Before You Quit: What 20 Years at Kellogg Taught This Executive

In this episode of People + Strategy, we sit down with Kris Bahner, senior advisor for Mars Snacking and former chief global corporate affairs officer at Kellanova, to explore the state of employee retention in 2026. Drawing on a 35-year career with two decades with Kellogg and Kellanova, Bahner shares why staying can be a powerful career strategy in an era defined by job hopping. She explains how long-term investments in relationships, trust, and institutional knowledge can accelerate growth and leadership impact. Bahner also reflects on leading through major transformations, including Kellogg’s spinoff in 2023 and the Mars acquisition of Kellanova in 2025. She offers insights on retaining talent and helping employees thrive through change.

Resources from this Week's Episode -

Toolkit: Managing Organizational Change

https://www.shrm.org/topics-tools/tools/toolkits/managing-organizational-change

Toolkit: Improving Employee Retention and Reducing Turnover https://www.shrm.org/topics-tools/tools/toolkits/managing-employee-retention

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