IMPACT | Lynda Costa

Lynda Costa

SELECT EXPERIENCE AND IMPACT EXAMPLES

2015-2021

Strategy and Culture Change

Largest privately-owned fragrance/flavor company;

$4.3B in annual revenue;

10K employees globally

FIRMENICH

As part of the executive leadership team for NA, lead the Strategy Office with oversight for: strategy and business transformation; innovative partnerships, M&A targets; Continuous Improvement/Lean; cultural transformation; Consumer Insights; and the Pricing Office.

Developed the vision and architecture for a “future state” culture to better align with a growth mindset.
Built infrastructure and activated all productivity initiatives to optimize performance, drive organizational capability, and ignite change. Oversight for Greenbelts/Lean program, and all ambassadors driving efficiency; $120k and 20,000 hours saved annually.
Created the strategy and deployed the largest cultural redesign for NA called Be the Change, an employee-owned and operated movement: 550+ employee sign-ups; 10 communities; model expanded across other regions – all within seven months.
Managed annual price increases and tariffs for a $0.5 Billion region. Created vision for a refreshed Pricing Office from tactical to strategic. Added focus on margin/profit opportunities and re-engineering processes to drive increased revenue.
Developed newly transformed Consumer Insights group; moved from just sensory to better align with Human Insights strategy.

2012-2015

Retail Leadership

Global technology leader in barcodes and value chain visibility;

6B daily scans;

2MM corporate users of GS1 standards

GS-1

Responsible for driving brand value, strategy, and business efficiencies for all consumer product goods companies spanning the entire value chain in an ever-evolving omni-channel retail landscape. Partner with retailers, manufacturers, and other key stakeholders to steer innovation for the future vision of industry in both the B2B and B2C space.

Drove business development for GS1 as key account manager for The Consumer Goods Forum comprised of over 400 retailers, manufacturers, and service providers, representing combined sales of $3.1 Trillion.
Led the largest global business redesign for industry since the inception of the barcode 40 years ago to support the digital consumer while maintaining core supply chain needs. Supported brand growth and enhanced consumer trust.

1995-2012

Brand Activation

Corporate Purpose

Strategy

Partnerships

Largest food & beverage company in North America, third globally;

$64B annual revenues;

291K employees worldwide

PEPSICO

Built, from ground up, and directed, a horizontal business unit across Marketing, Retail, and other functions to formulate relevant customer and consumer concepts in-line with brand strategy.
Developed strategy for newly defined diverse market representing a 1.1B consumer base and $750B in disposable income.
Created inclusive advertising and messaging; landmark Super Bowl ad using American Sign Language; 149MM viewers.
Managed digital and social media programs with Guiding Eyes. Increased daily social media platform: 7,877,660 impressions; 2,421 unique views; 907 likes (compared to daily average of 75).
Worked across business on packaging & graphics changes with focus on Boomer demographics; 15% volume lift.
Sustained and expanded partnership for $0.25B key account, encompassing five prestige NY properties.
Managed $117MM budget to drive enhanced capability for Marketing, Sales, and Operations within Franchise Business Units; directed cross-divisional team of 20 working on productivity and marketplace initiatives affording $500MM in value for the North American Beverages Division.
Created strategy and centrally managed innovation with Marketing, from inception to in-market: 200 new products annually; $10B division.
Increased speed to market by 40% for products in innovation pipeline.
Achieved significant savings of $7.1MM based upon more informed decision making for all stakeholders and an integrated go-to-market strategy.