Turning Rocks Into Gems: Building Global Data Operations with German Faraoni Heidenreich of Reckitt

German Faraoni Heidenreich, Global Director Data and Shared Services of Reckitt — the company behind Lysol, Mucinex and Finish — joins David Wright to explore what it really takes to transform data operations inside a global consumer goods company. German shares how he standardizes master data management across international markets, cutting the time it takes to commercialize a new product SKU from 200 days to 90, and why the most meaningful measure of progress in his shared services operation is no longer a turnaround SLA — it is speed to decision. The conversation covers the human side of enterprise data transformation and how communication gaps between technologists and business leaders derail initiatives before they start. German also reflects on what 23 years at Procter & Gamble, a move to London and a significant career reset taught him about adaptability as a winning discipline. Key Takeaways: 00:00 Introduction. 02:05 Leaders should check whether their work and ambitions are actually aligned. 04:30 Technology is the enabler, not the end point — every digital initiative ultimately succeeds or fails on human behavior change, not on the tech itself. 07:00 German’s career path from electronics engineering in Argentina to P&G Latin America, a $50B acquisition-driven move to Mexico and then global innovation organization in Cincinnati, USA. 15:10 Adaptability is a muscle — deliberately surrounding yourself with people from unfamiliar cultures forces growth faster than staying in familiar environments. 18:30 Execution alone is not enough to move to the next level; relationship-building and sponsorship carry critical weight. 21:00 Seeking mentorship from people you don’t see eye to eye with, not just allies, gives a more comprehensive view of your own blind spots. 25:30 The hidden cost of low trust is wasted time and energy, not just failure rates. 28:30 Ethan Mollick’s Substack newsletter ‘One Useful Thing’ — on the fight for attention and the skill of refocusing. 33:00 The pilot market for the new shared services reduced SKU commercialization time from 200 days to 90 — not through new technology, but through process redesign first and automation second. 37:00 Two persistent blockers: communication and building connected data models. 41:00 The biggest future disruptors for consumer goods companies will not be direct competitors — they will be small, agile players leveraging tech and ecosystems to attack from unexpected angles. 42:30 Speed to decision is replacing turnaround SLAs as the KPI that matters in shared services. Thanks for listening to the “Disruptive Innovators” podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, hit the subscribe button and never miss another insightful conversation. And be sure to leave a review to help get the word out about the Champions of Digital Business. Resources Mentioned: One Useful Thing by Ethan Mollick — Substack newsletter: https://www.oneusefulthing.org The Speed of Trust by Stephen M.R. Covey — https://speedoftrust.com/ #DisruptiveInnovation #Innovation #DisruptiveTech