Who knew being a star athlete would lead Jessica Ansehl to a starring role at PepsiCo. At the core of Ansehl’s success is a passion for nutrition and healthcare. It’s a passion she’s been following for quite some time—the same passion that drove the Westchester native to become a distinguished student athlete at The Hackley School and, later, at the University of Chicago, where she competed on the NCAA Division III tennis team, was named an ITA All-Academic Scholar-Athlete, and graduated with honors. PepsiCo is now reaping the benefits of Ansehl’s zeal for wellness.
“What people eat, drink, and consume everywhere around the world is fundamental to health and wellness,” Ansehl says. So, ending up in the food and beverage industry was a natural. Her relationship with PepsiCo began with an internship during the summer between her first and second year of The Wharton School’s MBA program. She returned after graduation, initially focusing on the food and beverage giant’s strategic and financial planning in the US market. Now, in an expanded role as manager in the Global Beverages Group, Ansehl partners with teams worldwide to develop PepsiCo’s existing billion-dollar brands and to identify new innovation opportunities.
Her current focus on the hydration market, portfolio strategy, and investing in future global platforms combined with her prior healthcare consulting experience has proved to be a perfect match. Armed with extraordinary insight, she has a wide range of influence in helping leverage PepsiCo’s global scale and determining which markets and beverage categories to expand and invest. “I love that I work with leaders to impact what people choose globally,” she says.
“Jessica is inspiring,” says Noah Krinick, a PepsiCo colleague. “She’s a smart, hard-working team player and sets a great example for her colleagues.”
Before landing at PepsiCo, Ansehl also made her mark at CSC’s Global Health Solutions Consulting Practice, earning a “Making a Difference Award” for her leadership, teamwork, and consistently going above and beyond for her clients while working with leading hospitals, health-insurance companies, and pharmaceutical organizations.
“I’ve always believed in focusing on what you’re most passionate about,” she says. “Passion is key along with preparation, persistence, a strong infrastructure, and a team of family, friends, and colleagues.”
—KO