Matt Thell is a Global Strategy & Innovation Leader at General Mills Inc. General Mills is the creator of iconic brands like Cheerios, Pillsbury and Häagen-Dazs. Matt is a member of an internal consultancy team that helps teams within his organization tackle challenges and seize opportunities.
His career journey spans over two decades, beginning with product development roles for beloved snacks like Chex Mix and Gardettos, and evolving into strategic roles that focus on front-end innovation.
🔍 Episode Highlights:
• Matt shares insights into his role as a strategic consultant within General Mills
• How Matt uses the I3 process to solve-problems
• Why curiosity and diverse experiences fuel creativity
• Tips on understanding team dynamics and timing idea sharing
📄SHOW NOTES
foodgrads.com/matt-thell/
CONNECT WITH MATT
💼 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/matt-thell-51954416
General Mills Website: www.generalmills.com/food-we-make/brands
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CONNECT WITH US
🐦 X: FoodGrads
📸 Instagram: foodgrads
🎵 TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@foodgrads.com
💼 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/foodgrads/
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TIMESTAMPS
(00:00) Introduction
(00:58) Matt explains what Sr. Strategy Manager does
(04:56) Matt's I3 Process
(09:47) Case study: Old Paso in Europe
(15:00) Turning insights into action
(20:13) Navigating challenges in research
(22:08) Creating a supportive team environment
(30:55) How to find ways to share ideas
(34:27) Why curiosity is important
(38:12) Matt's advice for interviews
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