RFA is always grateful for the remarkable women who champion our mission and help drive meaningful change.
To celebrate Women’s History Month this year, we sat down with Caroline Zalla, Communications and Influencer Lead at Procter & Gamble and Chairman of the Board for RFA, and dug into what it means to be a woman in this industry.
Learn more about her career journey, her passion for consumer education, and how her unique experiences have shaped her leadership.
RFA: To start, can you tell us a bit about your career journey, including your current role?
Caroline: I’m currently the Director of Communications at Procter & Gamble; leading brand communications for Bounty Paper Towels; leading the flushability work with RFA; and overseeing influencer and social strategy across the Bounty, Charmin, and Puffs brands.
Before P&G, I worked at Grove Collaborative, a leading sustainable CPG company. At Grove, I led consumer and corporate communications for the product line Grove Co. and played a key role in the company’s IPO in June 2022, along with launching its first retail presence at Target.
Before that, I actually began my career on the agency side at Edelman and worked on several award-winning campaigns for Unilever’s beauty and personal care brands. This is where my passion for CPG began and when I knew I wanted to be a brand builder.
RFA: How has your unique experience as a woman brought value throughout your career?
Caroline: I grew up with three sisters and my incredible mom, so I experienced the power of female influence from a very young age.
My mom lost both of her parents when she was really young, and she’s taught me so much about resilience, strength, and compassion, all of which have carried me through my career today.
She always tells me that I can accomplish anything I put my mind to, and it has given me the confidence to push the boundaries and show myself what I’m really capable of, both at work and in my personal life.
RFA: Were there any other female mentors, trailblazers, or significant experiences early in your career that profoundly shaped your professional path or your approach to leadership and communications?
Caroline: I’ve been so lucky to have had several amazing female mentors and friends in this industry who have shaped me to be a better person both personally and professionally.
My first manager at Edelman — her name was Sydney — showed me how to be an incredible working mom. At the time, I didn’t have kids, but she really paved the way for me and showed me that it’s possible to be deeply committed to a career while also being deeply committed to your family.
It’s not easy by any means, and I’m always striving for a better balance between my career and motherhood, but it is possible (most days!).
RFA: How do you feel your background uniquely informs and strengthens your contributions as the RFA Board Chair?
Caroline: I’ve worked across several different brands and industries within the CPG industry, and it’s given me a really strong understanding of the consumer, especially within the daily use category.
This has helped me a lot as the RFA Board Chair, given RFA’s mission is dedicated to educating consumers around keeping our homes and communities healthy through proper flushing practices.
Being in communications my whole career has also helped me a ton in my RFA board seat, as I can help them understand the most effective ways to communicate to consumers, wastewater stakeholders, and the industry at large.
RFA: What aspects of RFA’s mission are you most passionate about?
Caroline: Definitely the deep commitment to consumer education around responsible flushing. In brand building, we often say that the consumer is boss, and it’s true that the consumer should be at the core of everything you do. RFA is no stranger to this, and they are committed to increasing awareness about how to flush smart, and it’s truly at the core of everything they do.
RFA: How are you seeing RFA’s mission impact business decisions and the industry at large?
Caroline: People are becoming more aware of what should and should not be flushed, and RFA has successfully changed flushing behavior overall in the last 5 years, which is incredible. It’s a really important mission, and I’m grateful to be a part of it!
Thank you, Caroline, for sharing your story and for your dedicated leadership at RFA. We’re proud to have you championing our mission and inspiring the next generation of women in communications, sustainability, and beyond.