The One AI Skill That Separates Great CPG Leaders

Hey guys,

Shankar Viswanathan’s career spans continents, transformations, and industries. After three decades at P&G, he’s now helping Fortune 500s accelerate data and AI adoption as Chief Commercial Officer at Sigmoid.

In this episode, he breaks down what separates successful digital transformations from failures—and why CPG leaders must move from “talking data” to using it.

Here are the key takeaways:

Reverse Mentorship is a Must-Have, Not a Nice-to-Have

When Shankar took over eComm at P&G, he didn’t pretend to know it all. He booked standing weekly sessions with 23-year-old team members to learn paid search, carousel design, and content execution.
Why it matters: CPG is changing fast. Leaders who stay relevant are the ones who admit what they don’t know—an_{d learn from those who do.}

AI Is Finally Solving Demand Forecasting (with External Signals)

Sigmoid uses AI to ingest internal + external data—think: temperature trends, prescription volume, mobility data—to produce sharper forecasts.
Why it matters: Forecasting is no longer a guessing game. The next wave of supply chain advantage will come from whoever best blends external signals with internal truths.

AI Is Turning Zero-Based Budgeting into a Real-Time Tool

Forget incremental budget planning. AI can now help you rebase costs by SKU, by channel, by customer—frequently and precisely.
Why it matters: Expect CFOs to lean on AI to trim inefficiencies, not just once every five years, but quarterly.

The Real AI Opportunity Is In Innovation

The biggest unlock in the next 24 months? Using data and AI to build better products—not just market them.
Why it matters: Consumer expectations are rising. AI lets you uncover unmet needs and prototype disruptive product ideas faster than ever.

Watch now.

Final Thought

Shankar’s advice: Don’t wait. Run a pilot. Use what you already have. “You’ll be surprised by how much data you own—and how quickly it can start delivering value.”

I want to hear from you!

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Thanks for reading!

See you next week.

Imteaz & the Applied Intelligence team