In the musty corridors of the Sydney Cricket Ground, Indra Nooyi and I are discussing the fact we have two ears and one mouth. Not collectively. Individually, and therefore as individuals, we should listen more than we speak. “We have two eyes too,” Nooyi points out. Again, for good reason. “I’m a student of observation. By observing people, you can tell a lot. So observe and listen.” 

After stepping down from her position as CEO of PepsiCo in October last year, ending her 12 year tenure as chief executive of a company she had spent 24 years of her life working for, Nooyi has had more time to observe. And what she’s currently witnessing is a better looking path for young women than ever before. “The next few decades are the decades of women. Women should dream big. They should have total confidence in themselves,” she said. “Don’t let anybody take away your confidence. It’s yours. Bank it, and keep building stuff that you can bank. And if you ever feel like your confidence is being sapped, go get a shot of confidence from somewhere. Because you can overcome anything if you’ve got confidence. Build that reservoir of confidence in yourself. Know that the world needs you today, confident women, we need you today. So your time has come.”