Madi Guest, MHRIR 23, is a Human Resources Senior Representative with PepsiCo’s Quaker Supply Chain function. Madi knew from a young age that she wanted to pursue a career in Human Resources. With strong role models in her mother, aunt, and cousin guiding her toward the profession, she was drawn to the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on individuals, teams, and organizations as a whole.
She attended The Ohio State University, majoring in Business with a specialization in Human Resources and earning a Leadership certificate. During her sophomore year, she gained her first real-world HR experience as an intern with ms consultants, inc., where she joined a supportive HR team and quickly realized she had found her passion. Eager to take her career to the next level, she began searching for graduate programs and discovered that University of Illinois ranked as the top HR master’s program in the nation. Confident that the education, network, and opportunities at Illinois would help her achieve her goals, she enrolled in the LER program and moved from Columbus to Champaign.
While at University of Illinois, Madi immersed herself in recruiting and connected with a wide range of employers visiting LER. She knew she wanted a company that would allow her to make a difference, recognize her leadership, and provide opportunities for growth. PepsiCo stood out as exactly that kind of organization, and she joined the company as a Summer 2023 Intern supporting the Frito-Lay Sales function in Dallas. There, she designed and hosted the first Kick Start Your Career fair for 300 employees to address high frontline turnover and strengthen career development opportunities. She also launched employee spotlight features to boost recognition and morale. Both initiatives remain in place today, a testament to her ability to turn creative ideas into long-term impact.
After graduation, she joined PepsiCo full-time and relocated to Chicago to support the Quaker Supply Chain function as an HR Representative. Based at the Bridgeview site, she supported over 400 frontline and salaried employees in her first year, led regional recruitment strategies as the Quaker Campus Lead, and maintained HR operations during a transitional period as the site’s sole HR resource. As the team grew, she advanced to HR Senior Representative, taking on a more strategic business partner role.
In her second year, she continues to support the Bridgeview site population while deepening her focus on Business and HR strategy. She advances PepsiCo’s people strategy by implementing a region-wide promotional tool to ensure accuracy in advancement decisions, leading collaborative policy revisions that align frontline needs with business goals, and guiding critical workforce transitions with precision. She is a trusted partner on sensitive investigations and compliance matters, equipping leaders to respond effectively and fairly.
Madi is passionate about how her experience at LER prepared her for this success. She is honored to serve on the PepsiCo LER Leadership Team, where she focuses on enhancing the experience for both LER candidates and current LERxPepsiCo employees. By creatively bringing elements of LER to life for PepsiCo LER alumni, she fosters connection, shares tools, resources, and career insights, and strengthens the sense of community. Returning to campus each fall reinforces why she chose PepsiCo and why she continues to thrive there.
“Each contribution I make impacts the individual, the team, and the broader organization,” she says. “For me, it’s about the impact. I can see how my work directly contributes to PepsiCo’s success. Knowing that my contributions aren’t just a small piece of a huge machine—but that they make a real, tangible difference—is what truly energizes and motivates me.”