Mario Palomino, Pepsi-Cola North America-United States
Age: 42
Location: Bentonville, Ark.
What he does: Sells noncarbonated beverages to Sam's Club.
Survival skill: "In a slower economy, it's difficult to persuade your customer to take risks. But in fact it's the perfect time to present more aggressive ideas."
Career highlight: "We were trying to convince Sam's Club to stock Aquafina water, and at the time it was going after a sustainability message. So we developed a program where communities that returned the most bottles earned jackets that contained recycled plastic."
What he never does: "If I run into someone at my kids' school, I don't get into business. People are much more receptive if you respect their personal time and call later."
NEXT: Richard Shank, AT&T
Last updated September 24 2008: 10:14 AM ET
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