An Interview With Vanessa Ogle
Build confidence in women leaders: Research has shown that women are more likely to underestimate their capabilities, while men are less likely to disqualify themselves based on experience. Build confidence by being proactive with career development opportunities.
Despite strides towards equality, women remain underrepresented in leadership and management roles across various sectors. In this series, we would like to discuss the barriers to female advancement in these areas and explore actionable strategies for change. We are talking with accomplished women leaders, executives, and pioneers who have navigated these challenges successfully, to hear their experiences, tactics, and advice to inspire and guide the next generation of women toward achieving their full potential in leadership and management roles. As part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Sandy Mattinson.
Sandy Mattinson is President of Zoro, a fast-growing B2B platform at the intersection of technology, e-commerce and distribution. She started her career in consumer products and retail and rose into increasing leadership positions since joining the male-dominated distribution industry as Zoro’s first female vice president. Sandy’s career trajectory continued to accelerate as Zoro crossed the $1B revenue threshold and she also became a mom to two young daughters. She is inspired by helping people and businesses reach their full potential.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit more. Can you tell us a bit about your “backstory”? What led you to this particular career path?
When I started my career, I was passionate about consumer products, and worked for flagship brands like The Clorox Company, Victoria’s Secret and Bath & Body Works. I loved the creative development of new products and the general management aspect of running a product line.
As I saw the world changing, I felt compelled to jump into technology and e-commerce. Around the same time, I got married and moved with my husband from New York City to Chicago. That life event created a transition opportunity where I was able to join smaller companies to gain digital experience.
Working for these smaller organizations informed my understanding of the underlying economics of a business. Why did some organizations thrive, and why did others struggle? Experiencing a range of diverse business models gave me the perspective to recognize that there was something truly unique about the B2B e-commerce opportunity.
With Zoro, I found a high-growth, profitable business within a large, fragmented industry where digital transformation was still nascent. I saw the potential of what Zoro could become. Even though I had no background in B2B distribution, I knew I wanted to be part of it.
I had also lived in three cities throughout my career, starting in the San Francisco Bay Area, then New York City and finally Chicago. For me Zoro brought together the values of a tech-enabled, anything-is-possible ethos of Silicon Valley, the dynamism of New York City, and the titan of industry scale of Chicago.
When I discovered Zoro, it felt like home, bringing these aspects of my life experiences together.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
One theme throughout my career has been to always focus on the customer. As someone who had never owned a cat, whose job it was to market Fresh Step cat litter, I had to learn about cleaning the litter box, literally. In fact, I went into people’s homes as part of my customer research and asked them to let me observe as they scooped cat poop and clumps of pee.
Years later when I was working for Victoria’s Secret, I did the same thing — talking to dozens of women asking them to show me the bras and panties in their underwear drawers.
Those early experiences instilled in me how important it is to put yourself into your customers’ shoes and really understand their perspective. Being Customer Obsessed is one of our core values at Zoro and continues to guide my leadership.
Can you share a pivotal moment in your career that significantly influenced your path to leadership?
When I moved from New York City to Chicago, I had to start from scratch without a local network while also seeking a career transition into e-commerce. When I was offered a position at a startup — earning significantly less and working alongside a young team — I prioritized learning. I found starting over to be humbling, but also one of the steppingstone experiences that ultimately prepared me for my role today. I learned to tolerate the discomfort of taking risks, and I carry that confidence forward knowing that the worst thing that could happen is just having to start again.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
There are three people who come to mind where I am grateful for their support.
My Career Advocate
Despite my not having any distribution industry experience, my predecessor and former boss saw my potential and continued to invest in me. He expanded my scope and advocated for what I could do. I would not be here today without his belief in my capabilities.
My Mentor
My mentor is a female executive who has been in my shoes and provides invaluable perspective on the unique challenges of being a leader who is also a mom, wife and individual. She played an important role as I took on more responsibility while learning how to juggle the unique challenges of motherhood.
My Role Model
Masaya Suzuki, Director, Chairman and CEO of MonotaRO in Japan, has built an incredible business that enabled the vision and founding of Zoro. He inspires me to continue growing by providing his guidance from over 20 years of experience leading one of the greatest success stories within the MRO (maintenance, repair and operations) industry.
Is there a particular book that made a significant impact on you? Can you share a story or explain why it resonated with you so much?
One of my favorite books that I’d recommend to anyone is The Serendipity Mindset. It was recommended to me recently in my 40’s, though I wish I had discovered it when I was 20.
The book teaches the skill set of cultivating your luck, which is another way of seizing every opportunity that comes your way to its fullest potential.
I had a few twists and turns in my career before finding my path, and I am grateful for the unique circumstances that led me here.
What I learned from this book is that luck is truly a mindset more than it is just a series of random events.
Do you have a favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Do you have a story about how that was relevant in your life or your work?
“As you think, so shall you become.” — Bruce Lee
We are each empowered to shape our own destiny. If you want to achieve big things, as a person or as an organization, it starts with a vision. My whole life started to transform when I truly believed I had the power and confidence to shape it.
Dream big.
How have you used your success to make the world a better place?
Early in my career, I had a burning desire to change the world, but I lacked the influence and clarity on how to do that. I volunteered abroad and advised non-profits, and I had guilt about my continued passion for business.
After experiences like volunteering in rural Tanzania and leading a study trip in India, I saw how economic opportunities were directly related to access to commerce. I began to appreciate the value that business brings to communities.
Now, I focus on the things and people that I impact everyday, which include my family, my organization and my community. I try not to take that for granted and remember that they each deserve the very best of me every day.
Can you share a few reasons why more women should become leaders and managers?
Women’s leadership contributes to diversity of new ideas and informed decision-making, and we know that a lack of diversity can play out in damaging ways.
Take healthcare as an example — when looking back on standard healthcare practices, there were some women who were misdiagnosed and mistreated when it came to women’s health issues, partly because they were not part of the practice of research and decision making.
Similarly, when women aren’t telling stories in entertainment or allocating capital toward new opportunities, we’re missing out on rich stories and ideas that have the potential to transform the world.
Can you please share “5 Things We Need To Increase Women’s Engagement in Leadership and Management?”
- Build confidence in women leaders: Research has shown that women are more likely to underestimate their capabilities, while men are less likely to disqualify themselves based on experience. Build confidence by being proactive with career development opportunities.
- Provide structured mentorship opportunities: Recognize that women leaders face unique challenges where other experienced women can support and advise.
- Sponsor high-potential women and invest in programming: Structured programs like the International Women’s Forum Fellows program have accelerated my career.
- Lean into the topics of household management and parenting: Acknowledge that these are day-to-day challenges for women reaching more senior levels.
- Bring men into the movement: Women aren’t well positioned to solve this alone. Men like my career sponsor and role model show how valuable allies can be. Don’t put the burden of the initiatives squarely on women, creating more work for the group being served.
In your opinion, what systemic changes are needed to facilitate more equitable access for women to leadership roles?
As a mother of two young children, I recognize that so much of what I am doing is possible because of the flexibility that the post-pandemic work environment enables through hybrid work. Keeping a level of flexibility is critical to empowering all team members.
I’ve also seen the benefits of structured programming and sponsorship for high-potential women to accelerate their careers. In most organizations where I have worked, we often see equity at junior levels and inevitably end up seeing more men in leadership positions at Director, VP and C-level. Structured support at these thresholds can make a meaningful difference.
What strategies have you found most effective in mentoring and supporting other women to pursue leadership positions?
First, I think a high potential woman needs to have the confidence to aim higher than what she might see above her. The question is, how do we build that confidence? One way is through structured programs designed to foster a culture of empowerment by building a strong, values-driven culture. At Zoro we are proud to spearhead programs like empowher@zoro, dedicated to women’s inclusion and growth.
Second, sponsorship is key. Traditionally women have been encouraged to seek out mentors, especially female mentors. Mentors, both male and female, provide coaching and guidance, and can act as a sounding board for critical decisions. As I mentioned earlier, my mentor has been invaluable to my career, but mentorship alone is not enough. Women need sponsors, people in leadership positions who are willing to use their reputation and influence to advocate for you when you’re not in the room.
By having the former President of Zoro as my sponsor, he helped me expand my scope and gain opportunities that ultimately helped to get me where I am now. Sponsorship is critical as you move up in your career toward higher level positions.
How would you advise a woman leader about how to navigate the challenges of being a woman in a leadership role within a male-dominated industry?
It is important for women to build relationships with peers and leaders who are male, especially in industries where women are the minority. If you are a woman, do not limit yourself by exclusively seeking female mentorship, sponsorship and counsel.
Men are an important part of any organizational and industry ecosystem and if you’re not connected with the majority of the decision makers in your field, then you are limiting your own ability to understand the full landscape and influence decision makers.
Lean in, understand your unique value and have confidence that you deserve your seat at the table.
How do you balance the demand for authoritative leadership with the stereotypical expectations of female behavior in professional settings?
The word balance implies there is an inherent tradeoff between forces, and you are always on one side of an equilibrium that is not ideal.
I do not necessarily strive for balance, but I do seek to be authentic. I recognize that I’m at my best when I can be my authentic self — leading through candor and clarity of direction.
If feedback is a gift, then candor is a form of kindness. It is my job as a leader to clearly define our vision, our goals and expectations. If I am providing clarity and candor, then I think that style of leadership is both direct and kind.
Philosophically, I think it is important for leaders to have informed decision making by understanding my team’s views. Research shows that women tend to make more informed decisions because of this collaborative leadership style, which sometimes gets conflated with indecision. Women leaders can get penalized for this, but ultimately, I believe it leads to stronger decisions and outcomes.
You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good for the greatest number of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.
I believe in the power of business leaders to meaningfully change lives, organizations, and the world.
It would be my vision that business leaders recognize the tremendous impact they each have on the people they lead, the organizations they are building, and the communities we live in.
In many ways customers are already voting with their wallets, supporting businesses that represent their personal values.
It’s my hope that the brilliant changemakers of the future will align economic and social goals seamlessly in an increasingly transparent world.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
Follow me on LinkedIn and go to Zoro.com for our latest news as well as Tools, Parts and Supplies for Your Business.
Thank you for these fantastic insights. We greatly appreciate the time you spent on this.
About The Interviewer: Vanessa Ogle is a mom, entrepreneur, inventor, writer, and singer/songwriter. Vanessa’s talent in building world-class leadership teams focused on diversity, a culture of service, and innovation through inclusion allowed her to be one of the most acclaimed Latina CEO’s in the last 30 years. She collaborated with the world’s leading technology and content companies such as Netflix, Amazon, HBO, and Broadcom to bring innovative solutions to travelers and hotels around the world. Vanessa is the lead inventor on 120+ U.S. Patents. Accolades include: FAST 100, Entrepreneur 360 Best Companies, Inc. 500 and then another six times on the Inc. 5000. Vanessa was personally honored with Inc. 100 Female Founder’s Award, Ernst and Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and Enterprising Women of the Year among others. Vanessa now spends her time sharing stories to inspire and give hope through articles, speaking engagements and music. In her spare time she writes and plays music in the Amazon best selling new band HigherHill, teaches surfing clinics, trains dogs, and cheers on her children.
Please connect with Vanessa here on linkedin and subscribe to her newsletter Unplugged as well as follow her on Substack, Instagram, Facebook, and X and of course on her website VanessaOgle.
Sandy Mattinson On How We Can Increase Women’s Engagement in Leadership and Management was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.