DiscoverBizWiz PodcastDebra Clary: Unlocking Performance Through the Curiosity Mindset
Debra Clary: Unlocking Performance Through the Curiosity Mindset

Debra Clary: Unlocking Performance Through the Curiosity Mindset

Update: 2025-10-23
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About Debra Clary: Dr. Debra Clary is a leadership strategist, curiosity researcher, and author of The Curiosity Curve (Fast Company Press, October 2025). With more than three decades of executive experience at Fortune 50 companies, including Frito-Lay, Coca-Cola, Jack Daniel’s, and Humana, she now helps leaders harness curiosity as a catalyst for growth, innovation, and engagement. A sought-after keynote speaker and executive coach, Dr. Clary is known for translating neuroscience and real-world experience into practical frameworks that transform culture and performance. She has delivered a TEDx talk viewed by over 225,000 people, was named one of the Top 10 Speakers to Watch in 2025, and continues to inspire audiences worldwide through her company, The Clary Group.


In this episode, Dan and Debra Clary discuss:

  • Curiosity as a catalyst for stronger leadership and organizational transformation
  • Developing environments that nurture curiosity and psychological safety
  • Shifting leadership mindsets from having answers to asking better questions
  • Turning curiosity into a measurable and repeatable driver of performance and innovation


Key Takeaways:

  • Research confirmed that when leaders consistently model and reward curiosity, their teams mirror that behavior—resulting in measurable gains in engagement, job satisfaction, and overall performance.
  • Neuroscience shows curiosity isn’t a personality trait but a state influenced by environment, meaning organizations can deliberately cultivate it by encouraging inquiry and rewarding experimentation.
  • Executives who view curiosity not as a luxury but as a strategic advantage are better equipped to adapt, innovate, and maintain competitive momentum in rapidly changing markets.
  • Establishing a culture where people feel safe to ask questions, challenge assumptions, and offer ideas empowers teams to move from compliance to creativity and unlocks the full potential of collective intelligence. 


"Curiosity is contagious; when you’re around curious people, your curiosity level will increase at the rate that theirs is." — Debra Clary


Connect with Debra Clary: 

Website: https://debraclary.com/

Book: The Curiosity Curve: https://www.amazon.com/Curiosity-Curve-Leaders-Transformation-Questions/dp/1639081380/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdebraclary/


Connect with Dan Hollis: 

Website: www.themagicofselling.net

Email: Danch68@outlook.com

Business Number: 973-862-8331


Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

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Debra Clary: Unlocking Performance Through the Curiosity Mindset

Debra Clary: Unlocking Performance Through the Curiosity Mindset