Episode Summary:

Shane continues a series of interviews with business & operational leaders who had no previous business continuity experience and were thrust into launching a recovery strategy in not-so-ideal circumstances. Sheeba Philip is the CEO for Akola (Akola.co)  a globally-inspired jewelry brand on a mission to empower women in need in Eastern Africa. With both manufacturing operations in Uganda, Africa, and retail and operational activities in Texas, Sheeba has to shift immediately into business continuity mode without any formal training or plan. Listen as she describes all the issues she had to deal with, from dealing with business finances, to employee safety and shifting priorities all during a global pandemic.    

Key Points:

2:09min- Intro to our guest - Sheeba CEO of Akola

3:03min- What does Akola mean what they do

6:40min- When she and Akola begin to feel the impacts of the pandemic

9:33min- There was no plan!

11:42min- The first actions around personal and worker safety, include a communication cadance

16:15min- Adapting the manufacturing business in a foreign company

17:22min- Changing the product focus to accommodate the times

20:00min- Changes she'd make in the future to be better prepared

Guest Bio:

Sheeba Philip is a management & marketing executive with deep global brand building experience across consumer, retail, and non-profit sectors with over ten years in brand and general management positions, with full P&L responsibility, at Mondelēz International and Kraft Foods & JCPenney. She also spearheaded the brand redesign for International Justice Mission, the largest anti-slavery organization in the world. 

Sheeba is currently serving as CEO of Akola, a pioneering retail/social enterprise startup on a mission to be a women's lifestyle brand that empowers women in need in Eastern Africa. Akola has been named as one of the 25 brands shaping the future of retail by the National Retail Federation.

Links:

• akola.co  (Company Website)
• linkedin.com/in/sheebaphilip