What quickly became clear to Ayan was that his work went beyond tea brewing. It was about creating a space and product to understand and celebrate culture, comfort, and connection.

The Kolkata Chai story caught the attention of many, including comedian Hasan Minhaj, a passionate investor and advocate. Before founding Kolkata Chai, Ayan established a strong career in marketing and advertising, as  Managing Director at Green Room Creative, driving growth strategies for startups and mid-stage companies, and held key digital roles at 2U, Havas Media, Hill Holliday, and Connelly Partners. Bridging a life of rock music, marketing, and brewing—Ayan’s journey is informed by travels between Amherst, Kolkata, Brooklyn, and everything in between. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation about family, culture, and entrepreneurship, hopefully with a good cup of chai.

This episode is from Raman’s other podcast, Modern Minorities, where we share minority conversations for all of our majority years, which we hope will inspire new perspectives and learnings.

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A nationally recognized leader in gender equity and workforce transformation, Teresa spent nearly three decades in corporate America, including a decade in the C-suite at Fifth Third Bank, where she served as Chief Administrative Officer and Chief Human Resources Officer, and 18 years in operational and HR leadership roles at McDonald’s.

Teresa currently serves on the boards of Ms.Medicine and Best Upon Request, and previously held board roles at Vectren. Throughout her career, Teresa has championed corporate cultures that support employees both at work and at home. At Reserve Squad, she’s reimagining how companies can retain skilled talent—particularly working mothers—by disrupting rigid full-time work models and offering “Reservist” opportunities for alumni to stay engaged, contribute meaningfully, and return when ready. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation with Teresa—full of wisdom, heart, and hard-earned insight—as we talk about leading with love over fear, holding your mission while staying open to reinvention, and why the workforce of the future will be driven by connection, not conformity.

This episode is hosted by P&G Alum Sudha Ranganathan, who has 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.

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Greg shares the story from his book “Essentialism – The Disciplined Pursuit of Less,” along with powerful insights on how leaders can cut through the noise to focus on what truly matters. If you’ve ever felt stretched too thin or overwhelmed by too many priorities, this conversation will inspire you to take a bold step: do less, but better.

LEARN MORE: gregmckeown.com

Greg has delivered keynote addresses in over 40 countries and worked with more than 500 organizations, including Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Nike, and hosts a top podcast in self-improvement and education. A Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum, Greg also serves on nonprofit boards and has co-created Stanford’s popular “Designing Life, Essentially” course. Greg is currently conducting doctoral research at the University of Cambridge, holds an MBA from Stanford, and completed a Global Leadership and Public Policy certificate at Harvard Kennedy School. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation on how to say no more often, how to lead without overwhelm, and how to build cultures where excellence becomes effortless. 

This conversation is from P&G Alum Stefan Homeister’s top podcast “LEITWOLF” – for more inspirational conversations on leadership, subscribe to Leitwolf wherever you get your favorite podcasts. LEARN MORE: stefan-homeister-leadership.com

Got an idea for a future “Learnings from Leaders” episode? Reach out at pgalumpod@gmail.com

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We need something to believe in and something to do about it, so longtime friend of the pod Bob Gilbreath shares what works for him. It might help you handle the stress, and maybe even convince you to be the tiny pair of butterfly wings that delivers positive change.

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

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Partner with the P&G Alumni Network: A Gateway to Global Success

• Exclusive Access: Tap into a network of 1000+ C-suite and executive leaders, including 10% of S&P 500 CEOs, 50+ CFOs of billion-dollar companies, and 60+ CMOs of billion-dollar companies.
• Global Reach: Connect with prospective customers in a high-touch environment, leveraging global conferences, local chapters, specialized forums, industry events, and online content.
• Customized Engagement: Tailor your sponsorship through networking groups, events, and content to build senior relationships.
• Brand Alignment: Join a highly exclusive list of sponsors and brands that share our values and commitment to making a positive impact.
• Become a Thought Leader Through Content: Position yourself as an industry expert through our Podcasts, Webinars, and Events.

Koji San got his start at P&G, where he spent 14 years as a CMK leader, working Prestige Skin Care, Beauty Care, and Household Care across Singapore, Asia, and the United States. He’s also passionate about giving back, supporting children’s education and health through amazing organizations like Save the Children and UN Women. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation of experiences across multiple cultures from Japan to Singapore to the United States — and how influence can look very different across individualistic and collective cultures, and lessons on how leaders can architect inclusiveness into their teams. 

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.

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Sarah got her start at Procter & Gamble in Hong Kong and Guangzhou in the early 1990s, where she managed brands across Greater China during a pivotal time of regional economic opening. Since then, Sarah has gained experience across China and Asia at J&J International, leading innovation practices at agencies, and advising several Chinese startups. Fluent in Mandarin and deeply immersed in the Chinese market, Sarah brings a rare combination of strategic rigor, creative vision, and cross-cultural fluency, helping organizations navigate complexity and chart bold paths forward.

Sarah is based in Shanghai, China. She studied  Mandarin and Political Science at Wellesley College and holds certifications in Chinese language and law from MIT Sloan. The Chinese University of Hong Kong, the Beijing Foreign Languages Normal College, and Harbin Institute of Technology. Sarah lives in Shanghai. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation about a career at the intersection of culture, commerce, and innovation.

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

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Bring a guest! Extra tickets for the Night of Gratitude Party are available here.

Our Second Global “Alum-to-Alum” Auction!
Bid on exclusive experiences offered by fellow alums—with net proceeds going toward grants programs that help those in need. The online auction will go live on June 12 and will accept bids until June 30. The experiences span the globe and already include curated team-building experiences in Zurich and Berlin, bourbon tasting in Kentucky, one-of-a-kind art from Italy, craft beer tasting, and more. 

Do you have tickets, tours, vacation home, or a unique experience to contribute to the on-line auction? Take a look at this link to see donation ideas that can help us raise money to support life-changing grants and improve lives for generations to come! 

ONLINE AUCTION – Donate an Item
Empower Livelihoods & Multiply Your Impact

While Executive Creative Director at Grey, a leading creative agency, Marc helped the P&G brand team turn around the iconic Mr. Clean brand. Marc’s writing on brand innovation has been featured by TED, the Huffington Post, Fast Company, GreenBiz, and Sustainable Life Media. You can learn more about Marc’s work at BrandsInvestorsLove.com or MarcStoiber.com.

Marc joined our friend of the pod Bob Gilbreath for a fascinating conversation on how he’s building a one-person strategy and creative agency—with the help of an AI army. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation, full of practical stories, about how one entrepreneur is using AI as a creative wingman, looking at the future of work through an augmentation lens, and embracing our inner cluelessness.

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The agenda below is the result of the hard work of a dedicated global and local team including the WLF, P&G Alumni Coaches, Catapult team, and the P&G Alumni Foundation. And not to forget the generous contributions of our Gold Sponsors (Oliver Wyman, SynFiny Advisors), Silver Sponsors (Julius Meinl, Stefan Homeister Leadership, Lingaro, Inspiring Thinking Group), and Bronze Sponsors (Deloitte, Verisure, Pricing One, and Yuguo).

This agenda will go live in our Whova Conference App by the end of this month! If you have bought a full conference ticket you’ll need to register in Whova with the same email address as your purchase to receive your QR code ticket, book sessions, and network.

If you were hesitant to buy a ticket and would now like to attend, you can register for a “waiting list” ticket. Or you can join us at our Saturday Night dinner party hosted by the P&G Alumni Foundation and sponsored by Campari—we have an unlimited number of tickets for this event (200€)! This is your chance to still connect with the community and have an extraordinary event to remember!

To find the full conference program, the list of speakers, and the registration link please visit our website.

In past newsletters, we have announced some exciting programs for the arrival day (June 12) and gave some inspiration on the dress code for the two evenings. We would like to remind you of the Berlin boat tour (now available for sale at 49€), the exclusive Opera tour (35€), and the GenZ special—a Saturday afternoon program specifically designed for your adult children (99€).

Even if you have already registered, feel free to go back in and choose additional activities! All tickets available here

We are looking forward to seeing many of you in Berlin! Two months from now!

Credits: Staatsoper Unter den Linden / Marcus Ebener

• A fantastic program from our Women’s Leadership Forum at the Apollo Hall of the opera at 4-6pm with drinks and finger food. Women and male allies of female empowerment are welcome!

Credits: Apollo Hall /Marcus Ebener

• An informal meet-up for the Younger Alumni at the Grand Hyatt Hotel gallery with food and drinks at 7pm.

For spouses, the cultural highlights continue over Friday and Saturday with a curated program of city walking tours, museums, galleries, and shopping streets including coffee and lunch breaks in typical Berlin cafes like the Roca next to the famous “Memorial Church.”

For your next generation (adult kids) who prefer to explore Berlin by themselves, we now offer a special program at the conference venue (Grand Hyatt hotel) on Saturday, June 14 at 2-5pm at a special price of 99€ where a team of leadership coaches and seasoned executives will lead workshops on insightful communication and personal branding, and will also share their experiences in a Career Path panel focused on how to plan and build a fulfilling career. GenZ special at 99€ available here.

For all the authors in our community, we’ve reserved a room at the Grand Hyatt on Saturday from 1–6 PM for a book fair. This is a great opportunity to showcase and sell your books to an engaged audience, host book signings, and connect with readers interested in your work. The only request we have is that all proceeds be donated to the P&G Foundation, which will ensure the funds go toward a meaningful cause.

And finally, for those who are interested in partying on both evenings of the conference:
We’re excited to announce that on the evening of Friday, June 13, we’ll be hosting an elegant gala dinner, followed by the Alumni Award Ceremony and a live band that will transport you straight to the Roaring ’20s. We encourage everyone to dress to match the theme — for costume rentals, we recommend Le Boudoir Berlin.

On Saturday, June 14, get ready to celebrate “Saturday Night Fever!” After a delicious BBQ dinner, we’ll honor the Catapult winners and Rising Stars from our Younger Alumni and then dance the night away until 2 AM. So pack your best disco outfits and get ready to groove to ’70s and ’80s hits — think John Travolta style! Our venue, Spreespeicher, offers even more space than the Grand Hyatt, so we’re excited to be able to offer more tickets for this unforgettable night!

Has this convinced you to join us in Berlin? Then get the right ticket for the conference, your spouse and/or your next gen here.

For the full conference program and the list of speakers go to our website. Forward this link to P&G alumni in your personal network and invite them to join and meet you in Berlin—even if it is just for the party dinner on Saturday night!

Previously, Raul led integrated marketing and later focused on product marketing at Meta for Messenger, orchestrating go-to-market strategies for Messenger and earning a Clio and two Shorty Awards for the “That Close” campaign.

Raul is passionate about integrated marketing communications — focusing on brand growth, product adoption, and delivering impactful campaigns. Raul’s career is a story of pivots – from Latin America to the US, across integrated and product marketing, from CPG to Tech — working across companies like Zespri, Pharmavite, Pepsico, Sara Lee, and seven years in brand management at P&G. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation on adaptability and transitions across industries and cultures. 

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.

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But what if marketing content becomes more work than actually creating good content? Inspired by a recent NY Times article, P&G Alums Drew Tarvin (Humor That Works) + Bob Gilbreath (the Workaround) got together to discuss and debate their own approaches to creating content. 

This is a special “topic-driven” episode where we bring together P&G Alum experts to share their personal learnings. Got an idea for a future “Learnings from Leaders” episode? Reach out at pgalumpod@gmail.com

LEARN MORE

• nytimes.com/2024/12/31/arts/television/netflix-comedy-marketing.html
• Bob Gilbreath’s the Workaround Newsletters – behearty.substack.com

Drew Tarvin’ Humor at Work – drewtarvin.com/

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Michael spent 10 years at P&G in Cincinnati as a Brand Manager, where he met his wife, Raquel Rozas. He started brewing beer at home, earned his credential as a certified beer judge, and completed studies at the World Brewing Academy in Chicago. Michael studied Economics at Stanford and was a Park Fellow at Cornell’s Business School where he received his MBA and was the Vithala and Saroj Rao prize recipient, graduating first in his class.

You’ll enjoy this candid conversation on entrepreneurship and authenticity, and when you’re next in San Francisco, stop by a Barebottle and say hi!

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.

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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

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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 

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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

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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:

1. 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.
2. Learn how the company overcame the resulting internal and external skepticism and even resistance in pursuing this smoke-free future.
3. 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:

1. Harnessing personal growth as the foundation for leadership.
2. Bridging purpose and collaboration for organizational excellence.
3. 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!

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.

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This initiative is a virtual accelerator for P&G Alumni-led startups and scale-ups that offer a product or a service with a proven business model that is already generating sales.  The purpose of this initiative is to accelerate the enterprises of P&G Alum founders by connecting them to potential advisors and investors, while elevating their global visibility.

Selected finalists will present at a Global Virtual Pitch with top global leaders from VC Funds and Global Accelerators (during Feb-Mar 2025). Don’t miss this opportunity to have global reach.

We will also recognize key enterprises for their Climate Impact, Socal Impact and Diversity.

The top companies will get free accelerator-like support from a diverse P&G Alumni team of investors and seasoned start up leaders; and will also present their businesses to the global audience at the P&G Alumni Global Conference on June 12-14, 2025, in Berlin. The overall winner will be recognized as the P&G Alumni Star Entrepreneur of 2025.

You could be the one!  Apply before January 31st, 2025.

If you have any doubt, please write us to catapult@pgalums.com.

Kind regards,

The Global Business Catapult team

Drew studied engineering at THE Ohio State University and was hired by P&G for his technical skills. He worked on global roles in his hometowns of Cincinnati and New York City, yet, it was humor—not engineering—that became his edge in the workplace. By using humor, he diffused tension, built strong relationships, influenced others, and accelerated his career. In fact, he became P&G’s first-ever corporate humorist (self-proclaimed).

Ultimately, Drew made the entrepreneurial leap, founding Humor That Works, a company that has helped 10,000+ leaders in over 100 organizations—including IBM, GE, the FBI, AND P&G —harness humor to lead effectively. His TEDx talk on the skill of humor has been viewed 15MM+ times. You can learn more about Drew’s work at drewtarvin.com. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation on how humor can add depth, purpose, and fulfillment to even the most serious work.

This conversation is from P&G Alum Sharad Lal’s top podcast “HOW TO LIVE.” For lots more great conversations with Sharad and thought leaders, subscribe to How To Live wherever you get your favorite podcasts or visit howtolive.life 

Got an idea for a future “Learnings from Leaders” episode? Reach out at pgalumpod@gmail.com

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Sound promising? Well, this is just the beginning! Our list of speakers grows as we move forward with our planning. You can also look forward to:

• Bracken Darrell, CEO of VF Corporation, one of the world’s largest apparel, footwear and accessories companies
• Karl Krainer, Chief Thinker & Founder at Gedankenfabrik,
  a reinvention consultancy
• Veronika Rost, Managing Director of Philip Morris Germany,
  working on the vision of delivering a smoke-free future
• Jutta dos Santos Miquelino, co-CEO of the consultancy dos Santos and author of the recently published book “The Glass Elevator”,
  a transformative leadership program

See the full list of speakers on our website which is updated continuously. Forward this link to P&G alumni of your personal network and invite them to join and meet you in Berlin!

We are looking forward to sharing one highlight in 2025 with many of you in Berlin and will make sure to keep you regularly updated about the planning.

Wishing you magical holidays with your families and friends and a healthy, optimistic start in 2025!

I am pleased to report that 2024 finds the Network and our Foundation to be very healthy, continuing to grow and positioned well for the future.

Following our successful  2023 Global Conference held in Washington, DC we are well into the execution of our 2025 conference in Berlin—continuing our history of alternating these events between North American and other key geographies.  The event is being organized by our German Chapter and led by Board Vice Chair Ute Hagen and German Chair Otmar Debald.  The event will take place at the Grand Hyatt in the center of Berlin and will run from Thursday evening, June 12 through Saturday evening, June 14. Among many others, David Taylor has agreed to be an important part of the agenda.  We hope many of you will attend.

Financially, we continue to be on very solid footing and the Foundation had a banner year which you can track in the Impact Report. Rest assured that our conservative approach to financials has the Network and the Foundation protected with the funds needed to operate for several years and plans underway to expand our ability to generate the funding required to grow our offerings for our alumni.

In 2024 we added several new faces to the Network Board and thank several of our peers who have moved on. Joining the Board are Hanxi Zhao from China, Neil Comerford from the UK and South Africa, Fer Jimenez Riveroll from Mexico, and Kendra Speed from the US. We want to thank Stevi Carr, Lisa Reynolds, and Michelle Solano for their service. Our board continues to reflect the diversity of our membership and the global reach of our mission.

Consistent with our mission, we continue to expand our offerings, adding them to our existing enrichment programs, and dramatically improving our communications tools and processes, all in order to serve our members better.

Notable successes, among our programs and initiatives, include:

• Our “Learnings from Leaders” podcast continues to grow its audience.
• Our webinar series, including those in Spanish, continues to secure compelling speakers.
• Our Coaching Program – designed and managed by our Women’s Leadership Forum— expanded out of the test and continues to receive very positive feedback. Moreover, we are exploring ways to bring the expertise of our coaches to the employees of companies run by our alumni.
• Our Peer-to-Peer leadership teams—CEOs, CMOs, and C-Level Women—in >$1B companies continued to gain traction and were an integral part of the global conference. We are exploring groups for CFOs, CIOs, and others.
• Our entrepreneur Business Catapult program has been revised to provide opportunities to alumni entrepreneurs, coaches, and investors – with a financial benefit for the Network.
• Our Younger Alumni efforts are being bolstered by the addition of several younger alumni to the Board.

Further:

• We executed a new event at the Conference dedicated to our Black Alumni with the objective of better serving this community. Kendra Speed has taken on the leadership of that forum.
• We continued to add and build our chapter organization and had several chapter leaders in attendance at the Conference. Ranu Gupta who leads our chapter efforts has helped us add chapters in several cities and countries around the world.
• As can be seen in the 2024 Alumni Foundation Impact Report, our Foundation had another remarkable year in terms of both fundraising and grants, dramatically increasing our impact against the objective of alumni involvement in fostering economic empowerment around the world.

As we enter 2025 in a world of greater uncertainty than we have encountered in some time, we continue to believe that the shared values that connect us as alumni will allow us to deal with whatever comes our way.  My own belief has always been that when we harness the experience, expertise, and creativity of Procter people, we can make great things happen.

As we move forward, I am pleased to report that the Network and the Foundation are healthy and thriving – and it’s all thanks to you.

From our families to yours, our sincere wish for 2025 of Peace On Earth and Goodwill toward Everyone.

Ed Tazzia, Chairman

Whether it’s a struggling company or a city with challenges, investing to spruce things up is not necessarily painting over problems. Celebrating success is essential, as is celebrating our existence together. Bob now serves as Co-Founder and CEO of Hearty, a people-tech company, as well as a few other interesting ventures. While at P&G, Bob worked on brands like Tide, Mr. Clean, and more. Bob authored books and shares real-life stories of his business ups-and-downs in his weekly newsletter “the Workaround” – which you can subscribe to @ beheartly.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

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35 years ago, the “wind of change” blew in Berlin, leading to the reunification of the two German countries and the fall of the iron curtain between East and West in Europe. Now, P&G alumni will gather in Berlin to get inspired and co-create ideas on how to navigate through ever-growing uncertainty in a world that is changing more rapidly and fundamentally than ever.

How can we P&G Alumni in our very diverse roles continue to be at the forefront of future-proofing leadership?

We already have more than 60 registered early birds who will get together on June 12-14, 2025 to dive into the four key topics framing the 2-days conference:

1. Resilience and Sustainability of companies and organizations
2. Human-centricity as a key success factor
3. Agility and Digital Disruption
4. Beyond Corporate (the eco-system of entrepreneurship) shaping the world in the non-profit sector.

Besides our P&G Alumni Award winners, we have already secured such outstanding alumni as Austin Lally, Dalia Feldheim, Jim Lafferty, Stefan Homeister, Bob Kunze-Concewitz, Anke Hampel, Till Wahnbaeck sharing their insights with us and leading break-out sessions. Many more speakers are getting on board as we shape the agenda of this inspiring conference!

The keynotes and panel discussions throughout the first day will be closed with an Alumni award dinner at the Grand Hyatt.

On the second day, we will have a gala dinner at Spreespeicher, an event location specially chosen for dinner and dancing in the well-known P&G spirit.

To share this overall experience with your spouses and even your adult children, tailored programs are being prepared to get you all excited about this special occasion in Berlin. These include exclusive Get-your-Guide tours as well as special discussions and CEO meet-ups in addition to the main program for your next generation and young alumni.

What are you waiting for? Get your ticket here!

Who has not yet seen David Taylor in the last newsletter, here he is again inviting you all to be part of the upcoming gathering!

Check our webpage frequently as we will continuously update how many P&G alumni have already signed up and who will take part in leading the program.

She is a 20-year veteran of Starbucks, where she held a variety of leadership roles as the company grew from 50 stores in the US to 55 countries globally. Jessica also held senior roles in China for iconic brands like the Walt Disney Company and Claire’s Accessories.

Jessica is committed to helping organizations understand how to better engage with Chinese businesses and consumers globally. Recently recognized by IPWS with their Lifetime Achievement Award, Jessica works actively to advocate for placing women on executive boards, because the data shows it is just good business. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation about mentorship, sponsorship, and knowing what it takes to win in China.

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

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REGISTER NOW AT https://bit.ly/400Vjf7 

Navigating through uncertainty can be done with different superpowers. Our speakers will inspire you with what they practice and what has proven to stabilize their business and people during these times. They are open to sharing their secrets exclusively with P&G alumni as a gesture to give back to the alma mater which unites us all.

David Taylor, former CEO of P&G had already agreed at the Global Conference in Washington in 2023 to join the next one as he very much appreciates the growth mindset of P&G alumni and their solution-oriented attitude. Listen to his words in his video message here and follow his call to be one of the early birds to book your ticket. “Early bird”-tickets are available now at 499€ (full price will be 649€)

Fernando got his start at P&G, where during his 23-year tenure, became the President of P&G Brazil.

Fernando currently serves on several boards, some of which include CVS Health, Synchrony Financial, and Duke’s Fuqua School of Business. Fernando’s been active in the Coach K Center on Leadership and Ethics, the International Board of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and received the NFL’s Hispanic Heritage Leadership award in 2011. He was also the first Hispanic CEO to participate in CBS’s Undercover Boss. In a spanning conversation of fantastic stories, get ready for some lessons learned across cultures, and around the world.

This is a replay from one of our earliest episodes in 2020 celebrating Hispanic P&G Alumni leadership for Hispanic Heritage Month. Got a favorite past guest, or idea for a future “Learnings from Leaders” episode? Reach out at pgalumpod@gmail.com

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Jorge shares his story growing up in Peru (the son of a teacher), becoming an All-American NCAA soccer player, and setting up a company in a foreign country. He shares the importance of building a business culture without compromising ethics and integrity. Ultimately, for Jorge, the most important results come from growing your business and your organization.

This is a replay from one of our earliest episodes in 2020 – celebrating Hispanic P&G Alumni leadership this Hispanic Heritage Month. Got a favorite past guest, or idea for a future “Learnings from Leaders” episode? Reach out at pgalumpod@gmail.com

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Neil Comerford
Neil Comerford is a customer focused business leader with more than 30 years of experience in Commercial and General Management industries. He has lived on three continents and worked in more than 30 countries. Neil is currently consulting companies and investment funds on commercial best practices, company capabilities, and helping to secure investment for high-growth businesses. 

During a Sales and Customer Business Development career in P&G for 19 years, working across WE, CEEMEA, and EMEA, Neil collaborated with many of P&G’s largest global customers and distributor partners. He was (and is), an advocate for and enabler of P&G’s expansion in Africa, working seven years on the continent. Neil is most proud of the generation of P&G and P&G Alum leaders he was able to coach and help grow in their early careers who have now assumed leadership roles of significance. He has recently become actively involved in the P&G Alumni network and has an appetite to help upgrade the attraction and enrollment of young alumni.  

Kendra Speed
Kendra Speed is passionate about helping teams and individuals use their experiences to face new challenges. Her focus on authenticity, purpose, and innovation drives her to inspire others to break through barriers and achieve success. 

As the Global Director of Consumer Insights at LinkedIn, Kendra leads a team that discovers key insights across LinkedIn’s main services, brand perception, and consumer trust. Her work helps shape strategies that improve how people understand and engage with the platform. 

Kendra has ignited more than $2 Billion in product and marketing pipelines for leading brands such as Dropbox, Toyota, Olay, and JM Smucker. Her groundbreaking psychographic segmentation in the real estate industry led to the formation of Charlotte-based homebuilder of Fielding Homes and the rebranding of national multi-family developer Novel. Kendra has partnered with corporations such as BET and P&G to deliver transformative campaigns. As a visionary strategist, she helped to create the national CROWN Act, in partnership with Unilever. 

Fer Jiménez Riveroll
Fer Jiménez Riveroll collaborated within P&G, starting as a scholar in 1991 and growing to band three in 2000. During this period, he held eleven distinct positions, including areas in materials management, shipment liquidation, customer service, sales administration, IWS, and sales. Thereafter he served in General Management of Scorpion, then as General Manager of a Mercedes Benz agency in Querétaro, and later as CMO at DHL Since July 2023, Fer has been a founding partner and Director of Acquisition at NCC, Fer has also been a member of several boards, including the P&G Alumni Mexico Network.

Fer believes that people should remain in a state of constant construction, which is why he continues to learn new things at prestigious centers of learning. Further, his love of philanthropy has led him to undertake many personal projects such as co-writing more than fifty financial intelligence books for children from Kindergarten to High School, founding Deudores Anónimos, and supporting projects like Teletón, Aldeas Infantiles, TECHO, Wikipedia, Greenpeace, and soon Banco de Alimentos

Do you feel energized by interactions with 400 alumni in break-out sessions, panel discussions, one-to-one encounters, fun, and dance in hand-selected venues?

Is it intriguing for you to spend a long weekend in Berlin during the best season of the year, with the longest days and shortest nights? We offer you a unique opportunity on June 12-14 next year!

If your answer is “yes” to these questions, we are pleased to open registrations to those who want to share their enthusiasm for this extra-ordinary business conference with former P&G CEO David Taylor, 7 P&G Alumni Award winners, a multi-national Orga Team and around 400 P&G alumni.

We will share more speakers over the next months.
Follow us and be surprised who will be announced next!

“Early bird”-tickets are available now at 499€ (full price will be 649€) here.

P&G brought us together – P&G Alumni keep us together
Let’s keep the P&G spirit alive and embrace it as a superpower to face any uncertainties coming up in the future!

You’ll enjoy this bonus, candid conversation between co-hosts Raman & Drew from another podcast covering many interesting comics, travel, and life learnings.

LEARN MORE
BOOK: goodreads.com/book/show/5596923-burma-chronicles
BURMA: wikipedia.org/wiki/Myanmar
DREW: AndrewTarvin.com

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Sam grew up in Florida and before moving to NYC to rise through the ranks of the ad agency world before taking a chance on a mock interview at P&G. Her journey is a reminder of the importance of curiosity, and being open to non-linear paths for personal and professional learning. Sam attended the University of Florida, is married to her high school sweetheart, has 3 kids, and is an avid runner. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation on the influence of family and exploring new and different paths to find what truly makes us happy. 

This conversation was hosted by Ida Abdalkhani, Change Catalyzer—an award-winning entrepreneur, speaker, and P&G Alumni Board Member.

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Mark set out to see each one, embarking on a six-month, 25,000-mile odyssey from his town of Boston to Egypt, England, Italy, Israel, Turkey, Lebanon, and beyond, to discover what these ancient voices have to say about religion, technology, tribalism, and conflicts of all kinds. You can purchase OBELISK ODYSSEY here.

After 32 years with P&G, Mark became a consultant, first with the Monitor Group in Cambridge, Massachusetts, then as President of Retail Net Group, a boutique consulting firm specializing in retail innovation. Mark also is an instructor at Duquesne University’s semester abroad program in Rome where he has taught several undergraduate business classes. In semi-retirement, Mark found meaning lying in the stone quarries of North Africa, the Egyptian obelisk. In this conversation amongst longtime Alum friends, you’ll hear about Mark and Qaisar’s many adventures, conversations, and reflections across the world. 

Hosting this conversation is a longtime friend of the pod Qaisar Shareef, a fellow P&G alum and author, who’s led many parts of the organization from Pakistan to Ukraine to the US. This is a feature of an Alumni Leader’s published thought leadership. Got an idea for a future “Learnings from Leaders” episode – reach out at pgalumpod@gmail.com

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He was also Group Chief Executive of Jet Airways for a short tenure and has served as a consultant and advisor to the Nitto Denko Corporation in Japan. Ravi has also advised portfolio CEOs of companies across industries and served as an advisor to Marico and Emami—Indian consumer goods companies that are expanding internationally.

Ravi is a Senior Fellow in the Management Department of the Wharton School of Business and has been a Lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania. He received his BA from the University of Delhi, and Master of Management Studies from the Bajaj Institute of Management Studies, Master of Management Studies.

You’ll enjoy this candid conversation between old colleagues and hear the wisdom that has impacted many leaders from Ravi’s storied career.

This is part of our Asian 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

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