Meet Pizza Hut International's Vipul Chawla

Vipul Chawla, President, Pizza Hut International

Vipul Chawla has 28 years of experience leading Fortune 500 companies throughout the world. His last 15 years have spanned global roles based out of UK, Singapore and USA, covering packaged consumer goods, and global brands which are market leaders in their categories across personal care, home care and food; and restaurant retail.

He is speaking at our Brave Get Together Roundtable on Thursday 5 November.

What’s your golden rule (s)?

• Lead with Courage, show up with authenticity and Compassion
• Keep learning everyday; with a growth mindset; and grit
• Family first
   

Who has been your biggest influence?
People 

• Family: Parents who taught me the virtue of simplicity; my wife who inspires me to be adventurous, and my daughter who helps me believe in miracles (well most of the time); and 
• Colleagues and coaches in Unilever and Yum
• Living in 4 countries, and travels across the world, meeting people and learning everyday

What is your most hated business expression?
“its early days”; when asked how is it going, on a specific issue. That response usually tells me its not working and we are not admitting it. I don’t mind that we fail every now and then, all I ask for is the courage that we admit it, learn from it and move forward.

How can marketers be braver?
Admit that we don’t have the answers, and the courage and curiosity to keep taking risks till we find gold. Don’t settle for good enough; keep looking for the spark.

Why is being brave in business so important?
These are the most unusual of times, and so we need to rely on “gut instinct” as we make decisions. These rarely have previous examples we can draw from, hence we need to have the confidence to use “common sense” and strong principles to inform our thinking. This takes enormous courage and the humility to admit we do not have ready answers.

What’s the biggest risk you’ve taken in your career?
I have been guided by the phrase “take the job nobody else wants”;  and have enjoyed the rough and tumble that comes with it. While not always successful, I have certainly learned
a lot.

Which leader do you admire most and why?
Two prominent Asian leaders of the previous century: M K Gandhi (the father of India) and Lee Kwan Yew (the father of Singapore). Both leaders lived in vastly different times and circumstances; both grew up in the colonized world, both demonstrated that ambition should be greater than resource, and both are marvellous examples of leading people with courage

What inspires or motivates you every day to do what you do?
I have 3 golden rules for every role I do; and ask my self every so often if the role passes the threshold of these rules

• Am I coming to work with a spring in my step
• Am I learning something new
• Is my family happy with the impact of my work choices on our family life

What’s your favourite word?
Awesome

If you could achieve just one thing in 2021 what would it be?

Stay healthy