S2 Ep 16: The Risk that Built a Pepsi CEO with Craig Weatherup, former CEO of Pepsi North America

Craig Weatherup spent nearly 30 years at Pepsi, rising to become CEO of Pepsi-Cola North America and later Chairman and CEO of the Pepsi Bottling Group.When Pepsi offered him a role in Tokyo, he and his wife Connie made a decision that would shape the rest of their lives. They left comfortable careers, packed up their family, and moved to Japan without ever having visited the country. Then, on Craig’s very first day, he learned his boss had been fired. Two months later, he was given the job. He had 200 employees, barely spoke the language, and was trying to rebuild a business where Pepsi held just 10% market share.In this episode of Risky Routes, Craig reflects on culture shock, learning to lead through uncertainty, and why the opportunities that define your life rarely arrive with guarantees attached.