What does it take to lead global brands across continents while staying grounded in purpose, people, and impact? In this episode of In The Lead Podcast, host Anna J. Breimer Bharati sits down with Séverine Vauleon to explore her 25 plus year leadership journey at Unilever, from France to Australia and Singapore, and the lessons that shaped how she leads in complex, fast-changing environments.

From building culturally relevant brands to driving “good growth” that balances performance with responsibility, Séverine shares the pivotal moments behind her leadership approach. She offers candid insights on navigating internal transformation, creating psychological safety, and leading with empathy and authenticity. They also unpack how leaders can respond to AI disruption with curiosity and clarity, and why a growth mindset is essential for staying resilient in the evolving landscape of modern leadership.

In This Episode

(00:00) Introduction and Guest Welcome

(00:20) Severine's Leadership Journey

(01:29) Building Global Brands with Purpose

(06:11) Embracing AI and Market Disruptions

(08:07) Navigating Leadership Challenges

(14:01) Fostering a Growth Mindset

(21:07) Balancing Data and Intuition

(24:05) Taking Bold Bets in Leadership

(25:01) Launching a Bold Campaign in the Philippines

(25:48) Facing Backlash in India

(27:08) Crisis Management and Strategy

(29:36) Positive Outcomes and Continued Campaigns

(29:52) Fostering Bold Risk-Taking

(31:39) Supporting Others

(39:10) Empowering Teams Through Challenges

(48:24) Leadership Evolution and Future Goals

Our Guest: Séverine Vauleon

Séverine Vauleon is the Chief Brand Architect at Pure Butter Brands and a former Global Brand Vice President for LUX at Unilever. With more than 25 years of global FMCG experience, she has led transformational brand growth across major consumer categories, building purpose-driven brands through strategic positioning, innovation, and culturally relevant storytelling.

Your Host: Anna J. Breimer Bharati

Anna J. Breimer Bharati is the founder of Tomorrow College, created to build a new kind of leadership for a changing world. With over 15 years of experience working alongside senior leaders at global organizations, Anna helps executives develop themselves while empowering others. Having witnessed the paradigm shift in how organizations and leaders must evolve, she is passionate about equipping today’s trailblazers to become the better leaders of tomorrow.

Powerful conversations with leaders navigating disruption, transformation, and the realities of modern leadership. Tune in, get inspired, and step confidently into your own leadership journey.

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