5. Indra Quotes “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 – Brainyquote.com “ The one thing I have learned as a CEO is that leadership at various levels is vastly different. When I was leading a function or a business, there were certain demands and requirements to be a leader. As you move up the organization, the requirements for leading that organization don't grow vertically; they grow exponentially. “ Indra Nooyi – Brainyquote.com “At the end of the day, don’t forget that you’re a person, don’t forget you’re a mother, don’t forget you’re a wife, don’t forget you’re a daughter.” When your job is done, “what you’re left with is family, friends, and faith.” Indra Nooyi - US News and World Report, Michael Useem, 11/14/08
6. Indra Quotes “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 – Brainyquote.com “ The one thing I have learned as a CEO is that leadership at various levels is vastly different. When I was leading a function or a business, there were certain demands and requirements to be a leader. As you move up the organization, the requirements for leading that organization don't grow vertically; they grow exponentially. “ Indra Nooyi – Brainyquote.com “At the end of the day, don’t forget that you’re a person, don’t forget you’re a mother, don’t forget you’re a wife, don’t forget you’re a daughter.” When your job is done, “what you’re left with is family, friends, and faith.” Indra Nooyi - US News and World Report, Michael Useem, 11/14/08
Editor's Notes
Indra Nooyi – Executive Summary – CEO of PepsiCoBirthplace: Madras, IndiaEthnicity: IndianSchooled:BS, Madras Christian College, Madras, India – 1976MBA, Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta, India – 1978MA, Management, Yale University – 19801994 – Indra was hired as Chief Strategist –her assigned Leadershipposition1998 – Indra engineered the acquisition of Tropicana, showcasing her emergent leadership2000 – Appointed to CFO, President and a seat on the Board of Directors – raised annual revenue to 72%, doubled profit to 5.6Bn – technical/conceptual skills.2001 – Orchestrated the $14 Billion takeover of Quaker Oats – utilizing her expert and legitimate power2006 – Named CEO at age 50 and 1st woman CEO for PepsiCo2006, 2007 & 2008 – Ranked #1 on Fortune’s most powerful women of America’s leading business women2010 – Took PepsiCo to new heights by merging with Frito Lay and Pepsi Bottling – 285,000 employees, making PepsiCo #2 food & beverage company in the world.2011 – Forbes ranked her #4 most powerful women (Oprah is #13).19 product lines, consumers in 200 countries and almost 300,000 employees worldwide
Technical – Proficiency - Indra gained her technical skills by working in several different positions within PepsiCo and becoming a master of substance, knowing her product lines and financial metrics in depth. She always staying current and on the cutting edge.Human – Abilty to work with people. She has an open door policy and walks the halls of PepsiCo interacting with all levels. She always advises her employees to maintain a work-life balance. She nurtures her team’s creativity, giving them encouragement to be better people. She sings karaoke at company parties.Conceptual – Abillity to work with ideas and concepts – she has helped her executives make tough decisions; one example is by moving the company away from fast food, selling off KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, yet had the insight to keep Pepsi Beverages as the exclusive soft drink for those companies.
Performance with a Purpose – Human sustainability; transform portfolio using nutrition as a guide, environmental sustainability; leave the world a better place, reduce use of energy, water & packaging and Talent sustainability; employees are key to company success – work/life balanceStrategic Planning – Set a careful agenda, be optimistic & realistic; Prioritize – Communication is key – town halls – release agendaFive “C’s” -Competence. - Being an expert in your fieldCourage and Confidence. -act and say what you believe is right.Communication Skills. -You can never over invest in them, it is critical in conveying the vision and direction. Coaching.- Listen and Learn from mentors. They choose you, you don’t choose them.Compass -Have the strength and courage to do what is morally right, no what is expedient.
Indra’s ability to practice the LMX theory shows in all the people she surrounds herself with daily. An example of the theory in practice is when she was 1 of 2 people in line for the CEO position – when she found out she got it over her counterpart, she got on a plane and flew to where he was and asked him what she could do to keep him with PepsiCo – She was so persuasive, he agreed to stay on as her right hand man.In Indra’s quest to make her executives feel they are a valuable part of her team and make them aware of how important they are to PepsiCo’s success, she wrote a letter to each of their parents and told them how much they (as parents) contributed to the success of PepsiCo through the gift of their son or daughter, she created a great emotional bond among the executives, their parents and herself.Indra also writes letters wherever she is in the world and sends them out via broadcast email to all PepsiCo employees and welcomes feedback.
