India, July 4 -- India-born former PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi has ignited a debate on women in corporate leadership after saying she "could never have become CEO" in India. Speaking at a recent event at Stanford Graduate School of Business in California, Nooyi credited the US with giving immigrants and women the opportunity to rise on merit. "This is where an immigrant could come in with nothing in her pocket and become the CEO of an iconic American red, white and blue company. I could never have become CEO in any other country in the world, including India," said Nooyi, who became the first woman and first immigrant to lead PepsiCo in 2006. The 70-year-old also hailed America's "meritocratic system", saying mentors there "don't care if you're male or female; they just want the best brains to rise to the top." Her statement quickly polarised social media. Former Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal cited entrepreneurs such as Falguni Nayar and Radhika Gupta, questioning why Nooyi was presenting "a wrong picture of India". Businessman Suhel Seth also criticised her view, saying it unfairly dismissed the opportunities available in the country. Others, however, felt Nooyi's observation reflected the reality many women still face, arguing that gender bias, entrenched workplace hierarchies and unequal access to leadership continue to hinder career progression in India. Some also pointed out that India has elected women as both Prime Minister and President, while the US is yet to elect a woman President....