Essays

In India's long history, there have been many women who have excelled with their sheer strength and courage. Some such examples are Razia Sultan, Rani Laxmi Bai, Sarojini Naidu, Indira Gandhi, etc. The latest entrant to the list is Indra Nooyi, who has been placed 4^th in the lint of world's topmost influential women by the Forbes Magazine.

Indra Krishnamurtliy Nooyi was horn on 28 October 1955 in the south Indian city of Madras, now Chennai. After graduating from Madras Christian College with Maths, Physics and Chemistry in subjects, she did her Masters in Finance and Marketing from India Institute of Management, Calcutta. Her first job was with ABB and then she joined Johnson and Johnson (J&J) in Mumbai. While with J&J, she was closely associated with the launch of the sanitary napkin "Stayfree",

The desire to do more in life drew her to Yale Management School in US, where she completed her Master's in Public and Priv.ile Management. In US, she worked with Boston Consulting Group and Motorola before landing in the Pepsi in 1994. As the Chief Strategy Officer, Indra coaxed the CEO Roger Enrico of the Pepsi to follow- Up the company’s restaurant division, including brands such KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell. She equally emphasized in the Mergers and acquisition this was bolstered by the acquisition of the Tropicana and quaker fruit juice brands.

As a typical tycoon of the business from her acumen she has   predicted the slowdown in the popularity of aerated soft drinks in the markets worldwide. This enhanced her position in the business world where for a woman it is very difficult to leave any mark on the corner room office of the big conglomerate. She is the one who has meticulously planned the foray of Pepsi into the sport drinks market in association with Gatorade. Her quick decision making ability and sticking to the work until it gets accomplished has made Enrico to comment, "If she gets an idea, she goes after it. There's no stopping her".

 There is no doubt that her firmness and go getting attitude has won her laurels and has helped her to build a strong foundation in the career graph to reach the top echelon in the organization where many people graph to reach. To become the Chief Executive Officer of a multinational company, perhaps the first Indian to reach lo this level has been a both tough and exciting experience. Indra has said that being a woman immigrant and her colou made it thrice difficult for her to reach her destination. The only, mantra which she followed during the course of time was working hard twice as the male counterpart

When it was announced that india Nooyi was going lo repi.iee Steve reinemund as CEO of PepsiCo, it lit up fire in every mediocre soul  that if she can achieve this insurmountable hierarchy nothing is  impossible  for a determined and strong willed person only thing ' required  is perseverance. Indra Nooyi's story lays emphasis on true Values of life. Although she faced in.iny hurdles while reaching the Highest peak in international level, she walks with pride holding the Dignity and honour of her most loved country India.

While growing up with her sister, Indra Nooyi's mother encouraged Them to deliver a speech every night about what they wanted to be. After The speech the winner would get a piece of chocolate. This activity Installed confidence and ambition in little money, while studying which helped them to pursue greater heights in the later pails of their life. When she moved To US for higher studies with little money, while studying in Connecticut She worked as a receptionist from midnight to sunrise. With that money she bought herself a western suit of US$ 50 for an interview at Yale, where she had just completed her masters.

As an individual, Indra Nooyi attributes most of her success to her upbringing in India. She honours her heritage by often attending pespiCo events wearing a sari. As staunch believer of faith, Nooyi states that success rests on threes important factors—"family, friends and faith” As an entrepreneur of one of the biggest firms of US, she attributes her success to her employees. She views PepsiCo as her extended family and believes that to top the speed of competition an entrepreneur should attract the best employees.

Despite her busy schedules, Indra Nooyi has managed to balance equally central responsibility as a mother of two daughters and a wife she still follows the traditional practices at home like the practice of taking off shoes before entering the Puja room and many other simple Indian beliefs and practices. She believes that the corporate world appreciates people who are genuine. She has an ability to blend high- powered career with a family and her Hindu heritage. Being among the most successful businesswomen in the world, Indra Nooyi marks her identity with her tradition, unfeigned demean our, perseverance and hard work. She is an icon to be followed and emulated.

Besides being very chirpy, Indira Nooyi has a great sense of humour she has inclination towards arts and is a member of the Board of the Lincoln Center for the performing Arts in New York City. She has also been a member of the Boards of various organizations including

Motorola and Yale University. She is truly global in her thinking and keeps a wide perspective about the world and has great intellect. After all, it is not easy to be the CFO of the world's second-largest soft drink maker.