Learnings from Leaders: the P&G Alumni Podcast

“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 Advertising and Activation, as well as SVP of Product Development and Innovation. Prior to his 7+ years at Arby’s, Jim spent 4 years at Darden, parent company of Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, and more - where he rose through roles in Strategy, Innovation, and Marketing. And of course, Jim began his career at P&G, where over 15 years, he rose through the ranks of Finance and Marketing in Oral Care, Male Grooming, and Digestive Wellness. Jim is an alum of the University of Illinois and Stanford University, and serves on the board of the University of Georgia Terry College of Business. You’ll enjoy this really fun, candid conversation about building teams, shepherding innovation, recognizing blind spots, and leading effectively.

“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 the opportunities created by technology are available to everyone - which has helped more 6 million Americans grow their skills, careers, and businesses. Under her leadership, Grow with Google launched Google Career Certificates, which provide onramps to in-demand, high paying jobs for people without college degrees. These certificates have provided significant upward mobility to tens of thousands and counting. Lisa also leads Google for Startups, which levels the playing field for entrepreneurs globally by supporting underrepresented founders. Prior to joining Google in 2010, Lisa spent nine years in senior management roles @ Intuit, as well as leading at startups and nonprofits. And of course, Lisa got her start at P&G in brand management where over 6 years she led a $400 million portfolio of brands. Lisa serves on the Council for Foreign Relations, is an inventor on 6 patents, and holds a degree from the University of Michigan. Lisa also is a proud mom of two girls and lives in the Bay Area with her family, where she’s an avid hiker and passionate world traveler. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation about making an impact with the work you do and how we can face the big big challenges in our economy when it comes to equity and equality - in and outside of our jobs, to work together to ensure everybody wins

“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 for the Smirnoff brand in partnership with the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) celebrating love and acceptance. Prior to Diageo, Jay worked at Procter & Gamble as the Director of North America COVERGIRL, returning the brand to growth through new and exciting partnerships, including the NFL and The Hunger Games movie franchise. Jay is known as an innovative marketer and has received numerous awards, including a “40 under 40” Marketing Leadership Award from Advertising Age. Jay graduated from The University of Chicago and previously worked in the world of Chicago politics with roles in the U.S. Senate and top political campaigns. Jay is fluent in Spanish and is proudly multicultural as a Mexican and Indian American. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation about how to be more thoughtful - and intentional about using your skillset to have an impact in and beyond work, because there are many actionable steps anyone can take to be more open and inclusive in business, and life.

“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. Teri held similar CFO roles at Dick’s Sporting Goods, and Kraft Foods - after spending nearly 20 years @ P&G, ultimately advancing to SVP of Finance & Treasurer. But unlike many P&G Alumni Execs, Teri actually got her start @ Deloitte & Touche, where she spent 9+ years providing financial counsel to large multinationals. Teri received her bachelor’s degree in accounting from Northern Michigan University and is a certified public accountant. In a candid conversation about courage - Teri shares how to think about not just how it relates to your career, but yourself. You’ll enjoy hearing about Teri’s passion for people - and how she’s committed to helping diverse teams thrive, and how leaders need to be thinking not just about short-term wins, but long term decisions.

“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, including brand management on Vicks, Metamucil, and Align. Tom started his career in IT, working across Manufacturing, Marketing, and Research & Development. Tom earned his degree in Mechanical Engineering from Bucknell University, his MBA from Georgia Institute of Technology, and is married with three children in Ponte Verda Beach, FL. In a candid conversation about balancing what you think you want with adapting to the moment, you’ll enjoy hearing his authentic takes on his life and career - in a world that is constantly changing.

“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 strategy, discipline, and innovation have helped solve complex business challenges, and her work to launch Scotch Flex & Seal won Time Magazine’s Best Inventions Award. During her 12-year career at P&G, Remi worked on Target’s shopper marketing team, in Beauty, Mass, and Prestige, as well as the global Skincare business. Wherever she goes, Remi cultivates diverse, high performance teams and has taken her leadership skills into the community, sitting on the board of the YWCA of Minneapolis and being a founding member of the Black Executive CMO Alliance. She is a focused mother of a teenager and is also participating in various actions to help dismantle racism. You’ll enjoy a candid conversation where Remi shares the obstacles so many of us face - but often do not voice, and understand the greater importance of creating personal connections and psychological safety within teams - now more than ever.

“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 with a mission to rethink business, branding, and life - Jim now works with brands across many industries. He’s the author of 2 books: “Grow: How Ideals Power Growth and Profit at the World’s Greatest Companies,” “Unleashing the Innovators:  How Mature Companies Find New Life with Startups” and has taught at UCLA and Kellogg Northwestern. Jim actually go his start working for Time, Inc, and studied at Franklin & Marshall College, and received his MBA from Penn State University. You’ll really enjoy this candid conversation with Jim about the importance of purpose, self awareness, and making the space to learn, ideate and be inspired.

“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 twenty-two years with P&G working in roles at the global and local level - on brands like Pantene, Olay, Ariel, and of course Wella. Syvlie is based in Europe, with global experience - and with an MBA from ESSEC + Masters in International Business from the Norwegian School of Economics (NHH) in Norway. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation about Sylvie’s experiences across cultures, and as a female leader - especially the approach she had to take as she approached more senior leadership levels - where there always weren’t as many female voices in the room. You’ll also hear perspective about finding your place professionally - how it’s important to make business personal - at every level, with stakeholders like your customers, your investors, and most of all your team.

“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 kids - which he founded 2 years ago - and was sold to Byju’s for $300 Million after just 18 months. Karan was previously the CEO of Discovery Networks in South Asia - overseeing popular channels like the Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, and Discovery Kids. Karan was a senior marketing director over Kraft’s $3 Billion Dollar global gum business, and a Management Consultant for the Boston Consulting Group. Karan got his start at P&G, where he spent 6 years on Ariel across Southeast Asia and Herbal Essences in the US Karan’s been awarded to AdAge’s 40 Under 40, has hiked every tough mountain from Kilimanjaro to Dianali, and also a best-selling fiction author of books like Keep Off the Grass, Johnny Gone Down, and the Yoga of Max’s Discontent. He’s a yoga practitioner and teacher, as well as a husband and a father of two. You’ll enjoy this conversation with an accomplished Alumni entrepreneur - about the act of creation, and the perseverance to do so...

“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 experience across 7,000 restaurants by bringing together marketing, technology, architecture and design, and construction to create a unified vision. During her seven years at Taco Bell, she served on numerous other leadership roles, including SVP North America Development and General Manager for Taco Bell Canada. Amanda began her career at P&G, where she spent nearly 12 years working on some of the company’s biggest brands like Olay, Pampers and Oral-B. Amanda graduated from Yale University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Theater Studies. In this candid conversation about being your best self, Amanda talks about the importance of finding what you’re good at - and how that might not always be the path you think you were meant to be on. You’ll enjoy hearing Amanda’s perspective on what it takes to intentionally build a diverse and inclusive team, and how you sometimes in the face of organization inertia - you have to be willing to push back to move forward.