After graduating from Yale and marrying her husband, Nooyi began working as a consultant for Boston Consulting Group. She consulted for numerous businesses, such as Servus Rubber and Trane. Her work required her to extensively research a huge range of products, such as toilet and tissue paper, juices, sweeteners, and pharmaceuticals. Her frequent travel for work meant that Nooyi had little time to spend with her husband at their home in Chicago. Despite their meager savings, Nooyi and her husband bought a house in a new development in the Chicago area of Glen Ellyn for $150,000.

Nooyi was shocked to discover that her father was very ill with pancreatic cancer. She quickly flew to India to be with him and was relieved when her boss offered her six months off with pay to spend time with her dad. This episode reminds Nooyi of how important it is to receive professional support during personal hardships. Nooyi encouraged her father to receive care in the US, but he passed away soon afterward. At this time, she also became pregnant, and she tried to take care of herself while grieving her father’s death. She was astonished by the kindness of her colleagues: Her secretaries brought her food, and the CEO she consulted for flew in with his staff to meet with her since she couldn’t travel.