Tonya Harris Cornileus

The Exec Who Is Defining Good Leadership at Disney

Survey after survey shows that managers want more coaching, but companies aren’t coming through. Don’t tell that to Disney. In 2024, it launched the largest leadership development initiative in company history — a multi-year coaching program for all people leaders, starting with executives. Partnering with a global coaching provider, the program promises to increase leader participation in structured development over the next 18 months and, crucially, embed leadership behaviors into performance management. The initiative was co-led by Tonya Harris Cornileus, who oversees global strategic initiatives in leadership development, talent, succession, and performance management at Disney. It’s not the only way the company is helping its 40,000 leaders succeed. In 2024, Cornileus also spearheaded the creation of Disney’s People Leader Expectations, a set of six core behaviors including showing care and compassion, inspiring success, providing continuous feedback, and developing self and others. The expectations are embedded in enterprise-wide KPIs — emphasizing how company leaders play a key role in driving employee engagement and retention.

By Audrey Goodson Kingo