PepsiCo Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer Dr. Athina Kanioura

The retail landscape is ever evolving, and no one knows this better than PepsiCo Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer Dr. Athina Kanioura. As one of the honorees on The List of People Shaping Retail’s Future, Dr. Kanioura tells us the ways PepsiCo is harnessing the power of data and other emerging technologies to revolutionize how its products are experienced and enjoyed by consumers globally.  

We asked Dr. Kanioura 20 questions about her career, the retail industry, and advice she would give to those looking to grow their careers in retail. Here are a few of her responses. (Watch video for full interview) 

What is your leadership philosophy?

Look, I truly believe that the whole is always greater than the sum of its parts. Even if I were to look at how PepsiCo operates and the micro cosmos of my organization, we are a very flat pyramid. We democratize decision making. We like people to contribute to the ideas. We don't believe that you can accomplish excellence by doing things individually. And we have pivoted the company from the hero syndrome to the adopter syndrome, from the individual success to the collective success. And that is what makes an organization great. How can you create an inclusive environment for everyone to thrive, for diversity to be at the heart of the decision process and no matter what the background, the culture, the geography, everyone feels at home. 

What career advice would you give to your younger self? 

What would be the most important traits as I go back and look at my younger me? I would say, be bold. Take calculated risks. Use learning as a platform to evolve and develop both as a professional, but also as a person. And especially in the world that we live in, trusting in your abilities, finding ways to make your ideas heard and having a seat at the table cannot be taken for granted. You have to persevere, you have to be assertive. Your career is about taking calculated risks. That's what I've done historically. That's what has made me be the person that I am. And especially growing up in a very male dominated field where females in STEM were more the outlier than the norm. It has taught me to always ask for what I want, but be extremely well prepared and thoughtful because everything I do influences another set of women that are around me. So again, the best piece of advice I would give myself is always put yourself in the shoes of everyone who is looking up to you and keep loyal to your values and what you believe in. 

What is one misconception about retail that you would love to debunk for everyone?  

One of the biggest misconceptions is that retail is simply about selling products to consumers. I think it's very hard sometimes for people to understand that we are talking about a very complex, but very interconnected value chain.

If you think about companies like PepsiCo, we service every single touchpoint - from growing and moving the product to delivering and selling them. Imagine your favorite bag of Lay’s, which you can get from the store or any type of e-grocery platform. You get it and you say, "Okay, it’s so simple for me to hold Lay's in my hands."

Well, it requires a lot of work to bring this wonderful bag of Lay's to the shelf and create an amazing experience when you eat it. Why? Because it's an interconnected, end-to-end value chain. From the raw ingredient, to our farmers, drivers, to the shelf, to the table. The misconception is that it's a simple value chain. The reality is a complex but interconnected and integrated value chain that leverages an ecosystem of capabilities, experiences and people to be able to create this seamless, satisfactory experience.  

What does the future of retail look like? 

The future of retail is truly shaped by automation and technology. Fundamentally, we believe that there is no future if we as an industry don't embrace AI, digitalization, intelligent automation and everything that we now test, pilot and experiment across the ecosystem. At PepsiCo, we are fully dedicated to harnessing these advancements to revolutionize our supply chain and the way we move our products and create superior consumer experiences - this can only be enhanced and informed by technology and innovation. 

About NRF Foundation Honors

The NRF Foundation connects people to an industry that's a great place to start and a great place to grow. Since 2015, the NRF Foundation Honors has raised the funds to continue to provide programs and resources to help people build better lives and stronger communities.

Join us in New York City to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the NRF Foundation Honors and be a part of the story of how retail builds extraordinary careers.