Former Consultants who strictly consulted and advised on digital transformation are hired into SVP, VP, and SR DR roles (as well as our favorite EVP AK). They know how to suggest but not lead and execute.
No accountability exists from these people, they don’t know how to lead, because they’ve never had to. Repeat this hiring cycle 100x bc consultants love hiring other consultants, and we are now in this state of being industry laggards!!!!!!
@142 Totally agree. I was in a people planning meeting where a senior leader praised someone’s networking across S&T. This person is known for not delivering results, yet that doesn’t come up in those discussions. The perception is driven more by their relationship with senior leaders than by impact.
@yw Sounds like my office. Are you a sycophant? What is your age, race, gender? Those factors are what matter, little else. Those who do the work are contributing to the promotions of those who do not.
Spot on. Honestly, it doesn’t feel the same working at PepsiCo anymore. Every day feels like it’s more about who can market themselves better than who is actually doing the work. The people putting in the effort don’t always get recognized, and it’s frustrating to watch others take credit.
There’s also a lot of confusion—direction keeps changing, expectations aren’t always clear, and it feels like everyone is just trying to figure things out on their own. Instead of working as a team, it sometimes feels like people are competing with each other just to stay visible.
What’s most disappointing is how the culture has shifted. There used to be a sense of support and looking out for each other, and that just doesn’t feel as strong anymore. It feels more divided, less inclusive, and honestly a bit discouraging.
I really hope things change, because this used to be a place where people felt valued for the work they actually did—not just how well they could promote it.
So true!