How Leaders Lead with David Novak

Latest Episodes:

#07: Ajay Banga, Mastercard CEO—Be Guided by Decency Aug 20, 2020

Show notes

Today’s guest is Ajay Banga, CEO of Mastercard.

Ajay is one of the most respected leaders in the world, and he’s a classic example of that old adage, “When you do the right thing, the right things happen.”

In fact, that idea of doing the right thing is so core to his leadership style that he coined a term for it – he calls it the “decency quotient.”

As a leader it’s not enough to have a good IQ and EQ. We’ve got to be decent, too – to treat others with fairness, and support, and respect. In Ajay’s words, it’s “having your hand on people’s backs, not in their faces.”

And it’s not just a fluffy feel good thing. This idea of decency really drives growth.

It’s empowering his employees with trust and accountability. It’s ensuring that there is diversity around the decision table in order to guard against blind spots. And it’s helping his team find ways to make the economy more inclusive while still delivering on business goals.

At every turn, Ajay shows us that great leaders are guided by decency.

You’ll also learn:

How to uncover ideas that benefit both your business and society at large

The #1 thing you need to get right as a leader
The critical mindset you need about your competition, whether you’re ahead or behind
What you need to foster innovation (hint: it’s probably not what you expect)
Why empowerment and accountability go hand in hand
Hard-won advice for other diverse leaders who face discrimination

Take your learning further. Get proven leadership advice from these (free!) resources:

The How Leaders Lead App: A vast library of 90-second leadership lessons to stay sharp on the go

Daily Insight Emails: One small (but powerful!) leadership principle to focus on each day

Whichever you choose, you can be sure you’ll get the trusted leadership advice you need to advance your career, develop your team, and grow your business.

#06: Ethan Brown, Beyond Meat Founder & CEO—Tap Into the Power of Purpose Aug 14, 2020

Show notes

Today’s guest is Ethan Brown, Founder and CEO of Beyond Meat.

You hear a lot of leaders say they want to change the world. But that is literally Ethan’s mission at Beyond Meat. Their company is devoted to getting the same protein as animal meat straight from plants – so they can reduce climate change, improve human health, and help animal welfare. Now that’s an epic mission!

And when you listen to Ethan, you realize just how powerful his sense of purpose is. It’s the driving force behind the incredible product development at Beyond Meat. It’s what influences their marketing and competitive strategy.

It’s also a huge piece of their team culture.

That sense of purpose is like the ultimate source of renewable energy!

Now of course, your sense of purpose is going to vary. But great leaders know how to use purpose as motivation when the going gets tough or when they need to reach a big goal.

Nobody does that better than Ethan – and with so much intelligence and humility to boot. So let’s dig in and see how great leaders tap into the power of purpose.

You’ll also learn:

One common tactic that can actually hold your company back, especially in product development and marketing
The surprising mindset that helps you stay relevant in a rapidly shifting world
How to encourage the “fail fast” culture on your team
Why self-awareness is crucial to your growth as a leader

Take your learning further. Get proven leadership advice from these (free!) resources:

The How Leaders Lead App: A vast library of 90-second leadership lessons to stay sharp on the go

Daily Insight Emails: One small (but powerful!) leadership principle to focus on each day

Whichever you choose, you can be sure you’ll get the trusted leadership advice you need to advance your career, develop your team, and grow your business.

#05: Seth Waugh, PGA of America CEO—Spend Time with All Levels of Your Organization Aug 06, 2020

Show notes

Today’s guest is Seth Waugh, CEO of the PGA of America.

Seth Waugh’s background is actually in finance – most recently, as the CEO of Deutsche Bank. That’s obviously impressive, but what really sets him apart is his unique ability to relate to people at every level of an organization.

And that’s exactly what he did when took over as CEO of the PGA of America. He listened, he learned, and he gave his team members a chance to show their character.

Along the way, he uncovered some tough issues. But he also was able to see for himself how to address them. Now he and his team are really digging into their big mission, which is to grow the game of golf and make it more inclusive and accessible.

Great leaders “get their uniform dirty,” as Seth says, by spending time with all levels of their organization. Seth is a master at this, and you’re gonna be so inspired by this conversation.

You’ll also learn:

Specific things you need to do in the first six months of any new leadership role
What you can do to rebuild trust and communication in an organization
How Seth sees the game of golf evolving for the future
The tough-but-fair policy that Seth uses to hire and develop team members
A key caution leaders need to be mindful of as work becomes increasingly virtual

Take your learning further. Get proven leadership advice from these (free!) resources:

The How Leaders Lead App: A vast library of 90-second leadership lessons to stay sharp on the go

Daily Insight Emails: One small (but powerful!) leadership principle to focus on each day

Whichever you choose, you can be sure you’ll get the trusted leadership advice you need to advance your career, develop your team, and grow your business.

#04: Tony Xu, Doordash Cofounder & CEO—Break Problems Into Detailed Pieces Aug 06, 2020

Show notes

Today’s guest is Tony Xu, Cofounder and CEO of Doordash.

Getting a nice tasty burrito delivered to your door may seem pretty straightforward.

But when you think about all the moving parts – vendors, drivers, logistics, traffic, weather, technology – there are a lot of places where problems can pop up!

Tony and his team love to solve those problems. And they do it by breaking them down to their smallest details, so they really get clear on what’s happening.

At Doordash, Tony is creating a culture of action and ownership – where his people have both the skills AND the attitude they need to really dig into details.

To be honest, we leaders sometimes overlook those nitty gritty details. And that can be costly, because we never get the full understanding and clarity we really need to solve the problem.

Great leaders have to deal in reality. And sometimes, reality is really detailed.

Tony is a great leader who has the curiosity and hard work it takes to break problems down into detailed pieces – and there’s a lot we can learn from him!

You’ll also learn:

The #1 strategy you need to solve problems – even the really tough ones
Two practical ways you can foster more innovation in your company
Three standout behaviors to look for as you hire
A golden piece of advice for balancing work with the rest of your life
The surprising thing Tony teaches everyone at Doordash (and why)

Take your learning further. Get proven leadership advice from these (free!) resources:

The How Leaders Lead App: A vast library of 90-second leadership lessons to stay sharp on the go

Daily Insight Emails: One small (but powerful!) leadership principle to focus on each day

Whichever you choose, you can be sure you’ll get the trusted leadership advice you need to advance your career, develop your team, and grow your business.

#03: Evan Spiegel, SNAP CEO—Secrets of Fostering Innovation Jul 30, 2020

Show notes

Today’s guest is Evan Spiegel, CEO of Snap.

The tech world is driven by innovation. And Snapchat has set the gold standard for getting new ideas to take off, ever since 2011 when Evan Spiegel co-founded the company while he was a student at Stanford.

But there’s a lot more to Snapchat’s success than just having these good ideas. They have created a culture where those ideas can actually develop.

They have communicated those ideas to teams and stakeholders. Oh, and most importantly, they have actually turned those ideas into reality.

But it hasn’t always been easy – especially back in 2018 when some of those new ideas triggered an 80% drop in stock price and a very public outcry.

Now, of course, you may not be out to build Silicon’s Valley’s next big thing.

But every leader needs to know how to create a culture where big ideas thrive and become reality. So if you want to understand the secrets of fostering innovation, then you don’t want to miss this episode.

You’ll also learn:

A fundamental insight about human nature that will change how you think about product development
The one thing Evan wished he’d fully understood about going public
The #1 piece of advice Evan got early on – and probably what you need to hear today
What mistakes to avoid when you’re growing quickly
His surprising response to competitors ripping off his company’s products
Practical ways Evan grew – and keeps growing – in his leadership role
The one common denominator in all Evan’s biggest past mistakes (and how it helps him now)

Take your learning further. Get proven leadership advice from these (free!) resources:

The How Leaders Lead App: A vast library of 90-second leadership lessons to stay sharp on the go

Daily Insight Emails: One small (but powerful!) leadership principle to focus on each day

Whichever you choose, you can be sure you’ll get the trusted leadership advice you need to advance your career, develop your team, and grow your business.

#02: Larry Fitzgerald, Former Arizona Cardinals WR—How to Lead by Example Jul 30, 2020

Show notes

Today’s guest is Larry Fitzgerald, who has played for the Arizona Cardinals for 17 years and is widely regarded as one of the best wide receivers to ever play the game. He’s also an incredible philanthropist, investor, and businessman.

When we think about leadership, often what comes to mind for us is the person who’s up in front of the crowd, leading the meeting, or giving the big speech.

But when you listen to Larry you remember: not all leaders are vocal and up front. Our best leaders are often the ones who just quietly go about their work with excellence. And they earn their role as a leader by setting an example that other people just want to follow.

In this conversation we cover a lot of ground – how Larry grew up, how he prepares for games, how he is navigating social justice issues, and now how he’s developing as a businessman.

And in every scenario, Larry just quietly exerts so much influence – for the good! – on the people around him.

It’s the perfect reminder that great leaders lead by example.

You’ll also learn:

Advice for adjusting to new leadership and teammates (from a guy who’s played with almost 20 different quarterbacks over the years!)
The simple but powerful way Larry prepared for every game – and how it applies to you
Three traits that separate great coaches and leaders from mediocre ones
How to lead well even when you’re not the one calling the plays

Take your learning further. Get proven leadership advice from these (free!) resources:

The How Leaders Lead App: A vast library of 90-second leadership lessons to stay sharp on the go

Daily Insight Emails: One small (but powerful!) leadership principle to focus on each day

Whichever you choose, you can be sure you’ll get the trusted leadership advice you need to advance your career, develop your team, and grow your business.

#01: Kendra Scott, Founder & Executive Chairwoman of Kendra Scott—Strive for Simplicity Jul 30, 2020

Show notes

Today’s guest is Kendra Scott, Founder, Executive Chairwoman of the popular jewelry brand Kendra Scott.

Have you ever gotten stuck because you felt so overwhelmed by how complicated something seemed?

It can happen when you launch a new initiative, start a new role, or come up against a new challenge.

In those moments we leaders can overcomplicate things! And when we get bogged down like that, it’s really tough to make good decisions and keep our teams moving.

If you can relate, then you will love this conversation with Kendra. She knows how to strive for simplicity when she comes up against a challenge.

And let me tell you, she has faced her fair share of challenges – from a business failing early on in her career … to being pre-judged as a blonde woman from Texas … to now, navigating the ever-shifting landscape of running a retail business.

But with persistence, she pinpoints the heart of an issue – and with creativity, she finds a simple, effective solution. And her team loves her for it. There’s a lot we can learn here about how to strive for simplicity.

You’ll also learn:

The power of showing gratitude to your team
How to leverage your failures
Practical ways to fight complacency on your team
One incredible “rule” that transforms and simplifies customer service
Why rejection can work for you
The specific ways Kendra developed herself as a “self-taught” entrepreneur
How Kendra balances parenthood and business

Take your learning further. Get proven leadership advice from these (free!) resources:

The How Leaders Lead App: A vast library of 90-second leadership lessons to stay sharp on the go

Daily Insight Emails: One small (but powerful!) leadership principle to focus on each day

Whichever you choose, you can be sure you’ll get the trusted leadership advice you need to advance your career, develop your team, and grow your business.

Trailer: How Leaders Lead with David Novak Jul 23, 2020

Show notes

David Novak lets you be a fly on the wall and learn from the best CEOs, founders & entrepreneurs in business, sports and entertainment to talk about how they lead and get such incredible things done. Past guests include Tom Brady, Condoleezza Rice, Indra Nooyi, Jamie Dimon, Stanley Druckenmiller, Carol Tomé, Ginni Rometty, Ken Langone, Dude Perfect, Roger Goodell, and many others.

David, a former cofounder and CEO himself, has been asking great questions and learning from top leaders his whole life. Now he breaks down the key learnings so that by the end of each episode, you’ll have something simple you can apply as you develop into a better leader. That's what this show is all about!

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