Podcasts about WhiteWave Foods

“There's a better way to live and work — Dan showed you can be effective and have a good time doing it.” “For someone to be in a rock band and talk like a rock star, and still have the command and respect of your business partners — it showed that you can get beyond stereotypes and be successful.” Dan Hamilton was a longtime friend and mentor to many - an experienced marketing, media, and creative leader - who passed away suddenly last December of 2022. This is the second of two conversations with friends and colleagues who knew Dan - this one with two fellow P&G Digital Alums: Bob Arnold, now a Media Innovation leader at Google, and Aaron Fetters, now CEO of Transparent Partners.  https://adage.com/article/opinion/ocean-spray-remembers-dan-hamilton/2459791 Dan Hamilton was a dreamer, a mentor, and someone who had a passion for coloring outside the lines and breaking all the rules, and bringing us along for the ride. Dan was a bandmate, a father, and a friend. He was born in Seattle in 1969 to Valerie and Vernon “Bud” Hamilton. Bud is a fellow P&G Alum who retired after 37 years as a VP in Sales, Marketing, and Governance, and one of the reasons Dan came to P&G. Dan grew up in Cincinnati later studied journalism and jazz guitar at the University of Cincinnati and CCM, he co-founded the band Spookfloaters, which he toured with, then went back get his Masters of Computer Science from Miami of Ohio, after which he joined P&G as one of the earliest digital marketing managers, starting in the beauty business on Olay. Dan quickly changed the game in digital, rising to become media leader of Olay, arguably one of P&G's most innovative brands in marketing and media during Dan's tenure. Over nearly 15 years Dan worked across Olay digital, Olay media, Olay design, P&G's corporate brand, and personal care. Dan spent another seven years in Colorado as a marketing, media and creative leader @ WhiteWave Foods, as it later merged with Danone. In 2021 he joined Ocean Spray as the company's Head of Marketing Center of Excellence.  Across his entire career, Dan was a friend and mentor to the many who had the privilege of working with him. He was always one of the Alums we wanted to reconnect with on this Learnings from Leaders podcast, but we regret missing our chance. So to capture some of the “Learnings from Dan” - we wanted to share a few stories from those that knew him well. Got a Dan story? Please send an email or voice memo to pgalumpod@gmail.com - we'd love to hear it, and share with the many friends and family who survive him. We know you'll enjoy this candid conversation about our good friend Dan.

“Don't give up on the things that you believe are worth fighting for - Dan had this endless optimism - if you fought hard enough that you could make anything work.” Dan Hamilton was a longtime friend and mentor to many - an experienced marketing, media, and creative leader - who passed away suddenly last December of 2022. This is the first of two conversations with friends and colleagues who knew Dan over the years - this one with Monisha Dabek, Chief Commercial Officer of Ocean Spray Cranberries, who was one of Dan's friends and partners in his most recent professional adventures at Ocean Spray and Whitewave. https://adage.com/article/opinion/ocean-spray-remembers-dan-hamilton/2459791 Dan Hamilton was a dreamer, a mentor, and someone who had a passion for coloring outside the lines and breaking all the rules, and bringing us along for the ride. Dan was a bandmate, a father, and a friend. He was born in Seattle in 1969 to Valerie and Vernon “Bud” Hamilton. Bud is a fellow P&G Alum who retired after 37 years as a VP in Sales, Marketing, and Governance, and one of the reasons Dan came to P&G. Dan grew up in Cincinnati later studied journalism and jazz guitar at the University of Cincinnati and CCM, he co-founded the band Spookfloaters, which he toured with, then went back get his Masters of Computer Science from Miami of Ohio, after which he joined P&G as one of the earliest digital marketing managers, starting in the beauty business on Olay. Dan quickly changed the game in digital, rising to become media leader of Olay, arguably one of P&G's most innovative brands in marketing and media during Dan's tenure. Over nearly 15 years Dan worked across Olay digital, Olay media, Olay design, P&G's corporate brand, and personal care. Dan spent another seven years in Colorado as a marketing, media and creative leader @ WhiteWave Foods, as it later merged with Danone. In 2021 he joined Ocean Spray as the company's Head of Marketing Center of Excellence.  Across his entire career, Dan was a friend and mentor to the many who had the privilege of working with him. He was always one of the Alums we wanted to reconnect with on this Learnings from Leaders podcast, but we regret missing our chance. So to capture some of the “Learnings from Dan” - we wanted to share a few stories from those that knew him well. Got a Dan story? Please send an email or voice memo to pgalumpod@gmail.com - we'd love to hear it, and share with the many friends and family who survive him. We know you'll enjoy this candid conversation about our good friend Dan.

Jessica Padula graduated from Boston University and always knew she wanted to get into brand marketing. However, getting a foot in the door can be difficult, so she took the advertising route to get there. Jessica started her career at Grey Group in New York, where she worked with brands like Downy, Covergirl, and Pantene. By specializing in the emerging space of social media, she was able to move over to the client side in Colorado, first with WhiteWave Foods, and then with Famous Brands. Eventually, she returned to New York as the Integrated Marketing Manager with Swarovski, but soon realized she missed CPG and joined Nespresso as their Social Media Marketing Manager in 2016. In 2018, she was promoted to Director of Brand Communications, and in 2023, she was promoted again to Vice President of Marketing and Interim Vice President of Sustainability with over 7 years at Nespresso and a uniquely perfect combination of luxury, CPG, and F&B experience.In this episode, Alan and Jessica discuss how a big move at a young age helped break her out of her shell, why “every ‘yes' is a ‘no' to something else”, how gamers are breaking stereotypes, and what mass amounts of data with increased fragmentation mean for marketing in general. They also talk about her path to becoming VP of Marketing, her views on leadership as someone relatively new to the space, how Nespresso's product innovation and marketing strategy are influenced by the next generation of consumers, and the ways they are impacting the community as an at-home solution.As many leaders come to find, the higher you climb up the ladder, the further you get away from the work. To stay grounded, Jessica bases her leadership approach on empathy. This requires vulnerability and the whole team feels psychological safety and a sense of belonging. This sense of belonging, as well as social justice, inclusivity, and sustainability, are all important factors for Gen Z consumers Nespresso is now considering as they reevaluate their product development, marketing strategies, and experiences. The way Gen Z is introduced to and consumes coffee is largely out of home, all about iced beverages, and concerned with aesthetics and community. Fundamentally, coffee plays an important role in the lives of Nespresso's target consumers. It serves as a connection point, and that connection is part of why Jessica has stayed at the company so long. She is passionate about finding ways their brand can tap into that community experience with their at-home solutions through meaningful partnerships and an understanding of what is important to their consumers.In this episode, you'll learn:The importance of empathy-based leadership and psychological safetyWhat Gen Z cares about and how Nespresso is shifting to meet their needsAs an at-home solution, how can Nespresso tap into community connections?Key Highlights: [02:00] One degree from George Clooney[03:30] Started in social, now she's here.[06:30] Leadership based on empathy[09:30] For Gen Z, it's all about the iced coffee and social impact.[12:30] The insights around their customer base driving product innovation[15:45] Community connections as an at-home solution[18:05] Working with the Ali Forney Center[21:45] A big move at a young age changed everything.[24:20] “Every ‘yes' is a ‘no' to something else.”[25:20] The importance of data analytics and visualization[28:30] What are the gamers all about?[30:55] The threat of fragmentation in marketingLooking for more?Visit our website for links to resources mentioned in this episode and ways to connect with the guest! Become a member today and listen ad-free, visit https://plus.acast.com/s/marketingtoday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, we're excited to chat with Linda Zink, the Chief Marketing Officer at The Simply Good Foods Company. Linda's illustrious career in the food and nutrition space includes influential roles at Atkins Nutritionals and Quest Nutrition, both of which are now part of Simply Good Foods. Before joining The Simply Good Foods Company, Linda was instrumental in steering marketing and innovation at WhiteWave Foods and held pivotal positions at Kellogg's, Clorox, and multiple other very notable companies.Linda's expertise in marketing and product innovation has been a driving force in reshaping the way food companies approach health and wellness trends, and her journey reflects a deep understanding of both consumer behavior and market trends.In this episode, Linda delves into her extensive career, from the evolution of the Atkins and Quest brands to the challenges and successes of marketing in the ever-changing landscape of health-conscious consumerism. She also dishes out her insights on personal growth and leadership, reflecting on how her experiences have shaped her approach to innovation and team building.So, without further ado, let's welcome Linda Zink, Chief Marketing Officer at The Simply Good Foods Company.-----Produced by Simpler Media

Susan Lintonsmith is a business executive with 30 years of leading change and driving results as CEO at Quiznos and Elements Massage, and in leadership positions at Red Robin, WhiteWave Foods, Coca-Cola, and Pizza Hut.  Susan currently leads the business for AtYourGate, an online food ordering and delivery service for airports, and is a board member for The ONE Group, which operates high end restaurants. Here are some key insights from this week's show: How to stand out from the first day of your career. Build relationships that result in people wanting to work with you. How to shift the role of marketing from tactical to strategic. Find something simple that can catch fire. March ahead when you hear the word “NO”. Prefer to watch the video? Watch it here: https://youtu.be/aMy7k-Sy7k8

Emily Darchuk is the Founder and CEO of Wheyward Spirit, a farm-to-flask, award-winning company that creates specialty spirits made from upcycled ingredients. Emily forged her career as a food scientist in the natural food and dairy industry before disrupting the liquor sector through ingenuity and a commitment to sustainable spirits. After many trial runs, Emily perfected the distillation process of turning whey into alcohol. Since its launch, her company has gone on to win a Double Gold Medal from the 2021 NY World Wine and Spirits Competition and a 2021 Good Food Award.  Emily dedicated her undergraduate studies to food science and nutrition at the University of Illinois. She has a master's degree in food science from Oregon State University, and a master's in innovation and entrepreneurship from the University of Oregon. Emily has held product development and innovation positions at Coca-Cola, Whitewave Foods, Kellog's, and NASA. In this episode… Emily Darchuk saw a gap in the food system and decided to do something about it. After working in the natural food and dairy industry, she realized that products were going to waste. Instead of waiting around for a solution, Emily created her own through an agricultural-based spirit: Wheyward. Wheyward is not a tequila, vodka, or gin — it's something that is innovative and can't be categorized in the traditional sense. However, this one-of-a-kind spirit can be incorporated into your favorite drink or sipped on its own, all while offering a sustainable solution. So, how did Emily get this revolutionary product off the ground? It started with being bold and unapologetic.  On this episode of the Alexi Cashen Podcast, hear from Emily Darchuk as she shares her story of creating a specialty base spirit. Alexi and Emily discuss the “why” behind Wheyward Spirit, how the business is making a difference in the spirits industry, and Emily's advice to other entrepreneurs going after their lofty goals. Stay tuned!

Deanna Bratter heads up sustainability at the world's largest public benefit corporation: Danone North America. It's a $6 billion food and beverage company with a massive portfolio of well-known brands. It was so refreshing to get Deanna's perspective on finding the intersections between purpose and profit when advocating for change within a behemoth organization like Danone. We also spoke about the responsibility of not only being a B Corp but also a Benefit Corporation and how that has helped Danone set benchmarks for progress across all parts of their business, and how COVID spurred optimism amongst sustainability practitioners. This episode of Lead With We was produced and edited by Goal 17 Media and is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Spotify. You can also watch episodes on YouTube at WeFirstTV. Resources: Learn more about Danone's "One Planet. One Health" Vision Connect with Deanna on LinkedIn For case studies and other free resources about purposeful business, go to WeFirstBranding.com Simon's new book, Lead With We, is now available for pre-order on Amazon, Google Books and Barnes & Noble. Check it out! Deanna Bratter: Deanna Bratter is the Head of Sustainable Development for Danone North America, where she drives strategy and programs to support the interconnectivity between the health of people and the planet. Recently, Deanna led the company's B Corp Certification, completing it in just one year, two years ahead of its publicly announced 2020 goal. Deanna previously led Corporate Sustainability at WhiteWave Foods where she developed the company's Values in Action employee engagement program and led the journey to 100% certified sustainable palm oil and cocoa powder, before WhiteWave was acquired by Danone.  In addition to completing Six Sigma Management and GRI training, Deanna holds dual bachelor degrees from the University of South Florida and certifications from the University of Denver in Sustainability Leadership and Implementation and Harvard Business School in Sustainability and Corporate Performance. Simon Mainwaring:  Simon Mainwaring is a brand futurist, global keynote speaker, and bestselling author. He is best known as the author of We First: How Brands and Consumers Use Social Media to Build a Better World and the Founder and CEO of We First, a strategic consultancy that works with brands to define their business strategy, company culture, and brand communications.

Marketers often exist in their own bubble. A select few get some face time outside of that bubble with the CEO of the company they work with or of the brands they work for. We wanted to change that on Digging Deeper, so we invited a CEO in to give us that executive position on marketing, sales, social media and more. Ken Romanzi is the former CEO of B&G Foods who now serves as an advisor and principal at The New England Consulting Group. That company produces some of the most well-known consumer brands out there. Crisco, Cream of Wheat, Green Giant, Ortega, Molly McButter, Snackwells, and Weber, among others. His background also includes time at WhiteWave Foods, OceanSpray and he was once president of U.S. Toys for Hasbro. He stopped by Digging Deeper to talk about the breadth and depth of B&G Foods, how they were organized, where marketing and sales meshed and beyond. The discuss was a valuable peek behind the C-Suite's curtain for all of us. This episode of Digging Deeper is sponsored by Julius, the end-to-end influencer marketing solution. If you’ve read Jason Falls' book Winfluence - Reframing Influencer Marketing to Ignite Your Brand, you know he and Cornett have depended on Julius for influencer discovery and campaign management for some time. When we look for the right influencer for client projects, Julius allows us to search across Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, Twitch, Twitter, Pinterest, Blogs and more. When we click into an influencer’s profile, we see their audience demographics, what other networks they have reach through and quickly scan their recent posts to decide if they’re a right influencer for the client in question. All the pieces of campaign management are there, too. Julius allows you to reach out, document contracts, share and approve influencer content and, of course, measure the ROI of each campaign, influencer or post. You owe it to your brand or agency to do a demo of Julius today. Go to jason.online/julius and request one. That’s jason.online/julius. If you like this episode, please share it with a friend or colleague. Don't miss the video show each week by subscribing to our YouTube channel or our audio podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher or Spotify. And we could use some reviews on each platform, so do give us a quick rating or review! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join us as we interview Brandon Hernandez, Co-Founder and Senior Partner of Whole Brain Consulting. Brandon has over 10 years of experience in every aspect of food safety, R&D, and sanitation applications. He holds a bachelors in biology from CSU, and has experience with Whitewave Foods, Claremont Foods, Rodelle, and Prime Choice Foods. Brandon's business, Whole Brain Consulting, provides operations solutions in multiple areas for the consumer products industry, including Food Safety & Regulatory Compliance, Contract Manufacturing Strategies, Private Equity Due Diligence, Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, and Logistics Management. In other words, they really are your full service out-sourced operations experts. We dive into the world of large food operations and the marketing that goes into them.

In recent years, few trends have impacted the landscape of food and beverage as significantly as that of plant-centric diets. Things were certainly different in 2004, when there were just a handful of brands that focused on and promoted plant-based products. One of those was Vega, an ahead-of-its time brand of protein powders made with vegetable-based ingredients. Brendan Brazier, an endurance athlete and expert in plant-based nutrition, co-founded Vega and was the original formulator of its products.  Amid a surge in plant-focused eating habits, Vega became one of the leading brands in the fast-growing business of nutritional powders and bars, and in 2015 the company was acquired by Whitewave Foods for $550 million. Last year, Brazier rekindled his entrepreneurial spirit as the co-founder of Pulp Culture, a first-of-its-kind brand of fermented cold-pressed juices anchored in the emerging business of “better-for-you booze.”  In an interview included in this episode, Brazier spoke about the roots of his passion for plant-based foods and how it culminated in Vega, why the brand’s heavy investment in consumer education paid off, the reason he launched Pulp Culture despite avoiding alcohol for 14 years, how he’s drawing upon lessons from building Vega to support the brand’s development and his perspective on the evolution of plant-based foods. Show notes:  0:43: Brendan Brazier, Co-Founder, Vega & Pulp Culture --  Brazier sat down with Taste Radio editor Ray Latif for a conversation that explored his background as a professional endurance athlete and why he incorporated plant-based nutrition into his training regimen. He also explained why a flavorful and good tasting product was not an initial focus of Vega, why the company embraced the saying “ignorance is our only competition,” and why private equity firm VMG was the right partner for its first round of outside capital. Later, he discussed the creation of Pulp Culture and how he assessed the opportunity for a better-for-you alcoholic beverage, why he implores entrepreneurs to find a co-founder and what he views as the keys to a successful plant-based food brand. Brands in this episode: Vega, Pulp Culture

Dal Perio is currently a Senior Manager of Product Insights at Starbucks Coffee Company. His 30-year career in the food industry includes positions in Sensory Science, Consumer Research and Marketing Research.   In addition to Starbucks, Dal has worked for the Fortune 500 companies Johnson & Johnson, Dean Foods, Campbell’s Soup and Wrigley, in sensory, marketing research and culinary roles.  He worked at Tragon Corporation, Diageo, Pepperidge Farm, WhiteWave Foods and Unilever.  He led a variety of programs including Product Innovation, Culinary, Exploratory Consumer Research, Quality Assurance, Analytical and Manufacturing Sensory, and Consumer Product Testing.   At Starbucks, Dal focuses on Product Insights of Beverage and Food, and Global Coffee Quality. His deep knowledge of product and consumer testing, and marketing research is applied to ensure each customer has the best approach and insights to solve their problem. Dal has been involved in IFT’s Sensory and Consumer Sciences Division, and in the Society of Sensory Professionals.    Notably, Dal was mentored by Rose Marie Pangborn while at U.C. Davis.   Contact: To be put in touch with Dal, please contact Aigora.   To learn more about Aigora, please visit www.aigora.com

There’s an old saying that “leaders are born, not made.” That might be true, but even for the most innate leaders, wouldn’t it be helpful to learn from others’ experiences? Alan Murray thought so. As a young executive working for carton manufacturer Tetra Pak, Alan wrote a guide for people in similar roles about how to lead effectively and position themselves for success.  The guide has served as the foundation for Murray’s career; after a tenure as CEO of Tetra Pak North America, he is now the CEO of Next Foods, the maker of probiotic-infused food and beverage brand GoodBelly. In an interview included in this episode, Murray spoke about his approach to leadership, including how to manage people that might be smarter than you, and the three critical things that he believes all successful CEOs should master. Later, he discussed GoodBelly’s influence on the evolution of the probiotic food category, how the brand has refined its positioning and communication strategy and what elicited the company’s partnership with General Mills. Show notes:  2:51: Interview: Alan Murray, CEO, GoodBelly -- Murray sat down with Taste Radio editor Ray Latif at Natural Products Expo East 2019 for a conversation that began with his passion for surfing and the unusual way that he landed a job at Unilever. He also discussed how ambition and leverage played into his first CEO role at Tetra Pak, how observing others helped frame his own leadership style, and why sitting at the reception desk and hanging out by the coffee machine is key to understanding company dynamics. Later, he explained why it’s important to have a global perspective, what motivated him to join GoodBelly, how the company has honed in on its core consumers, why better food is critical to reducing health care costs, and why he believes that it’s incumbent upon consumers to ask doctors about healthy eating habits. Brands in this episode: GoodBelly, Silk, Whitewave Foods

Steve Hughes’ influence on the development of the natural food industry is impressive. As the founder and former CEO of Boulder Brands, he helped develop and nurture a range of next-generation natural food companies, including evol and Smart Balance as well as pioneering gluten-free brands Udi's and Glutino. Following the sale of Boulder Brands to Pinnacle Foods in 2015, Steve co-founded Sunrise Strategic Partners, an investment firm that has acquired stakes in several innovative and fast-growing brands such as Kodiak Cakes, Cali’flour, Coolhaus and Maple Hill Creamery. In an interview included in this episode, Hughes reflected upon his career and his role in shaping the current market for natural food. He also discussed Sunrise’s investment philosophy, why the funding environment for natural CPG companies is “capitalism at its absolute best,” and what he sees as the most exciting development for consumer brands. Show notes:  2:26: Interview: Steve Hughes, Founder, Boulder Brands/Sunrise Strategic Partners -- Hughes met with NOSH editor Carol Ortenberg in Denver, Colorado and spoke about how roles as an executive with ConAgra, Celestial Seasonings and WhiteWave Foods laid the foundation for Boulder Brands, which he founded in 2005. Later, he explained why brands that grow from $10 million to $100 million in sales will encounter “a lot of speed bumps and rakes to step on,” and discussed his admiration for the founders of Sunrise portfolio brands Cali’Flour and Kodiak Cakes. Hughes also discussed why e-commerce has been a game-changer in how brands market and sell to target consumers. Brands in this episode: McCormick Spices, ConAgra, Celestial Seasonings, Silk, Frontier Natural Products, Simply Organic, Boulder Brands, Bobo’s, Vital Farms, Kodiak Cakes, Little Secrets, Healthy Choice, Udi’s, Glutino, Cali’flour, Coolhaus, Maple Hill Creamery, Whitewave Foods, evol, Earth Balance

Susan Lintonsmith is an accomplished business leader with nearly 30 years of success in generating sales and profit growth in global and national assignments in public and private industries. Susan is currently President and CEO for Quiznos, a Denver-based global restaurant company with locations in 32 countries. Susan joined Quiznos in July 2012 as the Global Chief Marketing Officer and became President and CEO in July 2016. Previously, Susan was the Chief Marketing Officer at Red Robin Gourmet Burgers for over four years where she led many initiatives including strategic planning, menu development and the launch of the highly successful loyalty and 3rd party gift card programs. Prior to that, she served as the Vice President and General Manager at WhiteWave Foods where she led the Horizon Organic business and the launch of Horizon Organic milk plus DHA, the first milk with Omega 3. She served as Vice President of Global Marketing at Western Union for four years, and previously was director of marketing for the Coca-Cola Company (5 years) and Pizza Hut Inc. (7 years). Susan has her MBA in Marketing and Finance from Indiana University and her Bachelor’s of Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame. Susan lives in Colorado with her husband, two teenage sons, and two adorable dogs.

SHOW NOTES Susan Lintonsmith is an accomplished business leader with nearly 30 years of success in generating sales and profit growth in global and national assignments in public and private industries.  Susan is currently President and CEO for Quiznos, a Denver-based global restaurant company with nearly 900 locations in 33 countries.  Susan joined Quiznos in July 2012 as the Global Chief Marketing Officer and was promoted to CEO in July 2016. Previously, Susan was the Chief Marketing Officer at Red Robin Gourmet Burgers for over four years where she led many initiatives including strategic planning, menu development and the launch of the highly successful loyalty and 3rd party gift card programs. Prior to that, she served as the Vice President and general manager at WhiteWave Foods where she led the Horizon Organic business and the launch of Horizon Organic milk plus DHA, the first milk with Omega 3.  She served as Vice President of Global Marketing at Western Union for four years, and previously was director of marketing for the Coca-Cola Company and Pizza Hut Inc. Listen and Learn: Why socializing and relationships are just as important as results How to "elevate above the treeline" The importance of listening as a leader Whether leadership qualities are gender neutral  The importance of customer reviews TO FIND SUSAN ON LINKEDIN, CLICK HERE. TO LEARN MORE ABOUT QUIZNOS CLICK HERE

SHOW NOTES Matthew is the Director of Communications for WhiteWave Foods, a leading consumer packaged food, and beverage company that manufactures, markets and sells branded plant-based foods and beverages, coffee creamers and beverages, premium dairy products, and organic produce. As the Director of Communications, Matthew oversees and is directly responsible for the company’s communications programs around crisis and issues management, financial communications, M&A/integration, employee & executive communications and corporate marketing and thought leadership. Prior to joining WhiteWave, Matthew was the General Manager of Olson PR, an award-winning marketing, and communications agency based out of Chicago, IL. At Olson, Matthew was General Manager of the company’s Western Division which included offices in San Francisco and Denver, and he managed communications campaigns for a wide variety of national and international Fortune 500 companies including SABMiller, AB InBev, Heineken, Carlsberg, Belize Tourism Board, Fitbit, Wrigley, and a variety of others. One of Matthew’s longest serving clients at Olson was a coalition of the world’s four largest global brewers and brewing industry associations that he helped collaborate on issues of shared importance including excise tax, commercial freedom, reputation and global stakeholder engagement. He also ran the company’s crisis and issues management practice including managing all crisis and issues for the Belize Tourism Board and Fitbit, and he created and executed holistic consumer and business-to-business marketing communications strategies for a wide variety of Olson clients including TiVo, Wrigley, and Cool Planet. Before joining Olson, Matthew worked at Weber Shandwick Worldwide where he led the issues and crisis management programs for the U.S. Dairy Industry and the U.S. Pork Industry and counseled a variety of major global companies through both large and small-scale crises, including Mars Incorporated, SC Johnson and Son, and Kraft Foods. Earlier in his career, Matthew spent five years working at various levels of state and federal government including the Wisconsin State Governor, The U.S. Department of Education, Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner and the White House. He graduated from George Washington University with B.S. in Political Science.

How is data reporting changing in the digital age? Tune in to hear Kiersti Bird, Consumer Connections Manager at Whitewave Foods, describe some of these changes and learn more about using your data to tell the right story to achieve organizational impact.

French conglomerate Danone doubles its U.S. business by buying WhiteWave Foods for $10 billion. Costco’s June sales surprises Wall Street. Plus we continue to search for Lululemon Athletica’s missing board member and preview Baidu’s next report.

This episode’s guest is Kristen Wheeler. Kristen is a business consultant and executive coach who believes that workplaces should be arenas where people thrive while creating amazing results. For more than twenty years, she has offered expert guidance on matters of IT, strategy, and leadership for clients like Arthur Andersen, comScore, WhiteWave Foods, and eBay. She has synthesized her unique blend of experience into strategies she calls Native Genius™. Native Genius Strategies help people and their companies understand, identify and apply an innate über-intelligence to solve tough issues and get bottom-line results, while also cultivating meaning and verve. In this episode, Kristen and I spoke about: Native Genius and how to cultivate this intelligence in your business life How Native Genius gives ‘rise’ to our strengths How to gain feedback from community and relationships to aid in your Native Genius intelligence Embracing uncertainty and going where you feel loved The difference between what you are passionate about and your Native Genius   Tune in to listen to my conversation "Native Genius" with the insightful: Kristen Wheeler. Subscribe to the Emerging Women podcast on iTunes. Transcript: Chantal Pierrat: Welcome, Kristen. Kristen Wheeler: Thank you! I’m excited to be here. CP: Yay! It’s great to have you. For those of you who don’t know, Kristen is also one of my really, really good friends, on top of being a strategic advisor for Emerging Women. I’ve been incorporating her work, Native Genius, into my process with Emerging Women and it’s been fantastic and I’m noticing so much. I just so appreciate it. What I was thinking was that before we start throwing Native Genius around—because once you hear the term and you get it, you actually do start throwing it around. So why don’t you just tell us what you mean by Native Genius. Give us a nice, full context and then we can go from there. KW: Great. So Native Genius is a unique natural intelligence that is so innate that you might not notice it. And it sometimes is a little bit like a fish being in water—it comes so naturally that the fish would be like, “OK, yes, what else do you want me to do? This is not a big deal, this thing that I’m doing.” It feels easy, and it’s also super valuable to the people around us. I want people to know that, just like their teeth—this is a silly example—they use them to chew, Native Genius you use in your work and you contribute in your world. Everybody has it, and once you tune into it—sometimes it takes a while to get. Everybody is on a different journey with understanding their unique intelligence. But once you get it, it clicks in and people are like, “Oh!” Sometimes I’ll be working with a group or an individual for a month or so, and then it starts to click in and they say, “Wow. I’m really starting to get the power of this.” Some examples would be [like this]: I was working with somebody the other day [who] works [for] a corporation, and it was that “getting it” kind of thing. He said, “I’m realizing this is so personal.” And it really is. It’s very personal and intimate. And Native Genius are things that you do that you can’t not do. For example, we could put you anywhere and you’d be doing them. Like for you, Chantal, I notice that no matter where we are, you are reflecting back to people, in a way, like what your tagline says, the truth of who they are. When people start saying what they’re up to in the world with their work, you are so excited about it, especially when it comes from a place of authenticity. And we can put you anywhere. I mean, I’ve seen you in so many different situations, and you’re doing that. That’s one of many things that you would do. So Native Genius is not just one thing. It’s many things. CP: Let me just stop you there, because it’s interesting, what you started saying about Native Genius. You were saying it’s like being a fish in water.