What Has Panera's CEO Learned From the Global Pandemic? episode artwork

EPISODE · Jul 28, 2026 · 53 MIN

What Has Panera's CEO Learned From the Global Pandemic?

from Harvard Business Review · host HBR

What Has Panera's CEO Learned From the Pandemic? 13 Jan 2021 --- Panera’s leader Niren Chaudhary has firsthand experience of leading through adversity. While Chaudhary was head of Yum! Brands, his daughter Aisha passed away from pulmonary fibrosis at the age of 18. When Covid-19 hit, Panera pivoted by offering groceries and setting out-of-work employees up with open positions at CVS. We talk with Chaudhary about how the fast casual chain made decisions during this period of uncertainty and what’s next for them in 2021. --------------------------------------------------------------------- At Harvard Business Review, we believe in management. If the world’s organizations and institutions were run more effectively, if our leaders made better decisions, if people worked more productively, we believe that all of us — employees, bosses, customers, our families, and the people our businesses affect — would be better off. So we try to arm our readers with ideas that help them become smarter, more creative, and more courageous in their work. We enlist the foremost experts in a wide range of topics, including career planning, strategy, leadership, work-life balance, negotiations, innovation, and managing teams. Harvard Business Review empowers professionals around the world to lead themselves and their organizations more effectively and to make a positive impact. Sign up for Newsletters: https://hbr.org/email-newsletters Follow us: https://hbr.org/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/harvard-business-review/ https://www.facebook.com/HBR/ https://twitter.com/HarvardBiz https://www.instagram.com/harvard_business_review Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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What Has Panera's CEO Learned From the Global Pandemic?

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