Learnings from Leaders: the P&G Alumni Podcast

“ 'Yes, and...' is a kind of courage. Only failure allows us to begin again more intelligently.”

Emily Chang is a seasoned marketer with 20+ years of experience across the US and China. She’s currently the CEO of Wunderman Thompson West, and was previously the CEO of McCann Worldgroup China. Emily served as Starbucks SVP of Marketing, and earlier as CMO of Starbucks China. She was the Chief Commercial Officer at Intercontinental Hotels Group, and Apple’s head of Asia retail marketing. Emily got her start at P&G, spending 11 years working across multiple business units. Emily’s spoken at conferences around the world - including Fortune Most Powerful Women’s Summit, C2 in Montréal, and has delivered three TEDx talks. Emily’s also the author of the book “The Spare Room: Define Your Social Legacy to Live a More Intentional Life and Lead with Authentic Purpose.”  Emily lives with her husband and daughter, and over the years, has shared her spare room with sixteen young people, five dogs, one turtle, one guinea pig, and 129 snails. You can learn more about Emily’s work at social-legacy.com. In our candid conversation, Emily shares how her immigrant upbringing, curiosity and willingness to take risks has led her professional career, and personal purpose. 

This episode originally aired in March 2021

Shankar Vishwanathan was P&G’s SVP e-Business leader for Asia Pacific Middle East & Africa — a 32 veteran of the company starting in India as Account Manager, and a career ranging brands/categories across  India, USA, Russia, Vietnam, Singapore, and the Philippines. For Shankar, leadership starts with people — he believes in the power of relationships to unleash the best in others. Shankar is also a practitioner of yoga and mindfulness and is a trainer instructor in both. A proud husband and father, Shankar is very involved in philanthropy, having led the Force for Good program in Singapore, started a school for orphans in Vietnam and helped educate children through direct support and coaching. You’ll enjoy this candid, vulnerable conversation from an accomplished international leader

“When you unlock an insight with curiosity, the power to drive limitless growth is huge. We as leaders can make a big difference with the questions we ask.” 

Shailesh Jejurikar is P&G’s Chief Operating Officer, where he has profit/loss responsibility for P&G’s Enterprise Markets - Latin America, India, Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe - and leads Information Technology, Global Business Services, Sales, Market Operations, Purchasing, Manufacturing, Distribution and New Business for the company. Previously, Shailesh was the Chief Executive Officer of  P&G’S largest business sector, Fabric & Home Care, which includes many of P&G’s most-iconic brands: Tide, Ariel, Downy, Gain, Febreze, Swiffer—and represents about one-third of total company sales and net earnings. From 2016 to 2021, Shailesh served as executive sponsor for global sustainability, enabling P&G’s “force for growth and a force for good” vision and ensuring the company’s sustainability goals are fully integrated into the day-to-day business to enable—and to inspire—positive impact on the environment and society while creating value for the company, consumers and shareholders. Shailesh’s extensive P&G career has spanned 30+ years - across multiple businesses (Health & Beauty Care, Home Care, Fabric Care and P&G Professional) in both developed and developing regions - including North America, Europe, Asia and Africa) - getting his start in his home country in India. Shailesh is known for his unique ability to identify growth possibilities, having consistently delivered strong business results in every market and on every business. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation on curiosity, seeing around corners, and learning to learn.

"A brand grows in the centuries balancing between heritage and modernity - to stay modern, to stay relevant. Leadership also requires this balance.” 

Daniela Riccardi is a proven CEO - with extensive experience operating businesses and brands in the international consumer and retail industry. She's currently the CEO of Moleskine, and has also led as CEO at iconic luxury and fashion brands like Baccarat and Diesel.  Daniela got her career start over 25  years at Procter & Gamble, where she held numerous senior roles including Vice President in Colombia, Mexico, and Venezuela. From 2001 to 2004, she worked as Vice President and General Manager for Eastern Europe and Russia, based in Moscow. From 2005 to 2010, she was President of Procter & Gamble Greater China. 

Daniela has also served as a member of the board of WPP, the largest agency holding company, the French Luxury goods company and of Comite Colbert, an association of French Luxury Brands and cultural institutions. Daniela Riccardi graduated Magna cum Laude from the University of Rome - La Sapienza (Italy) and holds a degree in Political Science and International Studies. Prior to that, she completed professional studies in classic and modern dance at the National Dance Academy in Rome. She speaks fluent French, English, Spanish and Italian. You’ll enjoy this candid talk on leadership, heritage & modernity from the 2019 P&G Alumni Global Conference in Madrid.

“AI gets back to how do I make decisions easier? Giving the right data to the right people at the right time — not perfect by any means, but it’s a powerful notion.”

Franz Dill is a retired P&G Technologist and independent consultant in AI and analytics. We wanted to tap into Franz’s experience and expertise in technology to talk about Artificial Intelligence (AI) - a topic that issuddenly, everything, everywhere, all at once. Franz worked at P&G for 30+ years, where where he served as a Chief Scientist for analytics and as an emergent technologist. He founded P&G groundbreaking contextual innovation centers, established the company's Web 2.0 capabilities, wrote one of the most read blogs in the organization and was also a member of the Cognitive Alliance Analysis Council. Since retiring in 2008, Franz has remained an active consultant in Business Intelligence and Marketing, Retail Innovation, AI, and Business Process Improvement. Franz has also consulted with groups like GE Aviation and as an adjunct professor at Columbia University. Franz has a degree in astrophysics from the University of Pennsylvania, and a Master's in Industrial Mathematics from the University of Florida. With the rapid advancements in AI changing every day, things discussed in this March 2023 conversation may already have moved - but there’s a lot of fundamentals in this candid conversation that make sense.

“When people learn and feel valued, they want to make a difference and help each other. And when that comes alive, amazing things happen.”

Jon Moeller is P&G’s current CEO & Chairman. Jon has been an integral part of P&G's leadership team for over two decades, developing strategies that P&G people are executing with excellence to drive the company’s growth today. Prior to becoming CEO, Jon served as P&G’s Chief Operating Officer for six years, and also held the role of P&G’s Chief Financial Officer for more than twelve years Since joining P&G in 1988 as a cost analyst, Jon has held various senior leadership roles in categories, sectors and regions, including assignments in China, as the company’s Treasurer, Global Beauty, Health, Feminine Care Finance Senior VP, and Corporate Forecasting & Analysis. Jon is active in the business, civic and cultural leadership of Greater Cincinnati, serving in an advisory role on local Boards and is a Trustee Emeritus and Former Chairman of the Cincinnati Art Museum Board of Trustees. In this P&G Alumni Enrichment webinar conversation on meeting the moment - Jon talks about Jon talks about the journey that P&G has been on recent years - and looks ahead to the future. 

“The most important part of humor in the workplace isn't the humor — it's the outcome, which is it’s fun.

Bracken Darrell is President & CEO of Logitech - where for more than a decade he’s been the driver for Logitech’s continued growth and profitability. Prior to joining Logitech, Bracken spent a decade in executive roles @ Whirlpool, Braun, and General Electric - and also worked in brand management at P&G. Prior to receiving his MBA from Harvard, Bracken worked at Arthur Anderson and PepsiCo.

Bracken’s a longtime “Friend of the Pod” - so we wanted to feature another chat he had with our favorite Humor Engineer and Co-host Andrew Tarvin, in one of Drew’s ”Humor Talks.” You’ll enjoy hearing Bracken share his recognition in the power of humor for creating a fun workplace. Now more than ever, it’s important  to be able to be your authentic self at work, and for so many people, that includes humor. But Bracken knows that humor at work doesn’t have to mean telling jokes (he doesn’t think he’s a particularly funny person) - he’s more in the moment, improvising or reacting quickly to what is said - a great mindset to building humor. This conversation may also stories about Jack Welch, and the naming of a cat in this candid conversation that no surprise, is a fun one.

“If you don't have a room of people that can reflect your ideas, then you don't know how they'll play out in the real world — you need a sounding board.”

Misha Euceph is a Pakistani-American writer, podcast host, and producer - Misha also happens to be Founder & CEO of Dustlight Productions, the critically acclaimed podcast studio that has created podcasts with Spotify, Bruce Springsteen, Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Rolling Stone, REI, Subaru and many more. She’s also the creator and host of the podcast "Tell Them, I Am" - a series about the small defining moments in our lives— where the voices are all Muslim, but the stories are universal. The NY Times, LA Times, TIME, The Atlantic, Esquire, Cosmopolitan, and Huffington Post, have named it among their best podcasts. Misha is also frequently featured in The Wall Street Journal, IGTV, and McSweeney’s. Misha and Dustlight want to make mission-driven podcasts for and with awesome people — but they also train those who want to push the boundaries of audio and tell beautiful stories.

Misha got her Master’s in Journalism at Northwestern University, has taught as an adjunct professor at USC Annenberg and the Transom Radio Workshop. Misha started work in podcasting in 2017, at the dawn of the podcasting era in 2017, and has quickly become an important voice for today's times, speaking on storytelling, identity, and ethical entrepreneurship. In a word, Misha is podcast.

This insightful and entertaining conversation on identity and belonging comes from P&G Alumni Co-host Rajiv Satyal’s  talk show "What Do You Bring To The Table" — where Rajiv spotlights prominent South Asian voices. Rajiv has spoken with Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, Comedian Hasan Minhaj, author Deepak Chopra, influencer Lilly Singh, journalist Manu Raju, TV personality Tan France, Dr. Sanjay Gupta and many more. You can SEE lots more of Rajiv's video conversations at WatchRajiv.com.

“Be intellectually honest in any decision - otherwise you only see the answer that you want to see.”

Charlotte Otto served as P&G’s Global External Relations Officer for thirteen years, and later as Senior Corporate Advisor to PR industry leader Weber Shandwick for six years. At P&G - Charlotte led the company's external relations activities worldwide -  including media relations, employee + shareholder communications, government +community relations, and corporate contributions. Charlotte led a 33 year career at P&G, rising through the ranks of Brand Management and Corporate Comms, and was the trusted counselor to five P&G CEOs. In fact, Charlotte was P&G’s first female corporate officer. Charlotte has received numerous industry accolades - including being named Woman of the Year AND Corporate Woman of the Year by the Cincinnati Enquirer, as well as receiving the Matrix Award for Public Relations, and the prestigious Paladin award. Charlotte’s a proud Purdue Alum, where she received her Bachelors and Masters — and she even studied at the Culinary Institute of America. In a great conversation about intention - and serendipity - you’ll learn about the power of embracing a path never imagined, and removing our own blinders to be truly intellectually honest and objective about whatever situations we may face.

This episode originally aired in April 2021

Bob Gilbreath is a longtime friend of the pod, and a career friend and mentor to many. He is also a 2x-exit entrepreneur and co-founder of Hearty, a curated matchmaking service that combines top software developers with early-stage, venture-backed startups. He recently wrote a post entitled "Thinking of a Career Change? Try the Minimum First" - so we decided to sit down with him to learn more..

You can read more of Bob's writings @ behearty.substack.com

“Outsiders bring fresh thinking to the table. Some of my biggest contributions were because I thought differently and spoke my own mind all the time.”

Peg Wyant is the Founder & CEO of Grandin Properties. But before that, Peg broke the glass ceiling at Procter & Gamble in 1967 - a decade before the phrase entered the lexicon. When the company tried to put her in the typing pool, she responded with “all I can do is think, don’t you have a test for that.” She rose through the ranks, becoming a serial “first female” including first brand manager and first direct report to then CEO John Smale as head of strategic planning and acquisitions. After leaving P&G to become an almost full-time mom, Peg sought other challenges — consulting for Fortune 500 CEOs, and founding a venture capital fund focused on women-led companies. Peg soon launched Grandin Properties, a real estate development and management company focusing on walkable urban neighborhoods in Cincinnati. Beyond her career, Peg helped found the P&G Alumni Network and the Women’s Capital Club. Peg’s new book is called One Red Shoe: The Story of Corporate America’s First Woman. Alongside her husband Jack, Peg has four children and nine grandchildren. You’ll enjoy this insightful conversation about what it takes to persevere when the odds may be against you, to challenge the status quo, outperform, and break through boundaries.

This episode originally aired in November 2021

“The words follow the action. Make sure you're doing the work - making the impact so when you make a statement, it's from the overflow of what you're already doing.”

Susan Baba Oguche is the Cleveland Cavaliers EVP and Chief Communication Officer. For nearly two decades she has had the honor of leading communications and PR fo rsome of the world’s most beloved companies and brands. Previously Susan served as a Communications Director at Nike for three years. She also served in senior comms roles at Sleep Number Corporation, Home Chef, and Abbott. Susan got her start over eleven years at P&G in Communications working on brands like Gillette and Braun, as well as across Skincare and Homecare brands. Susan is driven by a creative curiosity and a journalist’s heart for the story beneath the surface, helping companies identify and connect with their missions, navigate moments of crisis, and inspire the world with their unique story. Hailing from Nigeria as a child, Susan moved across major cities with her university professor parents and got her start at P&G through a youth organization called INRoads.org . Susan now returns to Ohio with her husband and two daughters. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation about speaking authentically, where your words have to follow your actions.

"Some have to carry more weight than others - everybody's got to do their part to try to lighten their load."

Linda Clement-Holmes served as P&G’s Chief Diversity Officer AND P&G’s Chief Information Officer - significantly elevating the company’s efforts and standing in the space of Diversity & Inclusion. Starting as a systems analyst in 1983, Linda has led a global career as an “executive of firsts” - the first Black female Senior VP, and later President. Linda’s been named one of Computerworld’s Premier 100 IT Leaders, Black Enterprise magazine’s Top Executives, and Working Mother’s “Working Mothers of the Year,” among many other honors. Linda is an active active Board leader among many business and community organizations, is a graduate of Purdue University, and a proud mother of two accomplished sons

In a candid conversation about authenticity and courage, Linda speaks about her personal - and professional - experiences in race, and comments on the unique moment we face today. Linda shares how she works everyday to lighten the load of others, and gets everyone to do their part.

This episode originally aired in August 2020

"People are willing to risk a lot to show their support for our freedoms."

Ed Rigaud was the Founder & CEO of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, which pays tribute to all efforts to abolish human enslavement and secure freedom for all people. At Procter & Gamble, Ed was P&G’s second-ever Black Vice President - spanning a 36-year career at the company in 1965 - during which he was the R&D Technical Brand Manager who helped create Pringles. Ed was later the first Black co-owner + lead investor of the Cincinnati Reds, as well as CEO of EnovaPremier, and CEO of Legacy Acquisition. Ed has served on numerous company boards, has received appointments from the Governor of Ohio, and a sitting US President. He’s a husband, father, grandfather, accomplished artist and guitar player.

In this candid conversation on race, work, and life - Ed shares his thoughts as a black man growing up in Louisiana, rising through the ranks of corporate America, and the current climate. Ed believes that his  number one mission is to help those who have been consistently under-represented to achieve higher levels of freedom…especially in the areas of education, economic empowerment, and inclusion.

This episode originally aired in August 2020

“If what is meaningful and important to me takes me off track - then it probably wasn't my track anyway.”

Anne Sempowski Ward is CEO & Board Director at CURiO Brands, a consumer goods company that manufactures and sells personal care and home fragrance products. Prior to CURiO Brands, Anne served as CEO at Thymes from 2012 to 2016 when it merged with DPM Fragrance to become CURiO Brands. Anne was previously CEO and Co-founder of consulting firm The FORWARD Group, focused on growth strategies for mid-sized companies and key executives. Anne was also President and COO of Ebony, Jet & Fashion Fair Cosmetics, Johnson Publishing Company. Ann also served as Assistant Vice President of African-American Marketing for the Coca-Cola Company, and she got her start at P&G, where she rose through the ranks from plant engineer in FemCare to Associate Marketing Director in P&G Beauty integrating Clairol, helping reinvigorate brands like Herbal Essences and scaling multicultural marketing.

An active member of civic and business communities, Anne has been recognized as a YMCA Black Achiever, YWCA Rising Star, Top Black Executive in a Major Corporation as well as a Woman at the Top by EBONY magazine. She was also the youngest and first African-American trustee on the P&G Fund. Anne is a Detroit native and received her Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science from Duke University. She also earned a Global MBA degree from Duke University's School of Business. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation about finding your voice, evolving one’s communication style for effective leadership and taking people on a journey with you.

“Faith should bring us together and not drive us apart. And we will all have differences in what we believe, but it should never be the thing in the workplace that drives us apart.”

Kirk Perry is CEO of IRI Worldwide - and among our first / favorite guests (his threepeat!), returning for another learnings “deep dive” - where we go deeper on a topic folks are passionate about. For Kirk, that topic is his faith. In this authentic, vulnerable and revealing conversation - you’ll hear of the grounded humility of Kirk’s faith, and how it permeates into the leader he chooses to be.

Kirk Perry is CEO of IRI Worldwide, a company that deals in big data analytics and insights that power, action, and growth. Previously Kirk served at Google for eight years as the Global President of brand Solutions. Prior to joining Google Kirk was at P&G for 23 years - in various roles across marketing and general management - including President of Global Family Care, and six years in Asia with assignments in South Korea and Japan. Kirk serves on the boards of The J.M. Smucker Company and Chick-fil-A, having previously served on the board of e.l.f. Cosmetics. Growing up from humble beginnings, Kirk and his family are also very active in giving back. Kirk is a member of the Cincinnati Innovation District Advisory Council, and has been active with many nonprofit organizations, including board affiliations with The Ronald McDonald House, The CityLink Foundation, City Team, The United Way Campaign Cabinet, March of Dimes (national and regional), the University of Cincinnati Foundation, and the University of Cincinnati's Bicentennial Commission. Kirk has also coached youth sports for more than 20 years. He and his wife, Jacki, have been married for more than 30 years and have four beautiful children.

In this ranging conversation between Kirk and co-host Rajiv Satyal, you’ll appreciate the value of how two people from different faiths and backgrounds can find common ground in their similarities and differences.

“It's consumption media, not social media. A lot of people are struggling with this, and a lot more are going to. And I would like to be part of the solution.”

James Veraldi is the CEO & Co-founder of Loop.co — a company focused on Improving the world’s social and mental health. So many of us - including the people we love and work with - have had experience with mental health - and solving these challenges aligns with "touching lives, improving life." As an accomplished entrepreneur, James’ work embodies the very purpose, values, and principle driven approach to work so many of us P&G’ers hold true. Mental and social health is especially a challenge for the younger millennial and Gen Z workforce today - which has a potentially massive impact on performance, productivity, and overall engagement and retention.  If you’re a manager of people - an exec or HR stakeholder - you can learn more and sign up for a free 30-day trial for you and some of your colleagues — just visit Loop.co/work.

James began this recent chapter while serving as an Entrepreneur-In-Residence at GGV Capital.  Prior to that he led product strategy at TikTok, which he joined in early 2017 — prior to its 2018 acquisition and rebranding from ByteDance.  Prior to TikTok, James led content strategy at Snapchat, which followed his work as a founding team member at one of Youtube’s earliest partners Fullscreen, which was acquired by Otter Media in 2014. James worked extensively with P&G, Danone and many other top brands when he co-led a small digital content agency called The ZiZo Group — here his team was on the earliest forefront of branded content marketing. James also had early career experiences at Target, Viacom, and Accenture. He spends a lot of his time in the climate & conservation spaces, where he has done a number of angel investments in climate tech — and founded a popular platform and podcast called Animalia where he leads discussions on a number of climate and conservation solutions. James is a dog lover, beekeeper, and even rehabilitates the occasional squirrel or crow.  You’ll enjoy this candid conversation about a career journey that led to a greater good - building meaningful solutions for the world of social and mental health - and hopefully be inspired on how you can make a difference.

“Imposter syndrome is very real to a lot of people — but it's not representative of what reality really is. There are possibly people who feel exactly the same way you do.”

With a new year comes a desire to get better — so we wanted to share a powerful conversation on tackling imposter syndrome AND the power of coaching. Research shows that 70% of people experience imposter feelings at some point in their career. Recently, this important topic was discussed by several P&G Alumni Coaches: Carol Yang, Heidi Piper, Carol Fusek, and Ilhiana Rojas — all accomplished executives with global career experiences — AND certified coaches from the P&G Alumni Women's Leadership Forum

Carol Yang spent 13 years at P&G, with 23 years of senior corporate experience across Asia Pacific and North America. As a coach, Carol has multiple certifications with a special focus on leadership mindset, behavior shifts, and positive intelligence. Carol is a firm believer that you are most successful when you lead from the core of who you are. Heidi Piper spent 30 years at P&G, across the US, Belgium, and Germany. Currently as a coach, she holds several certifications. Heidi believes we have our own innate wisdom and when we're deeply listened to and really seen, heard and accepted, we can achieve our full potential in work and in life Carol Fusek spent 26 years at P&G — starting in Cincinnati and then across Asia-Pacific in leadership roles, primarily in supply chain. As a coach, she is certified in the neuroscience of leadership and as a certified dementia practitioner. Carol believes that what makes leaders exceptional is their people sense and their ability to connect to the hearts and minds of the organization they lead. Ilhiana Rojas started her career at P&G Mexico, after which she continued her career across different Fortune 500 companies, both in Mexico and in the US. As a coach Ilhiana is focused on leadership development.

Over the new year, we'll share more powerful coaching discussions with P&G Alumni Coaching — coaching.pgalums.com — a recently launched program by the P&G Alumni Women's Leadership Forum. Just as professional athletes have a coach to help them perform at their best, coaching can help you thrive in life. Coaching is for anyone willing to challenge themselves to go after their professional or personal aspirations —  through powerful questioning, exploration, and action planning. P&G Alumni can sign up for their first FREE coaching session @ coaching.pgalums.com. Because unlocking your full potential is a great way to start the new year...

As 2022 comes to a close, we compiled some of the year’s learnings...from leaders. So sit back with your beverage of choice and enjoy. And give us a gift - leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts — hearing from YOU, our fellow Alums makes a big difference for our team as we reflect on the year. THANK YOU for the continued support of our podcast and our amazing guests...

Suzy Deering: Ford Motor Company CMO Claire Elvers, Wayfair’s Head of Global Brand Management & Insights Matthew McConaughey, Academy Award–winning actor and produce Nitin Gajria, Google’s Managing Director for Sub-Saharan Africa Christine Fisher, Possip Co-Founder & COO Marissa Solis, National Football League (NFL) SVP of Global Brand & Consumer Marketing Tristan Walker, Walker & Co, CEO & Co-Founder Sharon Hall, Walmart’s VP of Global Executive Recruiting Seaphes Miller, Founder & CEO of Fusion Integrated Solutions Andrew Tarvin & Raman Sehgal reflecting on 100+ episodes John Pepper & Qaisar Shareef on Understanding Ukraine & Russia Arianna Huffington, Thrive Global Founder & CEO Raj Rao, IBM’s GM for Blockchain Ventures Malcolm Gladwell, Author & Journalist Dian Alyan: GiveLight Foundation Founder & CEO Kevin Hochman, Kentucky Fried Chicken, President, Yum! Brands Ikdeep Singh, Mars Petcare President, North America Qaisar Shareef, P&G’s former head of Pakistan & Ukraine P&G Alumni Comedians: Greg Warren, Josh Sneed, Rajiv Satyal, Andrew Tarvin Mahzarin Banaji, Harvard Psychologist & ‘Blindspot’ Author Mike Shangkuan, Lingoda CEO Gary Vaynerchuk (VaynerX) & Bracken Darrell (Logitech): Masters of Digital Disruption Aftab Pureval, Cincinnati Mayor Kevin Shapiro, Coty SVP of US Marketing Julie Eddleman, DoubleVerify’s Global Chief Commercial Officer Jay Sethi: Diageo Beer Company CMO & SVP of Diageo Convenience Shelly McNamara: P&G’s Chief Equality & Inclusion Officer Guy Raz, NPR Producer & Journalist Jakub Kocinski, Digital Safety & Trust (P&G, Google, TikTok, Meta) Poliana Sousa, Latin America’s Coca-Cola™ Lead Vivek Sunder: Cuemath CEO Katie Couric, TV Journalist, Producer, & Author K Patrick Davis: Blue Buffalo VP & General Manager Ana Maria Henao, PepsiCo’s VP of Global Marketing Excellence  TEDx Talks with P&G Alums: Drew, Ida, & Rajiv John Pepper & Ursula Burns’ (Xerox former CEO) on Race & Understanding Tom Asacker, P&G Trainer & Author  David Youn, Master Lock, President Alonya Tkachenko, Nommi CEO & Co-founder Paul Polman, Unilever xCEO on “Net Positive” Kyle Schlegel, Weber’s VP Americas Marketing & DTC Judy Okten: The Power of Disconnecting Edward Norton - Actor, Director, Activist, Entrepreneur (from P&G’s “More Than Soap” Podcast) Jim Lafferty, Fine Hygienic Holding, CEO JOHN SMALE - John Pepper & David Taylor’s reflections on John Smale Chip Bergh, Levi’s CEO: Advocacy, Activism & John Smale Bob McDonald & Bob Gill’s reflections on John Smale Janet Reid & Gordon Brunner’s reflections on John Smale A.G. Lafley & Charlotte Otto’s reflections on John Smale Oya Canbas, Bayer Global Brand Director Vahe Ayvazian, Abbott Divisional Vice President of Marketing & Core Diagnostics Sudha Ranganathan, LinkedIn’s Director of Product Marketing David Taylor, P&G’s Former CEO & Chairman

“My job as CEO wasn't to be right, it was to see that the right thing gets done. Surround yourself with the people and resources you need to solve things.”

David Taylor served P&G’s Chairman & CEO from 2015 to 2022 - having worked at P&G for more than 40 years. Throughout his career, David held leadership roles within both operations and marketing, managing P&G manufacturing sites, and eventually leading various consumer brands across North America, Europe, and Asia. David reinvigorated P&G's growth during his tenure, returning it to sustainable, balanced growth and value creation by simplifying the company's management structure and empowering business leaders to drive operational excellence in their specific areas of responsibility. David also led the company during the COVID-19 pandemic, achieving both worker safety and supply chain resiliency. goes without saying that David is among one of the great modern CEOs of P&G, steering the company through a trying time, and demonstrating the purpose, values, and principles that continue to make P&G not just the sustaining, successful business we know it to be, but also a culture of some of the best people in the business. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation covering not just the highlights of David’s storied career, but the reflections on his learnings along the way.

“I was not gonna follow rules if they didn't make any sense to me. There's a healthy sense of curiosity and a willingness to challenge the status quo.”

Sudha Ranganathan is LinkedIn’s Director of Product Marketing on the Talent Solutions business — helping employers worldwide hire and develop strong talent in the new world of work. Sudha’s advocacy of consumer-centric marketing comes from a career spanning consumer insights and product marketing. Prior to LinkedIn, Sudha worked at Paypal as Senior Manager, Strategic Customer Insight, as well as at Affinova as VP on Strategic Account Development. Sudha got her start at P&G in Consumer Insights where she spent 7+ years working across Asian markets. Sudha earned her MBA from Indian Institute of Management Bangalore and her Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the University of Mumbai. Sudha has a track record for developing high-performing, psychologically safe teams. As a trained CTI (Co-active Training Institute) coach, Sudha has a passion for unlocking the highest potential within individuals and teams. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation about the importance of emotional intelligence for modern leaders.

“Finding your voice in an organization is not easy. Great leaders gave me a push when I needed the push. So now I need to do the same - giving others their voice.”

Oya Canbas is Global Brand Director and I&D Lead for Bayer Consumer Health — leading Bayer’s biggest nutritional brand, Elevit, globally which has a purpose of giving every baby best start in life. She is also the global lead in Inclusion and Diversity. In her 8 years in Bayer Consumer Health, Oya held two GM roles in UK and Ireland, as well as in Turkey. Prior to Bayer, she established her career at Gillette and then in Procter and Gamble for 18 years in leadership roles across Turkey, the UK and Russia on brands like Pampers, Ariel, Fairy, Always, Head & Shoulders, Gillette and Oral-B. Born in South Africa, raised in Turkey, and now living in the UK, Oya is a is a passionate leader and brand builder — and also a proud mother of two children. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation about being a passionate learner, developing high performing teams, and bringing out the best in people.

“Be curious. Curiosity is the foundation of  success. Understanding where people are coming from helps you to ask the right questions.”

Vahe Ayvazian is Abbott’s Divisional Vice President of Marketing & Core Diagnostics. Having served at Abbott for 8+ years, Vahes work is focused on delivering measurably better healthcare performance through innovation to the healthcare ecosystem. Vahe got his start at P&G, spending twelve years in marketing and category management roles, from Prilosec OTC to Pantene — where in haircare he helped turn around a decade of brand decline through simpler innovation and retailer understanding. Vahe earned his bachelor’s degree in Marketing and International Business at Indiana University, and has received executive certifications from the CMO program and Big Data from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Business. A proud husband and father of two, Vahe is also on the board of a local school district educational foundation in the Chicago suburbs. Always curious, Vahe has grown his career passion for building teams and organizational culture for sustainable growth. Through his early years in sports that greatly shaped his team player attitude to the mentors at P&G that believed in him and demonstrated the importance of listening and being curious, Vahe pays the leadership learning and mentorship forward on the global teams he now leads.

“Democracy works best when every eligible voter has an opportunity to have their voice. American business is built upon having a stable democracy.”

Chip Bergh is President & CEO of Levi Strauss & Company — and a returning podcast guest (2020). Chip spent 28-years at P&G in leadership roles from Folgers to Swiffer, from Asia to Gillette and Old Spice. He got his start in the US Army as a paratrooper, rising to the rank of Captain.

Chip came back on the pod to talk about something he's passionate about: the evolving role of the CEO - going beyond the P&L to advocacy and activism. Chip learned the idea of "the Responsible CEO" from P&G's former CEO John Smale (1981-1990), arguably one of the most influential leaders of the modern era. Chip shares his thoughts from the new book about John Smale “Here Forever: The Timeless Impact of John Smale on Procter & Gamble, General Motors and the Purpose and Practice of Business." Chip also discusses the issues he and Levi's are active in: voter registration, women's rights, ending gun violence and climate change. While many of us have strong beliefs on these topics, the goal of this discussion was not to push an agenda, but rather to focus on the nonpartisan business reasons for taking a stand on certain issues. Chip shares stories of not just his own style of values-driven leadership, but also how he’s continued - through humility and humor - Levi’s tradition of social activism.

“We live in a world of massaging perceptions. It's okay to make a mistake, but the second time you have to learn from these things.”

James Michael Lafferty is a returning guest to the podcast — rejoining us for an open and honest conversation about making mistakes, and owning up to them. Jim is the CEO of Fine Hygienic Holding - a leading CPG company across the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, and USA - as well as an accomplished writer, coach, and athlete. Jim is an internationally-tenured leader whose career spans 3 decades and 5 continents. Jim served as CEO of British American Tobacco in the Philippines and Coca-Cola in Nigeria. He led a distinguished 24-year career at P&G, leading the company in both the Philippines and Poland, rising through the ranks in senior roles across Western Europe, Northern Africa, and the Middle East. Beyond being a dedicated husband and father of 5, Jim is also an accomplished coach and athlete - serving as a Coach of the Philippines Olympic Athletics team at the 2016 Rio Games, having run 30+ marathons, and was the 2017 Philippines National Champion in Powerlifting. Jim’s consulted with numerous Fortune 500 companies, and his many talks and lessons have inspired brand managers around the world. He currently lives in the United Arab Emirates. In a world of projections, you’ll appreciate Jim’s vulnerabile, candid conversation.

"What gets made gets affected by the quality of the insights."

Edward Norton is an actor, filmmaker, and activist. He has been nominated for three Academy Awards for his work in Primal Fear, American History X, and Birdman and has starred in several other acclaimed films including Fight Club, The Illusionist, and Moonrise Kingdom. Edward is also a UN Ambassador for Biodiversity, a successful investor (Uber, CrowdRise, and Kensho — acquired by SAP for $550 million), and deeply involved in wilderness conservation. In 2015, Edward co-founded EDO with PhD economist, poet, and entrepreneur Daniel Nadler. EDO is a leading TV outcomes company that works with top brands, networks, and Hollywood studios — from AT&T and Disney, to Univision, and of course P&G — using cutting edge data science to predictively power the success of marketing, research, and creative professionals. In a candid conversation ranging from David Bowie to data science, you’ll enjoy hearing about stretching your limits beyond what’s expected of you — across many paths of creativity, business, and entrepreneurship. If you're ever driven to do something more than your day job, or what the world expects of you - AND you happen to be a bit of a nerd about marketing and tech - this is the podcast episode for you.

But Edward Norton is not exactly a P&G Alumni, so what’s the deal? Alongside our partners at P&G, we’re thrilled to share another episode of P&G’s “More Than Soap” podcast - available exclusively each week to P&G Employees at GetMoreThanSoap.com. On “More Than Soap,” P&G shares weekly conversations with Inspiring guests, unique perspectives, and unconventional ideas. “More Than Soap” is P&G’s official internal podcast - available  to all 100,000 P&G employees worldwide, and hosted by Dorion Positano, P&G’s Director of New Business and Content Innovation. Interested in learning more about P&G’s “More Than Soap” podcast, or P&G Studios, can reach out directly to Dorion on LinkedIn. GetMoreThanSoap.com

“From the moment we wake up to going to bed, we spend a lot of time consuming. But If you are consuming all day, you are not creating. We need to turn down the noise.”

This week we’re sharing a talk on “The Power of Disconnecting in the Digital Era” by P&G Alumni Judy Okten - given at P&G Alumni Global Conference Madrid in 2019. It’s a topic that’s becoming more relevant as we become more and more connected every day.  Judy Okten is the Co-Founder & CEO of Burgeon Labs, a science-based learning company. that empowers healthcare practitioners and innovators to develop the most effective solutions to preventative and personalized medicine through data science. Judy  is also the Co-founder of Vitality Food Lab where she launched BonJu, the first fresh green smoothie brand in Switzerland to make it easier for busy people to eat healthy. And of course Judy spent a large part of her career @ P&G - leading marketing teams in Geneva and Toronto - across haircare and homecare brands. She also spent 4 years in brand management @ KAO Brands in Canada, and 2 years as a business analyst at CIBC. The message of finding more space to create - not just consume - is of particular relevance, now more than ever.

Every 2 years the P&G Alumni Network convenes top thought leaders from the Alumni Community and beyond. The next one will be in Washington DC in 2023, so make sure you're signed up for updates on pgalums.com - and all of the P&G Alumni Network's social channels so you're the first to know. Got a reco for a future speaker or guest? Be sure to send us a note - pgalumpod@gmail.com.

“When you meet resistance - teach. Because one of you doesn't have the context that the other one has. Rather than debate and clash - better to explain why it is.”

Kyle Schlegel, is Weber Inc’s VP of Americas Marketing and Direct-to-Consumer - where he helps bring to life the most innovative, legendary grills in the world.  Prior to Weber, Kyle spent three years at Louisville Slugger before its acquisition by Wilson Sporting Goods, where he then led all marketing strategy and execution across the Wilson Racquet Sports portfolio, the #1 iconic name in tennis. And Kyle spent thirteen years at P&G in brand management on brands like Herbal Essences, Old Spice, Aussie, and Wella.  Kyle is also the recipient of the CMO Club’s Rising Star Award and AdAge’s 40 Under 40. Kyle now lives just outside of Chicago with his wife, daughter, and pub. While sports plays a different role in life today, Schlegel still fits it in wherever he can among other priorities in life, such as friends, family, faith and serving others. You’ll enjoy this candid, vulnerable, and insightful conversation about Kyle’s journey from Kentucky farmboy to Chicago professional.

“Business cannot sit on the sidelines — we're not moving at the scale and speed needed, we as industry leaders have an enormous responsibility to drive these tipping points.”

Paul Polman, one of our most prominent and vocal P&G Alumni, who also happens to be the former CEO of Unilever. In this talk from 2021 P&G Alumni Global Conference Paul talks about  "Net Positive: How Courageous Companies Thrive by Giving More Than They Take" - a recent book he co-authored, the Financial Times named among the Best Business Books of 2021. The Financial Times declared Paul "a standout CEO of the past decade” - as he is a leading proponent that business should be a force for good. And the Economist declared Paul "An advocate of sustainable capitalism explains how it's done."

Paul Polman is the co-founder of IMAGINE, where he is mobilizing businesses to tackle climate change and global inequality. Paul also served as the CEO of Unilever from 2009-2018, where he created - and proved-  a long-term approach to global problems can also drive business performance. Prior to Unilever, he was Nestle’s CFO & Head of Americas. And of course, Paul got his start at P&G, where he spent 27 years rising through the ranks ultimately leading Europe for P&G. Paul continues to be active on the world stage, bridging the private/public sectors. Alongside the UN Secretary General, he helped develop the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Paul is chair of the International Chamber of Commerce, The B Team, Saïd Business School and Vice-Chair of the UN Global Compact. You'll enjoy this very frank, compelling, and action oriented talk about what we can all be doing as business and community leaders — to face the challenges we have in front of us, and be a force for good.

Paul’s past P&G Alumni Podcast appearance: https://apple.co/3eI5PSR BOOK: Net Positive: How Courageous Companies Thrive by Giving More Than They Take - goodreads.com/book/show/58090463-net-positive

“That was the moment I realized that if you're able to articulate complex things in a very simple language, that's the ultimate goal – in arts, in literature, in business.”

Alyona Tkachenko is the CEO and cofounder of Nommi, a mobile WiFi hotspot that provides LTE data in over 100 countries. She also serves as the VP of Global Markets at Sergek Development. Prior to founding Nommi, Alyona was the head of marketing for Love to Code, a coding school for children in Kazakhstan. Alyona started her career at Procter & Gamble, working in CMK for sales and eCommerce. Alyona is a Forbes Asia 30 Under 30 for Consumer Technology and also a P&G Alumni Network’s Leader Under 40. She continues to focus on improving the quality of Computer Science education and digital literacy of Kazakhstani school children through the NGO StudyCS. Alyona graduated with a degree in Business Administration from Kazakh State University. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation about doing what feels right in the moment, and owning those decisions for success.

“Diversity is almost synonymous with humanity — our communities and companies should reflect that diversity of the rest of the world to make impactful change.”

David Youn is President of Master Lock, the 100-year-old American company that is the leader in manufacturing & sales of locks, safes, and commercial security equipment. David started as a management consultant but learned that he enjoyed running businesses more than analyzing them. From entrepreneurship to corporate, from P&G’s brands of Tampax to Pampers, and from living in the U.S. to an expat in Korea working for Samsung, David’s journey is a testament to his motto of moving constantly and living boldly.

At the helm of Master Lock, David has delivered all time records in sales & profit and throughout his career has maintained a focus on people through mentorship and teaching. Not surprisingly, David also has a diverse range of hobbies, from being a pilot, to music, to being a dance instructor and he holds 2 degrees: a BA in Political Science from Stanford and an MBA from Northwestern. David’s wife is also a P&G alum and his son is a competitive swimmer and Rubik’s Cuber. As a proud Korean-American, you may find David watching K-drama. You’ll enjoy this great conversation about how our upbringings affect our work and life choices, taking a non-traditional career path by moving around and living boldly and the importance of finding commonalities amongst each other, in any situation.

“Leaders must define the vision of how the world could exist — based on values, ideas, imagination — and driven by love for your people and passion for possibility.”

Tom Asacker is a longstanding strategist, speaker, and trainer — well known to many P&G executives. Tom is a writer, former GE executive, past owner of a high precision electronics firm and Founder & CEO of a medical device company. Tom holds medical patents and product design awards - and is recognized by Inc Magazine, MIT, and YE’s “Birthing of Giants” entrepreneurial executive leadership program. The author of several critically acclaimed books, including “The Business of Belief.” Tom’s a painter, magician, philosopher and screenwriter.

But while Tom IS known to many P&G’ers - he’s not exactly a P&G Alumni, so what’s the deal? Alongside our partners at P&G, we’re thrilled to share another episode of P&G’s “More Than Soap” podcast - available exclusively each week to P&G Employees at GetMoreThanSoap.com. On “More Than Soap,” P&G shares weekly conversations with Inspiring guests, unique perspectives, and unconventional ideas. “More Than Soap” is P&G’s official internal podcast - available  to all 100,000 P&G employees worldwide, and hosted by Dorion Positano, P&G’s Director of New Business and Content Innovation. Interested in learning more about P&G’s “More Than Soap” podcast, or P&G Studios, can reach out directly to Dorion on LinkedIn. GetMoreThanSoap.com

“Making improvements is challenging. But we can't give up and we've got to learn how to do it better.” 

“Speak, engage, help, be helped. Be part of society. Be an optimist towards the fact that people can change, that  people can learn.”

John Pepper, P&G’s former CEO, and Ursula Burns, Xerox’s former CEO, sit down for a candid conversation on race, understanding and our discourse with each other. This is a conversation the two longtime friends have been having for years - alongside many of us. While John needs no introduction to many, Ursula’s impressive career is worth sharing...

Ursula M. Burns is the Retired Chairman and CEO of Xerox Corporation and VEON Limited — and among the first Black women to become CEO of a Fortune 500 company. Ursula is also a founding partner of Integrum Holdings, Non-Executive Chairman of Teneo Holdings LLC, and the Executive Chairman of Plum Acquisition Corp. At Xerox, Ursula served from 2009-2017, having joined as a summer intern in 1980, after which she rose through the ranks across corporate services, manufacturing and product development. Ursula also serves on several corporate boards, including Uber Technologies, Exxon Mobil, Endeavor Group Holdings, Waystar and Hear.com Ursula’s also involved in leadership counsel for the Ford Foundation, MIT, the Cornell Tech Board, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Mayo Clinic, among others.

From 2009-2016, President Barack Obama appointed Ursula to lead the White House national program on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). Ursula also led the President’s Export Council from 2010 - 2016. In February 2022, Burns joined the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Advisory Council on Supply Chain Competitiveness. Ursula is a mechanical engineering alumni of Columbia University and NYU - and she’s a member of the National Academy of Engineering, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the Royal Academy of Engineering and the G7 Gender Equity Advisory Council.

Originally recorded on February 25, 2022 - this is an important conversation we hope will make many think and feel more deeply. While each of our guests are part of some great organizations who support the sharing of our views, these are the views of our guests alone. Got ideas for future deep dive topics with past and future guests? Reach out to pgalumpod@gmail.com

“Approach life as a lifelong learning journey. Be curious enough to really ask why - as that wisdom has no expiration date.”

Ana Maria Henao is PepsiCo’s Global Marketing VP, leading the Marketing Excellence and Partnership Strategies across both food and beverages for PepsiCo globally, reporting to the Global CMO. Ana Maria has over 22 years of Marketing experience, having started her career at P&G in Bogota, Colombia, as an ABM in detergents. Having worked in a variety of roles across developed and emerging markets. Ana Maria led the development of mainstream and luxury brands, turning around businesses and leading acquisitions, while transforming commercial functions to embrace the challenges of the digital era. Originally from Colombia, Ana Maria currently lives in Miami with her husband and two children. In this candid conversation you’ll enjoy hearing about wisdom vs intelligence, being curious, and choosing to be a protagonist.

“No question, you have to speak up. Because I know people spoke up for me and questioned incorrect assumptions or bias in the room.”

K. Patrick Davis is the VP and General Manager for Blue Buffalo, the #1 natural pet food brand in the US, and now General Mills largest brand. Previously Patrick was Henkel’s SVP and Head of US Laundry & Home Care — working on brands like All, Snuggle, Persil, and Renuzit — where he also functioned as the division CMO. Patrick also spent ten years as VP + General Manager at Georgia Pacific - leading work on many of the company's largest brands and retailers. And of course, Patrick got his start at P&G - spending nearly a decade in marketing and sales - working on teams like Crest and Walmart. Patrick received his MBA from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and studied business science at The University of South Carolina at Columbia. For 30 years, Patrick’s been a proud member of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, continuing to serve as a local officer — and he’s also an active mentor to young men of color through the Kappa League program. He lives in Connecticut with his wife and three sons. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation about authenticity , connection, respect — and speaking up.

Katie Couric is renowned and award-winning  journalist, producer, and best-selling author. Katie is currently the Founder of Katie Couric Media, a multimedia news and production company. Katie also publishes the daily newsletter "Wake Up Call" From 2013 to 2017, Katie was Yahoo's Global News Anchor. Katie has been a host on all 3 major US TV networks — NBC News from 1989 to 2006, CBS News from 2006 to 2011, and ABC News from 2011 to 2014 — and in her early career she was an assignment editor for CNN. In addition to her TV news anchor roles , Katie has also hosted the Today show and 60 Minutes, and in 2004 Katie was also inducted into the Television Hall of Fame.

In this conversation from the 2021 P&G Alumni Global Conference, Katie sat down with Marc Pritchard, P&G’s Chief Brand Officer, to share their vision of a fairer and more equitable world through media and advertising. Katie speaks of the importance of accurate portrayals, images, and representation —  influenced by the work of Mahzarin Banaji - who we’ve also featured on this podcast — on how our brains are hardwired to make associations and connections. Katie spoke of growing up with women only portrayed as stay-at-home moms and having to insist that she would not just cover cooking or fashion shows. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation between two of the industries’ biggest leaders in media - on the importance of change - and understanding.

“Tech will do everything - but it won’t make you a better human. Use technology to get less busy and focus on being a better human, and the world will be a better place.”

Vivek Sunder is CEO of Cuemath - the education technology company whose mission is to make the world’s children great at math — to create invincible problem-solvers who will go on to solve humanity’s biggest problems. Vivek’s been in the lead of the India-based company since 2021 - with aims to scale the business globally. Prior to leading Cuemath, Vivek served as COO of Swiggy - India’s leading online delivery service - helping the company scale from good to great, to 500+ cities in 18 months - especially during the global pandemic. Vivek also spent twenty years at P&G in various capacities across developing markets (India, Africa) as well as developed markets (UK, Singapore, Korea) and hybrid markets (China, Thailand, Malaysia). Vivek is passionate about building organizational capability and has a proven track record of creating better business results via more capable teams - spanning 20+ nationalities - from new country startups to traditional business unit roles. Vivek is a graduate of the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Calcutta, and prior to that studied Computer Engineering from Delhi University. He is a regular guest lecturer at his alma mater IIM-C, as well at other premier B-schools across the world where he teaches and shares business expertise. Vivek speaks six languages, and has a passion for photography with work featured in global media outlets like National Geographic, the BBC, and ET. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation about the intersection of technology, business, and behavioral psychology.

“You need other people — work well with others and learn from them. The more you grow, the more you realize you don't get anything done alone.”

Poliana Sousa is Latin America’s Coca-Cola™ Lead, which includes communication strategy and innovation in 39 countries in South and Central America, the Caribbean, and Mexico. Poliana also plays a key role in the brand’s long-term strategic planning and leads key global projects as part of the Global Coca-Cola network. Before joining Coca-Cola, Poliana held several leadership positions at Procter & Gamble for nearly 20 years — her roles included Marketing, Brand Communications and Media Director in Brazil, and on brands such as Gillette, Pampers, and Oral-B. Poliana has a degree in Business Administration from Iowa State University and an MBA from Xavier University. She has received several industry awards including Forbes' Best 10 CMOs in Brazil (2020) and 10 Most Admired Executives in Brazil by Agency Scope (2020). You’ll enjoy this authentic and vulnerable conversation about overcoming big changes, imposter syndrome, and adversity - to persevere and thrive at work and life.

“Leading in social media and fighting bad actors - these problems didn’t always exist. It's fascinating how quickly things change.”

Jakub Kocinski is a Digital Safety & Trust leader - with experiences across P&G, Google TikTok, and Meta — where he’s held responsibility for a wide array of key issues of digital platform integrity. Prior to his most recent role of Responsible Innovation at Meta - Jakub served as Director of Trust & Safety at ByteDance, the company behind the popular app TikTok. Prior to Bytedance, Jakub spent 6 years building and leading Trust & Safety in Google focusing on Gmail, Google accounts security as well as a wide portfolio of Google products. Jakub started his career at Procter & Gamble in 10 years across eCommerce and IT operations, Jakub was born in Poland and completed his Computer Science Masters at Technical University of Gdańsk followed by an MBA at Kozminski University in Warsaw. A family man, Jakub enjoys being outdoors and tinkering with the latest gadgets to automate - or complicate his life. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation about the importance of digital safety and trust - but also the importance of responsible innovation we must all bring to our work.

“Creativity is listening to an idea, even a bad idea, and helping turn it into a good idea.”

Guy Raz is arguably among the most prolific voices in podcasting. He’s the creator and host of popular shows like “How I Built This”, “Wisdom from the Top”, and “The Rewind” — and the co-creator of “The TED Radio Hour” and the kid’s show “Wow in the World.” Guy is the only person to have had three shows ranked in the top 20 podcasts worldwide and a recipient received the Edward R. Morrow Award, the Daniel Schorr Journalism Prize, The National Headline Award, and the NABJ Award - among many others. You’ll enjoy this conversation on creativity and curiosity.

But Guy Raz is not exactly a P&G Alumni, so what’s the deal? Alongside our partners at P&G, we’re thrilled to share another episode of P&G’s “More Than Soap” podcast - available exclusively each week to P&G Employees at GetMoreThanSoap.com. On “More Than Soap,” P&G shares weekly conversations with Inspiring guests, unique perspectives, and unconventional ideas. “More Than Soap” is P&G’s official internal podcast - available  to all 100,000 P&G employees worldwide, and hosted by Dorion Positano, P&G’s Director of New Business and Content Innovation. Interested in learning more about P&G’s “More Than Soap” podcast, or P&G Studios, can reach out directly to Dorion on LinkedIn. GetMoreThanSoap.com

“We are all intersectional - uniqueness is our greatest gift. Empathy makes you a better leader.”

This Pride Month, we wanted to replay a few conversations with past LGBTQIA+ guest on this P&G Alumni Podcast.

Shelly McNamara is P&G’s Chief Equality & Inclusion Officer, where she’s responsible for shaping culture, policies, and leadership to promote greater diversity. Shelly’s also an avid storyteller, speaker and writer — her new book No Blanks, No Pauses - weaves her life story with reflections and poetry. Shelly got her start in Sales, and spent 25+ years rising through P&G’s HR ranks, ultimately rising to the level of Executive Vice President - where she worked on some of the company's largest businesses with brand portfolios ranging from $4B to $35B, working on employee populations exceeding 25,000. Shelly’s committed to enabling employees of every background to bring their full selves to work. - an active member of P&G’s Corporate Women’s Leadership Team, and she’s led the expansion of LGBTQ+ employee groups around the globe.

Shelly shares many stories from her personal and professional life - as a mother and “out” female executive. Through her writing - and poetry - she’s been able to process and persevere through many moments of inclusions - and exclusion. Core to Shelly’s every day work is to have people think more about our shared humanity - because ultimately, that’s where true understanding comes from - to tackle the issues we must all face together.

“Let's be wrong sooner because we'll learn from it - move on and take on challenges in a very different way.”

This Pride Month, we wanted to replay a few conversations with past LGBTQIA+ guest on this P&G Alumni Podcast.

Jay Sethi is the CMO of Diageo Beer Company and Senior Vice President of Diageo’s Convenience Category. In addition to leading and executing for three of Diageo’s business units, Jay has a strong passion for inclusion and diversity and was instrumental in creating the “Love Wins” campaign for the Smirnoff brand in partnership with the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) celebrating love and acceptance. Prior to Diageo, Jay worked at Procter & Gamble as the Director of North America COVERGIRL, returning the brand to growth through new and exciting partnerships, including the NFL and The Hunger Games movie franchise. Jay is known as an innovative marketer and has received numerous awards, including a “40 under 40” Marketing Leadership Award from Advertising Age. Jay graduated from The University of Chicago and previously worked in the world of Chicago politics with roles in the U.S. Senate and top political campaigns. Jay is fluent in Spanish and is proudly multicultural as a Mexican and Indian American. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation about how to be more thoughtful - and intentional about using your skillset to have an impact in and beyond work, because there are many actionable steps anyone can take to be more open and inclusive in business, and life.

“Being the first person in a role can be a career accelerant.”

This Pride Month, we wanted to replay a few conversations with past LGBTQIA+ guest on this P&G Alumni Podcast. And what better executive to revisit than Julie Eddleman, DoubleVerify’s Global Chief Commercial Officer. Prior to joining DoubleVerify, Julie spent six years at Google as one of the companies top Client Partners - accelerating partnerships with companies like GM, Ford, Fiat Chrysler, Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, and P&G. And across nearly 20 years at P&G, Julie worked on partnerships with the NFL, Olympics, and many of the company’s biggest partnerships and investments. Julie’s been recognized as an AdAge Media Maven, an LGBT Influential Leader by The Advocate magazine, and Woman of the Year by PowerPlay New York City for her role in mentoring young women and girls. Julie’s a graduate of Purdue University, as well as a proud wife and a mother. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation about not just bringing your full, authentic self to work, but the importance of taking risks, making choices, and building relationships

“Authenticity and relevancy are easy to connect back to the business when you have people who represent the diversity of our consumers.”

Kevin Shapiro is Coty’s SVP of US Marketing at Consumer Beauty at Coty, where he manages a large portfolio of consumer brands, including Sally Hansen and CoverGirl. Kevin has led beauty brands across a number of iconic global companies, including L’Oreal, Revlon, Elizabeth Arden and Procter & Gamble — where he served as brand manager on The Art of Shaving and Pantene.  Having received his MBA from the University of Southern California, and studied business at Georgetown, Kevin actually got started in the Automotive industry working for Edmunds.  Kevin grew up in Mexico and brings his fluency in Spanish and a multicultural mindset to everything he does. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation on authentic brand building, representation, and the power of learning and listening in the ever changing  beauty industry.

“Politics is all about empathy — people believing that you understand their plight, their issue, their life  — and that you have a plan to help them.”

Aftab Pureval is the Mayor of the city of Cincinnati. As Cincinnati’s 70th Mayor, Aftab has made equitable economic growth a top priority of his administration, as well as a comprehensive reform and improvement of public safety, affordable housing, and environmental action. Formerly serving as the first Democrat to be elected Hamilton County Clerk of Courts in over 100 years, Aftab opened an award-winning Help Center and became the first countywide officeholder in Ohio to offer paid family leave. Mayor Aftab was born and raised in Southwest Ohio - he attended The Ohio State University and the University of Cincinnati College of Law where he represented victims of domestic violence who could not afford an attorney. Aftab served as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney and worked as an attorney at Procter & Gamble working on brands like Olay. Mayor Aftab lives in Clifton with his wife and sons. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation about redefining what a name means - and showing up for what matters.

“There is a level of compassion to understanding that there's things that need to be done.” // “We have to make up for lost time - transparent actions and results need to follow.”

In the midst of all the social and upheaval we continue to face facing - we sat down with serial entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk, alongside Logitech CEO (+ P&G Alum) Bracken Darrell for a conversation with two “Masters of Digital Disruption”. In a candid conversation that spanned the internet and blockchain technologies (driving increased transparency and accountability) - to the greater need for social and environmental impact (rooted in business values) - you’ll enjoy this conversation with two leaders who are constantly learning and growing personally, and professionally.

Gary Vaynerchuk is an entrepreneur at heart — he builds businesses. Considered one of the leading global minds on what’s next - Gary is a serial entrepreneur, and serves as the Chairman of VaynerX,  the CEO of VaynerMedia and the Creator & CEO of VeeFriends. Gary works with Fortune 1000 brands thru his agency VaynerMedia — a part of the VaynerX holding company - which also includes Eva Nosidam Productions, VaynerNFT, Gallery Media Group, The Sasha Group, Tracer, VaynerSpeakers, and VaynerCommerce. Gary is also the Co-Founder of VaynerSports, Resy and Empathy Wines. He is a prolific angel investor with early investments in companies such as Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Venmo, Snapchat, Coinbase and Uber. Gary’s also a Board Member, advisor, best-selling author, and award-winning speaker and thought leader with millions of followers.

Bracken Darrell is President & CEO of Logitech - a company he joined in 2012 - where he’s led brand vision and operations - as the driver for Logitech’s continued growth and profitability (up over 13x) —  reinventing Logitech into an award-winning design company, an industry force pursuing a more sustainable and equal world. Beyond Logitech’s numerous awards in design, innovation, and sustainability during his tenure, Bracken himself has been named Swiss CEO of the year by Obermatt three times in the past four years, won the P&G Alumni Innovation Award, and will receive the 2022 Edison Achievement Award. Prior to joining Logitech, Bracken spent a decade in executive roles @ Whirlpool, Braun, and General Electric - and also worked in brand management at P&G. Prior to receiving his MBA from Harvard, Bracken worked at Arthur Anderson and PepsiCo. Bracken serves on the board of directors of Life Biosciences, a longevity company, and on the U.S. advisory board of Harvard Business School. Bracken received his MBA from from Harvard Business School and studied English from Hendrix College in Arkansas, and loves playing basketball with his boys.

“It's through language that you understand another culture - how their world works. It's about that human connection with people.”

Mike Shangkuan is an EdTech entrepreneur, fitness fanatic, and pioneer in language learning. As the CEO of Lingdoda, Europe’s leading online language school. And he’s a polyglot -  speaking six languages - English, German, Spanish, French, Chinese and Japanese — having lived in 8 countries across 4 continents, and traveling to over 100 countries. Prior to leading Lingoda, Michael was CEO of Terra Education, a B-corp offering life-changing service learning summer programs to teens in Africa, South America, and Asia. Mike has worked in brand management at both Clorox & P&G, and held roles at Goldman Sachs and Borden Capital Management. He is a graduate of Yale University and received his MBA from Harvard Business School. On top of all that, Michael was also once a former natural bodybuilder having competed at several international competitions. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation about life, language, and the culture quotient.

“The study of Implicit bias asks are we doing our job as well as we can be? To be consistent with values, goals and intentions — we want to do something about it.“

Dr. Mahzarin Banaji is an award-winning experimental psychologist and professor at Harvard University and the author of “Blindspot: Hidden Biases of Good People.” Her research explores the human mind, why and how we think and feel, especially in social context. Dr. Banaji helped create world-renowned frameworks to better identify and address implicit human biases, and she’s the co-creator of the Implicit Association Test, which has been used +40 million times worldwide. You’ll learn how human beings think, the nature of subconscious human biases, and how individuals and organizations can combat implicit bias - and why it will make an outsized impact.

But Dr. Banaji is not exactly a P&G Alumni, so what’s the deal? Alongside our partners at P&G, we’re thrilled to share another episode of P&G’s “More Than Soap” podcast - available exclusively each week to P&G Employees at GetMoreThanSoap.com. On “More Than Soap,” P&G shares weekly conversations with Inspiring guests, unique perspectives, and unconventional ideas. “More Than Soap” is P&G’s official internal podcast - available  to all 100,000 P&G employees worldwide, and hosted by Dorion Positano, P&G’s Director of New Business and Content Innovation. Interested in learning more about P&G’s “More Than Soap” podcast, or P&G Studios, can reach out directly to Dorion on LinkedIn. GetMoreThanSoap.com

"There is no bending your principles and values, you either stick by them or you don't.”

Qaisar Shareef spent a 30 year career at Procter & Gamble - where he led the company’s operations in Pakistan & Ukraine. As April marks the Holy Month of Ramadan in the Islamic world this year, we decided to revisit some past conversations with past Muslim guests that you may have missed — and even if you’ve already heard, are worth a fresh listen.

Qaisar is the author of “When Tribesmen Came Calling: Building an Enduring American Business in Pakistan.” For Qaisar, Pakistan was actually an organization he helped build for the company many years prior when P&G was first starting business in the region. Qaisar is based in the Washington DC area where he is an advisory partner to Ward Howell International. He also teaches at George Washington University’s Department of International Business. Qaisar serves on the board of HOPE USA, OPEN DC, and Transparent Hands, a crowdfunding platform helping cover the underprivileged’s health care costs. He’s also on the Executive Committee of US Pakistan Foundation, and is president of Montgomery County Muslim Council. Qaisar has a Bachelor of Science degree from the Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey, and an MBA from the University of Cincinnati. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation from a Muslim American leader, about living and working out of your comfort zone. Qaisar shares not just his perspective of establishing a viable business in an emerging market, but also about returning home - multiple times - to make an impact on both sides of the world.

“Nothing can teach you more than your failures. Your struggles are where you're growing the most.”

Ikdeep Singh is Mars Petcare’s President of North America, responsible for iconic brands such as Pedigree, Iams, Cesar, and Sheba — and driving the company’s purpose of “A better world for pets.” Prior to Mars, Ikdeep served as the President at the L’Oréal Group, and he started his career at P&G P&G, where he worked across Canada, the US, UK, Germany, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong and China for 14 years in Beauty Care, Baby Care and Grooming. Recognized on Forbes’ inaugural “CEO Next” list, Ikdeep had humble beginnings in rural India. He studied Industrial Engineering at Dalhousie University, and received an MBA from The Wharton School at The University of Pennsylvania where Ikdeep serves on the advisory board for Wharton’s Baker Retail Center. Ikdeep and his family of 4 are avid travelers and “gastro-tourists” who go in search of some of the world’s most delicious places to eat. You’ll enjoy this thoughtful conversation about slowing down to reflect and learn — because with hard work, and some lucky breaks, we can find a path we love, collaborating with others to win, together.

“The higher you go, it's harder to understand the front lines. Be in touch to accelerate your growth.”

Kevin Hochman, is Kentucky Fried Chicken’s US President at Yum! Brands, and the former President of Pizza Hut US. As KFC’s President Hockman oversees more than $10 billion in retail sales across 10,000 restaurants. For more than eight years, Kevin’s held numerous senior positions at Yum! Brands. Previously Kevin led P&G’s North America Cosmetics business, the culmination of an 18-year career at P&G as business leader across brands like Olay, Gillette, Secret, Old Spice and CoverGirl. Kevin has earned multiple recognitions from Forbes - naming him the world’s 2nd most influential CMO - to AdAge’s A-List. You’ll enjoy this conversation about the learnings on Kevin’s journey from CPG to the fast food industry, and how he became a more inclusive, servant leader along the way.

“People tend to be afraid of the unknown. The most dangerous thing is the illusion of knowledge. We need to have an open mind and embrace the world.”

Dian Alyan is the Founder & CEO of the GiveLight Foundation (GiveLight.org) — a non-profit inspired by Islamic values to help orphans across the globe regardless of nationality, race or religion. As April marks the start of the Holy Month of Ramadan in the Islamic world this year, we decided to revisit some past conversations with past Muslim guests that you may have missed — and even if you’ve already heard, are worth a fresh listen.

Dian founded GiveLight.org after the 2004 South Asian tsunami, where she lost many loved ones in her home country of Indonesia . Dian was inspired to provide for children going through similar devastation around the world — natural disasters and extreme conditions, like poverty and war. GiveLight is a non-profit creating high quality homes and education for global orphans. What began as one home for 50 children has now expanded to support over 1,000 orphans in 11 countries globally — with a goal of housing 10,000 children in response to natural disasters, poverty, and war. GiveLight has responded to crises in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, and Morocco.

Prior to founding GiveLight - Dian spent a decade as the Outreach Director for the Muslim Community Association in the San Francisco bay area. And Dian got her start at P&G in brand management in beauty and healthcare brands across Asia. Dian’s work with GiveLight has garnered awards and engagements from Fortune 500s + prominent universities, and has been featured in Newsweek, the Huffington Post, and many other media outlets. She lives in the San Francisco bay area, a mother of two - but she considers all children GiveLight reaches as a part of her family. Learn more about how you can help at GiveLight.org

“The ability to persist in the face of overwhelming odds is a kind of necessary feature of the innovator.“

Malcolm Gladwell is a Canadian journalist and writer best known for treading the boundary between popularizer and intellectual. Malcolm’s the author of bestsellers like “The Tipping Point”, “Blink”, “Outliers”, “Talking to Strangers” and most recently — “The Bomber Mafia.” Malcolm  is also the co-founder of Pushkin Industries, an audio content company that produces the podcasts “Revisionist History,” which reconsiders things both overlooked and misunderstood, and “Broken Record,” interviewing musicians across genres. Gladwell has been listed as one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People and Foreign Policy’s Top Global Thinkers.

But Malcolm is not exactly a P&G Alumni, so what’s the deal? Alongside our partners at P&G, we’re thrilled to share another episode of P&G’s “More Than Soap” podcast - available exclusively each week to P&G Employees at GetMoreThanSoap.com. On “More Than Soap,” P&G shares weekly conversations with Inspiring guests, unique perspectives, and unconventional ideas. “More Than Soap” is P&G’s official internal podcast - available  to all 100,000 P&G employees worldwide, and hosted by Dorion Positano, P&G’s Director of New Business and Content Innovation. Interested in learning more about P&G’s “More Than Soap” podcast, or P&G Studios, can reach out directly to Dorion on LinkedIn. GetMoreThanSoap.com

“The first job of any leader is to coach people that can do a better job than them, and lead better than them — to unlock people's fullest potential.“

Raj Rao is IBM’s General Manager of Blockchain Ventures where he oversees programs in blockchain, AI and cloud architecture. Raj was previously the CEO of Ford Mobility, leading the automotive company’s Palo Alto based mobility business investments, as well as Chief Digital Officer of 3M. Raj got his career start at P&G marketing - working across Europe, the Middle East, and Canada. A native of India, Raj earned an honors degree in economics from the University of Delhi, and a Master’s Degree in Management from Boston University’s Business School. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation about the factors that influence our careers — and why it’s important to bend the culture as a leader.

“When you take care of yourself, you are much more able to lead, to be more creative, more empathetic.”

Arianna Huffington is Founder & CEO of Thrive Global, a firm centered on health and wellness information. Arianna was also the Co-founder of The Huffington Post, the author of fifteen books, one of TIME’s “100 Most Influential People,” and Forbes “Most Powerful Women,” among numerous other honors. In 2011, AOL acquired The Huffington Post for $315 million, where Arianna became President & Editor-in-chief of The Huffington Post Media Group, which included The Huffington Post, AOL Music, Engadget, Patch Media, and StyleList — where she served until 2016. Arianna currently serves on numerous boards, including Uber, Onex, and Global Citizen. Arianna’s last two books, Thrive: The Third Metric to Redefining Success and Creating a Life of Well-Being, Wisdom, and Wonder and The Sleep Revolution: Transforming Your Life, One Night at a Time were both instant international bestsellers.

At the 2021 P&G Alumni Network Global Conference, Arianna sat down with Debbie Majoras, P&G’s Chief Legal Officer & Secretary, for a candid conversation on “How To Thrive.” The two discussed our once-in-a-generation opportunity to redefine the way we work and live — the necessary mindshift that employee well-being drives peak performance - which builds sustainable standards of excellence.

“We really want to dive deep because no two people are going to answer the same,“ “These deeper conversations are what's going to be true years from now.”

100 Episodes later, Drew & Raman sit down for a chat about what they’ve learned from all their Learnings from Leaders, answer some of the questions they get most often about this P&G Alumni Podcast, share a little more under the hood, and tease what’s coming up for the next 100 episodes...

“You've got to suspend how you think about things to be successful. There is power in creating the story that will be told.”

Seaphes R. Miller is an accomplished entrepreneur - the Founder & CEO of Fusion Integrated Solutions - a design, engineering and technology firm he started in 2004 -  focused on creating innovative solutions for the CPG and energy industries — recognized as a top minority-owned business enterprise. Prior to founding Fusion, Seaphes spent 20 years at P&G working across brand Management, Sales, Engineering, Supply Chain & Manufacturing. Seaphes is a Professional Engineer, having studied Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Northwestern University, and having received his MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management. Seaphes is also on the board of Navāda Labs, and a supporter of STEM-based programs designed to create and fill the next generation of technologists in the US. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation about challenging existing norms, building relationships, and the power in creating the story that will be told.

“People need to be treated equitably to move forward.  As we normalize and equalize, we’re saying all people are the same. Well, guess what? They're not.”

Sharon Hall is Walmart’s VP of Global Executive Recruiting - where she's building a dynamic organization for a changing culture. Sharon previously spent 20+ years as a Partner at Spencer Stuart, a leader in executive search, board services and leadership consulting - where she founded the firms Diversity practice and were the first Black Woman to serve on the Board — she later managed the firm’s Atlanta office. Prior to her work in executive recruiting, Sharon spent a decade at Avon in roles of strategic planning for Asia all the way up to a general manager in Personal Care. Sharon was also a consultant for Booz Allen Hamilton, and got her start at P&G in Brand Marketing in the Paper Division. Sharon graduated Magna Cum Laude from Morris Brown College, and got her MBA from the University of Southern California. Sharon’s been recognized in Fortune Magazine, Dollars & Sense Magazine, Business to Business, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and Black Enterprise. She lives in Atlanta, where she raised her two sons. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation about challenging career assumptions - especially as a Black woman - and the many lessons learned along the way.

"I had an authentic connection to the problem - a perspective on cultural connection. So it wasn't powering through rejection, it was neglecting it - because I just knew something they didn't.“

Tristan Walker is the Founder & CEO of Walker & Company Brands, acquired by Procter & Gamble in 2018.  Walker & Co. is best known for best-selling brands like Bevel & Form - Healthy and Beauty designed for communities of color. So Tristan is not exactly a P&G Alumni, so what’s the deal? Alongside our partners at P&G, we’re thrilled to share a sneak peak of P&G’s “More Than Soap” podcast - available exclusively each week to P&G Employees at GetMoreThanSoap.com. On “More Than Soap,” P&G shares weekly conversations with Inspiring guests, unique perspectives, and unconventional ideas.

Prior to Founding Walker & Co, Tristan was Entrepreneur-In-Residence at Andreessen Horowitz, the prominent venture capital firm. He also served as Director of Business Development for Foursquare - managing strategic partnerships a brands like American Express, The New York Times, CNN, MTV, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, and Starbucks. Tristan’s also had experiences with Boston Consulting Group and Twitter. Currently, Tristan serves on the Boards of Foot Locker, Shake Shack, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, and the Metro Atlanta Chamber. Tristan is also the Founder and Board Chairman of CODE2040, a program that matches high-performing Black and Latino undergraduate and graduate coders and software engineering students with Silicon Valley start-ups for summer internships. Fortune Magazine named him as one out of 50 of the “World’s Greatest Leaders.” You’ll enjoy this candid conversation about neglecting the laziness of others, and truly empathizing with your customer’s experiences.

“More Than Soap” is P&G’s official internal podcast - available  to all 100,000 P&G employees worldwide, and hosted by Dorion Positano, P&G’s Director of New Business and Content Innovation. Interested in learning more about P&G’s “More Than Soap” podcast, or P&G Studios, can reach out directly to Dorion on LinkedIn. GetMoreThanSoap.com

“Stay humble, stay grateful. Your position or work isn’t what matters most. For me, it's my family and the opportunity to impact others and give back.”

Marissa Solis is the National Football League’s SVP of Global Brand & Consumer Marketing. Prior to joining the NFL, Marissa led marketing for Frito Lay North America and was at PepsiCo for almost two decades.  She won several preeminent marketing awards for her work on Cheetos, Doritos and Tostitos brands and in 2021, was recognized by Adweek as one of the Most Powerful Women in Sports for elevating the football watching occasion with the NFL and Frito Lay partnership. Marissa joined PepsiCo after a stint in public sector and political consulting at Deloitte and began her career in brand management at Procter & Gamble Latin America where she led marketing for brands like Ariel, Downy, and Pampers in Central America and the Caribbean. She is a graduate of Georgetown University with a B.S. in International Economics & the University of Texas at Austin, with an M.A. in Public Policy and serves on the Board of Directors for the North Texas Chapter of the Make a Wish Foundation and on the Board for The Melville Family Foundation, an organization dedicated to improving the lives of minority children in Dallas. Marisa has also found time to become a third degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do while raising her daughter, Gaby, together with her husband, Juan, in Texas. You’ll enjoy hearing this candid conversation about being grateful for all we have,  embracing our unique perspectives, and not being afraid to speak up when in the public eye.

"I needed to work on something that had social impact — a game changer for schools to hear from parents in a different way."

Christine Fisher is the Co-Founder and COO for Possip - an education technology start-up that helps schools better hear from parents. Christine spent 13 years at P&G working in Finance on some of the company’s biggest brands—including Tide, Charmin, and Bounty. But equally notable — Christine has been finding ways to be more actively involved in her community - during her time at, and beyond P&G. Christine first campaigned in 2017 for the Cincinnati Board of Education, and later in 2018  as a Candidate for the Ohio State Legislature - running for Ohio’s 27th House District. Christine is active in the education community as a Board member for Cincinnati Preschool Promise, the Beech Acres Parenting Center Board, and Cincinnati Public Schools Audit Committee. She attended a STEM-focused public school in Montreal, Canada, and earned her BA in Computer Engineering from Queen’s University. In 2020, the Cincinnati Business Courier named Christine one of the city’s “40 Under 40” in recognition of her contributions to both the business and education sectors, and she was recently recognized as a 2021 P&G Alumni Leader Under 40.

“In Africa there's a billion people about to get on the Internet. What kinds of opportunities will they create? How will they solve problems?”

Nitin Gajria is Google’s Managing Director for Sub-Saharan Africa- where he works to make the internet more helpful for Africa - leveraging  technology as an enabler for amazing things. Google recently announced a $1B investment over the next 5 years in Africa. Having been at Google for 7 years, Nitin previously led YouTube’s business in India & South-East Asia, and led Google in Vietnam, Cambodia & Laos. Prior to Google ,Nitin served as a regional marketing director for Mead Johnson Nutrition for Asia Pacific, and of course, got his start at Procter & Gamble - rising thru the ranks of brand management over 11 years across countries and categories- working on brands like Safeguard, Tide, Ariel, Vicks, Olay, SK-II, Pantene, Herbal Essences, Head & Shoulders, Wella, and more. Nitin is keenly interested in tech start-ups and is an angel investor himself - providing smart capital to startups in Southeast Asia.  A husband and a father, Nitin hails from Mumbai, and has lived and worked in Sydney, Singapore and now Johannesburg. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation about alway seeking what we have in common, amidst all difference and diversity we see in this world

“Start canceling out those lanes that aren't feeding you well - that aren't giving you ROI - that are holding you back.”

Matthew McConaughey is an Academy Award–winning actor and producer, and the author of the NY Times bestselling book GREENLIGHTS, among many other things — but Matthew is NOT a P&G Alumni. So what’s the deal? Alongside our partners at P&G, we’re thrilled to share a sneak peak of P&G’s “More Than Soap” podcast - available exclusively each week to P&G Employees at GetMoreThanSoap.com. On “More Than Soap,” P&G shares weekly conversations with Inspiring guests, unique perspectives, and unconventional ideas.

As one of the world's most compelling public figures - Matthew McConaughey needs no introduction. Beyond his entertainment work, he’s an active philanthropist with his Just Keep Livin’ Foundation, a professor at the University of Texas in his hometown of Austin, a brand ambassador for Lincoln Motor Company, an owner of the Major League Soccer club Austin FC, and co-creator and creative director of his favorite bourbon on the planet, Wild Turkey Longbranch. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation on achieving a greater ROI on life - by catching more greenlights—and realizing that the yellows and reds eventually turn green too.

“More Than Soap” is P&G’s official internal podcast - available  to all 100,000 P&G employees worldwide, and hosted by Dorion Positano, P&G’s Director of New Business and Content Innovation. Interested in learning more about P&G’s “More Than Soap” podcast, or P&G Studios, can reach out directly to Dorion on LinkedIn. GetMoreThanSoap.com

“With innovation failure happens more often than not. Take lessons from those experiences - the connections you can draw into something more interesting.”

Claire Elvers is Wayfair’s Head of Global Brand Management & Insights - where she is building long-term brand equity across the globe - with consumers, partners, and employees. With 20+ years of experience in advertising, CPG, retail, e-commerce, and health & fitness industries, Claire has held senior innovation and marketing roles at Amazon, Starbucks, and Clorox. And of course, Claire got her start at P&G Beauty - working on delivery and innovation roles for the global relaunch of Pantene. Claire studied English and Economics at Northwestern University and got her MBA from the University of Michigan. You’ll enjoy this candid, empathetic conversation about bringing together your personal and professional aspirations.

“Get uncomfortable. Don't feel like you can’t keep creating new value in an environment of curiosity.”

Suzy Deering is Ford’s global Chief Marketing Officer - leading Ford’s North America marketing and driving strategy across the company’s global business units – to constantly enhance and release the huge customer and company value across Ford’s iconic brands. Suzy was previously global CMO of eBay, where she helped revive the company’s brand and drive sharply higher revenue. She also served as CEO of Moxie, a technology-led marketing agency, and spent many years in senior media and brand roles at Verizon and Home Depot. And she actually got her start at the Walt Disney Company, and studied Advertising at the University of Georgia. Suzy’s been recognized as an AdAge “40 Under 40” and as one of Business Insider’s “Top 50 Most Innovative CMOs.”

While Suzy may not be a P&G Alumni - she is a purpose driven leader. Suzy also happens to be a longtime friend of fellow P&G Alumni leader (and past podcast guest) Kirk Perry, now CEO of IRI Worldwide, who joins for the first of many “deep dives” - where past guests invite non-Alumni leaders to a candid conversation on their leadership journeys.

Which purpose driven leaders do YOU know and want to hear? Let us know at pgalumpod@gmail.com, and who knows, maybe you’ll hear them on our podcast soon!

As 2021 comes to a close, we put together a not-so-quick compilation of our favorite moments from all of the great conversations we had over the past year. So sit back with a beverage of choice, enjoy, and PLEASE DO share our podcast with a friend (and leave us a review) — it makes a big difference!

Got a guest idea or want to ask a question? Email us! pgalumpod@gmail.com

We can’t wait for you to hear what’s next in the new year!

Heard someone you liked? Be sure to go back and check out their full episode. Featuring the voices of our amazing guests...

Najoh Tita-Reid: Logitech Head of Marketing Reinvention Kirk Perry: Google's former President of Brand Solutions Zena Arnold: Kimberly Clark’s Chief Marketing & Digital Office Tarang Amin: e.l.f. Beauty CEO & Chairman Tiana Conley: Kellogg’s VP of Global Cereal Mohan Mohan: P&G former international leader (Europe, Middle East, Africa) Jim Lafferty, Fine Hygienic Holding, CEO Emily Chang: McCann Worldgroup China, CEO Shelly McNamara: P&G’s Chief Equality & Inclusion Officer Gurcharan Das: P&G’s former head of India, Author & Scholar Michelle Crossan: Samsung Electronics’ SVP of Strategy, Innovation & Transformation Jorge Mesquita: Johnson & Johnson’s former Executive Vice President Charlotte Otto: P&G’s former Global External Relations Officer Dian Alyan: GiveLight Foundation Founder & CEO A.G. Lafley: P&G’s former Chairman & CEO Mark Tatum: NBA Deputy Commissioner & Chief Operating Officer Noel Geoffroy: Sanofi President, North America Consumer Healthcare Brian McNamara: GSK Consumer Healthcare CEO Amanda Clark: Papa John’s Chief Development Officer Karan Bajaj: Whitehat Jr. Founder & CEO Sylvie Moreau: Coty’s former President of Professional Beauty Jim Stengel: P&G former Global Marketing Officer Remi Kent: 3M’s SVP & Chief Marketing Officer Tom Kuhn: PGA Tour, VP of Marketing Teri List: former CFO, the Gap, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Kraft Foods Jay Sethi: Diageo Beer Company CMO & SVP of Diageo Convenience North America Lisa Gevelber: Google’s Chief Marketing Officer for the Americas Jim Taylor: Arby’s President Silvia Dávila: Danone - President of Latin America Kevin Clayton: Cleveland Cavaliers, VP of Diversity, Inclusion & Community Engagement Julio Nemeth: P&G’s Chief Product Supply Officer Kristi Zuhlke: Founder & xCEO, KnowledgeHound Gordon Brunner: P&G’s Former Chief Technology Officer Matt Story: Visa’s VP of Global Marketing Partnerships & Advocacy Yolanda Talamo: Heineken Chief People Officer Brian Niccol: Chipotle Mexican Grill, CEO & Chairman Jorge Uribe: former P&G Latin America leader Keila Lazardi: Revlon Chief Scientific Officer Craig Bahner: Sara Lee Frozen Bakery CEO Tiyale Hayes: BET SVP of Brand Strategy & Marketing Jamal Muashsher: Valvoline President of Global Products Joe Arcuri: American Greetings CEO Peg Wyant: P&G’s first female Brand Manager, Grandin Properties Founder & CEO Stefan K. James: Nationwide Insurance AVP of Marketing Bob Gilbreath: Hearty CEO & Co-founder Alicia Enciso: Nestlé USA’s Chief Marketing Officer George Felix: Tinder’s Chief Marketing Officer Mark Mercurio: Gorilla Glue President & CEO Luis Silberwasserat: Univision - President, TV Networks

“It's not just one Latino or one Hispanic group, it's much more nuanced. It's less about the language and more about who we are and what our role is in this country.” 

Luis Silberwasser is Univision’s President of the Television Networks Group, where he oversees the company's TV networks, as well as its entertainment, news and sports divisions along with its ops and tech teams. Luis is a seasoned, award-winning TV executive with 25+ years’ experience building TV networks and creating entertainment content focusing on International, U.S. Hispanic and Latin American markets. Prior to joining Univision, Luis served as Telemundo Networks’ President where he modernized the brand and transformed the company’s content strategy. Earlier in his career, Luis served as Discovery Networks EVP and Chief Content Officer, having risen through the company’s senior ranks. And of course, Luis got his start in brand management at P&G in Beauty Care. Luis studied industrial engineering at Georgia Tech, and received his MBA from Harvard Business School. Luis is a proud dual citizen of the United States and Columbia, passionate about Futbol, History, and Latin music, and lives in Miami with his wife and four children. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation about creating content that resonates across cultures and generations. 

“Don’t measure success by traversing processes and challenges - but if you win once it gets in the hands of consumers.”

Mark Mercurio is President and CEO of The Gorilla Glue company, a leading, family-owned producer of consumer-branded Glues, Tapes, and Personal Care products based in Cincinnati, Ohio - and often ranked as one of the best places to work in the city. Before becoming CEO in 2019, Mark served as the company’s CMO and President of their International Business. Prior to Gorilla Glue, Mark spent ten years at P&G in marketing roles across Fabric Care, Surface Care, trade marketing, and Pet Care. Mark started his career with Accenture as an IT management consultant. Mark studied Civil Engineering at the University of Cincinnati and received his MBA from the University of Virginia. Mark also serves as a Vice-Chair on the Board of Trustees at the Children’s Home of Cincinnati. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation about managing transition to a family-owned business, and the importance of integrating fun at work as a competitive advantage - especially in today’s marketplace.

“Don’t get caught chasing what you think you have to chase. Figure out what you want to go do - and you’ll ultimately be happier and more successful”

George Felix is Tinder’s Chief Marketing Officer - where he leads the global brand vision, strategy, and operations for the highest grossing non-gaming app in the world. Previously, George spent 6 years at Yum! Brands in roles of rising seniority - most recently as CMO of Pizza Hut U.S. - where he led a new brand positioning and advertising campaign that delivered three consecutive quarters of sales growth including. George was also KFC’s marketing director for global and brand communications. During his time at Yum, George was named AdAge’s Marketer of the Year, KFC’s “ Return of Colonel Sanders'' campaign was named AdAge’s Campaign of the Year, and KFC was listed as a “Top 10 Brand.” George spent 6 years at P&G, rising through the ranks of brand management working on Old Spice and Mobile Marketing - leading campaigns that won 10 Cannes Lions, 2 Effies, and even an Emmy (for Best Commercial). George studied at the University of Notre Dame and received his MBA from UNC Chapel Hill. He currently lives in Dallas with his wife and 2 children. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation about listening to your gut instinct vs what society (or even your parents) want you to do - pivoting when you realize something isn’t working, and always adapting and learning.

“When you face challenges, the more you imagine finding positive outcomes is important to finding a different solution.”

Alicia Enciso is Nestlé USA’s first ever Chief Marketing Officer - leveraging marketing as a force for good across the industry - in multicultural marketing, plant-based innovation, ​​and scaling mentorship  for underrepresented groups. Alicia has served at Nestlé since 2013, starting as a VP of Communications in Mexico. Prior to Nestlé Alicia was Managing Director of the Zyman Group - a media consultancy where she led the group’s operations in Mexico developing growth strategies for Fortune 500 companies. And Alicia spent eleven years at P&G - starting in Latin America and rising through the ranks across Personal Care, Home Care and Paper Divisions, where in 1997 she led P&G’s then-largest Latin American acquisition, creating a new Paper Division for the region. 

Alicia studied at Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México and Harvard University - and serves as the Vice-Chair of the ANA’s Alliance for Inclusive and Multicultural Marketing. In this role - she works with fellow industry leaders to help drive equality, inclusion and systemic change in the marketing ecosystem and society. You’ll enjoy this positive, candid conversation about leaning into challenging opportunities and learning through action, positivity, and perseverance. 

As 2021 comes to a close, we wanted to share an amazing donation - and winning - opportunity for ALL of our end-of-year giving.

pgalums.com/raffle pgalums.com/donate https://pgalumnifoundation.org

The P&G Alumni Foundation creates economic empowerment opportunities for those in need around the world - providing marginalized communities sustainable paths to prosperity. As a registered nonprofit with HUNDREDS of volunteers around the world - the P&G Alumni Foundation does this each year by providing grants to some AMAZING organizations - funded through contributions by P&G Alumni and podcast listeners around the world.

The P&G Alumni Foundation is creating REAL, impactful economic opportunities for local communities - across rural Africa and Asia, in urban Mumbai and Cincinnati, as well as so many other amazing and deserving programs around the world - powered by P&G people. And for the month of December - to accelerate ALL of our year end giving, we’ve got TWO really exciting opportunities that we hope will motivate YOU to donate to the great work of the P&G Alumni Foundation. 

1. Thanks to the generosity of former P&G CEO John Pepper and his wife Francie, all year-end donations of ANY size will be matched, dollar for dollar.

2. And to make things even more interesting - all donations given in the month of December will ALSO make you eligible to win a 30-minute Zoom call with some of our most prominent Alumni. Your donation - of any size - will enter you for the chance to win a conversation with folks like...

AG LAFLEY - former P&G CEO  PAUL POLMAN - former Unilever CEO  BRACKEN DARRELL - Logitech CEO  SILVIA DAVILLA - Danone President BENNO DORER - former Clorox CEO ...and many more accomplished Alumni leaders

Learn more on how to donate - AND win a chance for an amazing 1:1 Alumni conversation - at pgalums.com/raffle. Or you can simply give - and have your donations matched by John & Francie Pepper at pgalums.com/donate

No donation is too small, or too big - and it’s never too late to start giving back. Your donation is tax deductible - and through the power of P&G people - will be put to great use uplifting communities around the world! 

“Being an entrepreneur gives you life and business experiences you don’t see on the corporate side. Those can make you a better business leader.”

Bob Gilbreath is an accomplished entrepreneur - currently the CEO & Co-founder of Hearty - a professional recommendation network where great people and companies find each other. Bob was previously the Co-Founder and CEO of Ahalogy, a leading influencer marketing company with clients such as P&G, Coca-Cola and Kroger - ultimately acquired by Quotient technologies. And before jumping into startups, Bob was a partner at Bridge Worldwide, a leading digital agency acquired by WPP to become POSSIBLE, where Bob served as Chief Strategy Officer. Bob literallywrote the book on ‘Marketing with Meaning’ (McGraw-Hill). Bob also worked at P&G on big brands like Tide but also launching new innovations like Fit Fruit & Vegetable Wash, Mr. Clean Magic Eraser and Mr. Clean Auto Dry. - for which he was named an AdAge Top 50 Marketer. Bob has an MBA in Marketing from NYU/Stern and a BA in Economics from Duke University. A husband, father, mentor, avid reader and writer, Bob also may or may not be able to play the guitar. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation about what it really means to be an entrepreneur, and the real dividend that comes from challenging yourself every day. 

“How do you change the dynamic - where you have others with diverse thoughts and culture - so you're not alone?”

Stefan K. James is Nationwide Insurance’s AVP of Marketing for Personal Lines B2C Business. Prior to Nationwide, Stefan helped launch and accelerate SwitchedOn Training - a brain training app for athletes and pro coaches. Stefan spent ten years at Pepsi as a Marketing Insights Director on brands like Tropicana and Quaker Oat, and got his start at P&G working in CMK on brands like Herbal Essences, Pantene, Mr Clean and Swiffer, and Febreze. Stefan studied Public Relations at Florida A&M University and received his Masters in International Business from Nova Southeastern University. As a proud husband and father, Stefan’s accomplishments go far beyond boy bands and podcast appearances. You’ll enjoy this candid, nerdy conversation that frames privilege and perspective alongside career motivations and ownership.

“Outsiders bring fresh thinking to the table. Some of my biggest contributions were because I thought differently and spoke my own mind all the time.”

Peg Wyant is the Founder & CEO of Grandin Properties. But before that, Peg broke the glass ceiling at Procter & Gamble in 1967 - a decade before the phrase entered the lexicon. When the company tried to put her in the typing pool, she responded with “all I can do is think, don’t you have a test for that.” She rose through the ranks, becoming a serial “first female” including first brand manager and first direct report to then CEO John Smale as head of strategic planning and acquisitions. After leaving P&G to become an almost full-time mom, Peg sought other challenges — consulting for Fortune 500 CEOs, and founding a venture capital fund focused on women-led companies. Peg soon launched Grandin Properties, a real estate development and management company focusing on walkable urban neighborhoods in Cincinnati. Beyond her career, Peg helped found the P&G Alumni Network and the Women’s Capital Club. Peg’s new book is called One Red Shoe: The Story of Corporate America’s First Woman. Alongside her husband Jack, Peg has four children and nine grandchildren. You’ll enjoy this insightful conversation about what it takes to persevere when the odds may be against you, to challenge the status quo, outperform, and break through boundaries.

“Keep the consumer in the room. Don’t spend time on things that don’t matter to her.”

Joe Arcuri is the CEO of American Greetings which includes brands like American Greetings, Papyrus, and Carlton cards. He was also previously the CMO of the PGA Tour and President of home solutions for Newell Rubbermaid. Joe got his start at P&G, first in product development and later in brand management, where we rose through the ranks to VP and GM roles in North America Beauty, Global Personal Cleansing, and Western Europe Family Care. During his P&G career, Joe worked across brands like Vicks, Olay, Gillette, Old Spice, Secret and Ivory. Joe studied Chemical Engineering at Georgia Tech University and received his MBA from Duke University. You’ll enjoy hearing about Joe’s track record for revitalizing brands and building strong cultures - and a candid conversation about getting comfortable with the uncomfortable.

“Don't rely on what got you there. Making time to invest in yourself is important.”

Jamal Muashsher serves as Valvoline's President, Global Products - where he’s responsible for the long-term growth and expansion of international markets, having risen through the ranks for 7+ years. Prior to joining Valvoline, Jamal spent nearly fifteen years at Procter & Gamble rising through the ranks of beauty, health, and home care, as well as P&G Entertainment. Jamal is active in the non-profit community, serving on a variety of boards and having co-founded and served as president of Give Back Cincinnati.  In 2020, Jamal was selected as Man of the Year for the Lexington Chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.  He also serves on the board for the Talent Magnet Institute and recently joined the University of Cincinnati Venture lab as an Entrepreneur-In-Residence Coach. A native of Cincinnati,, Muashsher studied Chemical Engineering from the University of Cincinnati and received his MBA from Auburn University.  Now a Kentuckian, he lives with his wife and daughter.

“People want to be a part of the change. It’s important that allies are not only anti-racist, but accomplices.”

Tiyale Hayes is BET Network’s SVP of Brand Strategy & Marketing where he ensures the Viacom company advances business objectives and authentically connecting with African American audiences. Over his career, Tiyale has worked on some of the world’s biggest and best brands fueling his passion for authentic inclusion and empathy into brand building. Tiyale spent eight years at Johnson & Johnson in roles of increasing responsibility from sales to leading global insight development for a number of brands including Tylenol, Motrin, Listerine, and a number of Rx to OTC Switch initiatives. And during his six years at P&G, he led in Consumer Insights and Global Innovation groups on brands like Folgers, Pringles, Crest, Gillette and Old Spice.

Tiyale studied at Hampton University and received his MBA from Purdue. He is a frequent speaker at both private and industry conferences, leading thinking on how to create culture transformation and drive value for African Americans, Millennials, and LGBTQ+ populations. Tiyale serves on the board of the National Hampton Alumni Association and the non-profit Live Out Loud based in New York City.

You’ll enjoy this candid conversation spanning perspectives - with a focus on finding common threads that unite us, and moving ALL of us along the spectrum of ally to accomplice in actionable ways.

“You have to work harder with international assignments. Get to know the people, the culture - and see your own country through somebody else’s eyes.”

Craig Bahner is the CEO of Sara Lee Frozen Bakery - leading iconic brands like Sara Lee, Van’s, Chef Pierre and Bistro Collection. An 80 year old brand, Craig was there for the recent spin-off, putting in place pieces to accelerate growth, operations, and innovation. Previously, Craig was Kellogg’s President of US Morning Foods, and Wendy’s CMO - helping transform the iconic restaurant brand for the first time in decades. Craig spent 20 years at P&G rising thru the ranks - serving as GM of North America Hair Care & Color and GM of Northeast Asia’s Fabric & Home Care business. But Craig actually got his start in product supply @ Pillsbury, and later working at an AVIATION company in Cincinnati. Craig is a graduate of The Ohio State University, where he’s a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council for the Fisher College of Business, and also a trustee of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. Craig also happens to be an avid aviator - a certified pilot having flown all over the continent. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation about stepping outside your comfort zone, and always seeking to humbly learn from those around you.

“With so much uncertainty, all of us are now more aware, focused and socially conscious. We are going to do wonders with that.”

Keila Lazardi is the Chief Scientific Officer of Revlon, responsible for global product innovation and strategies — across technologies and categories including skin care, color cosmetics, nail care, hair care, fine fragrances and deodorants. With 25 years of global experience in CPG & Health, she has an exceptional track record of delivering breakthrough innovation. Prior to leading at Revlon, Keila served as e.l.f. Cosmetic’s VP of R&D, and previously held senior technical roles at Schiff Nutrition, Reckitt Benckiser, and P&G, where she got her start - in paper, hair, fabric and home care categories. Keila received her PhD in Biochemistry from the Venezuelan Institute of Scientific Research and a Masters in Biology from Universidad Central de Venezuela. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation about the need for career transparency, authenticity, and perseverance - as well as a very optimistic take for the times that we live in.

“It is better to sleep well than to eat well. Knowing that you have done the right thing - there is nor price for that.”

Jorge Uribe served as P&G’s Global Productivity & Organization Transformation Officer until 2015. Mr. Uribe spent 33 years with Procter & Gamble, where he held roles as Group President, Marketing & Sales Vice President, and grew through numerous roles across  Switzerland, Central America, the Caribbean, Cyprus, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates and Gulf Countries, Saudi Arabia and Colombia. Mr. Uribe serves  on the boards of a number of organizations including General Mills and previously the United Way Worldwide. He holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Xavier University and a bachelor degree in management engineering from Universidad Nacional de Colombia.  You’ll enjoy this candid conversation reflecting on an impressive career - from working on farms in Medellin, to a globe-spanning career - where Jorge demonstrates the power of always being your best self.

“It’s powerful to say ‘I don't know everything’ - I love an organization of thinkers, creators, and people unafraid to be accountable for ideas.”

Brain Niccol is the Chairman and CEO of Chipotle Mexican Grill - driving brand strategy and performance of over 2,700 restaurants across North America and Europe. Chipotle is a purpose-driven brand so many of us love - focused on fresh, responsible ingredients that respect the animals, land, and people who produce them. Prior to leading Chipotle, Brian was CEO of Taco Bell - the culmination of more than a decade @ YUM Brands in senior roles on Taco Bell & Pizza Hut - including VP, CMO, and General Manager. Brian got his start at P&G - where he spent nineyears rising through the ranks of brand management - working on brands like Scope, Thermacare, Vicks, Pringles. Brian studied Engineering @ Miami University in Ohio, and got his MBA from the University of Chicago. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation about not just some of Brian’s earliest lessons in business, but also about how he’s always staying curious - and doing what’s right for our communities.

“Share good moments, but also pass on learnings where things did NOT go great - for experience and learning that will benefit others.”

Yolanda Talamo is The Heineken Company’s Chief People Officer. She joined Heineken in 2017 as SVP Human Resources for the Americas, but during the pandemic she assumed responsibility for all crisis management and related plans during COVID-19. Prior to Heineken, Yolanda was an SVP of Human Resources for SAB Miller, and spent 18 years at P&G, working in senior HR roles in Latin America and North America, as well as roles in marketing and consumer research. Yolanda has a proven track record of transforming organizations, developing executives and human resource organizations and delivering high performing teams with profitable business results. Yolanda was born in Venezuela, and holds American and Italian citizenships. She serves on several boards both in the U.S. and around the world and is seen as a positive and trusted force for change across organizations. In this candid conversation, you’ll hear not just about Yolanda’s accomplishments, but also her experiences with setbacks — and how she’s continued to use them as fuel for next steps and learning, as so many things in life are not a one-way door...

“Seek out experiences and not titles, because that's where you’ll get the most value at the end of the day.”

Matt Story is VISA’s Vice President of Global Marketing Partnerships & Advocacy - where he leads strategy for marketing partnerships and the company’s approach to uplifting underrepresented audiences through marketing initiatives. Matt has also held senior marketing roles @ Intel, Razorfish, and Publicis “Denuo” a agency’s unique worldwide center of expertise across mobile, collaboration and gaming practices - helping some of the world’s biggest brands  “see around the corner” to solve marketing challenges. Matt got his start atP&G as one of the company’s earliest hybrid Digital Marketing Managers + Business Analysts. Matt studied Computer Science & Computer Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis, and is also an Investor, Board Member, Podcast Host, Inclusion Advocate, and most importantly, husband and father. In this candid conversation, Matt shares how he’s gained not just experience, but empathy from everything he’s done. You’ll enjoy hearing about how young leaders like Matt doesn’t just seek to understand, but also seeks to see where he can help others on their unique journeys.

“Honestly, if you could describe what you needed to a P&G technologist - it could be done.”

Gordon Brunner, was P&G’s Chief Technology Officer leading the company’s technical community, and even serving on P&G’s Board of Directors. Gordon initially joined the Company's Food Division in 1961 as a Process Engineer, progressing through R&D assignments with increasing responsibility and experience across food, laundry and cleaning. His work directly impacted many of P&G’s Billion Dollar brands. In 1976 Gordon  became head of all European R&D operations, and returned to the US soon becoming Senior Vice President of global R&D. Gordon led internal venture programs responsible for new products like Swiffer, Dryel, and Febreze, and growing P&G's life science and healthcare business.  Gordon was elected to the company Board in 1991, and in 1995, he accepted the U.S. Medal of Technology on behalf of P&G from President Bill Clinton. In 1999 Gordon became P&G’s Chief Technology Officer.

A native of Des Plaines, Illinois, Gordon studied Biochemical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin, and got his MBA from Xavier University. Since retiring - Gordon has remained quite busy leading ventures across academic, philanthropic and professional organizations - and ever the scientist/tinkerer - remaining very technically active in some of