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.

What does ownership really mean in your procurement career?

In this episode, we explore how ownership goes beyond accountability. It is about taking back control where you can, and recognising where you cannot.

With so many external challenges affecting procurement right now, from tough job markets to organisational change, it is easy to feel powerless. But ownership gives you choice. It helps you respond with intention, create momentum, and build resilience, even in uncertain times.

We cover:

• What ownership really is (and is not) in your career
• How to separate what is in your control from what is not
• Why regret can be useful data for making better decisions
• How ownership links to future-proofing your procurement career
• Small actions that compound into big shifts over time

We also share reflections from our coaching work, and why choosing ownership is one of the most empowering decisions you can make in your career.

Thanks for joining. We are so glad you are 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 would like us to cover? Drop it in the comments or message us via the LinkedIn page.

What role do values really play in your procurement career?

In this episode, we explore why knowing and honouring your core values isn’t just a “nice-to-have.” It can be the difference between thriving in the right role and staying stuck in the wrong one.

When you’re clear on your values, you gain a powerful navigation system for your career. They shape your decisions, strengthen your leadership, and protect you from choices that may look good on paper but leave you feeling unfulfilled or misaligned.

We cover:

• Why values matter more than you think in career decisions
  
  
• How to spot when a values clash might be the real cause of frustration
  
  
• The difference between “non-negotiable” values and “nice-to-haves”
  
  
• How values show up daily, not just in big career moves
  
  
• Practical ways to use values as a filter for opportunities and relationships

We also share real examples of how values can guide difficult decisions, build stronger collaboration, and help you show up with greater confidence and clarity.

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? Message us via the LinkedIn page.

What does identity really mean in your procurement career?

In this episode, we explore a topic that shows up frequently in coaching - how tightly we link our identity to our role, our performance, or our job title. Whether you’re navigating change, uncertainty, or simply reflecting on your own growth, identity plays a bigger role than you might think

We talk about the impact of labels (the ones we’re given and the ones we give ourselves) and how to start separating who you are from what you do.

You’ll hear:

• Why your job title is not your whole story
  
  
  
• How identity shifts during change, redundancy, or reinvention
  
  
  
• The link between self-worth, beliefs, and how you show up
  
  
  
• Why procurement professionals can face unique identity challenges
  
  
  
• The power of choosing how you present yourself to others

This is one for anyone who’s ever felt stuck, questioned their value, or wanted to feel more like themselves at work.

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

👥 Hosted by:
Donna Bowden | Procurement Career Coach, Narrate Your Career
Laura Sellers | Executive & 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? Message us via LinkedIn.

What keeps you grounded in your procurement career when things feel uncertain or hard?

In this episode, we explore the role of purpose. Not as a buzzword, but as a practical anchor for decision-making, direction and resilience. Because when you’re navigating change, uncertainty, or tough calls, clarity around your purpose can help you stay focused, intentional and confident.

We cover:

• What purpose really means in a procurement context
  
  
  
• Why purpose doesn’t have to be fixed - and how it evolves with your career
  
  
  
• The link between purpose, fulfilment and sustainable progress
  
  
  
• How purpose supports you through difficult decisions and transitions
  
  
  
• What to do when you feel disconnected from your ‘why’
  
  

We also share how purpose has shown up in our own careers, and how reconnecting with it has helped us and our clients create more aligned, resilient careers - even in challenging times.

Thanks for tuning in. 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? Message us via the LinkedIn page.

What role does self-reflection really play in progressing your procurement career?

In this episode, we unpack what it means to slow down just enough to reflect with intention - even when you’re busy, stretched or in the thick of change. Because taking time to reflect isn’t a luxury. It’s a powerful lever for making sustainable, strategic shifts that move you forward.

We talk about:

• The difference between self-reflection and overthinking
  
  
  
• Why self-awareness is a hidden strength in high-achieving professionals
  
  
  
• How reflection can help you navigate setbacks, uncertainty or a lack of clarity
  
  
  
• Real examples of how small insights have led to big change
  
  
  
• What makes reflection sustainable and actionable - not just another to-do
  
  
  

We also share our own reflections on when self-awareness made the biggest difference in our careers, and what it looks like to use reflection as a habit, not a one-off exercise.

Thanks for tuning in. 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? Message us via the LinkedIn page.