Executives at Lipton Teas Recognized as Trailblazers in the Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) sector by Top Women in Grocery
Racquel Harris Mason, the North America President of Lipton Teas and Infusions, is making waves in the Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) industry. With a career spanning across various prominent companies such as Procter & Gamble, Johnson & Johnson, Ahold, Abbott Laboratories, The Coca-Cola Company, and now Lipton, Mason has become a trailblazer for women aiming for executive-level roles in this male-dominated sector.
Mason's journey to the C-suite is marked by resilience, mentorship, and strategic vision. Born in Jamaica and immigrating to America as a child, her experiences have instilled in her a deep desire to make all people feel seen and respected. This drive has propelled her to break barriers and pave the way for other women in the CPG industry.
Navigating a traditionally competitive environment, Mason emphasizes the importance of knowing one's "why," defining one's vision of success, and focusing on personal and professional goals. She acknowledges the challenges but also highlights significant opportunities, such as the increasing recognition of women leaders' value, the ability to drive innovation and diversity, and the chance to break new ground as pioneers in CPG's executive ranks.
Mason's leadership style has evolved over time, with a greater focus on building relationships with her team. She believes that taking care of oneself and one's family is a requirement for effective leadership. Mason has been no stranger to hard work, having worked five times harder than anyone else due to feelings of pressure to prove herself and struggling with "imposter syndrome."
In her early career, Mason learned the importance of listening to and engaging teams in the creation of solutions. A project that failed due to lack of team engagement served as a valuable lesson. Today, Mason balances strategic vision with day-to-day demands, planning every week to both invent the future and pay the light bill at the same time.
Mason's proudest accomplishment is leading the carve-out of Lipton from Unilever in North America and building a successful, thriving business. Her leadership has not gone unnoticed, with Mason currently sitting on the board of NielsenIQ, the world's leading consumer intelligence company.
Mason sees CPG companies as agile, insight-led strategic partners that must deliver brands, innovations, and experiences rooted in consumer needs. She believes that AI will have a significant impact on the industry, enabling instant data processing and dynamic pricing. To stay ahead of change, Mason is a curious observer, hanging out in grocery stores, talking to consumers, reading constantly, and pushing her team to maintain an external focus.
Mason's career includes stints at Procter & Gamble, Johnson & Johnson, Ahold, Abbott Laboratories, The Coca-Cola Company, and now Lipton. Prior to joining Lipton, she served in various senior roles at The Coca-Cola Company, including leading Sprite and sparkling flavor brands, multicultural marketing, and marketing innovation.
Mason holds a bachelor of science in economics from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management. Her mentors, Gary McCullough and Kathy Waller, have provided guidance, challenged her, and offered alternate perspectives throughout her career.
Progressive Grocer has recognised Mason's contributions by naming her as one of the pioneering women executives in the CPG industry. They also released their 2025 list of the top food and consumables retailers in North America (The PG 100), and named many products marrying functionality and flavor as the best new products of the year.
In a time where the CPG industry is evolving, Mason's insights offer invaluable guidance for women aiming for executive-level roles. Her journey serves as a testament to the persistence of barriers and the emerging prospects for women leaders in this field.
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