Sheeba Philip
Talk title: How Long, Lord? Embracing Our Invitation to Wait
|
Sheeba Philip has built a 25 year career leading purpose-driven brands and businesses at startup, mid-size and Fortune 50 companies, as well as across retail, CPG, and non-profit sectors. Her experience leading big and small businesses across multiple industries has given her deep expertise in brand marketing & communications, ESG strategy, and global operations. Sheeba has managed multi-million dollar P&Ls ($700MM+) and transformed multi-billion dollar iconic brands ($12 Billion+). She has revitalized consumer brands in mature categories through redesigning brand marketing, product assortment, and customer experience. Sheeba leveraged her Fortune 50 experience to also establish start-ups for growth. She has built and led organizations with an international footprint across East Africa, Latin America, and South/Southeast Asia.
As CEO and Board Member of Akola, Sheeba led the transformation of a 12 year old non-profit into a luxury retail brand and early stage for-profit startup that provides living wage employment to marginalized women in Eastern Africa. She shepherded the business in the US and Uganda during the height of the pandemic, helping keep nearly 200 women in Uganda employed. Sheeba oversaw Akola’s business reinvention across supply chain, product merchandising, and marketing, leading to 50% growth in gross margin and a stronger path to profitability. Sheeba recently restructured the company to drive long-term sustainability and local empowerment, with the company and operations now fully based in Uganda. Under her leadership, Akola was named a top sustainable jewelry brand by Vogue in 2020.
As VP of Marketing & Interim Co-CMO of JCPenney, she led the revitalization of the $12 billion dollar, 100 yr. old iconic brand, with a focus on a more digitally-centric consumer experience. As a senior executive with Mondelēz International, Sheeba led the brand and operational strategy for the World's #1 Cookie, OREO ($2 Billion), across 100 countries. She oversaw Oreo’s global marketing experience, as well as cost reduction initiatives that led to $200 MM in global cost savings. Sheeba also redesigned the brand, marketing and communications approach for International Justice Mission (IJM), the largest anti-slavery NGO in the world. She led the launch of IJM’s founder & CEO’s book, The Locust Effect, which was named a Washington Post Best Seller and featured at the World Economic Forum.
Sheeba’s leadership and work have been recognized by outlets such as Forbes, Entrepreneur, NY Times, BuzzFeed, People, PR Daily, and Vogue. She is a member of the Kraft Heinz Creative Council, a select group of brand leaders across industries that provide strategic counsel on the company's marketing & advertising initiatives. Sheeba was featured on InStyle Magazine’s 2021 List of “50 Women Making The World A Better Place”. Sheeba is passionate about integrating her faith and work. She is a board member for Redeemer City to City, a global ministry founded by Tim Keller. She is also is an advisor for faith-driven entrepreneurs and regularly speaks on brand building and Christ-centered leadership. She holds a BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Virginia and an MBA from the Harvard Business School.
As CEO and Board Member of Akola, Sheeba led the transformation of a 12 year old non-profit into a luxury retail brand and early stage for-profit startup that provides living wage employment to marginalized women in Eastern Africa. She shepherded the business in the US and Uganda during the height of the pandemic, helping keep nearly 200 women in Uganda employed. Sheeba oversaw Akola’s business reinvention across supply chain, product merchandising, and marketing, leading to 50% growth in gross margin and a stronger path to profitability. Sheeba recently restructured the company to drive long-term sustainability and local empowerment, with the company and operations now fully based in Uganda. Under her leadership, Akola was named a top sustainable jewelry brand by Vogue in 2020.
As VP of Marketing & Interim Co-CMO of JCPenney, she led the revitalization of the $12 billion dollar, 100 yr. old iconic brand, with a focus on a more digitally-centric consumer experience. As a senior executive with Mondelēz International, Sheeba led the brand and operational strategy for the World's #1 Cookie, OREO ($2 Billion), across 100 countries. She oversaw Oreo’s global marketing experience, as well as cost reduction initiatives that led to $200 MM in global cost savings. Sheeba also redesigned the brand, marketing and communications approach for International Justice Mission (IJM), the largest anti-slavery NGO in the world. She led the launch of IJM’s founder & CEO’s book, The Locust Effect, which was named a Washington Post Best Seller and featured at the World Economic Forum.
Sheeba’s leadership and work have been recognized by outlets such as Forbes, Entrepreneur, NY Times, BuzzFeed, People, PR Daily, and Vogue. She is a member of the Kraft Heinz Creative Council, a select group of brand leaders across industries that provide strategic counsel on the company's marketing & advertising initiatives. Sheeba was featured on InStyle Magazine’s 2021 List of “50 Women Making The World A Better Place”. Sheeba is passionate about integrating her faith and work. She is a board member for Redeemer City to City, a global ministry founded by Tim Keller. She is also is an advisor for faith-driven entrepreneurs and regularly speaks on brand building and Christ-centered leadership. She holds a BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Virginia and an MBA from the Harvard Business School.
