[AppyPappy]

IKN -- Columbia Business School Graduation 1
5/15/05
Columbia Business School Graduation Remarks
Indra Nooyi, President and CFO, PepsiCo
May 15, 2005
---Snip ----
This analogy of the five fingers as the five major continents leaves the long, middle finger for North America, and, in particular, The United States. As the longest of the fingers, it really stands out. The middle finger anchors every function that the hand performs and is the key to all of the fingers working together efficiently and effectively. This is a really good thing, and has given the U.S. a leg-up in global business since the end of World War I.
However, if used inappropriately –just like the U.S. itself -- the middle finger can convey a negative message and get us in trouble. You know what I’m talking about. In fact, I suspect you’re hoping that I’ll demonstrate what I mean. And trust me, I’m not looking for volunteers to model.
Discretion being the better part of valor … I think I’ll pass.
What is most crucial to my analogy of the five fingers as the five major continents, is that each of us in the U.S. – the long middle finger – must be careful that when we extend our arm in either a business or political sense, we take pains to assure we are giving a hand … not the finger. Sometimes this is very difficult. Because the U.S. – the middle finger – sticks out so much, we can send the wrong message unintentionally.
***Unfortunately, I think this is how the rest of the world looks at the U.S. right now. Not as part of the hand – giving strength and purpose to the rest of the fingers – but, instead, scratching our nose and sending a far different signal.***

[prairiebreeze]

Nooyi knew exactly what she was trying to convey. She's been caught in her veiled anti-American comments and is trying to deny them.

It doesn't wash.

Ping

[Jim Robinson]

Steve Jobs to Pepsi boss John Scully:

"Do you want to spend your life selling sugar water to children or do you want to change the world...."

All together now:

I'd like to buy the world a coke...

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

I don't think she was trying to say something mean about the greatest country in the world. I think she's just an idiot trying to be funny.

[Question_Assumptions]

People really should pay more attention to which Shakepeare character said, "Discretion is the better part of valor," and what it showed about his character (or lack of it).

[Carry_Okie]

The Original Speech:

However, if used inappropriately –just like the U.S. itself -- the middle finger can convey a negative message and get us in trouble. You know what I’m talking about. In fact, I suspect you’re hoping that I’ll demonstrate what I mean. And trust me, I’m not looking for volunteers to model.

The "clarification"

Unfortunately, my remarks at Columbia University were misconstrued and depicted in a different context as unpatriotic.

IOW, she's a lying POS.

[econ_grad]

I sort of agree with her. Gone are the days of colonial business practices. I agree with her that if you are doing business in another country you need to be sensitive.

[Prince Charles]

This analogy of the five fingers as the five major continents leaves the long, middle finger for North America, and, in particular, The United States. As the longest of the fingers, it really stands out. The middle finger anchors every function that the hand performs and is the key to all of the fingers working together efficiently and effectively. This is a really good thing, and has given the U.S. a leg-up in global business since the end of World War I. However, if used inappropriately –just like the U.S. itself -- the middle finger can convey a negative message and get us in trouble. You know what I’m talking about. In fact, I suspect you’re hoping that I’ll demonstrate what I mean. And trust me, I’m not looking for volunteers to model. Discretion being the better part of valor … I think I’ll pass. What is most crucial to my analogy of the five fingers as the five major continents, is that each of us in the U.S. – the long middle finger – must be careful that when we extend our arm in either a business or political sense, we take pains to assure we are giving a hand … not the finger. Sometimes this is very difficult. Because the U.S. – the middle finger – sticks out so much, we can send the wrong message unintentionally. ***Unfortunately, I think this is how the rest of the world looks at the U.S. right now. Not as part of the hand – giving strength and purpose to the rest of the fingers – but, instead, scratching our nose and sending a far different signal.***

Goodbye Pepsi, hello Coke.

[metesky]

Honestly Pappy, it sounds more like she was addressing a kindergarten class than Columbia B.S. grads. I'm sure the kids loved being talked down to.

[Just A Nobody]

...we take pains to assure we are giving a hand … not the finger. Sometimes this is very difficult. Because the U.S. – the middle finger – sticks out so much, we can send the wrong message unintentionally.

Yep that's what I thought I read yesterday. Sold my YUM stock today.

[Question Liberal Authority]

The "five digit" analogy works equally well when playing "this little piggie".

Asia went to market
Europe stayed home
The United States of America had roast beef
South America had none
Africa went wee wee wee all the way home.