U.S.-based business leader Natalie Shpiegel is calling on professionals across the United States to expand beyond traditional job roles and build cross-functional skills that strengthen companies and careers.
SCOTTSDALE, AZ / ACCESS Newswire / May 14, 2026 / Natalie Shpiegel, Director of Sales and Marketing at RIGID Industries, is raising awareness about the importance of cross-functional thinking in today’s rapidly evolving workplace. Drawing from a career that spans marketing, operations, and program management across several industries, Shpiegel believes professionals who understand how different parts of a business connect will be better positioned to lead and create long-term impact.
“Sales, marketing, and operations can’t operate in silos anymore,” Shpiegel said. “If those teams are not aligned, growth becomes harder than it needs to be.”
Shpiegel’s perspective reflects a growing trend in modern organizations. According to research from McKinsey & Company, companies that encourage cross-functional collaboration can improve productivity by up to 25 percent. Meanwhile, a Deloitte survey found that 83 percent of executives believe siloed structures limit innovation and slow down growth.
Shpiegel’s own career highlights the value of building experience across different functions. She began in brand marketing at Miller Coors, working on the Blue Moon brand and helping launch Saint Archer Gold. She later transitioned into program management at Redfin, where she focused on large-scale projects and operational coordination. From there, she joined Carvana as Associate Director in Market Operations and the Last Mile Division, working on the systems and teams that support customer delivery experiences.
“Marketing teaches you how to create demand,” Shpiegel said. “Operations teaches you how to deliver on that promise. You need both.”
Industry experts agree that this combination is increasingly important. Harvard Business Review reports that organizations with strong cross-department collaboration are 1.5 times more likely to achieve above-average financial performance. Yet many professionals still spend most of their careers within a single department.
Shpiegel believes developing a broader view of business starts with curiosity.
“I like walking into industries I don’t know well,” she said. “You ask better questions when you’re not stuck in old assumptions.”
Her ability to adapt quickly began long before her career. Born in Israel, Shpiegel spent much of her childhood moving internationally due to her father’s work with Motorola. She lived in Toulouse, France; Scottsdale, Arizona; Austin, Texas; Seoul, South Korea; and Beijing, China before returning to Israel as a teenager.
“When you grow up changing countries every couple of years, you learn how to read a room quickly,” she said. “You listen first, understand the environment, and then figure out how to contribute.”
Today’s workforce faces similar levels of change. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average worker changes jobs about 12 times during their career, often across different industries.
“Learning new industries quickly is a skill,” Shpiegel said. “The more parts of a business you understand, the more value you can create.”
Rather than waiting for companies to redesign roles, Shpiegel encourages professionals to take action on their own.
“Don’t wait for someone to give you a cross-functional role,” she said. “Volunteer for projects outside your comfort zone. Ask how decisions in your department affect other teams.”
She recommends several simple steps professionals can start with:
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Attend meetings outside your department
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Ask colleagues in other teams how their work connects to yours
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Learn how your company generates revenue and delivers value to customers
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Look for opportunities to work on cross-team initiatives
“Understanding the full system makes you a better leader,” Shpiegel said. “It changes how you approach problems and decisions.”
As organizations continue to navigate technological change and shifting market demands, Shpiegel believes the ability to think across functions will become even more important.
“At the end of the day, it’s about impact,” she said. “Are you helping the business grow? Are you building something that lasts?”
Call to Action
Professionals who want to strengthen their careers can start by expanding their perspective. Reach out to colleagues in other departments, volunteer for projects that involve multiple teams, and take time to learn how different parts of your organization work together. Small steps toward broader understanding can create stronger leaders and more resilient businesses.
To read the full interview, visit the website here.
About Natalie Shpiegel
Natalie Shpiegel is a United States-based business leader and the Director of Sales and Marketing at RIGID Industries. Born in Israel and raised across multiple countries including France, the United States, South Korea, and China, she developed a global perspective early in life. She holds a BA in Economics and Business Management from Tel Aviv University and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. Her career spans brand marketing at Miller Coors, program management at Redfin, market operations leadership at Carvana, and growth strategy at RIGID Industries. She is known for her cross-functional approach to leadership and her focus on connecting strategy with execution.
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SOURCE: Natalie Shpiegel
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