2025 Kate Berman Leadership Award: Gayle Fuguitt

As an Executive Coach and Board Member, Gayle Fuguitt combines art and science to represent the voice of the customer to drive growth and lead change, bringing deep client technology expertise to CEOs and their boards. She was appointed the first Global Consumer Insights Officer in a career spanning 3 decades at General Mills.  She built a legacy of marketing analytics executives who are now in leadership positions around the world. Her innovative career paths resulted in the highest industry retention rates while increasing diversity fourfold. As a technology innovator, she led $70M+ in General Mills’ early venture investments, and served on internet, digital and mobile boards. 

Upon retiring from General Mills in 2012, Fuguitt was appointed the first female CEO of the Advertising Research Foundation, moving to NYC. There, she led groundbreaking research on “How Advertising Works Today” and created a global “Women in Analytics” Network. In 2014, Fuguitt was inducted into the Market Research Council Hall of Fame.

As a current board member, executive coach and advisor to CEOs, her focus is now lifting under-represented leaders – especially women in STEM and arts to bring their voices to the decision table. She firmly believes that everyone deserves the opportunity to be their authentic selves and bring their gifts forward to make their own difference in the world.

Fuguitt is currently a board member of the National YWCA-USA, The Minnesota Opera, and Centro Tyrone Guzman, serving over 600 Hispanic families. Previous Board Membership includes Mia--Minneapolis Art Institute Trustee and Vice Chair, 10+ yrs., YWCA-Minneapolis, UW-Madison School of Business, Founder and Board Chair of the AC Neilsen Center for Market Research, and the Harriet Tubman Center/Family Violence Network. 

Fuguitt resides in Minneapolis with her husband Tom, their son, his wife and their baby grandson nearby.