Indra Nooyi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Indra Nooyi
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| Born |
Indra Krishnamurthy
October 28, 1955 |
| Citizenship | United States |
| Education | University of Madras (BS) Indian Institute of Management Calcutta (MBA) Yale University (MS) |
| Known for | Former CEO of PepsiCo |
| Spouse(s) |
Raj Nooyi
(m. 1981) |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Chandrika Tandon (sister) |
Indra Nooyi (born Indra Krishnamurthy on October 28, 1955) is an Indian-American business leader. She is famous for being the chief executive officer (CEO) and chairman of PepsiCo, one of the world's largest food and drink companies, from 2006 to 2018.
Nooyi is often named one of the most powerful women in the world. In 2014, Forbes magazine ranked her number 13 on its list of the 100 most powerful women. She also serves on the leadership boards of major companies like Amazon and organizations like the International Cricket Council.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Indra Nooyi was born into a Tamil Brahmin family in Madras (now called Chennai), India. She went to Holy Angels Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School.
Her mother was a homemaker who created smart games for her daughters. When Indra and her sister were young, their mother would ask them to pretend they were world leaders, like a president or prime minister, and give a speech. This helped them think about big ideas. Her grandfather, who was a judge, taught her discipline. If she made excuses, he would make her write "I will not make excuses" 200 times.
Education
Nooyi was a great student who also had fun hobbies. She played guitar in a band and was a talented cricket player. She earned degrees in physics, chemistry, and mathematics from Madras Christian College in 1975. After that, she studied business at the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta.
In 1978, she moved to the United States to attend the prestigious Yale School of Management. She graduated in 1980 with a master's degree in public and private management.
Career Journey
Nooyi started her career in India, working for companies like Johnson & Johnson. After graduating from Yale, she worked as a strategy consultant for the Boston Consulting Group. Later, she held important roles at Motorola and Asea Brown Boveri.
Leadership at PepsiCo
Nooyi joined PepsiCo in 1994 and quickly moved up. In 2006, she became the company's fifth CEO in its 44-year history.
As a leader, Nooyi made several big moves that helped the company grow. In 1997, she led the sale of PepsiCo's restaurant chains, which included Pizza Hut, KFC, and Taco Bell. This allowed PepsiCo to focus on its snack and drink business.
She also guided the purchase of Tropicana juice in 1998 and the Quaker Oats Company in 2001. The Quaker Oats deal was very important because it also brought Gatorade to PepsiCo. At the time, Gatorade was the top sports drink, which gave PepsiCo a big advantage over its main competitor, Coca-Cola. Under her leadership, PepsiCo's yearly profit grew from $2.7 billion to $6.5 billion.
Performance with a Purpose
Nooyi introduced a new strategy for PepsiCo called "Performance with a Purpose." The goal was to make the company successful while also being good for people and the planet.
She sorted PepsiCo's products into three groups:
- Fun for you: Treats like potato chips and regular soda.
- Better for you: Healthier options like diet sodas or low-fat snacks.
- Good for you: Very healthy foods like oatmeal.
She shifted company spending toward making healthier products. Nooyi also focused on protecting the environment. She pushed for new packaging that created less waste, saved water, and used renewable energy.
On August 6, 2018, Nooyi announced she was stepping down as CEO. She had led the company for 12 years, which is much longer than the average CEO. She remained as chairman until early 2019 to help with the transition.
Public Service in Connecticut
In 2019, Nooyi became a co-leader of the Connecticut Economic Resource Center. This group works to improve the economy of the state of Connecticut, where she lives.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, she helped lead a group that planned how to safely reopen businesses and schools in Connecticut and nearby states.
Awards and Recognition
Nooyi has received many awards for her leadership. She was regularly featured on Forbes magazine's list of The World's 100 Most Powerful Women. Fortune magazine named her the #1 Most Powerful Woman in Business for five years in a row (2006-2010).
In 2007, she received the Padma Bhushan, one of India's highest civilian honors, from the President of India. In 2021, she was added to the National Women's Hall of Fame in the United States.
| Year | Name | Awarding organization | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters | Yale University | |
| 2018 | Honorary Degree | Cranfield University | |
| 2015 | Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters | State University of New York at Purchase | |
| 2013 | Honorary Degree | North Carolina State University | |
| 2011 | Honorary Doctor of Laws | University of Warwick | |
| 2011 | Honorary Doctorate of Law | Miami University | |
| 2010 | Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters | Pennsylvania State University | |
| 2009 | Honorary Degree | Duke University | |
| 2009 | Barnard Medal of Honor | Barnard College | |
| 2008 | Honorary Degree | New York University | |
| 2007 | Padma Bhushan | President of India | |
| 2004 | Honorary Doctor of Laws | Babson College |
Personal Life
Indra married Raj K. Nooyi in 1981. They have two daughters and live in Greenwich, Connecticut.
Her older sister, Chandrika Krishnamurthy Tandon, is also a successful businesswoman and a Grammy Award-winning singer. As a young woman in India, Nooyi loved playing cricket and was the guitarist in an all-girl rock band.
In 2016, Nooyi made a large donation to her former school, the Yale School of Management. It was the largest donation ever made by a graduate of the school.
See also
In Spanish: Indra Nooyi para niños
- Indian Americans in the New York City metropolitan area
- List of Yale University people
