Procurement is leading the way in boosting operational effectiveness and value creation in organizations. By optimizing resources and building strategic vendor partnerships, procurement goes beyond cost-reduction programs to become a business growth and sustainability driver. Technological advancement, in the guise of data analytics and artificial intelligence, has further established it as a powerful driver of wise decision-making and efficient processes. Procurement emphasis on resilience, ethics, and organizational goal congruence is essential for success in today’s competitive global marketplace.
Estée Lauder Companies Inc. Global Indirect Procurement Vice President, Vivian Wu, exemplifies innovation- and excellence-based leadership. The company’s best-in-class innovative procurement strategies benchmark the beauty industry by capitalizing on technology and partnerships to establish sustainable value up and down the supply chain through her leadership.
After finishing her MBA, Vivian moved into sourcing and procurement at a Miami cosmetics firm, where she optimized supply chains and brought in cost-efficient materials from China. Although not formally experienced, she was an expert at communicating with people and breaking down complicated problems. It was a great place to start her career. In her role as VP of Global Indirect Procurement at The Estée Lauder Companies, Vivian finds the most satisfaction and challenge in driving organizational transformation. Her organization emphasizes indirect spending governance, innovation through partnering with innovative suppliers, and enabling company-wide strategic initiatives, which are the pillars of company’s growth and success.
She has been approached by college students and interns who want to pursue a career in global strategic sourcing in recent times. Although procurement was not a conventional college course, it has now become specialized. Strategic sourcing is an art-science blend that needs supply chain management, data analysis, and problem-solving capabilities, along with being nimble to new technology and sustainability initiatives. To succeed at this profession also needs to be good at communication, cross-cultural collaboration, and vendor relationship management. For curious and mathematically-inclined and globally-interacting professionals, global strategic sourcing offers a thrilling and rewarding career option.
Recognized by CIOLook as one of the Most Dynamic VPs of Procurement Catalysts for Innovation and Growth 2025, The Estée Lauder Companies’ leadership by Vivian Wu is the epitome of innovation, teamwork, and dedication to excellence that are needed to drive today’s world towards its global complexities.
