Creating Disney Magic

Lee Cockerell
  • 4.9 (437)
  • Management
  • Updated Weekly

Lee Cockerell shares his wisdom and experience from his time as the Executive Vice President of Operations for Walt Disney World. Along with host Jody Maberry, Lee discusses how you can apply lessons in leadership, management, and customer service to create magic in your organization.

  1. 3d ago

    Get People In The Room To Solve Problems

    "Your employees and your customers know everything you need to know. But will they'll tell you?" Episode Chapters [00:01:03] Make Time for Better Conversations [00:01:51] Solving Disney's French Fry Problem [00:02:38] Bringing Frontline Employees Into the Room [00:04:10] You Said, We Did [00:05:15] Creating Trust to Speak Up [00:08:16] Ask the People Doing the Work [00:11:52] Making Employees Part of the Solution [00:13:35] Giving People a Safe Way to Speak Up What could you learn about your organization if you put the people doing the work in a room and simply listened? In this episode, hear Lee Cockerell's closing remarks at a Creating Magic Mastermind. Lee recalls how Disney brought frontline employees together for four-hour conversations without their managers in the room. Their observations uncovered problems leadership didn't know existed, from slow stoplights to operational inefficiencies. More importantly, Disney followed up through a process called "You Said, We Did," showing employees that speaking up actually led to action. The people closest to the work often know what needs to change. It's up to leaders to create enough trust for them to say it. Read my blog for more from this episode.  Resources CockerellStore.com The Cockerell Academy About Lee Cockerell Mainstreet Leader Jody Maberry Travel Guidance Magical Vacation Planners are my preferred travel advisors. Reach out to have them help plan your next vacation. You can reach them at 407-442-2694.

    Get People In The Room To Solve Problems

  2. Sep 29

    Leaders Do Their Homework

    "You'll never know what your team knows unless you ask them." Episode Chapters [01:06] What It Means to Do Your Homework [02:50] Relying on Your Team's Expertise [05:04] Asking Why Before Making a Decision [07:38] Hiring and Developing the Right Experts [09:16] Having the Confidence to Say "I Don't Know" Leaders are expected to make decisions, but that doesn't mean they should make them alone. Lee Cockerell, retired Executive Vice President of Walt Disney World, has a conversation on what it means for a leader to do their homework before deciding what comes next. Lee shares how he relied on experts throughout his career, including the team around him at Walt Disney World, to understand areas where they knew more than he did. The conversation covers asking better questions, seeking different perspectives, knowing which decisions require extra care, and having the confidence to admit when you don't know the answer. Good leadership isn't about proving you know everything. It's about using the people and resources around you to make the best decision possible. Read my blog for more from this episode. Resources CockerellStore.com The Cockerell Academy About Lee Cockerell Mainstreet Leader Jody Maberry Travel Guidance Magical Vacation Planners are my preferred travel advisors. Reach out to have them help plan your next vacation. You can reach them at 407-442-2694.

  3. Sep 22

    Be Candid and Save Time

    "When you give people straightforward feedback, you're preparing them for the future." Episode Chapters [00:00:43]  What Leaders Are Asking Lee [00:04:00]  Why Being Candid Saves Time [00:06:36]  The Cost of Avoiding Difficult Conversations [00:07:33]  What Truth With Empathy Looks Like [00:10:37]  Building a Culture of Candor at Work Difficult conversations are rarely comfortable, but avoiding them can create even more problems. Lee Cockerell, retired Executive Vice President of Walt Disney World, discusses why being candid and getting to the point can save time, reduce confusion, and help people improve. Lee explains why straightforward feedback should be delivered with empathy rather than anger or intimidation. He shares how this approach applies to parenting and the workplace, where employees need clear expectations and the confidence to speak openly. Leaders can make honesty and respectful communication part of their team's everyday culture. When people know where they stand and trust that feedback is intended to help them succeed, difficult conversations become opportunities for growth rather than problems to avoid. Read the blog for more from this episode.  Resources CockerellStore.com The Cockerell Academy About Lee Cockerell Mainstreet Leader Jody Maberry Travel Guidance Magical Vacation Planners are my preferred travel advisors. Reach out to have them help plan your next vacation. You can reach them at 407-442-2694.

  4. Sep 15

    Become a Better Leader

    "Are people getting better because they work with you?" Episode Chapters [00:56] What Lee Once Believed About Leadership [03:32] Learning Through Experience and Self-Awareness [05:34] Developing Management and Leadership Together [08:26] The Experiences That Changed Lee's Leadership [11:13] How to Become a Better Leader Being a strong manager does not automatically make someone a strong leader. Lee Cockerell, retired Executive Vice President of Walt Disney World, and Jody Maberry explore the difference between getting things done and leading people well. Lee reflects on the years when his drive for results helped his career but also damaged relationships. He shares how better time management, delegation, self-awareness, and respect changed the way he worked with people. They also discuss why leaders need people around them who are comfortable telling them the truth and the question every leader should consider: Are people getting better because they work with you? Read the blog for more from this episode.  Resources CockerellStore.com The Cockerell Academy About Lee Cockerell Mainstreet Leader Jody Maberry Travel Guidance Magical Vacation Planners are my preferred travel advisors. Reach out to have them help plan your next vacation. You can reach them at 407-442-2694.

  5. Sep 8

    Honoring Heritage Doesn't Mean Staying The Same

    "What seems insignificant to you may carry tremendous meaning for your customer." Episode Chapters [00:01:27] Honoring Heritage Without Staying the Same [00:03:54] Protecting What Customers Value [00:06:23] Knowing When to Reverse a Change [00:08:18] Moving Beyond Resistance to New Ideas [00:11:01] Adapting Without Losing Your Purpose Change is necessary for any organization that wants to remain relevant, but moving forward does not mean abandoning what people already value. Lee Cockerell, retired Executive Vice President of Walt Disney World, how leaders can balance heritage with changing customer expectations. From hotel amenities and technology to beloved Disney experiences, they explore why leaders need to understand the emotional connections customers have with a brand. Lee also explains the importance of listening, researching major changes, communicating the reasoning behind decisions, and being willing to change course when something does not work. Read my blog for more from this episode.  Resources CockerellStore.com The Cockerell Academy About Lee Cockerell Mainstreet Leader Jody Maberry Travel Guidance Magical Vacation Planners are my preferred travel advisors. Reach out to have them help plan your next vacation. You can reach them at 407-442-2694.

  6. Sep 1

    Can Your Operation Keep Your Promises?

    "The customer doesn't care about who did what. They want it to be right." Episode Chapters [00:01:41] Can Operations Deliver What Marketing Promises? [00:04:21] Keeping the Frontline Informed [00:06:52] Creating One Purpose Across Departments [00:08:41] Trust, Ethics, and Speaking Up [00:10:18] Preparing Operations for Big Disney Announcements [00:14:24] Meeting the Expectations You Create Every promise your organization makes creates an expectation your operation must be prepared to meet. Lee Cockerell discussed what happens behind the scenes when marketing, sales, creative teams, and operations need to work together to deliver for the customer. Lee uses his experiences as a leader at Walt Disney World to highlight the importance of communication, respecting each department's expertise, preparing frontline employees, and creating a culture where people are comfortable speaking up when they see a potential problem. Customers don't care which department made the promise. They remember whether your organization kept it. Read my blog for more from this episode. Resources CockerellStore.com The Cockerell Academy About Lee Cockerell Mainstreet Leader Jody Maberry Travel Guidance Magical Vacation Planners are my preferred travel advisors. Reach out to have them help plan your next vacation. You can reach them at 407-442-2694.

  7. Aug 25

    Little Problems Become Big Problems

    "If somebody tells you something needs fixed and you don't do something about it, then you really lose credibility very quickly." Episode Chapters [00:01:19] When a Small Problem Becomes Serious [00:04:24] Acting Quickly and Listening to Experts [00:05:07] What D23 Teaches About Attention to Detail [00:10:28] Why Leaders Need to Walk the Operation [00:14:04] Go to the Source to Find the Facts Little problems have a way of becoming bigger when they are overlooked, but sometimes they grow even when you think you are handling them. Lee Cockerell shares the scary reaility of that lesson through a recent health scare. Jody Maberry also shares his experience at D23. Both perspectives show the importance of responding quickly when something isn't improving and noticing operational details before they affect customers. The conversation is a reminder that good leadership requires attention and follow-through. It starts with a willingness to go directly to the source when you need to understand what is really happening. Read the blog for more from this episode.  Resources CockerellStore.com The Cockerell Academy About Lee Cockerell Mainstreet Leader Jody Maberry Travel Guidance Magical Vacation Planners are my preferred travel advisors. Reach out to have them help plan your next vacation. You can reach them at 407-442-2694.

  8. Aug 18

    Take a Position of Leadership on Safety

    "Be the leader that steps up and narrows the odds of something happening." Episode Chapters [00:02:36] Taking a Leadership Position on Safety [00:04:53] Preparing Before a Crisis Happens [00:06:48] Why Safety Must Be the Top Priority [00:10:02] The Organizational Cost of Preventable Accidents [00:12:14] Creating a Culture Where Employees Speak Up Safety is not just a policy or a responsibility reserved for managers. It is a mindset everyone in an organization can practice. Lee Cockerell, retired Executive Vice President of Walt Disney World, knows firsthand why preparation, awareness, and consistent training matter before a crisis occurs. He discusses the important role frontline employees play in identifying risks and why titles don't matter when it comes to addressing safety. Leaders can strengthen safety by creating an environment where people feel comfortable speaking up and trust that their concerns will be taken seriously. Read the blog for more from this episode.  Resources CockerellStore.com The Cockerell Academy About Lee Cockerell Mainstreet Leader Jody Maberry Travel Guidance Magical Vacation Planners are my preferred travel advisors. Reach out to have them help plan your next vacation. You can reach them at 407-442-2694

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About

Lee Cockerell shares his wisdom and experience from his time as the Executive Vice President of Operations for Walt Disney World. Along with host Jody Maberry, Lee discusses how you can apply lessons in leadership, management, and customer service to create magic in your organization.

Information

  • Creator
    Lee Cockerell
  • Years Active
    2014 - 2026
  • Episodes
    627
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Lee Cockerell
  • Show Website
    Creating Disney Magic

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