Partnering on America’s toughest challenges

Building a leadership engine to drive growth and future-ready Campbell’s next generation of talent

Campbell’s, one of the most iconic food and beverage companies in the United States, partnered with McKinsey to strengthen its leadership capabilities and prepare its workforce for the future. With more than 150 years of history, the company sought to continue driving growth and innovation in an increasingly complex business environment. Together, McKinsey and Campbell’s built and scaled a comprehensive leadership development strategy to enhance performance, strengthen culture, and future-proof the organization. The efforts have been recognized externally, with Campbell’s named to Time’s 2024 list of Best Companies for Future Leaders.

Our success starts with our people—it’s our first priority as an organization. We want Campbell’s to be a place where you can build a career and learn how to become a great leader

Diane Johnson May
Executive Vice President, Chief People and Culture Officer at Campbell’s

WHAT WE ACHIEVED TOGETHER

How we did it

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Embedding leadership development at every level
McKinsey and Campbell’s co-designed a series of leadership programs tailored to different levels of the organization, from early-career talent to senior executives.
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Developing managers and strengthening teams
The “Manage to Win” program equipped new managers with critical skills in coaching, feedback, and team leadership.
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Empowering senior leaders
Through the “Lead to Win” program, senior leaders strengthened their ability to lead organizations, develop talent, and drive strategic priorities.
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Building a culture of continuous learning
Campbell’s reinforced leadership development by engaging program alumni as instructors, fostering peer learning and ensuring practical application of new skills.
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Using data to measure and sustain impact:
McKinsey supported the effort with measurement tools to help track program effectiveness and inform ongoing improvements.

My favorite part of being a leader is helping others to grow and develop and really be at their best. After being part of the program, I’m much more focused on how I bring my team along for that ride

Kathryn Rider
Associate Vice President of Benefits at Cambell’s
Gerald Drummond

How Campbell’s is investing in leadership—and driving growth and innovation along the way

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Building on its 150-year history of leadership investment, Campbell’s partnered with McKinsey to future-ready its next generation of talent.

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