Former PepsiCo CEO and chairman says it’s very important for women to be educated and financially independent
PepsiCo’s former Indian American CEO and chairman Indra Nooyi has a simple mantra for success, “Put your hand up for the most difficult assignment because then you’ll leave the mark and you’ll be remembered.”
That was the best advice she received in her professional life, Nooyi told the audience recently at a session organized by Indian community groups in Stamford, Connecticut to discuss her new book, “My Life in Full: Work, Family and Our Future.”
In her book, Indra Nooyi, who retired in 2019 after a trailblazing 24-year career at PepsiCo, shares her experiences and what she learned along her journey and makes a call to action on how our society can blend work and family – and advance women.
READ: Indra Nooyi: I focused on job at hand, over-prepared and over-delivered (November 25, 202)
The Connecticut Chapter of the Global organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO-CT) organized the program on December 4 in association with India Cultural Center (ICC) of Greenwich, Milan Cultural Association of Hartford and Ascend Connecticut/ Westchester Chapter.
Nooyi spoke on her life from coming to the US to becoming the first Indian CEO of a Fortune 50 company, at the same time managing her family and helping society at large.
“It is very important for the women to be educated and be financially independent,” Nooyi said in response to a question on women empowerment from ICC Director Mudita Bhargava, who moderated the discussion.
“Women are making a difference, for example, 70% of female students in High Schools are valedictorians and they get whole one point more in GPA, 47% of MIT students are women and more that 50% graduates are women,” she noted.
READ: Indian American trailblazer Indra Nooyi inducted into Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery (November 20, 2019)
“Family is the most important unit that exists, however, families are fragile and can be messy at times, but it is better to keep it intact,” Nooyi said in response to a question on family.
On the role of technology in our lives, she said that one need to juggle priorities to balance work and families.
On mental health, Nooyi has said “There’s a stigma attached to it, we deny this issue, however we should talk about mental health and support those dealing with it.”
READ: Indra Nooyi shortlisted by White House to lead the World Bank (January 16, 2019)
Program started with an introduction of the sponsoring organizations by ICC Executive Director Margie French. The program ended with a vote of thanks by GOPIO-CT Vice President Dr. Jaya Daptardar.
GOPIO Chairman Dr. Thomas Abraham said, “Indra Nooyi is the pride and joy of the Indian American community and a motivator for our youngsters.”
READ MORE:
Indra Nooyi praised as a pioneer, mentor (August 7, 2018)
Indra Nooyi, Nikki Haley, Priyanka Chopra among Forbes list of most powerful women (November 6, 2017)
Satya Nadella, Indra Nooyi, Bhavesh Patel in list of highest-paid CEOs (April 29, 2016)
Indra Nooyi becomes Yale’s biggest alumni donor (January 13, 2016)
Indra Nooyi is the third highest paid female CEO in the US with $22.5 million in fiscal 2014 (April 15, 2015)