Indra Nooyi

It was an alien country that I didn't have too much family in because I'd grown up with family.

I decided to take the plunge.

Well, at some point when people come to you and say, I've got this great opportunity, you sit there going, would they be better off leaving?

And in case I want them back, I can always go back and get them.

Or are they better off staying at PepsiCo?

Sometimes selfishly I look at this and say, I'm actually better off if this person goes and gets this completely different experience because I can bring them back.

So you always look at this in a nice, selfish way.

I don't mean in a negative, selfish way.

In a nice, selfish way.

Somebody went to a tech company.

Go there.

I'm sure the allure of PepsiCo would make you want to come back if I wanted you back.

And now I have somebody who's got the PepsiCo pedigree, has got a tech background, and now can come back and contribute to the company in profound ways or partner with me.

So I'd look at it that way.

But if I felt that a person did not have much runway in PepsiCo,

I would also tell them very honestly that they might be viewed as a critical professional in PepsiCo.

You know, they could have a career, but not a fantastic career.

And if they got a better opportunity somewhere, I would provide the reference and I would help them find something.

I think if you really care about people development, you've got to think that way.

It was a sink or swim place.