. But your personal brand isn't about becoming someone you're not. And it certainly isn't just about what you post on LinkedIn. It's about how people experience you, what they associate with you and what's being said about you when you're not in the room. In this episode of Procurement Pivots Podcast, Donna Bowden and Laura Sellers explore what personal branding really means for procurement professionals and leaders, and why it matters both inside your organisation and across the wider procurement market. Because as your career evolves, your personal brand needs to evolve with it. Sometimes, without even realising it, we can outgrow the brand we've built. In this episode, we explore: What personal branding really means in procurementWhy you already have a personal brand, whether you've intentionally created it or notWhy personal branding doesn't have to mean being loud or constantly visibleThe importance of authenticity in how you show upHow your personal brand can evolve as your career and leadership evolveHow to decide what you most want to be known forWhy taking control of your own career narrative mattersHow your CV, LinkedIn presence, meetings, conversations and everyday interactions all contribute to your personal brandWhy consistency helps build trust and strengthen your reputationHow your personal brand can influence the opportunities, projects and conversations that come your wayYour personal brand isn't about creating a polished version of yourself for other people. It's about becoming more intentional about what you want to be known for and making sure the way you show up reinforces it. So, what are you known for today? And is that what you want to be known for in the next phase of your procurement career? Get in Touch If this episode got you thinking about your own personal brand, we'd love to hear what you want to be known for. You can now receive even more insights from us and have the opportunity to engage with us privately by joining our Procurement Pivots email community. Over the coming weeks, we'll be focusing on helping you make the most of the final part of 2026, end the year on a high and head into 2027 with greater clarity and confidence. Join us here: https://procurementpivots.com/email-list If you'd like to explore working with Procurement Pivots Podcast, or with either of us individually, you can contact us at: [email protected] About Procurement Pivots Podcast We are passionate about supporting the people behind procurement success. Between us, we bring over 25 years of experience supporting procurement leaders in a variety of different ways, combining our diverse coaching expertise to bring to life the conversations from the coaching room that deserve a spotlight in today's challenging and ever-changing procurement landscape. From procurement career positioning, visibility and career progression, through to leadership development, influence and navigating change, we've supported procurement professionals across every stage of their journey. Because success in procurement isn't just about what you deliver. It's about how you show up, how you're perceived and how you create opportunities. About Donna Bowden Donna Bowden is a Procurement Positioning Career Coach and Founder of Narrate Your Career, supporting senior procurement professionals and leaders to strengthen how they position themselves for where they want to head next. Personal branding forms an important part of Donna's wider career positioning work, helping clients become clearer about what they want to be known for and ensure their CV, LinkedIn presence, visibility, relationships and reputation consistently reinforce their value. If you're a senior UK procurement professional and would like to explore working with Donna, you can book a confidential Career Momentum Call here: https://www.narrateyourcareer.com/book-a-call Or download Donna's Proven Procurement CV Checklist here: https://www.narrateyourcareer.com/CVchecklist About Laura Sellers Laura Sellers is an Executive and Leadership Coach specialising in procurement professionals and teams. Drawing on her background in procurement and procurement development, she supports individuals and organisations to strengthen leadership capability, self-awareness, confidence and coaching skills to elevate their impact, influence and performance. Laura works with procurement leaders, professionals and teams to navigate leadership challenges, develop their capability and create greater impact within their organisations. Find out more about Laura and her work here: https://www.coachingforprocurement.co.uk/ Or get in touch with Laura directly: https://www.coachingforprocurement.co.uk/contact-me

Send us Fan Mail There are 100 days to go until the end of 2026. How do you want to feel when you get there? And how do you want to step into 2027? September can bring a renewed sense of energy. But it doesn't always last long. Workloads increase, demands return and before you know it, you're back in the day-to-day with the end of the year approaching quickly. In this episode of Procurement Pivots Podcast, Donna Bowden and Laura Sellers explore how procurement professionals and leaders can use the final 100 days of 2026 to pause, reflect on the year so far and become more intentional about their career, leadership and priorities for the months ahead. Because 100 days is still a significant amount of time. Whether 2026 has gone exactly as you'd hoped, taken an unexpected turn, or there are things in your procurement career or role that you still want to change, there is time to make meaningful progress and set yourself up well for 2027. Rather than immediately focusing on everything you haven't done, Donna and Laura encourage you to start by recognising what has already happened. What are you proud of? What have you enjoyed? What have you learned? What challenges have you overcome? And what does that tell you about what you want more of in your career? In this episode, we explore: Why looking back can be an important part of moving your procurement career forwardThe questions to ask yourself as you reflect on 2026 so farWhy career reflection should go beyond targets, projects and achievementsWhat's giving you energy in your career and what's draining itHow you want to feel when you reach the end of 2026What would make you feel pleased, proud or delighted with how the year endsIdentifying what could get in the way over the next 100 daysWhat you might want to finish, change or leave behind in 2026How to turn your career goals and priorities into manageable milestonesThe role of writing things down, sharing your intentions and creating accountabilityWhy recognising smaller wins can build confidence and self-beliefHow the progress you make now can create greater career momentum for 2027Because this isn't about putting yourself under more pressure to achieve a huge list of goals before 31 December. It's about being intentional. A lot can happen in 100 days. And the small, consistent actions you take now could change not only how you feel when you look back on 2026, but how you approach your procurement career and the opportunities ahead in 2027. Get in Touch If this episode resonated, we'd love to hear what you're working towards over the final 100 days of 2026.  Go to www.procurementpivots.com/email-list to join our email community packed full of insights and tips to help you maximise these next 100 days and beyond. If you'd like to explore working with Procurement Pivots Podcast, or with either of us individually, you can contact us at: [email protected] About the Procurement Pivots Podcast We are passionate about supporting the people behind procurement success. Between us, we bring over 25 years of experience supporting procurement leaders in a variety of different ways, combining our diverse coaching expertise to bring to life the conversations from the coaching room that deserve a spotlight in today's challenging and ever-changing procurement landscape. We're proud to have built strong reputations as trusted coaches in the procurement space, supporting individuals and teams to navigate complexity, strengthen their leadership and progress with greater clarity and confidence. From procurement career positioning, visibility and career progression, through to leadership development, influence and navigating change, we've supported procurement professionals across every stage of their journey. Because success in procurement isn't just about what you deliver. It's about how you show up, how you're perceived and how you create opportunities. About Donna Bowden Donna Bowden is a Procurement Positioning Career Coach and Founder of Narrate Your Career, supporting senior procurement professionals and procurement leaders to understand and articulate their value, strengthen their career positioning and create the right opportunities for where they want to head next. With over 20 years' experience supporting careers and a background in senior procurement recruitment, Donna combines deep knowledge of the procurement job market with career coaching to help senior procurement professionals build greater clarity, confidence, visibility and momentum. Her work spans procurement career positioning, career direction, CVs, LinkedIn positioning, job-search strategy, networking, visibility and interview preparation, helping senior procurement professionals position themselves effectively for their next career move. If you're a senior UK procurement professional considering your next role or career move and would like to explore working with Donna, you can book a confidential Career Momentum Call here: https://www.narrateyourcareer.com/book-a-call And if securing a new procurement role is part of your plans for the rest of 2026 or into 2027, you can download Donna's Proven Procurement CV Checklist here: https://www.narrateyourcareer.com/CVchecklist About Laura Sellers Laura Sellers is an Executive and Leadership Coach specialising in procurement professionals and teams. Drawing on her background in procurement and procurement development, she supports individuals and organisations to strengthen leadership capability, self-awareness, confidence and coaching skills to elevate their impact, influence and performance. Laura works with procurement leaders, professionals and teams to navigate leadership challenges, develop their capability and create greater impact within their organisations. Find out more about Laura and her work here: https://www.coachingforprocurement.co.uk/ Or get in touch with Laura directly: https://www.coachingforprocurement.co.uk/contact-me

Send us Fan Mail The procurement job market has changed. Competition for senior procurement roles has increased, hiring processes have evolved and technology is playing a greater role in how applications are screened. Which means the CV that successfully opened doors for you two, three or four years ago might not be enough to secure an interview today. In this episode of Procurement Pivots, Donna Bowden and Laura Sellers explore what senior procurement professionals need to think differently about when it comes to their CV in 2026. Drawing on Donna's experience of reviewing thousands of procurement CVs since moving into procurement recruitment in 2013, alongside the CV work she now does with senior procurement clients, they unpack some of the most common reasons even experienced and highly capable procurement leaders can struggle to stand out on paper. We discuss: Why a professionally written CV can still struggle to cut through in today's procurement marketWhy your CV shouldn't read like a job descriptionThe difference between describing what you've done and demonstrating the impact you've hadWhy results and metrics need context if you want the reader to understand their significanceWhy you can't expect a hiring manager or recruiter to join the dots for youHow to bring more of your personality, leadership style and individual approach onto the pageWhy trying to showcase everything you're good at can actually dilute your positioningHow to identify and elevate the two or three strengths you really want to be known forWhy senior procurement professionals often downplay their achievements and valueHow to communicate your successes without feeling as though you're braggingWhy your CV should be treated as a positioning tool rather than an administrative taskHow doing the deeper work behind your CV can strengthen your confidence and interview performanceWhy AI can sometimes make your CV blend in rather than stand outHow to use AI as a tool without allowing it to take over your voiceWhy your CV needs to communicate where you're heading next, not simply where you've beenAnd why, however strong it is, your CV alone isn't a job-search strategyBecause in a crowded senior procurement market, simply having the right experience isn't enough. Your CV needs to help someone quickly understand your value, your impact, what differentiates you and why you make sense for where you're heading next. And even then, it's only one part of how you position yourself to create and secure the right opportunities. Get in Touch If this episode resonated, we'd love to hear your thoughts. When did you last look at your CV through the eyes of the person you're hoping will read it? If you'd like to explore working with Procurement Pivots, or with either of us individually, you can contact us at: [email protected] About Procurement Pivots We are passionate about supporting the people behind procurement success. Between us, we bring over 25 years of experience supporting procurement leaders in a variety of different ways, combining our diverse coaching expertise to bring to life the conversations from the coaching room that deserve a spotlight in today's challenging and ever-changing procurement landscape. We're proud to have built strong reputations as trusted coaches in the procurement space, supporting individuals and teams to navigate complexity, strengthen their leadership and progress with greater clarity and confidence. From positioning, visibility and career progression, through to leadership development, influence and navigating change, we've supported procurement professionals across every stage of their journey. Because success in procurement isn't just about what you deliver. It's about how you show up, how you're perceived and how you create opportunities. About Donna Bowden Donna Bowden is a Procurement Career Coach and Founder of Narrate Your Career, supporting senior procurement professionals to build clarity, confidence and visibility in their careers. With over 20 years' experience in procurement leadership hiring, she brings deep insight into what hiring managers are really looking for and how to position yourself effectively to identify, create and secure the right opportunities in your procurement career. If this resonates and you're a procurement leader in the UK who is serious about making a considered and intentional next move, you're very welcome to explore working with Donna here: https://www.narrateyourcareer.com/book-a-call Download Donna's Free Proven Procurement CV Checklist here:  https://www.narrateyourcareer.com/CVchecklist About Laura Sellers Laura Sellers is an Executive and Leadership Coach, specialising in coaching for procurement professionals and teams. Drawing on her background in procurement and procurement development, she supports individuals and organisations to develop leadership capability, strengthen self-awareness and build coaching skills that elevate their impact, influence and performance. Laura also leads an ILM-accredited coaching centre, helping procurement professionals and organisations develop practical coaching capability and gain recognised ILM coaching qualifications that strengthen leadership and create lasting impact across their teams. Interested in developing your own coaching skills? Laura's next ILM coaching qualification cohort starts in September. Find out more about Laura's ILM coaching qualifications here: https://www.coachingforprocurement.co.uk/training Or get in touch with Laura directly here: https://www.coachingforprocurement.co.uk/contact-me

Send us Fan Mail Procurement leadership, workplace boundaries, strategic leadership, career progression, prioritisation and high performance are more closely connected than you might think. When we talk about boundaries at work, they're often associated with saying no, being less available or protecting our personal time. But what if better boundaries could actually help you become a more impactful procurement leader? In this episode of Procurement Pivots, Donna Bowden and Laura Sellers explore why boundaries aren't simply about doing less. Used well, they can create the clarity, focus and space you need to operate more strategically, make better decisions and deliver greater impact. We discuss: Why boundaries are about far more than simply saying noWhy the desire to add value and prove procurement's worth can make boundaries particularly difficultThe relationship between boundaries, prioritisation and your ability to operate strategicallyWhy creating space to think can ultimately improve your decisions and outcomesHow to recognise the red flags that suggest you're repeatedly crossing your own boundariesWhy frustration can be a sign that your boundaries, or even your values, are being compromisedHow repeatedly going above and beyond can turn an exception into an expectationWhy being the busiest and most dependable person doesn't necessarily make you the obvious choice for progressionHow managing your workload and priorities can help you appear more in control and ready to take on greater responsibilityWhy boundaries can help procurement leaders move from operational busyness towards greater strategic impactHow boundaries can give you greater control when so much around you feels outside your controlWhy your boundaries need to evolve as your role, career and life evolveBecause more busyness doesn't necessarily mean more impact. And it doesn't automatically lead to bigger and better opportunities. Strong boundaries can help you become clearer about what matters, communicate expectations more effectively and create the conditions for both high performance and a sustainable procurement career. Get in Touch If this episode resonated, we'd love to hear your thoughts. What boundaries have made the biggest difference to your impact, career or life? And which ones are still a work in progress? If you'd like to explore working with Procurement Pivots, or with either of us individually, you can contact us at: [email protected] About Procurement Pivots We are passionate about supporting the people behind procurement success. Between us, we bring over 25 years of experience supporting procurement leaders in a variety of different ways, combining our diverse coaching expertise to bring to life the conversations from the coaching room that deserve a spotlight in today's challenging and ever-changing procurement landscape. We're proud to have built strong reputations as trusted coaches in the procurement space, supporting individuals and teams to navigate complexity, strengthen their leadership and progress with greater clarity and confidence. From positioning, visibility and career progression, through to leadership development, influence and navigating change, we've supported procurement professionals across every stage of their journey. Because success in procurement isn't just about what you deliver. It's about how you show up, how you're perceived and how you create opportunities. About Donna Bowden Donna Bowden is a Procurement Career Coach and Founder of Narrate Your Career, supporting senior procurement professionals to build clarity, confidence and visibility in their careers. With over 20 years' experience in procurement leadership hiring, she brings deep insight into what hiring managers are really looking for and how to position yourself effectively to identify, create and secure the right opportunities in your procurement career. If this resonates and you're a procurement leader in the UK who is serious about making a considered and intentional next move, you're very welcome to explore working with Donna here: https://www.narrateyourcareer.com/book-a-call About Laura Sellers Laura Sellers is an Executive and Leadership Coach, specialising in coaching for procurement professionals and teams. Drawing on her background in procurement and procurement development, she supports individuals and organisations to develop leadership capability, strengthen self-awareness and build coaching skills that elevate their impact, influence and performance. Laura also leads an ILM-accredited coaching centre, helping procurement professionals and organisations develop practical coaching capability and gain recognised ILM coaching qualifications that strengthen leadership and create lasting impact across their teams. Interested in developing your own coaching skills? Laura's next ILM coaching qualification cohort starts in September. Find out more about Laura's ILM coaching qualifications here: https://www.coachingforprocurement.co.uk/training Or get in touch with Laura directly here: https://www.coachingforprocurement.co.uk/contact-me

Send us Fan Mail Procurement careers, career crossroads, career clarity, procurement leadership, career change and senior procurement job search can all collide at a point that many successful procurement leaders simply aren't expecting. On paper, everything might look good. You've built a successful procurement career. You're operating at leadership level. You're in a good organisation, perhaps with a team you enjoy working with. But something doesn't feel quite right anymore. You know you're ready for something different, or perhaps something more, but you're not entirely sure what that looks like yet. And when there isn't an obvious reason to leave, that uncertainty can be surprisingly difficult to navigate. In this episode of Procurement Pivots, Donna Bowden and Laura Sellers explore the procurement career crossroads that no one really prepares you for and how to navigate it with greater clarity, confidence and intention. We discuss: Why career crossroads can appear even when everything looks good on paperHow changes in your life, priorities and values can change what you need from your careerThe danger of drifting through a successful career without consciously choosing where you're headingThe early signs that something in your career may no longer be serving youWhy career clarity doesn't start with your CV, job boards or the external marketHow understanding your strengths, values and what energises you can help uncover the right directionWhy there's an important difference between responding to a crossroads and reacting to oneHow rushing into applications before you're clear can actually knock your confidence furtherWhy the right answer isn't necessarily leaving your organisation, or even your current roleHow clarity helps you become more selective about what you say yes and no toWhy people buy into your certainty, particularly at procurement leadership levelThe importance of understanding the why behind the what when deciding what comes nextBecause being at a career crossroads doesn't necessarily mean you need to leave. It might mean you need to pause long enough to understand what's changed, what matters to you now and what you really want your next chapter to look like. Clarity gives you back choice. And choice allows you to move forward intentionally. Get in Touch If this episode resonated, we'd love to hear your thoughts. If you'd like to explore working with Procurement Pivots, or with either of us individually, you can contact us at: [email protected] At a crossroads in your own procurement career? If you're a senior procurement leader in the UK and would like to explore how Donna could support you to get clear on what comes next and position yourself to make it happen, you can book a confidential Career Momentum Call here: https://www.narrateyourcareer.com/book-a-call About Procurement Pivots We are passionate about supporting the people behind procurement success. Between us, we bring over 25 years of experience supporting procurement leaders in a variety of different ways, combining our diverse coaching expertise to bring to life the conversations from the coaching room that deserve a spotlight in today's challenging and ever-changing procurement landscape. We're proud to have built strong reputations as trusted coaches in the procurement space, supporting individuals and teams to navigate complexity, strengthen their leadership and progress with greater clarity and confidence. From positioning, visibility and career progression, through to leadership development, influence and navigating change, we've supported procurement professionals across every stage of their journey. Because success in procurement isn't just about what you deliver. It's about how you show up, how you're perceived and how you create opportunities. About Donna Bowden Donna Bowden is a Procurement Career Coach and Founder of Narrate Your Career, supporting senior procurement professionals to build clarity, confidence and visibility in their careers. With over 20 years' experience in procurement leadership hiring, she brings deep insight into what hiring managers are really looking for and how to position yourself effectively to identify, create and secure the right opportunities in your procurement career. If this episode resonates and you're a procurement leader in the UK who is serious about making a considered and intentional next move, you're very welcome to explore working with Donna here: https://www.narrateyourcareer.com/book-a-call About Laura Sellers Laura Sellers is an Executive and Leadership Coach, specialising in coaching for procurement professionals and teams. Drawing on her background in procurement and procurement development, she supports individuals and organisations to develop leadership capability, strengthen self-awareness and build coaching skills that elevate their impact, influence and performance. Laura also leads an ILM-accredited coaching centre, helping procurement professionals and organisations develop practical coaching capability and gain recognised ILM coaching qualifications that strengthen leadership and create lasting impact across their teams. Interested in developing your own coaching skills? Laura's next ILM coaching qualification cohort starts in September. Find out more about Laura's ILM coaching qualifications here: https://www.coachingforprocurement.co.uk/training Or get in touch with Laura directly here: https://www.coachingforprocurement.co.uk/contact-me

Send us Fan Mail Successful Traits of Procurement Leaders: Coaching Procurement transformation, procurement leadership, coaching skills, stakeholder management, influencing skills and leadership development are increasingly interconnected. Successful procurement transformation isn't just about having the right strategy, processes, technology or technical procurement expertise. You also need to bring people with you. In this episode of Procurement Pivots, Donna Bowden and Laura Sellers explore why developing coaching skills can give procurement leaders a competitive edge and help them create greater impact across their teams, stakeholders and organisations. We challenge the perception that coaching is simply a "soft" leadership skill and look at how the capabilities behind great coaching can translate into very real procurement and commercial outcomes. We discuss: Why coaching skills are increasingly relevant for today's procurement leadersWhy you don't need to have all the answers to demonstrate credibility as a leaderHow asking better questions can strengthen your influence and impactWhy procurement transformation requires you to bring people with youHow coaching skills can help overcome resistance and create greater stakeholder buy-inThe connection between coaching, stakeholder relationships and commercial outcomesHow active listening, self-awareness and adaptability can strengthen your negotiation skillsWhy many procurement leaders may already be coaching without recognising itHow developing your coaching skills can change not only how you lead others, but how you lead yourselfThe difference between using coaching skills informally and developing them more intentionally through training and reflective practiceBecause successful procurement transformation isn't only about what you change. It's also about how effectively you can engage, influence and enable the people who will ultimately make that transformation happen. Get in Touch If this episode resonated, we'd love to hear your thoughts. If you'd like to explore working with Procurement Pivots, or with either of us individually, you can contact us at: [email protected] Interested in developing your own coaching skills? Laura's next ILM coaching qualification cohort starts in September, for procurement professionals who want to add coaching skills to their leadership toolkit. Find out more about Laura's ILM coaching qualifications here: https://www.coachingforprocurement.co.uk/training About Procurement Pivots We are passionate about supporting the people behind procurement success. Between us, we bring over 25 years of experience supporting procurement leaders in a variety of different ways, combining our diverse coaching expertise to bring to life the conversations from the coaching room that deserve a spotlight in today's challenging and ever-changing procurement landscape. We're proud to have built strong reputations as trusted coaches in the procurement space, supporting individuals and teams to navigate complexity, strengthen their leadership and progress with greater clarity and confidence. From positioning, visibility and career progression, through to leadership development, influence and navigating change, we've supported procurement professionals across every stage of their journey. Because success in procurement isn't just about what you deliver. It's about how you show up, how you're perceived and how you create opportunities. About Donna Bowden Donna Bowden is a Procurement Career Coach and Founder of Narrate Your Career, supporting senior procurement professionals to build clarity, confidence and visibility in their careers. With over 20 years' experience in procurement leadership hiring, she brings deep insight into what hiring managers are really looking for and how to position yourself effectively to identify, create and secure the right opportunities in your procurement career. If this resonates and you're a procurement leader in the UK who is serious about making a considered and intentional next move, you're very welcome to explore working with Donna here: https://www.narrateyourcareer.com/book-a-call About Laura Sellers Laura Sellers is an Executive and Leadership Coach, specialising in coaching for procurement professionals and teams. Drawing on her background in procurement and procurement development, she supports individuals and organisations to develop leadership capability, strengthen self-awareness and build coaching skills that elevate their impact, influence and performance. Laura also leads an ILM-accredited coaching centre, helping procurement professionals and organisations develop practical coaching capability and gain recognised ILM coaching qualifications that strengthen leadership and create lasting impact across their teams. If this episode has got you thinking about adding coaching skills to your own leadership toolkit, Laura's next ILM coaching qualification cohort starts in September. Find out more about Laura's ILM coaching qualifications here: https://www.coachingforprocurement.co.uk/training Or get in touch with Laura directly here: https://www.coachingforprocurement.co.uk/contact-me

Send us Fan Mail Procurement stakeholder management, stakeholder relationships, procurement leadership, influence, business partnering and procurement careers are all critical to becoming a successful procurement leader. Strong stakeholder relationships don't happen by chance. They're built through trust, curiosity, credibility and consistency. In this episode of Procurement Pivots, we explore what successful procurement leaders do differently when it comes to building relationships and influence across their organisations. Whilst technical procurement skills remain important, your ability to understand, engage and influence stakeholders will often determine your long-term success as a leader. We discuss: Why successful stakeholder relationships start long before you need somethingThe difference between managing stakeholders and genuinely building relationshipsHow curiosity helps you understand what really matters to your stakeholdersWhy listening is one of the most underrated leadership skills in procurementHow adapting your communication style builds trust and credibilityWhy consistency in your actions shapes your reputation over timeThe importance of understanding your stakeholders' priorities, pressures and motivationsHow every interaction contributes to procurement's reputation within the businessWhy influence is built through credibility, empathy and adding value, not authorityPractical ways to strengthen your stakeholder relationships and increase your impact as a procurement leaderThis episode builds on many of the themes we explore around procurement leadership, influence and career progression. Because successful procurement leaders don't just manage stakeholders. They build trusted relationships that create lasting influence. New episodes weekly Listen on Apple and Spotify. Watch on YouTube: Procurement Pivots. Get in Touch If this episode resonated, we'd love to hear your thoughts. And if you'd like to explore working with Procurement Pivots, or with either of us individually, you can contact us at [email protected] About Procurement Pivots We are passionate about supporting the people behind procurement success. Between us, we bring over 25 years of experience supporting procurement leaders in a variety of different ways, and we combine our diverse coaching expertise to bring to life the conversations from the coaching room that deserve a spotlight in today's challenging and ever-changing procurement landscape. We're proud to have built strong reputations as trusted coaches in the procurement space, supporting individuals and teams to navigate complexity, strengthen their leadership and progress with greater clarity and confidence. From positioning, visibility and career progression, through to leadership development, influence and navigating change, we've supported procurement professionals across every stage of their journey. Because success in procurement isn't just about what you deliver. It's about how you show up, how you're perceived and how you create opportunities. About Donna Bowden Donna Bowden is a Procurement Career Coach and Founder of Narrate Your Career, supporting senior procurement professionals to build clarity, confidence and visibility in their careers. With over 20 years' experience in procurement leadership hiring, she brings deep insight into what hiring managers are really looking for and how to position yourself effectively to identify, create and secure the right opportunities in your procurement career. If this resonates and you're a procurement leader in the UK who is serious about making a considered and intentional next move, you're very welcome to explore working with Donna here: https://www.narrateyourcareer.com/book-a-call About Laura Sellers Laura Sellers is an Executive and Leadership Coach, specialising in coaching for procurement professionals and teams. Drawing on her background in procurement and procurement development, she supports individuals and organisations to develop leadership capability, strengthen self-awareness and build coaching skills that elevate their impact, influence and performance. Laura also leads an ILM-accredited coaching centre, helping procurement professionals and organisations develop practical coaching capability and gain recognised ILM coaching qualifications that strengthen leadership and create lasting impact across their teams. If you're a procurement professional or organisation looking to develop coaching and leadership capability, or explore an ILM coaching qualification, you can connect with Laura here: https://www.coachingforprocurement.co.uk/contact-me

Send us Fan Mail Procurement leadership, first 90 days, stepping into a new role, procurement career progression, stakeholder management and leadership success are all critical factors when moving into a new procurement leadership role. You’ve secured the role. But what you do next will define your success. In this episode of Procurement Pivots, we explore how to successfully prepare for and step into a new procurement leadership role, focusing on what really matters in those first few months. Too often, procurement professionals invest heavily in securing the role, only to leave their transition and early impact to chance. This is where success is either accelerated or undermined. We discuss: How your first impressions shape your credibility with your boss, team and stakeholdersWhy stepping into a new role is an opportunity to reset how you show up as a leaderThe importance of understanding team dynamics, legacy and stakeholder expectationsWhy the reality of the role often differs from what you were told in the processHow to assess the maturity of the function and identify the real starting pointThe mental stretch and transition that comes with stepping into a new leadership roleHow to set boundaries early to protect your time, energy and decision-makingThe risk of trying to prove yourself too quickly and saying yes to everythingWhy alignment with your boss and stakeholders is critical, and how to check it effectivelyThe importance of building support around you, not just focusing on supporting othersThis episode builds on many of the themes we explore around procurement leadership, visibility and career progression. Because success in procurement isn’t just about securing the role. It’s about how you show up once you’re in it. New episodes weekly Listen on Apple and Spotify Watch on YouTube: Procurement Pivots Get in touch If this episode resonated, we’d love to hear your thoughts. And if you’d like to explore working with Procurement Pivots, or with either of us individually, you can contact us at [email protected] About Procurement Pivots We are passionate about supporting the people behind procurement success. Between us, we bring over 25 years of experience supporting procurement leaders in a variety of different ways, and we combine our diverse coaching expertise to bring to life the conversations from the coaching room that deserve a spotlight in today’s challenging and ever-changing procurement landscape. We’re proud to have built strong reputations as trusted coaches in the procurement space, supporting individuals and teams to navigate complexity, strengthen their leadership and progress with greater clarity and confidence. From positioning, visibility and career progression, through to leadership development, influence and navigating change, we’ve supported procurement professionals across every stage of their journey. Because success in procurement isn’t just about what you deliver.  It’s about how you show up, how you’re perceived and how you create opportunities. About Donna Bowden Donna Bowden is a Procurement Career Coach and Founder of Narrate Your Career, supporting senior procurement professionals to build clarity, confidence and visibility in their careers. With over 20 years’ experience as a recruitment leader, she brings deep insight into what hiring managers are really looking for and how to position yourself effectively to identify, create and secure the right opportunities in your procurement career. If this resonates and you’re a procurement leader in the UK who is serious about making a considered and intentional next move, you’re very welcome to explore working with Donna here: https://www.narrateyourcareer.com/book-a-call About Laura Sellers Laura Sellers is an Executive and Leadership Coach, specialising in coaching for procurement professionals and teams. She supports individuals and organisations to develop leadership capability, strengthen self-awareness and build coaching skills that elevate their impact and influence. Laura also leads an ILM-accredited coaching centre, supporting procurement professionals to gain recognised coaching qualifications and develop practical coaching capability within their teams. If you’re a procurement professional or team looking to develop coaching and leadership capability, or explore gaining an ILM coaching qualification, you can connect with Laura to find out more. https://www.coachingforprocurement.co.uk/contact-me

Send us Fan Mail Successful Traits of Procurement Leaders: Curiosity Curiosity is a critical skill in procurement leadership, yet many procurement professionals don’t fully understand how to apply it in their day-to-day role. In this episode of Procurement Pivots, we explore how curiosity, questioning and self-awareness can elevate your procurement career, strengthen stakeholder relationships and improve decision making. We discuss: What curiosity really looks like in a procurement context and why it goes beyond simply asking more questionsHow asking the right questions can improve decision making, stakeholder relationships and business outcomesWhy many procurement professionals feel the pressure to have the answers, and how this can limit their effectivenessThe difference between open and closed questions, and how to use them more intentionally in meetings and conversationsHow curiosity helps you uncover what really matters, rather than accepting surface-level informationThe role of curiosity in building trust, collaboration and influence across the businessWhy curiosity starts with self, including understanding your own behaviours, reactions and decision makingHow self-awareness and curiosity work together to strengthen your leadership capabilityPractical ways to build curiosity as a habit in your day-to-day procurement roleThis episode builds on many of the themes we’ve explored around procurement leadership, influence and career progression. Because the most effective procurement leaders aren’t always the ones with the answers. They’re the ones asking the right questions. 🎧 New episodes weekly  Listen on Apple and Spotify  Watch on YouTube: Procurement Pivots Get in TouchIf this episode resonated, we’d love to hear your thoughts. And if you’d like to explore working with Procurement Pivots, or with either of us individually, you can contact us at [email protected] About Procurement Pivots We are passionate about supporting the people behind procurement success. Between us, we bring over 25 years of experience supporting procurement leaders in a variety of different ways, and we combine our diverse coaching expertise to bring to life the conversations from the coaching room that deserve a spotlight in today’s challenging and ever-changing procurement landscape. Over the past few years, we’ve built strong reputations as trusted coaches in the procurement space, supporting individuals and teams to navigate complexity, strengthen their leadership and progress with greater clarity and confidence. From positioning, visibility and career progression, through to leadership development, influence and navigating change, we’ve supported procurement professionals across every stage of their journey. Because success in procurement isn’t just about what you deliver. It’s about how you show up, how you’re perceived and how you create opportunities. About Donna BowdenDonna Bowden is a Procurement Career Coach and Founder of Narrate Your Career, supporting senior procurement professionals to build clarity, confidence and visibility in their careers. With over 20 years’ experience as a recruitment leader, she brings deep insight into what hiring managers are really looking for and how to position yourself effectively to identify, create and secure the right opportunities in your procurement career. If this resonates and you’re a procurement leader in the UK, you’re very welcome to explore working with Donna here: https://www.narrateyourcareer.com/book-a-call About Laura SellersLaura Sellers is an Executive and Leadership Coach, specialising in coaching for procurement professionals. She supports individuals and teams to strengthen self-awareness, develop leadership capability and lead with greater impact, influence and confidence. Laura also leads an ILM-accredited coaching centre, supporting procurement professionals to gain recognised coaching qualifications and develop practical coaching skills within their roles. If you’d like to explore developing your coaching and leadership skills through an ILM-accredited programme, you can connect with Laura to find out more. https://www.coachingforprocurement.co.uk/contact-me

Send us Fan Mail Successful Traits of Procurement Leaders: Self-Awareness How you see yourself isn’t always how others experience you. And that gap can have a significant impact on your procurement career, career progression and leadership development. In this episode of Procurement Pivots, we explore the role self-awareness plays in procurement leadership and why it is such a critical, but often overlooked, capability. We discuss: What self-awareness really means in a procurement leadership contextWhy there is often a gap between intent and perceptionHow others may experience your communication, behaviour and leadership styleThe impact of low self-awareness on relationships, visibility and progressionWhy feedback is essential, but often avoidedHow self-awareness shapes your leadership presence and credibilityThe role it plays in managing stakeholders and teams effectivelyWhy it becomes even more important as you progress into more senior rolesHow small shifts in awareness can have a meaningful impact on how you leadThis episode builds on many of the themes we’ve explored around visibility, positioning and progression in procurement careers. Because how you show up matters. And how others experience you matters even more. Hosted by: Donna Bowden | Procurement Career Coach, Narrate Your Career Laura Sellers | Executive and Leadership Coach, Coaching for Procurement New episodes weekly Listen on Apple and Spotify Watch on YouTube: Procurement Pivots If this episode resonated, we’d love to hear your thoughts. And if you’d like to explore working with Procurement Pivots, or with either of us individually, you can contact us at [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail Your relationship with your boss is one of the most important factors in your procurement career, career progression and leadership development. And yet, it’s often not given the attention it deserves. In this episode of Procurement Pivots, we explore why this relationship has such a significant impact on your experience, progression and long-term career decisions. We discuss: Why this relationship can influence whether you stay or leave a roleWhy most relationships aren’t broken, but still aren’t working well enoughThe importance of taking time to reflect on what you needHow clarity and alignment shape a strong working relationshipWhy communication style is often the root of the challengeThe role your boss plays in advocating for you internallyWhy you need to take ownership of building and shaping the relationshipThe importance of understanding the pressures your boss is underWhy knowing your non-negotiables mattersHow building a wider support network can strengthen your positionThis episode builds on many of the themes we’ve explored around visibility, positioning and progression in procurement careers. Because doing a great job isn’t always enough. The relationship around you matters more than you might think. Hosted by:  Donna Bowden | Procurement Career Coach, Narrate Your Career Laura Sellers | Executive and Leadership Coach, Coaching for Procurement New episodes weekly Listen on Apple and Spotify Watch on YouTube: Procurement Pivots

Send us Fan Mail If you’re introverted in your procurement career, you might feel the pressure to be more visible, speak up more or show more confidence in meetings or whilst networking. And that doesn’t always feel natural. In this episode of Procurement Pivots, we explore what it really means to be introverted in procurement and how you can still have impact, visibility and influence without changing who you are. We discuss: What introversion actually means and why it is often misunderstoodWhy many procurement professionals identify with introverted preferencesThe pressure to “speak up more” and how that shows up in procurement environmentsHow to prepare for meetings in a way that plays to your strengthsPractical ways to contribute in meetings without needing all the answersHow asking questions and making observations can increase your influenceHow to be visible and credible without being the loudest voiceThis episode builds on many of the themes we’ve explored around visibility, positioning and influence in procurement careers. Because some of the most effective procurement professionals we see are introverted. Not despite it, but because of it. This is your last chance to sign up for our Interactive Webinar to celebrate our first year anniversary on 15th July at 12PM UK time: 6 Ways to Elevate Your Impact and Progression As a Procurement Leader in 2026 Sign up here: https://procurementpivots.com/home-page Hosted by: Donna Bowden | Procurement Career Coach, Narrate Your Career Laura Sellers | Executive and Leadership Coach, Coaching for Procurement New episodes weekly Listen on Apple and Spotify Watch on YouTube: Procurement Pivots If this episode resonated, we’d love to hear your thoughts. And if you’d like to explore working with Procurement Pivots, or with either of us individually, you can contact us at [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail Burnout in procurement is becoming more common. And it’s not always for the reasons we think. In this episode of Procurement Pivots, we explore why burnout is showing up more across procurement careers and what is really driving it. We discuss: Why burnout in procurement is increasing as the role continues to evolveThe pressure to constantly prove value and why this adds to the challengeWhy burnout is not just about long hours or workloadHow misalignment and the wrong environment can lead to burnout over timeThe impact of isolation, particularly at more senior levelsEarly warning signs including decision fatigue, withdrawal and changes in behaviourHow burnout affects confidence, relationships and decision makingWhat to look out for in your team as a leaderWhy high performers can often be most at riskThe importance of recognising the signs early and taking actionThis episode builds on many of the themes we’ve explored across the podcast around pressure, expectations and progression in procurement careers. Because burnout doesn’t always come from doing too much. It often comes from carrying too much for too long. Sign up for our Interactive Webinar to celebrate our first year anniversary on 15th July at 12PM UK time: 6 Ways to Elevate Your Impact and Progression As a Procurement Leader in 2026 Sign Up here: procurementpivots.com/home-page  Hosted by: Donna Bowden | Procurement Career Coach, Narrate Your Career Laura Sellers | Executive and Leadership Coach, Coaching for Procurement New episodes weekly Listen on Apple and Spotify Watch on YouTube: Procurement Pivots If this episode resonated, we’d love to hear from you. You can message us directly or connect via the Procurement Pivots LinkedIn page.

Send us Fan Mail Internal progression in procurement doesn’t happen by default. You can be delivering, experienced and performing well in your role, and still find that the next opportunity doesn’t come. In this episode of Procurement Pivots, we focus on internal positioning and why it is the missing link to progression in senior procurement careers. We explore what it really means to be seen as ready for the next level and how your day-to-day actions shape how others perceive your capability, potential and leadership. We discuss: Why internal progression is driven by perception, not just performanceHow your communication, consistency and contribution shape your positioningWhy you need to be seen operating at the next level before you are promotedThe importance of visibility with the right people, not just more visibilityHow internal opportunities are often created before they are advertisedThe role of relationships, sponsorship and advocacy in progressionWhy curiosity and cross-functional exposure can open new doorsHow to have the right conversations about your future without signalling that you want to leaveWhat it means to be opportunity ready and why it mattersThis episode builds on our previous conversation around performance versus progression and brings it into a practical, internal context. Because progression doesn’t happen when a role appears. It happens when you are already seen as the obvious choice. Sign up for our Interactive Webinar to celebrate our first year anniversary on 15th July at 12PM UK time: 6 Ways to Elevate Your Impact and Progression As a Procurement Leader in 2026  Hosted by: Donna Bowden | Procurement Career Coach, Narrate Your Career Laura Sellers | Executive and Leadership Coach, Coaching for Procurement New episodes weekly Listen on Apple and Spotify Watch on YouTube: Procurement Pivots If this episode resonated, we’d love to hear from you. You can message us directly or connect via the Procurement Pivots LinkedIn page.

Send us Fan Mail We’ve reached our 50th episode of Procurement Pivots, and rather than looking back, we wanted to focus on what we’re consistently seeing across the procurement profession right now. There is a gap. A gap between performance and progression. We are working with capable, experienced procurement professionals who are doing a good job, delivering results and adding value. And yet, for many, that isn’t translating into the visibility, recognition or opportunities they expected. In this episode, we explore why that gap exists and what it really means for your career. We discuss: Why doing a good job is no longer enough in today’s procurement landscape The disconnect between what procurement delivers and how it is perceived Why capability is rarely the issue, even when confidence starts to dip The difference between knowing your value and showing it consistently How changes in ways of working are impacting visibility and progression Why progression now requires a shift in how you think, communicate and show up This episode brings together many of the themes we’ve explored across the podcast and connects them into one overarching insight: Progression is no longer a natural by-product of performance. It requires intention. Sign up for our Interactive Webinar to celebrate our first year anniversary on 15th July at 12PM UK time: 6 Ways to Elevate Your Impact and Progression As a Procurement Leader in 2026  If you’ve been listening, reflecting, and thinking about what comes next, this is your opportunity to take action. You’ll find the link to join us in the show notes. Hosted by: Donna Bowden | Procurement Career Coach, Narrate Your Career Laura Sellers | Executive and Leadership Coach, Coaching for Procurement New episodes weekly Listen on Apple and Spotify Watch on YouTube: Procurement Pivots If this episode resonated, we’d love to hear from you. You can message us directly or connect via the Procurement Pivots LinkedIn page.