When Indra Nooyi moved from India to the United States in the late 1970s, she went to Yale University to study management. Her parents could not support her financially, so she worked as a receptionist in student accommodation. Her shift ran from midnight until 5 am, before she attended morning classes.
For Nooyi and fellow students from developing countries, the priorities were studying hard, getting good grades and finding work. She recalled that their efforts brought greater respect when they entered professional jobs. In her view, America offered opportunities, although it did not guarantee success.
After graduating in 1980, Nooyi gained experience at several companies before joining PepsiCo in 1994. She became chief executive, the company's top leader, in 2006 and remained in the role until 2018. During that period, PepsiCo's sales increased by 80%.
Nooyi argues that leadership is a skill developed through years of observation, experience and practice, rather than something people are born with. She compares the process to preparing for the Olympics. Her advice to future leaders is to study how existing leaders work, including their mistakes and how they recover. They should also observe how leaders encourage people to follow them.
