Fuelled by Ambition....Jessica Thorne
We caught up with one of our incredible 2025 One To Watch winners Jessica Thorne, Manager, Digital Enablement at McDonald's to find out how she feels after winning this award, and to get to know more about her career journey and ambitions for the food industry. As part of our campaign 'Fuelled by Ambition' we're sharing the stories of our community and asking them to define ambition in their own terms, as well as give us as insights into their career journeys so far.
Firstly how does it feel to have won the One to Watch award 2025?
I feel incredibly proud. Anyone who knows me knows how passionate I am about my own professional development, and about championing women’s development at McDonald’s and amongst our supplier network, so being recognised for the impact of my hard work is a touching reminder of the energy I’ve put in to my journey so far.
Please share your current role with us and tell us more about your career journey so far
I have recently moved into a new role at McDonald’s, moving from the UK & Ireland market into our Global team. I’m now focused on digitising our supply chain, and making sure all of our market teams around the world benefit from the massive amounts of data that flows through our supply chain systems every day.
My journey into the food industry has been somewhat unconventional… I did a Master’s degree in Psychology, before taking a gap year as a flight attendant so that I could travel the world (and be paid for it!).
After 2 years of living out of a suitcase, I landed an entry level job in British Airways head office as a data analyst. This role worked closely with the onboard product supply chain team, supplying everything from champagne to first aid kits. This gave me my first exposure into the world of supply chain, and I absolutely fell in love with it! I’d never given much thought to the raw materials, manufacturing and transport behind all of our products before that point. I spent the next few years growing my knowledge and skills in a few different roles across supply chain from sustainability, to change management and strategy.
In 2023, I decided to switch to a different organisation, to understand how a supply chain in a different industry might work.
That’s when I joined the food sector! Since 2023, I’ve worked for McDonald’s, in the UK & Ireland market overseeing inventory planning, warehousing and distribution, along with our supply chain digital transformation programme. I’m now stepping further into the world of ‘digital’ in my new Global role, partnering with a few of McDonald’s biggest markets and leading the digitisation of our Sales & Operations Planning process.
What would you say your top strength or superpower is and how has it helped you in your role?
My ability to distil complex problems into simple messages. This helps me build relationships and influence with cross-functional stakeholders, who may not have a good understanding of complex, multitiered supply chains.
Tell us about one of the biggest challenges to date in you career and one key learning you took from it?
Moving to a new company was definitely a big shock to the system. I underestimated how much I relied on the network I’d built up over 9 years at the same company. I felt like I was learning everything from scratch when I joined the food sector, and I didn’t have any well-established relationships with colleagues around me to ask for help. But I’m very resilient, so I took it one step at a time and it taught me to have more confidence in my relationship building skills - a couple of years later, I have built an incredible network at McDonald’s and in the wider food sector.
Who do you look to as a role model and why?
Too many to choose from! I’ve worked with some amazing senior women at McDonald’s - Beth Hart and Laura Henderson in the UK & Ireland team, Alison Gilham and Sarah Carter who sponsor our Women’s Network at McDonald’s, and now Kim Yaman who heads up Digital Transformation in my new team, to name just a few.
Even those outside of McDonald’s that I come across only briefly at industry events like the MBW annual conference are so inspiring. When women speak openly and authentically about their journeys, and it totally normalises my challenges and builds my own confidence.
Our campaign this year is called ‘Fuelled By Ambition’ where we'll celebrate everyone's ambitions, no matter how big or small they are. What does ambition look like to you?
My ambition looks like… My relentless drive for continuous learning and growth. I have some ideas about leadership positions I’d like to get into, but I’m also realistic and pragmatic about where I still need to develop my skills. But as long as I keep learning, I’m confident that I will fulfil my ambitions.
What would an ambitious future for the meat industry look like?
Being cited as a leading industry that has turned the corner on inclusion, and is now reaping the innovation and resiliency benefits of a diverse workforce. I would love to see food production organisations integrating top-down inclusion strategies which drive systemic change, with bottom-up workplace culture initiatives which more immediately affect employee experiences. If we can embed these practices into our industry’s DNA, we’ll sustain our efforts across generational changes – and that’s when I’ll know we’ve truly made it as an inclusive industry!
Quickfire questions...
What’s your favourite cuisine?
I’m a real foodie, so it’s hard to choose, but probably Italian. Pizza or risotto are my top comfort foods!
Favourite pastime or hobby?
Anything outdoorsy and active; I love trail running, hiking, horse riding, skiing, surfing, and am currently learning to sail (it’s my dream to charter a yacht around the Greek islands one day)
If you had to pick your soundtrack song to get you through the working day, what would it be?
I’m a millennial, so it’s got to be a bit of 90s RnB!
Favourite holiday destination?
Cape Town for the beautiful scenery, and incredible food and wine
