How Leaders Lead with David Novak

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

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? ——— GO DEEPER Scale up your leade...
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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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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? ——— GO DEEPER Scale up your leadership skills in 2 minutes a day with the How Leaders Lead app — Download to...
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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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On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: What’s your take on Dave’s advice to take on three roles at once to move up, and how do you think about moving up in a company? Why do you like Dave's method of evaluating leaders on a 2 dimensional axis? How can leaders make sure that they’re getting the whole story and that they have all the information they need to make the right decisions? ——— GO DE...
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Feel like you’ve hit a ceiling in your career? Your boldest ideas might be the thing that breaks through—but only if you say them out loud. In this episode, Dave McKay, President and CEO of RBC, shares why going public with big goals isn’t just bold. It’s strategic. Learn how clarity and ambition can rally your team, attract top talent, and accelerate your growth. Oh and yes, there’s a Taylor Swift tie-in, too. One strategy th...
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On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: What advice do you have for leaders looking to successfully integrate younger talent with a long-standing legacy workforce? How do you rally an organization to move faster—without pushing people to the point of burnout? What does it take to effectively balance the short-term demands with the long-term vision when leading a business? ——— GO DEEPER Scal...
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Ever made a decision based on limited info, internal spin, or wishful thinking? You’re not alone—but there’s a better way. In this episode, David sits down with General Motors Chair and CEO, Mary Barra. She shares how a relentless commitment to the truth leads to better decisions, stronger teams, and a culture built on trust. If you want to lead with more clarity and less guesswork, don’t miss this conversation. You’ll also lea...
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On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received about how to handle failure? What tools do you use to maintain a positive mindset when things are hard? How does Danny's "pressure is a privilege" concept apply to leadership? ——— GO DEEPER Scale up your leadership skills in 2 minutes a day with the How Leaders Lead app — Download today in the App ...
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Feeling stuck in a rut? Not sure how to improve your performance? You might be missing one powerful habit—tracking your own progress!  In this episode, David sits down with professional golfer and 2016 Masters champion Danny Willett. He shares how taking notes on his golf game (and his life!) has helped him grow through wins, setbacks, and everything in between. You’ll also learn: Where confidence really comes from How to ref...
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On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: As a leader, when you do something that’s never been done before…how do you prepare for the potential pushback? What should leaders consider when deciding how to integrate and retain employees after an acquisition? Based on all the teams and businesses you’ve studied throughout your life, what would you say is the single most common factor that leads to a...
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Optimism isn’t just a fluffy feel-good feeling. It’s a real asset in business. Learn how to make it your competitive advantage in this conversation with Pat Battle, Executive Chairman of Diamond Baseball Holdings, a company that owns 45 of the 120 minor league baseball teams. You’ll also learn: Why a job change between industries might not be as hard as you think Two questions that will revitalize your customer experience The ...
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On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: What did you teach Chrissy's team about how to franchise well? What would be your advice to someone who’s wanting to take on new roles in a company? What do you think it is about Enterprise and Chrissy’s leadership that has allowed them to continue to see success?  ——— GO DEEPER Scale up your leadership skills in 2 minutes a day with the How Leaders ...
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What if I told you your biggest competitive advantage is something you’ve already got? For Chrissy Taylor, the President and CEO of Enterprise Mobility, the 90,000 people who work at her company are what she calls “her secret sauce.” And in today’s episode, you’ll learn how to support your team and build a culture that drives growth, delights customers, and finds new ideas.  Plus, Chrissy’s positive energy is guaranteed to (sorr...
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On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: What do you think about Hayes' belief that adversity is his advantage? What’s a story from your career where you had  to lean on the company’s purpose to get the business back on track?  What is it that you love so much about being from the Midwest?   ——— GO DEEPER Scale up your leadership skills in 2 minutes a day with the How Leaders Lead app — Down...
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If you think “purpose” is just a bland little word for your mission statement, don’t miss this episode with Hayes Barnard, the founder, Chairman, and CEO of GoodLeap, which helps homeowners finance upgrades that make their homes more sustainable. Listen and see how purpose is a powerful force that helps you make connections, build teams, and drive more innovation. You’ll also learn: What he learned about marketing from Elon Mus...
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On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: What is your favorite travel story? What’s your stance on finding the balance between being centralized versus decentralized when you have multiple brands under the same roof? Which is better? What do you think about Glenn's quote, "In god we trust … everyone else bring data”?  ——— GO DEEPER Scale up your leadership skills in 2 minutes a day with the ...
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Great companies aren’t built by ego. They’re built by leaders who ask questions, listen, and rely on the smart people around them. And this episode’s guest is one of those leaders! Glenn Fogel is the CEO of Booking Holdings, the company behind big travel brands like Booking dot com, Kayak, Priceline, and OpenTable.  Having been at the company for 25 years, Glenn’s got a lot of experience to draw on. Yet he’s the first to admit wh...
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On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: Tell us about the idea of customer mania and how you cascaded it throughout all of Yum.  How do you think about emotional distance among a team? How do you view In-N-Out's decision to not offer mobile ordering … I mean, if you were President, what would you do?   ——— GO DEEPER Scale up your leadership skills in 2 minutes a day with the How Leaders Lea...
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Every business wants loyal customers. But what does it mean to be loyal to your customers? Find out in this episode with Lynsi Snyder, the Owner and President of In-N-Out Burger. Go behind the scenes of this iconic brand and learn how you can boost loyalty in your business. Plus, In-N-Out is a family-owned company. And if you’ve ever worked with your family, you know things can get messy. Lynsi’s got a lot of hard-won wisdom to ...
Mark as Played

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