ADVISORY BOARD
Leading figures from the world of commerce have joined the advisory panel of 20-first.com, bringing with them a vast range of global experience and astute points of view to ensure the website develops strong and compelling content.
GEORGIA GARINOIS
President of Beauty Care Strategy and New Growth at Johnson & Johnson
Georgia Garinois is President of Beauty Care Strategy and New Growth at Johnson & Johnson. Previously, she was President of Beauty GBU (Global Business Unit), Europe, Africa & the Middle East and Global President of RoC and Suncare. She joined Johnson & Johnson in the United States 25 years ago, as an assistant product manager and then moved to positions of increasing responsibility in several international locations.
She earned a master’s degree in mechanical engineering at Athens Polytechnic ranking as top student and then moved to the US to continue with her studies at MIT, as a Fulbright scholar. It was at that time that she decided to change direction and take an MBA from the Sloan School of Management, specialising in finance and strategy, which she completed, ranking in the top five percent of her class.
Garinois was born in Northern Greece and has worked in the US, Greece, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland, France, and the UK. She now lives in Paris with her husband and two teenage children.
JOSEPHINE GREEN
Senior Director, Social Innovation, Philips Design
Josephine Green is Senior Director of Social Innovation at Philips Design. She is responsible for research into Society, Cultures and People and pioneered the Strategic Futures Program that helps companies and organizations think about and implement a human focused approach to innovation and growth.
She promotes new thinking and new knowledge in the specific field of Social Foresight for Strategy and Innovation. Her advocacy in this area is based on the belief that we need different ways of thinking, being and doing if we are to live well, prosper and safeguard the future. “We must not only re-invent our social industries such as health and education but also our lifestyles and even the very growth models on which they are based.” She promotes working in this emerging social space both as an opportunity and as a necessity and sees the new technologies as an important enabler towards more social and sustainable solutions for the 21st century.
ACTIVITIES
- Visiting Professor at The Glasgow School of Art and Design
- Advisory Board of the Glamorgan Business School, Cardiff.
- Senior Advisor to Launchpad, The Young Foundation, London
- Advisory Group of StraX, Helsinki
- Expert on a number of European Futures programs
- Member of the European Professional Women’s Network and The Women’s International Network
- Advisory Board of WOMEN-omics
MARGARET HEFFERNAN
Entrepreneur, author and speaker
Margaret Heffernan produced radio and television programmes for the BBC for 13 years. She then moved to the US where she spearheaded multimedia productions for Intuit, The Learning Company and Standard & Poor’s. She was Chief Executive of InfoMation Corporation, ZineZone Corporation and then iCast Corporation, was named one of the “Top 25” by Streaming Media magazine and was one of the “Top 100 Media Executives” listed in The Hollywood Reporter.
Margaret now lives in the UK and writes a regular column for Real Business magazine and for the American edition of Reader’s Digest. She is Visiting Professor in Entrepreneurship at the Simmons College School of Management and Executive in Residence at Babson College. She has published two books about women and business: The Naked Truth: A Working Woman’s Manifesto (Wiley, 2004) and How She Does It: How Women Entrepreneurs are Changing the Rules of Business Success (Viking 2007).
Margaret wrote and presented a documentary for Radio 4 on the rise of female entrepreneurship, Changing the Rules which won the Prowess Media Award in 2008. Her radio play, Eve Blinked, was broadcast on Radio 4 and selected for Pick of the Week. Margaret’s investigation of social entrepreneurship in the recent Channel 4 series, The Secret Millionaire was broadcast in December 2007.
Margaret advises many companies in the US and UK and was also an advisor to Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton’s campaign for President of the United States. She lives near Bath with her husband, two children, one dog and three cats.
MICHAEL KIMMEL
Professor of Sociology, State University of New York at Stony Brook
Michael Kimmel is perhaps the world’s leading expert on men and masculinity. Professor of Sociology at State University of New York at Stony Brook, he is the author or editor of more than 20 books on the topic, including: “Men’s Lives” (6th edition, 2003), “The Politics of Manhood”(1996), “The Gendered Society” (2000), and “The History of Men” (2005).
He consults corporations, NGOs and public sector organizations all over the world on gender equity issues, including work-family balance, reducing workplace discrimination, and promoting diversity. Professor Kimmel has found ways to bring men into discussions about gender equality in a way that is engaging and humorous, and enables everyone to feel included in such gender equity projects. He has consulted with all the Ministries for Gender Equality in the Nordic countries, and has delivered the International Women’s Day lecture at the European Parliament, the Council of Europe, the European Commission, and the European Space Agency.
Click here to read Professor Kimmel’s latest article for WOMENomics: What Women Need to Know About Men
MICHEL LANDEL
Chief Executive Officer, Sodexo
Michel Landel is an international leader who has travelled the world. Appointed CEO of Sodexo in September 2005, his 25 year career with Sodexo began in 1984 when he accepted the position of Chief Operating Manager of Eastern and North Africa.
By 1986 he had been promoted to President of the Group’s entire operations of Remote Sites in Africa. In 1989 he took charge of the Group’s North American operations based in the United States, where he lived for over 18 years. Under his leadership, Sodexo became a premier provider of Food and Facilities Management Services in North America, which currently generates 38% of the Group’s consolidated revenues and employs more than 120,000 people.
In 1996 Landel initiated the STOP Hunger Sodexo Foundation where he remains the President today. With over 229 major initiatives active in 22 countries throughout the world, STOP Hunger is a growing force that continues to help children and families battle malnutrition.
In 1999, he was named President and Chief Executive Officer of Sodexo Inc North America and then appointed Vice President of the Sodexo Executive Committee a year later. He was named Chief Operating Officer in 2003 from where he went on to become Chief Executive Officer in 2005.
Throughout his career, Landel has been the honoured recipient of many prestigious awards. Recognized as a champion of diversity, he received the CEO Leadership Award for Diversity Best Practices and the CEO Advocate of the Year by Asian Enterprise Magazine. In 2007, he accepted the distinguished inclusion into the French Order of Knights of the Legion of Honour – chevalier dans l’Ordre national de la Légion d’Honneur.
Born in 1951, Landel is a graduate of the European Business School and has studied in France, the UK and Germany. A father of three children, he also enjoys travelling with his wife and spending time preparing inventive cuisine for his family and friends.
GERALD LEMA
Corporate Vice President and President, Asia Pacific, Baxter International
Gerald Lema
Gerald Lema joined the global healthcare company Baxter International Inc. in January 2005 as President, Asia Pacific. Elected as a corporate officer in May 2006, he is responsible for the company’s operations in China/Hong Kong, Japan, Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
Lema has more than twenty years experience in the pharmaceutical, diagnostics and healthcare sector in Asia, Japan, Europe, North and South America and the Middle East and Africa.
Prior to joining Baxter in 2005, he held a variety of positions in sales, marketing and business development at Abbott Laboratories. Formerly, he was corporate vice president of Abbott Laboratories Asia Pacific, and chairman and representative director, Abbott Japan, in Tokyo.
Lema is a frequent speaker at global business forums on subjects ranging from leadership, global expansion and strategy. In 2008 he participated in the first Women’s Forum in Asia, held in Shanghai China, where he chaired a plenary debate. Prior to this forum in 2007, he was invited to speak about diversity and the role women play in driving and sustaining businesses at the Women’s Forum held in Deauville, France. He believes passionately that gender diversity in an organization can make a significant positive difference to both its results and its decision-making capability.
The Wharton Business Schools’ Global Business Forum in Philadelphia, US and The Economist’s Asia Pharmaceutical round table also invited Lema recently to present his thoughts on global expansion and strategy.
He earned a BSc in Engineering from the Universidad del Valle, Colombia, and a MBA from the Freeman School of Business, Tulane University, New Orleans. He is also co-author of Managing Debt Equity Swaps, published in the Sloan Management Review in 1987.
OLIVIER MARCHAL
Director General, EMEA, Bain & Co
Olivier Marchal is Director General of the EMEA region (Europe, Middle East, Africa) for Bain & Co. He also serves as a member of the company’s global executive committee. Marchal graduated from ESSEC business school in 1981 and gained an MBA at Wharton School five years later. Starting as a consultant in Bain’s London office in 1986, he went on to manage the newly created Brussels office in 1990. He returned to the Paris office in 1993, was made a partner in 1998 and Director General in 2001.
BABETTE PETTERSEN
Vice President, New Business Development, Royal DSM NV
Babette Pettersen is Vice President of New Business Development for the Performance Materials Cluster at the Life and Material Sciences company, Royal DSM NV, based in the Netherlands. Her team develops New Business Platforms in the Performance Materials Cluster, across and beyond the current Business Groups of Engineering Plastics, Resins and Dyneema Ultra High Strength Fiber.
DSM creates innovative products and services in Life Sciences and Materials Sciences that contribute to the quality of life. DSM’s products and services are used globally in a wide range of markets and applications, supporting a healthier, more sustainable and more enjoyable way of life. End markets include human and animal nutrition and health, personal care, pharmaceuticals, automotive, coatings and paint, electrics and electronics, life protection and housing.
Babette has over 20 years experience in New Business Development and Marketing. Before joining DSM, she worked at the silicon-based technology company Dow Corning in various Marketing and Business Development roles in a broad range of industries, from Personal & Household care, through to Electronics. There she also led Marketing and Business Development in Dow Corning’s Business & Technology Incubator, as well as the Global Marketing Excellence Council for the corporation.
She has a BSc in Biology from Wellesley College in Massachusetts, United States and an MBA from INSEAD in Fontainbleau, France.
GUNNAR STRÖMBLAD
Executive Vice President, Schibsted
Gunnar Strömblad
Gunnar Strömblad has spent most of his career at the Scandinavian media group, Schibsted, where since 2006 he has served as executive vice president. A wide-ranging portfolio of newspapers, TV, film, online media, mobile phone services, books and magazines makes up the dynamic Schibsted media group. Started over one hundred years ago, the group is adapting to the new media age and has ambitious plans for growth and expansion, especially in Europe. It is currently operating in 22 countries, has about 8,000 employees and a turnover of €1.5 billion. Born in 1951, Gunnar gained a MBA from the Stockholm School of Economics. In 1986 he became CFO of Aftonbladet, Sweden’s largest paid-for newspaper. He was then appointed CEO during the years 1991-1998. A year following, Gunnar became CEO of Svenska Dagbladet, Sweden’s number two morning newspaper, over which he served until 2006. Since then Gunnar, who lives in Stockholm, has worked as the executive vice president of the Schibsted group.
CHRISTOPHER THOMAS
Partner, Egon Zehnder International
Chris Thomas
Christopher Thomas joined Egon Zehnder International in 1979 and became Managing Partner of the Melbourne office in 1986, a responsibility that he retained until 2003, at which point he moved to Paris for two-and-a-half years. He was also leader of the firm’s Global Board Consulting Practice Group from 1998 to 2007 and chaired the firm’s twice yearly international Partners’ Meetings for 10 years from 1997.
Prior to joining Egon Zehnder International he worked with Alcoa of Australia in a series of sales and marketing positions. He has a Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) degree from the University of Melbourne and a MBA from the Melbourne Business School. He is also a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Thomas is a member of the Board of The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research in Melbourne. He was previously a member of the Council of the Australian (Government’s) Film, Television and Radio School, the Board of the Heide Museum of Modern Art for nine years (and was its Chairman for three years); Chairman of the Victorian Community Foundation (now the Melbourne Community Foundation) and President of the Melbourne Business School Alumni.
In recent years, he has been responsible for the development of Egon Zehnder International’s board review activities and has personally participated in reviews of a considerable variety of boards in countries such as Australia, France, Singapore, Finland, Chile and the Netherlands. In his role as practice group leader he also assisted consultants in board reviews and related board consulting activities in many other countries including the UK and US. He has also advised boards of many Australian listed companies and other forms of organizations on the appointment of their CEOs. While based in Europe he initiated a project in conjunction with the European Professional Women’s Network which has led to the production of their bi-annual EuropeanPWN BoardWomen Monitor.
In 2008, he undertook research related to the situation of women directors in Australia and this led to the publication of “A gender in the boardroom” in conjunction with the Australian Government’s Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency.
Christopher Thomas has been greatly influenced by the talented women in his life. They are his wife Cheryl who is an art historian and his two daughters Rachel, a scientist, and Claire, a writer and published novelist. His future is being defined by his granddaughter and two grandsons.
JULIET WARKENTIN
Content Director, WGSN
Juliet Warkentin is Content Director for WGSN, the fashion, design and style website. She has led content strategy across web and consultancy, heading a team of 110 experts in four creative hubs and as a senior content contact for clients across the world. She has also spoken at industry events in Paris, Hong Kong, Sao Paolo, Seoul, Tokyo and across Canada.
Prior to joining WGSN, Warkentin spent five years as Editorial Director at Redwood, the UK’s leading publishing agency, producing editorial content for clients including Age Concern, the Royal Society of Arts, Boots, British Telecom, The Co-operative group, Harvey Nichols, The NSPCC, Marks & Spencer, The Royal Mail, Sotheby’s, Volvo and Virgin.
Previously she was a partner at Creative Strategy Consultancy The Fourth Room working with Coca Cola UK and RHM and was Managing Director, Marketing and Internet Development at the Arcadia Group. Her editorships include the UK edition of Marie Claire, UK fashion trade bible Drapers Record and Toronto Life Fashion in her native Canada.
Her awards include the Periodical Publishing Association’s business editor of the year, a Canadian Magazine Award for Toronto Life Fashion and an Amnesty International Award for journalism on Marie Claire. She is a fellow of The Royal Society for the Arts and was vice president of EPWN-London, a pan European Women’s Network. She is also a current committee member for the British Society of Magazine Editors.
ROBERT YOUNGBLOOD
Finance, business and politics editor
Robert Youngblood
Robert Youngblood recently completed 14 years as a finance and business as well as politics editor for the International Herald Tribune (IHT) in Paris and Hong Kong, taking part in newsroom and company labour relations. He also served as anchor for an IHT-related show on Italian television. Since leaving the newspaper he has devoted himself to WOMEN-omics as well as the US political campaign and nonprofits. Robert also worked in Germany for a global information network and started his career at various American publications.
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