Touching people's lives with products that make a positive impact on them: this is one of Rachel Ferdinand, president of PepsiCo Foods Canada (PFC),'s most important daily commitments.
“I've been blessed with the opportunity to work on products that improve people's lives and bring them moments of joy,” she says, “and I'm excited every day to work with the myriad PFC brands that people know and love.”
Ferdinand has served as President of PFC since 2022, and his role includes leadership of Frito-Lay Canada and Quaker Canada. Previously, he was Chief Marketing Officer for Frito-Lay North America. Prior to joining PepsiCo, he served as Vice President and Global Sector Leader of Family Care at Kimberly-Clark Corporation. Ferdinand's career has allowed him to work all over the world, giving him a “unique perspective as a leader” while “enriching my ability to connect with people wherever they are.”
After assuming the role of PFC president, Ferdinand engaged with as many PFC employees as possible. She led a national listening tour, visiting all of the company's regions and plants with a focus on hearing from frontline employees. As a result, she developed a new vision for PFC and further increased investments in expanding employee recognition and appreciation.
Last year, Ferdinand worked with all Frito-Lay Canada plant teams and regional zone teams across the United States.
“I've also been fortunate to visit the incredible family farms where we source our ingredients,” she says. “I've learned so much about the journey our products take from start to finish and the broader, incredibly dynamic Canadian food system. Spending time with the hard-working people who make, transport and sell our products is one of the best parts of my job.”
Always learning
When it comes to these products, Ferdinand is extremely proud of her team's commitment to consumer-centric innovation. “Canada has a strong diversity, and we have innovated products to meet the unique tastes of multicultural Canadians, whether that be new bold flavours or flavours that have been successful in other markets,” she says.
Ferdinand explains that continuous learning is essential for her.
“I embrace the opportunity to learn from everyone I meet,” she says, “and I love using my science training to break down complex problems and explore them in different ways. The more I learn, the more I'm able to help others grow and succeed. Leadership as PFC president means uplifting those around me, and I'm passionate about advancing women at PFC and supporting our inclusive culture, as well as ongoing employee wellness efforts, including clear boundaries between work and home life.”
Ferdinand is excited to continue to realize the company's vision of bringing more joy to tomorrow's dining experiences in a sustainable way.
“Our vision is a team approach based on a hands-on culture,” she says. “We have solid plans to build on some of the great work we've done so far and become a bigger and better company than ever before. My biggest goal is to remove barriers for our valued frontline colleagues, who make up about 90% of our workforce. I want to ensure PFC is a great place to work for everyone, especially our frontline colleagues, and I will continue to listen and engage with them.”
This article originally appeared in the April/May 2024 issue of Food in Canada.
