Valerie Pedersen

I attribute my success to hard work, having a clear vision, and working toward my why, which is my family and the goals I have for them. Going back to school as a single mom while working full-time taught me how to prioritize and what to absorb the quickest and where to spend my time. Those quick learning skills have been essential in helping me reach the Vice President of National Sales position in an accelerated timeframe. My family drives everything I do - they are my motivation and the reason I push myself to achieve more.

The best career advice I've ever received is that clear is kind. I write down the word communication in pretty much every single meeting because it's so important. When speaking to someone, don't assume that they completely understand - ask questions to ensure that they do. Clear communication is the fastest way to the results you're looking for. I've also learned that there's power in saying no and not being afraid to use it when it's appropriate. These principles have shaped how I lead and communicate with my team and customers.

Never doubt your strengths. Stay confident and convicted to your beliefs and your voice. Don't shy away from speaking up, because you can still speak up and showcase that you're a caring, nurturing person. It's important to remember to use your voice. I think women in particular tend to push down being proud of themselves because societally we want to shy away from being in the spotlight and celebrating our wins. But two things can be true at the same time - you can be proud of yourself and also still be that supportive person who's extremely proud of and encouraging for their team.

With all of the funding challenges in healthcare right now, making sure we're providing resources that will continue to help our customers is a major challenge. Healthcare is a huge part of our business, and the funding cuts are impacting us significantly. There are so many moving pieces in national sales and food distribution when it comes to understanding group purchasing organizations. Managing time for my team and making sure they don't feel overworked or bogged down with minutiae is a big challenge. If I can't clear the plate for my team, they're not going to be able to help customers effectively because they're worrying about too many other little things. So managing my team and making sure they understand the mission we have as a company, while also helping them balance that with the customer's needs and expectations, is our biggest challenge right now.

The values most important to me are transparency, honesty, vulnerability, and being supportive. I think people respond really well to leaders in both personal and professional development when there's an understanding of the why, and sometimes that takes vulnerability to get there. I believe in servant leadership and being an empathetic, supportive type of leader. I need time to focus on myself, which is why I love cooking - I can have people sitting at my counter while I'm cooking, having conversations and laughs and sharing snacks and a meal together. That connection and openness with people, whether at work or at home, is what drives me.