The FMCG Guys

"Many companies are busy these days in either updating their strategies or completely changing their plans and business model to cater to a new post COVID world. More digital, more sustainable and more eCommerce driven". This post was shared on Linkedin by Rasmus Calmann-Hinke, who headed up Strategy globally for Arla Foods and also worked for top tier strategy consulting firms like EY and Booz & company. That's why we decided to have him as a guest to better understand what best in class strategic planning should look like today.

Supply Chain has been gaining influence in the last decade, and the recent eCommerce push is further pushing this momentum. We invited BSH's VP Supply Chain Fabio Grazioli to further understand this dynamic and how the S&OP process is a paradigm of this trend.

The first company you join will likely make a huge impact on the rest of your career. Starting in a company that sets you up for success on the technical side, but especially, in leadership abilities is key. One of the companies that's generated amazing leaders in the last year is Target, a retailer that tends to be overlooked, probably eclipsed by its larger rivals. But it's actually a company that's done very well in the last years, especially in the pandemic period. Many of the leaders that have come out of this company are now sitting in the C-Suite of other American Retailers. One of the great people that started at Target is our guest: Matt Terry. Currently the Chief Logistics and People Officer at Verishop, a recently founded eCommerce player. With him, we explore how him and his peers at Target went to become the leaders they are today.

Linkedin can feel overwhelming sometimes, like a jungle full of content which can go from cringy to interesting and relevant. One of the people that stands out, in a positive way, is Sam Owens. While having a great Resume, with a great track record in Marketing in blue chip companies like Danone, he also regularly posts content that aims to…. help people in their careers. We reached to him and discovered he's also authored a book: the 8 Career Skills you didn't learn in College. In this episode, we explore Sam's Leadership journey, how he ended up being a career coach and his hands-on tips.

When we think of an ideal company culture is one where we can bring our own full selves, be empathetic and enjoy working with others. Ironically, that goes against the common idea that we have of leaders, who are meant to be firm, tough and untouchable. How can we reach a commonality between these? To discuss this, we invited Carol Robert, who is currently heading up the UK and Ireland business for Suntory Food & Beverage.

As millennials and Gen Z gain influence in the workforce, the struggles of older generations to connect and understand a generation used to instant gratification become more exposed. In this episode, we speak with Chief Commercial Officer Sankalp Potbhare to reflect on his experience leading teams of these generations as well as his own leadership journey, starting with his own beginnings in India.

2020 has been a unique year, a tough one, with challenges for all of us. We wanted to share a story that's full of positives to wave goodbye to this year. SVP Endre Szabo has been organizing and participating in bicycle-related group fundraisers for the last years. This summer, due to the challenges posed by the Pandemic, he decided to go solo and embark on an epic 1,700-km journey from Budapest to Amsterdam. Here are the causes Endre has supported in his Fundraisers: No More Walking https://www.nomorewalking.ch/ Metadrasi https://metadrasi.org/en/home/ Omoana House https://www.omoana.org/asso/en/our-projects/child-care/omoana-house Endre's page on Whydonate https://www.whydonate.nl/fundraising/justcycling2020Solo/en/

According to the Harvard Business Review, Culture is the tacit social order of an organization: It shapes attitudes and behaviors in wide-ranging and durable ways. Cultural norms define what is encouraged, discouraged, accepted, or rejected within a group. Our guest Volker Zöller, President of Consumer at Essity, is not only invested in company culture, but he also helped drive a significant cultural change in the last years.

Stepping into a leadership role has many challenging aspects: new company, new people, new culture... Elana Gold is an experienced brand-builder who has excelled in both Fortune 500, private equity and start up environments, including Abbott Nutrition, Novartis, PepsiCo, Yum Brands, Sabra, New Avon among others. We thought she would be the perfect guest to better understand which are the best steps to take when stepping into a leadership role.

2020 has changed the world in many ways. The workplace one of the areas of our lives that's been majorly impacted, with corporate offices having to close because of lockdowns and employees working from home. In this podcast, we invited McCain Foods' Mauro Pennella to understand how he led his organization during this historical period and how he kept his 300-people strong team engaged and focused.