Novel Approach

Updated on: Thursday, February 16, 2012

PepsiCo India announced the fifth edition of ‘Become Indra’s Advisors Contest’ on February 3, a unique campus challenge that looks at talented young minds for the most innovative and out-of-the-box solutions to the challenges that PepsiCo is currently facing.

Over 200 entries were received from 17 premier B-Schools across the country for this edition. Students from JBIMS, Mumbai and FMS, Delhi finished as first and second runners-up respectively while ISB won the contest.

The winning team ‘Nothing Official’ consisting of Sunitha Subramaniam, Indradeep Das and Sameep Mendiratta walked away with the trophy after beating five other finalists for the opportunity to travel to New York and also bagged for themselves Pre Placement Offers (PPO) at PepsiCo India. The first and the second runners up received cash prizes of Rs 2,00,000 and Rs 1,50,000 respectively and Pre Placement Interviews (PPI).

This contest provides students with once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to present their challenge solution to PepsiCo’s chairperson & CEO, Indra Nooyi at PepsiCo’s Headquarters at Purchase, New York.

The topic for this year’s competition was ‘Transforming Breakfast for Indian Consumers’. Participants were encouraged to come up with relevant business solutions for the branded breakfast category in the country using two globally powerful brands PepsiCo’s portfolio – Tropicana & Quaker.
 
The finalists presented their ideas to PepsiCo’s honchos including Dr Arindam Bhattacharya, managing director, The Boston Consulting Group, India; Gautham Mukkavilli, SVP- Global Nutrition Group, AMEA, PepsiCo; Manu Anand, president & CEO, PepsiCo India; Praveen Someshwar, CEO, India Beverages – PepsiCo; and Varun Berry, CEO, India Foods - PepsiCo. The evaluation parameters used by the judges were originality, comprehensiveness of the solution, feasibility and overall presentation.

Speaking about the initiative, Samik Basu, chief people’s officer, PepsiCo India Region said, “This programme serves a two-fold agenda; one is to engage bright young minds to come up with possible solutions for real business issues and opportunities; secondly to make them familiar with the F&B industry and how PepsiCo is poised within that space.”

Members of the winning team, Nothing Official from ISB said, “Our win at this contest was a culmination of nearly two months of hard work. We are thrilled to be able to meet Indra Nooyi and share our ideas with her and thank PepsiCo for giving us this opportunity.”

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