Fast 15: Ashley Calderon

Ashley Calderon believes a true leader chooses to serve others over themselves, and “if you put people first, success will always come.”

One of Walmart’s youngest managers in global supply chain strategy and e-commerce operations, she is a leader for product launches across all stores and merchandising functions for 18 countries where the Bentonville-based retailer does business. 

Born in Bellflower, Calif., Calderon grew up in Rogers with immigrant parents from El Salvador. Seeing her mother work hard cleaning houses and her father drive trucks inspired her to pursue her dreams.

She graduated in supply chain management from the University of Arkansas in 2020, completed a graduate program in global business at Harvard Business School, and finished her Master of Business Administration from Western Governors University in 2021.

After graduation she worked for Amazon’s fulfillment center, TUL2, in Tulsa for three years in operations management. She became experienced in optimizing delivery accuracy and shipping and logistics programs in e-commerce supply chains. As one of the youngest managers at Amazon, Calderon helped launch Amazon’s 2.6 million-square-foot U.S. robotic fulfillment facility with more than 3,000 employees and earned the North American Customer Fulfillment Award for delivery accuracy and for the shopping and logistics program.

In 2023, she came to Walmart as a program manager in e-commerce management and was promoted to chief of staff for U.S. e-commerce, where she helped build a long-term strategy for future e-commerce at Walmart. Within the next five years, she plans to be senior director.

As the founder of nonprofit Infinite HERizon, Calderon hopes to “inspire, empower, and connect women in Northwest Arkansas,” elevating women in male-dominated industries and amplifying Latino voices. Through mentorship, advocacy and strategic resources, she is building a network to elevate future leaders. She’s also working on launching a podcast through the nonprofit.

Calderon volunteers with Bentonville’s Active Transportation Advisory Board and speaks on supply chain at the University of Arkansas. She’s active at her church, including translating on mission trips to a children’s orphanage in Guatemala. 

In her downtime, Calderon challenges herself to try things that make her uncomfortable, including a Bachata dance class. She enjoys fitness, biking, board games, Legos, and time with friends and family.