PepsiCo Foundation Announces Three-Year Partnership With The Executive Leadership Council To Foster Black Leaders

The 20th Annual Mid-Level Managers' Symposium Highlights PepsiCo's Goal to Develop the Next Generation of Black Leadership

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PepsiCo Foundation

Oct 30, 2014, 05:30 ET

PURCHASE, N.Y., Oct. 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The PepsiCo Foundation today announced that it is extending its relationship with the Executive Leadership Council (ELC) with a new three-year grant that will support the ELC's Mid-Level Managers' Symposium (MLMS). The PepsiCo Foundation will contribute $150,000 to fund the MLMS every year for the next three years, starting in 2015, for a total contribution of $450,000. This long-standing partnership will further advance the ELC's mission to increase the number of black executives and CEOs on corporate boards and industries across the globe.

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The MLMS symposium is an intense two-day premier event that brings together business leaders and experts, who offer insights about their leadership journeys, best practices and careers strategies to help advance participants' professional development and success. The program provides nearly 800 black mid-level managers training in crucial areas such as leadership styles, work/life balance and networking.

PepsiCo was a founding partner of the ELC in 1986 and in 1994 helped create the MLMS program. This year marks the 20^th anniversary of the PepsiCo Foundation and PepsiCo's relationship with MLMS.

"The PepsiCo Foundation is deeply committed to fostering and developing diverse talent pipelines, and the work that the Executive Leadership Council does through its MLMS program is invaluable," said Sue Norton vice president, PepsiCo Foundation. "Our renewed commitment to the ELC and its MLMS program is a natural extension of our rich history and partnership. We are proud to support this crucial program that works to advance the careers of black mid-level managers and executives."

"PepsiCo understands the changing needs of today's economy and has long supported diverse leadership opportunities to create stronger companies," said Ronald Parker, President and CEO of the Executive Leadership Council. "They have not only shared their corporate values in the founding of this program, but have also sent attendees to the MLMS since the program started. We are extremely grateful for their support and participation."

"Attending the MLMS Institute was eye-opening and empowering," said Shawna Wilson, who first attended the MLMS in 2002 and is currently regional vice president in sales at Frito-Lay North America. "The insight I gained not only helps me professionally but also affirms why I chose to work at a company like PepsiCo that truly supports diversity and engagement so that all employees have the resources they need to succeed."

The PepsiCo Foundation is a Lead Co-Sponsor of the ELC's MLMS Symposium. James Simms, Senior Vice President Mid-Atlantic Region, delivered the conference's opening remarks on behalf of PepsiCo at the Gaylord National Harbor Hotel on October 29. PepsiCo's Sue Norton and Deborah Rosado Shaw, Senior Vice President and Chief Global Diversity and Engagement Officer, among other executives, also participated at the Symposium.

To learn more about the ELC and MLMS, please visit: https://www.elcinfo.com/information/what-we-do/institute/mid-level-managers-symposium.

About the PepsiCo Foundation
Established in 1962, the PepsiCo Foundation is the philanthropic anchor of PepsiCo, collaborating with non-profit organizations to develop innovative solutions to challenges facing underserved communities around the world. In support of PepsiCo's commitment to Performance with Purpose, the PepsiCo Foundation provides grants to eligible non-profit organizations to advance progress in the fields of Human, Environmental, and Talent Sustainability. For more information, visit: http://www.pepsico.com/Purpose/Global-Citizenship.

About PepsiCo
PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $66 billion in net revenue in 2013, driven by a complementary food and beverage portfolio that includes Frito-Lay, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Quaker and Tropicana. PepsiCo's product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including 22 brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.

At the heart of PepsiCo is Performance with Purpose – our goal to deliver top-tier financial performance while creating sustainable growth in shareholder value. In practice, Performance with Purpose means providing a wide range of foods and beverages from treats to healthy eats; finding innovative ways to minimize our impact on the environment and reduce our operating costs; providing a safe and inclusive workplace for our employees globally; and respecting, supporting and investing in the local communities where we operate. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com.

About The Executive Leadership Council
The Executive Leadership Council, an independent non-profit 501(c)(6) corporation founded in 1986, is the pre-eminent membership organization committed to increasing the number of global black executives in C-Suites, on corporate boards and in global enterprises. Comprised of more than 500 current and former black CEOs, board members and senior executives at Fortune 500 companies and equivalents, its members work to build an inclusive business leadership pipeline that empowers global black leaders to make impactful contributions to the marketplace and the global communities they serve. For more information, please visit www.elcinfo.com.

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