Lisa Walsh

PepsiCo.
Vice President, PepsiCo Sales

Years with company:  14 years

Education degrees and professional/volunteer organizations:

• Board of Directors – Network of Executive Women
• Board of Directors – National Grocers Association
• Food Marketing Institute Industry Collaboration Council
• Grocery Manufacturers Association Sales Committee
• B.A., Psychology – Lafayette College

What are you most proud of in your career achievements? Do you have a defining moment of your career to date?
I take great pride in knowing that I’ve been blessed with a fulfilling career without ever compromising my values or principals.  My daughter and son know that with hard work and conviction you can achieve greatness in whatever you choose to do in life.  Hopefully I’ve shown them that women in particular can be successful, inspiring and admired leaders in the workplace while being loving mothers as well.  One of my defining moments was being voted onto the Board of Directors for the Network of Executive Women, which is an organization that perfectly aligns with my values to support and develop women within our industry.  To be able to give back in this way is both humbling and incredibly gratifying.

Most challenging part of your job:
My role at PepsiCo is quite varied with sales management, industry engagement, strategic transformation and new business responsibilities.  The biggest challenge is knowing how to effectively prioritize each day to enable my teams to be successful not only in delivering the business results but in supporting their personal and professional growth.

Advice for upcoming younger executives:
Don’t be afraid to take risks and get out of your comfort zone…that is often where the best learning occurs and you just might surprise yourself on what your capabilities are when stretched!  The hardest assignment I ever had was the one where I learned the most and that assignment opened up doors for me that I never would have imagined.  My other piece of advice is to never compromise on child care.  Cut back in other areas of your life if necessary so that your children are well cared for; otherwise you’ll never be fully engaged at work if you’re worried about what is going on at home.

Hobbies:
Travel, the Jersey Shore and family time with my husband and kids.