Book Review: Indra Nooyi My Life in Full

This book is inspiring and a learning experience. It is so down to earth and yet so amazing. It is a must read. 

As a person who studied in US and lived there for 7 years I can completely relate to her life especially in her journey as a migrant to another country. The story where she walks in wearing a misfit suit she spent all the money she had for her job interview. Her excitement and desire to impress, her brave face when it didn't turn out the way she wanted yet her confidence, talent, hard-work that did get her the job were fascinating and highly relatable.

There is a deep connection I can feel to her approach to life and work. There is honesty engraved in every step she took in life. An attempt to make the world a better place and live an honest life. She introduced healthy products into a company like PepsiCo. She placed the company in top ranking spot in world's most ethical companies. She did it where she had to convince board and colleagues who were mostly all male and white. She was one Indian woman who did it all.

The minute details that she remembers about her home and early life are quite remarkable. The simplicity and discipline she describes in her early life are heart touching. This was probably my most favourite part of the book. Her childhood filled with freedom and yet focus and discipline. Her relationship with her grandfather, mother, father and family were beautiful. The ground work her family managed to do during her upbringing even in tough situations set her up for success in her future life. It is truly inspiring and proud feeling to read about this simple Indian Brahmin family and how they bring up their children, esp. girls.

This is a truly remarkable book describing a woman who is a role model for generations with her successes as well as regrets. The moment in her life where she realises her daughter was being harassed at school in the child psychologists room, she and her husband break down and cry. Given the social conditions of American high schools i am not surprised her innocent child had to go through that, this also shows a naive aspect of her personality that she did not foresee this in that kind of social atmosphere. It's painful and yet the reality of Indians who migrate to US. Their children do go through painful horrible situations that make them question their backgrounds and identities. This has been my first hand experience when meeting Indian origin kids who were brought up in United States including my own cousins. Their identities and personalities are very different from kids who are brought up in India due to the drastic social atmospheric differences.

The struggles she faced in bringing up her two daughters are completely relatable. I could not stop thinking about her situation and yet admire the brave way in which she dealt with this. 

The book is a real treasure. I recommend this all, esp. women, esp. Indian women.