To Be CEO is a Calling: How Indra Nooyi Kept PepsiCo’s Fizz Alive

Indra Nooyi is the first Indian-born CEO of Pepsi and the first woman to lead PepsiCo Inc.

Indra Nooyi served as PepsiCo CEO for 12 years.

(Photo: AP)

“To be a CEO is a calling. You should not do it because it is a job. You have got to be involved in it with your head, heart and hands.”

Indra Nooyi, the first woman to be at the helm of the world’s second-largest food and beverage giant, PepsiCo Inc, is all set to step down as the CEO on 3 October.

Nooyi, 62, is a rarity on Wall Street both as a woman and a woman of Indian origin, leading a Fortune 500 company. She took charge of the company during a turbulent time in the industry that forced PepsiCo, Coca-Cola Co, Campbell Soup Co and Mondelez International Inc to shake up product portfolios as millennials opted for healthier choices.

Leadership is hard to define and good leadership even harder. But if you can get people to follow you to the ends of the earth, you are a great leader.

Indra Nooyi

Nooyi was ranked No. 2 on Fortune Magazine’s 100 most powerful women in 2017.

Indra Nooyi’s Early Life

Born in Chennai in 1955, Nooyi has been associated with the company for 24 years and has held the top job for 12 years. The fraction of female CEOs running S&P 500 companies tapers off with Nooyi’s departure.

After completing her undergrad from Madras Christian College in 1974, Nooyi went on to complete an MBA from IIM Calcutta in 1976, and receive a Master's degree in Public & Private Management from Yale.

“I grew up in a Hindu household but went to a Roman Catholic school. I grew up with a mother who said, ‘I’ll arrange a marriage for you at 18,’ but she also said that we could achieve anything we put our minds to an encourage us to dream of becoming prime minister or president.”

Indra Nooyi

Family Always First for Nooyi

Wife of Raj Nooyi, president of Amsoft systems, and mother to two girls, Nooyi has always prioritised her family and relationships.

In the end, no matter how much money you make, what you’re left with is family, friends and faith.

Indra Nooyi

‘Help Others Rise!’

Ramon Laguarta, who has been with the company for more than two decades now, will take over as CEO in October, the company said Monday. Nooyi will remain chairman until early next year.

Calling Laguarta as “exactly the right person to help build on @PepsiCo's strong position and success,” Nooyi tweeted saying she has confidence in her team “to continue to focus on our Performance with Purpose.”

(With inputs from AP and Bloomberg)