Season 15, Episode 2: Buying Patterns (with Levanah Gates)

In this episode, Dahlia is joined by Levanah — known as The Buyer’s Coach — for a deep dive into the world of Buying and what it really looks like to change career after years in retail. With 15 years’ experience as a Fashion Buyer across five major UK retailers, Levanah brings a rare mix of commercial insight, creativity and lived industry experience. Today, she specialises in coaching Buyers and retail professionals through confidence building, promotions, pivots and career transitions.Together, Dahlia and Levanah explore the practical realities of moving on from Buying: how to know when it’s time for a change, the steps to take before you leave, how much money you realistically need, and how to navigate the emotional and professional shifts that come with reinventing your career. They also discuss what makes retail professionals uniquely skilled — and how those strengths translate into new industries.If you’re a Buyer, a retail professional, or someone standing at a career crossroads, this conversation is packed with clarity, honesty and actionable guidance.Levanah, known as The Buyer’s Coach, is a career coach specialising in supporting Buyers and retail professionals. Before launching her coaching practice, she spent 15 years as a Fashion Buyer across five major UK retailers, blending creativity with commercial strategy, negotiating globally, building ranges and travelling extensively. Now based in the Midlands with her partner and daughter, her perspective on career success shifted when her daughter was almost three, sparking a passion for helping people unlock their potential at work. Since then, she has coached more than 200 Buyers and retail professionals one‑to‑one, guiding them through confidence building, promotions, industry pivots, and career transitions that feel aligned, sustainable and fulfilling.Enjoyed the episode? Go behind the scenes with Stressed But Well Dressed on instagram @stressedbutwelldressed_podcast