2019 Top 25 Women in Power Impacting Diversity Move Supplier Diversity Forward

Susan Spence of FedEx Supports Diverse Businesses Through Pioneering Leadership


Susan Spence is the Vice President, Sourcing and Procurement for FedEx Services. One of her leadership strengths is the ability to find innovative ways to support diverse businesses, even if they do not have the capacity to serve a company as large as FedEx. Susan has been the driving force behind the sourcing and procurement diversity team’s sponsorship and involvement in the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC). The ICIC positions urban businesses for long-term success. This relationship is reflective of Susan's transformational leadership style and her passion for supporting diverse suppliers of all sizes and at all stages in their business.

Susan's initial challenge in the supplier diversity arena at FedEx Services was ensuring that the program’s data and reporting were robust. Under her leadership, a centralized supplier diversity team built a better data and measurement system, and a process to ensure key suppliers were also measured on their efforts to drive diversity within their own supply chains. Susan has built a world-class supplier diversity program for FedEx through her leadership, her team's direct efforts, and participation on various diversity councils.


  • Favorite Quote: “…Diversity of thought and a willingness to ask for and embrace differing world views is critical to success in one’s personal and professional life.” — Susan Spence