Steven Williams
Executive Vice President and Vice ChairmanPepsiCo
Steven Williams is PepsiCo’s Executive Vice President and Vice Chairman, Global Chief Commercial Officer and Corporate Affairs. In this role, Steven is focused on building a unified PepsiCo selling organization, developing a global strategy to accelerate growth for our away-from-home business, and engaging stakeholders to support our growth in the US and around the world.
Previously he was the Chief Executive Officer of PepsiCo North America, overseeing a more than $48 billion business that spans PepsiCo’s Foods and Beverage operating units – and before that he was CEO of PepsiCo Foods North America, responsible for overseeing all aspects of PepsiCo’s nearly $21 billion snack and convenient foods business in North America. This included Frito-Lay North America (FLNA) and Quaker Foods North America (QFNA), which featured iconic brands such as Lay’s, Doritos, Cheetos, Tostitos, Ruffles, Fritos, Stacy’s Pita Chips, SunChips, and Quaker Oats.
Under Steven’s leadership, Frito-Lay became the #1 growth driver in total food and led savory snack innovation in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry, achieving the most growth in this category from 2022 to 2024. He spearheaded PepsiCo’s expansion into plant-based and organic snacks and led strategic acquisitions, including PopCorners and Sabra, which enhanced PepsiCo’s portfolio of Positive Choices and supported our pep+ sustainability and nutrition goals.
He also led initiatives such as the rollout of compostable packaging, earning the U.S. EPA SmartWay Excellence Award, and the addition of 500 EV trucks, including the first-ever Tesla Semi, collectively reducing 143 metric tons of CO2e emissions annually.
Steven played a key role in the company being ranked as the #1 Supplier in Kantar’s PoweRanking for nine consecutive years from 2016 to 2024, showcasing PepsiCo’s leadership in strategy, branding, marketing, and supply chain management.
Steven joined PepsiCo in 2001 as part of PepsiCo’s acquisition of the Quaker Oats Company, which he joined in 1997, and has since held leadership positions of increased responsibility. Early in his tenure at PepsiCo, Steven led the company’s global Walmart business, managing the PepsiCo portfolio of products across all aspects of the Walmart Business worldwide, including Walmart U.S., Sam’s Club, and Walmart International Divisions. In this role, he built strong strategic partnerships and delivered significant retail sales and share growth.
Beyond PepsiCo, Steven actively contributes to various organizations. He serves on the board of directors for State Farm Mutual Automobile Company. He was also Campaign Chair for United Way of Metropolitan Dallas’ Annual Campaign during their Centennial year, and sits on the President’s Advisory Board for the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. Additionally, he is active with industry groups like the Consumer Brands Association (CBA), Food Marketing Institute (FMI), and National Retail Federation (NRF).
Meet the Laureates Q&A Series: Steven Williams
Read on to discover how Steven’s journey—from stepping outside his comfort zone during a pivotal corporate transition to leading with purpose at PepsiCo—has been defined by courage, mentorship, and a belief that business can be a powerful force for positive community impact.
What’s one key decision or moment that shaped your career?
Steven Williams: One of the most defining moments in my career came when I chose to step out of my comfort zone and take on a new challenge during the transition of Quaker Oats into PepsiCo. At the time, it meant leaving a familiar customer-facing role and moving into a new business system, one that required me to adapt, learn fast, and lead through change. That experience taught me that the moments of greatest growth come when you stretch yourself. Over the years, I’ve carried that forward, embracing new roles, moving nine times, and taking on challenges that pushed me to see the business, our people, and our consumers from every angle. It hasn’t always been easy, but it’s been an incredible journey.
How do you approach mentoring the next generation of leaders?
Steven Williams: I believe leadership is about raising others. My job is to create an environment where people can do their best work, take smart risks, and learn along the way. I encourage our teams to speak up, challenge ideas, and bring their full selves to the table, because the best solutions come from diverse perspectives.
I often talk about my “COACH” philosophy: Courage, Openness, Agility, Consistency, and Humility. Those are the qualities I try to model and develop in others. And just as I’ve been mentored by leaders who saw potential in me before I saw it in myself, I take seriously the responsibility to do the same for the next generation.
How has giving back to the community influenced your leadership and your approach to business?
Steven Williams: Giving back isn’t something separate from leadership, it’s a reflection of it. And serving our communities isn’t just something we do, it’s who we are. Guided by our PepsiCo Positive (pep+) strategy, we’re supporting positive change by working alongside people and communities— investing in solutions to support prosperity and helping expand access to food, water, and opportunity.
We think about community as part of our purpose: to create more smiles with every sip and every bite.
When you lead a business that touches millions of lives, you have a responsibility to do more than sell products, you have a duty to make a positive impact on the people and communities you serve. That belief drives how I lead and how we do business every day.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received, and who gave it to you?
Steven Williams: The best advice I’ve ever received came from my father: “Your attitude will determine your altitude.” Growing up as the youngest of nine kids in a small town outside of Tulsa, my dad taught me that how you show up, your mindset, your work ethic, and your respect for others, ultimately determines your success. That advice shaped not just my career, but my character.
If you could go back and give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?
Steven Williams: I’d tell my younger self to embrace change sooner. Growth doesn’t happen when things are easy, it happens when you’re uncomfortable, when you’re learning something new, and when you take on roles that stretch you. Be patient, stay curious, and trust that preparation and opportunity will meet when the time is right.
What are you most excited about for the future of Dallas and its business community?
Steven Williams: Dallas is an incredible place to live, work, and lead. What excites me most is the city’s energy, its diversity, entrepreneurial spirit, and commitment to giving back. I see a community where business and purpose go hand in hand.
At PepsiCo, we’ve seen firsthand how public-private partnerships can change lives, from investing in local workforce development to strengthening education and nutrition access in Southern Dallas. The future of Dallas will be defined by how its business community continues to come together, across industries and neighborhoods, to create opportunities for all.
I’m proud that PepsiCo is part of that story, and I’m even prouder to call Dallas home.