Today we’d like to introduce you to Nandini Sankara.
Nandini, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I grew up in Mumbai, India, where I was fortunate enough to be born to very progressive parents who always valued education for my sister and me, and who encouraged us to build successful careers as women. You could say my parents were the ultimate “girl parents,” as they encouraged us to follow our dreams, even when those dreams ultimately took us halfway around the world. This strong foundation gave me the confidence and support I needed to build a successful life and career in the US.
After earning my MBA and working under some incredible mentors across industries, I held leadership positions at companies like Sealed Air, Aetna, and Pitney Bowes.
Since joining Suburban Propane in 2017 as Associate Vice President, Marketing and Brand Strategy, I was empowered to spearhead a brand refresh, launch Suburban Renewable Energy, LLC, (Suburban Renewables), and negotiate partnerships with household name brands like HGTV and NASCAR.
I now serve as Vice President, Marketing and Brand Strategy, and Spokesperson of Suburban Propane. The role has afforded me incredible opportunities to meet colleagues from across the nation and peers from around the world. This position has allowed me to bring in new technologies and established marketing methodologies to a legacy industry, to mentor the next generation of leaders who are trying to find their path forward, to share knowledge, and make an in impact as a featured speaker and writer at myriad conferences and publications including SXSW, Deloitte, and Forbes to name a few.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I’m typically the first to say that my road has generally been smooth. However, I am cognizant of the various disparities that lie in making a legacy brand culturally relevant. Of course, navigating and carving my own path as a female executive came with its own set of nuances. As a child, I remember seeing more male doctors supported by female nurses and not too many women leading companies or in important roles. Even advertisements and the movies portrayed women in the “stay at home” or “homemaker” role and men as the breadwinners. This was even more prevalent growing up in India, so I was hyper-aware from a young age that there was a plethora of industries that were ripe for change. I had absolutely no idea at that time where my life path would take me or how I was going to go about making this change but I knew that working hard and smart will ultimately reap rewards. What started off as a dream is slowly coming to fruition in my adult life.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Suburban Propane?
Suburban Propane is a nearly 100-year-old, nationwide distributor of propane, renewable propane, renewable natural gas, fuel oil, and related products and services, as well as a marketer of natural gas and electricity and investor in low carbon fuel alternatives.
I was originally hired by Suburban Propane to enhance the brand and prepare it for the next 100 years. Going into this, I knew that I had to gain acceptance from all stakeholders to make this brand refresh a huge success. I approached this journey as an opportunity to re-imagine and re-invigorate a legacy brand while maintaining its rich heritage and ethos. This involved demonstrating the value of newer marketing practices including digital marketing, social media, AI integration, and data-modeling to key stakeholders and our larger employee base.
In my current role, I am entrusted with the company’s marketing and branding initiatives for its core product, as well as its renewable subsidiary. I also serve as the company’s spokesperson. One of the most rewarding aspects of my day-to-day is the ability to work with community organizations. Through our SuburbanCares philanthropic initiative, we select hyperlocal nonprofits and provide funding for their greatest needs. We’ve supported organizations that focus on food insecurity, veterans, employment and education, and children and families, among many others.
One of my proudest accomplishments is in creating a strategic, multi-year partnership between Suburban Propane and NASCAR, making Suburban Propane the official propane of NASCAR and Speedway Motorsports. Uniting Suburban Propane, NASCAR and Speedway Motorsports represents a strong partnership among three longstanding and well-recognizable American brands.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
The ability to give back in a meaningful way, both personally and professionally is what truly makes me happy. My childhood and upbringing in Mumbai gave me a clear perspective on the differences between have and have nots and the abject poverty surrounding me, that instilled me with the desire to become a forever supporter of our local communities and mentor the next generation of leaders.
Travel is another thing that brings me joy. I’ve been lucky enough to hold many roles that have taken me all over the world, and am a dedicated traveler in my free time, having visited 42 states, 69 countries, and 6 continents thus far. Travel opens my mind to better understanding culture and needs across geographies that helps me be a better marketer!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.suburbanpropane.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nandinisankara
