Far from the fields and meadows of India, Indra Nooyi ventured to the United States to become recognised as one the most influential women in the world today.
Indra Nooyi was born and educated in Chennai, India, received an MBA at the Indian Institute of Management in Calcutta, and made her way to Yale to earn yet another MBA, which she completed in 1980.
After stints at Boston Consulting Group and Motorola, Nooyi joined PepsiCo’s strategy and development team in 1994. She moved her way up the ranks and was named CEO in October 2006. PepsiCo has made major investments in India, China, and Russia, broadening its market to other types of consumers.
Nooyi has directed the company’s global strategy for more than a decade. She also took the lead in the acquisition of Tropicana in 1998, and merger with Quaker Oats Company, which also brought Gatorade to PepsiCo.
According to Business Week, since she started as CFO in 2000, the company’s annual revenues have risen 72%, while net profit more than doubled, to $5.6 billion in 2006.
Nooyi has also focused on bolstering PepsiCo’s nutritional reputation abroad. “I grew up in an emerging market, and I cannot forget that,” Nooyi told Fortune in 2004, when she was CFO of the company. “I have a basic belief that positive nutrition is important in developing markets.”
Accolades
Nooyi was named on Wall Street Journal’s list of 50 women to watch in 2007 and 2008, and was listed among Time’s 100 Most Influential People in The World in 2007 and 2008. Forbes named her the third most powerful woman in 2008. Fortune ranked her the number one most powerful woman in business in 2009 and 2010. On the 7th of October 2010 Forbes magazine ranked her the 6th most powerful woman in the world.
Education
Nooyi was born in Madras (presently Chennai), Tamil Nadu, India. She was educated at Holy Angels Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School in Madras. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics from Madras Christian College in 1974 and a Post Graduate Diploma in Management (MBA) from Indian Institute of Management Calcutta in 1976. Beginning her career in India, Nooyi held product manager positions at Johnson & Johnson and textile firm Mettur Beardsell. She was admitted to Yale School of Management in 1978 and earned a Master’s degree in Public and Private Management.
Indra Nooyi can certainly be held in high regard, not only for her academic achievements, but her accomplishments in a mainstream multi- billion dollar company. Coming from abroad surely did not stump her success.
By Emb Hashmi
