Learnings from Leaders: the P&G Alumni Podcast

  “Search and reapply for the insights and innovations to build your business.” Jill Beraud is the CEO and Co-founder of Sh'nnong Beverage company - WHO IS developing plant-based, functional beverages - and SHE also serves on the Board of Directors at Levi Strauss & Co. Jill previously served as CEO of IPPOLITA and has held C-Suite executive marketing roles for multi-billion dollar brands like Victoria’s Secret, PepsiCo, Tiffany’s, and was the CEO of Living Proof. Jill started her marketing career at P&G working on some of the company’s leading food brands, after which she entered management consulting and founded a NYC ad agency working on client brands like Air France, Equinox and Nikon.  Jill graduated from Boston University with a BS in Business Administration, and received her MBA from the Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania, and has been named to Fast Company’s “Most Creative People in Business.” In this candid conversation, you’ll appreciate hearing about her experiences working across companies both big and small.

  “Find what balance means for ALL of your people.” Tami Hurwitz is Amazon Music’s Global VP of Marketing & Growth - a role she’s been in since 2017, working on campaigns featuring  Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, Chance the Rapper, Alicia Keys - reaching more than 55 million customers worldwide. Tami also spent 9 years at Microsoft as a General Manager working on digital, demand, and data efforts. Tami got her start at P&G, where she spent 14 years in a broad range of marketing leadership roles - from Coffee, to Club, working across the US, Europe, and even Latin America.  In a great conversation about working across innovative industries like tech and music - Tami shares not just the power of music, but the passion that comes from working on a product that adds so much value to people’s lives - now more than ever.

  “Make every decision in your career on the basis of values and principles, and you will be successful.” Fernando Aguirre is the former CEO of Chiquita Brands International, and currently a Professional Baseball Owner - as CEO of the Erie SeaWolves (AA affiliate for the Detroit Tigers), and Vice-chair of Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Advanced A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs). Fernando also owned a minority position in the Cincinnati Reds for 14 years before divesting in 2019. Fernando got his start at P&G - where he worked for 23+ years - during which he was President of P&G Brazil.   Fernando currently serves on several boards - some of which include CVS Health, Synchrony Financial, and Duke’s Fuqua school of business. He’s previously served on the boards of Aetna, Coca Cola, Levi’s, Univision, and USC’s Marshall School of Business. Fernando’s been active in the Coach K Center on Leadership and Ethic, the International Board of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, received the NFL's Hispanic Heritage Leadership award in 2011. AND - He was the first Hispanic CEO to participate in CBS’s Undercover Boss. In a spanning conversation of fantastic stories, get ready for some lessons learned across cultures, and around the world. 

    “Leadership is about doing the right thing - beyond politics - for the purpose and values of the country.” This election may be the most important of our lifetime, so we hope you’ve made your plan to VOTE. Bob McDonald - former P&G CEO and US Secretary of Veterans Affairs - returns to our podcast to share his unique perspective on service, leadership, people, and values and the choice we are making at this moment in our history.  Beyond being a veteran, Bob’s served Republican and Democratic Presidents. His political engagement is wide, and purpose-driven - always seeking to transcend party politics. Bob currently serves on the Board for the Partnership for Public Service - a nonpartisan source to help presidential administrations of BOTH parties find great people to serve our country, at all levels - for a more effective government. Interested to learn how you can serve your country, visit PresidentialTransition.org 

  “Work more on things that people haven’t figured out yet." Charlie Chappell is head of integrated media and communications planning at The Hershey Company, where he is leading the company’s transformation towards a data-driven, people-based approach to media on brands like Reese’s, Hershey’s, Kit Kat, Ice Breakers, Twizzlers and many more. In a great conversation about finding what’s important to each of us at work, Charlie talks about he’s always found his path Charlie brings a decidedly marketing perspective to media after spending 12 years at Procter & Gamble, working on brands like Pantene, Herbal Essences, Old Spice, Gillette, Secret, Safeway and Camay - across 25 countries including the US, China, Russia, Egypt, and Pakistan - as well as in Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Charlie received his MBA from the Kellogg School at Northwestern, and also studied chemical engineering at Purdue University. He lives just outside of Hershey, Pennsylvania with his wife and four kids.

  “The best leaders do what's right by people, not politics" Shantanu Khosla is Managing Director of Crompton Greaves - one of India’s leading Consumer Electricals companies, where he’s been since 2015. Shantanu was the P&G’s India country lead for P&G India from 2002 to 2015 - where he grew revenue 15x in 13 years - making P&G one of the fastest growing consumer companies in India. And prior to leading P&G India - he led several P&G business units around the globe. Shantanu studied Mechanical Engineering at IIT Mumbai, got his MBA from IIM Calcutta - and strongly believes in a simple, three-pronged mantra, “build the business, foster leaders, and grow sustainability.”  In our candid conversation, you’ll hear Shantanu’s humble approach to leadership  - which is not just about not just leading people, but enabling people to do their best work. 

“Integrity can be a competitive advantage.” Ed Artzt served as P&G’s CEO & Chairman from 1990 to 1995 - during which sales grew to $33 billion, and the company grew well above historic averages. Joining in 1953, Ed led growth on brands like Comet, Zest, Charmin, Bounty, and Folgers. Ed has 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. Now splitting his time between Florida & Wyoming, Ed shared his perspectives on the importance of storytelling, and the competitive advantage of integrity.

    "Live, Laugh, Love, & Let Go." Kris Malkoski is the CEO of Newell Food Brands - overseeing operations of brands like Ball, FoodSaver, and Rubbermaid. She’s had more than 30 years of proven leadership across Fortune 500 companies, startups and private equity –  like Arc International World Kitchen (Pyrex®, Corelle®, CorningWare), Sears Craftsman, Ubiquity, and of course P&G - where she actually launched the Aleve brand.  Kris serves on the boards of Trustmark Insurance and Fluidmaster, graduated from the University of Nebraska, and has a Six Sigma certification from Villanova University. But most importantly  - she’s a proud mom of 3 amazing kids who have grown up into working, accomplished professionals. In this candid conversation on work and life, Kris shares her unique approach to not just making it work, but making it work better. 

    "Rediscover your passion - find where you need to be." Gustavo Ghory is the Chief Supply Chain Officer of Kimberly Clark. Previously, Gustavo was Co-founder & Chairman of of SmarterChains - a startup focused on driving greater agile manufacturing globally. Gustavo got his start at P&G as a team manager at a plant in Venezuela, with increasing roles responsibilities globally and regionally - overseeing both manufacturing and supply chain functions - in the US, Latin America, and Europe, eventually becoming Vice President Product Supply Global Manufacturing - focusing on creating “the factory of the future” for P&G.   Gustavo has recently moved back to the US (from Geneva) with his wife and five kids. He’s an avid runner and cyclist. He  studied Chemical Engineering from the Universidad Simon Bolivar in Caracas Venezuela, serves on numerous advisory boards, and is a member of the International Society of Business Leaders - collaborating with The World Economic Forum in manufacturing related initiatives. 

    "There is no bending your principles and values, you either stick by them or you don't.” Qaisar Shareef spent a 30 year career at Procter & Gamble - where he most recently led the company’s operations in Pakistan - which is actually an organization he helped build for the company many years prior when P&G was first starting business in Pakistan. During his time with the P&G, Qaisar also held country leadership roles for the Ukraine. He’s the author of “When Tribesmen Came Calling: Building an Enduring American Business in Pakistan.” In a candid conversation about living and working out of your comfort zone, Qaisar shares not just his perspective of establishing a viable business in an emerging market, but also about returning home - multiple times - to make an impact on both sides of the world.    Qaisar is based in the Washington DC area where he is an advisory partner to Ward Howell International. He also teaches at George Washington University’s Department of International Business. Qaisar serves on the board of HOPE USA, OPEN DC, and Transparent Hands, a crowdfunding platform helping cover the underprivileged’s health care costs. He’s also on the Executive Committee of US Pakistan Foundation, and is president of Montgomery County Muslim Council. Qaisar has a Bachelor of Science degree from the Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey, and an MBA from the University of Cincinnati.