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Indra Nooyi becomes PepsiCo's first woman CEO.
Go ahead. I'll wait.
Okay. Now allow me to reminisce a little.
Back a few years ago, before I left the practice of law to move from America to Trinidad, I worked for a Very Large Corporation. This Very Large Corporation, in general, treated me very well: in the seven years I was there, I was promoted four times, and quadrupled my salary. Managers all said the right things to me, and it was clear -- my future was so bright, I had to wear shades.
Problem was, I didn't buy it.
The Very Large Corporation is in a very old-school, good-ol'-boy industry. Despite the fact that this company conducts its business around the globe, at the time of my departure a little less than two years ago, the entire C-level of the company was comprised of white, middle-aged, American men, as were most of the senior executive staff. Indeed, in my final role as Chief of Staff to the head of the company's largest subsidiary, I stood out as an oddity -- and, as a result, I became the poster child for what the company claimed was its "commitment to diversity."
Finally, after the last in a series of meetings at which the CEO was pointedly asked why there weren't any women or minorities at the senior levels, and at which the CEO consistently preceded his response with, "Well, there's Karen...", I expressed my frustration to a former boss who had become a mentor.
"Seriously, Phil [not his real name], this is ridiculous," I said. "I'm sick of being hauled out as the sole example of the company's commitment to diversity."
"I know," he said, wearily. He was used to my kvetching.
"I keep hearing that the company is committed to diversity, to work-life balance, and yet I see people who cut back to a normal 40-hours to spend time with their families viewed as not committed to their careers, I see only 1 or 2 women at the highest levels of this huge company, and I see a similar number of non-whites. I'm not sure I'm buying that the company is as committed to diversity and balance of its employees, and frankly, I'm starting to question the potentiality of my own career here."
"I know, Karen," Phil repeated. "But you know that you've earned your position here, right? Besides, you can change things! Someone like you has the power to make a difference!"
"Well, thanks for your vote of confidence," I smiled, "but the truth is, Phil, that I shouldn't have to. It's the 21st century, for Christ's sake. There are lots of other companies out there that already get this. I just don't understand why Very Large Corporation hasn't yet."
"Well, honestly, Karen," Phil said seriously, "I think you'd be surprised. I don't think Very Large Corporation is that much different from any of the other large multinationals out there."
This conversation immediately came to mind when I read the CNN article to which I referred at the beginning of this post. Besides being more than thrilled at the prospect of a woman taking the helm of a huge multinational corporation (apparently ranked number 61 on Fortune Magazine's list of the top 500 largest companies) -- not to mention being thrilled on a visceral level for Nooyi, having seen her speak at a conference several years ago, and duly blown away -- I was particularly heartened by the reasons the outgoing CEO, Steve Reinemund, gave for his decision to retire:
"My family is entitled to more time from me than the responsibilities and obligations of continuing as PepsiCo's CEO requires and deserves," Reinemund said in a statement. "It was, in many respects, the toughest and easiest decision of my life."
Amazing. In this single move, the company's highest ranks have told the entire worldwide corporation:
1) it's okay to think about your families, regardless if you're male or female;
2) even if you're not born in America, or born a man, in our international organization, as long as you work to your potential, the sky's the limit;
3) take note, women, the glass ceiling does not exist at our company.
Congratulations Ms. Nooyi, and congratulations Pepsico.
And Very Large Corporation? I hope you're taking note.
Editor's note: Want to read another perspective on Indra Nooyi's new job? Check out Jory Des Jardins' post, "News Alert: Women are
