Discover how AI agents are reshaping the manufacturing operating model
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Donna Bowden is a dedicated procurement-career strategist renowned for helping professionals gain clarity, confidence, and momentum. With more than a decade of coaching experience, after an earlier career in specialist recruitment, she founded Narrate Your Career and co-founded Procurement Pivots, two platforms that guide senior leaders through market shifts, role realignment, and personal branding.
Donna’s hands-on work spans career strategy, skills development, and positioning procurement as a strategic value driver. Her pragmatic, people-first approach has made her a trusted voice for those looking to thrive in the procurement landscape.
Systems Thinkers
The future workforce will reward system thinkers – big-picture people who connect dots and ask better questions. How do you help clients position themselves as system thinkers who speak the language their target companies expect?
With my clients, it’s about showing impact and context. Many people just list what they did: “I did this thing.” They don’t say why it mattered, how they did it, or what the result was. Take someone who challenged the status quo, created a better solution, and implemented it – highlight that journey. Even using a word like “challenged” signals you chose to do something differently. Lead with the outcome, then show you achieved it by questioning and improving the process. Tell the story.
Strategic Procurement
When procurement is seen purely as a cost-cutting centre, how would you guide them to be viewed as more strategic?
Good question. Whether it’s the whole function or an individual, it comes down to strong relationships. Simple things like asking for feedback help people feel valued and visible. Some clients weren’t asking for any feedback from stakeholders, peers, or their teams. Once you have that input – good or bad – you can improve or use the positives to build credibility. Show how you’ve taken a stakeholder from A to B, tell the story rather than merely saying, “We’re more than cost savings.” It’s about raising awareness of the real value you deliver.
With transactional tasks disappearing as tech advances, which soft skills should procurement prioritise over the next 12-18 months?
When the transactional work goes, what’s left is strategic. That sits in relationships – internally with the business and externally with suppliers. Knowing the business problems and partnering to solve them is where the impact happens. It boils down to strategic thinking and a creative, innovative mindset: How can this be improved and made better?
For me, relationships change everything. Procurement professionals are often good at building them for the company, but not always for their own career growth. Being intentional about who you stay close to – and keeping those relationships two-way – matters more than ever.
Procurement Thought Leaders
What separates professionals who simply progress from those recognised as thought leaders in procurement today?
Thought leadership ties closely to an intentional personal brand. Some dislike the term, but it’s really asking, “How do you want others to perceive you, and how do you show up?” I help clients figure out their values, strengths, and the impact they’ve had – what people say about them when they’re not in the room.
Thought leadership isn’t only for the loudest voices on stage or daily LinkedIn posters. Many recognised procurement leaders built their brand intentionally over time – deciding where to show up, what to say, and which relationships to nurture. They’re visible to the right audience, not the wrong crowd, and they’ve planned the steps to reach that position.
Curious about Donna’s background? Check out her profile here.
Disclaimer: This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Deana manages community efforts and creation of thought leadership material at Kavida. For inquiries, reach her at deana@kavida.ai.
