Authenticity Matters

My mother would always say to me, “Moniquita, la familia es primero, pase lo que pase” Growing up in a Mexican household, instilling the importance of family was ingrained in us. “Family comes first, no matter what,” informed how we prioritized activities and how we showed up in the world. There was no question on whether you would attend dinner or go out with friends because we knew la family es primero – family is first.??

On this International Women’s Day, while it is a day to celebrate how far we’ve come as a society where women can hold many titles, it is an opportunity to reinforce that the sayings of our parents, practices, and mantras instilled in us shouldn’t disappear because of what we do, but serve as the continued guide for how we act and the impact the world around us.??

Authenticity can sound cliché. In fact, having spent most of my career in communications and building corporate reputation, it can be seen as an overly used word. However, it is essential to connect with audiences. A brand must remain true to what it represents and how it resonates with its consumer base. As psychologist Dr. Stephen Joseph shares in his book, Authentic: How to be Yourself and Why it Matters -- drawing on the insights of philosophers and offering practical advice and exercises for the reader -- authenticity is the foundation of individuals thriving and the precursor to true human connection. When people can be their full selves and operate in a space where they are understood, fully accepted, and valued, our natural inclination to protect and guard ourselves lowers. I wholeheartedly believe that we as a people share more in common than our differences.??

But what does an authentic space look like? For me, the foundation of being true to who you are is focusing on what matters most.??

Be intentional. Too often we find ourselves compromising on aspects of our lives that enable us to be our best and deliver our best results. Family, friends, hobbies sometimes become secondary to the deliverable of the day or at the cost of achieving our ambitions. What if you were intentional about organizing your life to be productive and fulfilling? Flexibility and time management would be at the heart of doing this. Deloitte’s Women @ Work: A Global Outlook report found that 97% of respondents to their survey believe asking for more flexible working arrangements could adversely affect their chances of promotion at work, and 95% feel that if they do gain more flexibility, their workloads will not be adjusted accordingly —in effect, they would continue to do a full-time job in fewer hours and for less money.?

This is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Intentionality has led to my ability to direct my energy in areas that fuel my drive.

From my own experience, having flexibility on the job has made me productive and intentional. If I need to attend a game or school function for my children, I am more intentional in how I use my time – especially with time being a limited resource. I also give myself grace when I am unable to complete a task because my time was spent on my family – what mattered most. Don’t get me wrong…it is challenging because there are sometimes tradeoffs, but it’s a continuous balancing act. This is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Intentionality has led to my ability to direct my energy in areas that fuel my drive. And in doing so, over time, I am becoming more comfortable with the outcomes.??

Walking the talk. While my mother ingrained the importance of family. It was a value that came from generations before her. She not only taught me, she embodied and emulated what it looked like to prioritize those who and what mattered most. As leaders in our respective spaces, we have to make sure we are not just teachers, but modelers of the behaviors we enforce. Anyone who knows me knows my chief title is Mom and Wife. If I falter in that aspect of my “life job,” it affects my performance in every other area. For each of us, we need to determine for ourselves what is my chief title, and how do I ensure my actions ladder into this role.??

I fundamentally believe one should never compromise on what defines who you are. Values shouldn’t be fleeting; they should be the soil from which you grow.??

At 百事 , we have The PepsiCo Way which are behaviors that inform our culture from Being Consumer Centric to Voicing Opinions Fearlessly and Acting with Integrity. The PepsiCo Way doesn’t stand on its own. It requires people living and embracing those behaviors for it to have a meaningful impact on the culture of the organization.?

Stick to your values. It’s important to know your values – the compass that guides and informs who you are and remains constant regardless of the roles you occupy. I fundamentally believe one should never compromise on what defines who you are. Values shouldn’t be fleeting; they should be the soil from which you grow.??

While all of this is easier said than done, authenticity shouldn’t just be a buzzword, it should be the goalpost for how we operate in this world. To women and girls who question whether they can show up fully, know that is your superpower. Let’s use International Women’s Day as a day to commit to focusing on what matters most and being our whole selves. As Coco Chanel once said, “A girl should be two things: who and what she wants.”?

Happy International Women’s Day!?