The Financial Architect Behind Robotics at Scale

How do you measure progress in warehouse automation? Throughput and accuracy matter. So do safer, more productive workplaces. But the real test is whether deployments move the business forward, scale without friction, and create lasting value for customers and their employees. That is where Sandra Kazee, Ambi Robotics’ VP of Finance, has built her reputation. This week she was named a 2025 Women in Supply Chain Award winner by Supply & Demand Chain Executive, her second consecutive recognition as a Trailblazer in the industry.

Finance-as-a-Strategy

Robotics is often described as an engineering challenge. Scaling systems across the nation, though, requires financial design as much as technical expertise. Sandra has been at the center of that effort.

She developed Ambi’s Robots-as-a-Service model, shifting automation from a heavy capital purchase to a subscription model that grows with demand. For operators, that means faster access to tools that keep their facilities competitive. For Ambi, it provides recurring revenue that expands in step with adoption.

She also restructured inventory management and launched an onsite and on-demand spare parts program to keep systems running round-the-clock. Work like this rarely makes headlines, but it’s what gives large-scale deployments staying power. 

Next-Generation Tech, Next-Generation Leaders

Sandra’s influence extends well beyond finance. She mentors young engineers, guides Women in STEM panels at UC Berkeley, and founded the Hispanic LatinX Resource Group at Walmart to expand opportunities for underrepresented employees.

At Ambi, this reflects a larger principle: technology advances only when paired with principled leadership.

Recognition That Resonates

“For those who work closely with Sandra, this repeated recognition should come as no surprise,” said Jim Liefer, CEO of Ambi Robotics. “Her leadership and strategic mindset make her a true warehouse automation powerhouse here and across the industry. We could not be prouder to have her on our team.”

Two years of national recognition underscore more than personal achievement. They highlight Ambi’s ability to match financial discipline with technical innovation, building a company designed for resilience as much as growth.

Looking Ahead

Sandra will be honored at the Women in Supply Chain Forum, Nov. 18–20 in Clearwater Beach, Florida. Full list of winners.

At Ambi, we often talk about AmbiOS, our dexterous robots, and our ability to empower people to handle more. None of that scales without leaders like Sandra Kazee. Her work shows how financial architecture can be as inventive, and as vital, as the technology it supports.