The Pepsi CEO has 5 pieces of advice for any other leadership aspirants out there, though the first may seem a little counter-intuitive to the more rabidly ambitious.
1. Don’t start by saying you want to be CEO. Nooyi recently told LinkedIn’s Influencer series that succeeding in your current role won’t be possible if you don’t give it your full, unbridled attention. “The minute you get obsessed about wanting to be CEO you forget what you have to do, because you’re more focused on the next job as opposed to doing the current job very, very well.”
2. Have a hip-pocket skill. Fellow employees should be able to rely on you to handle at least one particular task, she said. “If you have a competency that nobody else has, you become more valuable.”
And what’s Nooyi’s special skill? She says it’s an ability to simplify the complex, even for subjects she previously knew little about. For example, when Pepsi bought Quaker Oats, Nooyi, who was CFO at the time, was asked by then-CEO Steve Reinemund to handle the antitrust approval process, because he wanted it demystified.
3. Be courageous. CEO aspirants will be respected if they have the courage to speak up and defend their ideas, Nooyi said. “If we have more courage and people stand up for their ideas and their values, I think companies and societies will become better places.”
4. Be a good communicator. If you want to be a leader and you can’t communicate effectively forget it, Nooyi said. And that doesn’t mean occasionally posting stuff on Twitter. “You’ve got to stand in front of employees and get them to go to places they never thought they needed to get to.”
5. Have a compass. Defining your own moral code and sticking to it is crucial, Nooyi said. “Your ethics are really important, because you can be courageous, communicate effectively, have a competency—but if you’re downright unethical, nobody will follow you.”
By focusing on these 5 building blocks, Nooyi said a CEO job offer may well come—though she has one last piece of advice to offer: steer clear of office politics, whenever you can. “Be aware of the politics of the company. [And] don’t play the politics of the company,” she said.
Chief Executive Group exists to improve the performance of U.S. CEOs, senior executives and public-company directors, helping you grow your companies, build your communities and strengthen society. Learn more at chiefexecutivegroup.com.
0
1:00 - 5:00 pm
Over 70% of Executives Surveyed Agree: Many Strategic Planning Efforts Lack Systematic Approach Tips for Enhancing Your Strategic Planning Process
Executives expressed frustration with their current strategic planning process. Issues include:
Steve Rutan and Denise Harrison have put together an afternoon workshop that will provide the tools you need to address these concerns. They have worked with hundreds of executives to develop a systematic approach that will enable your team to make better decisions during strategic planning. Steve and Denise will walk you through exercises for prioritizing your lists and steps that will reset and reinvigorate your process. This will be a hands-on workshop that will enable you to think about your business as you use the tools that are being presented. If you are ready for a Strategic Planning tune-up, select this workshop in your registration form. The additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.
2:00 - 5:00 pm
Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations.
Limited space available.
10:30 - 5:00 pm
General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
Sponsored by UBS
General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.
The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.
