Courtney Panther | Sleep Number Corporation

For me, sustainability has always started with people. It’s this belief that has fueled my journey—from leading teams to driving large-scale organizational change at Sleep Number.

With a degree in chemical engineering and a foundation in people leadership, I joined Sleep Number as the Senior Production Manager, where I launched and led our DFW Assembly and Distribution Center. In April 2023, I stepped into a new role as Material Recovery Manager—a position created to lead our efforts in product recovery and material circularity. The goal? To extend the life of our products, support warranty fulfillment, and reduce waste in ways that make both environmental and business sense.

This initiative has been uncharted territory for us, but through cross-functional collaboration and a strong commitment to innovation, we’re already seeing powerful results—improving sustainability outcomes and increasing gross margins.

This work recently earned me a nomination for a WOW Leadership Award, a finalist designation for Sleep Number's 2024 Award of Excellence and a feature in BedTimes Magazine's April Industry Spotlight—but what I’m most proud of is how we’re proving that sustainability isn’t just good for the planet—it’s good for people, and for business, too.

I’m excited to share that journey with you during the conference.