Sean Tresvant, Taco Bell's CEO, believes embracing what you don't know is a cornerstone of effective leadership. In a conversation with Fortune, Tresvant shared that his success as a leader stems from recognising his strengths and leaning on others to fill the gaps — a philosophy that was instrumental in his transition to CEO earlier this year.
Tresvant, who previously held top roles at Nike and Sports Illustrated, assumed leadership of Taco Bell in January. As a first-time CEO with a background primarily in marketing, he admitted that the advice to not "be a black belt in everything" was transformative.
Speaking on LinkedIn's This Is Working With Daniel Roth podcast, Tresvant, 43, said, “The biggest surprise during my transition was realising I didn’t need to master everything. Instead, I’ve focused on being a black belt in marketing and a brown belt in everything else."
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A key to Tresvant's smooth transition, he explained, has been his willingness to rely on team members with expertise in areas where he lacks proficiency. “I’m not a CFO, but I have a great CFO who can lead the business,” he said. “That understanding has been vital to my early success because I’m not trying to be everything to everyone.”
Tresvant also noted the importance of humility in leadership. When asked about admitting he doesn’t have all the answers, he described it as a hallmark of “great leadership.” He warned against the pitfalls of micromanagement and trying to be all things to all people, saying it ultimately stifles team growth.
“When leaders try to be everything, they fail to empower their teams,” he explained. “Acknowledging your limits and trusting others to lead creates a stronger organisation.”
For Tresvant, this philosophy has been a guiding principle not just in his rise to CEO but in building a collaborative and effective leadership style at Taco Bell.