Brooke Marynak is a strategic sourcing and supply chain professional with experience in procurement, supplier negotiations, and category management. Through her work at Medtronic and earlier roles in sourcing and retail operations, Brooke Marynak has developed expertise in driving cost savings, managing supplier relationships, and supporting large-scale business initiatives.
Brooke Marynak began her career in retail operations at Simmons Farm in Pennsylvania, where she worked as a Sales Associate from 2015 to 2018. In this role, she processed transactions, managed inventory, and provided customer support while helping increase sales through product knowledge and relationship building.
Between 2021 and 2022, Ms. Marynak served as an Associate Strategic Sourcing Specialist at Medtronic as part of the company’s Supply Management Leadership Development Program. During this rotational program, she gained experience in multiple indirect sourcing categories, including Marketing, Facilities, and Professional Services.
In 2024, she became a Senior Strategic Specialist at Medtronic. In this role, she works extensively with stakeholders within HR, external suppliers, and business systems, including SAP, Ariba Guided Buying, Readsoft, and Microsoft Office tools, to support operational efficiency and strategic decision-making.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
On a typical day, I wake up, have a cup of coffee (or Celsius), and get ready. During the weekdays, I will go into the office. After work, I will either work out or take a walk to get some movement in. Dinners involve either cooking something simple in or going out to eat. On the weekends, I don’t have a set schedule. It usually consists of an Orangetheory class, eating good food, and recharging after a long workweek. I like to try new restaurants with friends, go shopping, and be outside (weather permitting). I keep my days productive by creating to-do lists and reminders on my calendar. Keeping things organized is everything to me and making sure I stay on track.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I am a very action- and task-oriented type of person. When I have a thought-through list, I can get to work. To begin, I will map things out step by step and use that as a guideline to follow. When I can see the vision, it gives me a clear runway to move and motivates me to get things done.
What’s one trend that excites you?
A trend that excites me has to be jean skirts coming back in style. I love denim and wearing a skirt makes me feel more stylish and put together.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
I like to put my noise cancelling AirPods in to drain out the noise. Oftentimes, music isn’t even playing. The noise cancellation allows me to focus on my own thoughts and be super productive, which comes in handy in the office.
What advice would you give your younger self?
I would tell myself to not sweat the small stuff. I have overthought so many interactions and things in life that have not mattered one bit. If I could, I would tell my younger self to not worry so much.
Tell us something you believe that almost nobody agrees with you on.
A hot cup of coffee without half-and-half actually tastes better.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
I always wash my sheets before going on a trip. I love to come back after a vacation to fresh, clean sheets. Also, I clean up and organize everything so the space I come back to is tidy.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
I lean on my faith and say a prayer. It helps ground me and brings a sense of calm.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
Early in my career, I was told to consider breadth versus depth. Breadth as in to develop a wide range of skills and experiences or depth as in to be an expert in one area. I work to create a balance, but ultimately to focus more of my efforts on breadth so I can be a jack-of-all-trades and broaden my knowledge so I can be adaptable wherever my career takes me.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
I wouldn’t necessarily call it a failure, but in my career I have made mistakes and had to learn how to build resilience. I had to exercise new muscles that I’ve never had to use before. I learned that everyone starts somewhere and that the most experienced leaders don’t exist because they were perfect since the beginning. Everyone goes through it.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
Microsoft Copilot helps me with quick answers, rewording emails, and putting all my thoughts together in a cohesive way. It helps me get things done much faster than before.
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?
The best $100 I recently spent was on a Lululemon sweatshirt in Hawaii. It had a design that you could only buy in that store.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
My favorite books are ones you can read on the beach that are super lighthearted and fun. I like ones that are a refreshing break from everyday life.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
I watched The Housemaid. I thought it was entertaining and kept my attention. I didn’t read the book, so I wasn’t anticipating the ending.