My Life in Full: Work, Family, and Our Future
A New York Times Bestseller
An intimate and powerful memoir by the trailblazing former CEO of PepsiCo
For a dozen years as one of the world’s most admired CEOs, Indra Nooyi redefined what it means to be an exceptional leader. The first woman of color and immigrant to run a Fortune 50 company — and one of the foremost strategic thinkers of our time — she transformed PepsiCo with a unique vision, a vigorous pursuit of excellence, and a deep sense of purpose. Now, in a rich memoir brimming with grace, grit, and good humor, My Life in Full offers a firsthand view of Nooyi’s legendary career and the sacrifices it so often demanded.
Nooyi takes us through the events that shaped her, from her childhood and early education in 1960s India, to the Yale School of Management, to her rise as a corporate consultant and strategist who soon ascended into the most senior executive ranks. The book offers an inside look at PepsiCo, and Nooyi’s thinking as she steered the iconic American company toward healthier products and reinvented its environmental profile, despite resistance at every turn.
For the first time and in raw detail, Nooyi also lays bare the difficulties that came with managing her demanding job with a growing family, and what she learned along the way. She makes a clear, actionable, urgent call for business and government to prioritize the care ecosystem, paid leave and work flexibility, and a convincing argument for how improving company and community support for young family builders will unleash the economy’s full potential.
Generous, authoritative, and grounded in lived experience, My Life in Full is the story of an extraordinary leader’s life, a moving tribute to the relationships that created it, and a blueprint for 21st century prosperity.
An intimate and powerful memoir by the trailblazing former CEO of PepsiCo
For a dozen years as one of the world’s most admired CEOs, Indra Nooyi redefined what it means to be an exceptional leader. The first woman of color and immigrant to run a Fortune 50 company — and one of the foremost strategic thinkers of our time — she transformed PepsiCo with a unique vision, a vigorous pursuit of excellence, and a deep sense of purpose. Now, in a rich memoir brimming with grace, grit, and good humor, My Life in Full offers a firsthand view of Nooyi’s legendary career and the sacrifices it so often demanded.
Nooyi takes us through the events that shaped her, from her childhood and early education in 1960s India, to the Yale School of Management, to her rise as a corporate consultant and strategist who soon ascended into the most senior executive ranks. The book offers an inside look at PepsiCo, and Nooyi’s thinking as she steered the iconic American company toward healthier products and reinvented its environmental profile, despite resistance at every turn.
For the first time and in raw detail, Nooyi also lays bare the difficulties that came with managing her demanding job with a growing family, and what she learned along the way. She makes a clear, actionable, urgent call for business and government to prioritize the care ecosystem, paid leave and work flexibility, and a convincing argument for how improving company and community support for young family builders will unleash the economy’s full potential.
Generous, authoritative, and grounded in lived experience, My Life in Full is the story of an extraordinary leader’s life, a moving tribute to the relationships that created it, and a blueprint for 21st century prosperity.
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Community Reviews
This book is a disappointment. I have watched many of her interviews and her personality is totally absent in the words this book uses to outline her life. I could not even read 1/4th of the book- i got utterly disinterested by the generic tone and rhythm of the writing.
PFS Book Club --- 8th July, 23
Today we reviewed book called “My life in full” by Indra Nooyi
Ridhika started the review with how she was so fascinated by Indra Nooyi when she was in college around 2006 and same time Nooyi became CEO of pepsico and that was one of the reasons, she picked up the book.
Nooyi believed that women can’t have everything without a support system and even then, there will be many regrets in life. Ridhika mentioned that how Nooyi believed being a CEO along with mother, wife, daughter is at least a three full time jobs. Nooyi was born in Chennai in Tamil brahmin family and studied in catholic school. She attended Christian college and then went on to attend IIM Kolkatta. Nooyi started her career with textile firm beardsell and she was very detailed in each and every aspect of her career. Then she went to USA to pursue her higher education from yale school of management.
She joined BCG as strategy consultant in 1980, worked in Motorola and joined PepsiCo in 1994. Noori got constant support from her husband and many days she used to take earning morning flight on Monday and coming back on Thursdays. Her husband taking care of everything from kids’ school, birthdays and everything. Once her daughter complained that she never come for her PTM meeting. She got the list of mothers who have not attended from school to tell her daughter that they also not came but she felt guilty of the same.
Ridhika mentioned that how Nooyi faced hurdles at work which men don’t’. Women’s voices are too high or too low or seem as too tall or short to be great leaders whereas men don’t face the same. How many times her ideas were shot down and later in same meeting same ideas were welcomed if presented by men.
Ridhika also mentioned that how she reshaped leadership by starting many women friendly policies, she used to write letters to the families of the employees tanking them for their contribution to the success of the company.
Nooyi divided the products in to three types a) Fun to have – like chips and soft drinks, b) Nice to have – like sodas and tropicana c) Good to have --- like oats.
Ridhika finished the review by, mentioning that how Indira added Nooyi as sur name. Nooyi was her in-laws village near Mangalore.
We discussed many things like how book don’t explain any turbulence or difficult conversation in personal life due to her career. Shekhar talked about Michelle Obama and challenges faced by her. Vijaya aunty gave examples that in her school with majority of female staff she even faced rude remarks by her colleagues. Satish mentioned that how girls are more smarter than boys in USA and boys are facing little indifference.
Yet another amazing session 😊
On so many levels, I could relate with her journey especially the early years. I like how as she talks about her story, she highlights examples and explanations on key aspects. Can’t wait for us to read this
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