EP 46: The Most Important Question in Your Procurement Career

EP 46: The Most Important Question in Your Procurement Career

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2512172/fan_mail/new] “Tell me about yourself.” It sounds simple. But in reality, it’s one of the most important and most underutilised questions in your procurement career. It shows up everywhere:  Interviews. Stakeholder meetings. Networking conversations. New projects. And how you answer it shapes how people see you. In this episode of Procurement Pivots, Donna and Laura explore why this question carries so much weight, and how procurement professionals can use it more intentionally to build confidence, credibility and influence. Because this isn’t about walking through your CV. It’s about positioning. In this episode we explore: * Why this question matters more than most people realise * How your answer shapes perception, credibility and opportunity * The common mistakes procurement professionals make * Chronological answers that miss the opportunity to position your value * Why this isn’t about selling yourself * The difference between self-promotion and helping others understand your impact * How to structure a strong and confident answer * Present positioning, what you’re known for and why it matters * Why relevance is everything * Tailoring your message for interviews, stakeholders and networking * How this question can set the tone in interviews * One of the few moments where you control the direction of the conversation * Why your professional identity goes beyond your job title * Especially important when you’re between roles or navigating change * How to evolve your message as your career develops * Keeping your positioning aligned to where you’re going next Takeaways * A clearer understanding of why this is one of the most important questions in your procurement career * A practical structure to answer it with confidence and clarity * A reminder that if people don’t understand your value, they won’t recognise it * Encouragement to be intentional with how you position yourself in every interaction 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 Follow us on LinkedIn: Procurement Pivots How are you currently answering “Tell me about yourself”? Message us via the Procurement Pivots LinkedIn page or reach out to Donna or Laura directly.

EP 45: The Uncomfortable Truth About Procurement Career Growth

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2512172/fan_mail/new] Procurement career growth often feels uncomfortable. As procurement careers evolve, many professionals are being asked to step into greater visibility, leadership and influence. You may want more impact, more progression or a more aligned role. But stepping outside your comfort zone, whether that’s speaking up in meetings, building your presence on LinkedIn or developing leadership confidence, can feel unfamiliar and uncertain. In this episode of Procurement Pivots, Donna and Laura explore why discomfort is a natural and necessary part of career growth, and how to navigate it with more clarity and intention. Because staying where it feels comfortable may feel safe, but it often leads to stalled procurement career progression. In this episode we explore: Why procurement career growth feels uncomfortable * The gap between where you are today and where you want to get to How the comfort zone can quietly hold you back * Why staying where things feel safe can limit progression, visibility and career development The three zones of growth: comfort, stretch and panic * Understanding where confidence is built and where it can be lost Why many procurement professionals overwhelm themselves before they start * Jumping straight to the end goal rather than breaking it down into manageable steps How to take practical, incremental steps forward * Building confidence and leadership presence through action, not overthinking Rethinking visibility and influence in procurement * Why you don’t need to be the loudest voice to have impact with stakeholders Applying this to real scenarios * From speaking up in meetings to using LinkedIn more intentionally without needing to post Why clarity reduces fear * Separating what is genuinely challenging from what feels overwhelming Takeaways * A clearer understanding of why discomfort is part of procurement career growth * A practical framework to help you step outside your comfort zone with more confidence * A reminder that consistent stretch drives career progression, not big leaps * Encouragement to stop waiting for confidence and start building it through action 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 Follow us on LinkedIn: Procurement Pivots What is currently sitting just outside your comfort zone in your procurement career? Message us via the Procurement Pivots LinkedIn page or reach out to Donna or Laura directly.

EP 44: The Procurement Development Gap and How to Close It

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2512172/fan_mail/new] Procurement careers are evolving at pace. The remit is expanding. Expectations are rising. Pressure is increasing. Yet in many organisations, learning and development support has reduced, shifted or become less personalised. Some procurement professionals receive strong internal investment. Others receive very little. Even within the same organisation, the level of development can vary significantly. In this episode of Procurement Pivots, Donna and Laura explore what we are calling the Procurement Development Gap. This is the space between where your career is heading and the skills, capability and confidence you are intentionally building. Career acceleration rarely happens by accident. It happens through clarity, ownership and aligned investment. In this episode we explore: Why the L&D landscape has shifted in procurement > How reduced or inconsistent development support is impacting procurement careers What the Procurement Development Gap really looks like > The difference between evolving role expectations and personal capability building How to carry out a meaningful gap analysis > Identifying where you are now, where you want to go and what may be holding you back Why progression is often about leadership presence, influence and impact > Not just technical or category expertise Avoiding overwhelm in an age of information overload > How to prioritise what will genuinely move the needle The ROI of investing in your own professional development > Considering time, energy and financial investment with intention How to build a business case for support > Why development conversations can form part of annual reviews, salary discussions and retention strategies The power of accountability and aligned support > From coaching and mentoring to peer conversations and targeted learning Takeaways * A clearer understanding of the Procurement Development Gap * Practical guidance on prioritising procurement professional development with intention * Encouragement to move from passive provision to proactive ownership * A reminder that investing in yourself is strategic 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 Follow us on LinkedIn: Procurement Pivots What development gap are you currently closing in your procurement career? Message us via the Procurement Pivots LinkedIn page or reach out to Donna or Laura directly.

EP 43: Speak to Be Seen: How Procurement Professionals Gain Influence

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2512172/fan_mail/new] Communication sits at the heart of every procurement career. You can be technically strong, commercially capable and consistently deliver results. But if your communication does not land, your influence, credibility and progression can stall. In this episode, Donna and Laura explore why communication is one of the most powerful differentiators in procurement today. They discuss how self-awareness shapes the way you show up, why your style must evolve as your stakeholder audience becomes more senior, and how subtle shifts in tone, pace and language can significantly elevate how you are perceived. They also explore how AI and remote working are diluting personal voice, why many procurement professionals feel unheard or undervalued, and how influence is built through clarity rather than volume. If you want to operate more strategically, strengthen your presence and gain influence without compromising who you are, this conversation is for you. In this episode we explore 1. Why communication underpins influence in procurement How your ability to translate procurement value into business language shapes how seriously you are taken. 2. Understanding your natural communication style Why self-awareness is the foundation for confidence, adaptability and stronger stakeholder relationships. 3. Tactical versus strategic communication How tone, clarity and delivery must evolve as your stakeholder audience becomes more senior. 4. Confidence, perception and personal brand How posture, word choice and presence influence how others interpret your capability. 5. The risk of diluted voice How AI-generated content and remote working can weaken your impact if you are not intentional. 6. Influence without politics How to navigate communication dynamics while maintaining integrity and authenticity. Takeaways * A clearer understanding of how communication shapes procurement career progression. * Practical reflection points to help you identify where your current style is working and where small shifts could elevate your impact. * Encouragement to communicate for the level you want to operate at, not just the role you currently hold. * A reminder that influence is built through clarity, confidence and intentionality. 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 Follow us on LinkedIn: Procurement Pivots Want to shape what comes next or suggest a topic? Message us via the Procurement Pivots LinkedIn page or reach out to Donna or Laura directly.

EP 42: When Did Networking Become So Uncomfortable in Procurement Careers?

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2512172/fan_mail/new] For many procurement professionals, the word networking triggers discomfort. Awkward. Inauthentic. Contrived. Embarrassing. And yet, relationship-driven opportunities remain one of the most powerful drivers of procurement career progression. In this episode of Procurement Pivots, Donna and Laura unpack why networking has become so emotionally loaded in procurement careers, and why avoiding it may be quietly limiting your opportunities. They explore the mindset barriers, the assumptions and the cultural narratives that make networking feel uncomfortable. More importantly, they reframe networking for what it truly is: building meaningful professional relationships. Because procurement careers are not built through applications alone. They are built through trust, visibility and connection. In this episode we explore 1. Why the word networking carries so much emotional weight in procurement How negative associations can create avoidance and self-doubt. 2. The reality of how procurement roles are secured Why the majority of opportunities come through relationships, not job boards. 3. Reframing networking as relationship building How shifting language changes behaviour and confidence. 4. Different ways to network that align with your personality From one-to-one conversations to planned event meetings and virtual connections. 5. The pressure of networking when job seeking Why urgency makes networking feel harder and how to approach it differently. 6. The importance of preparation and follow-up How the real relationship often begins after the initial conversation. 7. Building your network before you need it Why proactive relationship building creates long-term career leverage. Takeaways A reframed understanding of networking in procurement careers. Practical ways to approach external relationship building with greater confidence and intention. Encouragement to shift from transactional thinking to genuine connection. A reminder that sometimes one conversation can change everything. 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 Follow us on LinkedIn: Procurement Pivots Want to share your experience of networking in procurement? Message us via the Procurement Pivots LinkedIn page or reach out to Donna or Laura directly.