Procter & Gamble
Lisa Hillenbrand Is A Change Agent
Long before I learned about Lisa Hillenbrand’s professional career, I knew her as a fun loving mother of a beautiful son and daughter and two dogs. When I think about her, I think about how she has this great way of making me laugh and smile. I also remember going to her house for the first time and seeing a snake on her stairway leading upstairs. (That is the school’s pet that Lisa sometimes watches over the summer.) It is an experience you don’t soon forget.
But I learned some time later that there is a whole different side to Lisa that I never knew. For 27 years she was director, Global Marketing at Procter & Gamble, leading the team that “re-engineered” P&G’s company-wide brand building approach, creating the Brand Building Framework that has become the foundation for how the global consumer goods giant approaches marketing. In 2004 she was elected the prestigious Harley Procter Marketer by the company’s top managed for exemplifying the highest standards of P&G marketing.
These days Lisa is a brand building and organizational change consultant with her company, Hillenbrand & Associations; and is co-author of a Stragility: Excelling at Strategic Changes (2016) that Forbes called “a vital and practical guide to taking action, adapting systems, and empowering people.”
I wanted to introduce you to Lisa, as she is most definitely someone I look up to with CINspiration.
Lisa D: Please tell us something about yourself that we may not know.
Lisa H: Before a long career as Director Global Marketing at P&G, I worked in book publishing as a publicist. I wrote press releases, booked authors on tours and coached them on interview skills.
Lisa D: You have talked about the need to weed out the less significant projects in favor of the more critical ones in business. That also seems like pretty solid words of wisdom going beyond business, to life. How does this relate to life? How does it relate to your life?
Lisa H: I keep learning, and relearning, to prioritize the big stuff and let some of the small stuff go. When I do that, I can make time for the important but non-urgent stuff like staying in touch with friends and family.
Lisa D: How did the name Stragility evolve and what is its meaning and significance?
Lisa H: Stragility starting with my co-author typing too fast in Google search. She intended to type Strategic Agility. We both liked the new word because our work is about strategic, agile, people-powered change. In Stragility, we aim to help any leader learn the skills to create successful change again and again in their organizations and in their lives.
Lisa D: Tell us about a personal challenge you have overcome. What are some of your lessons learned from the experience?
Lisa H: I had breast cancer about 5 years ago. It forced me to live more in the present and to not take anything for granted. I’ve had more good than bad impacts from the experience. I really do savor each day more than ever and try not to sweat the small stuff.
Lisa D: Who is someone, a role model or mentor, who has positively influenced your life; and how did that person impact you?
Lisa H: There are so many role models. I am in awe of Nelson Mandela and how much positive change he was able to accomplish.
Lisa D: What is something you now know that you wish you had known when you were 20?
Lisa H: I worried so much when I was 20 about everything. I think my 20 year old self would be pleased to see that life turned out fine. But she’d probably be horrified to see me in spandex yoga attire.
Lisa D: What is some advice you would give others on living and experiencing life?
Lisa H: I suppose I’d give them the same advice I give myself – to lean into the chaos, take risks and enjoy the ride.
Lower Price Hill Getting A Makeover
July 28 is going to be a big day for Lower Price Hill as hundreds of volunteers transcend on the ballfields at Evans Playground for a major renovation, the creation of a community garden, greenspace, AND a transformation of the Espy Boys & Girls Club into a youth center.
From the ribbon cutting at the 2015 Community Makeover recipient: West End: Seven Hills Neighborhood Houses, Sands School playground and Dyer ballfields
It is all happening because Procter & Gamble, the Cincinnati Reds and the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden have chosen the Cincinnati neighborhood of Lower Price Hill as the winner of the 2016 Community Makeover.
Elements of the Community Makeover will include:
- Evans Field and Playground: Upgrade existing baseball fields and park amenities
- Community Gardens: Develop largest greenspace in Lower Price Hill with natural playscape and learning gardens for children
- Espy Center: Upgrade the former Boys & Girls Club in partnership with Community Matters and Santa Maria Youth Services
Other project partners include Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and Interact For Health and partners from the community include Community Matters, Santa Maria Community Services, Community Learning Center Institute, Bloc Ministries, Cincinnati Recreation Commission and the City of Cincinnati’s Neighborhood Enhancement Program (NEP).
P&G, the Reds and the Zoo’s investments in Lower Price Hill will provide significant and sustainable impact, including reducing operating costs and energy usage and investing in the long-term development of the community and its residents.
To learn about needed donations and how you can help, please contact the Reds Community Fund at 513-765-7231 or CommunityMakeover@reds.com.
P&G and the Reds Community Fund have partnered for the Community Makeover since 2010 and the Cincinnati Zoo joined the partnership in 2013 and brings a wealth of experience in horticulture, sustainable design and maintenance to the projects.
The goal of the annual program is to choose a neighborhood renovation project that improves local youth baseball and softball programs while making a significant impact on the community and its residents.
Past Community Makeover projects:
- 2010: Winton Place: Brandon Phillips Field and P&G Field
- 2011: North College Hill: High school field and community center plus youth field in Winton Place
- 2012: Cheviot: Memorial Fields, historic grandstand and Cheviot Memorial Fieldhouse
- 2013: Avondale: Gabriel’s Place, Hirsch Recreation Center and Hirsh ballfields
- 2014: South Cumminsville: Wayne ballfields and Millvale Recreation Center
- 2015: West End: Seven Hills Neighborhood Houses, Sands School playground and Dyer ballfields
Cincinnati Reds Urban Youth Academy Has Grand Opening
I remember several years ago visiting the Reds Rookie Success League when I was working with the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati. 
The Cincinnati Reds Community Fund organizes these free coed camps each summer to teach the fundamentals of the sport through a character based curriculum – and campers even get to meet a few local professional players. What a wonderful opportunity for so many children who otherwise would not be able to afford such a fun camp.
Since its inception in 2001, the Cincinnati Reds Community Fund has been dedicated to improving the lives of youth through its baseball-themed outreach efforts. The Reds Rookie Success League is just one example.
Last week, local youth were given a whole new opportunity to build success when the Major League Baseball, Cincinnati Reds, and Procter & Gamble unveiled the new Urban Youth Academy, a four field facility where Cincinnati children and youth can play baseball and softball, while receiving guidance to gain tools that will help them succeed not just on the playing field, but in the classroom…and in life.
The $7 million Cincinnati Academy is the fourth in the MLB and it is the first one in the Midwest. It has four fields, one of which even has a press box. Additionally it has a field house complete with a turf field and indoor batting cages and pitching tunnels. There are also classrooms where students can receive free tutoring while they wait to play.
Joe Morgan and Frank Robinson, stars of Cincinnati’s past, were among those on hand for the unveiling.
“It came out better than anyone could’ve expected,” said Frank, whose current role is as MLB’s executive vice president of baseball development. “You have your vision of what you’d like to see and what it will look like when it’s finished. But I didn’t have this vision. And I don’t think anyone else did. This is a great facility, and we’re just glad to be a part of it. We will continue to work with the Reds to keep it up and support the kids. They are the future.”
Also on hand was a family very special to me. I grew up next door to Gerry and Marion Gendell and their seven kids (Carin, Danna, Adrian, Jeff, David, Marc and Brad) and have so many wonderful memories of those years. They are such a kind and generous family. One of the ballfields at the Academy is a gift from the Gendell Family Foundation and was dedicated to Gerry and Marion – 
loving parents who gave so much to our great city.
Gerry was commissioned as a First Lieutenant by the US Army in 1952 after graduating NY University. Following 3 years of military service during the Korean War, he joined P&G where he spent 37 years in management positions. In the last 10 years he served as the company’s chief public affairs officer and also served as president and trustee of the P&G Fund. Among other achievements, he launched Pringles brand and expanded P&G’s charitable activities. He was vice chairman of the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce, member of the Board of Overseers at HUC, a board member and supporter of several other organizations. Marion earned her bachelor’s degree at age 50. She served in volunteer roles for various organizations.
Downtown Cincinnati Dog Park, Because Of One Man And His Dog
It is not unusual for Craig Beachler, a medical device representative and territory manager, to drive hundreds of miles in between hospitals every week. After all, an important part of his job is being there during surgeries to ensure doctors don’t run into any snags when it comes to using his company’s products.
And good thing for Craig – or I should say Captain – that hospitals happen to have covered parking because where ever Craig travels for work, Captain travels too. A large dog bed in the utility vehicle’s back makes the long drives comfortable. By the way, Captain is Craig’s large 60 pound plus mixed breed who knows how to open door knobs that aren’t securely locked.
The roommates live in a downtown Cincinnati apartment surrounded by large buildings, busy streets and lots of concrete…but no grass. Lucky for them, there is a dog play area in the neighborhood called Fido Field.
Okay, so really, it’s not because of luck that they have a place to run and play fetch.
One man’s determination.
The year was 2005 when Craig and his dog (then a different dog) moved to downtown Cincinnati for a job at P&G, but there weren’t a whole lot of options close by for people and their pooches.
If you’ve ever met Craig, you know he’s not one to sit back and not take action on things that are important to him. He met with city leaders. Together they found a site on Eggleston Avenue and began drawing up plans for a dog park, but when the economy took a hit the park was no longer a city priority.
So Craig was given the plans and moved forward independently, recruiting volunteers and raising money on his own. A lofty endeavor seeing as the 
budget he came up with for it was over $300,000. Procter & Gamble was the largest donor – giving Craig $50,000 toward the park.
Fido Field has been open now for several years and the responsibility continues for Craig, who continues to fundraise and spends time on weekends maintaining it with help from friends. Among them are Erin Kidwell who is helping with communications and Tiphanie Hodges who helps with special events.
Fido Field is located at 630 Eggleston Ave; 45202. Donations and volunteers are always welcome. Please visit their Facebook page for updates.
