The Question That Got an Executive Disqualified Before the Interview Even Began | Yulia Denisova

What truly separates a great leader from someone who just looks like one on paper? In this episode of Simply Awesome People, we sit down with Yulia Denisova, VP of Talent and Development at Fanatics and a global HR leader with nearly 30 years of experience across BP, The Coca-Cola Company, and Fanatics — to have one of the most honest, practical, and direct conversations about leadership we've ever had on this channel. This is not a theoretical conversation. Every insight Yulia shares comes from decades of working inside some of the world's most recognizable organizations, building leadership pipelines, developing high-potential talent, and sitting in the room where the toughest people decisions get made. 💬 In This Episode We Cover: ✅ The one leadership trait that consistently separates great leaders from those who only look good on paper ✅ How to spot a high-potential leader in a 30-minute interview — and what the data actually says about what makes them different ✅ The question an executive leadership candidate asked a senior recruiter before the interview even began — and why it cost them the opportunity ✅ What succession planning really looks like inside large global organizations — and the mistake most leaders make when advocating for their people ✅ Why getting to know your people beyond the work context is not optional — and what great organizational cultures do to embed this into leadership behavior ✅ The GE story: why companies like Coca-Cola and BP invest heavily in long-term leadership development — and why cutting that investment is a dangerous short-term trap ✅ The truth about Performance Improvement Plans — the myths, the fears, and the genuine opportunity most leaders completely miss ✅ The one real, direct, and honest piece of advice every leader needs to hear about building trust with their team Whether you are a senior leader, an aspiring manager, an HR professional, or someone trying to figure out what great leadership actually looks like from the inside — this conversation will give you something you can act on today. 🔔 Subscribe to Simply Awesome People for weekly conversations with industry leaders and everyday achievers on leadership, personal growth, and business strategy. ⏱️ Episode Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to Yulia Denisova and episode overview 01:41 The leadership trait that drives results 02:13 The key trait that separates great leaders 04:11 How to gauge leadership potential in interviews 04:42 How to spot leadership potential in interviews 07:00 The importance of learning agility and EQ 09:56 When candidates ask about severance 10:06 Handling candidate questions about severance and exit packages 16:12 Succession planning: preparing future leaders 17:47 Preparing for succession planning and leadership development 23:07 Getting to know your people beyond work 27:25 Building a culture of growth and trust 28:25 Creating organizational culture that fosters genuine leadership 31:48 Why leadership development still matters 36:37 Investing in leadership development in a post-COVID world 39:26 Performance improvement plans with humanity 41:57 Supporting employees on performance improvement plans 46:19 The case for honest leadership conversations 46:28 Building trust through honesty and transparency 48:29 Closing thoughts: rest and recharge 48:45 Final advice and closing remarks 🔗 Connect with Yulia Denisova: LinkedIn:   / yulia-denisova   📲 Follow Simply Awesome People: YouTube Shorts:    / @simplyawesomepeople   Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: JPSQDAMOOLMMXXDS, TIWQMZTNO1VWZ0SS, IHES6YCYLZ9BHLCK, PYK4MNIC3MYEVAS1, PI9O61VMYM9YCISW, QEIZS7UQDQDZLNNZ, EPEJZIUXOI2YK1Z4, AAR9GBHEKEJTUPEC, GEFPDXGWAEFZGN1O, ERP0S6OJAY0ZB4NL, LJYRQQYYODLGGOGD, PD7KSMRJYN6IHF2O, 8OTTOSNRESKAKRLA, KHNPLLISDV8ARZWC, HNJ5BU5UMHQ5QAH2, 1ZNXMNG8WYSILDCF, KVASTM507UITAALD, CZBOVNNKTGFIAP5H, IDC1JKUXBTVAHYAR, 7HTK4MNJB86PFTKL, JQAW7GIGAPLYRLUZ, 6KHEGUZPRBQ4S7TL, UDX9MIA6WRR3QTSV #Leadership #HRLeadership #SimplyAwesomePeople #TalentDevelopment #LeadershipDevelopment #Fanatics #CocaCola #PersonalGrowth #CareerAdvice #SuccessionPlanning #HighPotential #LeadershipTraining #Mentorship #PerformanceManagement #FutureOfWork #AI #BusinessStrategy #ExecutiveLeadership #PeopleAndCulture #CareerDevelopment