Episode 105: Anna Catalano

I was introduced to Anna Catalano by my good friend Naren Aryal – the entrepreneur and founder of the amazing self publishing company Mascot Books who’s currently working with Anna on her first book. 

Anna has an amazing and unique background and she’s incredibly candid and open about her journey and brings a really fresh perspective to conversations. 

She manages an active board portfolio, serving on the Boards of Directors of Mead Johnson Nutrition, Willis Towers Watson, Kraton Corporation, and Chemtura Corporation, and an advisor to numerous organizations. She is a certified Board Leadership Fellow of the National Association of Corporate Directors, and board member of the Texas/Tri-Cities Chapter. In the not-for-profit sector, she is a member of the National Board of Directors of the Alzheimer’s Association, the Houston Grand Opera, and an honorary co-founder of the Kellogg Innovation Network at Northwestern University.

With over 30 years of corporate experience, Ms. Catalano is a renowned expert and frequent speaker on the topics of innovation, corporate governance and leadership, and an outspoken champion for advancing women in business. Having held executive positions in Asia, Europe, and North America, she holds a broad perspective on the challenges of operating in a global environment.

As BP’s global head of marketing, she was instrumental in repositioning its corporate brand, and a primary voice behind its “beyond petroleum” campaign. She has advised numerous organizations on the topics of strategic marketing, brand and reputation, and purposeful leadership in an environment of skepticism around corporate governance and responsibility.

Ms. Catalano has been recognized in Fortune Magazine’s ranking of “The Most Powerful Women in International Business”. She is a wife and mother of two, and a graduate of the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. She shares her thoughts on various aspects of leadership as author of the blog, www.shades-of-leadership.com.