Nicole Smith Ray

About

Creating, Inspiring, and Instituting 360° Sustainability Programs
Sustainability leader with over 20 years of experience advancing sustainability within major brands and leading multi-million-dollar initiatives for Fortune 500 companies. Expert at shaping and executing sustainability strategies that authentically reflect brand values, optimize operations, and create measurable business value. Adept at engaging and mobilizing entire organizations and their value chains to deliver positive, lasting impact.

Empathetic, purpose-driven leader recognized for developing high-performing teams, nurturing individual strengths, and fostering a collaborative culture by breaking down internal silos. Proven ability to align executive vision with operational execution, integrate ESG principles into core business priorities, and inspire cross-functional collaboration toward a more sustainable future.

∞ Purpose-driven leader skilled at translating big-picture sustainability goals into actionable roadmaps, ensuring system-wide alignment and effective day-to-day execution.
∞ Strategic problem solver who leverages innovation, Lean principles, and change management to drive business value, mitigate risk, and deliver measurable positive impact.
∞ Dynamic communicator adept at engaging stakeholders across all organizational levels, building capability, fostering alignment, and inspiring teams to pursue ambitious “moonshot” sustainability objectives.
∞ Recognized subject matter expert in sustainability, circularity, women’s empowerment, water stewardship, sustainable packaging, decarbonization, responsible supply chains, sustainable agriculture, recycling and waste management, and ESG policy and communications.
∞ Brings diverse cross-sector experience spanning consumer goods (food and beverage, apparel, home goods, packaging), retail, technology, hospitality, higher education, chemicals, non-profit, and financial services, enabling innovative, integrated solutions to complex sustainability challenges.