After working as a business manager for
Wilson Sporting Goods in 1976 and Vice President of Marketing for
Frito-Lay in 1981, Barnes became Group VP of Marketing for
PepsiCo in 1984. In July 2004, she became president and COO of
Sara Lee Corp. In February 2005, she became president and CEO of Sara Lee, and in October 2005, chairman and CEO. While there, Barnes moved Sara Lee's headquarters out of downtown
Chicago to suburban
Downers Grove. Barnes was on the board of directors of
Avon Products, Inc.;
Augustana College;
Grocery Manufacturers Association;
LucasFilm, Ltd.;
The New York Times Company;
PepsiAmericas, Inc.;
Sara Lee Corporation;
Sears, Roebuck & Co.; and
Staples, Inc. She was also on the steering Committee of the Kellogg Center for Executive Women,
Northwestern University. While CEO of Sara Lee in 2008, Barnes earned a total compensation of $10,489,347, which included a base salary of $1,000,000, a cash bonus of $1,993,597, stocks granted of $4,866,000, and options granted of $2,398,668. Brenda joined the
Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago in 2014 as a distinguished member on the Board of Directors and the Identity Cabinet committee to help form and build the hospital branding and positioning. ==Personal life==