12 Fortune 500 CEOs worked for Pepsi. Delta’s Ed Bastian explains why it’s a leadership factory

12 Fortune 500 CEOs worked for Pepsi. Delta’s Ed Bastian explains why it’s a leadership factory

Source: Fortune

Summary

Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian credits PepsiCo for his rise to the top, saying the company’s approach to grooming leaders helped him become the executive he is today. PepsiCo’s reputation as a “talent factory” has led to the development of many top executives, including Bastian, who joined Delta in 1998 and became CEO in 2015. Bastian believes that humility and taking care of the people who got you there are key attributes of great leaders.


Our Reading

The strategy enters a familiar phase.

Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian’s rise to the top was shaped by his time at PepsiCo, where he learned the importance of talent development and leadership. PepsiCo’s approach to grooming leaders has led to the development of many top executives, including Bastian. Bastian’s humility and focus on taking care of his employees have been key to his success. He believes that human instincts matter more than ever in an era defined by technology and speed.

Bastian’s story is a reminder that great leaders are made, not born.


Author: Evan Null