Inside Fortune 50 Leadership: Curiosity Lessons from Coca-Cola, Frito-Lay & Humana with Dr. Debra Clary

How can leaders inspire innovation, engagement, and performance without relying on having all the answers? In this episode of the Strategy and Leadership Podcast, Anthony Taylor speaks with Dr. Debra Clary, author of The Curiosity Curve: A Leader’s Guide to Growth and Transformation Through Bold Questions, and former executive at Frito Lay, Coca Cola, Jack Daniel’s, and Humana.

Across more than three decades in Fortune 50 organizations, Dr. Clary has helped leaders shift from transactional to transformational cultures by building curiosity into the core of how teams think and perform. Her research reveals a direct correlation between curiosity and leadership effectiveness and shows how leaders who ask bold questions create more engaged, innovative, and high performing teams.

In this conversation, Dr. Clary shares how leaders can turn curiosity into a strategic advantage, foster cultures of openness, and drive long term growth by asking better questions.

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In this episode, you’ll learn:

☑️ Why curiosity is a leadership advantage and not a luxury

☑️ How asking better questions creates more engaged teams

☑️ Ways to balance direction with curiosity as a leader

☑️ The four factors of the Curiosity Curve framework

☑️ How to build a culture where innovation thrives

This episode is for:

▶️ Executives and managers seeking to unlock team potential

▶️ Leaders driving organizational change or transformation

▶️ HR and L&D professionals focused on engagement and performance

▶️ Anyone ready to lead with questions instead of just answers

About the Guest

Dr. Debra Clary is an author, researcher, and leadership expert who spent over 30 years in Fortune 50 organizations including Frito Lay, Coca Cola, Jack Daniel’s, and Humana. As the founder of Clary Consulting, she helps leaders and organizations build cultures of curiosity that drive growth and transformation. Her book, The Curiosity Curve, was published by Fast Company Press.

Learn more: https://debraclary.com/

Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdebraclary/

About the Host

Anthony Taylor is the CEO, Founder, and Senior Facilitator at SME Strategy. With over 14 years of experience, he helps leadership teams create alignment, implement strategy, and achieve results worldwide.

Connect with Anthony: linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604

About SME Strategy

SME Strategy is a management consulting firm specializing in strategic planning and implementation. We help organizations align their teams around a shared vision so they can focus on what truly drives results.

Learn more: smestrategy.net

Podcast produced by: Rednyne Productions