Available to book
Richard Montañez
Inspire and motivate your team to overcome obstacles and achieve greatness with Richard Montañez, speaker, executive, and creator of Flamin' Hot Cheetos.
Richard Montañez's incredible journey from janitor to successful executive and creator of Flamin' Hot Cheetos is a testament to the power of innovation and determination. Throughout his 42-year career at PepsiCo, Montañez held various senior roles and was recognized for his visionary leadership and commitment to diversity. He received numerous awards, including the prestigious Chairman's Award, and mentored many employees through his involvement with PepsiCo's Latino and Hispanic employee group, Adelante. Montañez is also a philanthropist and the founder of Onelite, a nonprofit that supports high-need families in the United States. He has served on several boards and is the first Latino board member of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Montañez is a sought-after motivational speaker, sharing his inspiring story with corporate groups and universities, and has been featured in various media outlets. His story is now being made into a biopic by Fox Searchlight Films.
Topics, sessions and talks
In this unique and dynamic presentation, Richard Montanez—known today as the Godfather of Latino Marketing—shares the story of his rise up the corporate ladder from the entry position of janitor to become one of PEPSICO’s elite vice presidents. Coming from humble and unlikely means is what he refers to as starting at the “beginning, not the bottom.” Richard shares the secrets he used while being driven by passion and a quest for purpose that led him to experience the most dramatic REVELATION he would ever come across in a lifetime. That one revelation would go on to spur a REVOLUTION that shook up and forever changed corporate America’s protocol, empowering frontline workers, middle managers and CEOs alike. And the end result would be the birth of a billion dollar product, also known as America’s favorite snack …FLAMIN’ HOT CHEETOS.
Richard Montañez has a Ph.D. in being poor, hungry, and determined. His journey is one that everyone can relate to. It begins with feelings of being out-of-place, in pain, afraid, and vulnerable. And involves overcoming obstacles, confronting fear, and perseverance – even as he’s seen success.
Discover the remarkable journey of Richard Montañez in "From Janitor to Executive: The Richard Montañez Story." Richard Montañez, a former janitor, became a PepsiCo executive through his groundbreaking innovation that created Flamin' Hot Cheetos. This inspiring story showcases how determination and embracing diversity can drive success and inspire leadership.
Richard's journey from janitor to executive embodies the essence of perseverance, innovation, and transformative leadership, offering invaluable insights for any team or business. His firsthand experiences in fostering diversity and overcoming challenges provide practical strategies for organizational growth and personal development. Booking Richard as a speaker will not only inspire but equip your team with the tools to turn obstacles into opportunities for success.
frequently asked questions
Something we've not covered here?
Email richard.montanez@getapeptalk.com or call PepTalk on +44 20 3835 2929 (UK) or +1 737 888 5112 (US), and one of our speaker agents will contact you within hours to confirm Richard's availability and fees. If you can, please include your budget upfront – it helps us fast-track your request. It’s also helpful to know the date, format (virtual or in-person), location, and a bit about your audience.
Richard Montañez structures his presentations around a single narrative arc — his rise from janitor to PepsiCo vice president — using the creation of Flamin' Hot Cheetos as the central case study to illustrate how frontline workers can drive corporate-level innovation.
Richard Montañez speaks on corporate innovation, overcoming adversity, diversity and inclusion, and Latino marketing, drawing on his rise from janitor to PepsiCo vice president through the creation of Flamin' Hot Cheetos. He held senior roles across a 42-year career at PepsiCo, received the Chairman's Award, and his story is the subject of a forthcoming Fox Searchlight Films biopic.
No. PepTalk adds no booking fee, so you pay the speaker's fee and nothing beyond it. The service, from shortlist through to contracts and event-day logistics, is included. For repeat or multi-event bookings, PepTalk can agree preferential rates with your procurement team.
Share your event date, audience, format, objectives and budget, and PepTalk sends a hand-picked shortlist within 24 hours. Each suggestion comes with a profile, a fee and a recommendation on the strongest fit. Once you choose, PepTalk handles contracts, travel and logistics through to event day.
The typical fee range is the speaker's standard in-person fee in their home market, shown in their local currency. It moves with format, location, date and session length: virtual sessions and shorter slots usually cost less, while international travel and peak dates cost more. Send your brief to PepTalk and the team will confirm the exact fee in your currency.
Not all of them, and it makes no difference to your booking. PepTalk's network of 15,000+ speakers covers talent the team works with directly alongside speakers represented by agents and agencies worldwide. PepTalk approaches the speaker, negotiates the fee and handles contracting either way.
Three to six months ahead is comfortable for most events, and 12 months is better for large conferences, peak-season dates or one specific in-demand speaker. Shorter timelines are workable, and PepTalk regularly fills last-minute and replacement bookings within days. Availability is the constraint, so get in touch as soon as you have a date.
Get the right person
Tell us what you’re working on and we’ll match you with the talent your audience won’t stop talking about.
