When Melanie Dulbecco became CEO of Torani Syrups 34 years ago, she stepped in as its first non-family leader with less than $1 million in annual sales and an uncertain future. What happened next defied expectations. Under her leadership, Torani has averaged more than 20% annual growth year over year for three decades—doubling in size every few years. In 2024, the company reached $500 million in sales and is on track to hit $1 billion by 2030.

Dulbecco’s unexpected success is attributable to her untraditional leadership style. She says, “Those financial numbers are the lagging indicators. The leading indicators have everything to do with the growth and development of our people.”

Dulbecco’s part of a growing wave of leaders embracing a more holistic model with the belief that the most ef

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