4/26/2025
Water plays a pivotal role in the mission of Procter & Gamble (P&G), influencing both product development and community engagement across the globe. The company is committed to fostering a Water Positive Future, with innovative initiatives led by a diverse team. Among these leaders are several women who are making significant contributions towards sustainability through their unique insights and dedication.
Promoting Sustainable Practices Through Consumer Understanding
Ashley Fill serves as the Director for Canada and Global Home Care Sustainability at P&G. From an early age in Canada, Ashley developed a profound connection to environmental issues, which drives her dedication to sustainability today. In her role, she spearheads water conservation efforts for brands including Cascade and Dawn.
“Water conservation is a critical part of our sustainability strategy,” she notes, emphasizing how water usage in home care represents an important aspect of the overall environmental impact.
Ashley emphasizes the importance of understanding consumer behavior in product design to facilitate meaningful innovations. This approach has led to the creation of Cascade Platinum Plus, a product aimed at alleviating user concerns about dish cleanliness while promoting water and time savings. “An inclusive team is critical to advance our water reduction strategies,” she states, reinforcing the necessity of diverse perspectives in creating effective solutions.
The Impact of Clean Water and Collaborative Efforts
Claude Zukowski, Senior Director of Community Impact, leverages her microbiology background from her research roles at P&G to lead the Children’s Safe Drinking Water (CSDW) Program. This initiative collaborates with various nonprofit organizations to provide clean water access to communities worldwide.
Approximately two billion individuals globally lack access to safe drinking water. Claude’s focus extends beyond this basic need, as her efforts also intersect with gender equality and educational opportunities for affected communities.
Claude and Grace, a beneficiary of the Children’s Safe Drinking Water Program.
In addressing a crisis that affects a significant portion of the global population, Claude emphasizes the importance of collaboration. She oversees the CSDW Program and vital partnerships with global emergency relief organizations, contributing to the delivery of over 24 billion liters of clean water across more than 100 nations.
Claude notes a particular emphasis is placed on benefiting women and girls, who often serve as the primary water collectors in their communities. “Lack of access to clean water disproportionately impacts their education, health, and economic opportunities,” she elaborates. Engaging women as partners in the initiative fosters innovative solutions that drive better outcomes.
Enhancing Water Restoration Efforts with Inclusive Engagement
Verónica Gabriela Castillejos Vélez, who manages Government Relations and leads the Water Positive Future project in Mexico, dedicates her efforts to developing solutions for issues like water scarcity. Her initiatives focus on restoring water sources around metropolitan Mexico City, aligning with P&G’s sustainability targets and the needs of local populations.
Describing her motivation, Verónica states, “What drew me to this work is my vision to deliver a better world for future generations, a deep commitment to environmental sustainability, and the belief that businesses have a responsibility to contribute positively to society.” Her approach emphasizes stakeholder engagement to craft effective water solutions.
Verónica underscores the value of inclusive teams in advancing P&G’s water strategy, noting that diverse experiences foster innovative brainstorming and effective problem-solving. The distinctiveness of her team’s composition strengthens ties to local communities, ensuring that water solutions are suited to regional and cultural contexts.
Thriving in P&G’s inclusive landscape allows Verónica to maximize her contributions. “The inclusive environment at P&G fosters collaboration and innovation,” she explains. “This enables all voices to be heard and valued, enhancing our collective ability to tackle key water challenges.”
Pioneering Water-Efficient Solutions Through Collaborative Innovation
Andrea Campos, serving as Global Water and Effluent Engineer for Fabric & Home Care, exemplifies P&G’s integration of sustainability into business practices. Andrea supports manufacturing facilities in achieving water efficiency, minimizing loss, and contributing to the Water Positive Future goals.
Joining P&G in 2017, one of Andrea’s first achievements was developing a system that recycles 92% of wastewater, enabling effective water reuse within production facilities. This marked a significant advancement in her career, facilitating future innovations regarding water sustainability across the organization.
P&G’s Louveira Plant, where Andrea’s innovations enhanced water efficiency.
Andrea attributes her accomplishments to P&G’s supportive culture that encourages value-based collaboration. “As a woman in a highly technical field, P&G’s values facilitate the acceptance of new ideas crucial for advancing sustainability efforts,” she notes.
Additionally, Andrea is passionate about education and motivating others. “Understanding water systems can be challenging due to their complexity, but every time I can inspire someone, I take pride in my work.” She advocates for recognizing water as a vital and shared resource, urging protective measures for its sustainability.
The contributions of Ashley, Claude, Verónica, and Andrea—driven by their skills and a commitment to inclusivity—are critical to P&G’s vision for a Water Positive Future. Their work paves the way for sustainable practices that support both the environment and the communities the company serves.
