Procurement Pivots®

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“Underperforming team.”

It’s a label that gets used quickly in procurement.

But what if it’s not the full picture?

In today’s market, procurement teams are under more pressure than ever. 

Expectations are rising. Resources are stretched. Change is constant.

And what looks like underperformance is often something else entirely.

In this episode of Procurement Pivots, Donna and Laura explore what’s really going on behind so-called “underperforming” procurement teams, and what leaders need to focus on to turn things around.

Because this isn’t always about capability. 

It’s about context, clarity and leadership.

In this episode we explore

• Why “underperformance” is often misdiagnosed
• Looking beyond the label to understand what’s really happening
• The role of environment, pressure and unrealistic expectations
• Why teams may be stretched rather than struggling
• The importance of trust and psychological safety
• How breakdowns in trust impact performance and engagement
• Why morale matters more than many leaders realise
• The impact of constant change, restructures and shifting expectations
• The role of leadership in creating clarity and direction
• Why repetition, consistency and visibility are essential
• How to rebuild performance as a team, not just as a leader
• Creating shared ownership, not top-down instruction
• The power of small wins in rebuilding confidence and momentum
• Shifting mindset through progress and recognition
• Why the narrative you create shapes the team you become
• Moving away from labels and towards a new identity

Takeaways

• A clearer understanding of what sits behind “underperformance” in procurement teams
• Practical insight into how leaders can diagnose and respond more effectively
• A reminder that performance issues are often rooted in environment, not individuals
• Encouragement to lead with clarity, visibility and trust to rebuild momentum

Hosted by:

Donna Bowden | Procurement Career Coach, Narrate Your Career
Laura Sellers | Executive and Leadership Coach, Coaching for Procurement

New episodes weekly:

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Are you seeing underperformance… or something else?

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

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“Tell me about yourself.”

It sounds simple. But in reality, it’s one of the most important and most underutilised questions in your procurement career.

It shows up everywhere: 

Interviews. Stakeholder meetings. Networking conversations. New projects.

And how you answer it shapes how people see you.

In this episode of Procurement Pivots, Donna and Laura explore why this question carries so much weight, and how procurement professionals can use it more intentionally to build confidence, credibility and influence.

Because this isn’t about walking through your CV.

It’s about positioning.

In this episode we explore:

• Why this question matters more than most people realise
• How your answer shapes perception, credibility and opportunity
• The common mistakes procurement professionals make
• Chronological answers that miss the opportunity to position your value
• Why this isn’t about selling yourself
• The difference between self-promotion and helping others understand your impact
• How to structure a strong and confident answer
• Present positioning, what you’re known for and why it matters
• Why relevance is everything
• Tailoring your message for interviews, stakeholders and networking
• How this question can set the tone in interviews
• One of the few moments where you control the direction of the conversation
• Why your professional identity goes beyond your job title
• Especially important when you’re between roles or navigating change
• How to evolve your message as your career develops
• Keeping your positioning aligned to where you’re going next

Takeaways

• A clearer understanding of why this is one of the most important questions in your procurement career
• A practical structure to answer it with confidence and clarity
• A reminder that if people don’t understand your value, they won’t recognise it
• Encouragement to be intentional with how you position yourself in every interaction

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
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How are you currently answering “Tell me about yourself”?

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

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Procurement career growth often feels uncomfortable.

As procurement careers evolve, many professionals are being asked to step into greater visibility, leadership and influence.

You may want more impact, more progression or a more aligned role.

But stepping outside your comfort zone, whether that’s speaking up in meetings, building your presence on LinkedIn or developing leadership confidence, can feel unfamiliar and uncertain.

In this episode of Procurement Pivots, Donna and Laura explore why discomfort is a natural and necessary part of career growth, and how to navigate it with more clarity and intention.

Because staying where it feels comfortable may feel safe, but it often leads to stalled procurement career progression.

In this episode we explore:

Why procurement career growth feels uncomfortable

• The gap between where you are today and where you want to get to

How the comfort zone can quietly hold you back

• Why staying where things feel safe can limit progression, visibility and career development

The three zones of growth: comfort, stretch and panic

• Understanding where confidence is built and where it can be lost

Why many procurement professionals overwhelm themselves before they start

• Jumping straight to the end goal rather than breaking it down into manageable steps

How to take practical, incremental steps forward

• Building confidence and leadership presence through action, not overthinking

Rethinking visibility and influence in procurement

• Why you don’t need to be the loudest voice to have impact with stakeholders

Applying this to real scenarios

• From speaking up in meetings to using LinkedIn more intentionally without needing to post

Why clarity reduces fear

• Separating what is genuinely challenging from what feels overwhelming

Takeaways

• A clearer understanding of why discomfort is part of procurement career growth
• A practical framework to help you step outside your comfort zone with more confidence
• A reminder that consistent stretch drives career progression, not big leaps
• Encouragement to stop waiting for confidence and start building it through action

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

What is currently sitting just outside your comfort zone in your procurement career?

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

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Procurement careers are evolving at pace.

The remit is expanding. Expectations are rising. Pressure is increasing.

Yet in many organisations, learning and development support has reduced, shifted or become less personalised.

Some procurement professionals receive strong internal investment. Others receive very little. Even within the same organisation, the level of development can vary significantly.

In this episode of Procurement Pivots, Donna and Laura explore what we are calling the Procurement Development Gap. This is the space between where your career is heading and the skills, capability and confidence you are intentionally building.

Career acceleration rarely happens by accident. It happens through clarity, ownership and aligned investment.

In this episode we explore:

Why the L&D landscape has shifted in procurement
> How reduced or inconsistent development support is impacting procurement careers

What the Procurement Development Gap really looks like
> The difference between evolving role expectations and personal capability building

How to carry out a meaningful gap analysis
> Identifying where you are now, where you want to go and what may be holding you back

Why progression is often about leadership presence, influence and impact
> Not just technical or category expertise

Avoiding overwhelm in an age of information overload
> How to prioritise what will genuinely move the needle

The ROI of investing in your own professional development
> Considering time, energy and financial investment with intention

How to build a business case for support
> Why development conversations can form part of annual reviews, salary discussions and retention strategies

The power of accountability and aligned support
> From coaching and mentoring to peer conversations and targeted learning

Takeaways

• A clearer understanding of the Procurement Development Gap
• Practical guidance on prioritising procurement professional development with intention
• Encouragement to move from passive provision to proactive ownership
• A reminder that investing in yourself is strategic

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

What development gap are you currently closing in your procurement career?
Message us via the Procurement Pivots LinkedIn page or reach out to Donna or Laura directly.

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Communication sits at the heart of every procurement career.

You can be technically strong, commercially capable and consistently deliver results. But if your communication does not land, your influence, credibility and progression can stall.

In this episode, Donna and Laura explore why communication is one of the most powerful differentiators in procurement today. They discuss how self-awareness shapes the way you show up, why your style must evolve as your stakeholder audience becomes more senior, and how subtle shifts in tone, pace and language can significantly elevate how you are perceived.

They also explore how AI and remote working are diluting personal voice, why many procurement professionals feel unheard or undervalued, and how influence is built through clarity rather than volume.

If you want to operate more strategically, strengthen your presence and gain influence without compromising who you are, this conversation is for you.

In this episode we explore

1. Why communication underpins influence in procurement
   How your ability to translate procurement value into business language shapes how seriously you are taken.
2. Understanding your natural communication style
   Why self-awareness is the foundation for confidence, adaptability and stronger stakeholder relationships.
3. Tactical versus strategic communication
   How tone, clarity and delivery must evolve as your stakeholder audience becomes more senior.
4. Confidence, perception and personal brand
   How posture, word choice and presence influence how others interpret your capability.
5. The risk of diluted voice
   How AI-generated content and remote working can weaken your impact if you are not intentional.
6. Influence without politics
   How to navigate communication dynamics while maintaining integrity and authenticity.

Takeaways

• A clearer understanding of how communication shapes procurement career progression.
• Practical reflection points to help you identify where your current style is working and where small shifts could elevate your impact.
• Encouragement to communicate for the level you want to operate at, not just the role you currently hold.
• A reminder that influence is built through clarity, confidence and intentionality.

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

Want to shape what comes next or suggest a topic? Message us via the Procurement Pivots LinkedIn page or reach out to Donna or Laura directly.

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For many procurement professionals, the word networking triggers discomfort.

Awkward. Inauthentic. Contrived. Embarrassing.

And yet, relationship-driven opportunities remain one of the most powerful drivers of procurement career progression.

In this episode of Procurement Pivots, Donna and Laura unpack why networking has become so emotionally loaded in procurement careers, and why avoiding it may be quietly limiting your opportunities.

They explore the mindset barriers, the assumptions and the cultural narratives that make networking feel uncomfortable. More importantly, they reframe networking for what it truly is: building meaningful professional relationships.

Because procurement careers are not built through applications alone. They are built through trust, visibility and connection.

In this episode we explore

1. Why the word networking carries so much emotional weight in procurement
   How negative associations can create avoidance and self-doubt.
2. The reality of how procurement roles are secured
   Why the majority of opportunities come through relationships, not job boards.
3. Reframing networking as relationship building
   How shifting language changes behaviour and confidence.
4. Different ways to network that align with your personality
   From one-to-one conversations to planned event meetings and virtual connections.
5. The pressure of networking when job seeking
   Why urgency makes networking feel harder and how to approach it differently.
6. The importance of preparation and follow-up
   How the real relationship often begins after the initial conversation.
7. Building your network before you need it
   Why proactive relationship building creates long-term career leverage.

Takeaways

A reframed understanding of networking in procurement careers.

Practical ways to approach external relationship building with greater confidence and intention.

Encouragement to shift from transactional thinking to genuine connection.

A reminder that sometimes one conversation can change everything.

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

Want to share your experience of networking in procurement? Message us via the Procurement Pivots LinkedIn page or reach out to Donna or Laura directly.

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In today’s procurement career market, visibility is no longer optional. Yet many procurement professionals remain hesitant, quiet or completely invisible on LinkedIn.

This episode tackles the uncomfortable but important question. What is your LinkedIn presence quietly costing your procurement career?

In a market shaped by restructuring, increased competition and fewer internal opportunities, LinkedIn has become a powerful career lever. Not just for job searching, but for positioning, credibility, discoverability and influence.

And yet procurement as a profession is still significantly underrepresented compared to other corporate functions.

In this conversation, Donna and Laura explore the visibility gap in procurement careers. They unpack the fears that hold professionals back, the myths around posting and self-promotion, and the real opportunity cost of staying silent.

This is not about becoming louder. It is about becoming intentional.

In this episode we explore

1. The fear versus reality of LinkedIn visibility
   Why worries about judgement, ego and self-promotion are often stronger than the actual risk.
2. Why posting is not step one
   The overlooked foundations of LinkedIn that create career leverage without constant content creation.
3. LinkedIn as a search engine for procurement careers
   How profile optimisation impacts recruiter searches, internal mobility and external opportunity.
4. Visibility versus ego
   Why showing your value is not arrogance, but education.
5. Procurement’s visibility gap
   Why procurement professionals are behind other corporate functions and why that creates a differentiation opportunity.
6. Comfort zone, stretch and growth
   How to build visibility in manageable steps rather than jumping into fear.
7. The hidden cost of staying invisible
   How silence limits optionality, credibility and career control.

Takeaways

A clearer understanding of how LinkedIn impacts procurement career progression, even when you are not actively job seeking.

Practical reflections to help you define your next intentional step on LinkedIn.

A reframed view of visibility as a strategic career asset rather than a self-promotion exercise.

Encouragement to shift from focusing on what could go wrong to what could go right.

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In this episode of Procurement Pivots, we explore a topic that often feels uncomfortable but quietly shapes careers more than performance alone: internal networking.

Many procurement professionals associate networking with politics, self-promotion or big events. But internal leverage is not about being the loudest in the room. It is about building genuine, consistent relationships that create influence, sponsorship and long-term career optionality.

Donna and Laura unpack why internal networking feels emotive, how fear of perception holds professionals back, and why clarity of purpose changes everything. They discuss how procurement’s unique cross-functional position creates powerful opportunity, and how relationships built beyond projects can open doors you did not even know existed.

This conversation reframes internal networking from something awkward or transactional into something strategic, intentional and career-defining.

In this episode we explore:

1. Why internal networking feels uncomfortable
   How fear of judgement and misconceptions about personality types stop capable professionals from building influence.
2. Purpose before action
   The importance of knowing whether you are building relationships to perform better, increase visibility or position yourself for future opportunities.
3. Starting with what you already have
   How to leverage existing strengths, stakeholder maps and past relationship success to build confidence.
4. Moving beyond project-based relationships
   Why the strongest careers are built on connections that continue after the work ends.
5. Procurement’s unique cross-functional advantage
   How the touchpoints across the organisation create opportunities for influence, sponsorship and even career pivots.
6. Consistency over intensity
   Why showing up steadily and genuinely builds more leverage than transactional networking.

Takeaways

A reframed view of internal networking as strategic career leverage rather than self-promotion.

Practical reflection points to identify where your internal relationships are strong and where opportunity exists.

Encouragement to build influence before you need it, rather than waiting for a restructure, promotion or crossroads moment.

A reminder that internal sponsorship and opportunity rarely happen by accident.

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

Want to ask a question or share a topic you would like us to cover? Message us via the Procurement Pivots LinkedIn page or reach out to Donna or Laura directly.

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode of Procurement Pivots, we unpack one of the most talked-about transitions in the profession: the move from operational to strategic procurement.

We hear it everywhere. Procurement must become more strategic. Roles are evolving. Expectations are rising.

But what does that shift actually mean in practice?

And why does it feel harder than it sounds?

In this conversation, Donna and Laura explore the realities behind the operational to strategic transition. They discuss why the word “strategic” is often misunderstood, how misalignment creates frustration, and why many procurement professionals feel stuck between firefighting and future thinking.

This episode shines a light on the behavioural, relational and mindset shifts required to move beyond operational delivery and into strategic influence.

In this episode we explore:

1. Defining what “strategic” really means
   Why the word is frequently used but rarely clarified, and how misalignment creates career friction.
2. Context matters
   How operational and strategic procurement look different depending on sector, organisation and leadership appetite.
3. The gap analysis
   Understanding whether the real gap is skills, relationships, visibility, confidence or support.
4. Stop waiting for permission
   Why strategic influence often begins before the title changes.
5. Visibility and communication
   The risk of internalising ambition and assuming others know what you want.
6. Strategic does not mean political
   Why influence is not manipulation and how values-led leadership still drives results.
7. The role of relationships
   How stakeholder trust and advocacy accelerate strategic progression.

Takeaways

• Clarity on what strategic procurement means in your current environment.
• A practical framework to assess the gap between where you are and where you want to be.
• Encouragement to take ownership of small, intentional shifts rather than waiting for a promotion.A reminder that strategic behaviour often precedes strategic titles.

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

Want to ask a question or share a topic you would like us to cover? Message us via the Procurement Pivots LinkedIn page or reach out to Donna or Laura directly.

#Procurement #ProcurementCareer #CareerDevelopment #Leadership #ProcurementProfessionals #ProcurementLeadership

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In this episode of Procurement Pivots, we explore why owning your strengths is not simply a development exercise and how procurement professionals can use their strengths to accelerate their careers. This is a strategic advantage in your procurement career.

We often hear the advice to “know your strengths.” But many procurement professionals either underestimate what they bring, build their careers around strengths they do not enjoy using, or assume others automatically see their value.

In a competitive and evolving procurement landscape, technical competence alone is not enough. The real differentiator lies in how you bring your strengths to life, how clearly you communicate them, and whether you are intentionally building your career around them.

In this conversation, Donna and Laura explore how strengths shape confidence, influence and long-term career satisfaction. They discuss why understanding your strengths deeply matters, how overusing them can create blind spots, and how to close the gap between knowing your strengths and being known for them.

This episode shines a light on the practical and strategic role strengths play in career progression, visibility and opportunity within procurement.

In this episode we explore:

• Why strengths are foundational to career confidence
• How truly understanding your strengths creates clarity and momentum.
• The difference between being good at something and enjoying it
• Why competence alone is not enough to sustain long-term career growth.
• How strengths leave patterns across your career
• Identifying recurring themes, feedback and moments of success that reveal your true strengths.
• The visibility gap
• The difference between knowing your strengths and ensuring others recognise and value them.
• When strengths become overused
• How attention to detail, leadership, negotiation or relationship building can become liabilities under pressure.
• Gathering meaningful feedback
• Practical ways to uncover blind spots and ask the right question to understand how others see you at your best.

Takeaways

• A clearer understanding of how strengths influence career direction and progression in procurement.
• Practical tools to identify patterns and close the visibility gap.
• Encouragement to build a career around strengths you enjoy using, not just those you perform well.
• A reminder that owning your strengths is not self-promotion. It's strategic positioning.

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

Want to ask a question or share a topic you would like us to cover? Message us via the Procurement Pivots LinkedIn page or reach out to Donna or Laura directly.

#Procurement #ProcurementCareer #CareerDevelopment #Leadership #ProcurementProfessionals #Procurementleadership