#WFH Diaries: Stacy Taffet of PepsiCo
As the pandemic continues with no end in sight, and with most folks still working from home, we're continuing to check in with industry pros to see how they're faring. Below, we chat with Stacy Taffet, vp of marketing for the Hydration Portfolio at PepsiCo.
Give us a one-line bio of yourself.
Marketing VP for the Hydration Portfolio at PepsiCo, mom of two human kids and one fur-baby, avid tennis player and sports fan, proud New Jersey native.
Where are you living right now, and who's with you?
Living at my home in Chappaqua, New York, with my patient but equally busy husband, our active and energetic 8-year-old daughter, our silly and cuddly 5-year-old son, and our 12-pound ball of love puppy.
What's your work situation like at the moment, and how is it evolving?
My husband and I are both working from home, and every day is an adventure. I'm lucky to have an office in the house, but the walls are very thin. My colleagues are used to a consistent soundtrack of lawnmowers, barking and piano practice.
When you do you expect to return to the office?
We are still working through it, but I know that when we do make the decision to return to an in-person working environment, it will be when it's safest to do so. Our PepsiCo leadership time and again has continued to show our safety and well-being is the most important thing right now—and they've given us the resources we need to be a successful remote marketing team.
Describe your socializing strategy.
We do a lot of socializing outdoors at a safe distance with friends and family. Some highlights include backyard BBQs, hiking and tennis. We just bought a heat lamp for our yard to extend the season as long as possible.
How are you dealing with childcare?
Our children are back at school for now, and we have a wonderful after-school babysitter. We are hopeful things stay this way, but will need to be flexible if we end up with virtual school at some point. Given the level of support and empathy our leadership and employees have shown for everyone during this time, I'm feeling much more prepared to balance the demands of being a mom and marketer.
What are you reading?
My daughter and I just finished the whole Harry Potter series. And after reliving Hamilton on Disney Plus, I've started to read Ron Chernow's Hamilton. Could take a while to get through all 700 pages…
What are you watching?
We are rewatching The West Wing from the beginning. It is one of my favorite shows and makes me happy to watch it again.
What are you listening to?
I listen to all types of music, but my favorite is country (surprising to most people). I also love podcasts and cannot start my day without The Daily from The New York Times.
How are you staying fit?
I started running in March as a way to clear my head and stay active (and listen to podcasts and country music). I also play tennis and go on hikes and long walks with the family.
Have you taken up a hobby?
I started playing the piano again, which I haven't done since I was a kid. Brings me a lot of joy.
An awkward moment since all this started.
Honestly, there are too many to count. But one of my favorites was when my dog fell asleep and started snoring loudly during an intense Zoom meeting.
An aha! moment since all this started.
Going for a walk and taking a conference call at the same time.
What's your theory on how this is going to play out?
I have no idea. But I've been really impressed by the resilience and flexibility of the people at PepsiCo and across the industry. I think we are working smarter and demonstrating more empathy than we ever have. I am hopeful we will learn from this experience and it will make us all better in the future.
