For the Love of Leadership

Aside from the familiar taste of a delicious soft drink at Kyle Field on a hot SEC Saturday, students at Texas A&M University are now experiencing PepsiCo in refreshing new ways. As part of an annual initiative, the industry-leading corporation is dedicating valuable time and resources to first-generation college students within Texas A&M’s Mays Business School and College of Engineering through an engaging, multi-session PepsiCo Leadership Certificate Program. This influential opportunity provides Aggies with the foundational tools needed to capitalize on their educational career at Texas A&M, and even more so, expand their skillset to become successful leaders in their future professional endeavors.

Since the program’s launch in 2021, PepsiCo has established an impactful connection with aspiring Aggie professionals on campus. With the support of their corporate-sponsored gift through the Texas A&M Foundation, company representatives visit Aggieland each year to facilitate their empowering leadership development sessions and panels presented over a three-week period.

Key Ingredient: Collaboration

In each session, PepsiCo representatives focus on a variety of content aimed at better equipping students with tools and skills to enable their success. These discussions cover topics such as navigating challenging conversations, overcoming imposter syndrome and managing conflict with confidence.

“It’s important that students learn to interact in a multidisciplinary environment,” said Dr. Nancy Hutchins ’10 ’14, Clinical Assistant Professor and Director of Student Success for Undergraduate Programs at Mays Business School. “This year, for the first time, business and engineering students connected with PepsiCo representatives during the same sessions. Going forward, this integration will play a pivotal role in their leadership development in diverse settings.”
 

A Spark Like No Other

When asked what motivates PepsiCo to return to College Station, Argianas’ answer is simple: Aggies aren’t quite like anyone else. “We consider it an honor to interact with Aggie students, as they continually impress our teams by exhibiting qualities students may not always possess.” Argianas said. The company takes great pride in working with individuals who strive to be better leaders in their communities and around the world.

Participants of this program become exceptional leaders in a multitude of professions, and some even make their way to PepsiCo themselves as interns and full-time employees, ultimately giving back to the company that gave them so much. PepsiCo proudly offers internships and job opportunities to approximately 160 Aggies each year, and they don’t plan on decreasing that number anytime soon.

“It’s rewarding to see former program participants come to PepsiCo with their leadership certificate on their resume,” Argianas concluded. “It reminds us why we do what we do for these students.”