Inventor of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos; Former Vice President of Multicultural Sales & Community Activation, PepsiCo North America; Philanthropist; Autho
While working at Frito-Lay as a janitor early in his career, Richard Montañez developed the ingenious idea for Flamin’ Hot Cheetos—now the Flamin’Hot line is a billion-dollar business and cultural phenomenon. During his leadership tenure at PepsiCo, Montañez was recognized for his visionary leadership, innovation and commitment to diversity. He has been named one of the most influential Latinos in corporate America and is the only four-time recipient of PepsiCo’s Chairman’s Award, the highest honor given to employees based on performance and work ethic. He has been featured for his leadership and innovation on Good Morning America, The Washington Post, Vanity Fair, Fortune and Newsweek. His story is also the subject of a forthcoming biopic by Fox Searchlight Films. Montañez’s inspiring leadership journey has made him a sought-after speaker for organizations including Target, Walmart, and universities including University of Southern California and Harvard. In addition to his corporate leadership, Montañez is a committed philanthropist and founder of Onelite, a nonprofit providing high-need families in the U.S. with food and school supplies. His new book, Flamin’ Hot: The Incredible True Story of One man’s Rise f rom Janitor to Top Executive, releases in 2021
Dr. Francesca Gino
Social & Behavioral Scientist; Professor at Harvard Business School; Author
Dr. Francesca Gino is a professor in the Negotiation, Organizations & Markets Unit at Harvard Business School recognized for her award-winning research and teaching on how to have more productive, creative and fulfilling lives. Dr. Gino has a diverse expertise on the psychology of organizations. She is a sought-after consultant and speaker—some of her clients include Disney, Goldman Sachs, Honeywell, Novartis, P&G, as well as the U.S. Military. Dr. Gino’s research has been featured in The Wallstreet Journal, The Economist, Harvard Business Review, Financial Times, The New York Times, Newsweek, National Public Radio, Scientific American and Psychology Today. She has been honored as one of the world’s Top 40 Business Professors under 40 and one of the world’s 50 most influential management thinkers by Thinkers50. In Dr. Gino’s latest book, Rebel Talent, she shares her research behind why it pays to break the rules at work and in life