Balancing More Than Books

Teri List-Stoll plays with money for a living. A lot of money.

As the SVP and treasurer for global consumer corporation, Procter & Gamble, List-Stoll is in charge of the financials for brands including Tide, Crest, Pantene and Olay.

Over the last year, she oversaw the $2.7 billion sale of P&G’s Pringles business and a joint venture with Teva Pharmaceuticals, the world’s largest generic drug maker.

But, she’s not your typical straight-laced number cruncher.

She believes in the power of a good laugh. “A sense of humor allows you to brace for failure, laugh about it and move forward.”

Little PINK Book caught up with List-Stoll from the P&G headquarters in Cincinnati, in advance of her appearance at PINK’s 8th Annual Fall Empowerment Event. Here, she talks about the importance of believing in yourself to get ahead and the best advice she ever received.

Little PINK Book: What’s the best thing you did for your career?

Teri List-Stoll: Early in my career, I was sent on an assignment that required me to move to New York. My boss said, ‘have confidence and don’t let other people think you don’t have confidence in yourself.’

It never occurred to me I didn’t have confidence, but I was used to being a big fish in a small pond. The thought of being a small fish in a big pond terrified me. But if he hadn’t had the foresight to have confidence in me, I’m not sure I would have.

LPB: Was that the biggest career risk you’ve taken?

TLS: It was, because it involved moving to a more competitive environment. It opened my eyes and taught me that taking risks was a good thing. There were things that appealed to me but there were also things that were really scary. That experience taught me that trying is better than not trying.

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By Carmen Harbour

“You have to experience failure and greet it, instead of run from it.”
Teri List-Stoll