Mark Schar
Mark@ogsp.org
Mark Schar is co-founder and Managing Director of Three Point Solutions, LLC, a strategy consulting practice. Three Point Solutions uses the OGSP® process to help technology and branded product clients develop better strategic plans, and uses the Pivot Thinking® process to advise businesses about planning, analysis, management, and organization. In addition, Three Point Solutions does angel investing with funds committed in three venture capital funds and several startup companies.
Mr. Schar recently completed a PhD in Mechanical Engineering at Stanford University. The focus of his research can broadly be described as “pivot thinkingⓇ” the cognitive aptitudes and abilities that encourage innovation, as well as the tension between design engineering and business management cognitive styles. Mr. Schar also has an appointment as a Design Fellow, Senior Researcher and Lecturer School of Engineering at Stanford University.
This work has shaped Mark's approach to OGSP and strategy development. If you would like to learn more about this, click on the links to the right.
Mr. Schar has an extensive background in consumer products management, having managed more than 50 consumer driven businesses over a 25-year career. In 1977, he started with The Procter & Gamble Company in the laundry detergent business and over the course his career managed products in P&G's laundry, food and beverage and beauty care sectors. His management experience at P&G included responsibility for a broad range categories and brands such as Tide, Cascade, Folgers, Ivory, Olay, Zest, Clearasil and Sunny Delight.
As part of his P&G experience, Mr. Schar also served as Vice President of Global Business Development reporting to the CEO and was responsible for creating economic value from technology (patents), intellectual property and "know-how", while launching new business models. In this role, Mr. Schar launched the P&G Investment Fund, a $250M fund that invested in start-up businesses relevant to P&G’s business interests. Mr. Schar also led P&G's Global Consumer and Market Knowledge organization and was the driving force for migrating P&G's market research to web-based tools.
In 2005, Mr. Schar joined Intuit, Inc. as Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. Recruited to Intuit, he initiated a number of consumer package goods marketing best practices, introduced the use of competitive response modeling which was used to prepare for the launch of QuickBooks2006 and the defense of new offerings from Microsoft. He also led the development of Consumer Tax (TurboTax) business plans for tax year 2005.
Mr. Schar has a Bachelor of Science in Speech from Northwestern University and a Master's in Business Administration from the Kellogg School of Management, also at Northwestern University.
He is a former Board member of the University Wisconsin Center for Brand and Product Management and has served on the national Boards of America's Second Harvest (National Food Bank Cooperative), the Free Store Food Bank (Cincinnati Food Bank Cooperative) and The Gow School (Private High School for Dyslexic Boys).
Mr. Schar is a member of The Band of Angels, Silicon Valley's oldest organization dedicated exclusively to funding and advising seed stage startups. In addition, he has served on the Boards of several technology start-up companies.
Mark is married to Gretchen Schar, former Treasurer of The Procter & Gamble Company, CFO of Philosophy and Arbonne International and current Board Member of Cincinnati Financial Corporation and Carter's Inc. They have two grown sons and split their residence between Palo Alto, CA, Madison, WI and Avon, CO.
Click here to download a PDF of Mark Schar's Professional Biography and Vitae.
