We're In This Together: Alessandra Tassini-Negri's Two-Way Approach

"Transformation isn't just about systems - it's about people. I'm a culture-first leader with 25+ years of global experience, known for building high-performing, inclusive teams that lead with heart and deliver with impact."

Alessandra Tassini-Negri splits her time between her home in New Jersey and her office in New York City. As FanDuel's Vice President of S2P (Source-to-Procure) and T&E (Travel & Expense), she's transforming procurement into a strategic growth engine - fueling innovation, efficiency, and enterprise value beyond savings across gaming, tech, telecom and corporate ecosystems. That means modernizing operations, unlocking data and AI to drive smarter decisions, and creating agile, resilient supply ecosystems that scale with ambition and value in mind.

"Transformation isn't just about systems - it's about people," she explains. "I'm a culture-first leader with 25+ years of global experience, known for building high-performing, inclusive teams that lead with heart and deliver with impact."

Her work sits at the intersection of strategic sourcing, category management, supplier management, operations, inclusion, innovation, and M&A integration, always with a keen lens on business acceleration and long-term sustainability. She shows up whole, with a voice that's unapologetically real, human, and future-forward.

Both Mentor and Mentee

Alessandra joined the Global Gaming Women mentorship program in both roles - as a mentor and as a mentee. "I may have 25+ years in the Procurement game, but I believe leadership is about continuous evolution, and that happens best in the community. I saw the program as an opportunity to both give and receive - sharpening my perspective while helping someone else find theirs."

That willingness to learn while leading reflects her core belief about mentorship. Growth doesn't stop with experience. Leaders who assume they have nothing left to learn stop evolving.

Skipping the Small Talk

What made Alessandra's mentorship relationships feel different: "It was the honesty. We skipped the small talk and went straight into the real stuff - navigating influence, visibility, purpose, and even doubt. There was no pretense, just two women holding space for each other's lives, challenges, and stretch moments."

That depth of conversation creates conditions for real transformation.

The Mirror Moment

One moment during her mentorship stands out. "There was a moment when my mentor reframed something I was wrestling with - and it landed so clearly, it was like holding up a mirror. It shifted how I was viewing a challenge and, honestly, how I was viewing myself."

"That moment reminded me that mentorship is about being seen, challenged, and supported in real time."

Even with 25+ years of experience, having someone reframe your thinking can create clarity you couldn't reach alone.

Curiosity and Courage

The qualities that had the biggest impact on Alessandra were "curiosity and courage." Whether she was mentoring or being mentored, the women she worked with weren't afraid to ask bold questions, rethink assumptions, or challenge the status quo.

"That energy is contagious - and it reignites your own sense of possibility."

Always a Two-Way Street

The mentorship program didn't change how Alessandra sees mentorship because her philosophy has been consistent from the start. "I've always believed mentorship is a two-way street. From day one, I approach every relationship with a 'we're in this together' mindset. It's never been about titles or hierarchy."

Her understanding of how mentorship actually works is clear: "In real mentorship, the roles shift constantly - sometimes you're the guide, sometimes the learner, and often both in the same moment. We all carry experience that can serve someone else, and when you leave space for that kind of mutual exchange, the impact multiplies. It's not about teaching; it's about growing together."

Open-Hearted and Open-Minded

Alessandra's advice to someone thinking about joining the program is to: "Do it. But do it open-hearted and open-minded. Whether you're here to lead, learn, or both - you'll walk away changed. This isn't checkbox development. It's fuel for your journey, and a reminder that we rise higher when we rise together."

Resources That Connect

For women in gaming and tech, Alessandra recommends getting involved with industry events, ERGs, and organizations like GGW (Global Gaming Women), SIG|ORG, CIPS, and other procurement-related communities. The value lies in connection, learning from others in similar fields, and building networks that provide support and perspective.

Growing Together

From New Jersey to New York City, from procurement transformation to mentorship, Alessandra continues demonstrating what "we're in this together" actually looks like. With 25+ years of experience, she still shows up as both mentor and mentee, still learns while teaching.

Her approach challenges the traditional hierarchy of mentorship. She doesn't position herself above mentees, dispensing wisdom from on high. She positions herself alongside them, holding space for honest conversations about influence, visibility, purpose, and doubt, which allows for growing together rather than teaching from a distance.