I hosted a series on Chinese Leaders with the P&G Alumni Learnings from Leaders Podcast. The sixth episode is with Bhavesh Shah, an experienced advisor, investor, and managing partner. Bhavesh has 30+ years in senior leadership, operations, and procurement positions at Procter & Gamble, and Firmenich, the world’s largest family-owned Fragrance and Flavour House — having lived and worked across London, Geneva, Brussels, Guangzhou, and Singapore — with extensive business exposure to both North and South America. Across twenty years at P&G, Bhavesh oversaw billions of dollars in spend, as a procurement leader across markets — and he produced the highest-rated TV show of its time – China’s Got Talent. After P&G, Bhavesh joined Firmenich for nine years as the company’s Chief Procurement Officer, spearheading a transformative turnaround, doubling the company’s EBITDA and solidifying its position as the industry leader. Bhavesh is now a Managing Partner at Synfiny, one of the fastest-growing global advisory firms. Bhavesh is also an early-stage investor and selectively a Board Director, with a recent successful exit of Smart Build Asia, as well as ongoing investments in Brinc, Opinsta, MPOWERD, and Abele Trust, amongst others. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation on combining intentionality, curiosity, and audacity — and being the luck in others’ lives.

In our episode, we discussed:

  • Insights from his extensive experience in global business and operations
  • Leadership lessons: The importance of adaptability, cultural sensitivity, and continuous learning in effective leadership
  • Operational excellence and driving business growth in diverse markets.
  • The value of leaders investing in mentorship and development

Listen to the P&G Alumni Podcast Episode with Bhavesh Shah here.