Why I Make a Pie Chart of My Waking Hours | PepsiCo North America CEO

Summary

In this insightful interview, a seasoned executive shares career advice and personal reflections on leadership and success. Key takeaways include the importance of preparing for the next job before getting it, the value of humility and self-awareness in leadership, and the need for deliberate learning and time management. He emphasizes being present, consistent, and authentic in all interactions, and underscores the significance of reflection and learning from mistakes. The executive also highlights the impact of mentorship and the importance of celebrating small wins while maintaining motivation for future challenges.

Takeaways

• 💼 Focus on mastering the next job before you actually get it, as preparation is key to success when the clock starts in a new role.
• 🌍 Reflect on achievements where you leave a legacy, such as the speaker's work in China transforming the market and fostering local talent.
• 🧠 Success is more about learning, solving complex problems, and authentic leadership than reaching a specific career milestone.
• 🎯 Be intentional with time management, breaking it into categories like running the business, people and culture, long-term strategy, learning, and relationships.
• 📚 Deliberate learning is crucial, focusing on deep learning over a period of time rather than surface-level exposure to various topics.
• ✍️ Reflection through writing helps the speaker stay intentional about learning and progress, and they recommend after-action reviews to assess what worked or didn’t.
• 🤝 Mentorship is critical throughout one's career, especially at higher levels, where mentors provide valuable perspective and guidance.
• 🙌 Humility and self-awareness are vital traits of effective leadership, helping leaders listen, learn, and act appropriately.
• 🎉 Celebrating achievements is something the speaker admits they need to work on, as reflecting on success can motivate others and provide personal satisfaction.
• ⏳ Job titles matter less than one might expect; what truly matters is the impact and legacy left behind rather than temporary titles.

Q & A

What was the best piece of career advice the speaker received?

The best career advice the speaker received was to worry about how to do the next job before actually getting it. This means preparing for future roles in advance and thinking about how to succeed in them before you're in that position.

How does the speaker define success in his career?

The speaker defines success as aligning several key factors: learning, solving complex problems, transforming a business, inspiring talent through authentic leadership, and leaving a legacy. When all of these factors align, the speaker feels a sense of achievement.

What was one of the speaker's proudest achievements in his career?

One of the speaker's proudest achievements was his work in Asia Pacific, based in Shanghai. He helped transform the business by adjusting the go-to-market strategy, manufacturing footprint, and shifting leadership from expat-managed to locally managed talent. This resulted in accelerated business growth, even after his departure.

Why does the speaker find it important not to celebrate achievements too much?

The speaker believes that celebrating achievements too much can change one's motivation, possibly making them less hungry for future success. He prefers to focus on the next challenge rather than dwelling on past successes.

What are the speaker's key non-negotiable behaviors in achieving his goals?

The speaker's key non-negotiable behaviors include being present in the moment, maintaining consistency in preparation and interaction, and demonstrating authenticity in his leadership.

What time management strategy does the speaker follow?

The speaker color-codes his time into five key buckets: running the business, focusing on people and culture, developing long-term strategy, learning, and nurturing relationships. He audits how he spends his time every few months and adjusts as needed.

Why does the speaker believe in the importance of mentors, especially in senior roles?

The speaker believes that mentors provide valuable perspective, particularly in senior roles where bad news can travel fast, and leaders may be the last to know. Mentors offer wisdom, experience, and guidance that help navigate complex challenges.

What qualities does the speaker believe are essential for successful leadership?

The speaker believes that self-awareness and humility are critical traits for successful leadership. Self-awareness helps leaders understand their strengths and weaknesses, while humility allows them to listen, learn, and adapt.

How does the speaker approach learning and self-reflection?

The speaker is intentional about learning by choosing two topics each year to deeply focus on. He also writes as a form of reflection, which helps him process experiences and continue learning. Additionally, he conducts after-action reviews to analyze what worked and what didn’t.

What change does the speaker think would have the most positive impact on his life?

The speaker believes that pausing to celebrate successes and enjoying the moment would have a positive impact on his life. Additionally, he wants to continue improving his balance in managing time across various areas of his life.