Why Empathetic Leadership Matters to BP's North American CMO
In this episode of Women in Retail Talks, Women in Retail Leadership Circle Co-Founder Melissa Campanelli interviews Alyssa Callahan, chief marketing officer, North America for bp, a global energy company. Listen in as Callahan discusses how her leadership style has evolved as her career moved into different industries, from beauty to travel to energy (1:10), how she’s helping shift bp’s brand perception from a traditional fuel company to a modern retail brand (3:00), and some of the digital innovations being launched at the company (3:50).
In addition, Callahan touches on leading teams through transformation (5:35), what she considers when building high-performing teams (7:40), and how to identify an empathetic leader (8:30). Lastly, she shares the advice she gives her mentees on navigating change and leading with purpose (9:45), how her own mentors and role models have shaped her leadership and career (11:45), and the advice she would give her younger self as a new leader (13:30).
Alyssa Callahan is the head of marketing at bp, responsible for the mobility and convenience business portfolio in the U.S. With over 15 years of experience managing innovative marketing strategies for top-tier companies, Alyssa has an extensive background in fostering brand growth and expertise in digital customer experience through a mix of brand awareness and data-driven performance marketing.
Before joining bp, Alyssa held leadership roles at L’Oréal, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, and most recently served as the vice president of marketing with TravelCenters of America. She’s an advisory board member for Loyalty360 and has received awards from HSAMI and Loyalty360 for her work at Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. Alyssa is passionate about supporting the next generation of marketers and is an active mentor with several university programs for rising college students and graduates.
Date: July 7, 2025
Credits: Alyssa Callahan
Duration: 15:58
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