“A Leader Who Models the Way”

A Leader Who Models the WayVanesa Patino, COO, Valley Forge Fabrics, has a relentless drive to constantly improve every process in the organization to create better efficiency and increased visibility to everyone in the organization, including the vendor partners and clients. Her strategic eye for visioning technology enhancements to the organization to make VFF the best place to work via allowing her team to use more time on creative and customer-facing aspects, as opposed to manual tasks and excessive inputs, is unparalleled. Vanesa's ability to organize teams of people and connect different company departments to work together as a team is truly unique and remarkable. She also has a laser focus that allows her team to achieve goal after goal. Vanesa learns like a sponge and can then take new concepts and ensure to spread them through the organization. Most importantly to the company culture, Vanesa motivates her team members and coaches them to be more than they previously believed they could be in their roles.

Vanesa learned from her young age - as the only female executive in a purely male environment - how important it is to create a strong mindset and have self-confidence in everything she does. “That mindset helps me to support, mentor, and encourage other women to share/show the best of them to the world in every circumstance and use that same self-confidence as a tool to enable others to be inspired and lead with the same example,” says the steadfast leader for whom the focus has always been on people. “Listen by being present and communicating with clarity. Show compassion in every circumstance, empower them to develop their self-confidence, support them during hard times but push them to work out of their comfort zone; let them feel that you have their back, so they do the same with their teams. The feeling of knowing that no matter how good or bad the outcome will be while having your leader's support is invaluable.”

According to her, creating an environment of respect opens the door to collaboration. Building trust through small and big gestures, recognizing, and celebrating accomplishments– big or small is essential for a leader. “Give them the tools they need, the guidance they ask for, the recognition they deserve, challenge them to new adventures, always listen and make them feel trusted, the sky is the limit, and it’s all about the WHO,” explains Vanesa. “The work-life balance that our digitalization investment will give to our people is one of my biggest achievements. The fact that people want to stay at VFF because they love what they do, because they are trusted, and they feel accomplished, is what makes me feel successful - and of course, the results of that are in our bottom line.”

Vanesa is an ardent reader, which opens her mind and soul. “I learn about technology, leadership, spirituality, strategy, psychology, science, communication, astrology, business, culture, HR, Process Improvement, Six Sigma, Engineering, Digitalization, Finance, etc. I'm an inquisitive person!” She enjoys serving as an Executive Board Member of the Broward College Foundation, which provides financial support to students who want to change their lives through higher education, but don't have the resources to go to college. During weekends she spends time with her family.

“My future will be only success and happiness – with hard work. We have the best team and the most incredible culture. We are the only supplier that will work under a fully integrated Digital Platform. We have learned to adapt and adopt the new normal faster than any other company,” elucidates Vanesa when discussing what is in store for the days to come. “We have been ahead of the game in creating value to our customers and continue to focus on "impacting the happiness of others," which is our company mission. We have kept our financial position very solid throughout this process and the last 18 months of this pandemic environment. We are focused now on R2P (Revenue To Profit) conversion and providing the best-in-class products and services to our customers.” WL