I wanted to take a moment to share my experience working at PepsiCo—not to complain or disrespect anyone, but to offer a perspective that might resonate with others, especially those new to the company or those navigating difficult chapters in their careers. If this helps even one person feel seen or understood, then it’s worth writing.
24 Years of Service – The Evolution
I spent 24 years at PepsiCo. From 1998 to the early 2000s, the culture felt strong. We were encouraged to grow, learn, and build careers with the confidence of job security. It wasn’t perfect, but it felt like we mattered.
Then things shifted. With new leadership, the focus moved from people to profit. Layoffs, once rare, became more regular—yearly, even. Morale changed. I remember the infamous mass layoff at Frito corporate on Valentine’s Day—it hit hard. What stung even more was seeing top leadership receive large bonuses afterward. It was hard not to compare that to Costco, where their execs forwent bonuses to avoid layoffs entirely. That kind of leadership leaves an impact—and sets a tone.
The Road to My Layoff
I was laid off at the end of 2022, but the path to that moment started earlier. I had a manager who, when aiming for a promotion, shifted his tone completely. I was handed work I wasn’t trained for, pressured into confrontations that weren’t mine to own, and put in no-win situations that strained relationships I had built over years.
One situation sticks with me. I was leading a deployment for a new site. I was told the building was "move-in ready." But on a planning call, I found out it had no walls—just steel beams and windows. My heart sank. I felt blindsided and responsible for delays that weren’t mine. My manager moved on to a new role, and I was left to explain the mess. That was the turning point—I reported him. And while I stand by that decision, I knew it would have consequences.
Leadership Changes
Eventually, that manager became my senior director. I tried to maintain professionalism, but it was clear I was being iced out. My messages went unanswered, my updates rerouted through colleagues uninvolved in my work, and it became clear I was no longer welcome in the room.
The Culture Shift
Team calls became something I dreaded. They were often dominated by unrelated chatter—sports, drinking stories, and an inner circle dynamic that left others feeling invisible or picked on. I wanted to be efficient, focused, and collaborative—but those calls made me feel anything but.
The Layoff Itself
During a serious health challenge that required multiple surgeries, I was laid off—while on medical leave. The call was cold: “PepsiCo has determined they no longer want you to work for them.” True or not, the delivery was unnecessarily harsh.
In my follow-up meeting with HR, my senior director claimed it was due to performance—though I had no record of issues, no write-ups, no PIP. HR said nothing. They also tried to push me to “come in and sign paperwork” despite my medical status. The message was clear, and the lack of support spoke volumes.
Life After PepsiCo
I was lucky to land a job shortly after, thanks to my network. In 2024, I found what felt like the perfect role—until a reorg happened during onboarding, and I was again let go as the “new guy.”
This journey taught me a lot, and I want to share what helped me most when job hunting:
Use your network. If yours is small, lean on your spouse’s or a friend’s.
Update your LinkedIn. Regularly.
Use AI smartly. Take the job description, paste it alongside your resume into an AI tool, and ask it to tailor your resume accordingly.
Apply on company sites directly, not just LinkedIn.
Message recruiters. Use LinkedIn Premium if you can—it’s worth it.
Competition is fierce. For remote roles, I saw postings get 400+ applicants in under an hour. You have to be proactive and prepared.
In Closing
This last year has been one of the hardest of my life—but I’ve learned more than I ever expected. I’ve grown. And most importantly, I’ve found peace. For a long time, I held anger toward my former senior director. But letting that go was the most liberating thing I’ve done. I’m not saying forget—just don’t let it define you.
To those still with PepsiCo, I ask you:
Do you feel valued where you are?
Are you staying because it’s safe or because you’re growing?
Do you dread Mondays?
Is your resume ready in case tomorrow changes everything?
Are you waiting for the ax before making a move?
Only you can answer these questions honestly. I just hope that by sharing my story—my truth—it sparks something in someone else. Not bitterness. Just awareness, strength, and maybe even the courage to make a change.
Thank you for reading. I sincerely wish the best for you, wherever your path takes you.
— From someone who gave his all, and learned to keep going.