Indra Nooyi, the former chief executive of PepsiCo, led a corporation renowned for its globally recognized food and drink brands, such as Lay's, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, and Mountain Dew. Her leadership from 2006 to 2018 was marked by significant transformation and expansion, with the company's net revenue increasing by over 80%.

Amidst a time when the appeal of high-fat, sugary, and salty foods was hard to resist, Nooyi took on the audacious task of reorienting PepsiCo, a challenge that could have been catastrophic for others but became a showcase of her visionary leadership.

"Every day in the life of a CEO presents a challenge," Nooyi recalls, speaking from her office in Greenwich, Connecticut. "Boards select CEOs for their resilience, their ability to navigate through challenges and steer the company towards transformation." Her mission was to pivot PepsiCo's product range towards healthier options, encompassing not just indulgent and enjoyable products but also expanding into healthier and nutritious alternatives.

Born in Madras, now known as Chennai, India, Nooyi's ascent to the summit of American business was extraordinary. She moved to the United States in 1978 to pursue her studies at Yale School of Management, working as a receptionist to support herself financially. Her entry into Pepsi in 1994 at the age of 39 marked the beginning of an impressive career trajectory that led her to become the company's president and CFO before ultimately becoming CEO. In this role, she shattered barriers as the first woman of color and the first immigrant to head a Fortune 50 company.

"I aimed to satisfy everyone, but most importantly, I wanted to be a responsible steward of PepsiCo," Nooyi reflects on the significance of her historical role. "Looking back, I realize it was groundbreaking. In many ways, I broke numerous barriers."

Her influence was acknowledged by Fortune magazine, which ranked her as the number one Most Powerful Woman in Business from 2006 to 2010, and Forbes magazine, which listed her among The World’s 100 Most Powerful Women from 2008 to 2017. Nooyi's legacy is not just about PepsiCo's financial achievements; she also prioritized reducing the company's environmental impact and cultivating a workplace that inspired enthusiasm and pride among its staff.

After her retirement, Nooyi began a new phase of her career, joining Amazon's board of directors and contributing to the Foundation Board of the World Economic Forum and the World Justice Project. Her definition of a visionary is someone "who envisions the future and initiates change today to achieve that future," a philosophy she embodied during her tenure at PepsiCo.

Nooyi's memoir, "My Life in Full," published in 2021, explores the sacrifices she made, including the balance between work and life, to reach her level of success. Her accomplishments have been recognized with 15 honorary degrees and her portrait in the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery. In 2021, she was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame.

Today, Nooyi's legacy is not only gauged by the corporate milestones she achieved but also by the influence she had on the individuals she mentored, many of whom now hold prominent positions in the corporate sector. "People remember you not just for your business contributions, but also for the people you developed, nurtured, and mentored," she says, contemplating her enduring impact. "I look at all of them and say, you've been through my school of hard knocks and you're thriving."