Biggest Inspiration
“My kids (13 and 14 years old) are my biggest source of inspiration. I learn daily from them as they are growing up in a hyperconnected and very demanding environment that requests/expects constant evolution and a thrive for perfection, demanding from them an ever-evolving ability, plus high levels of resilience, while still enjoying the ride. And that is all very similar to our business demands and challenges.”
2023 Business Predictions
Cadenas expects the acceleration of digital transformation to stay the course, requiring a need to upskill across organizations. “Key skills will be on balancing the short- and long-term based on all environmental distresses.”
Little-Known Fact
“Very old fashioned, but I love doing crochet. It’s the perfect source of distraction and stress relief, while ‘creating a product.’”
2023 Business Predictions
“The energy and focus on ChatGPT has been fascinating but is largely overstated. What’s understated, however, is ChatGPT’s ability to transform how we do business in 2023 — especially as it represents the step changes in the practical application of AI.”
Book, Podcast, Movie That
Changed the Way You Think
“One podcast would be the Digital Marketing Podcast, which is pragmatic and practical in how to use personalization and modern tools to engage with customers. By being pragmatic, we focus on the fundamentals.”
Biggest Accomplishment
An Air Force veteran, Ayers launched the Cashmere Moon indie beauty and body care brand in June 2021 when she was pregnant and in search of a vegan shea butter-based moisturizer with long-lasting moisturizing capabilities that was easy to apply. In her proud parenting moment, the founder lists the speed and scale of the business expansion as a top achievement, with the brand’s products set to be on shelves in more than 600 stores nationwide by the time Cashmere Moon is just two years old.
Scaling an Innovative Mindset
Ayers stays curious through continuous reading and constantly talking to other business owners to see how they are handling certain situations. She also co-founded The Business Collective, a community of local business owners who meet to network and learn from each other. “By communicating with people in different industries with different experiences, I'm able to apply different strategies or even ask for help when necessary.”
Top Tech of 2023
Ayers says AI will play a major role in the beauty industry over the next year or so, helping brands to connect better with customers and provide a more personal, customized approach. By providing more personalized recommendations based on past purchases, behaviors, or concerns, AI will allow them to provide better customer interactions with the business.
Founder,
Cashmere Moon
AYERS
Biggest Inspiration
“I have an adult son, named Josh, who experienced a debilitating accident. For the last decade, he has been battling to regain many abilities. After years of commitment, he is winning. My wife Trish has given up career, title, and status to be Josh’s primary caregiver. They are my biggest inspiration.”
2023 Business Predictions
General foresees the year being “vastly different” than how we’ve done business over the last five years. “It is why we need to innovate, think differently, embrace AI, automate, collaborate, and change traditional ways of thinking to better serve the needs of our employees, customers, consumers, and shareholders”
Little-Known Fact
“My wife and I embraced cycling as a hobby about 15 years ago. It is something that we do together weekly, as well as vacation with bike riding clubs that tour scenic locations across North America.”
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23
Biggest Inspiration
Skincare founder and maven Nyakio Grieco: "Not only for the way she’s managed to start her business and overall brand from scratch, but also how much she has helped other business owners along the way."
2023 Predictions
“More focus will be on smaller retailers instead of the
larger retailers for small indie brands like ours.”
Book, Podcast, Movie That Changed the Way You Think
The Richest Man in Babylon: “It is an old book but full of knowledge nuggets! I've implemented a different way for our family to save/invest based on this book alone.”
Little-Known Fact
Despite being an innovative, vision-driven entrepreneur, Ayers is actually an introvert. “It takes a lot of energy for me to talk to people in general, especially people I don't know. I think some people may think it comes easily because I am around people a lot but it doesn't.”
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23
Congratulations to these inspiring leaders who are driving dynamic change throughout the industry!
By Liz Dominguez,
Maia Jenkins, and
Lisa Johnston
Magnifying Future-Ready Innovators
This year’s class of Visionary Award winners are transformative leaders who have turned heads for their purposeful influence, unique perspectives, and use of technology as enablers for success. From sales and marketing to the supply chain, all are focused on driving innovation throughout their organizations, and we’re thrilled to recognize them for their achievements.
Winners were selected based on nominations from their colleagues and partners, as well as from CGT editors. Learn how this year’s Visionaries are pioneering new paths within their companies and categories, and see just what they believe the future holds for the consumer goods industry as a whole.
TISHA
Years with company and in
current role: 1 year, 9 months
FUN FACTS
Biggest Accomplishment
Yelloh’s digital transformation to position the company for the future is at the top of Boyum’s list — and rightly so. As he notes, the company’s digital transformation is not just technical, but also a cultural transformation that’s changing the opinions and behaviors of its employees and customers. The company, which operated as Schwan’s Home Delivery for 70 years, is focused on building and delivering visionary and relevant experiences. “We have made incredible strides over the past year on this digital journey, and I am excited to see what the next 70 years has in store.”
Scaling an Innovative Mindset
Key to success is a happy marriage of discipline and flexibility: Remaining focused on the consumer while being agile about achieving goals, including a fail-forward mindset that recognizes you might not get it right the first time. “Delivering exceptionally delicious food and extraordinary experiences to our customers has always set us apart,” notes Boyum. “Keeping this focus on the customer guides what’s important for us and helps us understand moving needs as the market and industry progresses.”
Top Tech of 2023
For Yelloh, leveraging the power of data in a dynamic, sophisticated, and personalized way that delivers superior customer experiences is critical. Data is not only driving the processes that enables customers to control placing and receiving orders, but it’s also what optimizes employee delivery routes. “By transforming into a data-driven company, we can meet our customers where they’re at and continue to explore ways to deliver an even better experience.”
Chief Transformation Officer, Yelloh
Years with company: 11 years
Years in current role: 1 year
BOYUM
KEVIN
FUN FACTS
Biggest Accomplishment
Cadenas joined Heineken just before the pandemic and says it has been a privilege to be part of the creation of digital and technology as an independent function to help the organization become the “best-connected brewer.” Her biggest accomplishment, she says, has been building a digital culture and trust in the organization which enabled them to have an end-to-end digital transformation strategy across multiple business domains — and with clear and tangible results. “We have digitally transformed our route to consumers while providing a seamless and easy customer experience.”
Scaling an Innovative Mindset
Maintaining a digital innovative mindset requires constant work of upskilling and learning, says Cadenas. “In Heineken we nurture this by leveraging our values and behaviors, which are key enablers to our digital transformation.” Cadenas outlines four big pillars — Delivery, Shape, Develop, and Connect — along with several company behaviors that are supporting this innovation journey: celebrate success, keep customers and consumers at the heart of decisions, nurture entrepreneurial mindsets, and encourage a culture of learning and development.
Top Tech of 2023
Cadenas is working toward connecting everything and everyone at Heineken through data and technology. “It is our responsibility to create this seamless experience, and make the life of all our users, customers, and consumers simpler and more enjoyable.” She says Heneiken is working towards an increased visibility into different components of our value chain: sustainability and carbon footprint (from barley fields through the brewery, including transportation and refrigeration in stores), customer business performance, consumer data for an enriched relationship, just to name a few examples.
SVP Digital & Technology Heineken, Americas,
The Heineken Company
Years with company and in current role: 4 years
Cadenas
Gabriela
FUN FACTS
Biggest Accomplishment
Henkel has undergone a significant transformation, consolidating its businesses by introducing Henkel Consumer Brands — a result from a merger with its laundry, home care, and beauty divisions. One of General’s proudest moments at the organization has been the work he’s accomplished to create a customer-centric enterprise focused on both the customer and the consumer. General has helped drive down organizational and structural costs, overseeing investments in infrastructure that will help the company better serve its customers with the most high-quality, best net landed cost of goods it can deliver. Every day, says General, the company is becoming a more nimble, customer-focused organization.
Scaling an Innovative Mindset
General notes that the company is making bold decisions on its investments toward purposeful growth. Decisions are focused on long-term value, actions such as eliminating waste, driving down costs, and improving operating margin for customers and the entire enterprise. “Our mindset is being refined and calibrated to focus our efforts on tactics that deliver economic value for our customer, for our consumers, for our company, and for our financial stakeholders.” This mindset and way of thinking, says General, is becoming a part of Henkel’s DNA.
Top Tech of 2023
There are state-of-the-art investments General is focused on across the supply chain, manufacturing, replenishment, and fulfillment. Among these are forecast improvements so that Henkel can deliver elevated services to its retail partners. To do this the company is tapping into AI capabilities to improve accuracy, gain a clearer picture of the consumer demand signal, and initiate deployment models that focus on servicing customers “with top tier industry service our highest priority.”
SVP of Commercial Development, Sales & GM Retailer Brands, Henkel Consumer Brands North America
Years with company and in current role: 2 years
GENERAL
Dean
FUN FACTS
Biggest Accomplishment
Kollepara points to his team as his biggest accomplishment — a high-performing group who are embracing a customer-centric approach, demonstrating a "make it happen" attitude, and embodying their founder's values. They’ve not only enabled the enterprise-wide implementation of a new collaboration platform, but they’ve also pioneered cloud adoption, implemented new generation ERP like S4, and won multiple quality awards. “By fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and excellence, we have been able to positively impact our organization and better serve our customers,” he says. “Through their hard work and commitment to excellence, my team has been able to drive meaningful change and innovation, and I am incredibly proud to have been a part of this transformative journey.”
Scaling an Innovative Mindset
Kellogg’s implemented a culture of learning, known as Year of Development Always (YODA), to support a learning journey at both the micro and macro levels. They also foster a culture of innovation and experimentation, encouraging teams to think outside the box and take calculated risks to achieve breakthroughs. Finally, the company believes in an inclusive mindset and works collaboratively with their ecosystem partners to leverage diverse perspectives and ideas. “By following these strategies, we are able to maintain a competitive edge and drive ongoing innovation in our industry.”
Top Tech of 2023
AI and machine learning wins the prize, particularly for its use to analyze consumer preferences and behavior patterns, as well as optimize supply chain management and inventory control. Kollepara also cites cloud computing technology as becoming increasingly important, along with the integration of automation and robotics in various processes, and a continued investment in cybersecurity.
VP and Global Chief Technology Officer,
Kellogg Company
Years with company: 6.5 years
Years in current role: 3 years
Kollepara
Ramesh
FUN FACTS
Biggest Inspiration
"As a chief technology officer in the consumer industry, Dr. A.P.J. Kalam's inspiring legacy of leveraging science and technology for societal development, coupled with his focus on education and innovation, serves as a guiding beacon for my leadership approach, driving me to create meaningful and impactful technology solutions
for consumers.”
2023 Business Predictions
“As a technology leader in the consumer industry, my prediction for business in 2023 is that automation and AI, powered by cloud adoption, will transform the industry while promoting greater inclusivity and accessibility, and facilitating resilient supply chains to mitigate the impact of future disruptions.”
Little-Known Fact
“I studied construction management in college, and my first assignment was working with a diverse team of six nationalities to plan, shape, and build India's largest tech park, now hosting tens of thousands of software engineers.”
Biggest Accomplishment
As the leader of the newly formed One Demand Data & Analytics Solutions team for Mars Wrigley, Jose counts his most significant achievement as building partnerships and collaboration with cross-functional business teams to supercharge decision-making leveraging advanced analytics. Jose leads a diverse and global end-to-end analytics solutions team of data scientists, data engineers, DevOps, product strategy leaders, and business translators. “One of the critical objectives for the team is to break the organizational silos and build a connected decision-making ecosystem,” he shares, adding that the ODDA team has already developed globally scalable predictive AI-driven capabilities for executive leaders in the organization to drive investment decisions across multiple functions, including media, trade, shopper, and DCOM. Through this, the team has built both top and bottom-line growth for Mars Wrigley and its customers while driving an integrated brand experience for the consumers.
Scaling an Innovative Mindset
One of the biggest differentiators for organizations is their ability to build capabilities to adapt instead of creating to last, Jose notes, and the ODDA Solutions team is building its competitive advantage through agile AI solutions and interoperable internal capabilities with explainability. “While these AI capabilities help Mars Wrigley to move with much speed, ODDA is building scalable and sustainable solutions.”
Top Tech of 2023
Investing in AI — focusing on generative AI and its responsible usage — will be the most impactful for the business. “This will help every organization and its associates with AI-powered collaboration, communication, and productivity tools.” His team collaborates with tech partners to drive experimentation on new business use cases. “I believe we have barely scratched the surface of value creation in a business environment leveraging GAI. At Mars, we are building CPG-industry-leading responsible AI practices to enable the framework we should operate.”
Global Head and Senior Director of One Demand Data and Analytics Solutions, Mars Wrigley
Years with company: 4 years
Years in current role: 1.5 years
JOSE
DEEPAK
FUN FACTS
Biggest Inspiration
Growing up in India, Jose cites Mother Theresa as his biggest inspiration. He strongly believes in the quote, “Not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love." It’s significantly impacted his leadership, and he strives to do small but impactful things with much passion.
Book, Podcast, Movie That Changed the Way You Think
“Ford vs. Ferrari — I love the dialogue between Carroll Shelby, played by Matt Damon, and Henry Ford II, played by Tracy Letts, when Ford failed miserably in the initial race. ‘You can't win a race by committee.’ A funny but true reflection of the challenges in driving innovation and moving with speed in large, complex organizations.
Little-Known Fact
Jose loves riding motorbikes, particularly exceptionally long rides on a Harley Davidson in the Northeast during the fall. “It clears my mind, and I enjoy the exploration, especially the journey. Some of my favorite times have been riding with friends around the world.”
Biggest Accomplishment
As a perfumer, Hadley is hailed as an artist who is deeply trained on the concepts of fragrance aesthetics, and she brings these talents to INDIEHOUSE. Having studied in Europe, Hadley has brought the concept to the United States with the mission of showing her clients how to experience the fragrance niche at luxury brick-and-mortar locations. Fittingly, it’s the opening of the second INDIEHOUSE retail store that Hadley cites as her biggest accomplishment. “More people are starting to make a comeback towards brick-and-mortar, where they want personal interaction. Being able to give them an experience when it comes to shopping for fragrances is an accomplishment!”
Scaling an Innovative Mindset
Staying open-minded is the biggest part of Hadley’s mindset. “Having a team who understands my mission and who can help continue to build brand awareness of the company is always a win,” she notes. There was a time when she encountered a great deal of doubt about having a fragrance shop, not to mention securing a landlord and staying optimistic throughout the process. “Now I have flipped that mindset, and I keep an open mind because my business is growing because of the time and energy those involved put in.”
Founder,
INDIEHOUSE Modern Fragrances
Years with company and
in current role: 5 years
Hadley
CARRIE
FUN FACTS
Biggest Inspiration
“My family is my biggest inspiration. They continue to encourage me daily and support me in every way possible.”
2023 Business Predictions
“In 2023, we are introducing a personal concierge appointment-based service and a custom bespoke scent creation experience in our Westside Provisions location. At least once a week, one of our guests will ask if we can put one of these in-the-house concept studios in the town where they live such as Nashville, Birmingham, Boca Raton, and Charleston, and I think there’s a good chance of that happening someday in the near future.”
Biggest Accomplishment
Over the past five years, enterprise architecture has played a critical role in driving Mars' transformation journey. One of the biggest achievements for Moturu in this transformation has been the simplification of the 100-year-old enterprise through architecture standardization, application and technology rationalization, and digital technology foundations. Through this, says Moturu, the company has been able to reduce the number of custom-built solutions, making it easier to maintain and upgrade systems. “By evaluating the current application portfolio and identifying redundant or outdated technologies, Mars has been able to consolidate its technology stack, reducing costs and improving efficiency.”
Scaling an Innovative Mindset
“Fostering an innovative mindset is critical in navigating today's volatile environment —
not only to survive, but also to stay ahead of the curve.” Moturu says the organization has focused on several tactics as part of this strategy, including investing in architecture summits to keep a pulse on the latest trends; digital hackathons to engage with tech vendors that are solving problems in creative ways; and “test-and-learn digital sprints,” which allow Mars to measure the success of creative solutions.
Top Tech of 2023
Artificial intelligence, automation, process mining, monitoring, and digital adaptation platforms are a few of the transformational technologies being adapted at Mars. “Investing in AI, automation, and process mining can be a smart move for businesses looking to stay competitive and improve their operations.” However, says Moturu, it’s important to approach these technologies strategically and with a clear understanding of their potential benefits and limitations. They should also align with investments that address business priorities and value delivery.
Global Vice President, Digital & Chief Enterprise Architect, Mars, Inc.
Years with company and in current role: 5 years
MOTURU
PRAVEEN
FUN FACTS
2023 Business Predictions
"Businesses will need to be comfortable with uncertainty and plan to be resilient," says Moturu. “This means being able to adapt quickly to new challenges and opportunities, as well as having contingency plans in place for known risks.”
Book, Podcast, Movie That Changed the Way You Think
"’Competing in the New World of Work’ is a book that explores insights and strategies for businesses looking to thrive in this new landscape.” Some of the key themes included preparing for radical changes and adapting to them with strategies.
Little-Known Fact
“I enjoy riding bikes and have been doing that for a major part of my life. I’m a proud owner of Harley and Indian bikes, and I’ve been a past owner of Kawasaki and Yamaha bikes.”
Biggest Accomplishment
Nominated by her peers as a brilliant business leader and marketer who is leading the
digital transformation agenda and e-commerce acceleration for Kenvue, Sawhney is praised for the methods in which she’s elevated the ways of working and focus on priorities across the company.
Sawhney herself remains most proud of the teams’ collectively rallying around a common purpose, and she defines success as moving all regions and all functions toward one common goal. “E-commerce functions as a complete business unit that cuts across multiple functions and portfolios. When we drive synergies, we accomplish much more.”
Scaling an Innovative Mindset
Sawhney stays curious and is constantly learning, whether that be through reading, listening to podcasts, learning through industry events, and being part of global e-commerce networks. She’s also a firm believer in learning by constantly doing, experimenting, and testing and learning across markets, brands, and retailers. “We incubate new trends and technologies across a few brands/retailers and then scale the wins across markets.”
Top Tech of 2023
Data — and connecting data to business analytics — will be critical as brands work to connect the dots, Sawhney says. As for the e-commerce industry more broadly, Sawhney
will be watching NFT and blockchain tech evolutions closely going forward. “As these [technologies] evolve, the consumer buying journeys will pivot.”
Global E-commerce Director, Kenvue
Years with company: 6 years
Years in current role: 2 years
SAWHNEY
CHANNAN
FUN FACTS
Biggest Inspiration
Former PepsiCo CEO, Indira Nooyi: “She didn’t just lay the groundwork for women to have a successful presence in
C-suite but she did it with remarkable aplomb while being a mom, a woman of color and her authentic, humble self.”
2023 Business Predictions
Sawhney predicts that coming out of the pandemic globally, this year will be the era of consolidation, with companies across auto, space, software, and CPGs strongly focused on the bottom line. “I predict that there might be more focus on profitability and scale from current lines of business. Across categories, I anticipate there will be focus on consumer centricity and strengthening fundamentals rather than a new innovation hitting us every month (whether it’s an electric vehicle or ice cream flavor!).”
Little-Known Fact
Sawhney is a homegrown musician. “I can play four instruments! Music is my first love.
Biggest Accomplishment
During Neme’s tenure at Beam Suntory, a leader in premium spirits, he has crafted an advanced analytics strategy by leveraging both internal and external data sources. This has led to the evolution of the company's long-term goals and vision and improved the way they plan marketing investments. Neme also finds himself head-down on streamlining data standardization and harmonization throughout the company’s global portfolio of brands to simplify reporting and analysis on a larger scale. “By utilizing harmonized data to automate performance analysis across various brands, we are now able to identify growth opportunities across different markets through predictive analysis, ultimately saving valuable time.”
Scaling an Innovative Mindset
Neme remains open and is always seeking new perspectives. “In today's volatile environment, you need to be agile, adaptable, and willing to embrace change,” he adds. “Encourage collaboration and diversity of thought by engaging with individuals from diverse backgrounds and perspectives.”
Top Tech of 2023
Data analytics will continue to drive impact, particularly analysis technologies that can mine consumer data, market data, social media, and in-store point-of-sale data can help companies learn more about their consumers, their preferences, and how to tailor their products and marketing efforts. “By leveraging big data analysis, companies can optimize sales and marketing strategies and brand investment,” Neme shares. In terms of transformative tools, AI and machine learning are providing significant benefits to the alcohol industry by allowing companies to gather insights from vast amounts of data in real-time.
Global Head BI & Analytics,
Beam Suntory
Years with company: 18 months
Years in current role: 1.5 years
NEME
abraham
FUN FACTS
2023 Business Predictions
“2023 is not the new normal; it will be another year of changes as consumers continue to adapt to new realities.”
Little-Known Fact
“I've found that the key to unveiling my cultural roots is through my distinctly, Latin-inspired dance moves,” Neme says. “I've got a touch of salsa in my soul!”
