The Curiosity Crisis: A Conversation with Leadership Strategist Dr. Debra Clary

Thinking deeply and strategically has defined my career as a successful entrepreneur. But here’s my real secret: I want the best idea to win, and I don’t care who comes up with it.  

If leaders want creativity and innovation, they have to promote workplace trust, listen to their team and ask questions instead of making statements. As leadership strategist and researcher Dr. Debra Clary says, curiosity defines the most successful leaders. 

“The best leaders I’ve had in my career are those that ask the best questions,” she says. “They genuinely wanted me to try to solve the problem on my own. They would ask a series of questions that led me to the conclusion, ‘Wow, I think I can actually make this work.’ They had the confidence that I could go out and make it happen.” 

In her book, The Curiosity Curve, Clary draws on four decades of experience at iconic brands like Coca-Cola, Frito-Lay, and Jack Daniels, explaining that curiosity drives leadership performance. At the same time, many executives overlook this key skill, leading to what she calls a “curiosity crisis.”  

Recently, Debra and I discussed why curiosity is a strategic superpower and why it’s the key to thriving in an AI-driven world.