Tag: Podcast
Podcast: Burma Chronicles & Panama Tales
Published September 16, 2024 by pgalums in
BURMA CHRONICLES is the 2007 graphic travelog by French-Canadian cartoonist Guy Delisle that presents a personal and distinctively humorous glimpse into a political hotspot on the other side of the world, where the Delisle balances his ex-pat home-husbandry, the spinning politics of a quasi-authoritarian state, and finding a way as a foreign cartoonist amidst a South Asian junta.
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
Podcast: Samantha Avivi, Bayer CMO
Published September 9, 2024 by pgalums in
Samantha Avivi is the CMO at Bayer Consumer Health, North America. She has over 30 years of experience in 40+ countries, working with some of the world’s largest brands and companies—from Y&R, BBDO, P&G, Kimberly Clark, ADT, Tenneco, and Advance Auto Parts.
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.
Podcast: Mark Ciccone, Author of "Obelisk Odyssey"
Published August 30, 2024 by pgalums in
Mark Ciccone is a P&G Alum and author of the new book OBELISK ODYSSEY: 26 Ancient Monoliths, 4 Continents, and 1 Monumental Search for Meaning. With a presence on four continents, the 26 surviving granite monuments are history’s most mysterious meaningful man-made objects, each with its own voice and message for the world.
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
Podcast: Ravi Chaturvedi, P&G’s Former President NE Asia
Published August 16, 2024 by pgalums in
Ravi Chaturvedi is an experienced leader with a proven track record of success across seven developed and developing countries. Ravi became P&G’s first-ever Asian President and member of the Global Leadership Council after 20 years with the company.
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
Podcast: Mary Carmen Gasco-Buisson, Pandora Jewelry CMO
Published August 9, 2024 by pgalums in
Mary Carmen Gasco-Buisson is Pandora Jewelery’s CMO & SVP of Global Business Units and a member of the company’s Executive Leadership Team.
Mary Carmen’s 25+ years of experience across multiple industries and cultures have given her a unique perspective on navigating the elusive-for-many idea of “work /life balance” and creating structures that enable longer-term flow. She has more than 20 years of experience building and expanding consumer brands in fragrances, beauty, personal care, and women’s health categories.
Mary Carmen previously served as Unilever’s Global Vice President working on men’s personal care brands like Axe & Lynx. She spent 22+ years at P&G, getting her start as a product development engineer, and rising through roles in brand and general management —from Haircare, Cosmetics, Skincare, Prestige Fragrances, Consumer Health, and P&G Ventures. Mary Carmen has a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Cornell University and an MBA from Xavier University. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation on the importance of advocacy in one’s career, clarity on priorities, and the development of frameworks to create the life you want
Podcast: Bob Gilbreath—Time Management is Mind Management
Published August 2, 2024 by pgalums in
Bob Gilbreath is a longtime friend of the Pod, fellow P&G Alum, and a repeat startup founder with two exits. His latest post “Mind on your Money, Time and Freedom,” continues last week’s post on time/mind management.
We need to remember that money and time are often linked. We spend time, save time, invest time, and buy time. Freedom is entwined with time, too. There’s free time, leisure time, time off, flex time, and downtime. Bob shares ways to improve your life by making better daily decisions about time, money, and freedom—from the basic, tactical choices to laddering up to big-picture strategy with a personal story from his childhood that still drives him today.
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 and Mr. Clean – and Mr. Clean Auto Dry, and even Fit fruit and vegetable wash. 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 at 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
Podcast: Bob Gilbreath—Time Management is Mind Management
Published July 29, 2024 by pgalums in
Bob Gilbreath is a longtime friend of the Pod, fellow P&G Alum, and a repeat startup founder with two exits. His latest post “Time Management is Mind Management” covers to-don’t lists, asynchronicity, meeting strategically, and people power.
While countless books, blogs, podcasts, and software solutions aim to help us better manage our calendars, inboxes, feeds, and habits—we lack time to listen to or learn from them. And it feels like once we manage some part of our day, two more new things suck us in. Bob hit a breakthrough in the past few years when he realized a higher level of the game: Managing our minds better is critical to managing our time better. You’ll hear strategic ways to understand and choose ways of living that give you more time back and make more meaningful moments throughout your day.
Bob now serves as co-founder and CEO of Hearty, a people-tech company, and other interesting ventures. While at P&G, Bob worked on brands like Tide and Mr. Clean. Bob shares real-life stories of his business ups and downs in his weekly newsletter “The Workaround” which you can subscribe to at 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
Podcast: Shaun Rein—China Market Research Group, Founder & Director
Published July 12, 2024 by pgalums in
Shaun Rein is the Founder and Managing Director of the China Market Research Group (CMR), the world’s leading strategic market intelligence firm focused on China.
Shaun is an internationally popular economics speaker who works with boards, billionaires, heads of state, CEOs, and senior executives of Fortune 500 & leading Chinese companies, private equity firms, SMEs, and long/hedge funds to develop their China growth, political, and investment strategies.
Shaun is the author of international best-sellers The War for China’s Wallet: Profiting from the New World Order, The End of Cheap China, and The End of Copycat China and has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, The Financial Times, the New York Times, Forbes, Bloomberg Businessweek, CBS, CNN, BBC, CNBC, PBS, CNBC, NPR / APM Marketplace, and MSNBC.
Born in New Hampshire, Shaun earned his BA from McGill University and his MA from Harvard. He’s previously taught executive education classes for London Business School and has served on the Board of Trustees for St. Paul’s School. Shaun lives in Shanghai, 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
Podcast: Manreet Sodhi Someshwar—Partition Trilogy author
Published by pgalums in
Manreet Sodhi Someshwar is the author of nine novels including The Long Walk Home, Radiance of a Thousand Suns, and most recently the Partition Trilogy—a historical fiction novel series about one of the great human tragedies of the 20th century.
Manreet’s articles and essays have appeared in the NY Times, the International Herald Tribune, and the South China Morning Post, among others. Manreeet has taught for the New York Public Library and the City College of New York—and she’s a former corporate citizen having done stints in Asia, and a parent grappling with the world our kids will inherit.
Manreet’s recently completed Partition Trilogy—a series of 3 books titled Lahore, Hyderabad, and Kashmir—is a historical fiction set during, before, and immediately after the Partition, and independence of, India and Pakistan of 1947. Partition is among the great humanitarian disasters of the 20th century, and the largest mass migration in history. The history of Partition impacts and informs much of what is happening today in both Asia and the United States, from the tensions between India and Pakistan to the rise of nationalism and extremism in our politics around the world.
Manreet’s unique voice focuses not just on the personal musings of these larger-than-life historical figures, like India’s founding fathers Gandhi & Nehru, but also breathes life into characters who represent the stats and figures that we sometimes gloss over when we hear of a tragedy (including the role and subversion of women by history). This is a powerful conversation about the weaponization of history, and how storytelling and fact-checking have to work hand in hand to inform the next generation.
This is a past conversation from Raman’s other podcast, Modern Minorities, where each week we share minority conversations for all of our majority years. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation that we hope will provide new perspectives and learnings.
Podcast: Dawn Garibaldi On Delegation—P&G Alumni Coaching
Published July 8, 2024 by pgalums in
Dawn Garibaldi is an executive coach who partners with leaders to amplify their impact by mastering complexity, extending their influence, building unstoppable teams, and breaking through barriers. Her clients create distinctive, enduring, and outstanding transformations in business and organizational performance.
Prior to becoming a coach, Dawn spent over 30 years at Procter & Gamble with responsibility for businesses of up to $12 billion in revenue and managing organizations of up to 3,000 people. Her experience includes startup, expansion, and restructuring of international markets in Asia, North America, Latin America, and Eastern and Western Europe. Dawn has guided hundreds of individuals, teams, and organizations to achieve greater success through the confidence to push the boundaries of what is possible and deliver the extraordinary. Dawn is a Co-Active Coach with Certifications from the Coaches Training Institute and the International Coaching Federation. She holds a BS degree from the University of Rochester, is a faculty member at the UC San Diego Rady School of Management, and speaks four languages. Dawn lives near Denver, CO with her family and enjoys snow skiing, traveling, and reading cookbooks.
This is part of our P&G Alumni Coaching series diving deep into relevant career coaching topics. Just as professional athletes have a coach to help them perform at their best, coaching can help you thrive in career and life, through powerful questioning, exploration, and action planning. P&G Alums can learn more and sign up for their first free first session at coaching.pgalums.com
Podcast: Alex Keith, P&G Beauty CEO
Published June 28, 2024 by pgalums in
Alex Keith leads Procter & Gamble’s global Beauty business: the world’s 4th largest beauty company, with a $15 billion portfolio with six billion-dollar brands. Alex is the only female CEO of a top 5 beauty company.
Since taking leadership of P&G’s Beauty portfolio in 2017, Alex has driven the sector’s turnaround. As Executive Sponsor for Corporate Sustainability, Alex works alongside P&G’s Chief Sustainability Officer to guide the Company’s sustainability progress. She is also the company’s Executive Sponsor of LGBTQ+ Equality & Inclusion. During Alex’s 34 years with P&G, she has worked in Product Supply, Brand Management, and General Management, spanning multiple categories across Fabric Care and Beauty, in North America, Asia, and Europe regions. In 2020, Alex was elected to Thermo Fisher Scientific’s Board of Directors. A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Alex holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Arizona. She lives in Geneva, Switzerland with her husband, Chris Keith.
Podcast: Bernd Pichler, Aston Martin’s Managing Director, Greater China
Published June 24, 2024 by pgalums in
Bernd Pichler is Aston Martin’s Managing Director, Greater China. Bernd was previously Managing Director for Bentley Motors in the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Macau, overseeing all local operations and sales in the company’s second-largest region. Having lived and worked in Asia since 2005, Bernd has more than two decades of leadership experience and a track record of driving commercial growth in China for major automotive brands, including within the luxury segment.
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
Podcast: Roula Clerc-Nassar, Coherence for a more fulfilling life
Published June 6, 2024 by pgalums in
Roula Clerc-Nassar is a seasoned leader and coach, as well as an expert on human understanding and insightful research. Roula’s focus is growing people and building high-performing teams, as well as applying neuroscience to coaching to help create transformation and lasting change. Before founding Ellumine Consulting & Coaching, Roula spent 24 years in 2 leading Multinational companies: PepsiCo and Procter & Gamble, where she began her career in Morocco before moving to the UK and later Switzerland.
Her last position was Vice President of Insights at PepsiCo Europe. She is a national of 3 countries in 3 different continents and has worked with clients and teams across the globe. You’ll enjoy this candid coaching conversation on how to reconcile values that come into conflict and make thoughtful, intentional choices for work and life.
This is part of our P&G Alumni Coaching series diving deep into relevant career coaching topics. Just as professional athletes have a coach to help them perform at their best, coaching can help you thrive in your career and life, through powerful questioning, exploration, and action planning. P&G Alums can learn more and sign up for their first free session at coaching.pgalums.com
Podcast: Bob Gilbreath, “In Person is a 10x”
Published June 3, 2024 by pgalums in
Denis Beausejour is an Author, Executive, Pastor, Papa (and Grandpapa) based in Cincinnati, OH. Denis recently published his first book, The Biggest Idea Ever. Denis started his career at P&G, where he served in a variety of marketing and advertising rules over 22 years—including executive assignments in Canada, Australia, Japan, China, and the US where he was the VP of Advertising before retiring.
Following a spiritual adventure, Denis left P&G and completed seminary at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Chicago, then led Answers for Life, the ministry of Dr. Henry Cloud before becoming Senior Pastor at Mariemont Church before retiring in 2022. Denis shares not just about his P&G career progression, but also about the makings and execution of a big career pivot that left some of his colleagues baffled, and the importance of passing down wisdom to the next generation of leaders which, in Denis’ case, is through his book. Denis has been married to his wife Marianne for 42 years and enjoys spending time with his 4 children and 10 grandchildren, with their eleventh on the way. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation about making big changes to lead a fulfilling life.
Podcast: Bob Gilbreath, “In Person is a 10x”
Published May 28, 2024 by pgalums in
Bob Gilbreath is a longtime friend of the Pod and fellow P&G Alum. He’s also a repeat startup founder with two exits in the marketing technology and agency world. 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, Mr. Clean Auto Dry, and even Fit fruit and vegetable wash. Bob’s authored books and launched several successful newsletters. In his latest Substack newsletter the Workaround (beheartly.substack.com), Bob shares real-life stories of his business ups and downs. Bob’s latest piece is titled “In Person is a 10x” about the magic that comes when we get together—because you can’t
co-create something special without being in the same room.
LEARN ABOUT BOB – 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: Trevor Lai, Up Studios Founder & CEO
Published May 20, 2024 by pgalums in
Trevor Lai is an award-winning entrepreneur, author, and illustrator who published his first children’s book at the age of seventeen. He is also the Founder and CEO of Up Studios, a China-based production company, featured as one of the “Top 25 Animation Studios” in the world to watch by Animation Magazine.
Up Studios, the creative force behind much-loved Chinese shows like Piggy, Tomo, and BOOMi, has received large investments from Chinese tech giant Tencent. When he’s not creating world-class animated stories, Trevor loves playing ice hockey in China and traveling around the world.
You’ll enjoy this candid conversation about creativity, inspiration, and perseverance.
This is the first episode in our series about Chinese leaders – hosted by P&G Alumni Emily Chang. Got an idea for a future “Learnings from Leaders” episode – reach out at pgalumpod@gmail.com
Podcast: Bernice Ang on IKIGAI—P&G Alumni Coaching
Published May 13, 2024 by pgalums in
Bernice Ang is an Executive Coach who helps senior leaders design a purpose-centered personal brand, enabling them to integrate their work and personal lives so they can thrive, not just survive. Bernice started her career in Brand Management at P&G Asia Pacific. From there, she took on several Global Marketing leadership roles in the US with Coca-Cola, Pepsico, and Mars-Wrigley.
Five years ago, Bernice left her corporate career to pursue her dream of becoming an Executive Coach. Today, she is among the top 4% of professional coaches with a Master Certified Coach designation, the highest credential awarded by the International Coach Federation. Bernice also helped co-found the P&G Alumni Network Coaching program, ringing together professionally certified Executive Coaches with proven track records.
You’ll enjoy this candid and very personal conversation about IKIGAI—the Japanese concept that encourages people to discover what truly matters to them—to live a life filled with purpose and joy.
This is a continuation of our series with P&G Alumni Coaching where leading Alumni will dive deep into relevant topics. Just as professional athletes have a coach to help them perform at their best, coaching can help you thrive in your career and life through powerful questioning, exploration, and action planning. P&G alumni can learn more and sign up for their first free session at coaching.pgalums.com.
Podcast: Bonnie Wan, author of “The Life Brief”
Published May 6, 2024 by pgalums in
Bonnie Wan knows what it feels like to struggle with burnout and uncertainty about where to go next. As a celebrated advertising strategist, she spent years helping brands like Pepsi and BMW get clarity on their values and purpose, but still found herself mired and directionless in her own life: a “recovering perfectionist” with a crumbling marriage, a big job, and three young children.
So she put her “work brain” to work and sketched out a creative brief (one of the key tools of the ad trade) for herself, granting clarity on what was missing and what she really wanted in her life.
Not only did “The Life Brief” save Bonnie’s marriage, recenter her parenting, and catapult her career (she was named Ad Age’s Chief Strategy Officer last year)—it has since gone on to help thousands of others through her speaking at Apple, Bain & Co, Change.org, Google, Goop, Jane Goodall’s “Activating Hope” Summit, SXSW and more. Her new book — “THE LIFE BRIEF: A Playbook for No-Regrets Living” — creates a clear guide for anyone to break through life’s clutter and create deeper meaning through three simple stages: Get Messy. Get Clear. Get Active. This is a perfect conversation to help so many of us who seem to “have it all” yet feel restless or rudderless.
This is a past conversation from Raman’s other podcast, Modern Minorities, where each week we share minority conversations for all of our majority years. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation that we hope will provide new perspectives and learnings.
Stefan Homeister, Leitwolf Host on leadership and podcasts
Published March 29, 2024 by pgalums in
Stefan Homeister is the host of Leitwolf, a business podcast exploring the key to leadership performance sustainably and improving business results – where he’s had conversations with P&G Alums like David Taylor, Paul Polman, and many leaders beyond the Alumni universe.
Stefan is also the Founder of Stefan Homeister Leadership, a consultancy focusing on improving leadership performance and strategy via consulting, training, coaching, and keynotes. Stefan’s held a diverse career as Sales & Marketing Director of SAB Miller Europe and CMO for T-Mobile Germany where he had P&L responsibility for more than $8 billion. Stefan started his career at Procter & Gamble in various sales and marketing roles in Frankfurt, Brussels, and Geneva before becoming the Marketing Director for Healthcare and Pharma DACH.
In this candid conversation – we’ll explore principles and ideas on leadership, branding, legacy, and what can be learned through the lens of podcasts, conversations, and storytelling. Be sure to check out Leitwolf wherever you get your favorite podcasts. https://stefan-homeister-leadership.com/en/podcast
Gordon Brunner, P&G’s xCTO on "Superior Products"
Published March 25, 2024 by pgalums in
Gordon Brunner, is P&G’s former Chief Technology Officer – leading the company’s technical community, and even serving on the Board of Directors. Gordon’s a returning P&G Alumni Podcast guest also the co-author of SUPERIOR PRODUCTS, a new book sharing a first-ever look at the technical innovations behind some of world’s leading consumer brands — as well as the systems, culture, and leadership principles that produced the products and sustained innovation.
While many pay lip service to the importance of innovation and product superiority – Gordon and many other technical leaders know that words simply won’t cut it. Product superiority must be demanded, rewarded, and celebrated – with org structures and processes built to achieve it, led by senior line and R&D leadership, but importantly starting with the CEO and Board of Directors. In this conversation Gordon shares stories behind the products we love – what worked and didn’t – with lessons that are for more than just R&D’ers, but also rising business executives and students who want to foster an environment of innovation.
Check out SUPERIOR PRODUCTS as an eBook / Kindle, or wherever your favorite books are sold. And for even more of Gordon Brunner’s learnings from his time as P&G’s CTO, be sure check out our past podcast conversation from September 2021 and November 2022.
Give with the heart of a champion!
Published February 27, 2024 by pgalums in
Announcing International Women’s Day “Heart of a Champion” Campaign!
The P&G Alumni Foundation, together with the Women’s Leadership Forum, is proud to announce the launch of our 2024 International Women’s Day campaign “Give with the Heart of a Champion.”
Donations will support economic empowerment initiatives that help people in need, many of them women, achieve greater financial independence and be champions of change for themselves, their families, and their communities.
Thanks to the generosity of the P&G Fund for Gender Equality, all donations will be matched (up to $50,000). Give today and double your impact!
P&G alums, like you, are known to have the hearts of champions, a winning mindset, a competitive spirit, and a desire to make the world better. So open up your heart and donate to our International Women’s Day campaign! ”Give with the Heart of a Champion.”
Gifts of any size make a difference. $25 becomes $50. $50 becomes $100. Be a champion for change!
P&G Alumni Network Board Election Results
Published February 19, 2024 by pgalums in
In a robust board election of very qualified candidates, Ida Abdalkhani, Lou Ann Eckert-Lynch, Jeff Goldstein, Ranu Gupta, Katya (Ekaterina) Lobynko, Michelle Solano, and Eric Vanderschueren have been renewed for four-year terms. They are joined by new board member Hanxi Zhao.
While the incumbents are well-known for their excellent service, Hanxi will bring added perspective and geographic balance to our Network’s board leadership as demonstrated by her credentials noted below.
We are delighted that Hanzi will collaborate with York Huang to help foster the exchange and closer connections with China and other Asian Chapters.
Hanxi Brings Significant Contributions and Expertise to the P&G Alumni Network Board and the Community
Extensive Network: Hanxi possesses an extensive network in both the US and Asia business worlds due to her investment work. Her regular interactions with founders, senior executives, and investors enable her to bring sponsors and influential speakers to P&G events, enhancing networking and learning opportunities for alumni.
Strengthening Connections: Hanxi is committed to strengthening the connection between the China alumni network and the global network. She envisions hosting a global conference in China, providing Chinese alumni with the opportunity to contribute through sponsored auctions for the Global Foundation. This initiative not only promotes engagement but also showcases the vibrant Chinese alumni community.
Sharing Best Practices: Based in Shanghai and frequently traveling worldwide, Hanxi plans to meet with chapter chairs in different regions. Through these interactions, she aims to exchange ideas with other chapters and share the best practices implemented by the China alumni network. This collaborative approach fosters continuous improvement and mutual support among chapters.
Geraldine Moriba - Journalist, Filmmaker, Advocate
Published by pgalums in
Geraldine Moriba’s a 5-time Emmy Award-winning journalist, filmmaker, and advocate — the host and executive producer of “Sounds Like Hate,” a podcast by the Southern Poverty Law Center – documenting how American extremists become radicalized and how some of them change.
Geraldine’s also SVP of news and entertainment at The Grio – a black-owned media platform owned by businessman and philanthropist Byron Allen. A media and journalism veteran, Geraldine’s held senior roles at CNN, NBC, PBS, ABC, and CBC – including being vice president for diversity, equity, and inclusion for CNN Worldwide. A Canadian Jamaican living in New York, Geraldine never accepted setbacks on her journey – they were just challenges to overcome. From confronting racist administrators in college to accepting a fax machine invitation, Geraldine built a career that would always challenge the right story to be told. You can learn more about Geraldine’s work at Soundslikehate.org // splcenter.org
This is a past conversation from Raman’s other podcast, Modern Minorities, where each week we share minority conversations for all of our majority years. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation that we hope will provide new perspectives and learnings.
Andrew Swinand, CEO of Publicis & Leo Burnett
Published January 27, 2024 by pgalums in
Andrew Swinand is the CEO of the Creative Group across all Publicis agencies, as well as the CEO of Leo Burnett. As CEO, Andrew leads the agency by emphasizing the power of transparency in regards to data, and balances that with the creativity needed to drive businesses forward for clients.
He was also the founder and CEO of marketing startup, The Abundancy, and co-founded its holding company Abundant Venture Partners (AVP), an incubator focused on building media and healthcare companies. Before that, he was president of Starcom MediaVest Group, the world’s largest media agency. He also proudly served his country as a platoon leader in the U.S. Army. Andrew has been recognized by Advertising Age as a “Media Maven,” and was inducted into the American Advertising Federation Hall of Achievement in 2008. Andrew has founded 9 companies, with 7 exits. And even worked on the Reflect Brand at P&G. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation about focusing on problems to solve, cultivating a curious soul, and practicing kind leadership.
Nominations for 2023/2024 Elections to the Board of the Global P&G Alumni Network Recommendations of the Nominations Committee to the Board
Published January 24, 2024 by pgalums in
Now Is the Time for YOU to Choose the Next P&G Alumni Network Board…Voting Closes February 2, 2024
ALERT: Vote using the NEW link voting tool. To be able to vote you must be a registered member of pgalums.com, as this is the only way we can limit voting to actual P&G Alumni.
If you have not signed up as a member, please do so before voting. It will benefit you for future Alumni interactions, and we are prepared to quickly verify you as an Alumni so you can vote. Thank you very much.
If you have already voted using the old link, please vote again on the new one.
The Nominating Committee has done its job! There are 12 worthy candidates to fill the 8 board seats up for election.
We are fortunate to have incumbents for all of the openings that have been endorsed by the current P&G Alumni Network Board, as well as four new candidates for consideration. Keep reading for details on the nominees.
The general election by the P&G Alumni Network members has been extended through February 9, 2024, so cast your vote NOW.
If there are any questions, please contact Ute Hagen, Vice-Chair of the Global Board and Head of the Nomination Committee at vicechair@pgalums.com.
Meet the Nominees
Board Recommended Incumbent
In Alphabetical Order:
Ida Abdalkhani– Board Recommended Incumbent
- Engagement with P&G and P&G Alumni activities
Time at P&G: 2005-2010 where Ida served as Global Brand Manager for Olay Body Care, and Secret Deodorants after ABM roles on Downy and Bounce.
After resigning from P&G she backpacked around the world, became a Laughter Yoga instructor, and then started Ability to Engage, a consultancy that helps some of the world’s largest brands and companies (including P&G). Ability to Engage is an international award-winning company and Ida is a sought-after global speaker and Board Member for multiple organizations. Her varied experiences have helped her cultivate an understanding of the benefits of new and different perspectives. She strives to be inclusive and ensure we are all better for our interactions together.
Ida currently serves as the Secretary of the Global Board. In addition, she is the Enrichment Series Webinars Lead, Podcast Co-Host, and Board Member of the P&G Alumni Foundation.
- Motivation to run for (re)election to the Board of the Global P&G Alumni Network
There is more to be done, therefore Ida wants to continue to contribute to the things that she is currently doing.
Stevi Gable Carr–Board Recommended Incumbent
- Engagement with P&G and P&G Alumni activities
Stevi Gable Carr spent just shy of a decade at P&G in Consumer & Market Knowledge, Retail Design, Brand Expression, and Brand Capability in Global Baby Care, Global Fem Care, NA Hair Care, and Global Cosmetics from 2008-2010 and 2010-2017.
Stevi was foundational in creating the idea, and then developing and executing the Always Discreet Boutique. She had the foresight and consumer understanding to realize there was a super-premium market for women in adult incontinence that would aim to make the experience of AI products move from diapers to underwear. She convinced the President, R&D, PR, and Marketing. Discreet Boutique continues to deliver for P&G.
Stevi is passionate about catalyzing human potential and enabling individuals and brands to achieve their goals through healthy, intentional strategies to support resilient behaviors.
She founded Wise Wellness Guild in 2019 where she brought this inspiration and her entrepreneurial spirit to her own company. Stevi has received considerable notice and awards for her commitments including being named to Cincinnati’s Women Who Mean Business and 40 Under 40, 2020 as well as Procter & Gamble Global Visionary Under 40 Winner at the 2019 Alumni Conference.
She is currently serving on the P&G Alumni Board. Stevi attended the Global Conferences in 2019 and 2023 and has supported the C-Suite Network, Enrichment Series, and Cincinnati Chapter since 2017. Specifically, she partnered with Stuart Schaefer to deliver the Health Innovations Summit in 2019 in partnership with UC Health and UC 1819 Innovation Lab. This day-long event hosted hundreds of attendees and supported the amplification of P&G Alumni paving the way for health and wellness innovation in the region.
She moderated ES Webinars June-Dec 2023 and from July-Dec 2024.
- Motivation to run for (re)election to the Board of the Global P&G Alumni Network
Stevi believes that the network can maximize impact by generating additional revenue to financially support holistic efforts aligned with network goals. Through the establishment of the Revenue Committee, Stevi looks forward to identifying and activating key activities that can support meaningful paid opportunities for alumni to deepen engagement.
Lou Ann Eckert-Lynch–Board Recommended Incumbent
- Engagement with P&G and P&G Alumni activities
Being a Chemical Engineer by vocation, LouAnn started her career at P&G in 1978 in Production Management and eventually rose through the ranks in Human Resource Management, including North American, and Global roles. She retired in 2010 as HR Director, Global Employee Relations.
Today LouAnn consults with individual leaders and teams to drive performance and is a trained coach.
She has been actively engaged with the Global Alumni Network since January 2011 to represent the interests of female P&G Alumni globally. She currently is the Chair of the Women’s Forum within the Network as well as a Board Member of the Global Network. Under her leadership, the Women´s Forum is a very active and vital part of the Global Network. She has been an active contributor to all the past Global Alumni Conferences. LouAnn also is an active supporter of the Global Alumni Foundation.
- Motivation to run for(re) election to the Board of the Global P&G Alumni Network
Much is still to be done for a full-on engagement of the Global P&G Alumni. Therefore, LouAnn wants to continue to lead, particularly the Women`s Forum as there are many more ideas on how to advance female leaders of all ages.
Jeff Goldstein–Board Recommended Incumbent
Driven to make a difference, helping people, companies, and the community.
President of ACUPOLL Precision Research, Inc. Cincinnati, Ohio.
Expertise Areas: Vision, Strategy, Marketing, Innovation, Market Research, Consumer Products Growth Strategy, M&A, Leadership, seeing opportunities many others don’t.
- Engagement with P&G and P&G Alumni activities
1988-1996: P&G Health Care Brand Management, P&G Health Care Globalization Time-Based Competition Team (recommended GBU structure), Corporate New Ventures
Global Alumni Board Member since I founded the Cincinnati chapter in 2005 and built it to over 1,000 members, with events ranging from 80-275 attendees, continuing on the Network board for nearly a decade and still active in events.
Led global alumni survey research: Created the 2004 alumni network survey to get feedback on the idea of creating local chapters; contributed to global conference surveys; conducted the 2015 global survey that led to the creation of the enrichment program; conducted the 2021 global survey that led to the new business model initiative; and surveys for enrichment, coaching, and African American engagement
Attended seven global conferences (all in the U.S., Toronto, and LATAM/Miami)
Secured a dozen or more sponsors for the Cincinnati chapter and sponsorship for the Global Conference
Secured participants for the C-Suite Forum
- Motivation to run for (re)election to the Board of the Global P&G Alumni Network
I want to continue to lead the Global Board’s work to identify strategy business model improvements that will take the organization to a whole new level … and magnify the impact/benefit we have on the lives of alumni. I want to continue to connect with P&G alumni and help them however I can, and give back to the community which benefited me, my parents, siblings, and children (as I’m a 2nd generation P&G alum)
Ranu Gupta–Board Recommended Incumbent
As the Senior Product Delivery Leader for the Wells Fargo Small Business Digital Channel, I look for innovative ways to improve the lives of 10% of all US Small business customers, who are Wells Fargo customers and represent ~7% of US GDP. As a leader in the Digital Strategy & Innovation group, I am enabling one of the largest and oldest financial institutions in the world to re-invent itself into a digital powerhouse. I am also a serial entrepreneur and serve and have served on various profit and non-profit boards such as Vijona Africa, Playpal, Innovation Pavilion, University of Denver, and the SMU Tech Incubator. I live in the Dallas metroplex, and I am a full-on geek with a passion for digitally enabled innovation, especially in the areas of co-living and education.
- Engagement with P&G and P&G Alumni activities
I joined P&G as an intern in the 90s and left in 2000 reluctantly headhunted out by GE to set up leadership development for their fastest-growing business at the time (now called GENPACT) and have lived in the US since 2006.
I re-engaged with P&G through the alumni network in 2018, and after the Madrid conference I restarted the Dallas Chapter, and since late 2021 was tapped to run the North American chapters as Regional Ambassador, and the Global Chapters as Membership Committee Chair. I have worked hard to facilitate a strong partnership with the chapters and the PGAN Foundation, in addition to rejuvenating existing chapters post-pandemic and restarting key ones like the SF Bay area Chapter. With over 67 global chapters led by 145 leaders, I am proud to say we represent one of the most vibrant alumni networks in the world.
- Motivation to run for (re)election to the Board of the Global P&G Alumni Network
Attending my first alumni conference back in Madrid in 2019, I felt instantly energized and at home reconnecting with old friends and colleagues with shared values and mutual respect. That motivated me to restart the Dallas Chapter, and then take over responsibility for the North American and Global Chapters. My only major motivation, I must say is the pleasure it gives me to once again be working with people of high integrity and caliber that P&G represents. My way of giving back.
Katya [Ekaterina] Lobynko–Board Recommended Incumbent
Katya is a digital leader with broad experience in driving digital transformation in FMCG and Pharma. She is based in Paris, France, and has an international background having lived in Malaysia previously. She is passionate about realizing the value and positive impact of technologies for consumers, employees, and businesses.
- Engagement with P&G and P&G Alumni activities
Katya spent five years in P&G delivering digital initiatives in commercial and marketing areas in EMEA. Currently, she works as a director at Sanofi, a biopharma company.
Katya has served on the board of PGAN for a year, co-chairing the Enrichment Committee. She has been actively collaborating with the “Under 40” program to promote PGAN for younger audiences, recruiting a C-level speaker for the Podcast, and speaking in the webinar on AI and DEI topics.
- Motivation to run for (re)election to the Board of the Global P&G Alumni Network
Katya wants to continue her engagement with the PGAN evolving to co-lead the “Under 40” domain and facilitate building connections among EU chapters to promote the mission to enrich, form connections, and inspire, as well as engage more young alumni to join the Network.
Michelle Solano–Board Recommended Incumbent
Business Management consultant and Board Member with 24 years of experience working for leading multinationals FMCG, Nutrition & Prestige Beauty organizations in Marketing (Brand Building, Media & Communications, Marketing Direction), Commercial, and Brand Direction positions. I’m based in Mexico City. I’m passionate about helping others, personally or professionally, and I love to be a go-to person when they need some help, just listening or giving some advice, if sharing my experiences can help.
I have had the opportunity to be part of best-in-class organizations and learned from them, so I believe now is my turn to share this with other people.
- Engagement with P&G and P&G Alumni activities
I’ve worked for P&G Mexico affiliate from 1999 to 2008 in Brand and Corporate Media departments. Besides my function role, I participated as train the trainer for the You the Coach program and supported an elementary school with a class program lectured by PG employees.
I’m currently part of the P&G Alumni Mexico Chapter Board, I participate in the Events Team organizing networking activities throughout the year, as well as in the Philanthropy Team.
- Motivation to run for (re)election to the Board of the Global P&G Alumni Network
In Mexico, as in the rest of the word, we want to reach young ex-P&Ger to bring new people to the network, learn from the new generations, understand what motivates them to be part of the alumni community, provide them value-added benefits, and ensure continuity of the alumni project. Therefore, I’m interested in participating in the “Under 40” global team to be able to get worldwide learnings, propose new ways of attraction, and implement actions that will benefit the global community.
Eric Vanderschueren–Board Recommended Incumbent
- Engagement with P&G and P&G Alumni activities
Worked 32 years at P&G from 1983 to 2015, based in six countries (France, US, Spain, Belgium, and Singapore), with assignments in Finance and Marketing. The last 15 years were spent in Global roles.
On the Board of the P&G Alumni Network since 2017, operating as Treasurer. I work with the Chairman and fellow Board members to secure the success and the sustainability of the Network operations. With my Board colleagues, we have strengthened the financial viability of the Network and constantly look at opportunities to improve our business model.
- Motivation to run for (re)election to the Board of the Global P&G Alumni Network
My motivation to run for re-election is to keep expanding the reach of the Network and to strengthen and diversify the offerings to P&G Alums. It is a small token to pay back for all that I received from the Company. Another motivation is to have the opportunity to engage with fellow alums. P&Gers are the main asset of the Company and it is a sheer pleasure to engage and work with them.
New Nominations
In Alphabetical Order:
Basile Choueri–New Nomination
- Engagement with P&G and P&G Alumni activities…other things about me
I was hired by P&G in Aug 2001 as part of the initial team that established the Company in the Levant area. First hired as an ABM for Pantene & Crest, I found my passion in the Product Supply space, specifically Procurement. Initially for the Levant Hub but then I became one of the key members of the CEEMEA Purchasing team and managed several projects across the region along with running Procurement training for the Purchasing team.
I have been part of the P&G Alumni (UK Chapter) and have attended several chapter activities as well as engaged via various Webinars.
I left P&G in 2006 as I was head-hunted by BAT to establish their Indirect Procurement function across the Levant & Yemen region. Currently, I am the Operations Director for a recently established Business Unit within BAT called Beyond Nicotine where we are developing a portfolio (both Organic and Inorganic) of products to address consumer needs for Well-being & Stimulation, all products not including any Tobacco or Nicotine stimulants or even any form that is under BAT’s portfolio of brands (cigarette, e-cigarette or other). Our first launches are Functional Beverages (60ml shots) that are used for Mood Modulation using Caffeine, L-Theanine, and other natural ingredients/stimulants. My role is to design, develop, and implement the End-to-End Supply Chain, including the Supply Network, manufacturing the product at the required regulatory compliance level, and addressing all working processes and capabilities both upstream and downstream.
I have been based in London, UK for the last 15 years albeit I have been managing global roles working with people literally from across the world. I am originally born and raised in Lebanon.
I am also a co-founder and board member of an NGO that takes care of babies born with congenital heart diseases (called Heartbeat). The NGO was created in 2005 and we raise funds through concerts (that I contribute to preparing but also sing in) and Gala dinners where, every year we raised more than $1M and have helped operate on more than 350 kids per year.
- Motivation to run for election to the Board of the Global P&G Alumni Network
I am fully motivated by the vision and mission of the Global Alumni Network.
Particularly, I feel that the network can benefit much more from the talent, ideas, and resources that the Middle East and Africa can bring and that are currently both under-represented or not tapped well enough into. My added value is to be able to rally that network and ensure it can power P&Gers to impact both local and global communities.
Therefore, I want to become the point-person for the Middle East and African continent to engage more fully with existing active chapters. And be the conduit that will bring talent from these regions to the attention of the Global Network and bring ideas from active chapters in Europe, North- and Latin America, and Asia into the Middle East and Africa.
Tatiana Lannelongue–New Nomination
PROFESSION: Strategy, Financial, and Product Consultant to the High-Tech Industry.
LOCATION: Naples, Florida, USA (50%) ; Les Baux-de-Provence, FRANCE (50%).
LANGUAGES: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese (some).
EDUCATION: Electrical Engineer (B.S.E.E., M.S.) / Finance (CFA Program L1).
PASSIONS: Bringing to bear 30+ years of international experience in assisting companies, corporate to early-stage, to optimize, develop and deploy new products and services globally, maximize NPVs, and ensure success for the benefit of customers, employees, and shareholders.
- Engagement with P&G and P&G Alumni activities
I was part of the Engineering Organization at the European Technical Center (ETC) in Brussels from ~ 1985 to 1987. Our team was responsible for the ’harmonization’ of the electronic and software control systems used in all the detergent production sites across Europe. During my time at P&G, I worked on projects in France, the UK, Italy, Belgium, and Germany.
I have been part of the Catapult team since early 2023 and negotiated the contract with Republic, the Venture Capital firm selected to support fundraising for PGAN-led startups.
I have also been part of the PGAN Marketing & Comms team, representing the Catapult team, and have written several articles for publication: the PGAN newsletter, website, and LinkedIn page.
- Motivation to run for election to the Board of the Global P&G Alumni Network
Working with the Board and Catapult team to identify, deploy, and promote potential revenue-generating activities that do not violate the PGAN 501 (c) status.
Promoting the PGAN value proposition to our European and South American chapters.
José Ignacio Sordo Galarza–New Nomination
- Engagement with P&G and P&G Alumni activities
I began my career in Mexico City in CBD in 1987. Later, I relocated to Caracas, Venezuela, transitioning to IT and GBS, ultimately advancing to the role of Regional CIO for Latin America. Then moved to Cincinnati, assuming the responsibility for the Global IT Commercial Strategy, and retired in 2008.
I have actively engaged with the P&G Alumni Community in Cincinnati, Texas, and Mexico. I had the privilege to participate in speaking engagements for the Alumni community while also presenting the content of the two books I have written: “The Uncomfortable CEO” and “Leading with Strategic Thinking – Driving Strategy through Structure and Process”.
Other things about me
Bringing forth more than 25 years of experience steering global go-to-market strategies, commercial innovation, and digital transformation initiatives, I am a seasoned executive with a proven track record of success. My forte lies in program management, strategic planning, and catalyzing transformative change. Renowned for my vision-driven approach and exceptional communication skills, I have consistently delivered tangible results throughout my career. Currently residing in San Antonio, Texas, USA, I am fluent in both English and Spanish.
-I founded the Hispanic Innovation Center Chicago Foundation to support and promote the strategic use of information technology to advance educational achievement, impact community development, improve organizational structure, and implement workforce development initiatives within the non-profit sector.
-I am also on two non-profit Boards in San Antonio as their VP of Strategic Planning: ACTS Missions and Master Leadership Program.
- Motivation to run for election to the Board of the Global P&G Alumni Network
My foremost priority is to continue being relevant within the P&G Alumni community. My commitment lies in sharing insights from my leadership toolbox, particularly in the art of framing complex issues with utmost clarity in business terms. This proficiency aims to facilitate effective communication, enabling the Board to comprehend and make well-informed decisions. Through this ongoing engagement, I aspire to contribute meaningfully to the community´s collective knowledge and foster a collaborative environment.
Hanxi Zhao —New Nomination
Hanxi is currently a Managing Partner at Trustar Capital, (formerly known as CITIC Capital Partners), a Private Equity firm that focuses on control buyout opportunities globally and has completed over 80 investments since its inception in 2003 across China, Japan, the U.S., Europe, Australia/New Zealand. Trustar Capital currently manages USD7.8 billion of committed capital and has offices in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Tokyo, and New York.
Hanxi has been based in Shanghai, China since 2007 after she joined Trustar Capital. Over the past 16 years with the firm, she has become a successful investor with a proven track record of investing in international companies. Hanxi currently serves on the boards of numerous companies worldwide, including Erno Laszlo in the US, Axilone in France, LELO in Sweden, Trilogy in New Zealand, Jissbon, and eBeauty in China, to name a few. She is also the only female partner in the firm. Her success has inspired many other women in China to pursue demanding careers in private equity and investment, which have traditionally been male-dominated industries. Before joining Trustar Capital, Hanxi worked in Strategy Planning and Marketing at Dow Jones & Company in the U.S. and Asia. Before that, she held positions as a consultant at The Boston Consulting Group in the U.S. and as a Brand Manager at Procter & Gamble in China.
Hanxi is proficient in English, Chinese, Cantonese, and Japanese. She has an MBA from Harvard Business School and a B.A. from Wuhan University
- Engagement with P&G and P&G Alumni activities
Hanxi worked for P&G China in the Brand Management and Marketing function from 1995 to 2000. She was one of the earliest Chinese Brand Managers to be promoted and led the Always and Tampax brands. Her achievement in launching Tampax for the first time in China and building the category was iconic because, at that time, Chinese women not only refrained from using Tampax but also held the perception that it would harm their virginity. Today, Tampax in China is a leading brand in the women’s hygiene product category.
Hanxi has always been actively involved in the P&G alumni network. For instance, her portfolio companies sponsored the P&G China Alumni Conference for multiple years. As a respected investor, she consistently makes time to offer guidance to P&G younger alumni seeking advice on starting their own businesses. Recently, she was assigned the role of Global Liaison and Development Director. This task has proven to be challenging due to the strict and complex regulatory requirements for overseas NGOs.
Hanxi has provided invaluable support to the effort to establish the P&G Alumni Foundation in China. She has utilized her network to connect with experts for consultation and recommended local partners to facilitate the lawful transfer of funds to the foundation in China. In less than half a year, there has been significant progress with the P&G Alumni Foundation, and Hanxi is the first Chinese donor to contribute to the Foundation this year.
- Motivation to run for election to the Board of the Global P&G Alumni Network
Hanxi’s motivation to run for the board stems from her deep pride in her experience as an ex-P&Ger. To pay this back, she commits to nurturing the alumni network and is dedicated to making a positive impact on a global basis.
As an active member of the P&G China alumni network, Hanxi has observed an opportunity to engage more Chinese alumni with the global alumni network. She has noticed low awareness and participation among Chinese alumni in global conferences and P&G’s philanthropy efforts. Given her accomplishments as a global leader, Hanxi desires to give back more to P&G and make a significant impact on the global community.
Hanxi brings significant contributions and expertise to the board and the community
Extensive Network: Hanxi possesses an extensive network in both the US and Asia business worlds due to her investment work. Her regular interactions with founders, senior executives, and investors enable her to bring sponsors and influential speakers to P&G events, enhancing networking and learning opportunities for alumni.
Strengthening Connections: Hanxi is committed to strengthening the connection between the China alumni network and the global network. She envisions hosting a global conference in China, providing Chinese alumni with the opportunity to contribute through sponsored auctions for the Global Foundation. This initiative not only promotes engagement but also showcases the vibrant Chinese alumni community.
Sharing Best Practices: Based in Shanghai and frequently traveling worldwide, Hanxi plans to meet with chapter chairs in different regions. Through these interactions, she aims to exchange ideas with other chapters and share the best practices implemented by the China alumni network. This collaborative approach fosters continuous improvement and mutual support among chapters.
Hanxi actively participates in several impactful initiatives outside of her professional endeavors:
Harvard Business School Mentorship Program: Hanxi joined the mentorship program at Harvard Business School, dedicating her time to assist young professionals facing career choices, workplace challenges, or seeking advice, and guidance.
Jiuqian Charity Sponsorship: Hanxi has been a steadfast supporter of Jiuqian, a renowned charity organization that focuses on providing holistic education to underprivileged children. Her support extends beyond financial contributions, as she and her children personally visit rural schools, engage in activities such as reading stories, teaching lessons, organizing summer camps, and even helping in infrastructure repairs like fixing water pipes. The children she supports have had the opportunity to attend prestigious high schools like the United World College, thus transforming their life trajectories. Additionally, Hanxi has provided scholarships to students in various organizations.
Covid-19 Response: When the pandemic first struck, particularly during the chaotic periods in Wuhan and later in the United States, Hanxi mobilized her resources to source and coordinate logistics for significant medical supplies. She made substantial donations to hospitals and nurses in both China and the US. Her contributions were acknowledged by her alma mater, Wuhan University, as she was recognized as one of the contributors.
Katherine Vellinga, Zirkova Vodka CEO & Co-founder
Published January 22, 2024 by pgalums in
Katherine Vellinga is the Co-founder and CEO of Zirkova, an award-winning ultra-premium vodka brand. She is a Ukrainian Canadian who first pursued a career with P&G in Product Supply but after the fall of the Soviet Union, she left P&G and moved to a newly independent Ukraine.
This is where Katherine developed her love for the origins and birthplace of vodka and was compelled to share this remarkable story of women Master Distillers, classical methods, and extraordinary spirits. Zirkova is now the top-selling vodka produced in Ukraine that is sold in Canada. More than just a brand, Katherine’s vision for Zirkova is a reflection of her own beliefs, of standing for the freedom to be and celebrate who you are, to toast and acknowledge others, and to create special moments that bring people together, so that everyone feels like they are part of one table. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation about creating moments that unite, not allowing fear to guide our decisions, and creating a life by design vs default.
Karen Francis, Automotive Veteran, Board Chair & Advisor
Published January 15, 2024 by pgalums in
Karen C. Francis serves as Chairman of the Board of Vontier, a global transportation/mobility technology company, as well as on the Board of Polestar Automotive and Senior Advisor to TPG Global. Karen made a name for herself as one of the youngest female leaders in the automotive industry, serving as General Manager of the $8 billion Oldsmobile Division of General Motors and then as Vice President of Ford Motor Company, where she was responsible for the corporate venture capital group and global technology-driven business strategies.
Karen transitioned to Silicon Valley fifteen years ago and is deeply engaged with emerging automotive technology companies. Karen’s career has also included executive positions at Procter & Gamble, Internet Capital Group, Bain & Company, Berol Corporation, and Publicis. Karen graduated from Dartmouth College and has an MBA from Harvard Business School. And is the Owner of Limerick Lane Cellars, a 53-acre estate vineyard property in Northern California. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation about mentorship and advocacy.
Isaac Saul, Tangle News
Published January 8, 2024 by pgalums in
So it’s a new year, and it’s going to be an interesting one. So what better way to start 2024 than by an introduction to a different perspective? P&G Alumni Co-host Rajiv Satyal, beyond being a world-class entertainer and comedian, also hosts the TanGent show, featuring conversations from fields of entertainment, politics, business, religion, and tech.
Rajiv recently sat down with journalist Isaac Saul, whose newsletter and podcast TANGLE NEWS (ReadTangle.com) is an increasingly relevant source of independent, non-partisan news summarizing the best arguments from across the political spectrum on the news of the day. Rajiv and Isaac covered a lot of topics including the political makeup of Tangle’s audience, and how our news sources dictate our outlook and discourse. It’s a down-the-middle approach that might give you some pause. So wherever you’re coming from, we hope you’ll enjoy this candid conversation about how and where we get our news for a very important year to come.
2023: This year’s Learnings from Leaders
Published January 2, 2024 by pgalums in
As 2023 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…
Heard something you missed? Be sure to go back and check out each guest’s full episode. Got a suggestion for a future episode? Send a note to pgalums@gmail.com — we’d love to hear from you! Thanks for your continued support of our Learnings from Leaders podcast!
Remembering Dan Hamilton (1969-2022) with Aaron Fetters & Bob Arnold
Published December 11, 2023 by pgalums in
Dan Hamilton was a longtime friend and mentor to many. An experienced marketing, media, and creative leader who passed away suddenly last December of 2022. This is the second of two conversations with friends and colleagues who knew Dan—this one with two fellow P&G Digital Alums: Bob Arnold, now a Media Innovation leader at Google, and Aaron Fetters, now CEO of Transparent Partners.
Dan Hamilton was a dreamer, a mentor, and someone who had a passion for coloring outside the lines and breaking all the rules while bringing us along for the ride. Dan was a bandmate, a father, and a friend. He was born in Seattle in 1969 to Valerie and Vernon “Bud” Hamilton. Bud is a fellow P&G Alum who retired after 37 years as a VP in Sales, Marketing, and Governance, and one of the reasons Dan came to P&G. Dan grew up in Cincinnati later studied journalism and jazz guitar at the University of Cincinnati and CCM, he co-founded the band Spookfloaters, which he toured with, then went back get his Masters of Computer Science from Miami of Ohio, after which he joined P&G as one of the earliest digital marketing managers, starting in the beauty business on Olay. Dan quickly changed the game in digital, rising to become the media leader of Olay, arguably one of P&G’s most innovative brands in marketing and media during Dan’s tenure. Over nearly 15 years Dan worked across Olay digital, Olay media, Olay design, P&G’s corporate brand, and personal care. Dan spent another seven years in Colorado as a marketing, media, and creative leader at WhiteWave Foods, as it later merged with Danone. In 2021 he joined Ocean Spray as the company’s Head of Marketing Center of Excellence.
Across his entire career, Dan was a friend and mentor to the many who had the privilege of working with him. He was always one of the Alums we wanted to reconnect with on this Learnings from Leaders podcast, but we regret missing our chance. So to capture some of the “Learnings from Dan” – we wanted to share a few stories from those who knew him well.
Got a Dan story? Please send an email or voice memo to pgalumpod@gmail.com – we’d love to hear it and share it with the many friends and family who survive him. We know you’ll enjoy this candid conversation about our good friend Dan.
Remembering Dan Hamilton (1969-2022) with Monisha Dabek
Published December 4, 2023 by pgalums in
Dan Hamilton was a longtime friend and mentor to many – an experienced marketing, media, and creative leader – who passed away suddenly last December of 2022.
This is the first of two conversations with friends and colleagues who knew Dan over the years – this one with Monisha Dabek, Chief Commercial Officer of Ocean Spray Cranberries, who was one of Dan’s friends and partners in his most recent professional adventures at Ocean Spray and Whitewave.
Dan Hamilton was a dreamer, a mentor, and someone who had a passion for coloring outside the lines and breaking all the rules while bringing us along for the ride. Dan was a bandmate, a father, and a friend. He was born in Seattle in 1969 to Valerie and Vernon “Bud” Hamilton. Bud is a fellow P&G Alum who retired after 37 years as a VP in Sales, Marketing, and Governance, and one of the reasons Dan came to P&G. Dan grew up in Cincinnati later studied journalism and jazz guitar at the University of Cincinnati and CCM, he co-founded the band Spookfloaters, which he toured with, then went back get his Masters of Computer Science from Miami of Ohio, after which he joined P&G as one of the earliest digital marketing managers, starting in the beauty business on Olay. Dan quickly changed the game in digital, rising to become the media leader of Olay, arguably one of P&G’s most innovative brands in marketing and media during Dan’s tenure. Over nearly 15 years Dan worked across Olay digital, Olay media, Olay design, P&G’s corporate brand, and personal care. Dan spent another seven years in Colorado as a marketing, media, and creative leader at WhiteWave Foods, as it later merged with Danone. In 2021 he joined Ocean Spray as the company’s Head of Marketing Center of Excellence.
Across his entire career, Dan was a friend and mentor to the many who had the privilege of working with him. He was always one of the Alums we wanted to reconnect with on this Learnings from Leaders podcast, but we regret missing our chance. So to capture some of the “Learnings from Dan” – we wanted to share a few stories from those who knew him well.
Got a Dan story? Please send an email or voice memo to pgalumpod@gmail.com – we’d love to hear it and share it with the many friends and family who survive him. We know you’ll enjoy this candid conversation about our good friend Dan.
Carol Fusek on brain-based coaching - P&G Alumni Coaching
Published November 27, 2023 by pgalums in
Carol Fusek is a Neuroleadership Institute brain-based coach who works with individuals, organizations and families to help them thrive. Currently based in Singapore, Carol was P&G’s Asia’s Associate Director of Customer Service & Logistics, where during her 26-year career with P&G she held various leadership roles.
As a coach, Carol’s coaching is influenced by brain science and how it can shape leaders and teams. In this candid conversation, we discuss how brain-based coaching can bring about lasting change. Carol shares about the SCARF model — which involves five domains of human social experience: Status, Certainty, Autonomy, Relatedness, and Fairness — a powerful neuroscience-based model for coaching. We explore hot topics – inclusion, psychological safety, and trust. We talk about how leaders and organizations can prepare for change and a lot more.
This is a continuation of our series with P&G Alumni Coaching where leading Alumni will dive deep into relevant topics. Just as professional athletes have a coach to help them perform at their best, coaching can help you thrive in your career and life, through powerful questioning, exploration, and action planning. P&G Alums can learn more and sign up for their first free session at coaching.pgalums.com.
Annie Duke, Author “How to Decide” & “Thinking In Bets”
Published November 13, 2023 by pgalums in
Annie Dukeis an author and a consultant in the decision making space, as well as a former professional poker player. Annie is the only woman to have won the World Series of Poker Tournament of Champions and the NBC National Poker Heads Up Championship. Prior to becoming a professional poker player, Annie was awarded a National Science Foundation Fellowship to study cognitive psychology at the University of Pennsylvania.
Annie is the co-founder of the Alliance for Decision Education, a nonprofit whose mission is to improve lives by empowering students through decision skills education. My discussion with Annie focuses on her recent book, “How to Decide, Simple Tools for Making Better Choices.”
But Annie 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 and AI Integration Strategy. 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
Kenneth Chan, former CEO, McDonald’s China
Published November 6, 2023 by pgalums in
Kenneth Chan is a seasoned CEO and Organization Leader with over 30 years of experience in Fortune 500 companies such as P&G, McDonald’s, PepsiCo, and Singapore Airlines. Kenneth was McDonald’s Chief Executive Officer for China and Division President for the Greater China region between 2009 to 2015.
Kenneth led an organization of 150,000 employees and oversaw the fastest period of expansion at that time — opening over 1,000 restaurants in the span of 5 years. Kenneth was awarded the prestigious “Overseas CEO Award” at the Singapore Business Awards (2014), as well as the “Leading CEO Award” by the Singapore Human Resources Institute (2007).
He now serves as a strategic advisor and executive mentor. You’ll enjoy this deep, humble conversation on creating one’s authentic leadership style, how Asians can become strong leaders, and the importance of values during adversity.
Derrick Booker, L’Oreal SVP & Head of Brand, Thayers Natural Remedies
Published October 24, 2023 by pgalums in
Derrick Booker is currently the SVP and Head of Brand for Thayers Natural Remedies at L’Oreal but has had a varied path before joining a beauty-focused company. Armed with a degree in microbiology from Miami University, Derrick started his career with medical and consumer brand marketing roles in Oral Care at P&G. He is an accomplished research scientist having led the clinical claims support strategy as a Clinical Trial Manager for P&G’s North American Oral Care R&D organization. Derrick then went on to join Pfizer, where he worked on prescription to over-the-counter switching, Advil, and Pediatric brands. In 2020, Derrick was recognized among the top 100 under 50 emerging and executive leaders, by Diversity MBA Chicago and continues to inspire leaders with his authentic leadership and focus on building relationships and leaning into our truths. You’ll enjoy this authentic, candid conversation about reframing feelings of not belonging and being underestimated to surprise others with personal excellence.
2023 CATAPULT STAR ENTREPRENEUR FINALISTS
Published October 2, 2023 by pgalums in
It is time to rally around for the top ten Catapult Entrepreneur of the Year submissions for 2023!
More than fifty company founders and their teams submitted their global companies to this year’s competition. All fifty+ companies were subject to a detailed and rigorous evaluation.
Of the top ten finalists, there was good representation across geographies, with four North American, two European, two Latin American, one Asian, and one Middle Eastern company on the shortlist.
Read on to find out which companies came out at the top of the rankings:
North America
- Instar Brands (www.instarbrands.com) – Brand management and support platform for fast-moving consumer brands that wish to launch and scale up in the US market.
- People OneHealth (https://peopleonehealth.com/) – Health system that combines healthcare services and a monthly membership business model.
- Phenix Software (https://phenixps.com/) – Planning and scheduling software for process manufacturers.
- Purepost (www.purepost.co) – Solution that provides a fast & accurate way to connect skilled, qualified candidates to career opportunities.
Europe
- AccuPredict Services (https://accupredict.io/) – Smart sensors for heavy-machinery failure prediction’.
- Diplomat / Rooster (https://www.diplomat-global.com) – AI based SaaS platform enabling “continuous replenishment” logistics management for retail.
Latin America
- CNCC (www.cafamilia.com) – Industrial grade infrastructure for the treatment of textile waste management.
- Trendsights (https://www.trendsights.ai) – Marketing intelligence platform that integrates influencers, online channels and competitor monitoring to generate actionable content.
Asia
- EchoWorth Tech (https://www.ecoworth-tech.com/) – Wastewater management solution.
Middle East
- Bright Concept (www.yoloshops.com) – A global teen accessory brand with a social mission.
Recognition of these companies and selection of the winner will take place at the P&G Alums Global Conference on November 2-5th in Washington D.C. So be there to cheer them on!
ANGELS AT THE STARTING BLOCK
Published September 19, 2023 by pgalums in
If you have been following the latest developments in the PGAN Catalyst Program, then you are aware of the program’s mission to identify high-potential, alumni-led startups and to connect them to alum investors and advisors who are able to contribute to the startup’s success.
You may also know that this spring PGAN launched a global “call for startups” interested in participating in the “2023 Entrepreneur Stars” program. More than fifty promising startups around the world responded to the call and are now in the Catapult pipeline. So far, so good
But you may be wondering, “How will this work?” Well, the key lies in bringing together the essential players in this virtuous cycle of value creation: the startups, the investors, and the advisors.
In this article, we will focus on the role and motivations for PGAN ‘angel ‘investor participation in this new program.
In the past, angel investors were typically high-net-worth individuals who provided initial seed money to early-stage startups in exchange for equity and the expectation of future capital appreciation. However, with the advent of the SEC’s crowdfunding regulations and the availability of online investment platforms, it is now possible for anyone to invest in unlisted companies that align with their investment goals. And the investment may be as little as $100.
Although ‘angel’ investing is higher risk than investing in stocks and bonds, and angel investors must carefully evaluate potential investments, there are many benefits to ‘angel’ investing.
Let’s look at some of the rewards of ‘angel’ investing :
- Getting in on the ground floor of a potentially high-growth company.
- Diversifying an investment portfolio by including a higher-risk, higher-potential asset class.
- Supporting startups that have a product/service that aligns with investor’s values and beliefs.
- The personal satisfaction that comes from helping to grow a small business.
For me, ‘angel’ investing is an opportunity to learn about new technologies and business models that may radically change our future. And what could be more exciting than that?
Over the next 2-3 months, the PGAN Catapult program, in collaboration with our investment platform provider, will launch several online capital-raise campaigns for the startups that participated in the ‘2023 Entrepreneur Stars’ program. Interested PGAN ‘angel’ investors will have the opportunity to discover, evaluate, and easily invest in PGAN-led startups via our investment partner’s online platform.
If you are interested in investing in Catapult Program startups, or just interested in what opportunities are available, then please follow this link and answer a few brief questions.
‘Angel investors’, get ready, get set, and let’s go!
Carol Yang on the executive mindset shift—P&G Alumni Coaching
Published September 11, 2023 by pgalums in
Carol Yang is a certified Global Executive Coach (ICF PCC) with 23 years of global leadership experience across Fortune 500 companies—like P&G and the Timberland Company, where she was VP of Global marketing. As an Executive Coach, Carol works with senior leaders around the world, with an emphasis on empowering female leaders to move up and thrive in bigger, more complex roles. Carol’s clients include senior leaders at Goldman Sachs, Merck, P&G, Agile Technology and others.
Going beyond her own career journey, Carol shares relevant advice on the mindset shift needed to ascend into senior executive roles. This is the first in a series with P&G Alumni Coaching where leading Alumni will dive deep into relevant topics. Just as professional athletes have a coach to help them perform at their best, coaching can help you thrive in your career and life through powerful questioning, exploration, and action planning. P&G Alums can learn more and sign up for their free first coaching session at coaching.pgalums.com
You’ll enjoy this candid coaching conversation with Carol on not just the big mindset shift needed for executive growth, but also how to get clear on what we want, take ownership of your career, build self-awareness, and go beyond the buzzwords of building an authentic personal brand.
USA Travel Learnings V2: from Nebraska to Wyoming
Published August 31, 2023 by pgalums in
Join us for part TWO of our USA Travel series across the US with Raman and Drew Tarvin, author of “The United States of Laughter” and podcast co-founder, as they share stories and learnings from their travels across America.
Got travel learnings from the world that you want to share? Send a voice memo to pgalumpod@gmail.com, and maybe we’ll feature your story on a future episode!
And don’t forget to register for the P&G Alumni Global Conference in Washington DC – November 2-5, 2023. You’ll get to hear from many former P&G CEOs, C-Suite alumni leaders, and emerging trendsetters, all while networking with fellow P&G Alums. Learn more and register at pgalums.com
USA Travel Learnings V1: from Alabama to Montana
Published August 28, 2023 by pgalums in
We’re returning to one of our favorite topics—TRAVEL. We’re also turning our focus to the strange and foreign land known as the United States of America. Raman is joined by podcast co-founder Drew Tarvin, author of “The United States of Laughter,” as they share stories and learnings from their travels to all 50 American states. In the first of our two-part series, we’re covering from Alabama to Montana.
Got some travel learnings from anywhere in the world? Send a voice memo to pgalumpod@gmail.com, and maybe we’ll feature your story on a future episode!
And don’t forget to register for the P&G Alumni Global Conference in Washington DC on November 2-5, 2023. You’ll get to hear from many former P&G CEOs, C-Suite alumni leaders, and emerging trendsetters, all while networking with fellow P&G Alums. Learn more and register at pgalums.com
Jawad Bisbis—Ball Corporation, Global VP of Marketing
Published August 21, 2023 by pgalums in
Jawad Bisbis is the Global VP of Marketing at Ball Corporation where he leads marketing and partnerships for Ball’s aluminum cup business. Jawad was previously 7-Eleven’s VP of Proprietary Beverages, where he oversaw the coffee, fountain, and frozen business across 10,000 stores nationwide. Before joining 7-Eleven, Jawad was a VP of Marketing at Focus Brands, a food service chain where he provided marketing leadership across more than 50 international markets and 2000 stores. Jawad also worked for Luxottica as Group marketing director for the Middle East & Africa business, and fifteen years with The Coca-Cola Company in diverse markets and roles.
Jawad started his marketing career with Procter & Gamble where he held various brand management positions. He holds a Master’s Degree from Kedge Business School in France and is fluent in Arabic and French. Jawad is married with two children, and when he’s not working, he enjoys watching soccer, playing tennis, and mentoring college and early career youths in underserved communities. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation about cultivating a different point of view and pushing yourself to be a lifelong learner.
Tim Ferriss - Entrepreneur, Author, and Podcaster
Published August 14, 2023 by pgalums in
Tim Ferriss is an American entrepreneur, author, and podcaster – best known for his book: the Four Hour Work Week, and his podcast: the Tim Ferriss Show. Tim has been listed as one of the fast company’s most innovative business people. Tim is an early-stage technology investor and advisor and is known in media as “the Oprah of Audio” due to the influence of his business and interview podcast being the first to exceed 200 million downloads. Tim is the author of four Number One New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestsellers, including the Four Hour Work Week. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation about balancing work and life, health and wellness, and many other topics.
But Tim 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
ON TRAVEL: Qaisar Shareef, Former P&G Pakistan / Ukraine lead
Published August 9, 2023 by pgalums in
S. Qaisar Shareef is P&G’s former head of Pakistan and Ukraine, author of “When Tribesmen Came Calling,” and a longtime friend of the pod. But more importantly, he’s also a fellow lover of travel. Specifically in how travel allows each of us to experience new and different cultures. Qaisar is based in Washington DC, and a frequent columnist in News International Pakistan, and his recent article about his travels in Egypt speak to the importance of experiencing new and different cultures. Whether hitchhiking from Germany to Belgium, traveling the silk road thru Uzbekistan, wandering Afghanistan, or roaming ruins in Syria and Spain, Qaisar shares lessons and learnings from a world well traveled. Got learnings to share about your own travels? Let us know your favorites pgalumpod@gmail.com – with a voice memo or written story – and maybe we’ll feature your travel learnings on a future podcast!
Rajiv Satyal & Crossroads’ Brian Tomes on Curiosity & Comedy
Published July 1, 2023 by pgalums in
Recently P&G Alumni Co-host Rajiv Satyal sat down with Crossroads pastor and podcast host Bryan Tomes on his show “The Aggressive Life.” What started as an exploration of Rajiv’s comedy career and approach turned into an open and honest conversation between two very different perspectives on politics, faith, and culture.
With the Fourth of July right around the corner for Americans, we celebrate our independence and freedom but also take an honest reflection on who we are (and want to be) as a nation and as a people. With today’s level of division and discord, the importance of talking and listening to others who might not look and think like us cannot be overstated. There is a better way than simply passively standing by and retreating to our echo chambers. It’s about seeking to understand, which was one of the values many of us were taught during our time at P&G. We hope you’ll enjoy this candid conversation about comedy and curiosity.
Mohit Das, Microsoft’s Senior Solution Architect
Published June 22, 2023 by pgalums in
Mohit Das is a Senior Solution Architect for Retail and CPG customers at Microsoft. Prior to his current role, Mohit built a 26-year career in Consumer Products & Retail, Health Care, and Strategy consulting. Most recently, Mohit was with the Kellogg Company as the Vice President for the Global Commercial Analytics Centre of Excellence, driving data and analytics transformation across the entire commercial value chain.
Before Kellogg’s, Mohit worked at McKinsey, Abbott Nutrition, and Procter & Gamble, where he started his career and later served in several Strategy, Insight & Analytic roles within categories like Fabric & Home care, Hair & Beauty Care, and Pet Foods in Asia and the US. Mohit earned a bachelor’s in Civil Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology and his MBA from the Indian Institute of Management.
On the personal front, Mohit has lived with his family in Singapore, Bangkok, Mumbai, Cincinnati, and Chicago, where he currently resides. He enjoys outdoor activities and is regular at tennis and practicing yoga. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation about the importance of finding balance in life.
Fama Francisco, P&G’s CEO Global Baby, Feminine, & Family Care
Published June 18, 2023 by pgalums in
Fatima (Fama) D. Francisco is P&G’s CEO of Global Baby, Feminine, and Family Care—the company’s second-largest sector with $20 billion in sales from brands like Pampers, Always, Bounty, and Charmin. Throughout her career, Fama has been a true trailblazer, including being the first female sales manager hired in P&G Philippines in 1989, among the youngest women promoted to President, and the first Asian female Sector CEO in P&G’s 186-year history.
Fama is a respected leader with a track record of turning around businesses, including during her time in North America Baby Care, while at the helm of Global Feminine Care, and as the Baby & Feminine Care Sector CEO. An inspiring leader, Fama is a role model known for championing gender and intersectional equality. She is also an advocate for mental health and leads her business with empathy and openness building resilient teams who she empowers to rise up to their full potential. She has four children and currently lives with her family in Cincinnati. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation about resiliency, and being a trailblazer in an organization.
Angie Hicks, Co-Founder at Angie’s List
Published June 12, 2023 by pgalums in
Angie Hicks is the Co-founder of Angie’s List & Chief Customer Officer at Angie Home Services. Angie Co-founded Angie’s List in 1995 and served as CMO and on the company’s Board of Directors. In 2007 she led the merger with IAC Home Advisors to form Angie Home Services. Angie received her MBA from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from DePaul University, which has honored her with a Distinguished Alumni Award for Management and Entrepreneurship, and with the Robert C McDermott Medal for Excellence and Entrepreneurship. Angie’s also the recipient of numerous awards including the Indiana Commission for Women Torchbearer Award for Entrepreneurial Accomplishments, the TechPoint Trailblazer Award, Harvard Business School’s Alumni Achievement Award, and Woman Tech Founder of the Year. In this P&G Alumni Enrichment webinar, you’ll enjoy hearing about Angie’s personal story of entrepreneurship and navigating through work and life’s many changes.
Jaideep Bansal, Co-Founder & CEO at Global Himalayan Expedition
Published June 6, 2023 by pgalums in
Jaideep Bansal is the CEO of Global Himalayan Expedition (GHE) Impact Ventures and one of the P&G Alumni Leaders Under 40. Jaideep worked with P&G in Product Supply for almost 6 years before becoming a social entrepreneur. With GHE, Jaideep is bringing sustainable development to the remotest communities in India.
GHE brings solar energy and sustainable development to half a million people across five remote regions in India. Jaideep and his team are the winners of the 2020 UN Climate Action Award. GHE’s work has been documented by National Geographic, BBC, and NDTV, and awarded by the WTTC and the World Tourism Awards. Jaideep has been featured repeatedly at Davos among the top leaders inspiring change in the world. He is also an Asia Foundation Fellow and has been recognized as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation about social entrepreneurship and living a purpose-driven life.
Shankar Viswanathan, P&G’s former Asian Head of E-Business
Published May 22, 2023 by pgalums in
Shankar Vishwanathan was P&G’s SVP E-Business leader for Asia Pacific Middle East & Africa — a 32-year veteran of the company starting in India as an Account Manager, with a career in brands and 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 with an accomplished international leader.
Beth Nguyen, Author & Professor
Published May 14, 2023 by pgalums in
In real life, Bich Minh Nguyen now goes by the name Beth Nguyen – Beth is an award-winning writer and professor. In honor of AAPI Heritage Month, we wanted to share a conversation from the other podcast Modern Minorities – which features minority voices for all of our majority ears.
Born in Saigon, Beth is the author of books like Stealing Buddha’s Dinner, Short Girls, Pioneer Girl, and Owner of a Lonely Heart – her memoir in essays about post refugee life coming out later this year.
Beth 2021 New Yorker article – “America Ruined My Name For Me” unpacks a necessary conversation about identity, adaption and assimilation – especially for those whose name is not hard to pronounce or understand. A refugee and a mother, Beth’s moving work has appeared in The New Yorker, The Paris Review, The New York Times, and Literary Hub. Beth’s awards and honors include an American Book Award, a PEN/Jerard Award from the PEN American Center, a Bread Loaf fellowship, and best book of the year honors from the Chicago Tribune and Library Journal. Beth has taught at Purdue University and the University of San Francisco – she is and is currently a professor of creative writing at the University of Wisconsin. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation about growing between the cultures of two worlds