David Lawlor - Former President at Kellanova Europe

David Lawlor - Former President at Kellanova Europe

From The Courageous Podcast with Ryan Berman by Ryan Berman

May 20, 2026 · 57 min · Episode 268

About this episode

David Lawlor reflects on his 35-year career at Kellogg and Kellanova, discussing leadership, growth, and identity in retirement.

David Lawlor spent 35 years at Kellogg and Kellanova, eventually retiring as President of Kellanova Europe. In this conversation with Ryan, he reflects on the moves that shaped him most: leaving Ireland, building the company’s Middle Eastern business, leading in Russia, and stepping into roles that looked risky from the outside but became defining chapters in his career. He talks about fear as the starting line of growth, why the right agenda matters more than the longest to-do list, and how leaders build belief by creating cultures where people know they can make a difference. Now in retirement, David is thinking about identity, relevance, and what it means to keep growing when the operating rhythm suddenly goes quiet

People in this episode

Host: Ryan Berman

Guest: David Lawlor

Topics covered

  • leadership
  • career growth
  • business strategy
  • personal development
  • cultural impact

Keywords

  • David Lawlor
  • Kellanova
  • leadership
  • career growth
  • business strategy
  • personal development
  • cultural impact

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Kellanova, Kellogg

Places: Ireland, Middle East, Russia

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