Month: January 2025
Insights & Analytics Forum Recorded Webinar: Building Mutually Beneficial Connections in I&A for Long-Term Success
Published January 30, 2025 by Elsie Gallegos in
Join Kendra Speed, Global Director of Consumer Market Research at LinkedIn, as she discusses how to build relationships for career and business growth in the Insights & Analytics industry. She will share perspective not only on how to leverage LinkedIn beyond the tactics of connections, but also on how to grow your credibility in the space.
Special Opportunity: Main Presentation 11:00 to 11:45 ET – Stay afterwards from 11:45 to 12:30 ET for discussion, networking, and to upgrade your personal connections!
About Kendra: Marketing and strategy leader Kendra Speed excels in steering executive teams toward disruptive innovation. Kendra’s collaborations with BET and P&G resulted in groundbreaking insights that fueled the Black Men Love campaign. She played a pivotal role in the foundational understanding that undergirds the national CROWN Act. She has ignited over $2 billion in product and marketing pipelines for brands like Dropbox, Toyota, Olay, and JM Smucker. Currently global director of consumer insights at LinkedIn, she oversees a global team focused on consumer understanding for LinkedIn Flagship and Premium, Brand, Equity, Trust and Belonging.
WLF Recording: Women on Boards Series: Conversation with Annalisa Loustau
Published January 27, 2025 by Elsie Gallegos in
Women on Board Series – Fire Chat with Annalisa Loustau
Kick off the New Year with inspiration and insights from a highly successful and accomplished women in business! As part of our ‘Women on Boards’ series, we are thrilled to host a fireside chat with Annalisa Loustau, an inspiring leader with a wealth of experience.
Meet Annalisa Loustau
Annalisa is a former C-level executive at Printemps, Cartier, L’Oréal, and Procter & Gamble, and currently an independent board member at Swarovski, Roche Bobois, WG&S, and Kaufman & Broad. She brings decades of expertise in strategy, brand building, marketing, and commercial excellence, with a remarkable track record of business turnarounds across sectors such as Retail, Luxury, Beauty, and FMCG.
This interactive session will explore the theme:
“From the Boardroom: The Advice You Will Never Get”
Gain exclusive insights as Annalisa shares lessons learned from her inspiring journey and candid advice for leaders and aspiring board members.
Podcast: Brynne Thompson, Learning in an Era of Smartphones
Published January 24, 2025 by pgalums in
Brynne Thompson is an investor, advisor, and all-around brilliant and thoughtful person who helps startup founders and institutional investors figure out where the future is heading. Brynne is the founder of Respire Enterprises and a former partner of Coburn Ventures.
Brynne supports and invests in startups built for the next generation of stewardship, climate awareness, and multi-stakeholder management. With Coburn ventures, she led and advised investments in areas where technology may generate a dramatic shift in an industry.
In this conversation with P&G Alumni Bob Gilbreath on “The Workaround,” Brynne & Bob compare notes on navigating the information-overloaded moment we’re in and share some useful stories and hacks on how to thrive. In this candid discussion, we discover how we can take advantage of all the information available at our fingertips without falling for the non-wisdom of the crowd (and driving ourselves crazy in the process).
This conversation is from P&G Alum Bob Gilbreath’s podcast & newsletter “The Workaround.” Bob is a repeat startup founder with two exits. Bob’s stories and conversations—from a career in tech startups and corporate innovation—are here to make you think, smile, and discover a shortcut to success or a trap to avoid. You can subscribe at behearty.substack.com
This is a feature of an Alumni Leader’s frequently published thought leadership. Got an idea for a future “Learnings from Leaders” episode – reach out at pgalumpod@gmail.com
Podcast: Matthew Dicks, Master Storyteller & Author
Published January 23, 2025 by pgalums in
Matthew Dicks is a master storyteller and author of many books including STORYWORTHY: Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life through the Power of Storytelling.
Matthew has earned the title of Master Storyteller as a five-time Moth GrandSLAM champion. The Moth is New York City’s iconic storytelling platform (which also has a great podcast) and Matthew has dominated it, winning 52 StorySLAMs around the country.
Matthew also co-founded Speak Up, a storytelling organization that has helped thousands craft more compelling stories. He’s written a number of fiction and nonfiction books—including STORYWORTHY.
Matt’s Homework for Life project is a powerful tool for anyone looking to enrich their daily life through storytelling, one small step at a time. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation that might help you find some simple, practical ways to find more meaning and connection in your life,
This conversation is from P&G Alum Sharad Lal’s top podcast “HOW TO LIVE.” For lots more great discussions with Sharad and thought leaders, subscribe to How To Live wherever you get your favorite podcasts or visit howtolive.life
P&G Alumni Foundation Elects New Board Members
Published by pgalums in
With all the current needs in the world, there is no better time than right now to get involved with the P&G Alumni Foundation!
The P&G Alumni Foundation awarded $230,000 in grants this year—more than ever before. Across all grant years, we multiply the impact of our 80+ alumni grant champions who follow their passions and work with nonprofits in 45 countries. Together, we are a force for good multiplied! Our total of 134 grants have improved the lives of 230,000 people in communities now and for generations to come.
Recently, the Foundation elected two new board members. They each bring great passion and philanthropic experience to their roles and are aligned with an innovative strategy to support our continued growth. We are fortunate to have their energy and talent to help leverage our shared values to invest together and create opportunities.
Meet The New Board Members
Cinzia Gaeta retired from P&G in 2021, having worked in the legal department for 34 years, with her last assignment as VP Legal Counsel Southern Europe. Cinzia has a wealth of expertise having served as a member of the Italian Advertising Jury, Advertiser Union Legal Commission, Ministry of Equal Opportunities, and a Lecturer at Pisa University, Sole 24 Ore Business School, and LUMSA University. Cinzia graduated in Law at La Sapienza University in Rome.
Since retirement, Cinzia has taken on the role of Head of Human Resources & Legal Affairs at Susan G. Komen Italia APS, BoD member at Seniores Italia ODV, P&G Alumni Italia, and Metasociale Onlus.
Cinzia has significant Board experience having served on the BoD for Procter & Gamble, Italia, Fater S.p.A (P&G joint venture), Fameccanica (P&G joint venture) and Procter & Gamble Producto de Consumo Espana.
The P&G Alumni Foundation is thrilled to have Cinzia join the Board and bring her strong depth and breadth of Board expertise.
Randall Smith started volunteering for the Foundation on the Advancement Committee after retiring this year from Procter & Gamble. He brings over 15 years of experience from the Patron Development Committee of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.
He is a global brand-builder, having worked in the US, Europe and Asia. During his 20 years at P&G in Cincinnati, he worked in BBIC and helped lead many of P&G’s most successful campaigns. His marketing programs at P&G have received 3 Emmys, over 15 Effies and over 50 Cannes Lions including 2 Grand Prix. He was a member of the Multicultural and Inclusive Marketing Lead team and the Brand Mastery Society.
Randall graduated from The College of the University of Chicago with degrees in economics and Near Eastern languages and civilizations. He earned his MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business with a concentration in marketing.
The Foundation is excited to have Randall assume an expanded role on the Board.
Podcast: Bhavesh Shah, Global Business & Operations Leader
Published January 20, 2025 by pgalums in
Bhavesh Shah is an advisor, investor, and managing partner with 30+ years in senior leadership, operations, and procurement positions at Procter & Gamble and Firmenich, the world’s largest family-owned Fragrance and Flavour House. He’s lived and worked across London, Geneva, Brussels, Guangzhou, and Singapore—with extensive business exposure to North and South America.
Across twenty years at P&G, Bhavesh oversaw billions of dollars in spending as a procurement leader across markets—and he produced the highest-rated TV show of its time China’s Got Talent.
After P&G, Bhavesh joined Firmenich for nine years as the company’s Chief Procurement Officer, spearheading a transformative turnaround, doubling its EBITDA, and solidifying its position as the industry leader. Bhavesh is now a Managing Partner at Synfiny, one of the fastest-growing global advisory firms. Bhavesh is also an early-stage investor and selectively a Board Director, with a recent successful exit from Smart Build Asia and ongoing investments in Brinc, Opinsta, MPOWERD, and Abele Trust, amongst others.
You’ll enjoy this candid conversation on combining intentionality, curiosity, and audacity—and being the luck in others’ lives.
This is part of our Chinese leaders series – hosted by P&G Alumni Emily Chang. Got an idea for a future “Learnings from Leaders” episode? Reach out at pgalumpod@gmail.com
Start the New Year by offering yourself a Global Conference ticket for Berlin!
Published January 14, 2025 by pgalums in
499€ instead of 649€ valid until Jan 15, 2025
Is one of your New Year resolutions to spend more quality time with good friends and/or to get inspiration from outside of your usual “bubble”? If yes, we have a great opportunity that offers both: The P&G Alumni Global Conference at the Grand Hyatt in Berlin on June 13 & 14, 2025 (arrival on June 12 recommended)
2025 just started and most of us feel, it will shake old structures even more than the years before because the world is changing more rapidly than we ever have experienced. This year’s conference considers this feeling of uncertainty and will enable all of us to co-create new thinking on how to empower ourselves individually, with our families and friends, in the communities we live, and in the organizations we lead.
We, the P&G alumni community, have a track record of making a difference in the world – individually and collectively. The conference is designed to bring us together and to give us new impulses to be future-proof leaders on all levels.
As we continue to orchestrate the agenda to make it as diverse and enriching as possible, we will share our highlights over the next months. The fireside chat between former P&G CEO David Taylor and young tech start-up founder Daniel Dippold was our highlight in December. Today, we give you insights into the keynote speeches of two already-announced female leaders.

Veronika Rost started her professional career in Brand Management at Procter & Gamble with positions in Germany, France and Switzerland and is now Managing Director of Philip Morris Germany. She will share her experience on how to radically and successfully transform a company’s and consequently a whole industry’s business model to build a resilient and future-proof entity:
- Hear why the market leader in cigarettes made the bold decision to move away from its traditional and successful products and invent smoke-free alternatives that are potentially less harmful.
- Learn how the company overcame the resulting internal and external skepticism and even resistance in pursuing this smoke-free future.
- Understand the ongoing challenges and opportunities in redefining a whole industry and how to regard consumers, include stakeholders and opinionmakers, and modify an organization with the help of strong leadership.
Jutta dos Santos Miquelino, co-CEO of and dos Santos GmbH and author of the inspiring book The Glass Elevator wants to remind us that great leadership is not a crown we wear, but the path we carve through empathy, innovation, and shared growth.
Jutta’s keynote, “Oneness in Leadership: Navigating the 5 Dimensions of Reality,” is set to take us on a journey from personal growth to collective excellence. She will draw from her groundbreaking concept of 5D-Leadership a blueprint for unlocking both individual and collective potential in today’s ever-evolving landscape.
Here’s a glimpse of what you can expect:
- Harnessing personal growth as the foundation for leadership.
- Bridging purpose and collaboration for organizational excellence.
- Fostering innovation through collective intelligence.
Is this great food for thought for you? There is more to come and even food for the body and soul! Inspiration from excellent speakers, panels and break-out sessions, catering during both days and lively dinners on both evenings of the conference are included in one ticket! For 499€ till January 15 or 649€ as of Jan 16 (excluding registration fee) you will have the chance to join an unforgettable experience!
See the full list of speakers on our website. Forward this link to P&G alumni in your personal network and invite them to join and meet you in Berlin! More highlights are being prepared for you—stay tuned!
Podcast: Srikant Nayak, Google Marketing APAC
Published January 13, 2025 by pgalums in
Srikant Nayak is Google’s Director of Marketing in APAC for the Play Store, Chrome, Chromebooks, and Google One.
Srikant has spent 18+ years as a marketing leader working on billion dollar brands across industries in Asia, from Consumer Tech to QSR and CPG. Prior to Google, Srikant served as Yum! Brand Asia’s Chief Marketing Officer & Chief Strategy Officer. Srikant got his career start at P&G working in Fabric Care & Baby Care across India and ASEAN Markets. Srikant has a personal passion for being a culture champion and growing people. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation on honing and trusting our instincts to navigate those sliding door moments in our careers and lives.
This episode is hosted by P&G Alum Sudha Ranganathan, who’s spent over 19 years in diverse Marketing leadership roles at companies like P&G, PayPal, and LinkedIn where she’s honed her passion for customer-centric marketing and talent development.