http://pepsico.com/Speech-ColumbiaBusinessSchool.pdf
This link has the full text of her speech.
Opps. Thanks, I withdraw my prior post.
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.***
Was this infantile and insulting speech written by a high school news reporter? It is so ridiculously juvenile and insulting I could hardly stand to read it. My best finger to her, and she knows which one that is!
Now copied and stored. She even refers to giving people the finger in her "speech".
Just another example of anti-american (and anti-male - did you note that it was men who found the toilets lacking in China?) position taken by a foriegner.
It is my personal experience that usually it is the women who are most demonstrative concerning third world facilities - including France and much of the rest of the "cradle of Democracy" of Europe - WTF -
There are so many things wrong with this speach it is comical -
Do you note where she refers to the middle finger as North America, then finds fault with Americans and the US - Mexicans and Canadians hate that - she knows it she is the CEO of Pepsi -
Buy Coke stock as fast as you can.
You couldn't pay for worse publicity.
Diva's Husband
Can you post the speech? Here's what I see when I use your link:"You are not authorized to view this page"