Procurement Pivots®

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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 stakeholders
• Why stepping into a new role is an opportunity to reset how you show up as a leader
• The importance of understanding team dynamics, legacy and stakeholder expectations
• Why the reality of the role often differs from what you were told in the process
• How to assess the maturity of the function and identify the real starting point
• The mental stretch and transition that comes with stepping into a new leadership role
• How to set boundaries early to protect your time, energy and decision-making
• The risk of trying to prove yourself too quickly and saying yes to everything
• Why alignment with your boss and stakeholders is critical, and how to check it effectively
• The importance of building support around you, not just focusing on supporting others

This 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

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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 questions
• How asking the right questions can improve decision making, stakeholder relationships and business outcomes
• Why many procurement professionals feel the pressure to have the answers, and how this can limit their effectiveness
• The difference between open and closed questions, and how to use them more intentionally in meetings and conversations
• How curiosity helps you uncover what really matters, rather than accepting surface-level information
• The role of curiosity in building trust, collaboration and influence across the business
• Why curiosity starts with self, including understanding your own behaviours, reactions and decision making
• How self-awareness and curiosity work together to strengthen your leadership capability
• Practical ways to build curiosity as a habit in your day-to-day procurement role

This 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

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]

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.

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, you’re very welcome to explore working with Donna here:
https://www.narrateyourcareer.com/book-a-call

Laura 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 context
• Why there is often a gap between intent and perception
• How others may experience your communication, behaviour and leadership style
• The impact of low self-awareness on relationships, visibility and progression
• Why feedback is essential, but often avoided
• How self-awareness shapes your leadership presence and credibility
• The role it plays in managing stakeholders and teams effectively
• Why it becomes even more important as you progress into more senior roles
• How small shifts in awareness can have a meaningful impact on how you lead

This 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 role
• Why most relationships aren’t broken, but still aren’t working well enough
• The importance of taking time to reflect on what you need
• How clarity and alignment shape a strong working relationship
• Why communication style is often the root of the challenge
• The role your boss plays in advocating for you internally
• Why you need to take ownership of building and shaping the relationship
• The importance of understanding the pressures your boss is under
• Why knowing your non-negotiables matters
• How building a wider support network can strengthen your position

This 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 misunderstood
• Why many procurement professionals identify with introverted preferences
• The pressure to “speak up more” and how that shows up in procurement environments
• How to prepare for meetings in a way that plays to your strengths
• Practical ways to contribute in meetings without needing all the answers
• How asking questions and making observations can increase your influence
• How to be visible and credible without being the loudest voice

This 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 evolve
• The pressure to constantly prove value and why this adds to the challenge
• Why burnout is not just about long hours or workload
• How misalignment and the wrong environment can lead to burnout over time
• The impact of isolation, particularly at more senior levels
• Early warning signs including decision fatigue, withdrawal and changes in behaviour
• How burnout affects confidence, relationships and decision making
• What to look out for in your team as a leader
• Why high performers can often be most at risk
• The importance of recognising the signs early and taking action

This 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 performance
• How your communication, consistency and contribution shape your positioning
• Why you need to be seen operating at the next level before you are promoted
• The importance of visibility with the right people, not just more visibility
• How internal opportunities are often created before they are advertised
• The role of relationships, sponsorship and advocacy in progression
• Why curiosity and cross-functional exposure can open new doors
• How to have the right conversations about your future without signalling that you want to leave
• What it means to be opportunity ready and why it matters

This 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.

Send us Fan Mail

In procurement careers, your ability to give feedback to teams and stakeholders directly impacts performance, influence and progression.

Yet it’s one of the most avoided leadership skills.

Whether it’s not wanting to upset someone, not knowing how to say it, or simply not making the time, many procurement leaders hold back from delivering the feedback their teams and stakeholders actually need.

And when that happens, performance stalls, expectations become unclear, and frustration builds across procurement teams and stakeholder relationships.

In this episode of Procurement Pivots, Donna and Laura explore how to give feedback as a procurement leader in a way that is clear, constructive and genuinely impactful.

Because feedback done well doesn’t just improve performance.

It strengthens procurement careers, builds confidence, and improves how you influence and work with stakeholders.

In this episode we explore

Why giving feedback is often avoided in procurement leadership

• And the impact this has on teams and stakeholder relationships

Why feedback must be intentional, not reactive

• Moving from ad hoc conversations to a consistent leadership approach

The risks of vague or unclear feedback

• Why general comments don’t help people or stakeholders improve

How to give feedback that actually lands

• Being specific, relevant and focused on impact

Why feedback needs to flow in all directions

• Across teams, stakeholders and senior leadership

The role of feedback in building high-performing procurement teams

• Creating clarity, ownership and accountability

How poorly delivered feedback can have lasting effects

• On confidence, performance and perception

Practical frameworks to improve your feedback conversations

• Including Radical Candor and the SBI (Situation, Behaviour, Impact) model

Takeaways

• A clearer understanding of how to give feedback effectively in procurement careers
• Practical ways to make feedback more specific, constructive and impactful
• A reminder that avoiding feedback creates confusion across teams and stakeholders
• Encouragement to make feedback a consistent part of your procurement leadership approach

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
Follow us on LinkedIn: Procurement Pivots

Are you giving the feedback your team and stakeholders actually need… or avoiding it?

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Do you actually know where you stand in your procurement career?

Or are you making assumptions?

At senior level, feedback often becomes limited, filtered or disappears altogether. 

And yet, this is exactly the point in your career where clarity matters most.

Without it, you risk making decisions based on perception rather than reality.

In this episode of Procurement Pivots, Donna and Laura explore what we’re calling the Feedback Gap -  the space between how you think you’re performing and how you’re actually perceived.

Because if you don’t have that clarity, it’s very difficult to move forward with confidence.

In this episode we explore

• Why feedback reduces as you become more senior (and why this creates risk, not reassurance)
• The gap between perception and reality
• How assumptions quietly shape your career decisions
• Why many procurement professionals feel undervalued (and how lack of feedback contributes to that)
• The risks of operating without clear feedback
• Blind spots, misalignment and missed opportunities
• Why waiting for feedback doesn’t work at senior level and what to do instead
• How to ask for more meaningful, targeted feedback
• Moving beyond vague questions to get real insight
• The importance of seeking different perspectives
• Not just feedback from those who already rate you highly
• How to use feedback to strengthen your positioning
• Building credibility, visibility and confidence

Takeaways

• A clearer understanding of the Feedback Gap and why it exists
• Practical insight into how to create your own feedback loops
• A reminder that assumptions can quietly hold your career back
• Encouragement to seek clarity before making career decisions

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
Follow us on LinkedIn: Procurement Pivots

Do you actually know where you stand… or are you assuming?

Message us via the Procurement Pivots LinkedIn page or reach out to Donna or Laura directly.