Pete Canalichio

“Every brand owner and organization has the right to expand, grow and ultimately thrive. That is why I have made it my mission to develop tools, talks and training designed to inspire, educate and empower you to achieve all that is possible.” PETE CANALICHIO

Pete Canalichio is an award-winning author of the Amazon #1 New Release, "Expand, Grow, Thrive" (2018) and most recently “Strategic Brand Licensing” (2024). A TEDx speaker, Pete has worked in brand strategy, expansion and licensing for the past 25 years for The Coca-Cola Company, Newell Brands and most recently, BrandAlive, a Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business that he founded in 2009. 

Before starting his business career, Pete attended the U.S. Naval Academy where he earned a BS in physics. Pete went on to serve in the Navy as an award-winning aviator and instructor pilot, honing his leadership and decision-making skills as commander of a large multi-engine aircraft and 12-member crew during the height of Cold War tensions.

His “crisis-tested leadership skills” were forged not in a battle with the competition or a challenging business turnaround—although he has certainly excelled in those arenas—but in the dark skies above the Pacific Ocean as he flew a military aircraft whose engine had caught on fire. Clear-headed and decisive under those extraordinary circumstances, he has applied that same leadership style to every challenge and opportunity he has faced in a distinguished executive career.

Before transitioning to the marketing and licensing arenas, Pete earned his MBA from the University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School where he was a Richard H. Jenrette fellow and salutatorian of his class.  Upon graduation, Pete was recruited into the global finance unit at Coca-Cola. He rose quickly to managing $32 billion in transactions yearly as Treasury Operations Manager in London and built a strong foundation of business skills and diverse experiences within the world-class company.

Throughout his career, Pete has operated in the global arena, having worked in more than 40 countries and managed extensive projects across national and continental borders.