
How Mark Whitacre Went from FBI Informant to Culture Leader: Lessons on Trust, Purpose, and Repair
From WiLD Conversation by WiLD Leaders
March 24, 2026 · 59 min · Episode 65
About this episode
Mark Whitacre shares his journey from being an FBI informant to a culture leader, discussing themes of trust and redemption.
How Mark Whitacre Went from FBI Informant to Culture Leader: Lessons on Trust, Purpose, and Repair In this powerful episode of the WiLD Conversation Podcast, Mark Whitacre once known as “The Informant” at the center of the largest price-fixing case in U.S. history, shares the deeper story rarely told: the long, costly, and redemptive journey of rebuilding a life. Hosted by Dr. Rob McKenna and Sabeth Kapahu, Mark reflects on what it means to move from public failure to purposeful leadership. Now serving as Vice President of Culture and Care at Coca-Cola Consolidated, he brings a unique lens shaped by his PhD in biochemistry, his corporate rise and fall, and his ongoing commitment to helping leaders and organizations flourish from the inside out. This conversation goes beyond headlines and into the heart of trust, identity, and restoration. It invites us to consider a deeper question: What does it really take to repair what’s been broken in ourselves and in the cultures we lead? Grounded in a faith-informed perspective and aligned with the WiLD Leaders commitment to whole and intentional leadership, this episode offers a compelling exploration of humility, resilience, and the…
People in this episode
Hosts: Dr. Rob McKenna, Sabeth Kapahu
Guest: Mark Whitacre
Topics covered
- trust
- leadership
- redemption
- organizational culture
- personal growth
Keywords
- FBI informant
- culture leader
- trust
- purpose
- restoration
- leadership
- Coca-Cola
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Coca-Cola Consolidated
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