Exceptional Journey of PepsiCo’s Former CEO – Indra Nooyi
An Indian American business executive and former Chairman and CEO of PepsiCo., Indra Nooyi is a notable personality around the world. Her achievements itself is an answer to every question raised on the capabilities of a woman. Women of todays, are making history, transforming present and leading the future with their inspiring commitment and vigour.
An ordinary girl of a Tamil family achieved exceptionally. She was born in 1955 in Chennai, India. She did her schooling in Angels Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School and graduated from Madras Christian College, in physics, math and chemistry. It was the time when women were not sent to schools, only few were able to attend it. Indra Nooyi went for her post-graduation to United States and in 1980 completed her master’s degree in Public and Private management from Yale School of Management.
After post-graduation, she associated herself with different institutions over the times and started working for them. Before moving to US, she worked in India and was appointed as a product manager in Johnson & Johnson along with the textile industry, Beardsell Ltd. Also, during her days in Yale School of Management she completed her internship with Booz Allen Hamilton, a management and information technology consulting firm.
In same year (1980) she provided her services as a strategy consultant in Boston Consulting Group for almost a continuous time span 6 years. Later, she served as a Vice President and later as a Director of Corporate Strategy and Planning in Motorola Inc. She also worked for an engineering firm Asea Brown Boveri.
After having so much experience and knowledge of management she established herself as a woman the world would propose her esteemed positions in their institutions. On the same note, she joined PepsiCo. An American snacks & soft drink company in 1990.
She performed there as a senior vice president of corporate strategy and growth. In less time, with her excellency in whatever things she opted for, earned her the presidency of the company and also handed over the position of chief financial officer in 2001.
In October 2006, her diligent working spirit brought the title of CEO and later acquired the post of the chairman of the board. What was more interesting, and a matter of pride is to know that she was the fifth chairman and CEO of PepsiCo. in their entire existence of 42 years. In Indra Nooyi’s leadership, PepsiCo. revenue rose to $63.5 billion in 2017 from $35 billion in 2006. Also, peeking into the annual net profit, a rise of $2.7 billion to $6.5 billion witnessed during her tenure. She gave a new outlook to the company and with her phenomenal strategic abilities she led the company to its utmost positional success. Her firm belief in providing the best to the consumers without comprising the quality of products is applauded by many. She is the lady who restructured the company while putting major strategies in place. PepsiCo. took a 90 degree turn and its restaurants such as KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell turned into Tricon Global Restaurants, today known as Yum Brands Inc., In 1998 the company acquired Tropicana products and in 2001, it followed a merger with Quaker Oats Co.
In 2018, she stepped down from the position of PepsiCo’s CEO and in 2019 she also left the chairmanship of the company. Entitled with various managerial posts, Indra is a woman of various accolades and laurels. She is continuously listed into the top 100 most influential women in the world. Also, ranked 13th in the Forbes list of top 100 Most Powerful Women. She is also entitled with “Best CEO in the world” in 2018. She is a holder of prestigious honour of India, “Padma Bhushan” by the late president Pranab Mukherjee. In 2022, she is honored with Golden Books Award.
This incredible lady is a member of the foundational body of World Economic Forum. She has also co-chaired the World Justice Project. In June 2018, she joined the International Cricket Council Board as the first female director of the institution. She is also a member of the Boards of Directors at Amazon since February 2019.
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