BW EMBA grad thrives as leader and consultant in the consumer goods industry

From Pepsi to Purpose Tea, Sal Lazar, EMBA '00, has over 35 years of experience working for beverage companies consumers know and love. Lazar's thirst-quenching career has spanned leadership positions in Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, PepsiAmericas and, most recently, serving as interim COO for Purpose Tea.

Experience in the field

"I started my career as a merchandiser on the front line with Pepsi," Lazar said. From there, he has climbed the corporate ladder, serving as vice president of revenue management and business insights for PepsiAmericas, vice president of business developments for Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, and as interim COO for Purpose Tea. This innovative new tea company brings purple tea to consumers and gives back to the people who make the tea industry possible, donating a portion of sales back to vulnerable female tea pickers in Kenya.

In this most recent role, Lazar helped expand the Purpose Tea brand's reach and develop the company's business and financial plans.

With decades of experience to draw on, Lazar now runs Lazar Consulting LLC, his own business consultancy for consumer packaged goods companies.

BW boost into leadership

Lazar credits the BW Executive MBA program with helping enhance his career, as it expanded upon the experience he already had in the consumer goods industry.

"Obtaining my EMBA from Baldwin Wallace was the key difference maker in transcending my career," shared Lazar. "The academics and the team(s) that I worked with during my EMBA enhanced my real-world work experience and allowed me to parlay them into expansion of responsibilities in my career."