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What does ownership really mean in your procurement career?

In this episode, we explore how ownership goes beyond accountability. It is about taking back control where you can, and recognising where you cannot.

With so many external challenges affecting procurement right now, from tough job markets to organisational change, it is easy to feel powerless. But ownership gives you choice. It helps you respond with intention, create momentum, and build resilience, even in uncertain times.

We cover:

• What ownership really is (and is not) in your career
• How to separate what is in your control from what is not
• Why regret can be useful data for making better decisions
• How ownership links to future-proofing your procurement career
• Small actions that compound into big shifts over time

We also share reflections from our coaching work, and why choosing ownership is one of the most empowering decisions you can make in your career.

Thanks for joining. We are so glad you are here.

👥 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 & Spotify
📺 Full episodes available on YouTube: Procurement Pivots - YouTube
📌 Follow us on LinkedIn: Procurement Pivots
💬 Got a topic or challenge you would like us to cover? Drop it in the comments or message us via the LinkedIn page.

Send us Fan Mail

What role do values really play in your procurement career?

In this episode, we explore why knowing and honouring your core values isn’t just a “nice-to-have.” It can be the difference between thriving in the right role and staying stuck in the wrong one.

When you’re clear on your values, you gain a powerful navigation system for your career. They shape your decisions, strengthen your leadership, and protect you from choices that may look good on paper but leave you feeling unfulfilled or misaligned.

We cover:

• Why values matter more than you think in career decisions
  
  
• How to spot when a values clash might be the real cause of frustration
  
  
• The difference between “non-negotiable” values and “nice-to-haves”
  
  
• How values show up daily, not just in big career moves
  
  
• Practical ways to use values as a filter for opportunities and relationships

We also share real examples of how values can guide difficult decisions, build stronger collaboration, and help you show up with greater confidence and clarity.

Thanks for joining, we’re so glad you’re here.

👥 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 & Spotify
 📺 Full episodes available on YouTube: Procurement Pivots - YouTube
📌 Follow us on LinkedIn: Procurement Pivots
💬 Got a topic or challenge you’d like us to cover? Message us via the LinkedIn page.

Send us Fan Mail

What does identity really mean in your procurement career?

In this episode, we explore a topic that shows up frequently in coaching - how tightly we link our identity to our role, our performance, or our job title. Whether you’re navigating change, uncertainty, or simply reflecting on your own growth, identity plays a bigger role than you might think

We talk about the impact of labels (the ones we’re given and the ones we give ourselves) and how to start separating who you are from what you do.

You’ll hear:

• Why your job title is not your whole story
  
  
  
• How identity shifts during change, redundancy, or reinvention
  
  
  
• The link between self-worth, beliefs, and how you show up
  
  
  
• Why procurement professionals can face unique identity challenges
  
  
  
• The power of choosing how you present yourself to others

This is one for anyone who’s ever felt stuck, questioned their value, or wanted to feel more like themselves at work.

Thanks for listening. We’re so glad you’re here.

👥 Hosted by:
 Donna Bowden | Procurement Career Coach, Narrate Your Career
 Laura Sellers | Executive & Leadership Coach, Coaching for Procurement

📅 New episodes weekly
🎧 Listen on Apple & Spotify
📺 Full episodes available on YouTube: Procurement Pivots - YouTube
📌 Follow us on LinkedIn: Procurement Pivots
💬 Got a topic or challenge you'd like us to cover? Message us via LinkedIn.

Send us Fan Mail

What keeps you grounded in your procurement career when things feel uncertain or hard?

In this episode, we explore the role of purpose. Not as a buzzword, but as a practical anchor for decision-making, direction and resilience. Because when you’re navigating change, uncertainty, or tough calls, clarity around your purpose can help you stay focused, intentional and confident.

We cover:

• What purpose really means in a procurement context
  
  
  
• Why purpose doesn’t have to be fixed - and how it evolves with your career
  
  
  
• The link between purpose, fulfilment and sustainable progress
  
  
  
• How purpose supports you through difficult decisions and transitions
  
  
  
• What to do when you feel disconnected from your ‘why’
  
  

We also share how purpose has shown up in our own careers, and how reconnecting with it has helped us and our clients create more aligned, resilient careers - even in challenging times.

Thanks for tuning in. We’re so glad you’re here.

👥 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 & Spotify
📺 Full episodes available on YouTube: Procurement Pivots – YouTube
📌 Follow us on LinkedIn: Procurement Pivots
💬 Got a topic or challenge you'd like us to cover? Message us via the LinkedIn page.

Send us Fan Mail

What role does self-reflection really play in progressing your procurement career?

In this episode, we unpack what it means to slow down just enough to reflect with intention -  even when you’re busy, stretched or in the thick of change. Because taking time to reflect isn’t a luxury. It’s a powerful lever for making sustainable, strategic shifts that move you forward.

We talk about:

• The difference between self-reflection and overthinking
  
  
  
• Why self-awareness is a hidden strength in high-achieving professionals
  
  
  
• How reflection can help you navigate setbacks, uncertainty or a lack of clarity
  
  
  
• Real examples of how small insights have led to big change
  
  
  
• What makes reflection sustainable and actionable - not just another to-do
  
  
  

We also share our own reflections on when self-awareness made the biggest difference in our careers, and what it looks like to use reflection as a habit, not a one-off exercise.

Thanks for tuning in. We’re so glad you’re here.

👥 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 & Spotify
📺 Full episodes available on YouTube: Procurement Pivots – YouTube
📌 Follow us on LinkedIn: Procurement Pivots
💬 Got a topic or challenge you'd like us to cover? Message us via the LinkedIn page.

Send us Fan Mail

Transitions are inevitable in any career. But navigating them with clarity, confidence and compassion is where the real challenge lies.

In this episode, we explore the many forms of transition that show up in procurement from the changes we intentionally pursue to the ones that are thrust upon us unexpectedly.

We cover:

• The different types of transitions that show up in procurement careers
• How to prepare for change before it happens
• What to do when change shakes your identity or confidence
• Why self-compassion is essential for navigating uncertain times
• Practical ways to support yourself and others through periods of change
  
  

We also reflect on our personal experiences and the common themes we see in coaching, especially for leaders navigating restructures, promotions or career pivots.

Whether you are in the midst of change, anticipating it or supporting others through it, this episode offers perspective and practical support.

🎧 Listen on Apple, Spotify
 📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube: Procurement Pivots - YouTube
📌 Follow us on LinkedIn: Procurement Pivots
💬 Got a topic or challenge you'd like us to cover? Drop us a message or comment via the LinkedIn page

Send us Fan Mail

EP 04: OPPORTUNITY Mindset (Creating, Not Just Waiting in Your Procurement Career)

What does opportunity really look like in procurement?

In this episode, we explore how to spot, shape and seize opportunity in ways that are aligned with your goals, strengths and direction. Because career growth isn’t just about waiting for the right opening, it’s about creating momentum from where you are.

We cover:

The difference between passive and proactive opportunity mindsets

How your environment can influence the opportunities you see

Why clarity and self-trust are critical to making bold moves

Common blockers that keep procurement professionals feeling stuck

Small shifts that can lead to bigger changes over time

We also reflect on our own careers and coaching conversations, and how opportunity can show up in unexpected ways when you start looking through the right lens.

This episode is an invitation to stop waiting and start shaping what’s next for you.

🎧 Listen on Apple, Spotify
📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube: Procurement Pivots - YouTube
 📌 Follow us on LinkedIn: Procurement Pivots
💬 Got a topic or challenge you'd like us to cover? Drop us a message or comment via the LinkedIn page

Send us Fan Mail

What does visibility mean in your procurement career?

In this episode, we dive into one of the most common challenges that comes up in coaching: how to feel more visible without feeling overwhelmed or inauthentic.

Visibility looks different for everyone. The key is finding an approach that fits your goals, your personality, and the stage you’re at in your career. Whether you're building your presence online, raising your profile internally, or simply wanting to be seen for the value you bring, it’s about doing it in a way that feels genuine and purposeful.

We cover:

·        Why internal and external visibility both matter (and look very different)

·        How to tailor your visibility strategy based on your goals

·        Common fears that hold people back, and how to work through them

·        What visibility beyond LinkedIn really looks like

·        Why small, consistent actions can make a bigger impact than loud ones

We also share honest reflections from our own visibility journeys. And how to take meaningful steps that align with your values, strengths and future self.

Thanks for joining. We’re so glad you’re here.

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

📅 New episodes weekly
 📺 Full episodes available on YouTube: Procurement Pivots - YouTube
📌 Follow us on LinkedIn: Procurement Pivots
💬 Got a topic or challenge you'd like us to cover? Message us via the LinkedIn page.

Send us Fan Mail

What does impact really mean in your procurement career?

In this episode, we explore a theme that shows up in almost every coaching conversation: how your impact plays out with your stakeholders, your team, and yourself.

Impact goes beyond the role you are in.

It reflects both how others see your contribution, and how you recognise your own strengths.

We cover:

• Why impact looks different depending on who you are working with
• How to break it down so it feels more manageable
• The link between self-awareness and meaningful leadership
• How to ask for feedback (and why it is often missing at senior levels)
• Why career decisions rooted in your version of impact are more sustainable

We also talk about how your experience at work shapes the rest of your life, and how tuning into your impact can bring more clarity, confidence and direction.

Thanks for joining. We’re so glad you’re here.

👥 Hosted by:

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

📅 New episodes weekly
📺 Full episodes available on YouTube: Procurement Pivots - YouTube
📌 Follow us on LinkedIn: Procurement Pivots
💬 Got a topic or challenge you'd like us to cover? Message us via the LinkedIn page.

Send us Fan Mail

Welcome to Episode 01 of the Procurement Pivots Podcast.

In this episode, we’re diving into one of the most important and often overlooked skills when it comes to building a career in procurement: POSITIONING.

This is something that comes up in so many of our coaching conversations. Whether you’re feeling stuck, questioning your next step, or simply wanting to be more visible, how you position yourself really matters.

And this isn’t just about applying for jobs or chasing the next title. It’s about getting clear on what you want, how you want to grow, and how to set yourself up for success in a way that feels sustainable and aligned.

We talk through:
• What positioning means and why it matters at every stage of your career
• Internal and external positioning, and how to think differently about both
• Why clarity, confidence and consistency are so important
• What holds people back from being seen the way they want to be
• Simple ways to get started with more intentional positioning today

This is for you if you’ve ever wondered, “Is this still right for me?” or “What’s next?” and want to find a way forward that works for who you are now.

Thanks for tuning in. We’re so glad you’re here.

👥 Hosted by:
Donna Bowden | Procurement Career Coach, Narrate Your Career
Laura Sellers | Executive & Leadership Coach, Coaching for Procurement

📅 New episodes weekly
📺 Full episodes available on YouTube
📌 Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/procurement-pivots
💬 Got a topic or challenge you'd like us to cover? Send us a message on our LinkedIn company page linked above.