Greg Lyons (PepsiCo) | Build a Culture Through Empathy, Kindness and Fun
Nov 6, 2024
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Greg Lyons, CMO of PepsiCo Beverages North America, shares his insights from over 25 years at the company. He emphasizes the importance of empathy and kindness in leadership, fostering a fun workplace culture. Lyons discusses the evolving role of CMOs, balancing data with storytelling. He highlights the need for genuine consumer connections and how consumer behavior shifts during the pandemic impact branding. Personal anecdotes illustrate how these values enhance both team dynamics and business success.
Empathy is essential for effective leadership, fostering authentic relationships that enhance teamwork and consumer loyalty post-pandemic.
Regular communication practices, like note-writing rituals, build a cohesive workplace culture by reinforcing transparency and trust among team members.
Simplicity and prioritization in personal and professional life lead to better execution and effectiveness, benefiting both business operations and individual growth.
Deep dives
Flowcode's Innovative Concept
Flowcode is designed to seamlessly connect physical consumers with digital assets for brands, merging the real world with the digital landscape. This idea stemmed from experiences in China where the popularity of QR codes was prominent, inspiring a vision of creating a tool that enhances consumer engagement. It aims to simplify the interaction between fans and brands, making it easier for consumers to access brand-related content through a simple scan. The origins of Flowcode reveal a blend of technology and creativity, demonstrating its potential to revolutionize marketing strategies.
Evolving Leadership through Empathy
Empathy has emerged as a crucial trait for effective leadership, especially in the aftermath of the pandemic. CMO Greg Lyons emphasized the importance of building authentic relationships with colleagues and understanding the challenges faced by consumers. This shift in perspective not only fosters a supportive work environment but also enhances teamwork and decision-making. Lyons' experiences illustrate how prioritizing empathy can lead to stronger connections within teams and improved brand loyalty among consumers.
The Importance of Communication Rituals
Establishing regular communication practices, such as weekly updates or team check-ins, is essential for building a cohesive workplace culture. Lyons implemented a note-writing ritual to keep his team informed and engaged while sharing personal anecdotes to foster closeness. This approach reinforces transparency and trust, helping to cultivate a positive environment where employees feel valued and connected. By prioritizing open communication, organizations can enhance collaboration and improve overall morale.
Simplicity and Focus in Strategy
Simplicity and prioritization have become guiding principles for Lyons in both his personal and professional life. Over the past four and a half years, he recognized the importance of focusing on a few key initiatives to drive success within his organization. By reducing complexity and clear prioritization, he found that it leads to better execution and overall effectiveness. Lyon's journey illustrates that a streamlined approach not only benefits business operations but also enriches individual lives.
The Role of Empathy in Brand Building
Understanding consumer needs through empathy is vital for creating strong emotional connections with brands. Lyons discussed how empathy enables marketers to truly resonate with their target audience, enhancing overall brand relevance. He acknowledged that empathy is a skill that can be developed through intentional practice and focusing on genuine human connections. This perspective highlights the relationship between empathy in the workplace and consumer-centric marketing efforts, leading to brand loyalty and long-term success.
This week Jim is joined on The CMO Podcast by Greg Lyons, the Chief Marketing Officer for Pepsico Beverages North America. Greg looks over about $28 billion in revenue, with 10 Billion dollar brands, including Pepsi-Cola, Gatorade, Mountain Dew and Bubly. PepsiCo Beverages North America is part of PepsiCo, a $91 billion food and beverage global powerhouse.
Greg has been with PepsiCo for over 25 years, and CMO since 2017. He was a guest on the show in May 2020–in the early days of the pandemic. Still, to this day, almost five years later, that episode is one of Jim's absolute favorites. In this episode, they return to many of the themes from that recording, and hear Greg’s perspective on empathy, kindness and having fun.