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Episode Notes
Amanda sits down with Secretary Carlos Gutierrez, former Chairman and CEO of Kellogg and the 35th U.S. Secretary of Commerce, to discuss his extraordinary journey from leaving Cuba as a child to leading one of America's most recognizable companies and serving in President George W. Bush's Cabinet.
Drawing on his new memoir, Sheer Will, Carlos reflects on the ambition, resilience, and determination that shaped his career, the mentors who helped him along the way, and the lessons he learned about earning trust and leading through uncertainty. Together, they explore what it takes to transform an organization, make difficult decisions, and bring people along through change.
Carlos shares why leaders must explain the reasons behind their decisions, the importance of listening and surrounding yourself with exceptional people, and how a later-in-life ADHD diagnosis helped him better understand his own strengths. It's a conversation about courage and humanity, the responsibility of leadership, and why, at its core, leadership is always about people.
Amanda Hindlian
Carlos M. Gutierrez is a business leader, former Chairman and CEO of Kellogg Company, and the 35th U.S. Secretary of Commerce under President George W. Bush. Born in Havana, Cuba, he came to the United States with his family as a child and began his career at Kellogg as a sales representative in 1975.
Over nearly three decades, he rose through the ranks to become the company's youngest CEO in its nearly 100-year history. Following his service in government, he held senior leadership roles at Citigroup and Albright Stonebridge Group and co-founded EmPath, a human capital technology company.
His memoir, Sheer Will: Learning to Lead When There Is No Path, explores his unconventional journey and the resilience, courage, and people-first leadership that shaped it.