“The only reason Procter and Gamble is in business, and has been for 166 years, is because we create, manufacture and sell branded products that make yours and my life better daily. We are focused on serving families, particularly women, around the world,” he said.

In his more than 25 years at Procter and Gamble, Lafley has worked his way up the company ranks.

Joining Procter and Gamble’s marketing division after his HBS graduation in 1977, Lafley originally planned to stay at Procter and Gamble for about five years.

But Lafley’s hard work and low-key approach to management kept earning him new assignments.

“Procter and Gamble kept challenging me, stretching me, giving me exciting and fun things to do,” he says.

In 1995, Lafley took over Procter and Gamble’s operations in Asia, building revenues in China from $90 million to nearly $1 billion, according to the company’s website.  He faced adversity in Asia as well, dealing with the economic upheavals that swept much of Asia in the late 1990’s.

But while Lafley continued to succeed in Procter and Gamble, he says he wouldn’t necessarily recommend sticking with one company to today’s business school graduates.

“I am in a small minority,” he says, recognizing that many of his classmates have switched corporate jobs frequently.

Gaining experience at many different companies is perfectly acceptable, maybe even preferable, Lafley says.

“One may choose to change and that is fine too,” he says.

“At end of every assignment I step back and reflect on what I am accomplishing. I reflect holistically,” he says.

A native of Keene, New Hampshire, Lafley graduated from Hamilton College with a B.A. in History before studying at HBS. Before joining Procter and Gamble, Lafley also served in the U.S. Navy for five years as a supply officer during the Vietnam War.

A Team Player

As recent scandals have resulted in a declining trust of chief executives, Lafley’s soft-spoken, direct manner and his back-to-basics approach have boosted his reputation in the business world.

“He is known for running a value driven and highly principled organization, which is fairly unique,” Russell said of Lafley.