Her Story
About Vanessa
Vanessa Angulo serves as Senior Director of Field Talent Acquisition at Sysco, a position she has held since 2022 after joining the company in January 2013. With more than two decades of experience in talent acquisition and staffing, she began her career as a Recruiting Assistant in healthcare travel staffing and steadily advanced through roles as a recruiter, team lead, manager, director, and Human Resources Business Partner. In her current role, she leads talent acquisition supporting Sysco’s distribution operations across the United States, overseeing recruitment for frontline positions such as drivers, warehouse associates, and technicians, as well as professional roles in areas including merchandising and finance. Her responsibilities also include managing an RPO partnership, strengthening recruitment strategies, and overseeing talent acquisition marketing initiatives.
Angulo has built her career around strategic talent leadership, operational excellence, and creating inclusive workplace environments where people can thrive. She has been instrumental in the evolution and optimization of Sysco’s talent acquisition function and has held several leadership roles that have expanded her influence across the organization. In 2022, she received Sysco’s prestigious Pinnacle Award, the company’s CEO-level recognition, becoming the first HR recipient honored specifically for inclusion. She has also contributed to Sysco’s inclusion efforts through leadership and participation in Colleague Resource Groups and previously served on the company’s Global DEI Council. Outside of Sysco, she co-leads the Houston chapter of Talent Collective, a professional community dedicated to advancing women in talent acquisition, and participates in the Up Notch mentor group.
Angulo completed her high school education and approximately 60 college credits before continuing her professional development through executive education, including the Indeed Executive Leadership Program at Yale School of Management and an upcoming Master Class Executive Program. She is also committed to supporting causes that are personally meaningful to her, including breast cancer awareness, which she advocates through walks and other personal initiatives. Angulo attributes her success to the strong work ethic, determination, and passion instilled by her father, while viewing feedback as a valuable gift that has continually challenged her to grow. She brings those lessons into her leadership through a commitment to courage, integrity, authenticity, and accountability, values that guide both her professional relationships and personal life.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Vanessa
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the strong work ethic, drive, and passion my father instilled in me from a young age. He held high expectations and taught me to persevere, take on challenges, and never give up when things become difficult. His unwavering belief in me from childhood continues to motivate me to reach for the stars, push beyond my comfort zone, and pursue everything I have the potential to achieve. His influence shaped my determination and resilience and taught me to approach challenges with the mindset that there is always a way forward.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve received is that feedback is a gift. Early in my leadership journey, I sometimes resisted feedback, but I learned to listen, reflect on it without taking it personally, and identify what could genuinely help me grow. Being willing to implement meaningful feedback while remaining authentic to who I am has played a significant role in advancing my career. I continue to actively seek feedback because it provides valuable perspective, strengthens my leadership, and helps me become a better version of myself.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering talent acquisition is to stay curious, embrace technology, and continually look for ways to differentiate themselves. Become knowledgeable about the tools available in the industry, particularly AI and applicant tracking systems, and take the time to understand how they can improve efficiency and decision-making. I do not believe AI will replace talent professionals; rather, it can reduce time spent on repetitive tasks and create more opportunities to focus on higher-value work such as influencing, data analytics, strategic thinking, and meaningful business conversations. Most importantly, seek feedback consistently, remain open to learning, and use every opportunity to grow and strengthen your expertise.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that are most important to me in both my professional and personal life are courage, integrity, authenticity, and accountability. I believe in being courageous enough to try new things, embrace challenges, and speak up when something needs to be said. Integrity and authenticity mean being true to myself, acting with honesty, and consistently striving to be the best version of myself. I also believe strongly in accountability—owning my mistakes, holding myself and others responsible, and following through on my commitments. Together, these values create trust, strengthen relationships, and provide a foundation for meaningful connections both professionally and personally.
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