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Eric Lauterbach is the former CEO of Peet’s Coffee. He joined Peet’s in 2010 after cultivating his career in CPG marketing and sales at Procter & Gamble, Clorox, and a few startups along the way. Today, he serves on the board of MPM Products and Ace Hardware. Eric shares how his experiences have shaped his hiring and leadership philosophies, reflects on valuable lessons from the last 30 years, and considers what’s on the horizon for emerging leaders. Highlights from our conversation include: - The formative experiences that set Eric up for a successful career in CPG (2:29) - Balancing urgency and patience (4:00) - Why CPG? (5:26) - Leading across startups, large CPG companies, and PE-backed brands (6:23) - Eric’s approach to mistakes (8:14) - His talent philosophy (9:22) - Cultivating effective self-awareness, empathy, and judgment (12:35) - “The Big Eff Up” (16:17) - What Eric looks for in leaders beyond the resume (19:05) - Evaluating how someone will relate to the culture of an org (20:28) - How Eric instills a shared sense of purpose in teams (23:10) - Advice for emerging leaders (26:08)

Stephanie Roberts is an experienced financial executive and partner at FLG Partners, where she provides CEO and CFO consultation and coaching. She is the former CFO of major brands like Old Navy, Rothy’s, goop, Specialized, and ThirdLove. Her extensive background as an executive leader across the e-commerce, retail, and consumer sectors informs her unique leadership style, as well as the deep operating knowledge that she brings to her work at FLG. Stephanie and Roy dig into the ways in which her work ethic and values were shaped by her childhood, the challenges of contending with work pressure and burnout, the importance of building long-term relationships with direct reports, the true value of time, and much more. Highlights from our conversation include: - How Stephanie’s upbringing shaped her career (1:54) - The three segments of Stephanie’s career (6:31) - How her life experience informed her empathetic leadership style (9:31) - Believing she had to outwork everyone and how that affected her (11:11) - How being “full light, no dimmer” ended up being unsustainable for Stephanie (13:50) - What she would tell the younger, over-worked version of herself (16:45) - What the term ‘time affluence’ means to Stephanie (17:33) - Her consultation and coaching work with FLG Partners (19:34) - The point in her career when she felt her leadership style had fully evolved (21:56) - Stephanie’s leadership philosophy (26:12) - Things she might change about the past if she could go back in time (28:39) - What Stephanie’s most excited about looking ahead to the future (29:43)

Megan Porteous is the Chief Revenue Officer at Carve Designs, a beach lifestyle brand creating surf-inspired apparel for women. Megan traces her career back to D1 volleyball, which led her to work at Oakley as Global Sports Marketing Manager and continues to inform her leadership approach today. After 6 years at Oakley, Megan followed her curiosity and passion to new opportunities at Amer Sports and Reef, where she cultivated deep experience in brand and digital leadership, leading growth and implementing strategy across e-commerce, wholesale, and marketplace channels. Megan and Roy get into her leadership and hiring playbook, the current opportunities and challenges facing CROs today, and more. Highlights from our conversation include: - How Megan’s background as a college athlete informed her early career experiences (2:05) - Why Megan left her dream job at Oakley (4:00) - The evolution of her leadership playbook (6:10) - How she approaches stretch projects with her team (8:42) - What Megan looks for in a leader (10:24) - Cultivating healthy team culture (12:45) - Making the most of her team’s in-person time together (13:50) - How the CRO role differs from past roles (16:00) - What her team structure looks like at Carve (18:12) - How Megan stays up on opportunities and tools in the digital marketing, brand, and e-commerce space (22:16) - Balancing brand and performance marketing (24:06) - Megan’s advice for emerging leaders (28:46)

Kate Williams is the CEO of 1% for the Planet, a global, philanthropic organization growing a network of businesses committed to donating at least 1% of their annual revenue to verified environmental initiatives. At the helm of 1% for the Planet, Kate leads an international campaign to help companies move beyond good intentions into credible, accountable action. To date, 1% for the Planet’s network has allocated nearly $1 billion to vetted environmental solutions. Through her work and speaking engagements, Kate inspires action and innovation amongst other purpose-driven leaders seeking to make an impact. Kate sits down with Roy to discuss fostering and maintaining a high performance culture, balancing community and autonomy within her team, the importance of learning agility in prospective talent, and much more. Highlights from our conversation include: - Early experiences that made Kate the leader she is today (2:08) - The scope and scale of 1% for the Planet’s impact and mission (7:54) - The unique perspective Kate has at the center of a global movement (10:47) - What effective, purpose-driven leadership looks like in 2026 and beyond (12:26) - Engaging and supporting talent through a critical mission (14:29) - Creating the culture of 1% for the Planet (17:19) - What work and life looks like at 1% and how that impacts performance (20:05) - What Kate looks for in prospective talent (26:01) - Lessons from hiring successes and failures (28:38) - Kate’s advice for rising leaders (32:13) Visit HowIHire.com for transcripts and more on this episode. Follow Roy Notowitz and Noto Group Executive Search on LinkedIn for updates and featured career opportunities.

Helayna Minsk is an experienced executive leader who has led major organizational transformation for brands like Unilever, Walgreens, and Johnson & Johnson. Helayna’s work encompasses general management, P&L leadership, portfolio evolution, and revitalization campaigns, both domestically and internationally. Her approach to brand stewardship and cross-functional collaboration has led to an extensive track record of profit expansion, scalable growth, and strategic implementation for some of the largest CPG companies in the world. Helayna joins Roy to discuss leadership lessons learned during periods of immense change, how communication is the cornerstone of high-performance teams, the upside of ambition, and much more. Highlights from our conversation include: - Core values that have become part of Helayna’s leadership playbook (3:07) - Mentors and learning opportunities that helped shape her leadership philosophy (5:16) - How Helayna’s leadership developed and evolved as she took on different roles (7:44) - The role talent plays in driving growth and impact (10:17) - Tips for navigating changing market dynamics and consumer behavior (14:10) - How Helayna developed an aptitude for hiring top performers and building high performance teams (16:05) - Comparing the approach to talent and hiring at different brands (18:25) - What Helayna looks for when she’s hiring for her own leadership teams (20:09) - How she approached leading a turnaround for J&J in China (22:17) - Cultural differences when working in China that adapted her thinking -(25:27) - Advice Helayna has for people early in their careers (28:33) - What’s next for Helayna (30:29)

Noto Group’s senior partners break down key hiring and leadership trends that they’re seeing for 2026 and beyond. Sara Spirko, John Copeland, and Tami Bumiller discuss common pitfalls, market forces, predictions, and actionable advice for those seeking top talent – and for candidates looking to be hired – in the year ahead. Highlights from our conversation include:  Unexpected obstacles to hiring top leaders in 2025 (3:08) Shifts in client, company, and candidate priorities and needs (4:59) Competencies and capabilities that are essential for leadership in today’s market (7:37) Best indicators to predict executive success in the current hiring environment (9:42) How CEOs and boards can get the best results when engaging a search firm (10:53) The team’s take on whether hiring in 2026 is shaping up to be smoother or tougher than in previous years (15:59) In-office versus remote versus hybrid trends for 2026 (19:24) The evolution of compensation packages (20:34) How companies are thinking about hybrid or remote leaders (23:38) Advice for executive-level leaders considering making a move in 2026 (27:15) How candidates can show up authentically, especially given AI trends (32:09) How candidates can best connect with search firms like Noto Group (33:19) Visit HowIHire.com for transcripts and more on this episode. Check out the full 2026 Leadership & Hiring Trends Report. Follow Roy Notowitz and Noto Group Executive Search on LinkedIn for updates and featured career opportunities. Subscribe to How I Hire: Apple Spotify Amazon

Shaun Belongie is the CEO of New Belgium Brewery. He previously served as VP of Marketing for New Belgium before becoming CMO and then CEO in 2023. Shaun has over 20 years of CPG experience, having managed marketing innovation and brand direction for iconic companies like Nestle Purina and Kraft Foods. He’s helped build and maintain New Belgium’s human-powered business model as the brand grows and expands, all the while stewarding the brewery’s legacy and people-centric culture. Shaun joins Roy to discuss the challenges and opportunities during his journey from CMO to CEO, the differences between working at a large CPG brand versus a smaller, more nimble company, how New Belgium embodies and enacts their foundational values, and much more.  Highlights from our conversation include:  Shaun’s transition from CMO to CEO at New Belgium (3:35) Challenges he’s confronted as New Belgium’s CEO (6:14) Shaun’s experience serving as New Belgium’s CMO (9:53) Shaun’s perspective on building and shaping culture as CEO (12:09) New Belgium’s human-powered business model (14:55) Maintaining authentic values throughout periods of growth (16:16) How his son’s health crisis inspired him to think differently about life and leadership (18:35) Leadership lessons that carried over from Shaun’s Kraft and Purina days (21:11) How changes in the industry are affecting Shaun’s approach to hiring (23:08) Leadership qualities that Shaun seeks in his senior executive team (25:01) How technology fits into his strategic plan (25:48) Guidance he’d offer to somebody early in their career (28:18) What Shaun’s most excited about in the future (30:13) Visit HowIHire.com for transcripts and more on this episode. Follow Roy Notowitz and Noto Group Executive Search on LinkedIn for updates and featured career opportunities. Subscribe to How I Hire: Apple Spotify Amazon

David Stever is the former CEO and CMO of beloved ice cream brand Ben & Jerry’s. David started with the company back in the early 80’s, working as a tour guide at their factory in Waterbury, Vermont. Over time, David ascended within Ben & Jerry’s, helping to grow the then start-up into an iconic, multinational corporation. Over the course of his decades-long career there, David led marketing initiatives, drove massive brand growth, expanded global market share, and helped facilitate reinvention and product innovation, all while keeping Ben & Jerry’s social mission front and center. He joins Roy to discuss his journey from tour guide to C-Suite, the many learnings he took from founders Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, the profound effect of pursuing a triple bottom line, and much more.         Highlights from our conversation include:  David’s initial interest in the ice cream industry and how it evolved into his career (1:32) Working with Ben and Jerry in the early days (3:50) Leadership lessons learned through periods of massive growth and scaling (6:13) David’s strengths and keys to success as Ben & Jerry’s CMO (8:48) What surprised him the most when he transitioned from CMO to CEO (13:48) What it means to do “business as unusual” (15:29) The influence of Ben & Jerry’s blend of activism and commerce on his leadership (18:12) How David defines Ben & Jerry’s unique culture and how he helped sustain it through the years and through acquisition (20:26) Successful hiring throughout Ben & Jerry’s different phases (22:48) Qualities David sought in his top leadership team (27:40) What he believes is often overlooked when assessing prospective talent (28:47) David’s next chapter and what he’s most excited about in looking ahead (31:00) Visit HowIHire.com for transcripts and more on this episode. Follow Roy Notowitz and Noto Group Executive Search on LinkedIn for updates and featured career opportunities. Subscribe to How I Hire: Apple Spotify Amazon

Jason Bronstad is the CEO of Malk Organics, a clean-label, plant-based milk and creamer brand. Jason began his career in the food and beverage industry at Sara Lee, serving across several managerial and directorial positions between 2004 and 2010. He then went on to become VP of Sales at Mike’s Hard Lemonade and then the President of Mighty Swell Cocktail Company before joining purpose-led start up, Malk Organics, in 2020. He joins Roy to discuss the ins and outs of shaping culture, values-driven hiring, evaluating talent, learning to keep things simple, and much more.  Highlights from our conversation include: Core beliefs and values that comprise Jason’s leadership playbook (3:55) Connection to mission (6:12) Hiring lessons learned during periods of brand growth and development (8:20) Key characteristics of high-performing leaders (11:40) Important traits Jason seeks in his direct reports (14:15) Evaluating cultural fit in prospective talent (15:50) The parts of Malk’s culture that make Jason most proud (18:08) Jason’s definition of success and how it’s evolved over the course of his career (20:22) His advice for the next generation of CPG leaders (21:10)

Christiana Smith Shi is a seasoned leader in global, multichannel retail, co-author of national, best-selling book Career Forward: Strategies From Women Who’ve Made It, founder and principal at Lovejoy Advisors, LLC., and an experienced corporate director on multiple Fortune 100 boards. Christiana made an early career pivot from finance to join McKinsey & Company, where she ultimately served as Senior Partner. After 25 years in management consulting, Christiana became the President of Direct-to-Consumer at Nike. In 2016, she retired from Nike and founded Lovejoy Advisors to help provide guidance around digital transformation for consumer and retail businesses. She joins Roy to share insights into navigating a rewarding career, talent lessons from McKinsey and Nike, and much more.  Highlights from our conversation include: The timely issue that prompted her to write a book (3:58) Why Christiana puts career first, job second (9:18) How to take a strategic long view with your career (10:55) Advice for building “professional equity” (15:27) What it means to “think like an investor” when it comes to your career (16:58) Christiana’s core leadership philosophy (22:20) Her perspective on the value of leadership coaching (25:38) The role of feedback as a leader (26:47) Lessons learned about hiring and talent and the major differences between hiring at McKinsey and Nike (30:25) How Christiana worked to integrate her team into the culture of Nike (35:35) Identifying strengths and opportunities of a team (37:20) How to avoid what she calls "benevolent stagnation” (42:09) How Christiana has applied her career experience and strategies to her work on boards (45:19) Advice for landing board roles (46:45) The ultimate payoff of a rewarding career and what Christiana is thinking about for the future (55:05) Visit HowIHire.com for transcripts and more on this episode. Follow Roy Notowitz and Noto Group Executive Search on LinkedIn for updates and featured career opportunities. Subscribe to How I Hire: Apple Spotify Amazon

Fabrizio Gamberini is a seasoned executive with nearly three decades of strategic leadership expertise and global brand management across a wide variety of business sectors. He currently serves as Vibram Corporation’s President and Global Chief Brand Officer. Prior to his time at Vibram, Fabrizio led large-scale marketing and retail management efforts for major brands like HP and Nike. He also led brand redevelopment, evolution, and acquisition for eyewear companies like Marcolin and Geox before landing at Vibram. Fabrizio joins Roy to discuss how his foundational leadership skills were honed at HP, the importance of getting out from behind the desk to engage the consumer, how truth and trust are key to effective teambuilding, and much more.  Highlights from our conversation include: Core leadership lessons learned in his early career (3:19) Key values and beliefs instilled during Fabrizio’s tenure at Nike (6:05) Navigating and leading through cycles of massive consumer change (10:07) The role that talent has played across his many executive positions (11:21) The efficacy of leadership coaching in developing teams (17:06) Attracting mission and purpose-aligned candidates (19:01) Hiring in large companies vs. smaller, scrappier organizations (22:47) Visit HowIHire.com for transcripts and more on this episode. Follow Roy Notowitz and Noto Group Executive Search on LinkedIn for updates and featured career opportunities. Subscribe to How I Hire: Apple Spotify Amazon

Jennifer Ingraffea is a seasoned executive leader with over 25 years of experience in the retail, apparel, product merchandising, and management sectors. In July 2025, Jennifer became the CEO of Pendleton Woolen Mills; a family-owned business since its founding in the 1860s. Before joining Pendleton, she served as Chief Product & Merchandising Officer at The North Face, prior to which, she worked at Nike in a number of high-level executive leadership roles. Jennifer and Roy discuss her new role and dig into essential leadership skills like curiosity, stewardship, and much more. Highlights from our conversation include: Core beliefs, values, and principles in Jenn’s leadership playbook (2:53) Leading through cycles of massive consumer and retail evolution (5:39) Identifying areas of a business that are in need of clarification and simplification (7:36) Aligning a team towards a long term vision (11:01) Lessons learned around hiring and team building at major brands (14:58) How Jenn developed her hiring process and philosophy (17:07) What a great leader looks like to Jenn (18:36) Valuable traits that Jenn identifies when hiring direct reports (22:58) Visit HowIHire.com for transcripts and more on this episode. Follow Roy Notowitz and Noto Group Executive Search on LinkedIn for updates and featured career opportunities. Subscribe to How I Hire: Apple Spotify Amazon

Kiernan Laughlin is the General Manager and co-creator of Deep Indian Kitchen, a growing CPG brand whose mission is to bring a modern, high-quality Indian food experience to consumers worldwide. Kiernan previously held senior brand management roles at large CPG companies like Johnson & Johnson and Unilever, and he spent his early career in marketing, promotions, and partnership leadership at Gorton’s Seafood. Highlights from our conversation include: Core business and leadership lessons from Kiernan’s career in multi-stage CPG (1:26) Useful skills Kiernan picked up outside of work that have percolated into his leadership style (5:27) Going from a structured corporate environment to leading an emerging brand (8:01) The challenges and opportunities of building a team through rebranding (11:22) Elements that make a successful relationship between CEO and Founder (19:36) Keeping his team aligned and agile as the company evolves (21:48) Hiring for qualities that go beyond the resume (22:49) How Deep connects their mission to action through their foundation (27:08) Advice for the next generation of CPG leaders (30:13) Visit HowIHire.com for transcripts and more on this episode. Follow Roy Notowitz and Noto Group Executive Search on LinkedIn for updates and featured career opportunities. Subscribe to How I Hire: Apple Spotify Amazon

Executive leader and board member Wilma Wallace joins Roy to discuss her experience recruiting and mentoring leadership teams at Gap and REI during her extensive career at both legacy brands. After spending over 20 years in senior roles at Gap, Wilma served as Chief Diversity and Social Impact Officer, as well as Chief Legal Officer at REI. In 2024, she retired to focus on impacting change, particularly from an equity, access, and justice perspective, on several boards. Her work centers social impact, environmental justice, and human rights in both the for-profit and non-profit sectors. Wilma and Roy discuss accounting for and addressing changing levels of trust across organizations, internal succession planning versus seeking external candidates, the link between alignment of purpose and successful performance in leadership teams, and much more.      Highlights from our conversation include: How Wilma evaluates candidates’ leadership abilities (4:18) Creating an environment that fosters high potential future leaders (6:48) Recruiting external talent (8:26) Leadership assessment practices at Gap & REI (11:08) Ensuring that an organization’s culture stays dynamic and resilient (14:01) Leading and hiring through periods of growth and change (17:35) Ways in which leaders should be vetting culture and values before taking on new leadership roles (20:30) What gives Wilma hope about the next generation of leaders (23:00) Visit HowIHire.com for transcripts and more on this episode. Follow Roy Notowitz and Noto Group Executive Search on LinkedIn for updates and featured career opportunities. Subscribe to How I Hire: Apple Spotify Amazon

Talent acquisition expert Heather Flynn joins Roy to discuss the ins and outs of successful recruitment strategy. Heather recently served as the SVP of Talent Acquisition for Aritzia, prior to which she led hiring efforts for other major brands like Nike and ASML. Roy and Heather dig into the essential role of talent strategy, the importance of strong employment branding and candidate engagement, the emerging application of AI in recruiting, and much more. Highlights from our conversation include: How holistic talent strategy informs a successful business strategy (5:52) Current trends, challenges, and opportunities facing top talent acquisition leaders (7:54) Key elements of a successful talent acquisition strategy (9:58) How Heather assesses an organization’s hiring bar (13:45) Ways that hiring leaders can step up their game (16:11) Heather’s approach to helping hiring teams make the best candidate decisions (17:45) What growing consumer brands look for in a leader and how it’s evolved recently (20:07) How she approached talent strategy at Aritzia (22:14) Visit HowIHire.com for transcripts and more on this episode. Follow Roy Notowitz and Noto Group Executive Search on LinkedIn for updates and featured career opportunities. Subscribe to How I Hire: Apple Spotify Amazon