
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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