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NextUp Northwest Arkansas: Chanel Crafford | 3W Magazine

We’re spotlighting some amazing members of NextUp Northwest Arkansas, so check out their inspiring stories and advice!

Chanel Crafford
Shopper Behavior Consulting Director, Walmart Luminate at dunnhumby & member of NextUp Northwest Arkansas

Why is it important to you to be part of NextUp?
NextUp’s purpose, mission and values inspire me. I feel honored to be part of such a powerful community.

What has been your biggest benefit from being part of NextUp?
Connecting with the local community and business leaders as someone who has relocated from South Africa in 2022

What are you looking most forward to with NextUp over the next year?
To be more involved and join as many in-person NextUp events as possible

Best part of your job:
Witnessing how data drives customer first decision making at CPGs and merchants, which delights Walmart shoppers – this is the rewarding factor for me!

First big break:
First manager role in Customer & Shopper Insights in Distell Ltd, a South African alcohol company that is now part of Heineken. I come from a demand planning background, but always had a passion for customer insights.

What changes have you seen within your workplace in regard to empowering women?
Celebrating International Women’s Day with allies in dunnhumby office.

dunnhumby globally & for Walmart team have annual KPIs for increasing women in leadership roles – this is tracked in all business updates and impacts our recruiting.

Continued sponsorship of NextUp with increased presence, memberships and partnership

Advice you’d give to other working women/moms:
Remember to take care of yourself. Sometimes you get so busy taking care of others that you forget that you are important too.

Personal Mantra:
Choose a job that you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.

Best advice you’ve ever received:
Focus on what you can control and learn to let go of what you can’t control.

Best part of your day:
Being able to connect with my team and the overall team face to face in the Bentonville office.

Surprising fact about you:
I’m probably the only one that really enjoys extremely hot summers, loves BBQ & camping!

Do you still seek out mentors or mentees?
Yes, continuous professional and personal development is very important to me.

How do you stay motivated?
Spending time with my family, being outside in the sun as much as possible and exercise.

Thing you’re most proud of:
Being a South African woman promoted to a leadership role after relocating to Bentonville with my husband and two boys.

For more information about NextUp Northwest Arkansas, visit https://www.nextupisnow.org/regions/northwest-arkansas/.