At Yum! Brands, home to KFC, Taco Bell, and Pizza Hut, former CEO David Novak played a pivotal role in skyrocketing the company’s market cap from $4 billion to $32 billion during his 17-year tenure. Novak, who led the company from 1999 to 2016, emphasizes that this impressive growth was rooted in fostering a positive work environment rather than just focusing on numbers.

In a recent interview with Masters of Scale host Jeff Berman, Novak shared that his top priority was to create a powerful culture where every employee felt valued. “If I can create that right work environment, people will innovate and people will go further,” he stated.

Novak gained insights from successful companies like Walmart, Home Depot, and General Electric, which helped him identify the elements driving their consistent results. By emphasizing employee recognition and integrating it into Yum!’s culture, Novak motivated his global team of 1.5 million. He famously awarded rubber chickens and cash prizes at KFC to celebrate outstanding performance, showcasing his belief that recognition fuels success.