Brenda Barnes
Brenda Barnes is chairman and chief executive officer of Sara Lee Corporation, a global manufacturer of high quality home products. She is one of the recognized iron ladies in business, consistently appearing in Forbes’ World’s 100 Most Powerful Women since 2004, even placing in the top 10 for 2005 and 2006.
Brenda Barnes obtained her BA in economics from Illinois’ Augustana College in 1975 and an MBA from Loyola University Chicago in 1978.
Before occupying the highest post in Sara Lee, Barnes accomplished a historic career as Pepsi-Cola’s first female president after serving as Group VP of Marketing in 1984, president of Pepsi-Cola Southwest in 1991, and COO of PepsiCo North America in 1993.
After her career at PepsiCo, she served as Interim President and COO of Starwood Hotels & Resorts for a year and taught courses at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and at North Central College in 2002.
Thereafter, Brenda Barnes joined Sara Lee as its president and COO in July 2004. Her leadership expertise catapulted her rise in the in February 2005 and in October 2005, as president and CEO.
In a conference organized by Stanford Graduate School of Business, Brenda Barnes outlined lessons learned during her three-decade experience in the business world. On handling customers, she advises people to keep in mind that it is always the customers who “pay the bills”, so it is important to constantly give them attention. It is important to make sure that they get what they want. When dealing with employees, Barnes believes in tapping their potentials. For Brenda Barnes, companies and their leaders need to always believe in what their employees can achieve. On leadership, she reveals that employees see their leaders as people who can help improve their confidence and develop their potential.
Brenda Barnes is a director of the Grocery Manufacturers Association and Catalyst; The New York Times; Avon Products, Inc; LucasFilm Ltd; PepsiAmericas, Inc; Sears; and Roebuck & Co and Staples, Inc.