In 2000, I had the opportunity to see Tom Peters speak at a Coca-Cola leadership meeting at the Bellagio hotel in Las Vegas. I was mesmerized by Tom’s energy, passion and commitment to change the way businesses, and people, looked at innovation and their brand. I read his articles in Fast Company and bought his book The Brand You 50. I fully intended to develop my own “Brand Don.” But, life got in the way. One job led to another, then a relocation, another new job, etc. Finally in 2010, I had the fortune of getting a half-time break in my career and used it to develop my personal brand and the first version of my website. It was (and is) a fun project and I know it helped set me apart from others during my job search. This new site is V 2.0 thanks to the skills of my talented daughter Monica,
Most important, my personal brand and this website represents something I could own and manage in a sea of uncertainty. I hope that in doing this, I can help other people realize that with a little bit of effort and good coaching, you can develop your personal brand and make it work for you, no matter where you are in your career journey. What follows are highlights from my career journey.
Highlights (UNDER CONSTRUCTION)
Highlights
Highlights
Highlights
Where It All Started
The old Quaker Oats Company (prior to the Pepsico acquisition) was well known for its Brand Management training. In your first three years at Quaker, you would be exposed to a variety of situations and challenges. I still use much of that training today – the essence of which is being able to be dropped into any situation and be able to think through what needs to get done – from both a Marketing and a business standpoint.
Key Skills Acquired
In the time I was at Quaker, I gained hands-on experience in these critical areas of Marketing:
Brand Positioning, P&L Management, Advertising, Consumer Promotions, Trade Promotions, New Products, Long Term Strategy, Annual Business and Marketing Planning, Competitive Strategy, Business Analysis, Presentation Skills, Channel Management, Ethnic Marketing, Packaging Strategy, and Sales Support
Some of the key projects I worked on included:
- Launching a new flavor ofOh!s Ready to Eat Cereal
- Launching the 32 oz. Plastic Gatorade Bottle
- Re-Launching the Kibbles ‘n Bits Dog Food Brand with a new Chicken piece and better flavor