Her Story
About Vanessa
Vanessa Spring is a global supply chain transformation and demand-planning leader with more than 15 years of experience spanning end-to-end supply chain planning, forecasting, Sales & Operations Planning, continuous improvement, systems implementation, and organizational transformation. She currently serves as Director of Demand Planning at Perdue Farms, following a career of progressive leadership roles with Starbucks, Mondelēz International, Louis Vuitton, and Nestlé Nutrition North America. Her experience has been built primarily within Fortune 500 organizations, where she has taken on increasingly complex assignments involving direct and matrix leadership, technology implementation, process transformation, and global planning.
Vanessa's career has been shaped by curiosity, adaptability, and a willingness to step into unfamiliar situations. She began her supply chain career after earning a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from La Salle University and developed her planning expertise at Nestlé, where she progressed from Demand Planner to Demand Planning Manager. She later held leadership roles at Louis Vuitton, Mondelēz International, and Starbucks, leading demand and capacity planning, S&OP, innovation planning, and large-scale transformation initiatives. At Starbucks, she led teams focused on demand-planning reinvention, technology implementation, change management, and the development of a global Planning Center of Excellence. Her accomplishments include identifying and delivering more than $49 million versus target in U.S. Gum in 2018. She also earned a Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt in Supply Chain Management from Educate 360 in 2025.
Throughout her journey, Vanessa has experienced both professional advancement and significant periods of uncertainty, including a layoff during the financial crisis early in her career and another transition following her time at Starbucks. She used those moments to reflect, learn, and pursue her next opportunity rather than allowing them to define her trajectory. Supportive managers and mentors have played an important role in her development, including a mentor she intentionally selected from the C-suite at Nestlé to provide an unbiased perspective and guidance on communication, leadership, and professional positioning. Vanessa believes there is no single path to success in supply chain and encourages women to build breadth, strengthen communication and storytelling skills, remain authentic, and trust their ability to learn. Her leadership philosophy emphasizes authenticity, open communication, curiosity, joy, and making space for rest and renewal while helping people and organizations navigate change successfully.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Vanessa
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to a combination of believing that I can do what I set my mind to, being willing to pursue opportunities even when they are unfamiliar, and learning through trial and error. My parents also played an important role in shaping that mindset because they stepped into spaces where they had little prior knowledge and learned along the way. Their example taught me to embrace uncertainty, remain curious, and trust that I can learn what I need to know as I move forward.
I have also been fortunate to work with supportive managers who encouraged my curiosity and exploration. Early in my career at Nestlé, my manager encouraged me to find a mentor, and I intentionally chose a Black woman in the C-suite because I wanted someone who could offer an unbiased perspective and help me understand how to approach situations, communicate effectively, and position myself for success.
Those experiences have helped me develop confidence, broaden my perspective, and remain open to growth throughout my career. I believe that success is not simply about having all the answers; it is about being willing to learn, ask questions, seek guidance, and continue moving forward.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
I have learned throughout my career that there is no single formula for success and that I do not have to know everything before taking on an opportunity. My experiences have reinforced the importance of staying curious, asking questions, finding strong mentors, and being willing to learn along the way.
I have also learned that career growth does not have to follow a perfectly predictable path. Some of my most valuable experiences came from stepping into unfamiliar industries, responsibilities, and situations and figuring them out as I went.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
There is no one way to build a career in supply chain, and it does not have to be linear. I am a strong advocate for building breadth through different experiences because the value of a career extends far beyond one specific function or title.
I can teach someone how to be a planner, but I cannot simply teach communication, the art of persuasion, the ability to tell a compelling story, or how to back that story up with data. Those softer skills are incredibly important, and developing them can make a significant difference in your career.
I also encourage women to stay authentic to themselves. I have navigated unfamiliar industries, leadership roles, and complex global transformations, and each transition required me to learn quickly, build credibility, and adapt while remaining true to my strengths.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Authenticity is one of the most important values to me. I want to bring my whole self to my work, whether I am leading a team, collaborating with cross-functional partners, or navigating organizational change.
Open communication is also essential. I believe in being transparent about what is working and what is not working and creating an environment where people feel comfortable having those conversations. I also try to make work enjoyable and light-hearted. I want my team to laugh, find joy in the moment, and feel that they can be successful without losing their humanity.
I also value rest and balance. I believe there needs to be time to disconnect and recharge, and I am unapologetic about making space for that. Sustainable leadership requires recognizing that rest is part of being able to continue performing at our best.
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.