The Right Way to Interview Senior Talent, According to the Former CEO of Coach

In his new book, Bag Man: The Story Behind the Improbable Rise of Coach, (Harvard Business Review Press, 2025), former CEO Lew Frankfort shares stories and strategies behind the company’s growth from a $6 million business to a $5 billion global brand. Here’s an edited excerpt about his approach to interviewing, which he used throughout his 35-year career at Coach and still uses as head of the Benvolio Group.