Summer Hits Different When You’re The Default Everything
July 28, 2025
Her Hustle Built That: Barbara Corcoran
August 13, 2025In 2006, when Indra Nooyi became CEO of PepsiCo, fewer than 2% of Fortune 500 CEOs were women. She wasn’t just breaking glass ceilings—she was redesigning the whole floor plan.
Welcome to the Her Hustle Series
Every Wednesday, we’re spotlighting women who didn’t wait for permission. They built it themselves—businesses, brands, empires, or impact. Some used their voice. Some used their vision.
All of them used their hustle.
This series isn’t about hype. It’s about legacy. You’ll meet a mix of pioneers, powerhouses, and women who turned everyday ideas into movements.
It’s about leadership through lived experience, grit over glamour, and the real behind-the-scenes of building something from nothing.
Each week, you’ll get:
- A spotlight story
- A leadership takeaway
- A bold question I’d ask her
- A way to apply it today
- A journal prompt
- And a little nudge to pass it on
Indra Nooyi was already breaking barriers long before she set foot in the U.S. She earned her undergraduate degree in India—at a time when higher education for women, especially in business, was far from the norm.
She came to the U.S. alone in her early twenties, with just $500 and a wild dream: to earn a second MBA from Yale. She worked night shifts as a receptionist to afford a Western-style suit for job interviews, trading saris for slacks—because she knew even her wardrobe had to play the game.
By the time she took over PepsiCo in 2006, she wasn’t just in the room. She was running it.
But her power wasn’t in how loud she spoke—it was in how deeply she listened. Nooyi led PepsiCo through major strategic shifts, including the controversial but visionary move toward healthier snack and drink options. Her “Performance with Purpose” model didn’t just grow profit—it prioritized sustainability, employee wellness, and global impact.
She believed that being a good daughter, a good mother, and a good leader weren’t mutually exclusive roles—they were interwoven.
Indra didn’t have to become American to succeed here—but she brought her whole self to the table. She wrote letters home. She kept her culture close. She never lost sight of the human side of leadership.
She made it to the top. Then she made space for others.
She didn’t just lead a global company.
She made leadership more human, more diverse, and more possible for women everywhere.
Leadership Takeaway:
The higher you rise, the more important it is to bring others with you—and stay anchored in your values.
If I Could Ask Her One Thing…
“How did you protect your peace while shouldering that much pressure?”
Apply It Today:
What values do you want your work to reflect—even when no one’s watching?
Journal Prompt:
“What version of success actually feels like me, and not just what I’ve been taught to want?”
Your Turn:
Tag a woman who leads with grace, grit, and global perspective. Tell her:
She didn’t just build that. She led in a way that left the door open for others.
