Podcast
How Leaders Lead with David Novak
Hosted by David Novak · EN
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.
66episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
#303: Ben Goodwin, Cofounder, CEO & Formulator, OLIPOP – The power of emotional intelligence
1w ago00:54:45Summary readyIt’s statistically harder to get a job at OLIPOP than it is to go pro in the NBA. And after this conversation with CEO and Cofounder Ben Goodwin, you’ll see why. OLIPOP is a prebiotic soda Ben formulated and built from the ground up. So how did he go from creating tasty soda products to building a culture that everyone wants to be a part of? It all comes down to emotional intelligence. You can have the best product in the world. But if you lack the emotional intelligence to connect with people and create a mission they want to be a part of, your bottom line will suffer. This episode is for you if: You’re an entrepreneur (or thinking about becoming one) You want to attract better talent You do any kind of product development work You want a few fun facts about soda to drop at parties 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.
Summary
#302: Varun Krishna, CEO, Rocket Companies – Culture is rooted in behavior, not words
2w ago01:13:22Summary readyWe’ve all heard the famous quote that “culture eats strategy for breakfast.” But as CEO of Rocket Companies, Varun Krishna knows that a healthy work environment doesn’t just happen. In this episode, he talks about why so many organizations get it wrong. He also shares several key principles he and his team use to forge their culture in real behavior, not just words on a slide deck. That foundation has allowed Rocket to scale massively—including over $16 billion in acquisitions—without losing who they are. This episode is for you if: You are always looking for ways to strengthen your culture You want to find a noble cause for your business You develop products or work with customers You want to be more present at home 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.
Summary
#301: Julie Bornstein – Founder & CEO, Daydream – People skills matter most
3w ago01:13:42Summary readyThe tech landscape is changing faster than ever, as we’re all trying to navigate big shifts in AI, consumer shopping habits, and more. But it’s nothing new to Julie Bornstein. She’s been at the forefront of retail for decades, leading big brands like Nordstrom and Sephora through the ecommerce revolution. And now, as the Founder and CEO of the AI-powered fashion search engine Daydream, she’s once again at the bleeding edge of technological change. But through every shift, the thing she keeps coming back to is this: people skills matter most. In this conversation, Julie will help you stay on the front edge of technology – without sacrificing the people skills it takes to make them work. This episode is for you if: You’re thinking about making the shift from corporate to entrepreneurship You’re doing any work with customer-facing AI You want to understand the future of retail and ecommerce You’re trying to design a strong loyalty program 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.
Summary
#300: Marty Smith, Reporter, ESPN – Deep listening builds deep trust
4w ago01:26:37Summary readyIf you’re a leader, you know how important the skill of listening is. It’s the foundation for every strong relationship in your world. But in the daily hustle, it can be hard to slow down and truly be present in every meeting and conversation. Take it from Marty Smith, one of ESPN’s most recognizable faces. In his years covering college football, golf, and NASCAR, he’s earned the trust of some of the sports world’s biggest names … simply by listening well. In this episode, he takes us behind the scenes of those relationships, sharing what he’s learned from legends like Nick Saban, Tiger Woods, Lane Kiffin, and more—plus his own hard-earned wisdom on how to build stronger relationships by listening deeply. This episode is for you if: You want to build deeper connections with the people around you You struggle with complacency (or have a team that does) You get uncomfortable reflecting on your own failures You just love sports 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.
Summary
#299: David Dorman, Former CEO, AT&T – See around corners
Jul 901:11:58Summary readyWhat separates leaders who survive massive change from the ones who get blindsided by it? David Dorman has had a front row seat to disruption throughout his career, both as the former CEO of AT&T and as a board member for PayPal, Motorola, CVS, and Dell. In this conversation, he talks about how he “sees around corners” – not only preparing for industry shifts before they happen but also becoming the kind of leader people trust to guide them through it. This episode is for you if: You spend more time thinking about the current reality of your business than its future You want insight into how AI might disrupt your business You want to build a deep leadership bench You’re interested in market trends and analysis (because David knows this stuff cold!) 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.
Summary
#298: Joe Manchin, Former Governor and Senator, West Virginia – How to find common ground
Jul 201:14:51Summary readyHappy 250th birthday to the United States of America! It’s a great moment to reflect on everything that makes this country so special. And maybe have a hot dog or two. But this milestone also comes at a moment where our country feels more divided than ever. So today, David sits down with Joe Manchin, the former Governor and Senator of West Virginia. His independent political stance gave him a unique opportunity to find common ground in Washington, even among people with deep disagreements. Every leader needs to get people with different perspectives aligned and working together. And in this conversation, Joe shows you how to lead in a divided room – and why that skill matters more than ever. This episode is for you if: You work in a polarized space where progress feels impossible You regularly face big, complex decisions You struggle to work with people who disagree with you You’re frustrated by party politics 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.
Summary
#297: Dave Ritterbush, CEO, Califia Farms – Build for what’s next
Jun 2500:57:01Summary readyDave Ritterbush has helped lead some of the most successful consumer brands in America, including Califia Farms, Dreyer’s, and Quest, which sold for a billion dollars in 2019. And he’s learned something that most leaders never figure out: you have to build your current systems for what’s next. Make sure you have the right infrastructure, processes, and organizational capabilities before you need them, not after. If not, you may find that the biggest obstacle for your company’s growth … is your own company! Listen to this episode and get inspired to think bigger, build better, and drive real growth. This episode is for you if: You need some fresh ideas to strengthen your company culture You want to hire more proactive people Any part of your job involves creating or selling products You sense your team is nervous about AI taking their jobs 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.
Summary
#296: Landon Donovan, US Soccer Legend – Separate who you are from what you do
Jun 1801:11:20Summary readyThe World Cup is in full swing, and if you’re watching, you know – the intensity and stakes are unlike anything else in sports. So it’s the perfect time to sit down with Landon Donovan, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest American soccer players of all time. But after a disappointing performance in the 2006 World Cup, he nearly walked away from the sport entirely. That crisis taught him a powerful leadership lesson: you can’t make your job your whole identity. And that insight – alongside some therapy – gave him the freedom to be his best, both on the field and off it. The lines between our professional and personal identities can get blurry, especially for leaders. If you make your job your whole identity, it can lead to burnout, fear of failure, or worse. Landon’s candor and fresh perspective can show you a different way. This episode is for you if: You’ve questioned your own self-worth after a professional disappointment You’ve struggled with burnout (or coached someone who has) You want to create more accountability in your company culture You avoid conflict when it arises You love sports, especially soccer, or just appreciate a good story 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.
Summary
#295: Shawn Johnson & Andrew East, Olympic Gold Medalist, Former NFL Pro – Experiment and learn by doing
Jun 1701:01:28Summary readyShawn Johnson won America’s hearts as a gold medal gymnast at the 2008 Olympics. And her husband, Andrew East, is a former NFL player.But after their athletic careers, they stepped into the world of content creation – and quickly realized they had no idea what they were doing. They dove in headfirst, experimenting and learning as they went – with plenty of missteps along the way. But it worked: they’ve built a following of over 12 million people across all social channels. And together they run the media company Family Made – all while being true to themselves and their values. This conversation will give you the permission you need to just try stuff – even if it’s not perfect, even if it doesn’t work – because sometimes, just doing something teaches you exactly what you need to know. You’ll also learn: The secret to being vulnerable as a leader without “emotionally vomiting” What all the best marketing has in common How to define what your brand really is The surprising feeling Shawn had at her Olympic medal ceremony 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.
Summary
#294: Bobby Long, Partner and Co-Founder, Piedmont Capital Partners – See the best in people
Jun 401:08:05Summary readyAs the Partner and Co-Founder of Piedmont Capital Partners, Bobby Long invests in big problems that need big solutions – stuff like Alzheimer’s research and lithium ion technology. But he does it all in the most relational way: listening with humility, doing deals on a handshake, and looking for ways to truly serve everyone he meets, regardless of their status. In this episode you're going to find out what happens when someone decides to use everything they've built to actually change the world. These days, it can feel like climbing the ladder of success means we have to be a little cynical and disingenuous in our relationships. But in this episode, you’ll see a better way – one where seeing the best in people can be what actually makes you successful. You’ll also learn: The refreshing sales philosophy that made Bobby successful in the insurance business How to be generous to others without being a doormat What it really means to be a great communicator The shocking move he made to save a longstanding PGA golf tournament 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.
Summary