Pilar Diana Gonzalez has built a reputation as a leader who brings clarity to complexity, guiding teams through the challenges of modern supply chains with steady insight and purposeful direction. As the sales and operations planning manager at Flora Food Group, formerly Upfield, she oversees business waste, transportation operations, and customer service for the United States market while directing the company’s demand planning efforts. Her role places her at the center of organizational decision-making, and she is known for strengthening cross-functional communication and elevating performance across the business.
Ms. Gonzalez’s educational foundation has played a central role in preparing her for success in a global industry. She earned a Bachelor of Science in International Business from Montclair State University, where she graduated magna cum laude and consistently maintained placement on the dean’s list. Her earlier studies included a diploma in Spanish mastery from Agrupación de Lengua y Cultura Españolas de Nueva York and a diploma from the Cervantes Institute of Spain, which verified her bilingual proficiency. She also completed her secondary education at Kearny High School. These experiences deepened her cultural awareness, sharpened her communication abilities, and fostered the discipline that continues to define her professional approach.
A major milestone in Ms. Gonzalez’s career has been her development and implementation of the sales and operations planning process at Flora Food Group. She designed the framework from the ground up by establishing consistent practices that aligned finance, sales, and supply chain functions. Her leadership fostered an environment where teams could collaborate effectively and adopt shared principles that improved forecasting, budget alignment, and long-term strategy. The success of this initiative led other regions, including those in Latin America, Canada, and AMEA, to seek her guidance as they adapted the model to their own markets.
Before advancing to her leadership role, Ms. Gonzalez was an associate demand planning manager at Upfield. She made significant contributions to product forecasting, inventory optimization, and coordinated planning between sales and supply chain teams. Her bilingual skills facilitated collaboration across regions and ensured consistent communication between markets with varying language proficiency. These strengths positioned her as a key point of contact in international planning discussions.
Earlier in her tenure with Upfield, Ms. Gonzalez held the role of associate supply chain manager. She streamlined logistics, improved operational efficiency, and ensured that products moved seamlessly through the company’s network. Her work emphasized accuracy, timeliness, and an understanding of the operational requirements that sustain a large-scale supply chain.
Ms. Gonzalez began building her expertise at Unilever Food Solutions, where she served as associate planning manager. In this capacity, she supported production scheduling, resource allocation, and the coordination of planning activities to ensure business objectives were met. She later advanced to planning capabilities, where she introduced new tools and methodologies that strengthened decision-making and enhanced planning consistency. Her earliest role as a foods operational excellence and business waste analyst allowed her to contribute to continuous improvement initiatives that shaped her understanding of supply chain fundamentals.
Beyond her professional responsibilities, Ms. Gonzalez has been actively engaged in organizations that promote academic excellence and leadership development. She has been involved with Beta Gamma Sigma, The National Society of Collegiate Scholars, and The National Society of Leadership and Success, reflecting her commitment to growth and service throughout her academic and early professional journey.
Ms. Gonzalez credits her achievements to the support of her family, especially her parents and sister, who encouraged her to pursue education and personal well-being. As the first member of her immigrant family to build a professional career, she draws strength from her heritage and remains committed to honoring the sacrifices made on her behalf. Mentors and leadership teams have also played an important role in shaping her path, offering guidance that strengthened her resilience and broadened her perspective.
Looking ahead, Ms. Gonzalez plans to deepen her expertise in supply chain management and advance into a senior leadership position overseeing broader operations. She also hopes to enter the consulting field, where she can support other organizations in building processes, launching strategic initiatives, and improving collaboration across departments.