Cultural differences Lack of reason, thought
pepsico (formerly pepsi cola) is one of the largest food and beverage companies in the world. its products are available in 200 countries, across hundreds of thousands of cities and villages, in remote places in africa and even in frozen peaks through hot deserts.
the pepsi brand is worth $11 billion, with a market value of $175 billion. its sales have recently exceeded $65 billion. with a total strength of 265,000 employees and workers one billion people consume the products of this company every day.
pepsi began production in 1893 and its name is derived from the name of the pepsin - a digestive substance, developed by c. bradham. it became a drink of this flavor and the company has over time acquired more than 500 registered trademarks.
the beginning was 125 years ago under a different name before it became pepsi cola and in 1961 it became pepsi. bradham managed the sale of this drink from his small pharmacy before moving to a larger, independent store. its sales grew year by year and has reached to the present level, thanks to the company’s outstanding leadership during two world wars and the years of ‘great depression’.
in 1994, an immigrant woman named indra nooyi from india, joined her husband, in this giant global company. within 12 years, she reached the position of chief financial officer of the company and went on to become the ceo.
in a similar number of years, the company achieved great success and its share rose 78 percent and its annual revenue increased by 80%, after she successfully added a range of products to the company’s activities, and excluded food that had no nutritional value.
she retired a few days ago from the company’s management with a market value of $175 billion and continues as a chairperson of the board of directors until the end of 2019.
the success story of this woman, who left her hometown, madras in india, just over a quarter of a century ago to go to new york, continues to inspire tens of thousands of indians who leave their homeland every year and migrate into the ‘new world’. what indra did proves that fact of the american dream for those who seek success. it proves that most simple people can reach the highest positions whenever they have the will.
indra nooyi has remained at the top of the pepsico pyramid for more than 12 years. there are other indian success stories but her story has always added different flavor because of the strange circumstances she had experienced in her life, which she had to face and overcome being a woman.
nooyi did not come with an aristocratic background, nor was she supported by political parties, or a daughter of a well-known tribe or rich family, but she is ambitious, intelligent and with a crystal clear mind. if she were a kuwaiti she would by now run a public polyclinic in dasma or khaitan because she lacks reason and thought.
this is the cultural difference between nations.
