In this episode of Leadership Chronicles, Leslie Zane (MBA'86) shares her journey as a pioneer in marketing and behavioral science. From her early career at Bain & Company to founding her own consulting firm, Triggers®.

Leslie shares with us that traditional marketing is dead—breakout growth requires a new playbook. For decades, marketing has wasted billions assuming the conscious mind makes decisions. It doesn’t. People choose brands, leaders, even ideas—because of unconscious associations built deep in memory. Leslie helps brands and people bypass the conscious mind and unlock the instinctive brain—the hidden engine of choice, brand preference, and growth. When you do, brands grow faster and farther—often with less spend, less time, and less risk.

She reflects on the influence of her parents, her experiences at Harvard Business School, and the challenges she faced in advocating for innovative ideas in a traditional industry. Leslie also offers valuable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs and emphasizes the significance of courage and expertise in forging one's own path.

Hosted by ⁠Sherri Sklar⁠, MBA’89 and ⁠Sarah Alter⁠, MBA’95.Highlights

• The unconscious mind drives most of our decisions, not the conscious mind.
• Family influence plays a crucial role in shaping leadership qualities.
• Breaking barriers in marketing requires courage and perseverance.
• Accumulating expertise is vital before starting your own business.
• Leadership is about asking the right questions and being vulnerable.
• Courage earns trust much faster than flattery.

ABOUT LESLIE ZANE, MBA'86
Leslie Zane is an award-winning marketer, TEDx speaker and the foremost authority in harnessing the instinctive mind to accelerate brand and business growth. Like many pioneers, Zane’s ideas were dismissed early on. In 1995, she founded Triggers®, the first brand consulting firm rooted in behavioral science and, together with her team, cracked the code on accelerating brand growth. Over the past 25 years, her company has delivered over $25bb in incremental revenue growth for Fortune 100 clients.
An alumna of Yale, Harvard Business School, Bain & Company and P&G. Leslie is a recipient of the Congressional Women of Distinction and the Ogilvy Award.
Her work has been featured in over 25 prestigious publications including Harvard Business Review, Knowledge@Wharton, and World Economic Forum, Newsweek, and more. Her book, The Power of Instinct: The New Rules of Persuasion In Business And Life has been hailed as "the biggest gamechanger since Malcolm Gladwell's Blink."
Leslie serves on the board of El Centro Hispano which empowers Hispanic immigrants with skills to thrive in the United States.

In this episode of The Leadership Chronicles, Deborah Farrington shares her inspiring journey from a close-knit family background to becoming a leading venture capitalist. She discusses her experiences at Harvard Business School, the influence of her parents, and the importance of building relationships in her career.

Deborah reflects on overcoming setbacks, particularly her experience of being fired, and emphasizes the need for resilience and self-confidence. She also addresses the challenges women face in venture capital and shares her vision for mentoring future leaders.

ABOUT OUR GUEST

Debby is co-founder and managing partner of New York City based StarVest Partners, founded in 1998 to invest in technology-enabled business services and one of the largest women majority-owned venture capital firms. It was an early investor in Software-as-a-Service. Notable investments include NetSuite, the first SaaS ERP company (sold to ORCL for $9.2 billion in 2016); the first internet insurance company; the first digital ad agency; and the first digital contingent workforce company. Debby is a director of Dayforce, Inc. (NYSE: DAY), Cumulus Media, and Planful Inc.

She graduated from HBS in 1976, where she served on the Visiting Committee, as Vice-President of the Alumni Association and chair of the HBS Club of New York. She is a graduate of Smith College and served on its Board of Trustees.

She has been named to the Forbes Midas List of Top 100 Venture Capitalists; received the Foreign Policy Association Medal for Achievement in Financial Services; and, in 2025, received the Smith College Medal and HBS Alumni Achievement Award.

In this episode of ⁠⁠HBS Women's Association: The Leadership Chronicles⁠⁠, hosts ⁠⁠Sherri Sklar⁠⁠ (HBS MBA’89) and ⁠⁠Sarah Alter⁠⁠ (HBS MBA’95) sit down with the remarkable Desirée Rogers (HBS MBA’85). From her role as CEO of Black Opal Beauty to her tenure as the White House Special Assistant and Social Secretary under President Obama, Desiree shares her journey of leadership, resilience, and innovation.

"History and legacy are so important". Discover how her early life in New Orleans shaped her path, the lessons learned from her diverse career, and her commitment to community impact.

Tune in for an inspiring conversation about embracingchallenges, fostering growth, and the power of service. Don't miss this insightful episode with a true trailblazer.

• 2024 HBS Class Day Speaker
• Black Opal Beauty
• American Cancer Society

In this episode of ⁠The Leadership Chronicles⁠, hosts ⁠Sherri Sklar⁠ (HBS MBA’89) and ⁠Sarah Alter⁠ (HBS MBA’95) sit down with Andrea Faccio (AMP207), President and Chief Growth Officer of Nestlé Purina PetCare North America, for an inspiring conversation about global leadership, career growth, and purpose-driven impact.

Andrea shares insights from her remarkable global journey at Nestlé, spanning multiple countries and business divisions. She also discusses the rigor and value of Harvard’s Advanced Management Program (AMP) and how it has shaped her leadership approach. Adding a heartwarming touch, Andrea is joined by a special guest—her Bernedoodle, RIO—highlighting the powerful role pets play in supporting mental health and well-being. Andrea champions the belief that people and pets are better together and brings attention to the positive emotional impact of pet companionship.

With a strong philanthropic drive, Andrea discusses Purina’s social initiatives, including the Purple Leash Project, the Service Dog Salute Program as well as her passion to inspire and guide Latin women through Good Latinas For Good.

ABOUT OUR SPEAKER

As President and Chief Growth Officer at Nestlé Purina PetCare North America, Andrea Faccio provides unified leadership across the organization to help transform business strategies into actions that drive powerful growth. She began her career in 1996 as a Commercial Trainee at Nestlé Brazil and has since served in many key roles across the company and the globe as a dedicated steward of iconic brands and one of the architects of our company’s success.

Faccio is a native of Brazil and has held positions across the Nestlé organization for more than 28 years, which has included key roles in Brazil, Switzerland, Australia and, most recently, posts with the U.S. pet care business. She earned her MBA from Washington University in St. Louis and completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School in 2024.

RESOURCES:

• HBS Advanced Management Program (AMP) -
• Purple Leash Project - creating safe spaces for domestic abuse survivors and their pets.

• Service Dog Salute Program - Even Heroes Need Heroes

• Good Latinas For Good - Connects, inspire, and guide Latin (origin) women

ABOUT HBS WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION

The HBS Women's Association (HBSWA) is a charitable organization established by and for alumnae of the Harvard Business School. Our mission is to advance the professional and personal goals of HBS alumnae through community, learning, and opportunity. We aim to inspire you through our podcast and to provide pathways, connections, thought leadership and resources.

In this episode of The Leadership Chronicles, hosts Sherri Sklar (HBS MBA’89) and Sarah Alter (HBS MBA’95) engage in a captivating conversation with Jan Moran (HBS MBA’89), a bestselling author and entrepreneur.

Jan shares her inspiring journey from being a single mother attending Harvard Business School to becoming a pioneer in the fragrance and beauty industry, as well as her transition into writing and film production. The discussion highlights key lessons in leadership, the importance of relationships, and the power of storytelling, particularly for women navigating their careers. Jan's multifaceted career serves as a testament to creativity, resilience, and the pursuit of one's passions.

OUR SPEAKER

https://janmoran.com/jan-moran-book-series-order/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/janmoran/

Rock Center for Innovation

ABOUT HBS WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION

The HBS Women's Association (HBSWA) is a charitable organization established by and for alumnae of the Harvard Business School. Our mission is to advance the professional and personal goals of HBS alumnae through community, learning, and opportunity. We aim to inspire you through our podcast and to provide pathways, connections, thought leadership and resources.

www.hbswa.org