Arlington, VA

Ask Me Anything: Leo at Nestlé USA

SPEAKER 1: Leo? Just the man I was looking for.

SPEAKER 2: Hey, How are you?

SPEAKER 1: Good, good. Thanks for taking the time to answer a few questions.

SPEAKER 2: Of course. Shoot.

SPEAKER 1: All right, here's an easy one. What's your position at Nestle?

SPEAKER 2: I'm marketing director for ready-to-drink.

SPEAKER 1: And what was your first position at Nestle?

SPEAKER 2: Associate brand manager for Nesquik back in Mexico.

SPEAKER 1: All right. Three words that describe the RTD category?

SPEAKER 2: Fast-paced, intense, and very competitive.

SPEAKER 1: What's your latest coup?

SPEAKER 2: We just got approval for all of our launches from here to 2021-- so pretty cool.

SPEAKER 1: Boom. More fun to work on-- challenger brand or category leader?

SPEAKER 2: They're both fun, but I would say I'm really enjoying being a challenger right now.

SPEAKER 1: OK next big thing in coffee?

SPEAKER 2: Adaptogens. You wait for it. It's going to set the world on fire.

SPEAKER 1: All right, I will wait for it. Biggest challenge the coffee category faces?

SPEAKER 2: There's a lot of people coming in, and if we don't do it right, we might just wind up commoditization the category.

SPEAKER 1: OK. And what's the time you took a risk?

SPEAKER 2: Well, when we decided to go into ready-to-drink, we didn't really know what we were doing, and yet we decided to still go for it. So I would say that's pretty gutsy.

SPEAKER 1: Yeah. How cool is it seeing your brands on the grocery shelf?

SPEAKER 2: Oh, it's awesome. But you know what's even better? When you actually get to see people pick it from the grocery aisle themselves. That's winning.

SPEAKER 1: Yeah, yeah. So team conflict-- strength or weakness?

SPEAKER 2: Healthy conflict-- definitely a strength.

SPEAKER 1: Healthy, got it. What makes your team awesome?

SPEAKER 2: Well, they just come from very diverse backgrounds. They come in all different nationalities. And they're just very fun to be around. Hey, guys, you want to do a selfie?

SPEAKER 1: What are we doing here? Oh, selfies. All right. Hey, smile.

SPEAKER 2: Thanks, guys.

SPEAKER 1: OK, later. The last thing you talked to your boss about?

SPEAKER 2: How to make the innovation process faster.

SPEAKER 1: The first thing you do, when you get to the office?

SPEAKER 2: I have a cup of coffee. I don't function without coffee.

SPEAKER 1: Get this man some caffeine. What always makes you laugh?

SPEAKER 2: When my family sends me videos of my nephew just doing fun stuff back home, that puts a smile on my face.

SPEAKER 1: All right. The best thing to happen to you today?

SPEAKER 2: I went for a run this morning, and there was a little deer just grazing on the side. What a sight.

SPEAKER 1: Lucky favorite thing about Nestle's awesome new digs?

SPEAKER 2: Have you seen this view?

SPEAKER 1: Oh, man.

SPEAKER 2: Doesn't get better than that.

SPEAKER 1: I know. I want to move in. If you weren't a marketing guy, what would you be?

SPEAKER 2: Probably a chef.

SPEAKER 1: Oh, Chef Leo. Iced or nitro?

SPEAKER 2: Definitely nitro.

SPEAKER 1: Yeah What's your personal mantra?

SPEAKER 2: You don't know what you don't know.

SPEAKER 1: I did not know that. How do you plan to spend your 401(k)?

SPEAKER 2: Retire on a beach somewhere, and set up a little bed and breakfast. That would be cool.

SPEAKER 1: That sounds awesome. Georgetown or Dupont Circle?

SPEAKER 2: Love Georgetown.

SPEAKER 1: OK. Your commute-- love it or hate it?

SPEAKER 2: Love it. I get to walk across the Key Bridge every day.

SPEAKER 1: What's something about Nestle that almost no one knows?

SPEAKER 2: How much we do for the coffee farmers. If anybody could just see how much we give back-- the plants, the training-- I wish everybody knew about that.

SPEAKER 1: Can you say Nestle's the place for me in as many languages as you know?

SPEAKER 2: Nestle's the a place for me.

[SPEAKING FRENCH]

[SPEAKING SPANISH]

SPEAKER 1: Blowing my mind. Leo, thanks. It's been great. But last and most important question--

SPEAKER 2: Of course.

SPEAKER 1: Where can I get a coffee for the road?

SPEAKER 2: Right behind you. Bye.

SPEAKER 1: OK, bye. Au revoir. Adios.