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Learnings from Leaders: the P&G Alumni Podcast

Learnings from Leaders: the P&G Alumni Podcast

By P&G Alumni Network

Anyone who’s worked at a great company knows it’s all about the people. Good managers, great leaders - in and beyond the business. Through conversations with P&G Alumni leaders, we go deeper with the leaders you know, but want to know more about. This is Learnings from Leaders: the P&G Alumni Podcast. pgalums.com/podcast Learnings from Leaders is a production of the P&G Alumni Network (pgalums.com) — an officially recognized, global nonprofit by former P&G’ers committed to community, enrichment, and philanthropy. With more than 45,000 members worldwide, the Network connects through global conferences, local chapters, industry events, and online content. Our nonprofit Foundation supports economic empowerment in communities around the world.
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Tristan Walker, Founder - Walker & Company

Learnings from Leaders: the P&G Alumni PodcastFeb 24, 2024

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36:01
Tristan Walker, Founder - Walker & Company

Tristan Walker, Founder - Walker & Company

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

Tristan Walker is the Founder of Walker & Company Brands, where he was also the CEO when it was acquired by Procter & Gamble in 2018. Walker & Co. is best known for best-selling brands like Bevel & Form - Healthy and Beauty designed for communities of color. Prior to Founding Walker & Co, Tristan was Entrepreneur-In-Residence at Andreessen Horowitz, the prominent venture capital firm. He also served as Director of Business Development for Foursquare - managing strategic partnerships with brands like American Express, The New York Times, CNN, MTV, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, and Starbucks. Tristan’s also had experiences with Boston Consulting Group and Twitter. Currently, Tristan serves on the Boards of Foot Locker, Shake Shack, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, and the Metro Atlanta Chamber. Tristan is also the Founder and Board Chairman of CODE2040, a program that matches high-performing Black and Latino undergraduate and graduate coders and software engineering students with Silicon Valley start-ups for summer internships. Fortune Magazine named him as one out of 50 of the “World’s Greatest Leaders.” You’ll enjoy this candid conversation about neglecting the laziness of others, and truly empathizing with your customer’s experiences.

This is a replay of a past episode from February 2022 - from our partners at 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? Reach out directly to Dorion on LinkedIn. GetMoreThanSoap.com

Feb 24, 202436:01
Geraldine Moriba - journalist, filmmaker, advocate

Geraldine Moriba - journalist, filmmaker, advocate

“I was speaking up to respected people in the industry and telling them they were wrong. But we were getting the story right.”

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 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’s 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 for 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.

Feb 18, 202445:20
John Pepper & Ursula Burns’ Conversation on Race & Understanding

John Pepper & Ursula Burns’ Conversation on Race & Understanding

“Making improvements is challenging. But we can't give up and we've got to learn how to do it better.” “Speak, engage, help, be helped. Be part of society. Be an optimist towards the fact that people can change, that people can learn.”

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


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

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


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

Feb 11, 202456:53
Dr. Barbara Oakley, Engineer, Professor, Author

Dr. Barbara Oakley, Engineer, Professor, Author

“Really great leaders oftentimes will surround themselves with people who have contrary opinions who have differing sorts of thoughts.”

Dr. Barbara Oakley is a Professor of Engineering at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan and her work focuses on the complex relationship between neuroscience and social behavior. Barbara was a captain in the U.S. Army, a Russian translator on Soviet trawlers, a radio operator in the South Pole, and the author of 8 books. She is also the creator and instructor of Learning to Learn, the most popular Massive Open Online Course ever with over one million enrolled students.

But Barbara 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


Feb 04, 202401:19:11
Andrew Swinand, CEO of Publicis & Leo Burnett

Andrew Swinand, CEO of Publicis & Leo Burnett

“Enjoy the journey, take stock in how you're learning, how you're building your experience, your brand. It's that openness and that patience that actually creates the opportunities for exponential success.”

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. Prior to 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.

Jan 28, 202447:13
Katherine Vellinga, Zirkova Vodka CEO & Co-founder

Katherine Vellinga, Zirkova Vodka CEO & Co-founder

#200 - 1/21/2024

HOST = Ida Abdalkhani

  • Katherine Vellinga, Zirkova Vodka CEO & Co-founder

“The thing that terrifies you the most is where all the gold is — and my experience is when you bust through, there's really incredible things on the other side.”

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.

Jan 22, 202440:06
Karen Francis, Automotive veteran, Board Chair & Advisor

Karen Francis, Automotive veteran, Board Chair & Advisor

“A mentor is someone who advises you and helps you become smarter about your world. A sponsor is someone who advocates for you when you're not in the room and enables you to be better.”

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’ts 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 Owner of Limerick Lane Cellars, a 53 acre estate vineyard property in Northern California. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation about mentorship and advocacy.

Jan 15, 202451:00
Isaac Saul, Tangle News

Isaac Saul, Tangle News

“We don't understand people we disagree with, and being challenged by the news is something people find refreshing. I figured I couldn't be the only person out there who wanted that — and it turns out I'm not.”

So it’s a new year, and it’s going to be an interesting one, so what better way to start 2024 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 source 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 really 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...

Jan 08, 202457:28
2023’s Learnings from Leaders

2023’s Learnings from Leaders

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!

Jan 02, 202431:16
India revisited, personally and professionally

India revisited, personally and professionally

“People are interconnected in India, there's an interdependence that doesn't exist here — a connectedness, a togetherness.”

To continue our series on travel - we’re going to (talk about) India, with co-hosts Sharad Lal and Rajiv Satyal, who also happen to be of Indian origin. At the turn of the century, many said India had gone through more change in 20 years than the West had gone through in a century. And now we’re another 20 years later. India is an emergent superpower on the world stage - some would argue a swing vote on the geopolitical map — with all the same sort of wonder people have romanticized over decades, but now also with all the social and political growing pains one would expect from such a...colorful country.

Dec 24, 202344:12
David Taylor & AG Lafley, Emeritus CEOs from DC23 Conference

David Taylor & AG Lafley, Emeritus CEOs from DC23 Conference

David Taylor & A.G. Lafley are two of P&G's Emeritus CEOs, who joined the recent recent P&G Alumni Global Conference in Washington DC for a candid conversation going beyond their personal stories - or even the stories of the day - to discuss their approaches to some of the broad challenges we have to face together, to meet the moment...

Dec 17, 202359:45
Remembering Dan Hamilton (1969-2022) with Aaron Fetters & Bob Arnold

Remembering Dan Hamilton (1969-2022) with Aaron Fetters & Bob Arnold

“There's a better way to live and work — Dan showed you can be effective and have a good time doing it.” “For someone to be in a rock band and talk like a rock star, and still have the command and respect of your business partners — it showed that you can get beyond stereotypes and be successful.”

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. 

https://adage.com/article/opinion/ocean-spray-remembers-dan-hamilton/2459791

Dan Hamilton was a dreamer, a mentor, and someone who had a passion for coloring outside the lines and breaking all the rules, and 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 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 @ 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 that 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 with the many friends and family who survive him. We know you’ll enjoy this candid conversation about our good friend Dan.

Dec 11, 202350:17
Remembering Dan Hamilton (1969-2022) with Monisha Dabek

Remembering Dan Hamilton (1969-2022) with Monisha Dabek

“Don’t give up on the things that you believe are worth fighting for - Dan had this endless optimism - if you fought hard enough that you could make anything work.”

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.

https://adage.com/article/opinion/ocean-spray-remembers-dan-hamilton/2459791

Dan Hamilton was a dreamer, a mentor, and someone who had a passion for coloring outside the lines and breaking all the rules, and 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 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 @ 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 that 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 with the many friends and family who survive him. We know you’ll enjoy this candid conversation about our good friend Dan.

Dec 04, 202339:13
Carol Fusek on brain-based coaching - P&G Alumni Coaching

Carol Fusek on brain-based coaching - P&G Alumni Coaching

“Things that are outside your control, be transparent — because oftentimes those collisions of change can create innovation.”

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, 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 on relevant topics. Just as professional athletes have a coach to help them perform at their best, coaching can help you thrive in career and life life, through powerful questioning, exploration, and action planning. P&G Alums can learn more and sign up for their first free first session @ coaching.pgalums.com.


Nov 26, 202343:25
Thanksgiving with Food & FrieMMds (Modern Minorities)

Thanksgiving with Food & FrieMMds (Modern Minorities)

Thanksgiving’s always been special because it combines two universally loved things, being around friends and family, and food — some of the very topics we talk about on another podcast (of Raman's): MODERN MINORITIES, where we share minority voices for all our majority ears. So we decided to revisit of our favorite questions with some of our favorite FrieMMds of the Pod over the years:

Raman Sehgal (UK edition), Jieun Kirtley, Justin Richmond, Tyanne Benallie, Andres Barragan, Paris Hatcher, Steven Wakabayashi, Mira Jacob, Jonathan Hill, Gina Brillon, Ian Haddock, Dani Goulet, Gene Luen Yang, Sara Alfageeh, Bhavik Kumar, Aaliyah Habeeb, Tolentino, Seif Hamid, Nidhi Chanani, Victor Luckerson, Chirstina Lee, Sung Kang, and Mandi Sehgal

So enjoy some delicious - and not so delicious recos as you make your final run to pick up some last minute cranberry sauce (or chutney!). We hope you’re making the time to be with folks you care about, and find a moment to enjoy some great food with them. Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours...


Nov 22, 202354:57
Kshitij Mulay - Sephora Asia CIO

Kshitij Mulay - Sephora Asia CIO

“Don’t look for conflicts — look for issues. Because every issue or problem is an opportunity to learn and grow.”

Kshitij Mulay is currently Sephora’s Chief Information Officer (CIO) for Asia - enabling the prestige beauty retailer win in digital, eCommerce and data in the omni channel world. Kshitij is a commercial tech leader with over 20 years experience across APAC in local, regional & global capacity. Prior to joining Sephora, Kshitij was the Global CIO for SK-II and has also served as P&G India CIO and Shared Services Leader. At P&G, Kshitij was a master trainer for the “Corporate Athlete” and “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” training programs in the company. An engineer & MBA by qualification, Kshitij is married with 1 daughter residing in Singapore. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation about the need for passion, honesty and a growth mindset - all in service of growing as a leader and finding purpose at work.

Nov 19, 202349:00
Annie Duke, Author “How to Decide” & “Thinking In Bets”

Annie Duke, Author “How to Decide” & “Thinking In Bets”

“Just realize every decision you make is a prediction and act like it - figure out what it is implicitly predicting and make that explicit.”

Annie Duke is 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

Nov 13, 202342:49
Kenneth Chan, former CEO, McDonald’s China

Kenneth Chan, former CEO, McDonald’s China

“It's not about how you get results from yourself but learning how you're going to get results through other people and how you bring other people along.”

Kenneth Chan is a seasoned CEO and Organization Leader with over 30 years 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). Kenneth 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 importance of values during adversity.

Nov 05, 202352:46
Sophia Toh on finding your voice - P&G Alumni Coaching

Sophia Toh on finding your voice - P&G Alumni Coaching

“If somebody tells you no, from their perspective, they see ‘N-O’ — but from my side, I see ‘O-N’ — meaning it just turns me ON to try to say, ‘How can I prove somebody wrong?’ ”

Sophia Toh is a Professional Certified Coach with 20 years of experience in corporate finance, accounting, strategy, organizational, and entrepreneurial leadership. Sophia has worked for multi-billion brands leading organization development and transformation. Sophia served CFO of P&G’s subsidiary, Walker & Company Brands, and VP of Financial Transformation at Kraft Heinz. As a Coach, Sophia is credentialed by the International Coaching Federation, a certified coach by the Gallup Clifton’s Strengths organization, Coach Diversity Institute, and Marshall Goldsmith Stakeholder-Centered Coaching Center. She is also a certified trainer in the Four Stages of Psychological Safety™. Sophia is passionate about giving back to the community - volunteering in nonprofit organizations and alumni networks, mentoring and providing coaching pro-bono for students and early career professionals, leveraging her expertise and experience to pay forward and impact the world positively. Her company, Illuminate U Coaching was featured by ManageHR Magazine in 2022 as one of the top 10 emerging leadership development companies in the US.After hundreds of coaching sessions and clients, Sophia had the honor of witnessing incredible success stories – helping individuals find their voice, step into their confidence, and taking giant leaps toward their dream roles. 

This is a continuation of our series with P&G Alumni Coaching where leading Alumni will dive deep on relevant topics. Just as professional athletes have a coach to help them perform at their best, coaching can help you thrive in career and life life, through powerful questioning, exploration, and action planning. P&G Alums can learn more and sign up for their first free first session @ coaching.pgalums.com.

Oct 29, 202351:04
Derrick Booker, L’Oreal SVP & Head of Brand - Thayers Natural Remedies

Derrick Booker, L’Oreal SVP & Head of Brand - Thayers Natural Remedies

“I was non-traditional, with so many stereotypes — this gives me every right to win, because they will always underestimate the power that you have when you're in a space where they don't see you belonging.

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.

Oct 22, 202341:13
Rachel Pacheco, Professor & Author of ‘Bringing Up the Boss: Practical Lessons for New Managers”

Rachel Pacheco, Professor & Author of ‘Bringing Up the Boss: Practical Lessons for New Managers”

“We're biologically hardwired to get defensive when we receive feedback - step beyond that defense and step forward with openness and receptivity.”

Rachel Pacheco, PhD is an award-winning author and Management professor at Georgetown University. A former Chief People Officer, Rachel serves on the board of directors and board of advisors for numerous start-ups and high growth organizations. Her first book, Bringing Up the Boss: Practical Lessons for New Managers, focuses on translating academic research and data into immediately useable tools for practitioners. Rachel’s work explores how managers bring meaning, authenticity, and their own self-discovery into the workplace. Prior to her role at Georgetown, Rachel was on the faculty of the Wharton School, and was a founding faculty member of the Entrepreneurship Education Program at the Graduate School of Education at the University of Pennsylvania. She received her BS in Mathematics from Georgetown University and her MBA, MPhil and PhD in Business Administration from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. She lives in Washington, DC with her husband and son.

But Rachel 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

Oct 15, 202349:11
Sundar Raman, P&G Fabric & Home Care CEO

Sundar Raman, P&G Fabric & Home Care CEO

“Sometimes there is a thin line between success and failure - so I'd rather seek help and succeed. Reach out to the right people and ask for help. People open doors because that's how they have succeeded. "

Sundar Raman is the CEO of P&G Fabric & Home Care - the company’s largest business sector representing a third of the company’s sales and net earnings. Sundar began his P&G career as a market analyst in India in 1998 and soon moved to the United States, where he worked in a variety of roles, from business intelligence to marketing, in P&G Beauty. In 2008, he joined NA Fabric Care to lead innovation and marketing, and in 2019 was appointed President Fabric Care North America and P&G Professional, expanding his responsibilities to Global Home Care in 2020. Along the way, Sundar has consistently demonstrated a track record of results and, importantly, a commitment to empowering people. Sundar is aware of his impact on the organization and those around them and strives to be available when someone needs him, especially a mentee seeking help, challenges his own implicit biases and works with his team to foster an inclusive environment. Sundar is a visionary leader with broad expertise and a passion for innovation and our conversation today reflects his passion for diversity, mentorship and finding a path that works for the individual. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation about the importance of being present to those in need, and always finding a better, third way.

Oct 08, 202336:14
Florence Marie Guesenet on Courage in Life & Leadership - P&G Alumni Coaching

Florence Marie Guesenet on Courage in Life & Leadership - P&G Alumni Coaching

“Don't wait for that bravery moment, that hero moment until you call yourself courageous. You are here for a reason, and that's usually reaching out to the world, and not getting smaller.”

Florence Marie Guesnet is an experienced, empathic trainer and coach where she currently focuses on topics such as “courage in life, courage in leadership,” self-leadership, and strategy consulting. Florence has been trained as a coach since 2015 and has been a “Professional Certified Coach” with the largest International Coaching Association ICF since 2020. She was a member of the Program Commission 2015 of the annual ESOMAR- Congress and “Marketer of the Year” 2014 Cannes Lions. Florence studied economics in Wuppertal with a focus on “work and personnel” after qualifying as a garment seamstress. And has extensive executive experience at companies like Estée Lauder, Melitta, Heineken, and Procter & Gamble. Florence speaks German, English, and French, enjoys playing golf, going running and doing yoga, and currently lives in Germany with her husband.

This is a continuation of our series with P&G Alumni Coaching where leading Alumni will dive deep on relevant topics. Just as professional athletes have a coach to help them perform at their best, coaching can help you thrive in career and life life, through powerful questioning, exploration, and action planning. P&G Alums can learn more and sign up for their free first coaching session @ coaching.pgalums.com.

You’ll enjoy this candid coaching conversation on having courage in life and in leadership.

Oct 01, 202345:12
Mita Mallick: Reimagine Inclusion

Mita Mallick: Reimagine Inclusion

“Inclusion starts at our kitchen tables. If you aren't building cross-cultural relationships - actively learning about a lived experience not your own - how do you expect to show up differently as an inclusive leader?”

Mita Mallick is a corporate change-maker, and the author of a new book  — Reimagine Inclusion: Debunking 13 Myths To Transform Your Workplace. Mita’s an outspoken share of innovative and thought-provoking ideas in the area of inclusion and equity — and has a track record of transforming businesses. Mita's currently Carta’s head of Inclusion, equity and Impact, and the co-host of Brown Table Talk, a top LinkedIn podcast where she helps break down the challenges women of color face in the workplace. Mita’s extensive career - as a fierce advocate of including and representing Black and Brown communities - has crossed orgs like Carta, Unilever, Pfizer, AVON, Johnson & Johnson and more - as she’s a sought after speaker and coach to start-up founders, executives, and public CEOs. Mita’s a LinkedIn Top Voice, a contributor for Harvard Business Review, Adweek, Entrepreneur and Fast Company, and has been featured in the The New York Times, The Washington Post, Time Magazine, Forbes, Axios, Essence, Cosmopolitan Magazine, and Business Insider. 

This is a 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 about Mita’s experiences and learnings from her new - and confront our own biases and myths. You can order Mita’s book here: 

Reimagine Inclusion: Debunking 13 Myths To Transform Your Workplace

https://www.amazon.com/Reimagine-Inclusion-Debunking-Transform-Workplace/dp/1394177097

Sep 24, 202351:35
Ana Malmqvist, Front Burner Brands’ CMO

Ana Malmqvist, Front Burner Brands’ CMO

“There is no formula. There is no direct path. Everybody has to pivot at times in their life. Don't always be looking for the next thing because you won’t be happy in the moment.”

Ana Malmqvist, is the CMO of Front Burner Brands, which owns Melting Pot, the world’s premier fondue restaurant. Ana’s love for beauty products took her to L’oreal right out of business school where she advanced throughout various roles before an inflection point and deciding to move to P&G Beauty as an experienced hire. At P&G Ana worked in Brand Management on Max Factor Cosmetics across North America and Western Europe, as well as on the Prestige Fine Fragrances business on brands like Hugo Boss, Giorgio Beverly Hills, Helmut Lang, and Hervé Leger Parfum. When she left P&G to be closer to family, she entered the hospitality industry - delivering unforgettable experiences via marketing as the VP of Product Marketing at Bloomin’ Brands. Ana has a love for translating marketing to the consumer, in large part due to her language skills developed as a child and learning the art of speaking others’ languages. Ana continues to use her language skills to bring together multi-functional groups she works with and in her mentoring of others. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation about the inflection points that change life’s path, and how to find balance and maintain curiosity along the way.


Sep 17, 202344:27
Carol Yang on the executive mindset shift - P&G Alumni Coaching

Carol Yang on the executive mindset shift - P&G Alumni Coaching

“We are most successful from the core of who we are - don't change into somebody else. But at the same time, what is it about your leadership style that is getting in the way?”

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 on relevant topics. Just as professional athletes have a coach to help them perform at their best, coaching can help you thrive in career and life life, through powerful questioning, exploration, and action planning. P&G Alums can learn more and sign up for their free first coaching session @ coaching.pgalums.com

You’ll enjoy this candid coaching conversation with Carol on not just the big mindset mindset needed for executive growth, but also how to get clear on what we want, taking ownership of your career, building self awareness, and going beyond the buzzwords of building an authentic personal brand.

Sep 10, 202349:57
USA Travel Learnings V2: from Nebraska to Wyoming

USA Travel Learnings V2: from Nebraska to Wyoming

“Make the time to scratch beneath the surface in each state. Spending time with the people - in the cities, in the towns, at the restaurants - you're always going to uncover something.”

Part TWO of our USA Travel series - across all 50 states of the USA with Raman and podcast co-founder Drew Tarvin - author of “The United States of Laughter” - as they share stories and learnings from their travels across America - from Nebraska to Wyoming. See last week’s episode for the first part, 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 - 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

Sep 03, 202351:31
USA Travel Learnings V1: from Alabama to Montana

USA Travel Learnings V1: from Alabama to Montana

“It's so easy to go onto the next thing - but take that moment to stop and celebrate small and big wins.”

We’re returning to one of our favorite topics - TRAVEL - 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 a two-part series, 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 - 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


Aug 27, 202346:13
Jawad Bisbis, Ball Corporation, Global VP of Marketing

Jawad Bisbis, Ball Corporation, Global VP of Marketing

“Simplifying the complex is hard - really distilling the essentials, making your thoughts and rationale as strong as possible. Make sure that it says something about you.”

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 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 foodservice 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 being a lifelong learner.

Aug 20, 202341:26
Tim Ferriss - entrepreneur, author, and podcaster 

Tim Ferriss - entrepreneur, author, and podcaster 

  • “The mindset of an entrepreneur is helpful to embrace no matter what your current position. Control the W’s of life - who you spend time with, what you do, why you are doing them.” 

  • 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 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

    Aug 13, 202301:06:39
    Qaisar Shareef, former P&G Pakistan / Ukraine lead - ON TRAVEL

    Qaisar Shareef, former P&G Pakistan / Ukraine lead - ON TRAVEL

    “There's nothing that opens up your mind, even your heart, to new and unknown things than travel. Get outside your comfort zone.”

    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!

    Aug 06, 202301:11:26
    Greg Warren is The Salesman

    Greg Warren is The Salesman

    “There are some moments in sales where it does not go at all like you planned, and you just feel lost. And I do think humor is a way to deal with failure.”

    Greg Warren is a nationally known stand-up comic whose new comedy special “The Salesman” recently launched, so we thought we’d talk with Greg about his creative process and learnings we can find from the world of stand-up comedy.  Greg has been featured on Late Night with Seth Meyers, Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central Presents, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, BET and CMT. He is a fan favorite on the nationally syndicated Bob and Tom Radio Show and can be heard daily on Sirius/XM. Prior to becoming a full-time comedian, Greg spent 10 years at P&G as an account executive for brands like Pringles and Folgers. He’s currently based in St Louis, MO.

    Are you a P&G Alumni leader who’s an industry expert on a topic where our audience can get lots of learnings? Shoot us a note - pgalumpod@gmail.com - and maybe we'll feature you on a future P&G Alumni Podcast!

    Jul 30, 202301:03:36
    Dalia Feldheim Dares to Lead Like a Girl

    Dalia Feldheim Dares to Lead Like a Girl

    “If I'm in a tough environment, should I leave? And I always say, no, not immediately. Try to see if you can bring in your strengths and make it work."

    Dalia Feldheim is an author, organizational psychologist, and works with leading companies to promote heart-felt leadership - so we wanted to feature a conversation about her 2020 TEDx talk “Dare to Lead Like a Girl.” Before founding her Flow Leadership Consultancy, Dalia worked as the CMO and VP of marketing APAC for Electrolux, and prior to that, spent nearly 17 years at Procter & Gamble, working her way up from ABM to Marketing Director for FemCare in Asia. During her time, she helped to work on some iconic ad campaigns such as ‘Tampax Mother Nature’ and ’Always #like a girl’ which was ranked as Forbes most influential campaign of the decade. Dalia holds an Executive Masters degree in Consulting and Coaching for Change from IN-SE-AD business school along with a Happiness Facilitator diploma from the ‘Happiness Studies Academy’ in partnership with Miami university.

    TED talks are "Ideas Worth Spreading" - short talks and presentations that have lit up the internet since 2006. And since # of P&G Alums have shared TEDx talks at official events with their communities - we thought these ideas were worth spreading on our podcast. Are you a P&G Alumni with a TEDx talk? Shoot us a note - pgalumpod@gmail.com - and maybe we'll feature your TEDx talk on a future P&G Alumni Podcast!

    Jul 23, 202301:02:56
    Lars Sudman Starts with Self Leadership

    Lars Sudman Starts with Self Leadership

    “On a daily basis, what kind of score would I give myself? And then what could be one thing that I could do to maybe push that up a little bit.”

    Lars Sudmann is an author, executive advisor, and an explorer of the unknown - so we wanted to feature a conversation about his 2016 TEDx talk “Great Leadership Starts with Self-Leadership.” After nearly a decade with P&G in senior roles in Finance and supply chain - including time as the P&G Belgium CFO, Lars has now dedicated his life to exploring how leaders in their field excel in challenging environments. As a university lecturer, author, strategy director and more, Lars is always looking for tools that help all of us navigate the world of business and life better. Lars is the author of the book "Innovation that Sticks" and his multiple TEDx talks on self-leadership and innovation are top-ranked. 

    TED talks are "Ideas Worth Spreading" - short talks and presentations that have lit up the internet since 2006. And since # of P&G Alums have shared TEDx talks at official events with their communities - we thought these ideas were worth spreading on our podcast. Are you a P&G Alumni with a TEDx talk? Shoot us a note - pgalumpod@gmail.com - and maybe we'll feature your TEDx talk on a future P&G Alumni Podcast!

    Jul 16, 202301:03:29
    Susan Cain, Author of “Quiet” & “Bittersweet”

    Susan Cain, Author of “Quiet” & “Bittersweet”

    "There's this bittersweet tradition that has existed across time and our world - it's the pathway to creativity and connection and transcendence.”

    Susan Cain is the author of the bestseller Quiet: The Power of Introverts in A World That Can’t Stop Talking, which has been translated into 40 languages, is in its seventh year on the New York Times best seller list, and was named the #1 best book of the year by Fast Company magazine, which also named Cain one of its Most Creative People in Business. Susan’s latest book, Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole, is also a #1 New York Times Bestseller, and explores the power of the bittersweet personality, revealing a misunderstood side of mental health and creativity, while offering a roadmap to facing grief in order to live life to the fullest.

    But Susan 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

    Jul 09, 202341:57
    Rajiv Satyal & Crossroads' Brian Tome on Curiosity & Comedy

    Rajiv Satyal & Crossroads' Brian Tome on Curiosity & Comedy

    “There need to be silences - you need to give people room to run. Let people talk more. I already know what I know now. I wanna know what you know.”

    Recently P&G Alumni Co-host Rajiv Satyal sat down with Crossroads pastor and podcast host Bryan Tome 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 among 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. There is a better way from 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. 

    Jul 02, 202301:03:01
    Mohit Das, Microsoft’s Senior Solution Architect

    Mohit Das, Microsoft’s Senior Solution Architect


    “Sometimes we fall into the trap of creating one size fits all processes. What's even more important is humanizing experiences with empathy and care.”

    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 of engineering 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.


    Jun 25, 202353:10
    Fama Francisco, P&G’s CEO Global Baby, Feminine & Family Care

    Fama Francisco, P&G’s CEO Global Baby, Feminine & Family Care

    “You have to be able to laugh. It makes difficult things more achievable. It builds a sense of camaraderie and teamwork. It lifts up the mood, and puts everything in perspective.”

    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 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.


    Jun 18, 202358:09
    Angie Hicks, Angie’s List Co-Founder

    Angie Hicks, Angie’s List Co-Founder

    “It's less about what you do or where you do it, but more about the people you work with. That's what's going to make a difference - learn from great people and grow.”

    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.


    Jun 11, 202346:32
    Jaideep Bansal, CEO, Global Himalayan Expedition

    Jaideep Bansal, CEO, Global Himalayan Expedition

    “Really focus on people. If you have 500 people working for you, that does not mean that they're working for you, but you are working for 500 people.”

    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 recognised as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation about social entrepreneurship, how development trumps religion, and living a purpose driven life.


    Jun 04, 202301:00:57
    Emily Chang, Seasoned US & China Chief Executive & Author

    Emily Chang, Seasoned US & China Chief Executive & Author

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

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

    This episode originally aired in March 2021





    May 28, 202346:36
    Shankar Viswanathan, P&G’s former Asian eBusiness Leader

    Shankar Viswanathan, P&G’s former Asian eBusiness Leader

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


    May 21, 202352:60
    Beth Nguyen, Author & Professor

    Beth Nguyen, Author & Professor

    “It made me think about how our sense of identity really gets mixed up in names that other people give to us.”

    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


    May 14, 202355:51
    Shailesh Jejurikar, P&G’s Chief Operating Officer

    Shailesh Jejurikar, P&G’s Chief Operating Officer

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

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

    May 07, 202301:02:53
    Daniela Riccardi, CEO of Moleskine

    Daniela Riccardi, CEO of Moleskine

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

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

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




    Apr 30, 202322:14
    Franz Dill on Artificial Intelligence (AI)

    Franz Dill on Artificial Intelligence (AI)

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

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


    Apr 23, 202332:06
    Ed Artzt (1930-2023): P&G’s former CEO & Chairman (1990-1995)

    Ed Artzt (1930-2023): P&G’s former CEO & Chairman (1990-1995)

    “Integrity can be a competitive advantage.”

    Ed Artzt served as P&G’s CEO and Chairman from 1990 to 1995. During his extensive forty-one-year career, Ed worked in multiple business sectors. To each, he brought strong leadership, strategic insight, remarkable decisiveness, and an unrelenting drive to be number one. His time as the Chief Executive was a period of unprecedented change in the global marketplace. Ed foresaw and implemented innovative transformations from restructuring the organization's design, the divestiture of non-strategic businesses, new acquisitions, opening up new markets, and building the diversity of P&G's leadership. He addressed these decisions with courage and conviction in ways that reflected the company's Purpose, Values, and Principles. Ed is credited as the principal architect of P&G becoming a global business. During his tenure, international sales grew from less than 10% to accounting for over half of P&G's worldwide sales. He oversaw the transformation of US and European brands like Pantene, Always, Pampers, and Ariel into global brands. P&G's reach quintupled from one to five billion consumers. Ed also served on the boards of American Express, Delta Airlines, GTE and Teradyne. He was active in foreign affairs and an influential advocate of world trade, and on President Clinton’s Advisory Committee on Trade Policy and Negotiations. 

    With Ed’s recent passing in April 2023, we wanted to honor his memory, by replaying our 2020 conversation  - where Ed shared his perspectives on the importance of storytelling, and the competitive advantage of integrity. His stories illuminate concrete lessons from both P&G's successes and failures which speak directly to challenges business leaders continue to face today.

    READ THE BOOK — For more on Ed’s life and learnings - be sure to purchase his memoir / oral history: “P&G the Globalization Years: Lessons Learned during Procter & Gamble’s Transformation from an American Exporter to a Global Marketer”

    goodreads.com/book/show/122991065-p-g-the-globalization-years


    Apr 16, 202301:04:21
    Jon Moeller, P&G’s Chairman & CEO

    Jon Moeller, P&G’s Chairman & CEO

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

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

    Apr 09, 202346:59
    Bracken Darrell, Logitech’s CEO on Humor That Works

    Bracken Darrell, Logitech’s CEO on Humor That Works

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

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

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

    Apr 01, 202345:08
    Misha Euceph, Dustlight Productions Founder & CEO

    Misha Euceph, Dustlight Productions Founder & CEO

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

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

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

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

    Mar 26, 202348:16