The Fulfilled Leader with Jean Balfour Ep. #96 The Power of Pivoting: Punita Lal on Careers, Boards & Creativity
Feb 19, 2025
Punita Lal, a distinguished business leader with over 35 years of experience at giants like PepsiCo and Coca-Cola, shares her inspiring zigzag career journey. She emphasizes the importance of curiosity and continuous learning for future-proofing careers. Punita advocates for taking risks and embracing creativity in problem-solving. She discusses the vital role of mentorship and sponsors in professional growth, and how diverse hobbies can enhance innovation. Her insights on work-life integration and navigating non-traditional career paths are both empowering and refreshing.
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Work Is Defined By Joy, Not Hours
- Punita Lal no longer separates work and life and chooses activities she enjoys so work feels less onerous.
- She defines her own terms and prioritizes weeks of lighter focused work around heavy reporting cycles.
Read Outside Your Field Daily
- Read broadly and challenge yourself daily by consuming material outside your field to spark creativity.
- Use those random connections to generate new ideas and solutions.
From Advertising To Marketing In China
- Punita started her career in advertising, then moved to marketing at Coca-Cola after relocating to Hong Kong.
- She absorbed new markets like early-growth China by listening and learning intensely during her first year.
