Today we’d like to introduce you to Nandini Sankara

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?

I was born in Bangalore and my childhood into my teenage years were in Bombay now known as Mumbai. I was very fortunate to be born to progressive thinking, parents, who highly valued education and pursuing a career for women.

My sister and I were strongly encouraged to follow our dreams, find our voice, and believe in ourselves from a very young age. I have my parents to thank for this in my formative years, and instilling the core values of giving back, showing kindness, and embracing acceptance every single day.

This strong and stable foundation provided the tools needed to succeed in pretty much every aspect of my life.

After earning my MBA in Management Information Services and Marketing from the University of Bridgeport, I was fortunate to work under some incredible mentors, eventually holding leadership positions at Sealed Air, Aetna, and Pitney Bowes.

I joined Suburban Propane in 2017, as associate vice president, marketing and brand strategy. There, I was empowered to reimagine the company’s digital and social strategy, media relations, market research, and spearheaded a complete brand refresh: The Three Pillars of the Suburban Propane Experience. I was also instrumental in launching Suburban Renewable Energy, LLC, (Suburban Renewables) in March 2022, to support the company’s strategic goal of building a renewable-energy platform, of which I am incredibly proud.

I am now vice president, marketing and brand strategy, and spokesperson of Suburban Propane, and am also the first female person of color officer and vice president at Suburban Propane. This role has afforded me incredible opportunities to meet colleagues from across the nation and peers from around the world. I have been empowered to advocate for women and equality in the workplace, to mentor young girls who are trying to find their path forward, and to share knowledge as a featured speaker at myriad conferences including SXSW and Deloitte to name a few.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?

The roads most worth the journey are often bumpy. Growing up, I saw that there was a clear gender gap in many key decision-making roles across many industries. As an example, I remember seeing more male doctors supported by female nurses, and not too many women leading companies or in important roles. The nine-year-old version of me was determined to change this narrative in my own way. I had absolutely no idea at that time on where my life path would take me or how I was going to go about making this change, but I always believed that I would leave and move overseas and make a name for myself. What started off as a dream is slowly coming to fruition in my adult life.

Coming to the United States to pursue my higher education was both rewarding and challenging. I came here without a support system and I knew that my success or failure was entirely dependent on me; that’s both a liberating and terrifying feeling. However, the tools my parents provided were instrumental in helping me move forward in life and in my career.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?

I was originally hired by Suburban Propane — an almost century-old company with a long employee tenure – 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 our storied brand while maintaining its rich heritage and ethos and making it relevant for current times. This involved demonstrating the value of newer marketing practices including digital marketing, social media, 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 career 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.

So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?

I am a staunch advocate of mentoring and empowering girls/young women to fulfill their potential. Unfortunately, not everyone has the same opportunities in life.

Mumbai gave me a bird’s eye view of the divide between the haves and the have nots. I mean, Slumdog millionaire the movie was not made up, abject poverty is still a real thing in Mumbai and so many other parts of India and the world, and there is a direct correlation with poverty and a lack of education – especially for young women which hinder their ability to pursue a career to support themselves.

Being exposed to these realities at a young age helped me better understand the importance of supporting women’s education, and helping society in general through financial donations and mentorship. My parents showed us the way by supporting numerous women’s charities, feeding the underserved, and so many other great causes. Growing up in this type of household really set the stage for me to start following in their footsteps and giving back.

Image Credits

Suburban Propane
Nandini Sankara