People Who Plan: Gina Jones McPherson on Building S&OP at Starface World

"It's not just numbers. It's collaboration, relationships, and alignment." — Gina Jones McPherson

This week on People Who Plan, Michael sits down with Gina Jones McPherson, Senior Manager of S&OP at Starface World - and the conversation is a masterclass in what modern planning really looks like inside a fast-growing consumer brand.

Gina's story is one so many operators will recognize: She fell into supply chain… took the scenic route through purchasing, inside sales, and procurement… and eventually became the first dedicated planner at a hyper-scaling beauty brand.

In the episode, Gina breaks down:

• Why planning is never "just math". It's cross-functional trust, clear communication, and building alignment across teams. AI can do the calculations - but humans build the relationships that make plans real.
• How Starface World scaled from 5 retailers to 30+…and how complexity explodes when assortment, geographies, and partners multiply overnight.
• The power of process when you're the first planner. Before owning the model, Gina established S&OP rhythms, aligned stakeholders, and built confidence in the system — that's what unlocked trust and transparency.
• Scenario planning in a world of uncertainty. From tariffs to global supply shifts, conditions change weekly. Resilience now means flexible suppliers, clear models, and fast decision-making.

Whether you're a planner, operator, or founder trying to scale your supply chain without losing your mind — Gina's perspective is a breath of fresh air.