Honest conversations and fresh perspectives to help procurement professionals, wherever you are in your career. Navigate change, grow with confidence and shape a career on your terms. Co-hosted by Donna Bowden (Procurement Career Coach, Founder of Narrate Your Career) and Laura Sellers (Executive & Leadership Coach, Founder of Coaching for Procurement) who bring a combined 20+ years of supporting procurement growth
Site
RSS
Apple
Data updated on 10/09/2026
Recent rankings
Latest chart positions across Apple Podcasts and Spotify rankings.
Shared links between episodes and podcasts
Links found in episode descriptions and other podcasts that share them.
Discover shows related to Procurement Pivots®, based on actual content similarities. Explore podcasts with similar topics, themes, and formats, backed by real data.
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 no
Why the desire to add value and prove procurement's worth can make boundaries particularly difficult
The relationship between boundaries, prioritisation and your ability to operate strategically
Why creating space to think can ultimately improve your decisions and outcomes
How to recognise the red flags that suggest you're repeatedly crossing your own boundaries
Why frustration can be a sign that your boundaries, or even your values, are being compromised
How repeatedly going above and beyond can turn an exception into an expectation
Why being the busiest and most dependable person doesn't necessarily make you the obvious choice for progression
How managing your workload and priorities can help you appear more in control and ready to take on greater responsibility
Why boundaries can help procurement leaders move from operational busyness towards greater strategic impact
How boundaries can give you greater control when so much around you feels outside your control
Why your boundaries need to evolve as your role, career and life evolve
Because 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:
hello@procurementpivots.com
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:
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:
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 paper
How changes in your life, priorities and values can change what you need from your career
The danger of drifting through a successful career without consciously choosing where you're heading
The early signs that something in your career may no longer be serving you
Why career clarity doesn't start with your CV, job boards or the external market
How understanding your strengths, values and what energises you can help uncover the right direction
Why there's an important difference between responding to a crossroads and reacting to one
How rushing into applications before you're clear can actually knock your confidence further
Why the right answer isn't necessarily leaving your organisation, or even your current role
How clarity helps you become more selective about what you say yes and no to
Why people buy into your certainty, particularly at procurement leadership level
EP59: What Procurement Transformation Really Requires from Leaders
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 leaders
Why you don't need to have all the answers to demonstrate credibility as a leader
How asking better questions can strengthen your influence and impact
Why procurement transformation requires you to bring people with you
How coaching skills can help overcome resistance and create greater stakeholder buy-in
The connection between coaching, stakeholder relationships and commercial outcomes
How active listening, self-awareness and adaptability can strengthen your negotiation skills
Why many procurement leaders may already be coaching without recognising it
How developing your coaching skills can change not only how you lead others, but how you lead yourself
The difference between using coaching skills informally and developing them more intentionally through training and reflective practice
Because 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.
EP 58: What Successful Procurement Leaders Do Differently with Stakeholders
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 something
The difference between managing stakeholders and genuinely building relationships
How curiosity helps you understand what really matters to your stakeholders
Why listening is one of the most underrated leadership skills in procurement
How adapting your communication style builds trust and credibility
Why consistency in your actions shapes your reputation over time
The importance of understanding your stakeholders' priorities, pressures and motivations
How every interaction contributes to procurement's reputation within the business
Why influence is built through credibility, empathy and adding value, not authority
Practical ways to strengthen your stakeholder relationships and increase your impact as a procurement leader
This 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 weeklyListen on Apple and Spotify.Watch on YouTube: Procurement Pivots.
EP 57: You’ve Got the Role - Now What? How Your First Few Months Define Your Success as a Procurement Leader
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.
EP 56: Are You Asking the Right Questions as a Procurement Leader? Successful Traits of Procurement Leaders: Curiosity
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
Get in Touch
If this episode resonated, we’d love to hear your thoughts.
About Procurement PivotsAbout Donna BowdenAbout Laura Sellers
EP 55: How Are You Really Coming Across at Work? Successful Traits of Procurement Leaders: Self-Awareness
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.
EP 54: Why Your Relationship with Your Boss Matters More Than You Think
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
EP 53: Introverted in Procurement? How to Still Be Seen and Heard
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
Hosted by: Donna Bowden | Procurement Career Coach, Narrate Your Career Laura Sellers | Executive and Leadership Coach, Coaching for Procurement
The importance of understanding the why behind the what when deciding what comes next
Because 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:
hello@procurementpivots.com
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:
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:
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:
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:
hello@procurementpivots.com
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:
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:
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:
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 hello@procurementpivots.com
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:
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:
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 hello@procurementpivots.com
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.
And if you’d like to explore working with Procurement Pivots, or with either of us individually, you can contact us at hello@procurementpivots.com
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.
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.
