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.
Episodes
June 30, 2025 • 13 mins
On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to:
How do you handle criticism when you make a public statement and then change your mind?
What are your thoughts on the perspective that someone should try and avoid making an impact on day one of their new role?
What’s the best advice you’d give a leader on how to handle high stress?
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June 26, 2025 • 48 mins
If you’re leading through a tough season, you know how easy it can be to either sugarcoat the truth or get overwhelmed by it.
Southwest Airlines CEO Bob Jordan has faced a lot of challenges since he took over in 2022—from operational setbacks to major policy shifts. In this episode, he shares how important it is to be honest about the reality you’re facing while also staying optimistic about what’s next.
Listen to this episode an...
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June 23, 2025 • 9 mins
On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to:
How do you make space for new ideas?
What do you think about team discipline to create more long term business sustainability?
What can other leaders learn from the "big eyes and big ears" approach to meeting with customers?
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June 19, 2025 • 60 mins
If you want to build smarter solutions and truly serve your customers, you’ve got to get closer to what they’re struggling with. In this episode, Samsara CEO Sanjit Biswas shares how his “big eyes, big ears” mindset helps uncover those opportunities.
You’ll also learn:
How to make your engineers love sales (no, really)
The one thing you’re missing about curiosity
Practical ideas to put your core values into action
A ...
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June 16, 2025 • 13 mins
On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to:
How does a leader know if their idea is good enough to power through the slog?
What does it mean for revolution to happen through evolutionary ways?
Why is it important to change the scenery in order to go "hunt" for new business ideas?
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June 12, 2025 • 61 mins
When you’re building something new, it’s easy to get discouraged by how long it takes to gain traction. But if anyone knows how to stay in the game, it’s Steve Case.
In this episode, the AOL cofounder and Revolution CEO opens up about the grit, patience, and strategy it took to pioneer the internet—and why most success stories take a lot longer than people think. You’ll hear how he built AOL through years of slow progress, what he...
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June 9, 2025 • 9 mins
On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to:
What does it mean to perform in order to transform?
Why is it important to discuss what is not going to be done when a company is strategizing?
Why is the power of positivity so important as a leader?
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If you’re wanting to see big change in your company, here’s a question: are you willing to change, too?
Gui Loureiro, regional CEO of Walmart for Canada, Chile, Mexico, and Central America, shares what it took to lead a digital and cultural overhaul at Walmart Mexico—and why he had to evolve as a leader to make it happen.
This episode is a powerful reminder that the big transformations you want for your team and company will also...
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June 2, 2025 • 10 mins
On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to:
How can leaders empower their people to own decisions while still ensuring they deliver on what matters most?
How can leaders avoid over-indexing on data and still keep people at the heart of decision making?
What are the most important ways a leader can set the right tone?
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May 29, 2025 • 48 mins
If your smartest people aren’t stepping up, maybe it’s time to look in the mirror.
In this episode, David sits down with Greg Johnson, the Chairman of Franklin Templeton and principal owner of the San Francisco Giants. Greg shares why ownership—not control—is the key to building high-performing teams and retaining top talent.
Whether you lead in finance, sports, or anywhere in between, you’ll walk away with practical strategies t...
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May 26, 2025 • 12 mins
On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to:
Why might it be smart to lean into a leadership role before it's officially yours?
How do developmental initiatives help newly promoted leaders transition into their new roles while maintaining strong relationships with former peers?
Why are simple team member exercises like listing out responsibilities so powerful?
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May 22, 2025 • 50 mins
Why do good teams sometimes fall short?
Too often, leaders blame the people — when the real problem is the system they’re working in.
In this episode, Chipotle CEO Scott Boatwright shares how operational clarity can unlock performance across your organization.
This conversation is packed with practical insights to help you eliminate friction and elevate your team’s performance.
You’ll also learn:
What you're getting wrong...
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May 19, 2025 • 10 mins
On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to:
How does someone deal with the pressures of figuring out their path early in their career?
How does a "shadow role" help prepare both the individual and the company for a smooth leadership transition?
How does the paradigm of having either a one-way door or a two-way door decision empower employees within a big company like Amazon?
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May 15, 2025 • 51 mins
It’s easy to say you care about customers. But how do you actually make decisions with them in mind?
In this episode, David sits down with Amazon CEO Andy Jassy for a behind-the-scenes look at how one of the world’s biggest companies keeps customer focus at the heart of everything, from product launches to leadership culture.
You’ll also learn:
The two documents you need before you launch anything big
What it’s like to sh...
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May 12, 2025 • 9 mins
On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to:
Do leaders need to be readily available, or is there a line?
What can other leaders learn from how Ed navigated the reinvention of the company?
What would you say to leaders facing unimaginable personal or professional hardship about how to keep going when it all feels like too much?
———
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May 8, 2025 • 57 mins
Ever catch yourself coasting after a big win?
That’s the moment today’s guest would tell you to push even harder.
In this episode of How Leaders Lead, Delta CEO Ed Bastian shares how he keeps one of the world’s most awarded airlines moving forward—without getting complacent.
You’ll see how his mindset of continuous improvement shapes Delta’s culture, sharpens performance, and helps his team stay ahead in one of the world’s most ...
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May 5, 2025 • 10 mins
On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to:
What happens when a leader’s reputation is attacked for something they may not have even done?
If you were Frank's mentor, what would you have told him when he had a major setback in starting his new company?
Is there a point where involving the team in too many decisions can actually slow down momentum?
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Want to build the working relationships that open doors—and keep them open?
In this episode of How Leaders Lead, David talks with Frank Edwards, Managing Partner of Aqueduct Capital Group.
You’ll see how Frank has built a stellar reputation—not through flashy networking, but by showing up consistently, giving credit freely, and treating every relationship with long-term respect.
It’s a masterclass in building trust that lasts!
...
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April 28, 2025 • 8 mins
On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to:
What would you say to leaders who are trying to fight for eyeballs?
In your experience, what should a leader do to drive a results driven culture?
As a leader, how do you handle a situation where you didn’t have anything to do with a mistake?
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If your team isn’t delivering, it might not be a lack of effort or strategy. It might be a lack of clarity.
In this episode, David sits down with media and entertainment legend Mark Shapiro. He’s the President and COO of TKO and the President and Managing Partner of WME Group, and prior to that helped lead ESPN and Six Flags.
He shares how clear expectations and feedback are key to creating momentum and results.
It’s a great mix o...
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