The Hindu Business Line : A product of Indian education, US mentoring

Chennai, Dec. 22 It’s good to be home, albeit for a short time. You probably know the improbable journey of my life. It began right here in this city. I was very fortunate to be able to embark on the journey I took. With many twists and turns along the way I have arrived at a great destination: to be the Chairman and CEO of PepsiCo,” Ms Indra K. Nooyi started her speech on an emotional note.

She was here to launch a social programme, Waste to Wealth, in association with Exnora, an NGO.

“India is undergoing a transformation. The time is coming when someone like me, who wanted to make her way in the world, will be just as likely to stay in India as she is to travel overseas,” she observed.

When someone from the audience asked what contributed to her dynamism, she, in a lighter vein said, “It’s thayir saadam (curd rice),” quickly adding, that it was actually the upbringing, ethics and values she was exposed to here.

“I am a product of this country, culture, the education system here. And I must also say, I am a product of the US education system and more importantly the kind of mentoring I got in the US.”

She said the way she does her job, the way she likes to run the company, bear all the hallmarks of her upbringing.

“I have been inspired and advised by so many people along the way. No doubt some of the things I do can be explained by my background without me even being aware of it,” she said.

global thinkers

For a question on how she sees today’s trend where many Indians are rising in the global corporate world, Ms Nooyi said, “I think it can be attributed to the education system in India and the outstanding training we got in the US. India, being a democratic country, is always in favour of capitalism. So, people who are born and brought up here in this system know how businesses operate. People who grew in this system understand the world. We are global thinkers. To top it all, the kind of confidence we bring as a result of our upbringing.” However, answering a question on how the world perceives India, Ms Nooyi said India Inc is on a high. But, the present education system, she said, needed to be revamped.

As the demand is much more than the supply, the quality of the education system should be rapidly improved and aligned with the demand, she elaborated. When a question was raised referring to the issue between the Taj Group and Orient Express, Ms Nooyi described the Tatas as pioneers.

“People who do things first, always face trouble. They have to move barriers and have to set an example. Once the Tatas strike the first deal, the next five will happen rapidly.”