Gilda Mendez

Orchestrate global sourcing strategies for the Commercial and Professional Services categories, steering a multi-cultural and functional global team to optimize a multi billion spend portfolio. Secured executive buy-in and championed the adoption of the first global spend data product of its kind, an advanced spend analytics framework to unlock incremental savings opportunities and enhance real-time risk monitoring across the strategic supplier base across business units, globally. Delivered significant annualized cost savings through strategic supplier negotiations, demand management initiatives, and process optimization, exceeding corporate targets. Cultivated strategic partnerships with key global suppliers, transforming relationships from transactional to collaborative, while implementing a holistic risk management framework including financial, operational and compliance mitigation strategies. Driving significant improvement in performance metrics, and fostering joint innovation projects with our key internal and external partners.

Directed a comprehensive strategic sourcing initiative for the North America, Latin America and Hill's Pet Nutrition spend portfolio, achieving significant cost reduction while simultaneously improving reach and engagement metrics through data-driven supplier selection. Spearheaded the regional strategic consolidation of key suppliers across Divisions, leveraging predictive spend analytics to optimize the tool stack and delivering a incremental marketing ROI on a year over year budget Forged a strategic alignment between Procurement, Commercial , Legal and Finance leadership across three distinct business units (North America, Hill’s U.S., Latin America), resulting in an important reduction in off-contract spend and improved budget adherence.

Built and led a high-performing, remote procurement organization across three major regional hubs, improving team engagement scores by 30% and successfully managing the sourcing execution for a spend portfolio across 25+ markets. Led the implementation of a regional e-sourcing platform, which standardized the RFx process, increased sourcing event velocity by 30%, and improved procurement cycle time by 20%. Navigated complex regulatory and tax environments across Latin America to ensure 100% compliance in all procurement activities, mitigating risk while delivering year-over-year cost savings for the Division. Partnered with Division President and his staff to dirve major initiatives across critical spend segments.

Develop, lead and implement strong sourcing strategies for the Commercial Spend with global/regional scope and direct responsibility over the North America Commercial IP Team. Engage corporate and division stakeholders to align and drive sustainable business results.

Mission Hills is a Colgate large-scale Oral Care plant globally. It serves as the largest facility of its kind in the world for oral, personal and home care products. The plant plays a significant role in the local economy.

I was nominated to participate in this challenging and rewarding Colgate-Palmolive leadership development experience. The Colgate Leadership @ Stanford Graduate School of Business Program was developed in partnership with The Stanford Graduate School of Business with the purpose to develop talented leaders who have the mindset and skills to operate strategically in a global environment.

'Growing our Leaders' is a leadership program built in partnership with Harvard Business School to develop and prepare the future leaders in the Organization.

This MBA program included disciplines of accounting, finance, marketing, supply chain, and operations, developing the ability to be a strategic thinker and effective decision-maker in an organization. Other focus areas included people skills, communication and teamwork, which are crucial for managing and others. The specialization focused on specific areas like entrepreneurship, information technology and corporate financial decisions.

Bachelor in Business Administration (BBA) with a Finance concentration. Acquired skills in areas like Corporate Finance, Portfolio Management, and Financial Accounting and equipping me to make informed financial decisions and manage an organization's financial needs.