20 years at PepsiCo. From "place-to-work" to "family".
WHAT AN ADVENTURE! 20 YEARS AT PEPSICO... AND COUNTING.
Today, 4th of May 2018, marks my 20th year at PepsiCo. WOW! If you would have told me 20 years ago that I would (still be) at PepsiCo, and be a Vice President working on a global level, I would have declared you insane, delusional. But here I am. Twenty years have flown by. Really really fast. I am very grateful for the opportunities I´ve had so far, because, boy, did I do a lot in those 20 years. A few highlights and lessons from this amazing adventure...
On the business side...
I’ve had a chance to do a million things, be in a lot of different roles, in different parts of the world, building experiences, knowledge and skills. I probably have a list of 100 projects that have significantly shaped me into the marketer and leader that I am today. Here are the ones that come to mind immediately: (1) I did a major rebranding; very early in my career (one of the first in FMCG at the time). It was working-like-a-dog 24/7 for about two years, but it gave me tremendous satisfaction to see it through and gave me a jumpstart in the company. (2) I created a long-term innovation department when I was in the Middle East. Fighting for something I believed in, getting the necessary resources in terms of people, money, time, mandates and building new skills in a newly created part of the organization was a big learning point for me. (3) I’ve produced big multi-million dollar campaigns, locally, regionally, and globally that worked and moved the needle for brands and business. Marketing in action! Love it. (4) I won some major marketing awards, amongst others Effies. These are all BS kind of things in the bigger scheme of things to be honest, but they are good for the ego from time to time :-) (5) I´ve put together capital investment requests in place for structural NPD that is still in the market and growing. (6) I got to work at our NY HQ (and still am). That is a unique experience in a big global company like PepsiCo. And, having a more than average contact with the CEO at times pushed me to be better, stronger, smarter ... and, build thick skin. (7) Last, but certainly not least, is the assignment I got now, leading one of the biggest change programs in the organisation, transforming the portfolio and drastically reducing the sugar footprint in all the drinks we sell worldwide -see my Linkedin profile for more.
On the personal side...
Pepsico has given me opportunities to step out of my comfort zone, explore new worlds and cultures, ways of interacting and collaborating with people, balance professionalism with emotions, and so on. In that sense, it is a “school of life”. Again, a million things to mention, but here are just a few: (1) I greatly enriched my worldview by living abroad; 6 and1/2 years in Dubai (during what I´d call the Golden Years over there), and short of 4 years in NY. Working in the Middle East, in particular, has been eye-opening, refreshing, inspiring and confronted me with a new reality, where I found a new love for a culture distant from my own. (2) I’ve met truly truly remarkable and wonderful people over the years, both inside as well as outside of the company. I´ve learned from them, and they have shaped my thinking, my beliefs, and ...my life. (3) I’ve travelled the world, fulfilling my childhood dream. (4) I’ve hired some brilliant people and saw their careers flourish; my biggest satisfaction. (5) I found real purpose in my job especially since I started my current assignment nearly 4 years ago. (6) Without a doubt the most important outcome here: I’ve made friendships that will last forever!
Looking back at all of this, I realize that the choices you make in life really determine your future (duh!) : I chose marketing as study topic at uni almost 30 years ago for a reason: it sparked my mind. It was stimulating. It was creative. It was inspirational. Fascinating. It was about people. It was about behaviour (I´ve always had a knack for psychology). It was about stories and storytelling. It was about the worlds beyond the world I know. It was ever-changing, and many things were going to happen in that then very new field of business (that it was back then) ... and with all that, it totally fit my personality! At PepsiCo, I get to do all that... I get to be creative, I get to change assignments now and again and do very different things, stay stimulated. I get to be inspired, I have meaningful responsibilities, I get to learn new stuff every day, and I get to connect with people and consumers, I get WOWed and I get to WOW. They always say "do what you love" and that’s really what it’s been all about. That’s why I’m still here after 20 years. And feeling motivated and at my best to keep going strong. And so, net net, working at Pepsico has been “fulfilling”. And I hope a lot more of that will come in the future.
Why and how did I get where I am now in the organization? Let me take you back to my very first day at PepsiCo; our Northern European General Manager at the time called me in his office on day 1. He said: “Kurt, if you want to make a career in this company, there are 3 things you need to do. Number1: deliver. Number2: deliver. Number3: deliver!” Clear as hell. And so I did. And do. End of story. (Thank you Tim Mes). How to deliver? Simple again: it´s all about focus ("F.O.C.U.S. = Follow One Course Until Success).
My biggest learning is about working with people: be real, be yourself. Don’t try to pretend to be somebody else, don’t take actions you wouldn’t be able to justify to your grandmother, don’t do things to others that you wouldn’t do to your family or your best friends. It’s a simple as that. And (I learned this one only later in life/career): be ok with blurring work and private life. I’ve always invested time in having a beer or dinner or go out etc with colleagues to get to know them better. Those are the moments! The moments where you truly connect, talk about deeper things, get to understand the piece of the iceberg below the water, and so on!! Seek opportunities where you can be yourself, where you can let your guard down, where vulnerability is ok. That was difficult for me early in my career but now it’s not anymore and it makes life better, more inspired, fun, and personal. I am who I am, at work and at home. And with all that personal time spent with colleagues, many of them have become friends; and Pepsico has become family. (And isn’t it much nicer to work with friends?)
I also learned an important “life hack”: how to manage my energy and mood (and with that, deal with stress, jetlag, crisis situations, high work pressure, change, ambiguity, and so on). The solutions proved to be pretty simple: The 1st life hack is this: make sure you stay healthy. I religiously go to the gym every day, I eat healthy (mostly plant-based), and I increasingly take a time-out for meditation and reflection. I spend quality time with the family. #neverfeltbetter. The 2nd life hack related to that: don’t take everything so seriously. Inject laughter, a good joke now and again, moments of fun and celebration. And, slow down! We’re all human after all. Last (first actually): my own family; the love for my wife and kids is THE thing giving me joy and balance in life and keeps me going, also at PepsiCo. #familyfirst
The biggest career advice from my experience at PepsiCo, especially as you move up the ladder, is simple: keep learning! I’m constantly reading about marketing, innovation and business. And...about life (I read a lot of biographies but also about Buddhism, meditation, psychology, history, you name it). I stay current and get inspired along the way.
PepsiCo also leaves me deeply humbled. If you imagine the many many people I encountered and that created the foundations for who I am as a person, for how I´ve grown in life, for the happy moments I got to and get to enjoy, I realize what a small speck I am in the world, in society, in my own company. But also, how many more people are out there that truly inspire, truly change the world, truly make a difference, truly create, and are truly smart (and way way smarter than me). I am only a small little marketer in a big big sea of amazing people. But happy to be able to enjoy the swim with all of them!
Thank you all for being a part of the adventure.
-Kurt
Ps1 - This all sounds glorious, doesn´t it? Don’t get me wrong. There have been (many) days at PepsiCo where I had my doubts, frustrations, anger, fear, break-downs, WTF-moments, disappointments, and all the rest of it. I´m only human! :-) But net net, the positives far outweigh the negatives.
Ps2 - Did I mention I met my wife at PepsiCo? Needless to say that that boosted my happiness factor. We only worked together for a few weeks, but as in marketing, it´s all about ´stickiness´ ;-)
Ps3- The marketing beliefs I wrote a good 10 years ago are still valid: here
Ps4- For life-changing nutrition inspiration: watch “forks over knives” @ Netflix and follow Dr Michael Greger MD
Ps5- Want to know more about real marketing life? Check out my book (free pdf you can download here).
#pepsico #pepsi #greatplacetowork #20years #life #family #friendship #dowhatyoulove #marketing #innovation #change #business #learnings #work #passion #MayThe4thBeWithYou @pepsico @career
Associate Director - Marketing Procurement
6yPretty awesome read by an awesome human being . It’s an honor to know u Kurt. KeepGrinding :)
Senior Business Leader | Expertise in Maximizing Business Value, P&L Ownership, and Market Strategies | Global Experience in FMCG
6yInspiring message Kurt!! Always great memories to have worked close to your leadership.
Store Manager at Raymour & Flanigan Furniture and Mattress
6yAlthough only there for a short (5 years) it was a great place to get my professional career started as well. Many fond memories of working with some great people in the late 90s.
this is the PepsiCo I remember
ESG Reporting & Compliance, Sustainability Office @ PepsiCo
6yAppreciate you sharing your open and heart-felt reflections with us, Kurt! Every interaction with you is a wonderful learning experience. And special thanks for lending your marketing expertise for my team's rebranding project last year.