Becky Schmitt Chief People Officer at PepsiCo says: In AI age, there’s more pressure to explain things to employees as the company’s main goals are ...

As artificial intelligence is reshaping workplaces, Pepsico chief people officer Becky Schmitt says that there is growing pressure to explain technology’s role to employees while keeping the core values of the company intact. According to a report by Fortune, speaking at Fortune’s Workplace Innovation Summit, Schmitt emphasised that PepsiCo is doubling down on ‘old-school skills’ like hustle, curiosity, and resilience, even as AI tools automate technical tasks. Schmitt also noted that while many employees are experimenting with “prompting” and “vibe coding” skills, PepsiCo continues to prioritize human intuition and problem-solving. “There’s a couple things that are part of our secret sauce… our people have hustle. How do you solve problems? How do you have that internal fortitude to work through it? How are you curious? Are you always asking questions?” she said.Also, the reputation of PepsiCo as a training ground for Fortune 500 leaders underscores the focus of the company on nurturing talent that thrives both inside and outside the organisation.The report further adds that Schmitt feels that PepsiCo’s hiring strategy is about creating a two-way relationship where both the company and employees feed into each other’s success. She also emphasised on the importance of education, exposure and evolving evaluation processes to uncover ‘jewels’ across the workforce. This approach reflects a broader industry trend where soft skills such as adaptability, communication, and empathy are becoming more valuable as AI takes over routine tasks.Schmitt acknowledged that PepsiCo is undergoing a significant tech transformation, integrating AI into everyday operations while modernising decades-old factories. She stressed that the company’s main goals are to make jobs safer, more productive, and attractive all while keeping workers informed. “We’re all using AI all day long through our devices, so why would you come to work and fill out paper? It feels like we should have a change,” she said.In this AI-driven era, Schmitt said there is more pressure to explain changes to employees clearly. PepsiCo’s approach is rooted in human-centric design, ensuring that technology provides value while maintaining accountability. The company believes humans will remain the drivers of innovation, with AI serving as a productivity booster rather than a replacement. “We do believe that humans are going to create new opportunities… and that’s going to come from our people not just from the tech and people using tech in the right way,” Schmitt added.