Vanessa Naddaf… A Distinguished Lebanese Role Model in Financial Management and International Trade Exchange

Vanessa Naddaf has seamlessly bridged academic excellence with global professional leadership. Driven by a passion for knowledge and innovation, she has risen to become a shining example of Lebanese women breaking barriers, transcending borders, and establishing a powerful presence at the forefront of the global economy. Today, she stands as a leading name in traditionally male-dominated fields: supply chain management and logistics, technology, and artificial intelligence.

From Beirut to Virginia, Vanessa currently serves as a Finance Manager at Amazon’s HQ2. In her role, she leads strategic initiatives and projects that integrate AI, business transformation, and supply chain optimization. In this interview, we explore how innovation, when fueled by passion and purpose, can drive real impact and help build a more resilient and sustainable future.

Vanessa, tell us about your educational background and your professional journey.

I completed my secondary education at Collège Notre-Dame de Jamhour in Lebanon, then earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a Master’s degree in Finance from the American University of Beirut (AUB) with a focus on Finance and Business Information and Decision Making. Later, I completed my MBA at Pennsylvania State University, concentrating on Finance, Consulting and Supply Chain Management. I’m an active member of the CFA Association of Washington DC and the Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society, an international honor society that recognizes academic excellence in business studies.

My professional journey started in banking as a Senior Business Analyst in financial management at a prominent bank in the MENA region. I then took on the role of Economic Attaché at the Embassy of Lebanon in Canada, where I led bilateral trade relations between Lebanon and Canada and helped Lebanese businesses enter the Canadian market. Currently, I’m a Finance Manager at Amazon’s HQ2 in Virginia, where I focus on cutting-edge projects that combine AI, supply chain management, logistics optimization, and business innovation.

What were the main challenges during your time as an Economic Attaché in Canada?

I started my diplomatic mission in June 2019, during a critical period for Lebanon, as the country was grappling with a severe economic crisis. Not long after, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, further complicating global trade dynamics. Leaning on my background in finance and supply chain management, I developed proactive strategies that support both Lebanese exporters and Canadian importers.

One initiative I’m particularly proud of was launching a series of virtual economic B2B delegations, including a specialized event for Lebanese wine producers, which successfully attracted Canadian importers despite stringent alcohol regulations. I also organized webinars focused on olive oil, manufactured foods, and technology startups.

One of the projects that stood out was “Mouneh Box”—a digital platform designed to introduce Canadian consumers to traditional Lebanese pantry products sourced directly from rural producers, facilitating ordering and fulfillment. I also partnered with government agencies and Canadian distributors and organized webinars educating Lebanese exporters about food and health regulations in North America, ensuring compliance and smoother market entry.

Another major highlight was leading a Lebanese delegation to North America’s number one technology conference “Collision”, further strengthening bilateral cooperation and showcasing Lebanon’s innovation potential.

Where are you today, and what exactly is your role at Amazon?

I am currently a Finance Manager at Amazon’s HQ2, in Virginia, and I’m part of the prestigious Finance Leadership Development Program—a highly selective global initiative that identifies top talent with leadership potential. Only about 30 candidates in the US are selected annually, so it’s an incredible honor to be part of it.

At Amazon’s Grocery Logistics division, I lead strategic initiatives focused on strengthening supply chain resilience, mitigating risks, and optimizing business operations.

How do you contribute to this optimization?

I develop and deploy advanced AI-driven and data analytics systems that enhance operational efficiency and financial transparency, enabling proactive risk management and rapid response to disruptions. These tools evaluate performance, reduce risk, and increase preparedness for unexpected events—whether it’s another pandemic or supply chain disruptions.

Why did you choose to specialize in the food sector?

The grocery sector is one of the most critical and sensitive industries in the U.S. economy. Given my current role, ensuring its sustainability and resilience has become a key objective for me.

Through the initiatives I lead, I help strengthen the food supply chain, improve service quality by preventing risks and potential disruptions, and reduce costs for consumers. It’s about creating smarter systems that deliver value across the board.

How do you evaluate the impact of your work today?

Through the innovative methodologies and new tools, I am developing, I’m making a real and tangible impact in the grocery logistics space. The improvements I implement in grocery logistics don’t just enhance Amazon’s internal processes—they benefit consumers directly through better services, greater stability against potential disruptions and risks, and more competitive pricing.

What are some of the biggest challenges you face in your role?

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic still loom large. The pandemic exposed critical vulnerabilities in global supply chains, threatening food security and economic stability, especially in vital sectors like groceries. Many of these challenges persist today, such as volatile supply and demand trends to shifting customs regulations and transport bottlenecks. These factors drive up costs and risks, requiring businesses to be more agile than ever.

To tackle this, I’m developing AI-powered predictive tools that detect issues before they escalate. These systems regularly collect and analyze data to flag early warning signs, allowing leadership to act swiftly and accurately. Additionally, I improve monthly financial reporting and transform internal processes to boost operational efficiency, enhance strategic decision-making, and reduce costs—ultimately supporting a more resilient food supply chain.

What is your long-term vision for logistics and supply chain management?

I see the future of supply chains as smart, agile, and crisis-ready. The pandemic and recent economic shocks have shown that this field is no longer secondary—it’s now vital to the survival of businesses and nations alike.

What kind of transformation do you believe is needed in this sector?

We need a fundamental shift toward Smart Supply Chains powered by AI, automation, and real-time analytics. This evolution will allow companies to anticipate risks, rather than merely react to them.

Is technology alone enough to drive this transformation?

Not at all. Technology must go hand-in-hand with investing in people. Relying on smart systems is not enough if we don’t have professionals trained to use them strategically. Building human capacity is key to sustainable innovation.

What are your short-term career goals?

My immediate focus is on enhancing supply chain resilience, particularly in the grocery sector. I’m developing solutions that enable companies to respond effectively to disruptions at both local and global scales.

Given the proven success and advantages of the solutions and tools I am implementing here in the US market, I am working to expand these and implement them on a global scale to benefit the whole network.

Any final thoughts?

First, I would like to thank Al Kalima News for featuring me in this interview. I would like to conclude that my work today, at the intersection of AI, business transformation, finance, and logistics, is more than a job for me—it’s a personal commitment to innovation and serving the public good. My commitment goes beyond a single company; I aim to advance resilient, technology-driven supply chains that bolster food security, economic stability, and consumer welfare globally.

I firmly believe that the major challenges we face today—such as ensuring food security, improving efficiency, and reducing financial risks—require smart, scalable technological solutions. I am proud that, in my current role at Amazon, I am actively contributing to building resilient and efficient systems that meet the demands of our rapidly changing world.

Whether through improving food delivery to consumers, promoting sustainability, transparency, or cost reduction, I feel that I am making a tangible difference in people’s daily lives.

Ultimately, my ambition is not only to drive change within a single organization but to make an impact across the entire industrial sector and the global economy through technology, collaboration, and transparency. Finally, by enhancing supply chain resilience and driving innovation in critical sectors like grocery logistics, my work supports the U.S. economy’s stability and its ability to respond to global disruptions—aligning with the national interest in supply chain food security, competitiveness, and technological leadership.