Learnings from Leaders: the P&G Alumni Podcast

“Be decisive and provide certainty - to make people feel secure in uncertain times.” Sylvia Dávila is Danone’s Regional President for Latin America - where she runs the commercial operations for one of the company’s fastest growing regions. Prior to Danone, Sylvia spent 12 years in marketing at Mars, ultimately becoming the global CMO of Mars Food. Sylvia spent 12 years rising through the ranks at...

“To lead others effectively,  you have to learn how to lead yourself effectively.” Jim Taylor serves as President of Arby’s, the second-largest sandwich restaurant brand in the world with more than 3,500 restaurants across eight countries. Jim previously served as Arbys’ CMO, where he led all R&D, product innovation, brand marketing and media. Jim also served as Arby’s SVP of Brand Advert...

“We’re in a unique moment where we need to dream big about how things should work - where everybody wins and can take part” Lisa Gevelber is Google’s Chief Marketing Officer for the Americas - leading Marketing for flagship Google products like Search, Maps, Ads & Commerce, YouTube, Play, Chromebooks and Android. In 2017, Lisa founded Grow with Google, Google’s $1 Billion commitment to ensure...

“Let's be wrong sooner because we'll learn from it - move on and take on challenges in a very different way.” Jay Sethi is the CMO of Diageo Beer Company and Senior Vice President of Diageo’s Convenience Category. In addition to leading and executing for three of Diageo’s business units, Jay has a strong passion for inclusion and diversity and was instrumental in creating the “Love Wins” campaign...

“This is a time when courage is required - leading with integrity, humility, clarity, and unity - and doing what’s right.” Teri List is A 35-year finance veteran. She’s currently a Board Director @  Microsoft, Double Verify, and Danaher Corp - a Life Sciences company. Teri’s also the Former EVP & Chief Financial Officer for GAP, Inc - where she oversaw the finance, real estate and IT orgs...

“We’re going to need leaders with the aptitude, flexibility and agility to face challenges we don’t know exist yet.” Tom Kuhn is the Vice President, Marketing for The PGA Tour, where he is responsible for the lead marketing and media strategy for their global portfolio of professional golf brands. Prior to his time at The Tour, Tom spent 16 years at Procter & Gamble in a variety of roles, incl...

“Creating greater personal connections - really extending your heart - makes a richer, more human leader ” Remi Kent is 3M’s SVP and Global Chief Marketing Officer for the 3M Consumer Business Group, responsible for delivering profitable growth for their most iconic brands like Post-it, Scotch, Scotch-Brite, Command, and many more. Having risen through 3M’s senior ranks for 8 years, Remi’s strateg...

“I'm an ideas person, but learning to say no is important. People appreciate it.” Jim Stengel was P&G Global Marketing Officer from 2001 - 2008 - was instrumental in putting brand purpose on the map - after rising through the ranks of brand management in the food, beauty, and baby care divisions around the world. Today, as the President of The Jim Stengel Company - a think tank and consultancy...

“Create room for different voices around the table - to remove unconscious bias even among allies of equality.” Sylvie Moreau, is Coty’s former President of Professional Beauty, where she ran a  $1.8 Billion portfolio with brands like Wella, OPI, and ghd - where she recently successfully led Wella to once again becoming an independent business. Sylvie’s a beauty business veteran having spent...

“The act of creation will transform you completely - even if it doesn’t achieve success.” Karan Bajaj is the CEO & Founder of WhiteHat Junior - and the first of many Alumni leader that is an “accomplished entrepreneur” - going beyond the “big brand” path to success - where there are many equally valuable learnings. Karan leads WhiteHat Junior, which is a leading edtech and coding platform for...

“Listen for what you’re really good at - and embrace your superpower.” Amanda Clark is Chief Development Officer at Papa John’s International, where she leads the company’s strategy to continue expanding its restaurant footprint in North America and internationally. Prior to Papa John’s, Amanda was Executive Vice President of the Restaurant Experience at Taco Bell where she reinvented the customer...

“You sometimes have to go slow to go fast. When chaos ensues, take a step back to think strategically.” Brian McNamara is CEO of GSK Consumer Healthcare - a role he’s held since 2016 - leading a portfolio of some of the world’s most trusted brands in wellness, oral health, nutrition, and skin health - including Sensodyne, Voltaren and Panadol. Previously, Brian was GSK Consumer Healthcare’s Head o...

“Stay above the line - take ownership of your choices, and control what you can control.” Noel Geoffroy is Sanofi’s North America Head of Consumer Healthcare Business -  responsible for commercial operations for Sanofi’s portfolio of consumer healthcare brands including Allegra®, Icy Hot®, Gold Bond® and Ducolax®. Noel joined Sanofi in January 2019 from Kellogg’s where she rose through the ra...

“Sports and basketball transcends globally - teaching hard work, perseverance, teamwork, and respect.” Mark Tatum is the NBA’s Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer - a position he’s held since 2014. Having worked at the NBA for 20+ years, Mark currently leads the NBA’s business operations, including international efforts, as well as Global Partnerships, Marketing, and the NBA Developmen...

“Life is about chapters, chances, and choices.” A.G. Lafley served as P&G’s CEO twice - from 2000-2009 and 2013-2015. In part 2 of a 2-part conversation, we talk about his experience beyond P&G, and his personal take on the past, present, and future. A.G. started at the company in 1977, after receiving an MBA from Harvard, serving the USNavy in Japan, and getting a BA from Hamilton college...

“Be the change you want to see - and make things better.” A.G. Lafley served as P&G’s CEO twice - from 2000-2009 and 2013-2015. In part 1 of a 2-part conversation, we learn about his early life and career at P&G - and his take on being an “Inside-Outsider leader.” A.G. started at the company in 1977, after receiving an MBA from Harvard, serving the US Navy in Japan, and getting a BA from H...

“People are the driving force that bring the brand to life...” To mark our first year of amazing conversations with so many P&G Alumni Leaders - we take a quick (much needed) break to reflect, and share a preview of WHO's coming next. You’ll hear the voices of future guests from the NBA, Sanofi, Coty, the PGA, the Gap, Visa, Google, Diageo, Papa John’s, Chipotle, accomplished entrepreneurs, an...

“If you have a compelling mission, you can really mobilize and galvanize the community.” Dian Alyan founded the GiveLight Foundation ( GiveLight.org ) after the 2004 tsunami, where she lost many loved ones. Dian was inspired to provide for children going through similar devastation around the world. GiveLight is a non-profit creating high quality homes and education for global orphans. What began...

“Be intellectually honest in any decision - otherwise you only see the answer that you want to see.” Charlotte Otto served as P&G’s Global External Relations Officer for thirteen years, and later as Senior Corporate Advisor to PR industry leader Weber Shandwick for six years. At P&G - Charlotte led the company's external relations activities worldwide -  including media relations, emp...

“Take greatest pride in the challenges you face, and being able to overcome them.” Jorge Mesquita is Johnson & Johnson’s former Executive Vice President, and Worldwide Chairman - where he served since 2014. At Procter & Gamble, Jorge spent a 29-year  career where he was recognized for the reinvention of major brands such as Tide, Swiffer, Febreze, Downy and others. Jorge spent his fir...

“Reframe the competition - to yourself - to fully achieve what you’re meant to achieve.” Michelle Crossan is Samsung Electronics America’s Senior Vice President of Corporate Strategy, Innovation and Transformation at, where she leads overall corporate strategy, innovation, transformation, and new business incubation. Prior to Samsung, she also served as CMO for luxury mobile brand Vertu. Michelle...

“Dharma is doing what must be done. Don’t worry about credit - you’ll be happier and your work better.” Gurcharan Das is known as “the godfather of P&G India” - the former chairman and managing director of Procter & Gamble India. He also served as VP managing director of worldwide strategic planning for P&G’s Health & Beauty business. Schooled in the US, Gurcharan returned to join...

“We are all intersectional - uniqueness is our greatest gift. Empathy makes you a better leader.” Shelly McNamara is P&G’s Chief Equality & Inclusion Officer, where she’s responsible for shaping culture, policies, and leadership to promote greater diversity. Shelly’s also an avid storyteller, speaker and writer — her new book No Blanks, No Pauses - weaves her life story with reflections an...

“ 'Yes, and...' is a kind of courage. Only failure allows us to begin again more intelligently.” Emily Chang, CEO of McCann Worldgroup China. Emily’s a seasoned marketer with 20 years of experience across the US and China. At Starbucks she was the SVP of Marketing, and CMO of Starbucks China. She was the Chief Commercial Officer at Intercontinental Hotels Group, and APPLE’S head of Asia retail mar...

“The one thing you can’t teach in a job to be successful has to come from within - desire." James Michael Lafferty is the CEO of Fine Hygienic Holding - a leading CPG company across the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, and USA - as well as an accomplished writer, coach, and athlete. Jim is an internationally-tenured leader whose career spans 3 decades and 5 continents. Jim served as CEO of Briti...