Curiosity is not just a personal trait. It is a leadership advantage. In this episode of the Strategy and Leadership Podcast, host 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.
Dr. Clary shares how curiosity transformed her leadership journey from driving a route truck at Frito-Lay to leading executive development at Humana, and how leaders can use curiosity to drive performance, engagement, and innovation.
Watch or listen below to learn how to build a culture where asking better questions leads to better results.
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Key Topics Covered
- How curiosity creates a measurable performance advantage
- Why great leaders focus on questions instead of answers
- Lessons from Frito Lay, Coca Cola, and Jack Daniel’s on building culture
- The four factors that make up The Curiosity Curve framework
- Practical ways to foster engagement and innovation inside teams
Curiosity as a Leadership Advantage
Most leaders think curiosity is a luxury, but Dr. Clary’s research proves otherwise. While leading at Humana, she found that teams encouraged to ask questions achieved higher engagement and faster problem solving.
“Good news, curiosity can be learned.”
Her framework, The Curiosity Curve, helps leaders assess their current level of curiosity and intentionally build behaviors that promote openness, creativity, and focus.
When leaders make space for curiosity by inviting questions, listening before directing, and exploring diverse perspectives, they strengthen both culture and results.
From Frito-Lay to Fortune 50 Leadership
Dr. Clary’s journey began far from the boardroom.
“Right out of business school, my first job was driving a route truck for Frito Lay.”
That early experience taught her how to manage time, profit, and relationships, all foundational skills for leadership. Later, at Coca-Cola and Jack Daniel’s, she witnessed how curiosity helped global brands stay innovative.
At Humana, she applied those lessons to transform the company’s leadership culture, showing how curiosity can turn transactional management into transformational leadership.
Building Curiosity into Culture
Every culture mirrors its leadership. As Dr. Clary explains:
“So goes the leader, so goes the culture, so goes the performance.”
Leaders who reward curiosity by asking “What might we be missing?” or “How else could we solve this?” empower their teams to think critically and take ownership of solutions.
Dr. Clary encourages executives to treat curiosity like any other business metric. Define it, measure it, and cultivate it intentionally.
“When we tell someone what to do, we solve one problem. When we ask them questions, we build confidence.”
Work with us
If your team is ready to think differently, ask better questions, and build alignment around a shared vision, SME Strategy can help.
Work with us to facilitate your strategic plan:
https://courses.smestrategy.net/courses/Leading-Strategy-Execution
Learn more about our services:
https://www.smestrategy.net/strategic-planning-facilitator
About Dr. Debra Clary
Dr. Debra Clary is an author, researcher, and leadership expert who spent more than 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 more than 14 years of experience, he helps leadership teams create alignment, implement strategy, and achieve measurable results.
Connect with Anthony: https://linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604
Podcast produced by: Rednyne Productions
