Subriana McFadden Pierce

Subriana McFadden Pierce 
Senior Vice President, Sales and Merchandising
SuperValu Inc., Fullerton, Calif.

One of few African-American women working in a male-dominated arena, Subriana McFadden Pierce has enjoyed a rewarding marketing and sales career in the food industry. “I always knew my stuff. I would never let anyone say I was in a role because I was an African-American female. I would quickly try to get it across that I brought along a strong background,” she explains.

Pierce started as a category manager at Jewel Food Stores. She moved on to such industry giants as Campbell Soup Co., PepsiCo and Frito-Lay Inc. before landing her current role as senior vice president of sales and merchandising at Albertsons, the Southern California grocery chain part of  the $40 million Supervalu Inc. family. She leads a team of more than 50 people in developing strategies that influence activities in 258 Albertsons stores throughout Southern California and Las Vegas.

Pierce majored in economics at Spelman College, graduating cum laude, and holds a master’s in business administration from the University of Chicago. The desire to coach and be of service to others has played a big part in the career of this wife and mother of six, who holds a U.S. patent for one of her shelving designs. This desire to mentor was instilled in her by her parents while she was growing up in Jackson, Miss., and cultivated at Spelman College. She says, however, that none of her accomplishments would have happened without the support of her husband of 20 years. 

Pierce’s work with inner-city high schools in Dallas led her to establish a “Résumé Writing and Interviewing” scholarship program, now in its seventh year.  A founding member and former chairperson of PepsiCo Women of Color, she has also been an active committee leader and former chair of the Network of Executive Women, Southern California and Dallas chapters.