LEGEND
Indra
NOOYI
As the first and only female CEO of PepsiCo , Indian- American Indra Nooyi not only smashed corporate America ’ s glass ceiling , but transformed both the performance and purpose of the soft beverage giant , proving that the two can co-exist .
At a recent Asia Pacific-focused event , organised by P & G and UN Women , the former CEO of PepsiCo , Indra Nooyi , shared why enabling a diverse and inclusive workforce can directly impact the bottom line . “ If 80 % of our products are bought by women because they were the gatekeepers at home , or make all the purchases , why don ’ t we have a large number of women represented in our ranks ,” she told a virtual global crowd of thousands .
Such business advice may seem rather obvious today , but in 2006 , when Nooyi put this business philosophy into practice at PepsiCo , it was both pioneering and progressive . Because not only did the performance of PepsiCo transform under Nooyi ’ s 12-year tenure as CEO , but so did its purpose and people , with Nooyi widely praised for
80 %
The percentage by which Indra
Nooyi grew
PepsiCo revenues in her 12-year tenure as CEO
The number of years
Indra Nooyi was at PepsiCo
24 transforming the firm ’ s diversity and inclusion agenda .
And who better to do so than someone who had herself smashed the corporate American glass ceiling . Because , when Nooyi became CEO in 2006 , following 12 years as Chief Strategist , not only was she among just a handful of female CEOs leading Fortune 500 firms , and one of very few foreign-born executives , she was both the first female CEO to lead PepsiCo , and the first person of colour . Not to mention also being a wife and mother .
And she more than got the job done , growing PepsiCo revenues by 80 %.
But it was Nooyi ’ s strategic redirection of PepsiCo , transforming both its purpose and people , that really made an impact . She transformed the firm ’ s D & I agenda , created a culture where workers were encouraged to stay with the company , moved corporate spending away from junk food and into healthier alternatives , redesigned packaging to reduce waste , and switched to renewable energy sources and recycling .
And while she has now retired from corporate life , Nooyi continues to wield the influence that so positively changed the direction of one of the world ’ s largest companies . As well as serving on the board for ecommerce giant Amazon , she speaks at summits close to her heart , and has recently penned her memoir , advising corporates on better integrating work and family .
22 June 2021