Learnings from Leaders: the P&G Alumni Podcast

“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 as one home for 50 children has now expanded to support over 1,000 orphans in 11 countries globally — with a goal of housing 10,000 children in response to natural disasters, poverty, and war. GiveLight has responded to crises in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, and Morocco. Prior to founding Givelight - Dian spent a decade as the Outreach Director for the Muslim Community Association in the San Francisco bay area. And Dian got her start at P&G in brand management in beauty and healthcare brands across Asia. Dian’s work with GiveLight has garnered awards and engagements from Fortune 500s + prominent universities, and has been featured in Newsweek, the Huffington Post, and many other media outlets. She lives in the San Francisco bay area, a mother of two - but she considers all children GiveLight reaches as a part of her family. Learn more about how YOU can help at GiveLight.org

“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, employee + shareholder communications, government +community relations, and corporate contributions. Charlotte led a 33 year career at P&G, rising through the ranks of Brand Management and Corporate Comms, and was the trusted counselor to five P&G CEOs. In fact, Charlotte was P&G’s first female corporate officer. Charlotte has received numerous industry accolades - including being named Woman of the Year AND Corporate Woman of the Year by the Cincinnati Enquirer, as well as receiving the Matrix Award for Public Relations, and the prestigious Paladin award. Charlotte’s a proud Purdue Alum, where she received her Bachelors and Masters — and she even studied at the Culinary Institute of America. In a great conversation about intention - and serendipity - you’ll learn about the power of embracing a path never imagined, and removing our own blinders to be truly intellectually honest and objective about whatever situations we may face.

“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 first 15 years at P&G working in various capacities across Latin America including roles in Oral Care and Beauty. Jorge has also served on several professional and community boards including the Cincinnati Opera Association Board of Trustees, Mondelez, and CADCA. Jorge is a graduate of the Florida Institute of Technology where he studied Chemical Engineering, but was born in Mozambique, in southeastern Africa. For Jorge, the most vital leadership traits are self-confidence and humility. You’ll hear his stories and insights from a distinguished career - where the most valuable lessons learned come not just from achieving success, but also confronting failure - and overcoming it.

“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 got her start at Procter & Gamble, starting as a systems analyst, and working on brands like Olay and Anna Sui before becoming the Brand Leader for P&G Prestige. She’s a graduate from University of Strathclyde Business School, and is married with two children in New Jersey. Having worked across business cultures, geographies, and industries - Michelle’s approach is an intentional and thoughtful one. In our candid conversation, she also shares what leaders can do to strengthen and encourage their team amidst today’s current challenges.

“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 Richardson Vicks India - rising from a trainee to senior assignments in the US + Mexico, and becoming RV’s India CEO - turning the company around from bankruptcy, and shepherding its acquisition and expansion by P&G. Now full-time scholar and writer, Gurcharan’s published numerous novels, plays, and articles, and has spoken at Harvard, Berkely, and Oxford. His book “The Difficulty of Being Good: On the Subtle Art of Dharma” is taught at Harvard Business School and a worthy read (https://bit.ly/3qeKqRi). You’ll enjoy hearing not just Gurchuran’s tales of working in rising India, but also his unique global perspective on politics and race, and how the Indian concept of Dharma can apply to work - and the world.

“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 and poetry. Shelly got her start in Sales, and spent 25+ years rising through P&G’s HR ranks, ultimately rising to the level of Executive Vice President - where she worked on some of the company's largest businesses with brand portfolios ranging from $4B to $35B, working on employee populations exceeding 25,000. Shelly’s committed to enabling employees of every background to bring their full selves to work. - an active member of P&G’s Corporate Women’s Leadership Team, and she’s led the expansion of LGBTQ+ employee groups around the globe. Shelly shares many stories from her personal and professional life - as a mother and “out” female executive. Through her writing - and poetry - she’s been able to process and persevere through many moments of inclusions - and exclusion. Core to Shelly’s every day work is to have people think more about our shared humanity - because ultimately, that’s where true understanding comes from - to tackle the issues we must all face together.

“ '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 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 her professional career, and personal purpose.

“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 British American Tobacco in the Philippines and Coca-Cola in Nigeria. He led a distinguished 24-year career at P&G, leading the company in both the Philippines and Poland, rising through the ranks in senior roles across Western Europe, Northern Africa, and the Middle East. Beyond being a dedicated husband and father of 5, Jim is also an accomplished coach and athlete - serving as a Coach of the Philippines Olympic Athletics team at the 2016 Rio Games, having run 30+ marathons, and was the 2017 Philippines National Champion in Powerlifting. Jim’s consulted with numerous Fortune 500 companies, and his many talks and lessons have inspired brand managers around the world. He currently lives in the United Arab Emirates.

“Your value will only be known after you have moved on. So lay good foundations for those who come after you.” Mohan never imagined the career he would lead - working for P&G across 3 continents over 30 years. Growing up in India, he studied Mechanical Engineering, and got a Masters in Technology from @ IIT. He then got his Master in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Hawaii and an MBA from Columbia University. After a chance interview with a P&G executive in NYC, Mohan began his P&G career in Geneva, rising through the ranks to build the business - and organizations across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. He expanded brands in the Middle East, doubled the business in Ireland, and started operations in Egypt, and Portugal. Mohan He briefly went on to frozen foods giant Findus as General Manager of the UK and Ireland. You’ll enjoy hearing this passionate conversation on stories from a different era, rooted in foundational purpose, value and principles still applicable today - wherever you’re working. Mohan is now mentoring the next generation of leaders - serving an Executive-in-Residence at the London School of Business and other leading business Schools. He also serves as a coach for CEOs in the UK + India, and was one of the earliest Board members of the P&G Alumni Network and the P&G Alumni Foundation. Now in London, Mohan is a proud father to 2 adult daughters in the UK + the US

“You can have it all, but you can’t have it all at once. In the long view, it all balances out.” Tiana Conley is Kellogg’s VP of Global Cereal where she is responsible for the $6 billion flagship portfolio with treasured brands such as Special K, Frosted Flakes, Froot Loops and Corn Flakes. Prior to joining Kellogg, she was Beam Suntory’s Marketing Director of global tequila, and held marketing roles at Kimberly Clark. At P&G , and held a variety of marketing roles at Kimberly-Clark. At P&G Tiana rose through the ranks of brand management on global skincare and Olay, and got her start as a senior R&D Engineer on Tide. She received Chemical Engineering from University of Illinois and her MBA from Xavier University. Tiana is based in Chicago and is mother of two children, Griffin and Ava. In a candid conversation on work and life - Tiana addresses head on the myth of work-life balance, and shares great perspective on making the right personal decisions in the context of a career.