Former environmental engineer now drives retailer strategy at Procter & Gamble

Lydia Perez Poole, Shopper Insights & Analytics Leader – Procter & Gamble

Alumna: University of Rochester’s Simon Business School (MBA, 2006) and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (BS, 2000: Environmental Engineering)

With three older brothers who studied engineering, Lydia Perez Poole decided to heed the family tradition when she pivoted from an interest in Journalism to Environmental Engineering as an undergrad. Being in the minority among her engineering colleagues as a woman did not deter her – in fact, Lydia says she used her diverse background to her advantage to create enduring relationships. Post-college, while working for governmental energy efficiency programs, she gravitated toward the business aspects of her role and decided to pursue an MBA at the University of Rochester’s Simon School of Business. As Shopper Insights & Analytics Leader at Procter & Gamble, she studies consumer behavior to support the growth of the business. She also leverages this skill as a diversity recruiter for P&G when she listens to the stories inside people’s heads – a role she describes as “a big passion.”

Book recommendation:	The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
Word(s) that describe her:	Passionate, collaborative, smart, optimistic
Song that makes her turn up the volume:	"Waka Waka" by Shakira
Voluntary pursuits:	Pets on Wheels – My family’s dog visits nursing homes or college campuses once a month to provide support and comfort to people who need it.
You won’t find this on her resumé:	She is from Puerto Rico, and her parents are Cuban.

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