Is perfection really the goal – or is it actually holding you back?

In this episode, we explore how striving for perfection can stall progress in procurement careers, and why embracing action (even if it feels messy) is often the real key to growth. From strategic plans to job searches, we look at how waiting for the “perfect moment” can stop you moving forward.

We cover:

• How the pursuit of perfection shows up for procurement professionals
• Why fear is often at the root of “waiting until things are ready”
• Real examples of how striving for perfection can stall career moves and leadership impact
• Why messy action builds resilience, momentum, and confidence
• The power of small steps to unlock bigger opportunities

We also share candid reflections from our own journeys – when perfection has held us back, when progress has paid off, and what we’ve learned along the way.

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

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

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

What does self-employment really look like in the procurement world?

In this episode, we open up about the realities of running your own business – the highs, the lows, and everything in between. While many dream of the freedom that self-employment promises, the truth is often more complex.

We cover:

• The different paths into self-employment in procurement
• Why knowing your purpose matters when the journey gets tough
• The freedom and creativity self-employment can offer – and the trade-offs that come with it
• The honest challenges business owners face that don’t show up on LinkedIn
• Practical tips if you’re considering making the leap yourself

We also share candid reflections from our own journeys – what’s worked, what hasn’t, and the lessons we’ve learned along the way.

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

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

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

What are the hard truths about how procurement is perceived, and what role do we play in shaping that?

In this episode, we tackle one of the most uncomfortable but important topics: the perception of procurement. Too often the focus is on how others see us, but are we, even unintentionally, fueling those same perceptions ourselves?

From the memes we share on LinkedIn to the self-limiting beliefs we hold (“I’m just a buyer”), how we show up has a huge impact on how procurement as a function and we as professionals are seen.

We cover:

• Why perceptions of procurement still create a barrier and why they’re not the full picture
• How “perception is projection” can help us uncover what’s really going on inside
• The difference between fuelling negative narratives and shaping positive ones
• Why procurement isn’t always good at marketing itself (and how to start shifting that)
• The importance of owning your story, your voice, and your influence
  
  

We also share candid reflections on the responsibility we all hold, as professionals and as content creators, to shape the narrative of procurement in a way that adds value to the profession and our careers.

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

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

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