Carolyn (Walker) Valentine receives UC College of Arts and Sciences Distinguished Alumni Award

St. Catherine’s set Valentine on a path to the University of Cincinnati. She participated in the "Upward Bound" program and spent many summers on UC’s campus. “UC was the natural choice for me,” she said. “I was already familiar with the campus because of Upward Bound, so I didn’t have that lost freshman feeling. I could focus even more so on the academics.”

Valentine began college at UC but withdrew after facing burnout early in the fall semester. “St. Catherine’s was very rigorous academically, so I paused before heading to college.” She took a gap year to regroup, which included a summer as a foreign exchange student in Brussels, Belgium, with Youth For Understanding before returning to resume her undergraduate studies. Valentine excelled at UC, and she earned a full-ride Darwin T. Turner Scholarship. She majored in French and Communication Studies with an interest in becoming a foreign diplomat.

Valentine was actively involved in campus organizations, including ADVANCE, where she was advised by Linda Bates Parker. She also joined the Marketing Club, which introduced her to the field of brand management.

“I realized that I could still satisfy my curiosity about people, gain insights, offer solutions and travel the world working in brand management,” Valentine said. “Additionally, French is spoken in many countries across multiple continents, and my communication studies major would serve me well. It was through exposure to the Marketing Club that I decided I needed to get an MBA as well.”

After graduation, she worked as a Sales Manager for Parisian in Cincinnati, then later earned a Master’s in Business Administration from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University as a Consortium Fellow, where she interned with Procter & Gamble in Brand Management. This experience set the stage for a successful career in global business.

After earning her MBA, Valentine became an Associate Brand Manager at Kraft Heinz Co., handling brands such as Miracle Whip, Grey Poupon, and Kraft Mayo. She later worked with Conagra Brands on such brands as Eckrich, Margarita, and Hebrew National. In 2005, she joined Abbott Laboratories International Nutrition Division housing brands such as Ensure and Similac, overseeing commercial development for the European Union, Canada, and later the EMEA region (Europe, Middle East and Africa).

Valentine’s fluency in French helped her excel in international business. “When you’re meeting with your Canadian and European colleagues as well as potential business partners, speaking their language can help set you apart,” she said. Her global expertise led to a role at Johnson & Johnson, where she worked on global branding, growth strategies and marketing for Motrin, Bengay, and Tylenol. She later became Vice President of the Enterprise Customers Group in the medical devices division, leading DePuy Synthes and Ethicon medical devices, and Jannsen pharmaceuticals portfolios with large hospital systems.

Today, Valentine is President of Grason-Stadler where she oversees the audiology diagnostics technology and services organization. “Every day I get to help healthcare providers in the hearing arena diagnose and care for their patients. It’s a daily opportunity to transform their lives through audiological medical devices,” she said.

Valentine’s leadership has extended beyond business. Following a rigorous selection process, she was selected in 2005 as a Marshall Memorial Fellow through the Marshall Memorial Fellowship program for international leadership, organized by the German Marshall Fund of the United States. She’s also a member of the Women Corporate Directors Board Next organization, which is focused on placing exceptional senior-level executives with corporate boards.

Valentine continues to give her time, talent and treasure to the College of Arts and Sciences. She has served on the A&S Dean’s Advisory Board since 2022, providing counsel for former dean Ken Petren, interim dean Margaret Hanson, and current dean James Mack. Valentine has spoken with students at A&S and judged student posters at the Discovery in Action Showcase. She and her husband, Christopher, are long-time donors to the Darwin T. Turner Scholars Program and ADVANCE program. She is committed to empowering women, serving as a panelist for "How Women Lead," an organization that promotes female leadership.

Reflecting on her career and A&S alumni award, Valentine said, “My hope is that students will see my journey and realize the possibilities that are out there for them as well. I hope this story influences them to take bold chances.”

Featured image at top of A&S Hall in the fall. Photo/UC Marketing + Brand.