My Life in Full: Work, Family, and Our Future

by Indra Nooyi

different industries. Consultants dig in, devoted to understanding the art and science of an industry and of a particular business. BCG was heralded in strategy consulting. The firm’s founder, Bruce Henderson, invented the “growth-share matrix” in 1970, the oft-taught model that rates businesses as cows, dogs, stars, and question marks, depending on their relative market share and growth rate. We were trained from day one to focus on addressing the client’s real challenges with data and clear, objective thinking, not just telling them what they wanted to hear. We revealed uncomfortable truths and would then sit down with company leadership, go through our analysis, and figure out a path forward. I felt this process had an intellectual honesty that sidelined politics, although, of course, there was plenty of corporate politics to wade through, too. The consulting business really suited me. I loved zooming in, digging deep into a business, learning growth and profit levers, then zooming out to determine how best to reposition a business or a company. Every project felt very personal, and I was busy all the time. I don’t sleep much, and I easily put in the long hours needed when I was wrapped up in the analysis.