Rebecca Nelson
Rebecca Nelson is a Senior Manager of Product at FLEXE, a Seattle-based supply chain marketplace that connects retail clients with flexible warehousing services. With over six years at FLEXE, she leads product strategy and execution for core platform systems, helping define vision, structure, and roadmaps that align engineering, UX, and business goals. Her work focuses on turning complex operational challenges into clear, scalable product solutions that support efficiency and growth in a fast-changing logistics environment.
With more than 25 years of experience in supply chain technology, Rebecca has built a career spanning both large enterprise and startup environments. Prior to FLEXE, she spent 26 years at Starbucks in progressively senior technology roles, where she developed deep expertise in warehouse management systems, systems analysis, and large-scale operational integrations. She later transitioned into startup leadership roles, gaining experience across technical program management and engineering management before moving into product leadership.
Rebecca is known for her ability to bring clarity from complexity, combining structured thinking with strong people leadership and mentorship. She is passionate about developing talent, aligning cross-functional teams, and creating systems that improve both business outcomes and team effectiveness. She holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and has pursued additional training in product management and agile leadership, grounding her extensive on-the-job experience in continuous professional learning.
• Scrum Master
• Product Management and Strategy
• University of Wisconsin-Madison- B.S.
• Member of local non-profit gardens
• Supporter of high school wrestling team
• Supporter of local music and public radio
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to having no fear. I rarely, if ever, think that there is something I can't do or that I don't have the capability of learning, figuring out, and then being successful at. What attracts me to the industry and part of why my career has been successful is that I can spot a problem, and I want it. I'm like, oh, that looks hard, I want to do that. And then I'll advocate for myself to pick up that work, or I find it myself. I'm like, look, this is a problem right here, here's the shape of it, this is what I'm going to do to solve it, I'll be back. So continually trying to solve those hard problems and being successful there is key. My other superpower is people, growing them and getting the right ones together, and that's also an influence. People is a very important aspect of the work that I do and the success that I have, and it knits the strengths in my company. I'm very engaged in growing people and mentoring.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
The industry is still heavily male. Where I live is the crossover between two heavily male industries - one is technology and the other is supply chain. So typically very boy oriented, and it's super common to be the only woman in the room still. I don't want women to shy away from the industry, because it's super interesting. It's loaded with a bunch of interesting problems and things to solve, and it's continually changing. Like, it's kept me entertained for 30 years. There's always a puzzle to solve. So for folks who like solving interesting, changing problems, it's a great industry. For a woman in the industry, it's about having a really strong sense of self. Confidence. And, you know, you belong here. No matter what the room looks like, you belong. And that you're valuable, and you're needed. Like, we're necessary to be in this industry and to have it be successful. So you build your advocacy, and there's a little bit of a thick skin that you might need to develop. Don't take it personally. Enjoy the industry, and make it your own.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in technology and supply chain is that both industries remain heavily male-dominated, so women are often the only person in the room. At the same time, there is tremendous opportunity because the field is constantly evolving and full of complex, interesting problems to solve, which keeps the work engaging over the long term.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to her in both work and personal life are people development and mentorship, curiosity, resilience, confidence, and a commitment to solving problems clearly while creating structure and organizational clarity.