Procurement Pivots®

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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.
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.
https://www.coachingforprocurement.co.uk/contact-me

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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.
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.
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.
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, 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. 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.
https://www.coachingforprocurement.co.uk/contact-me

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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.
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

Send us Fan Mail
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

Send us Fan Mail
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
Sign up here: https://procurementpivots.com/home-page
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.
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