How Leaders Lead with David Novak

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**How Leaders Lead with David Novak**

How Leaders Lead gives you a front-row seat to exclusive conversations with the world’s most iconic leaders across business, sports, and entertainment. Hosted by David Novak, Co-founder and former CEO of Yum! Brands, this podcast pulls back the curtain on how top CEOs, founders, and game-changers make things happen. When you tune in, you’ll learn from legends like Tom Brady, Condoleezza Rice, Jamie Dimon, Coach Prime (Deion Sanders), Indra Nooyi, Stanley Druckenmiller, and more.
Other guests include:

CEO of Starbucks

CEO of Target

Co-founder of Home Depot

and many others…

David’s unique perspective and thought-provoking questions distill the wisdom of these leaders into actionable insights you can use to elevate your own leadership game. Whether you’re just starting your leadership journey or already leading teams, this show helps you build the confidence you need to lead well.

Latest Episodes:

3 More Questions (Dr. Michael Gervais) with David Novak and Koula Callahan Aug 04, 2025

Show notes

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to:

Do you agree with the idea that everything someone needs is already inside of them?
How can leaders incorporate mental skills training into their day-to-day routine?
What other methods or frameworks are helpful in building confidence as a leader?

———

GO DEEPER

Scale up your leadership skills in 2 minutes a day with the How Leaders Lead app — ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Download today in the App Store⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Get coaching from David by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠signing up to receive his Weekly Leadership Plan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. It builds on each podcast episode by offering actionable steps you can take each week to incorporate the learnings from the episode into your leadership style. It only takes about 5 minutes and is a great way to start off your week!
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to the How Leaders Lead podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to ensure you never miss an episode!

#250: Dr. Michael Gervais, Renowned high-performance psychologist and founder of Finding Mastery – Train your mind Jul 31, 2025

Show notes

Most people think confidence and resilience are just part of your personality. But high-performance psychologist Dr. Michael Gervais knows better: they’re skills you can train.

In this inspiring and practical conversation, Dr. Gervais shares the same mental strategies he uses to help Super Bowl champions, Olympic gold medalists, and top Fortune 500 CEOs be at their best.

Hit play now and learn how to train your mind and unlock new levels of performance in your work!

You’ll also learn:

A simple process for finding your personal purpose
A better way to think about teams (especially if you're tired of thinking about teams)
How to hack your confidence
The mindset some people dismiss—and top performers rely on

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.

3 More Questions (Zak Brown) with David Novak and Koula Callahan Jul 28, 2025

Show notes

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to:

What’s the most interesting thing you learned about F1 racing from your interview with Zak?
What do you think about clarity beating the consensus in high pressure moments?
How does a leader ensure that every person on the team is tied to the overall performance of the organization?

———

GO DEEPER

Scale up your leadership skills in 2 minutes a day with the How Leaders Lead app — ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Download today in the App Store⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Get coaching from David by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠signing up to receive his Weekly Leadership Plan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. It builds on each podcast episode by offering actionable steps you can take each week to incorporate the learnings from the episode into your leadership style. It only takes about 5 minutes and is a great way to start off your week!
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to the How Leaders Lead podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to ensure you never miss an episode!

#249: Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing – Performance is everyone’s job Jul 24, 2025

Show notes

You can hire great people and set bold goals … yet still fall short. Why?

Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing, knows the answer. And it has less to do with talent, and more to do with something most leaders overlook.

This episode pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to build a high-performance team—and why clarity might be your most powerful tool.

You’ll also learn:

Why exclusivity was hurting the brand—and what fixed it
The mindset you need if you want long-term partnerships
How to make split-second decisions (with wisdom straight from the pit!)
What most leaders miss about gathering real input

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.

3 More Questions (Mike Cessario) with David Novak and Koula Callahan Jul 21, 2025

Show notes

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to:

What do you think about edginess in branding and reframing edginess as entertainment?
What advice do you have for leaders trying to build momentum for a brand just starting out?
What can leaders of larger companies do to stay agile and move fast in the same way small companies can?

———

GO DEEPER

Scale up your leadership skills in 2 minutes a day with the How Leaders Lead app — ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Download today in the App Store⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Get coaching from David by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠signing up to receive his Weekly Leadership Plan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. It builds on each podcast episode by offering actionable steps you can take each week to incorporate the learnings from the episode into your leadership style. It only takes about 5 minutes and is a great way to start off your week!
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to the How Leaders Lead podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to ensure you never miss an episode!

#248: Mike Cessario, Founder and CEO of Liquid Death – Disrupt with discipline Jul 17, 2025

Show notes

They sold a $300 coffin. They made a candle with Ozzy Osbourne’s DNA. And built a $1.4B beverage brand doing it.

Mike Cessario, founder and CEO of Liquid Death, has turned irreverent ideas into a marketing juggernaut. But behind the stunts is a seriously disciplined approach to brand, strategy, and execution.

If you're building a challenger brand—or just trying to make people actually notice your product—don’t miss this episode.

You’ll also learn:

How to earn attention, even on a tiny budget
The kind of “unsafe” marketing ideas that break through the noise
What challenger brands can do to beat the big guys
Why you should market to the customers everyone else ignores

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.

3 More Questions (Sharon Price John) with David Novak and Koula Callahan Jul 14, 2025

Show notes

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to:

How can leaders define the concept of "emotional brand equity" in their own brand?
How simple is the turnaround strategy SDSS x2 (“stop doing stupid stuff” … and then “start doing smart stuff”)?
How do you know when to listen to data and when to rely on pure willpower to get something done?

———

GO DEEPER

Scale up your leadership skills in 2 minutes a day with the How Leaders Lead app — ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Download today in the App Store⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Get coaching from David by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠signing up to receive his Weekly Leadership Plan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. It builds on each podcast episode by offering actionable steps you can take each week to incorporate the learnings from the episode into your leadership style. It only takes about 5 minutes and is a great way to start off your week!
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to the How Leaders Lead podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to ensure you never miss an episode!

#247: Sharon Price John, CEO of Build-A-Bear – Meaning is your brand’s superpower Jul 10, 2025

Show notes

The real product isn’t always what’s on the shelf. It’s the story—and the feeling—that comes with it.

Sharon Price John, CEO of Build‑A‑Bear, reinvented a mall staple by returning the company from a $49 million loss to sustained profits while expanding into digital, adult, and licensing channels.

And here’s the insight that anchored her: Build‑A‑Bear isn’t selling teddy bears. It’s selling meaning. If you want to expand and grow your brand (without losing its heart), hit play on this episode!

You’ll also learn:

A turnaround formula so simple, it fits in four letters
An analogy to honor your company’s past—without getting stuck in it
The math (and magic) behind a viral “Pay Your Age” campaign
What decisive leaders understand that hesitant ones miss

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.

3 More Questions (Jimmy Kirchdorfer) with David Novak and Koula Callahan Jul 07, 2025

Show notes

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to:

How do YOU think about mission statements?
What are some practical ways a leader can drive the concept of "psychological safety" throughout their organization?
What’s your perspective on encouraging emerging leaders to chase what they are good at?

———

GO DEEPER

Scale up your leadership skills in 2 minutes a day with the How Leaders Lead app — ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Download today in the App Store⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Get coaching from David by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠signing up to receive his Weekly Leadership Plan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. It builds on each podcast episode by offering actionable steps you can take each week to incorporate the learnings from the episode into your leadership style. It only takes about 5 minutes and is a great way to start off your week!
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to the How Leaders Lead podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to ensure you never miss an episode!

#246: Jimmy Kirchdorfer, Chairman and CEO of ISCO Industries – Grow the business so your people can grow with it Jul 03, 2025

Show notes

What’s the real purpose of business growth?

According to Jimmy Kirchdorfer, CEO of ISCO Industries, it’s not just revenue or market share. It’s about creating opportunity—for your team, your customers, and your culture.

In this episode, he shares how a golf irrigation supplier grew into a global pipe distributor. It’s a powerful blueprint that shows you how reinvesting in growth (and people) can power your success and scale your business.

You’ll also learn:

Why “do what you love” might be terrible career advice
What psychological safety looks like in a team (and how to preserve it)
The one sales skill leaders often overlook
Jimmy’s first-hand story of bailing Scottie Scheffler out of jail at the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla

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.

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