Driving Cultural Change: PepsiCo's Deepika Yerragunta on Customer Obsession and Product Mindset
In this episode of the Convergence Podcast, host Ashok Sivanand engages in a fascinating discussion with Deepika Yerragunta, the Head of eCommerce Platform Products at PepsiCo. Deepika brings her extensive experience from leading product teams at tech giants like Amazon and Intel to her current role at PepsiCo, where she drives innovation and product strategy.
Ashok and Deepika talk about how a culture of customer obsession and a product mindset lead to both customer and stakeholder delight that drive business growth and outcomes even when your peers aren't necessarily experienced technologists. Deepika shares her journey into product management, emphasizing the importance of bridging the gap between business and technical needs. She discusses the unique challenges and opportunities in transitioning from technology-centric companies to a technology-enabled role within a traditional industry like consumer packaged goods (CPG). The conversation highlights the significance of a culture of customer obsession, the strategic implementation of OKRs, and how these frameworks contribute to business growth and stakeholder satisfaction. They also discuss some of their "OKRs theatrics" pet peeves and the box checking exercise that it can sometimes be.
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Referenced in the episode:
Influence Course by Cade Massey
Inside the episode:
• Introduction to Deepika Yerragunta’s background and career path
• Transitioning from tech giants to a technology-enabled role at PepsiCo
• Building a culture of customer obsession and product-centric thinking
• Strategic implementation and challenges of OKRs in traditional industries
• The role of product managers in driving business and technical alignment
• Insights into prioritization and resource allocation in product development
• Balancing strategic vision with tactical execution in product management
• Lessons from Amazon’s innovation culture and applying them at PepsiCo
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