I recently read Indra Nooyi’s, ex-CEO of PepsiCo, book. In the book, she detailed her early childhood in Madras, now Chennai ­­- the capital of Tamil Nadu, the state where I grew up, India, her graduate school experience both in India and in the US, her work experiences both in India and in the US, her incredible mentors at her workplaces and her views on the workplace needs and culture. Each topic mentioned above warrants deep reflection, but something that I keep coming back to is ‘how critical thinking and expert guidance in early childhood can set one up for outsized growth.’ 

In the book, Indra talks extensively about her family and the family patriarch, her Thatha – Tamil word for grandfather. Her Thatha, despite having read the entire newspaper in the morning while Indra was at school, would make her read the newspapers for him, and he would encourage her to put forth her own opinion of what she thinks about the said topic. In my opinion, this act of encouragement from family elders, whom the children look up to, develops a greater ability to think critically and formulate one’s own opinion on said topics early on in a child’s development and helps them to expand or even rethink their understanding of norms rather than just confirming to it. I think it is a crucial trait for anyone to have. After all, as I talked about in an earlier blog, critical thinking creates value. 

Indra’s ability to think critically and formulate thoughts might have even gotten her to be part of her school’s debate team. In one of the debating competitions, she met an influential person who was volunteering as a debate judge. This influential person mentored her throughout her childhood, and she even met the then-Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi, through her involvement with her debate team. In undergrad, Indra started the first Women’s cricket club (not an easy thing to do considering the cultural context). She might have relied upon her critical thinking ability to rethink certain cultural norms and her life experience of meeting with the Prime Minister at a young age. Indra then went on to IIM (Indian Institute of Management) and then to Yale. To get into these elite programs, she might have had to lean into these early childhood experiences that shaped her and put her on a path to even think about attending these elite institutions. She has realized her potential and not playing catch-up.

I understand that what I am saying might sound incredibly reductionist, and I do not mean to discount the smarts, the grit, and the drive of someone like Indra. Indra mentioned in the book that she was not always the smartest in her classes growing up and used tutors outside of school. This fact begs the question, what about all the other kids who are equally as smart if not smarter, grittier, and more driven than her but someone who lacked guidance early in their lives? Are they forever playing catch-up? Or is there a way for them to get to a more level playing field? Can they be faulted for not getting dealt a better hand in childhood? Is it fair that some get all the glory for things that were not in their control, to begin with?

What can be done about this? What are the pathways for people who have big dreams but are always just one tiny step behind that they do not get into the big leagues, where they can make an outsized impact? Luck seems to play an enormous role in the hand you get dealt with, but what can one do to make up for lost time, seek guidance, and grow faster than those who have had this advantage much earlier on? What can one do to maximize their luck? Is it possible to catch up, or should one just be grateful for what they have and settle for it?

I did not mean to end this by posing more questions than giving answers, but these are questions that I genuinely am seeking answers to. Have you realized your potential or playing catch-up? I still feel like I am playing catchup but I am ready to put in the work to move on ahead. I am curious and am open to learning from anyone who can guide me.