EP67: Pressure in Procurement: How to Respond Rather Than React

Send us Fan MailDoes the thought of walking into a networking event where you don't know anyone fill you with dread? Do you find professional networking uncomfortable, awkward or exhausting? Or perhaps you know how important building relationships is for your career, but you're not sure how to approach networking in a way that feels natural to you.Networking as an introvert doesn't have to mean forcing yourself to become more extroverted.In this episode of Procurement Pivots Podcast, Donna Bowden and Laura Sellers explore how introverts can build networking confidence, develop meaningful professional relationships and strengthen their career opportunities without changing who they are.Drawing on their experience supporting procurement professionals and leaders, they challenge some common assumptions about networking, including the idea that successful networking means attending lots of events, speaking to everyone in the room or constantly putting yourself out there.Because effective networking isn't about collecting contacts. It's about building genuine relationships, developing your professional visibility and reputation, and making sure the right people know who you are and what you have to offer.Whether you're preparing for your next networking event, looking to build your professional network, exploring new career opportunities or wanting to strengthen your relationships within procurement, this conversation offers practical ideas and a different perspective.IN THIS EPISODENetworking as an introvert: Why being introverted doesn't mean you're shy, lack confidence or can't build strong professional relationships.Overcoming networking anxiety: How to reduce the pressure and approach networking in a way that works for you.Preparing for networking events: Practical ways to feel more comfortable and confident before walking into the room.Starting meaningful conversations: Why being interested in others can be more valuable than trying to be interesting.Networking beyond events: Different ways to build relationships, increase visibility and strengthen your professional reputation.Following up after networking events: How LinkedIn and thoughtful follow-up conversations can help turn introductions into lasting relationships.Networking for career progression: Why investing in relationships before you need a new job or opportunity can make a significant difference.You don't have to change your personality to become better at networking. You need to find an approach that works for you.ABOUT PROCUREMENT PIVOTS PODCASTHosted by Donna Bowden and Laura Sellers, Procurement Pivots Podcast is passionate about supporting the people behind procurement success.Between them, Donna and Laura bring over 25 years of experience supporting procurement professionals and leaders. Through their conversations, they explore procurement careers, leadership, confidence, career progression, influence, visibility and performance.ABOUT DONNA BOWDENDonna Bowden is a Procurement Positioning Career Coach and Founder of Narrate Your Career. Drawing on her experience as a senior procurement recruiter, she works with Procurement Leaders to gain clarity on their career direction, understand and articulate their unique value, and position themselves for the opportunities they want.A key part of her Procurement Positioning Career Coaching work focuses on helping Procurement Leaders develop meaningful relationships, strengthen their professional visibility and build a reputation that reflects their value and future ambitions.Because it's not just about who you know. It's about ensuring the right people know the right things about you, so you're considered for the right opportunities.Get in touch about working together:www.narrateyourcareer.com/get-in-touchABOUT LAURA SELLERSLaura Sellers is an Executive and Leadership Coach specialising in procurement professionals and teams. Drawing on her background in procurement and procurement development, she helps individuals and organisations strengthen leadership capability, self-awareness, influence and performance.Find out more about Laura:https://www.coachingforprocurement.co.uk/Contact Laura:https://www.coachingforprocurement.co.uk/contact-me

Send us Fan MailHow do you prepare for your procurement team's end-of-year performance reviews and make sure these important conversations really count?What questions should you be asking? How can you make annual performance reviews more meaningful, rather than simply another HR tick-box exercise? And how do you recognise your team's contribution beyond procurement savings and traditional performance measures?Perhaps most importantly, how can effective procurement leadership turn these conversations into opportunities to strengthen motivation, support procurement career development and progression, and improve employee engagement and retention?For procurement leaders, performance reviews are about much more than assessing what someone has delivered over the past 12 months. These conversations can have a significant impact on procurement careers, professional development and how individuals feel about their future within an organisation.In this episode of Procurement Pivots Podcast, Donna Bowden and Laura Sellers explore how procurement leaders can prepare for meaningful end-of-year performance reviews, recognise individual contributions and create conversations that set their people up for success.Because the way you approach these conversations can influence how valued, motivated and supported someone feels. It might even influence whether they decide to stay or leave.In this episode, we explore:Why end-of-year performance reviews can be pivotal moments in procurement careersHow to prepare for meaningful annual appraisals rather than treating them as a tick-box exerciseWhy performance feedback shouldn't come as an unpleasant surpriseRecognising procurement contributions beyond cost savings, including stakeholder relationships and wider business impactHow recognition and appreciation can influence motivation, engagement and retentionWhy effective performance reviews should be two-way conversationsHow these conversations can support future development, career progression and team performanceWhether you're a Procurement Director, Head of Procurement or responsible for managing and developing a procurement team, this conversation offers an opportunity to reflect on how you approach these important discussions.A great end-of-year review isn't simply about looking back at what's been achieved. It's about helping your people look ahead with greater clarity, confidence and motivation.About Procurement Pivots PodcastWe're passionate about supporting the people behind procurement success.Between us, we bring over 25 years of experience supporting procurement professionals and leaders. Through Procurement Pivots Podcast, we explore procurement careers, procurement leadership, career progression, impact, influence and performance.About Donna BowdenDonna Bowden is a Procurement Positioning Career Coach and Founder of Narrate Your Career, supporting senior procurement professionals and leaders to understand their value, build confidence and strengthen their career positioning.Drawing on her experience in procurement recruitment and career coaching, Donna helps procurement leaders make more intentional career decisions and position themselves for future opportunities.If you're a senior UK procurement professional and would like to explore working with Donna, book a confidential Career Momentum Call:https://www.narrateyourcareer.com/book-a-callOr download Donna's Proven Procurement CV Checklist:https://www.narrateyourcareer.com/CVchecklistAbout Laura SellersLaura Sellers is an Executive and Leadership Coach specialising in procurement professionals and teams. Drawing on her background in procurement and procurement development, she helps individuals and organisations strengthen leadership capability, self-awareness, influence and performance.Find out more about Laura:https://www.coachingforprocurement.co.uk/Contact Laura:https://www.coachingforprocurement.co.uk/contact-me

Send us Fan MailWhat does it really take to build a great procurement team?You can bring together highly experienced, capable procurement professionals, but that doesn't automatically mean they'll work effectively together.Because building a great procurement team is about much more than individual skills, experience and technical expertise.In this episode of Procurement Pivots Podcast, Donna Bowden and Laura Sellers explore the complexities of team dynamics in procurement, the challenges procurement leaders face when building and leading high-performing teams, and the factors that can influence how successfully people work together.From different personalities and motivations to organisational structures, ways of working and relationships, there's often much more going on beneath the surface than we initially recognise.And understanding those dynamics can make a significant difference to both individual and collective performance.In this episode, we explore:Why bringing together great procurement professionals doesn't automatically create a great teamThe different factors that influence procurement team dynamics and performanceHow organisational structures, cultures and ways of working shape team effectivenessThe importance of understanding individual motivations, strengths and expectationsWhy trust, psychological safety and open communication matterThe challenges of building collaboration across procurement teams, functions and locationsBalancing individual development with collective team performanceThe role of procurement leadership in recognising and addressing underlying team challengesWhether you're a Head of Procurement, Procurement Director, team leader or someone aspiring to take on greater leadership responsibility, this conversation offers an opportunity to reflect on what really makes a procurement team effective.Because building a great team isn't simply about having great people. It's about creating the conditions for those people to succeed together.Get in TouchYou can now receive even more insights from us and have the opportunity to engage with us privately by joining our Procurement Pivots email community.Over the coming weeks, we'll be focusing on helping you to end 2026 on a high and think more intentionally about the year ahead.https://procurementpivots.com/email-listIf you'd like to explore working with Procurement Pivots Podcast, or with either of us individually, contact us at:[email protected] Procurement Pivots PodcastWe're passionate about supporting the people behind procurement success.Between us, we bring over 25 years of experience supporting procurement professionals and leaders in a variety of different ways. Through Procurement Pivots Podcast, we bring to life some of the conversations we're having in our coaching work around procurement careers, leadership, impact, influence and progression.About Donna BowdenDonna Bowden is a Procurement Positioning Career Coach and Founder of Narrate Your Career, supporting senior procurement professionals and leaders to better understand their value and strengthen how they position themselves for where they want to head next.Through her coaching, Donna helps procurement leaders build greater clarity and confidence in their career direction, recognise their unique value and make more intentional decisions about their careers. This includes recognising their leadership strengths, understanding what matters most to them and positioning themselves for future career opportunities.If you're a senior UK procurement professional and you'd like to explore working with Donna, you can book a confidential Career Momentum Call here:https://www.narrateyourcareer.com/book-a-callOr download Donna's Proven Procurement CV Checklist here:https://www.narrateyourcareer.com/CVchecklistAbout Laura SellersLaura 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 elevate their impact, influence and performance.Find out more about Laura and her work here:https://www.coachingforprocurement.co.uk/Or get in touch with Laura directly:https://www.coachingforprocurement.co.uk/contact-me

Send us Fan MailHow do you stay effective under pressure when working in procurement?Managing competing priorities, demanding stakeholders, tight deadlines and increasing expectations can make pressure feel like a constant part of working in procurement.But how often do you stop to consider where that pressure is actually coming from, and how it's influencing the way you think, behave and make decisions?In this episode of Procurement Pivots Podcast, Donna Bowden and Laura Sellers explore the challenges of managing pressure in procurement, why even experienced procurement professionals and leaders can find themselves feeling overwhelmed, and how developing greater self-awareness can help us respond rather than react.Because not all pressure comes from the people and situations around us.Sometimes, it's the expectations we place on ourselves that make things harder.And the very strengths that have helped us succeed in our procurement careers can sometimes work against us when pressure builds.In this episode, we explore:Where pressure comes from in procurement and why it can feel relentlessHow to recognise when you're taking on other people's pressureThe expectations we place on ourselves as procurement professionals and leadersWhy some of our greatest strengths can work against us under pressureThe difference between responding and reacting when demands increaseHow creating space to think can help us make better decisionsThe importance of recognising what we can control and influenceWhy boundaries, perspective and support matter when pressure buildsWhether you're leading a procurement function, managing challenging stakeholder relationships or simply finding yourself juggling more than you'd like, this conversation offers an opportunity to reflect on how you're experiencing pressure and what might help you navigate it more effectively.Sometimes, it's the pause that enables the pace.Get in TouchYou can now receive even more insights from us and have the opportunity to engage with us privately by joining our Procurement Pivots email community.Over the coming weeks, we'll be focusing on helping you to end 2026 on a high and think more intentionally about the year ahead.https://procurementpivots.com/email-listIf you'd like to explore working with Procurement Pivots Podcast, or with either of us individually, contact us at:[email protected] Procurement Pivots PodcastWe're passionate about supporting the people behind procurement success.Between us, we bring over 25 years of experience supporting procurement professionals and leaders in a variety of different ways. Through Procurement Pivots Podcast, we bring to life some of the conversations we're having in our coaching work around procurement careers, leadership, impact, influence and progression.About Donna BowdenDonna Bowden is a Procurement Positioning Career Coach and Founder of Narrate Your Career, supporting senior procurement professionals and leaders to better understand their value and strengthen how they position themselves for where they want to head next.Through her coaching, Donna helps procurement leaders build greater clarity and confidence in their career direction, recognise their unique value and make more intentional decisions about their careers. This includes understanding what matters most to them and what sustainable career success looks like.If you're a senior UK procurement professional and you'd like to explore working with Donna, you can book a confidential Career Momentum Call here:https://www.narrateyourcareer.com/book-a-callOr download Donna's Proven Procurement CV Checklist here:https://www.narrateyourcareer.com/CVchecklistAbout Laura SellersLaura 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 elevate their impact, influence and performance.Find out more about Laura and her work here:https://www.coachingforprocurement.co.uk/Or get in touch with Laura directly:https://www.coachingforprocurement.co.uk/contact-me

Send us Fan MailYou know the value you bring.But how well can you evidence it?In today's procurement landscape, being able to talk about your experience and achievements matters. But increasingly, there is another layer that can strengthen your credibility, confidence and career positioning: what other people say about you.That's where social proof comes in.In this episode of Procurement Pivots Podcast, Donna Bowden and Laura Sellers explore the role of social proof in procurement and how it can help procurement professionals and leaders better understand, evidence and communicate the value they bring.And social proof is about much more than collecting a few LinkedIn recommendations.We explore how feedback, advocacy and evidence from the people you've worked with can strengthen the story you tell about yourself, reinforce your professional reputation and even help you recognise strengths and impact you may have started to overlook yourself. Pasted markdown Pasted markdownIn this episode, we talk about:What social proof actually means in a procurement careerWhy knowing your value and evidencing your value are two different thingsThe different forms of social proof you may already haveWhy other people's feedback can help build your own confidenceHow social proof can strengthen your wider career positioning and personal brandWhy building an evidence bank can be so valuable throughout your procurement careerHow social proof can support career conversations, interviews and future opportunitiesThe role of social proof in strengthening procurement's credibility and influence within an organisationIf you've ever found it uncomfortable talking about your own achievements, questioned the value you bring, or simply haven't thought about the evidence other people could provide to support your career story, this conversation may get you thinking differently.Because sometimes the most powerful evidence of your impact isn't what you say about yourself.It's what other people say about you.Get in TouchYou can now receive even more insights from us and have the opportunity to engage with us privately by joining our Procurement Pivots email community.Over the coming weeks, we'll be focusing on helping you to end 2026 on a high and think more intentionally about the year ahead.Join the Procurement Pivots email communityIf you'd like to explore working with Procurement Pivots Podcast, or with either of us individually, contact us at:[email protected] Procurement Pivots PodcastWe're passionate about supporting the people behind procurement success.Between us, we bring over 25 years of experience supporting procurement professionals and leaders in a variety of different ways. Through Procurement Pivots Podcast, we bring to life some of the conversations we're having in our coaching work around procurement careers, leadership, impact, influence and progression.About Donna BowdenDonna Bowden is a Procurement Positioning Career Coach and Founder of Narrate Your Career, supporting senior procurement professionals and leaders to better understand their value and strengthen how they position themselves for where they want to head next.A key part of Donna's career positioning work is helping clients uncover the evidence behind their value, articulate their impact and build a stronger career story, reputation and visibility. Social proof can form an important part of that wider positioning strategy.If you're a senior UK procurement professional and you'd like to explore working with Donna, you can book a confidential Career Momentum Call here:https://www.narrateyourcareer.com/book-a-call Or download Donna's Proven Procurement CV Checklist here:https://www.narrateyourcareer.com/CVchecklist About Laura SellersLaura 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 elevate their impact, influence and performance.Find out more about Laura and her work here:https://www.coachingforprocurement.co.uk/Or get in touch with Laura directly:https://www.coachingforprocurement.co.uk/contact-me

Send us Fan MailHow interview-ready are you right now?Not when you've got an interview in the diary. Right now.Because procurement opportunities don't always arrive when you're expecting them to. An internal opportunity can come up, someone in your network can make an introduction, or an initial conversation can suddenly turn into something more.And if you haven't interviewed for a while, that can feel pretty daunting.In this episode of Procurement Pivots Podcast, Donna Bowden and Laura Sellers explore what it really takes to build interview confidence and why your preparation shouldn't necessarily start when the interview lands.We talk about why interview confidence is about much more than preparing answers to potential questions, what you can do before you even know what the opportunity might be, and some of the mindset shifts that can completely change how you approach an interview.We also explore:Why knowing your own value mattersWhat you can prepare well before an interviewMoving from interview nerves to having a conversationWhy focusing too much on the competition can work against youWhy an 'informal chat' might matter more than you thinkThe mindset you take into each stage of the interview processWhy becoming better at interviews can help you well beyond your job searchIf it's been a while since your last interview, you're considering your next procurement move, or you simply want to feel more prepared when the right opportunity comes along, this episode is for you.Get in TouchYou can now receive even more insights from us and have the opportunity to engage with us privately by joining our Procurement Pivots email community.Over the coming weeks, we'll be focusing on helping you to end 2026 on a high and think more intentionally about the year ahead.Join the Procurement Pivots email community here:https://procurementpivots.com/email-listIf you'd like to explore working with Procurement Pivots Podcast, or with either of us individually, you can contact us at:[email protected] Procurement Pivots PodcastWe're passionate about supporting the people behind procurement success.Between us, we bring over 25 years of experience supporting procurement professionals and leaders in a variety of different ways. Through Procurement Pivots Podcast, we bring to life some of the conversations we're having in our coaching work around procurement careers, leadership, impact, influence and progression.About Donna BowdenDonna Bowden is a Procurement Positioning Career Coach and Founder of Narrate Your Career, supporting senior procurement professionals and leaders to better understand their value and strengthen how they position themselves for where they want to head next.Her work includes interview coaching for senior procurement roles, helping clients get clearer on the value they bring, identify the evidence and stories that demonstrate it, and communicate this with greater confidence when the right opportunity comes along.If you're a senior UK procurement professional and you'd like to explore working with Donna, you can book a confidential Career Momentum Call here:Book a Career Momentum CallOr download Donna's Proven Procurement CV Checklist here:Download the Proven Procurement CV ChecklistAbout Laura SellersLaura 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 elevate their impact, influence and performance.Find out more about Laura and her work here:https://www.coachingforprocurement.co.uk/Or get in touch with Laura directly here:https://www.coachingforprocurement.co.uk/contact-me

Send us Fan MailYou already have a personal brand.The question is, does it reflect who you are today, what you want to be known for and where you're heading next in your procurement career?Personal branding can be an uncomfortable topic. It can sound loud, showy or inauthentic. But your personal brand isn't about becoming someone you're not. And it certainly isn't just about what you post on LinkedIn.It's about how people experience you, what they associate with you and what's being said about you when you're not in the room.In this episode of Procurement Pivots Podcast, Donna Bowden and Laura Sellers explore what personal branding really means for procurement professionals and leaders, and why it matters both inside your organisation and across the wider procurement market.Because as your career evolves, your personal brand needs to evolve with it.Sometimes, without even realising it, we can outgrow the brand we've built.In this episode, we explore:What personal branding really means in procurementWhy you already have a personal brand, whether you've intentionally created it or notWhy personal branding doesn't have to mean being loud or constantly visibleThe importance of authenticity in how you show upHow your personal brand can evolve as your career and leadership evolveHow to decide what you most want to be known forWhy taking control of your own career narrative mattersHow your CV, LinkedIn presence, meetings, conversations and everyday interactions all contribute to your personal brandWhy consistency helps build trust and strengthen your reputationHow your personal brand can influence the opportunities, projects and conversations that come your wayYour personal brand isn't about creating a polished version of yourself for other people.It's about becoming more intentional about what you want to be known for and making sure the way you show up reinforces it.So, what are you known for today?And is that what you want to be known for in the next phase of your procurement career?Get in TouchIf this episode got you thinking about your own personal brand, we'd love to hear what you want to be known for.You can now receive even more insights from us and have the opportunity to engage with us privately by joining our Procurement Pivots email community.Over the coming weeks, we'll be focusing on helping you make the most of the final part of 2026, end the year on a high and head into 2027 with greater clarity and confidence.Join us here:https://procurementpivots.com/email-listIf you'd like to explore working with Procurement Pivots Podcast, or with either of us individually, you can contact us at:[email protected] Procurement Pivots PodcastWe 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.From procurement career 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 BowdenDonna Bowden is a Procurement Positioning Career Coach and Founder of Narrate Your Career, supporting senior procurement professionals and leaders to strengthen how they position themselves for where they want to head next.Personal branding forms an important part of Donna's wider career positioning work, helping clients become clearer about what they want to be known for and ensure their CV, LinkedIn presence, visibility, relationships and reputation consistently reinforce their value.If you're a senior UK procurement professional and would like to explore working with Donna, you can book a confidential Career Momentum Call here:https://www.narrateyourcareer.com/book-a-callOr download Donna's Proven Procurement CV Checklist here:https://www.narrateyourcareer.com/CVchecklistAbout Laura SellersLaura Sellers is an Executive and Leadership Coach specialising in procurement professionals and teams. Drawing on her background in procurement and procurement development, she supports individuals and organisations to strengthen leadership capability, self-awareness, confidence and coaching skills to elevate their impact, influence and performance.Laura works with procurement leaders, professionals and teams to navigate leadership challenges, develop their capability and create greater impact within their organisations.Find out more about Laura and her work here:https://www.coachingforprocurement.co.uk/Or get in touch with Laura directly:https://www.coachingforprocurement.co.uk/contact-me

Send us Fan MailThere are 100 days to go until the end of 2026.How do you want to feel when you get there?And how do you want to step into 2027?September can bring a renewed sense of energy. But it doesn't always last long. Workloads increase, demands return and before you know it, you're back in the day-to-day with the end of the year approaching quickly.In this episode of Procurement Pivots Podcast, Donna Bowden and Laura Sellers explore how procurement professionals and leaders can use the final 100 days of 2026 to pause, reflect on the year so far and become more intentional about their career, leadership and priorities for the months ahead.Because 100 days is still a significant amount of time.Whether 2026 has gone exactly as you'd hoped, taken an unexpected turn, or there are things in your procurement career or role that you still want to change, there is time to make meaningful progress and set yourself up well for 2027.Rather than immediately focusing on everything you haven't done, Donna and Laura encourage you to start by recognising what has already happened.What are you proud of? What have you enjoyed? What have you learned? What challenges have you overcome? And what does that tell you about what you want more of in your career?In this episode, we explore:Why looking back can be an important part of moving your procurement career forwardThe questions to ask yourself as you reflect on 2026 so farWhy career reflection should go beyond targets, projects and achievementsWhat's giving you energy in your career and what's draining itHow you want to feel when you reach the end of 2026What would make you feel pleased, proud or delighted with how the year endsIdentifying what could get in the way over the next 100 daysWhat you might want to finish, change or leave behind in 2026How to turn your career goals and priorities into manageable milestonesThe role of writing things down, sharing your intentions and creating accountabilityWhy recognising smaller wins can build confidence and self-beliefHow the progress you make now can create greater career momentum for 2027Because this isn't about putting yourself under more pressure to achieve a huge list of goals before 31 December.It's about being intentional.A lot can happen in 100 days.And the small, consistent actions you take now could change not only how you feel when you look back on 2026, but how you approach your procurement career and the opportunities ahead in 2027.Get in TouchIf this episode resonated, we'd love to hear what you're working towards over the final 100 days of 2026. Go to www.procurementpivots.com/email-list to join our email community packed full of insights and tips to help you maximise these next 100 days and beyond.If you'd like to explore working with Procurement Pivots Podcast, or with either of us individually, you can contact us at:[email protected] the Procurement Pivots PodcastWe 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 procurement career 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 BowdenDonna Bowden is a Procurement Positioning Career Coach and Founder of Narrate Your Career, supporting senior procurement professionals and procurement leaders to understand and articulate their value, strengthen their career positioning and create the right opportunities for where they want to head next.With over 20 years' experience supporting careers and a background in senior procurement recruitment, Donna combines deep knowledge of the procurement job market with career coaching to help senior procurement professionals build greater clarity, confidence, visibility and momentum.Her work spans procurement career positioning, career direction, CVs, LinkedIn positioning, job-search strategy, networking, visibility and interview preparation, helping senior procurement professionals position themselves effectively for their next career move.If you're a senior UK procurement professional considering your next role or career move and would like to explore working with Donna, you can book a confidential Career Momentum Call here:https://www.narrateyourcareer.com/book-a-callAnd if securing a new procurement role is part of your plans for the rest of 2026 or into 2027, you can download Donna's Proven Procurement CV Checklist here:https://www.narrateyourcareer.com/CVchecklistAbout Laura SellersLaura Sellers is an Executive and Leadership Coach specialising in procurement professionals and teams. Drawing on her background in procurement and procurement development, she supports individuals and organisations to strengthen leadership capability, self-awareness, confidence and coaching skills to elevate their impact, influence and performance.Laura works with procurement leaders, professionals and teams to navigate leadership challenges, develop their capability and create greater impact within their organisations.Find out more about Laura and her work here:https://www.coachingforprocurement.co.uk/Or get in touch with Laura directly:https://www.coachingforprocurement.co.uk/contact-me

Send us Fan MailThe procurement job market has changed.Competition for senior procurement roles has increased, hiring processes have evolved and technology is playing a greater role in how applications are screened.Which means the CV that successfully opened doors for you two, three or four years ago might not be enough to secure an interview today.In this episode of Procurement Pivots, Donna Bowden and Laura Sellers explore what senior procurement professionals need to think differently about when it comes to their CV in 2026.Drawing on Donna's experience of reviewing thousands of procurement CVs since moving into procurement recruitment in 2013, alongside the CV work she now does with senior procurement clients, they unpack some of the most common reasons even experienced and highly capable procurement leaders can struggle to stand out on paper.We discuss:Why a professionally written CV can still struggle to cut through in today's procurement marketWhy your CV shouldn't read like a job descriptionThe difference between describing what you've done and demonstrating the impact you've hadWhy results and metrics need context if you want the reader to understand their significanceWhy you can't expect a hiring manager or recruiter to join the dots for youHow to bring more of your personality, leadership style and individual approach onto the pageWhy trying to showcase everything you're good at can actually dilute your positioningHow to identify and elevate the two or three strengths you really want to be known forWhy senior procurement professionals often downplay their achievements and valueHow to communicate your successes without feeling as though you're braggingWhy your CV should be treated as a positioning tool rather than an administrative taskHow doing the deeper work behind your CV can strengthen your confidence and interview performanceWhy AI can sometimes make your CV blend in rather than stand outHow to use AI as a tool without allowing it to take over your voiceWhy your CV needs to communicate where you're heading next, not simply where you've beenAnd why, however strong it is, your CV alone isn't a job-search strategyBecause in a crowded senior procurement market, simply having the right experience isn't enough.Your CV needs to help someone quickly understand your value, your impact, what differentiates you and why you make sense for where you're heading next.And even then, it's only one part of how you position yourself to create and secure the right opportunities.Get in TouchIf this episode resonated, we'd love to hear your thoughts.When did you last look at your CV through the eyes of the person you're hoping will read it?If you'd like to explore working with Procurement Pivots, or with either of us individually, you can contact us at:[email protected] Procurement PivotsWe 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 BowdenDonna 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:https://www.narrateyourcareer.com/book-a-callDownload Donna's Free Proven Procurement CV Checklist here: https://www.narrateyourcareer.com/CVchecklistAbout Laura SellersLaura 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:https://www.coachingforprocurement.co.uk/trainingOr get in touch with Laura directly here:https://www.coachingforprocurement.co.uk/contact-me

Send us Fan MailProcurement 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 noWhy the desire to add value and prove procurement's worth can make boundaries particularly difficultThe relationship between boundaries, prioritisation and your ability to operate strategicallyWhy creating space to think can ultimately improve your decisions and outcomesHow to recognise the red flags that suggest you're repeatedly crossing your own boundariesWhy frustration can be a sign that your boundaries, or even your values, are being compromisedHow repeatedly going above and beyond can turn an exception into an expectationWhy being the busiest and most dependable person doesn't necessarily make you the obvious choice for progressionHow managing your workload and priorities can help you appear more in control and ready to take on greater responsibilityWhy boundaries can help procurement leaders move from operational busyness towards greater strategic impactHow boundaries can give you greater control when so much around you feels outside your controlWhy your boundaries need to evolve as your role, career and life evolveBecause 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 TouchIf 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:[email protected] Procurement PivotsWe 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 BowdenDonna 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:https://www.narrateyourcareer.com/book-a-callAbout Laura SellersLaura 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:https://www.coachingforprocurement.co.uk/trainingOr get in touch with Laura directly here:https://www.coachingforprocurement.co.uk/contact-me