Anne Sempowski Ward CEO & Board Director at CURiO Brands, a consumer goods company that manufactures and sells personal care and home fragrance products. Prior to CURiO Brands, Anne served as CEO at Thymes, LLC., from 2012 to 2016 when it merged with DPM Fragrance to become CURiO Brands. She was previously CEO and Co-founder of consulting firm The FORWARD Group, focused on growth strategies for mid-sized companies and key executives. She was president and COO of Ebony, Jet & Fashion Fair Cosmetics, Johnson Publishing Company and prior to that she was the assistant Vice President of African-American Marketing for the Coca-Cola Company and led several brands and categories in brand at P&G, despite starting out as an engineer at the plant and wanting to leave Procter & Gamble early on.
An active member of civic and business communities, Anne has received numerous acknowledgements for her work. She has been recognized as a YMCA Black Achiever, YWCA Rising Star, Top Black Executive in a Major Corporation as well as a Woman at the Top by EBONY magazine. She was also the youngest and first African-American trustee on the P&G Fund. Anne is a Detroit native and received her Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science from Duke University. She also earned a Global MBA degree from Duke University's School of Business. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation about finding your voice, evolving one’s communication style for effective leadership and taking people on a journey with you