PHOENIX — As the CEO of one of the biggest companies in snacking, Steven Williams has a lot on his plate.
At the helm of PepsiCo North America, he has led the company through a monumental shift in not only the food industry, but also life at large. As he reflected on all the lessons he’s learned at SNX, being held March 27-29 in Phoenix, AZ, he feels lucky to have been a part of such a great community for so many years.
“I think I have the best job, and I get to work in such an amazing industry,” Williams said. “The last couple years have been quite difficult, and I really applaud everyone in who has risen to the challenge to keep the trains moving and keep consumers smiling.”
The snack industry has been hit from all sides, and when Williams began his role as CEO in 2019, it was hard to imagine that the world would be rocked the way it was by COVID-19. But as painful and scary as this time was, he said putting people first was the best decision he ever made.
“The last couple of years were awful for many reasons, but the thing I’m most proud of is the unbelievable spirit of the people on our front lines,” he said. “It was a critical time, and we said we need to put people first. Pay people to stay home if they’re sick, pay people who weren’t sick a whole lot more to come to work. It cost a lot of money, but I don’t regret one cent. It’s still paying dividends.”
Transparency was also essential as the business pushed forward, with people both inside and outside the organization. Williams grounded himself and used open honesty to build trust with customers, partners and consumers.
“Attitude will turn to altitude,” he said. “I firmly believe that transparency builds trust and trust adds speed. We went out with advertising about people, and to really be transparent about investing in communities. I also think we increased the transparency with our suppliers. I don’t think we would have gotten through if we hadn’t, because nobody would have been okay trying to do it alone.”
Although there are silver linings to the pandemic, such as how it brought many industries closer than ever, it’s important to acknowledge how stressful being in a leadership role during this time (and in general) can be.
Williams said that burning at both ends isn’t good for humans and isn’t good for business, which is why it’s important to take care of yourself and show your employees it’s okay to take care of themselves, too.
“We need healthy motivated people,” Williams said. “We can’t run a business without them. And it’s more than a notion.”
