Simplifying Leadership: Coca-Cola’s Approach to Manager Effectiveness with Tapaswee Chandele

We sat down with Tapaswee Chandele, Senior Vice President of Global Talent Development and System Partnerships at Coca-Cola, to talk about what it really takes to help managers succeed. 

She’s direct, transparent, and refreshingly honest about the challenges leaders face today—and what companies need to do to make things simpler. From setting clear expectations to measuring what matters, Tapaswee breaks down the way Coca-Cola supports managers without overcomplicating the process.

One of the huge takeaways for us was the idea of prioritization: cutting through the noise and focusing on just a few key things that actually move the needle. Tapaswee also shared some thought-provoking perspectives on culture, manager accountability, and why companies need to be intentional about the kind of leaders they develop and reward.

Oh, and we got into how AI could be a game-changer for taking boring admin work off managers’ plates so they can spend more time on what actually matters—like leading their teams.

You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in...

• Intro [0:00]
• How Coca-Cola Defines Manager Effectiveness [4:45]
• Embedding Leadership into Culture and Processes [10:10]
• Why Manager Effectiveness Is Declining [15:00]
• Supporting Managers with Data and Feedback [21:00]
• Using AI to Simplify Managerial Work [30:10]
• Rethinking Leadership Roles and Rewards [38:00]
• Measuring Manager Effectiveness at Coca-Cola [43:10]

Resources & People Mentioned

• Radical Candor by Kim Scott
• BetterUp – A coaching platform focused on leadership and professional growth
• Future of Jobs Report 2023 by the World Economic Forum

Connect with Tapaswee Chandele

• Tapaswee Chandele on LinkedIn

Connect With Red Thread Research

• Website: Red Thread Research
• On LinkedIn
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