Procurement Pivots®

Send us Fan Mail

Navigating Restructure in Procurement Series – Part 4

In this final episode of our four-part series on navigating restructure in procurement, we turn our attention to the team perspective.

We have explored what happens when you exit an organisation, when you remain following change, and what leadership looks like in times of uncertainty. Now we focus on the collective impact. Because restructures do not just affect individuals. They reshape team dynamics, trust, identity and performance.

In this conversation, Donna and Laura explore the responsibility and opportunity procurement teams have to reset intentionally after change. They discuss how trust can quietly erode, how old loyalties and tensions can linger beneath the surface, and why reconnecting as a team is not a luxury but a necessity for future performance.

This episode shines a light on how procurement teams can rebuild confidence, strengthen relationships and move forward together with clarity and purpose.

In this episode we explore

1. The team’s responsibility to lead through change

Why leadership does not sit solely with the title holder and how team members can influence culture, standards and morale.

2. Re-establishing team identity and shared values

How defining who you want to be as a team creates stability and belonging after disruption.

3. Trust, tension and unspoken dynamics after restructure

Why unresolved issues can sit beneath the surface and what healthy teams do differently.

4. The ripple effect on stakeholder relationships

How internal unity directly impacts how procurement is perceived across the wider business.

5. Creating space to reconnect in a resource-stretched world

Why taking time to reset strategically builds long-term momentum and performance.

6. Recognising small wins to rebuild resilience

How collective recognition strengthens morale and reinforces progress during uncertain periods.

Takeaways

• A deeper understanding of how restructures affect team dynamics long after formal changes are announced.
• Practical reflections to help procurement teams rebuild trust and cohesion.
• Encouragement to have honest conversations rather than papering over cracks.
• A reminder that even in disruption, teams have agency in how they choose to move forward together.

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

Navigating Restructure in Procurement Series – Part 3

In this third episode of our four-part series on navigating restructures in procurement, we shift the lens to the procurement leader. Leading a team through organisational change can be one of the most challenging responsibilities in a senior role. You are supporting others while also managing your own emotions, dealing with ambiguity and being pulled in multiple directions by the business, stakeholders and your team.

In this conversation, Donna and Laura explore what makes this leadership moment so uniquely complex, why it can feel isolating and how leaders can maintain clarity, presence and steadiness even when they do not have all the answers. They also discuss the role modelling effect leaders have, and how small actions and consistent communication can rebuild confidence and cohesion across the team.

Whether you are leading through change right now or preparing yourself for future transitions, this episode offers grounded perspective and practical guidance to help you navigate uncertainty with intention.

In this episode we explore:

1. The conflicting pressures placed on procurement leaders

How leaders are often managing their own emotional responses while also carrying the expectations of the business and the needs of their team.

2. Why visibility and consistent messaging matter more than ever

How being present, available and clear helps reduce anxiety and uncertainty across the team.

3. Role modelling calm, clarity and stability during change

Why the way a leader shows up shapes how the team experiences the transition and regains confidence.

4. Communicating honestly when you do not have all the answers

How transparency can build trust and reduce speculation in periods of ambiguity.

5. Resetting priorities and stakeholder expectations

The importance of realigning goals, boundaries and resource levels so the team can deliver sustainably after restructuring.

6. Finding the right support for yourself as a leader

Why leaders need space too, and how to stay resourced rather than isolated when navigating complex change.

Takeaways:

• Practical insight into the realities and pressures procurement leaders face during restructure.
• Tools to support your team while also protecting your own wellbeing and confidence.
• Guidance on communication, visibility and role modelling during periods of uncertainty.
• Reassurance that leadership challenges in transition are normal and that strong support and clarity can make a critical difference.

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

Send us Fan Mail

Navigating Restructure in Procurement Series – Part 2

In Part 2 of our series on navigating restructure in procurement, Donna and Laura shift the focus to those who remain in the organisation after change has taken place. While redundancy often dominates the conversation, staying through a restructure comes with its own emotional, relational and professional challenges, many of which go unspoken.

Internal change can shake confidence, disrupt team and stakeholder dynamics, alter relationships and create prolonged periods of uncertainty. In this episode, Donna and Laura explore what really happens beneath the surface when you stay, why it affects people so differently, and how you can rebuild clarity and confidence during times of ongoing organisational change.

This episode is for anyone who is currently navigating internal restructure, leading through it, or preparing themselves for the reality of continuous change in the procurement landscape.

In this episode we explore:

1. The emotional impact of staying after a restructure: why guilt, relief, fear and doubt can coexist, even when your role is secure.
2. The long periods of uncertainty leading up to structural decisions: how whispers, speculation and lack of clarity can create stress that builds over time.
3. The importance of acknowledging your emotional response: why suppressing how you feel makes it harder to move forward with confidence.
4. Changing dynamics with colleagues and stakeholders: how role changes, competition and leadership turnover alter relationships and influence.
5. Managing fear based behaviours and protecting your energy: how to separate reaction from response and stay grounded in challenging environments.
6. The value of support networks and safe spaces: why speaking with trusted people helps you process change constructively.
7. Noticing opportunity within disruption: how restructure can also create moments of reset, clarity and positive career shifts.
8. Reconnecting with yourself and what you want long term: how understanding your values, needs and career direction helps you decide whether this is still the right environment for you.

Takeaways

• A clearer understanding of the emotional and practical realities of staying after restructure.
• Strategies to rebuild confidence, manage uncertainty and navigate shifting dynamics.
• Reassurance that your feelings are valid and normal during times of change.
• Encouragement to use this period as a chance to reflect, reset and take intentional action for your future.

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 or ask a question about navigating restructure? Message us via the Procurement Pivots LinkedIn page or reach out to Donna or Laura directly.

Send us Fan Mail

Navigating Restructure in Procurement – Series Part 1

In this new four part series, we explore the realities of navigating restructure in today’s procurement landscape. And in this first episode, we explore one of the most challenging experiences a procurement professional can face: being made redundant.

Redundancy is never a simple moment. It brings waves of emotion, identity questions and uncertainty about what comes next. But it can also mark the beginning of a more aligned chapter once the dust settles. In this conversation, Donna and Laura break down what actually happens in those first days and weeks, how to process the emotional impact and the small intentional steps that help you rebuild confidence and regain momentum.

Whether you are experiencing redundancy right now, supporting someone who is or simply preparing yourself for future change, this episode offers grounded, compassionate guidance for navigating the transition with clarity and strength.

In this episode we explore:

1. The emotional rollercoaster of redundancy
Why feelings such as shame, fear, relief and hope often coexist and why every emotion you experience is valid.

2. Identity, confidence and the impact of loss
How much of our identity is tied to our role and what happens when that structure suddenly disappears.

3. The importance of self compassion and self care
Why rest, routine and stepping away from the “job search hamster wheel” are essential for perspective and resilience.

4. Moving from overwhelm to clarity
Why diving straight into CV updates or scattergun applications rarely works and what to focus on instead.

5. Small steps that rebuild momentum
How to regain a sense of control through manageable actions, reflection and reconnecting with your strengths and achievements.

6. Learning from regret without staying stuck
How to use “I wish I had…” moments as insight for the future rather than punishment for the past.

7. Why support matters more than ever
The role of community, trusted people and free resources that can help you feel less alone and more empowered.

Takeaways

• A compassionate understanding of the emotional and practical challenges that follow redundancy.
• A clear, realistic path for rebuilding momentum through intentional small steps.
• Encouragement to focus on clarity, confidence and support rather than urgency or pressure.
• Reassurance that redundancy does not diminish your value, capability or the opportunities ahead.

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 suggest a topic for the series? Message us via the Procurement Pivots LinkedIn page or reach out to Donna or Laura directly.

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, Laura takes us behind the scenes of the team coaching work she has been delivering across procurement functions in the UK and internationally. While most leaders approach her with a specific challenge or goal in mind, the deeper work almost always centers around one thing: impact.

Using her 7-Step P.R.O.C.U.R.E Framework, Laura walks through the practical and human elements that shape how a procurement team performs, collaborates and influences. Whether you are leading a team, joining a new one, or navigating change, this episode offers an inside look at the patterns, behaviours and dynamics that determine real team impact.

Donna guides the conversation, drawing out the lived examples, common challenges and practical steps leaders can take when their teams hit transition points, face recurring issues, or simply want to elevate performance.

In this episode we explore

1. The real reason procurement leaders ask for team support

Most requests are triggered by transition, change, or the desire to move from good to high performing.

2. Why understanding team PURPOSE matters

The starting point of the P.R.O.C.U.R.E Framework and the foundation of choosing the right intervention.

3. The importance of assessing team REALITY

Before any workshop or coaching begins, the team’s current state, emotions and needs must be understood.

4. How to surface OPPORTUNITY and move the team forward

Creating space to explore what is possible, what can improve, and what commitments the team wants to make.

5. Common team CHALLENGES and how to approach them

From category silos to tension after restructure, recurring issues often signal deeper needs that must be addressed safely.

6. Why UNDERSTANDING self is essential for team impact

How confidence, mindset and identity shape how professionals show up in the room and how stakeholders experience the team.

7. The role of RELATIONSHIPS in procurement team performance

Navigating dynamics, building alignment and strengthening collaboration across stakeholders.

8. How teams EVOLVE

Translating insight into action, taking ownership and committing to continued development.

Takeaways

• A clear understanding of the 7-Step P.R.O.C.U.R.E Framework and how it transforms team performance.
• Insight into the patterns and challenges procurement teams face during change, transition or growth.
• Practical reflections to help leaders identify when their team may need external support.
• Examples of how team coaching can strengthen collaboration, unity and impact.

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 explore team coaching support? Message us via the Procurement Pivots LinkedIn page or contact Donna or Laura directly.

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, Donna and Laura revisit one of the most requested topics on the podcast: positioning, with a dedicated focus on external career moves.

With the market shifting again and early signs of improvement for 2026, many procurement professionals are already considering whether this might be the year to explore a new role. The challenge is that the job market at senior level remains highly competitive, and the old approach of updating the CV and starting to apply is no longer enough.

Drawing on 25+ years of combined experience across senior recruitment, career coaching and leadership development, Donna breaks down the six step positioning framework she uses with senior clients to help them stand out, build confidence and secure roles that genuinely align with their future direction.

Whether you're actively seeking a new position or simply want to future-proof your career, this episode gives you the practical, honest guidance you need to navigate today’s market with clarity and intention.

In this episode we explore

1. Why clarity must come before action

How reconnecting with what you actually want transforms every part of the job search and why skipping this step leads to generic CVs, misaligned applications and lost confidence.

2. Understanding your unique value and story

Why your experience alone is not what differentiates you and how to identify, articulate and confidently own the strengths that make you stand out.

3. Building a CV that tells a compelling narrative

Why context matters as much as outcomes, the common mistakes that close doors and how to ensure your CV communicates impact rather than tasks.

4. Optimising your LinkedIn profile for visibility and credibility

How hiring managers and researchers actually use LinkedIn and the essentials you need in place to be found for senior level roles.

5. The power of networking and the hidden job market

Why most senior procurement roles are filled through relationships rather than adverts and the small, consistent actions that expand your reach and opportunities.

6. Preparing for interviews long before you are invited

How early preparation builds confidence, reduces pressure and changes the way you show up, plus why practising out loud is non negotiable.

Takeaways

• A clear and practical framework to guide your 2026 job search with confidence and intention.
• A deeper understanding of what truly differentiates you in a competitive senior market.
• Tools to strengthen every touchpoint of your positioning including CV, LinkedIn, networking and interviews.
• Encouragement to step back, rethink your direction and build a strategy that aligns with the career you want next.

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

Send us Fan Mail

Donna Bowden Interviews Laura Sellers

This week, we continue our two-part mini-series where we turn the microphones on each other.

After more than 30 episodes together, many listeners have asked a similar question.

“How do the two of us support procurement professionals differently, and what does that look like in practice?”

In last week’s episode, Laura interviewed Donna.

This week, Donna interviews Laura.

In this conversation, Laura shares the career journey that led her into executive and leadership coaching, why she chose to specialise in procurement, and how her business has evolved from one-to-one coaching into team coaching, leadership development programmes and coaching qualifications.

Laura also talks about the pivotal experiences that shaped her coaching approach, the challenges she sees across procurement leadership teams, and why a confidential thinking partnership can be transformational for senior professionals navigating complexity, politics and change.

In this episode we explore

1. How Coaching for Procurement began

Laura’s journey from recruitment, to procurement leadership, to discovering coaching during the pandemic and building a business that supports leaders and teams at every stage of their evolution.

2. The challenges facing senior procurement leaders and teams

Why restructures, shifting expectations and rising pressure make the leadership role feel heavier than ever and how coaching creates space to think, recover and rebuild.

3. Why senior leaders benefit from an external thinking partner

The isolation that often comes with senior roles, the impact of internal politics, and the value of having a safe, neutral space to challenge assumptions and regain clarity.

4. How team coaching unlocks more than traditional training

The silent dynamics that shape performance, the power of psychological safety, and why real progress happens when a team can speak honestly in the same room.

5. Advice for procurement leaders stepping into 2026

Why investing in yourself and your team matters more than ever, and how targeted development can build confidence, capability and long-term impact.

Takeaways

A clearer understanding of Laura’s career story and the purpose behind Coaching for Procurement.

Insight into the real challenges procurement leaders face behind the scenes and how coaching supports them to navigate complexity.

An appreciation of the difference between one-to-one coaching, team coaching and leadership development, and when each one adds the most value.

Encouragement for leaders who feel stretched, isolated or under pressure, and reassurance that the right support can make meaningful progress possible.

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 & Subscribe on YouTube: Procurement Pivots
Follow us on LinkedIn: Procurement Pivots

Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Message us via the Procurement Pivots LinkedIn page or contact Donna or Laura directly.

Send us Fan Mail

Laura Sellers Interviews Donna Bowden

This week, we are doing something a little different.

After more than 25 episodes, one question has come up again and again from listeners.

What do you both actually do and how do your coaching approaches differ?

So for the next two episodes, we are interviewing each other. 

A small step outside our comfort zones, but an important one. Because so many procurement professionals are trying to understand what support they need and who to turn to at different stages of their career.

We begin with Donna.

In this conversation, Laura speaks with Donna about her journey from recruitment leader to procurement career coach, the purpose behind Narrate Your Career, the recurring patterns she sees in senior procurement careers, and why clarity and confidence are at the heart of all meaningful career progress.

Donna also shares the moment her business name arrived at 1.23am, why so many people reach a crossroads without knowing what they want next, and the shift she hopes procurement professionals will make as they head into 2026.

In this episode we explore

1. How Narrate Your Career began

Why Donna stepped away from a successful recruitment career and built something new that supports procurement professionals in a deeper, more intentional way.

2. The challenges senior procurement professionals are facing today

Why so many people feel stuck, overwhelmed or unsure of their next move and what this reveals about the evolving market.

3. Why clarity comes before action

How getting clear on what you actually want transforms your confidence, your positioning and the opportunities that open up.

4. The importance of visibility and storytelling

Why recognising your own achievements matters and how visibility impacts career progression at senior level.

5. Advice for procurement professionals planning for 2026

The mindset shifts, habits and reflections Donna believes will make the biggest difference this year.

Takeaways

• A deeper understanding of Donna’s career story and the purpose behind Narrate Your Career.
• Insight into the patterns, blockers and opportunities she sees across senior procurement careers.
• Encouragement for anyone feeling stuck or uncertain about their next move.
• Practical mindset reminders to help you build clarity, momentum and confidence 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
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

Part 4: Your Procurement Pivot Plan for 2026: A 4-Step Series to Set, Shape and Achieve Your Career Goals

This is the final episode in our four-part January series designed to help you set yourself up for sustainable, meaningful success in 2026.

If you haven’t yet listened to Episodes 26-28, we recommend starting there and working through the series in order.

In Part 4, we explore a crucial ingredient in achieving any goal: getting the right support and resources behind you.

Whether you’re aiming for a promotion, planning a pivot, rebuilding confidence, or elevating your leadership presence, success isn’t a solo sport. Today we walk through the questions you need to ask to understand what you have, what you may be missing, and what will genuinely make the biggest difference to your progress.

In this episode, we cover:

• How to assess whether you truly have the resources needed to reach your goal
• Why a gap analysis often reveals far less “missing” than you think
• The mindset barriers that stop many procurement professionals from asking for help
• The internal support available inside organisations (and how to choose the right people)
• The role external support can play, and why impartiality can transform clarity and momentum
• How to build the network around you that supports (not stalls) your progression
• Bringing everything together to set yourself up for a successful, sustainable year

Key Takeaways:

• Understand what you already have, what’s missing, and what actually matters
• Be honest about your mindset toward seeking support
• Use your internal and external ecosystem intentionally
• Build the scaffolding that will sustain you through the year ahead

If you have questions or want to share your goal for 2026, we’d love to hear from you.

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 on LinkedIn: Procurement Pivots

Send us Fan Mail

Part 3 of Your Procurement Pivot Plan for 2026: A 4-Step Series to Set, Shape and Achieve Your Career Goals

In this third episode of the series, Donna and Laura explore the obstacles that can appear when you start moving towards a meaningful career goal. Some challenges are external. Others come from your own thinking. What matters most is preparing yourself to navigate them so you do not lose momentum when things get difficult. This episode helps you anticipate what might get in your way and strengthen your plan for the year ahead.

Key Takeaways

• Look back at challenges you have overcome before
  • Your past successes hold clues for how you can approach future obstacles.
• Understand what is external and what comes from within
  • Clarity here helps you regain control and respond more effectively.
• Brainstorm possible obstacles before you begin
  • Getting everything out of your head makes patterns and solutions easier to see.
• Prepare how you want to respond when setbacks arise
  • A little future thinking strengthens confidence and resilience.
• Build in regular check ins to stay on track
  • Small, consistent reviews keep your momentum strong.
• Remember that obstacles do not mean failure
  • They are part of the process and often reveal the skills you already have.

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 goal or ask a question? Message us via the Procurement Pivots LinkedIn page.