Mastering Your Impact | My Interview With Former President of Coca- Cola

Some conversations echo long after they end.

That’s how I felt after sitting across from Ahmet Bozer, the former President of The Coca-Cola Company, for our latest episode of the GRASP Confidence Podcast.

Going into the interview, I knew Ahmet Bozer as a global business leader. But what I didn’t expect was how warm, grounded, and deeply reflective he would be. He didn’t come to talk about titles or accolades. He came to talk about growth, purpose, and what it means to truly make the most of the life God has given you.

And I have to tell you, it was unforgettable.

The Quiet Confidence of Becoming

Early in our conversation, I asked Ahmet how he managed to rise so far in his career while remaining so approachable and humble. He smiled thoughtfully, and then shared something that immediately struck me:

“I really had this passion for and joy in seeing people growing, people flourishing.”

He didn’t talk about climbing ladders or chasing promotions. He talked about people. About nurturing growth. About becoming the kind of leader who brings out the best in others.

That perspective reshaped how I think about confidence. We often imagine confidence as loud, polished, and flawless. But in Ahmet, I saw a different kind: the quiet confidence that comes from focusing less on proving yourself and more on improving yourself.

It reminded me that confidence is not built in applause; it’s built in the daily act of showing up to serve.

The Power of Staying the Course

Ahmet told me about the eight-year journey it took him to write his book Soldiery; eight years of reflection, revision, and wrestling with big questions. He said something I haven’t stopped thinking about:

“The most important part of this journey is to treat all of those [doubts] as occasions that you’re going to be born into something new from that questioning and not to give up.”

How often do we let doubt stop us, when it’s actually the sign that we’re on the brink of growth?

Ahmet didn’t want to just echo what others had said.

“I didn’t want to repeat anything that anybody has said before… I had to search in myself for those insights I didn’t want to propose anything that I haven’t personally experienced.”

That line gave me chills. Because how many of us are rushing to arrive instead of allowing ourselves the time to truly become?

It’s easy to forget that God’s timeline is not ours. Our calling often takes longer than we expect; not because we’re behind, but because He is building the depth to carry the weight of our destiny.

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Redefining Success: Drivers, Not Destinations

In the corporate world, the pressure to perform is relentless. Miss your targets, and you might not get another chance. But Ahmet reframed that pressure with profound simplicity:

“You don’t really have the luxury to not worry about the destination… But life’s full of paradoxes. We have to do this and we have to do that at the same time.”

In other words, we can pursue results without being consumed by them.

He continued:

“Getting to the destination is never guaranteed… But if you actually try to get the drivers right, and if you improve on them every day, over time, you’re going to hit more of your targets than you otherwise would.”

This shifted something in me. Because we spend so much energy trying to control outcomes that we forget what’s actually within our control: our attitude, our effort, our impact, and our faithfulness.

We are not called to chase applause. We are called to steward our gifts with excellence.

Excellence Over Perfection

Ahmet’s approach to excellence resonated deeply with me; especially because so many high-achievers I work with struggle under the crushing weight of perfectionism.

He offered this refreshing perspective:

“Perform with excellence… think about yourself as a performing artist of life.”

There’s something freeing about that image; to think of ourselves not a flawless machine, but an artist. Showing up with preparation and passion, but also humanity and heart. Excellence leaves space for mistakes, growth, and joy. Perfection does not.

Perfection is rooted in fear. Excellence is rooted in love. And love is what transforms our work into missions that create impact.

Legacy in Every Interaction

When I asked Ahmet what legacy means to him, he didn’t mention building empires or leaving monuments. He said something far more profound:

“There’s a term that I call legacy mindset… The thoughts and emotions I create in you is my legacy and the thoughts and emotions you create in me is your legacy.”

Isn’t that beautiful?

Legacy isn’t some distant thing we leave when we’re gone. It’s being built right now, in every conversation, every decision, every person we touch.

He reminded me:

“There’s really one thing that is in your total control. That’s the impact you make. The outcomes you get are not in your control.”

Read that again.

We can’t control outcomes but we can control our impact. And impact is what echoes into eternity.

Becoming Who You Were Created to Be

Ahmet created Soldiery as a framework to help people grow into their fullest potential not just professionally, but personally and spiritually.

“The outcome is becoming an increasingly capable, impactful, and resilient person in all the roles you play in life.”

Isn’t that what we all want? To become the kind of person who walks into a room and brings peace. Who builds others up. Who can bend without breaking, because their roots run deep.

He also shared one of my favorite lines of the entire interview:

“We don’t learn from experience, but we learn from reflecting on experience.”

That hit me hard. Because so often, we rush from one milestone to the next without stopping to reflect on what God is teaching us along the way. But reflection turns achievement into wisdom and wisdom is what carries us through the next storm.

This Is Your Time

Friend, if there’s one message I hope this conversation leaves with you, it’s this:

You don’t have to be perfect to be impactful. You don’t need to have all the answers to start. You simply need to be faithful with what’s in your hands right now.

“Whatever it is you're looking for in life, you have to create the impact for it for yourself.” — Ahmet Bozer

Your calling is not a destination. It’s who you are becoming in the process.

And the world needs who God created you to be; confident, courageous, and committed to leaving a legacy of love and excellence.

🎧 Don’t Miss This Episode!

This powerful conversation with Ahmet Bozer drops in less than two weeks and you won’t want to miss it.

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What's Next on My Mission To Impact

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