Washington, DC

PepsiCo Chairman and CEO Holds Fireside Chat on Leadership, Innovation and the Global Economy

PepsiCo Chairman and CEO Indra Nooyi, Conference Chair of CelebrAsian Procurement & Business Conference, held a fireside chat on a wide range of topics on leadership and business growth through innovation in the global economy at the Excellence Awards Dinner on May 30. Nooyi also shared her personal journey from India to become Chairman & CEO of PepsiCo, a Fortune 50 corporation, and the #2 “Most Powerful Woman in Business,” according to Fortune magazine.

Susan Au Allen, National President & CEO of USPAACC (US Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce Education Foundation) asked Nooyi the questions before a ballroom-filled audience composed of C-Suite executives from Fortune 1000 Corporations, CEOs and owners of Asian American businesses, and purchasing officers of federal agencies and large nonprofits. Nooyi also took questions at the fireside chat. One of her most memorable answers was, “I play four roles – mother, CEO, daughter, and wife – depending on what time during the day.”

Earlier that evening, Nooyi, on behalf of PepsiCo, accepted the Most Valued Corporation Award from USPAACC’s Allen. The Award recognizes the best company that has done an exceptional job of supporting USPAACC by enabling it to achieve its mission, having the long and steadfast support from the chief executive level, promoting a number of Asian Americans in its executive rank, utilizing Asian American suppliers, contributing to the college scholarship program, and sustaining participation in and support of USPAACC’s business development outreach and programs in and out of the country.

PepsiCo has a 19-year uninterrupted commitment to and support of USPAACC’s work, which has spurred economic growth and professional advancement of Pan Asian Americans and businesses nationwide.

The event was part of CelebrAsian“Smart World: Business - Talents - Technology” held May 29 to June 1, 2018 at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center in Bethesda, Maryland. It is the country’s largest and most established B2B conference convened by Pan Asian Americans.

Through innovative, first-to-market and business growth-related programs, CelebrAsian attracted CEOs, CPOs, CTOs, CIOs, Presidents, Directors, procurement managers, buyers, industry leaders and key decision-makers from Fortune 1000 Corporations, government agencies, and large nonprofits to connect and do business with top-caliber Asian American suppliers, successful business owners, disruptors and visionaries.

Strong support from the financial industry – Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, and Wells Fargo – along with automotive giant Nissan – showed the value placed on USPAACC and the ROI they realize from their partnership.

Co-chairing the Conference were established Pan Asian American businesses Ampcus, Indotronix Avani, and Pyramid Consulting, who appreciate the value USPAACC brings to the community by speaking for Pan Asian American businesses and connecting them to the right people, at the right place, at the right time.

As the country’s largest and most established B2B conference convened by Pan Asian Americans, CelebrAsian is the nation’s premier venue for procurement and other business opportunities, innovation, and job creation for the more than 2 million Pan Asian American-owned businesses nationwide. Their annual revenue surpasses $700 billion and continues to grow.

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About USPAACC

Founded in 1984 in the nation’s Capital, the US Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce Education Foundation (USPAACC) is the most established and effective national nonprofit nonpartisan  organization representing all Asian American and Asian American-related groups in business, sciences, the arts, sports, education, public and community services. Our mission is to promote and propel economic growth and job creation by opening doors to business and professional opportunities for Asian Americans and their partners in corporations, government at the federal, state and local levels, and the small, minority and diverse business communities.  For 35 years, USPAACC has served and will continue to serve as the unified voice for equal opportunity in business for Asian Americans, as the gateway to corporate and government contracts, to Asian American suppliers, and information about Asian Americans and the Asia-Pacific and Indian Subcontinent markets.

Our signature annual thought-leadership programs include: College Hallmark Scholarship Program that began in 1989, One-on-One Prescheduled Business Matchmaking Meetings in 1998, Supplier Diversity & Procurement Leadership Caucus in 2004, Federal Contracting Town Hall Meetings in 2005, Fast 100 Asian American Businesses in 2008, Business Executive Coaching: ReadySetGrow in 2011, Chief Procurement Officers Forum in 2011, What’s Your Pitch Innovation Competitions in 2015, Chief Technology & Information Officers Forum in 2017, and Corporate Employee Business Resource Group Leadership Caucus in 2017.

Headquartered in Washington DC, USPAACC reaches Asian American businesses nationwide through regional chapters in California, Texas, New York, Georgia, Illinois and the Washington DC-Maryland-Virginia National Capital Area.

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