Nooyi reveals the secret of her success – the 5 Cs

Nooyi reveals the secret of her success – the 5 Cs

She’s been there, done that –and taken on the world. PepsiCo president & CFO Indra Nooyi was one of the pioneering global Indians – an executive who’s worked her way to the very top in a leading multinational. So, what advice does she have for millions of young Indians now embarking on their careers with stars in their eyes and infernos in their bellies?

“Well there’s awesome talent in India. Like the advertising industry. I wish there was similar talent elsewhere in the world. Even when they’re adapting a global campaign, the quality is so knock-your-socks-off. I’ve never seen a bad Pepsi ad coming out of India.”

What other unique experiences has the Indian market thrown up for Pepsi, we asked. Her eyes lit up. “Oh I call India our learning lab. We perfected our distribution system here and we’ve replicated it in China, Vietnam, Thailand...across most of Asia Indian managers are great at mobilizing the entire organization and implementing low-cost, high quality projects really fast. It’s a skill we’ve used in lots of other markets. I think there are 39 expat Indians running the show in various parts of Asia.”

What’s the Nooyi formula for success? “I have developed what I call the 5 C’s” she replied. “There’s Competence - you must acquire a hip-pocket skill which you’re known for, and keep working at it. Confidence and Courage go together unless you’re willing to speak up for what you believe in, you’re never going to be much of a leader. But it is up to the company to provide you the courage to do so, by not shooting you down every time you do speak up. Communication skills, both oral and written, are really important. It’s the one area I’d really like to see our younger people investing in. Then there’s what I call Compass-integrity must be at the root of everything you do and people have got to know that they can take what you say to the bank. Finally you have got to be the company’s Conscience. I thought as you get more senior, you get to work less, but that’s not how it is. Steve (Reinemund, Pepsi-Co’s chairman and CEO) and I take our jobs very seriously. We turn out the lights when we leave. He might send me an e-mail at 4 am. And he’ll get an answer at 4.01 am.”

What about the Big C-Coke? “What’s that?” she quips, then hastily adds, “Jokes apart, we take them very seriously, we study them all the time and we never stop thinking about them.”

As we leave we can’t resist querying what she would say if Apple visionary Steve Jobs were ever to put to her the famous question he asked former Pepsi marketing whiz John Sculley.

Do you want to spend the rest of your life selling sugared water?” She didn’t bat an eyelid. I would reply, I choose to be here. I am proud of every product we make and the way we treat our people. My dream is to grow Pepsi into the greatest consumer products company in the world.” With her at the helm? Inshallah.

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