Indra Nooyi on Balance

I was interviewed by The Times of India for an article they’re doing on work/life balance. Not sure if it will run or if my comments will survive the editor’s red pen, but very cool nonetheless that The Times found The Balance Project and was interested in my thoughts.

They are writing their article in response to a candid, informative, and fascinating interview Indra Nooyi, the CEO of Pepsico, gave last week at the Aspen Ideas Festival.

[Read a transcript of the interview at The Atlantic.] Some of my favorite quotes:

“I don’t think women can have it all. I just don’t think so.”
“The biological clock and the career clock are in total conflict with each other.”
“Stay at home mothering was a full time job. Being a CEO for a company is three full time jobs rolled into one. How can you do justice to all? You can’t.”

Indra Nooyi has been there and done that. She has so much wisdom to impart. Not trying to bash Sheryl Sandberg here because I do respect her opinion, but I find it more helpful to hear work/life balance advice from a woman who has been at this for a while and who has older kids. Sorry Sheryl, but come back to us in 15 years and then tell us how all that leaning in worked out for you.

Team Indra. In!

[UPDATE: The article I was interviewed for ran in The Times of India on July 27, 2014. It’s called “Can Anyone Have It All?” by Nona Walia.

Here’s the video of the interview: