Sheeba Philip
|
Sheeba Philip serves as CEO for Akola. Akola is a globally-inspired luxury jewelry brand and retail social venture. In 2018, the National Retail Federation named Akola as one of the top 25 brands, alongside Warby Parker and Allbirds, that are shaping the future of US retail. The company was named a top sustainable jewelry brand by Vogue in 2020. Akola’s model is fueled by vertically integrated manufacturing that employs women in extreme poverty in Uganda.
Akola’s mission is to be the leading luxury brand utilizing world-class manufacturing that offers living wage employment to women, giving them a pathway out of poverty. Akola can be found at retailers such as Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Saks, Anthropologie, and on its ecommerce platform (www.akola.co).
Prior to joining Akola, Sheeba built a career building global purpose-driven brands in the CPG, retail, and nonprofit sectors. She spent ten years in executive roles leading multi-million dollar iconic businesses with full P&L responsibility for Mondelēz International and Kraft Foods. During her tenure, she was the Global Director for the World’s #1 Cookie, Oreo, a $2 billion+ brand present in over 100 countries and helped drive double-digit growth in markets such as the US and China. Sheeba was also a member of the turnaround team to help revitalize one of America’s most well-known retailers, JCPenney. As the Vice President of Marketing Strategy & Communications, she led the modernization of JCPenney’s brand, making it more relevant to a millennial customer base.
Sheeba also served as the Vice President of Global Marketing Strategy & Communications for International Justice Mission (IJM), the largest anti-slavery organization in the world. During her tenure, she led brand and crisis communication efforts in South/Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America. She oversaw the launch of The Locust Effect, written by Gary Haugen, IJM’s founder. The book was named a Washington Post Best Seller and featured at the World Economic Forum and TED.
Sheeba is passionate about impact-driven entrepreneurship and is a mentor for entrepreneurs in the public and private sector. She is a member of the Kraft Heinz Creative Council, an advisory group of brand leaders that provides counsel on the company’s global marketing and advertising efforts. She serves as a Praxis mentor and a board member for Redeemer City to City, the global-church planting organization founded by Tim Keller. She regularly speaks on topics such as leadership and brand building. She was recently recognized as one of InStyle Magazine’s 50 Women Making the World a Better Place in 2021 based on her leadership of Akola. She holds a BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Virginia and an MBA from the Harvard Business School.
Akola’s mission is to be the leading luxury brand utilizing world-class manufacturing that offers living wage employment to women, giving them a pathway out of poverty. Akola can be found at retailers such as Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Saks, Anthropologie, and on its ecommerce platform (www.akola.co).
Prior to joining Akola, Sheeba built a career building global purpose-driven brands in the CPG, retail, and nonprofit sectors. She spent ten years in executive roles leading multi-million dollar iconic businesses with full P&L responsibility for Mondelēz International and Kraft Foods. During her tenure, she was the Global Director for the World’s #1 Cookie, Oreo, a $2 billion+ brand present in over 100 countries and helped drive double-digit growth in markets such as the US and China. Sheeba was also a member of the turnaround team to help revitalize one of America’s most well-known retailers, JCPenney. As the Vice President of Marketing Strategy & Communications, she led the modernization of JCPenney’s brand, making it more relevant to a millennial customer base.
Sheeba also served as the Vice President of Global Marketing Strategy & Communications for International Justice Mission (IJM), the largest anti-slavery organization in the world. During her tenure, she led brand and crisis communication efforts in South/Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America. She oversaw the launch of The Locust Effect, written by Gary Haugen, IJM’s founder. The book was named a Washington Post Best Seller and featured at the World Economic Forum and TED.
Sheeba is passionate about impact-driven entrepreneurship and is a mentor for entrepreneurs in the public and private sector. She is a member of the Kraft Heinz Creative Council, an advisory group of brand leaders that provides counsel on the company’s global marketing and advertising efforts. She serves as a Praxis mentor and a board member for Redeemer City to City, the global-church planting organization founded by Tim Keller. She regularly speaks on topics such as leadership and brand building. She was recently recognized as one of InStyle Magazine’s 50 Women Making the World a Better Place in 2021 based on her leadership of Akola. She holds a BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Virginia and an MBA from the Harvard Business School.
