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10/20/2019 Indra Nooyi: Achieving Both Financial Growth And Purpose At PepsiCo

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Indra Nooyi: Achieving Both

Financial Growth And Purpose At

PepsiCo

Leadership

Dan Schawbel Under 30

I spoke to Indra Nooyi, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of PepsiCo, about

how she's been able to focus on both financial performance and purpose at PepsiCo,

her view on women in the workplace, how millennials have changed the role of the

CEO, the impact of technology on the workplace and her best career advice.

Mrs. Nooyi is the chief architect of Performance with Purpose, PepsiCo’s pledge to d

what’s right for the business by being responsive to the needs of the world around us

As part of Performance with Purpose, PepsiCo is focusing on delivering sustained

PEPSICOIndra Nooyi

10/20/2019 Indra Nooyi: Achieving Both Financial Growth And Purpose At PepsiCo

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growth by making healthier and more nutritious products, limiting their

environmental footprint and protecting the planet, and empowering their associates

and people in the communities they serve. Nooyi was recently recognized as one of

the inaugural "Heroes of Conscious Capitalism" at the annual CEO Summit along

with 27 other business leaders. She was recognized for her contribution toward

realizing a world in which business is both practiced and recognized as a force for

good.

In addition to being a member of the PepsiCo Board of Directors, Mrs. Nooyi serves

as a member of the boards of Schlumberger Limited, The Consumer Goods Forum,

Catalyst, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and Tsinghua University. She is also

a member of the Foundation Board of the World Economic Forum and the American

Academy of Arts & Sciences.

Dan Schawbel: What inspired you to focus on Performance with Purpose? Why is

important for leaders to inject purpose into their company culture?

Today In: Leadership

Indra Nooyi: When I became CEO in 2006, one of the fundamental beliefs I

brought to the role was that corporations don’t exist in a vacuum – we are a part of

every community where we do business. And I wanted to make sure that PepsiCo wa

not only delivering top-tier financial returns, but doing so in a way that was

responsive to the needs of the world around us. That’s the idea at the heart of

Performance with Purpose. In the beginning, a number of people were skeptical

about it. But today, Performance with Purpose is in our DNA, it’s a big part of what

attracts so many talented people to the company, and it’s helping fuel our success.

Schawbel: The recent Lean In and McKinsey survey on women in the workplace

shows that there are very few minority women in the c-suite. Why do you think this

happens and how did you break the glass ceiling while others have not?

Nooyi: I think there are a number of reasons. Some of them are related to the kinds

of policies and programs that are in place for supporting women of all backgrounds

and whether they’re effective. But I also think each of us – women and men alike –

need to be more supportive of women who have demonstrated talent and skill in the

jobs. Personally, I think a big reason I am where I am today is because of the suppor

I’ve gotten from my husband, Raj, and my former boss, Steve Reinemund, who

10/20/2019 Indra Nooyi: Achieving Both Financial Growth And Purpose At PepsiCo

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always believed in me and helped me overcome the barriers that can make it difficul

for so many women to achieve their potential. All of us women need strong support

systems to help us get where we want to go.

Schawbel: You recently talked about how millennials have changed the role of the

CEO. How does your focus on purpose align with the needs of the emerging

millennial leader?

Nooyi: Millennials make up nearly a quarter of the world’s population and they are

currently the largest demographic group in the United States, so we listen to what

they have to say. And what they’re saying is, they want companies to embrace a sens

of purpose. They want companies to do more than make money. They want us to

make a positive contribution to the world. And that’s part of what’s behind

Performance with Purpose – the idea that in the 21 century, being a great company

means being a good company, too.

Schawbel: Technology has made us hyperconnected yet the recent HBR cover story

shows that it's also made us feel lonely and isolated. Can you talk about the impact

technology has had on you personally as you lead over 260,000 employees

worldwide?

Nooyi: On one hand, the digital revolution has made my job much easier.

Communicating with our associates around the world, getting real-time updates on

our operations in every country and every time zone, cultivating a global sense of

family and community that makes people proud to work at PepsiCo – that’s a huge

advantage of technology. On the other hand, technology presents unique challenges

that are forcing us to rethink the way we do business, such as the growth of

eCommerce. At the same time, the increasing pace of technological change also

requires us to constantly update our skills, to stay on top of emerging trends and new

technologies. And it’s my job to help our company navigate these challenges and

transform them into opportunities.

Schawbel: What are your top three pieces of career advice?

Nooyi:

1. Volunteer for the most difficult projects early in your career. Don’t settle for a

cushy, 9-5 existence. When you first enter a company, people should know you’ve

st

10/20/2019 Indra Nooyi: Achieving Both Financial Growth And Purpose At PepsiCo

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I'm a partner and research director at Future Workplace, an executive development firm dedicate

to rethinking and reimagining the workplace. I also wrote the New York T... Read More

arrived.

2. Learn from everyone around you. Don’t talk too much. Listen, observe, read,

absorb. Recognize when you need help and don’t be afraid to ask.

3. Don’t get political. Don’t start talking about your next job. Just do the job you’ve

been given and do it exceedingly well. If you do that, everybody else will notice and

want you on their team.

Dan Schawbel