When Pepsi CEO Indra Nooyi got her pivotal promotion, her mother cut off the announcement and sent her out to get milk instead (PEP)

pulse

August 2, 2017 2:59 PM

On LinkedIn, PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi remembered the night she came home to announce her promotion to president of the company — and her mother's reaction.

Neither parent should be CEO of the household, says Indra Nooyi, pictured.

In 2001, Indra Nooyi was named president of PepsiCo.

Five years later, she would be promoted to CEO, and in 2007 she would become chairman of the company as well.

But the night she came home after being named to president, she wrote on LinkedIn, her parents happened to be visiting.

Here's Nooyi describing that night:

"I'll never forget coming home after being named President of PepsiCo back in 2001. My mother was visiting at the time.

"'I've got great news for you,' I shouted. She replied, 'It can wait. We need you to go out and get some milk.'

"So I go out and get milk. And when I come back, I'm hopping mad. I say, 'I had great news for you. I've just been named President of PepsiCo. And all you want me to do is go out and get milk.'

"Then she says, 'Let me explain something to you. You may be President of PepsiCo. But when you step into this house, you're a wife and mother first. Nobody can take that place. So leave that crown in the garage.'"

Nooyi was sharing this story as part of a list of lessons she's learned after 10 years of running the $166 billion company.

She continued on LinkedIn:

"And yet, for all the painful choices my husband and I have had to make, I also know our family has been incredibly fortunate. Many families in this country don't have extended family to help with childcare or jobs that give them the financial means to pay for additional support."

"This is a challenge we need to take on urgently. We need to come together, as corporations and as a society to support workers who are caring for young children, aging parents, or both."

In the fall, she shared, PepsiCo will begin offering on-site childcare for employees at the company's headquarters, and "near-site" childcare for employees at its satellite office in Texas.

She wrote: "

Read the full post on LinkedIn »

pulse