New Delhi, Jan. 21 -- Former PepsiCo Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Indra Nooyi on Wednesday said societies and businesses cannot afford to sideline half of women talent if they want sustainable growth.

"Societies and economies can only progress when women are supported both professionally and personally to participate fully," Nooyi said while addressing 10th Convocation of the Vedica Scholars Programme for Women in New Delhi, calling for greater structural support at workplaces and within households.

Reflecting on her own career leading a global corporation while raising a family, Nooyi said there is no single model for balancing professional ambition and personal responsibility.

Careers, she noted, unfold in phases, shape...