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

3 More Questions (Roger Crandall) with David Novak and Koula Callahan

August 25, 2025 • 9 mins
On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to:  What can leaders do to ensure bureaucracy doesn’t creep in and take over their company? What’s your process of evaluating the input of others and how does that ultimately play into the decision you make? What do you do to reinvent yourself and while staying current? ——— GO DEEPER Scale up your leadership skills in 2 minutes a day with the ...
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#253: Roger Crandall, Chairman, President and CEO of MassMutual – Make the numbers mean something

August 21, 2025 • 54 mins
As a leader, you’ve got to know your numbers. But you can’t maximize your impact as a leader unless you know how to make those numbers mean something to your team. In this episode, David talks with Roger Crandall, President and CEO of MassMutual, a leader who blends sharp analytics with powerful storytelling. You’ll learn how to turn data and revenue goals into human-centered stories that actually move people to act. Plus, Roger ...
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3 More Questions (David Levy) with David Novak and Koula Callahan

August 18, 2025 • 12 mins
On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: What's your take on leaders making sure they are replaceable in order to move up the ladder? What can emerging leaders do to have an impact not only on their team but on people in any  division of their organization? How can leaders learn to trust their gut intuition? ——— GO DEEPER Scale up your leadership skills in 2 minutes a day with the...
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#252: David Levy, Co-CEO of Horizon Sports + Experiences – True vision takes guts

August 14, 2025 • 53 mins
Have a big idea, but not sure how to make it happen? David Levy has been there. As Co-CEO of Horizon Sports & Experiences and the former President of Turner Networks, he’s led some of the boldest moves in sports and media. He forged the landmark March Madness deal that let fans watch every game across CBS and Turner. And now, he’s betting big on new ventures like The Pickleball Slam and Unrivaled, a 3-on-3 pro women’s basketball ...
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3 More Questions (Peter Cuneo) with David Novak and Koula Callahan

August 11, 2025 • 12 mins
On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: What would you tell leaders looking to make an industry shift to do in order to prove they have what it takes to get the job done? How can leaders in the creative space help develop the skill of creativity in their people? David, what’s a story from your career where you entered into an alien environment, and how’d you navigate it? ——— GO DEEPER...
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#251: Peter Cuneo, Former CEO and Vice Chairman of Marvel Entertainment – Embrace the unfamiliar

August 7, 2025 • 33 mins
Every leader faces the unknown. The best ones lean into it. When Peter Cuneo became CEO of Marvel, the company had just emerged from bankruptcy. But under his leadership, it became one of the most valuable entertainment brands in the world. By the time it was sold to Disney, Marvel’s stock had risen from just 96 cents to over $50 a share. In this episode, Peter shares the bold, practical leadership moves behind that remarkable tu...
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3 More Questions (Dr. Michael Gervais) with David Novak and Koula Callahan

August 4, 2025 • 11 mins
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 ...
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#250: Dr. Michael Gervais, Renowned high-performance psychologist and founder of Finding Mastery – Train your mind

July 31, 2025 • 60 mins
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 ne...
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3 More Questions (Zak Brown) with David Novak and Koula Callahan

July 28, 2025 • 9 mins
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 ...
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#249: Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing – Performance is everyone’s job

July 24, 2025 • 55 mins
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...
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3 More Questions (Mike Cessario) with David Novak and Koula Callahan

July 21, 2025 • 12 mins
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 ...
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#248: Mike Cessario, Founder and CEO of Liquid Death – Disrupt with discipline

July 17, 2025 • 61 mins
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. ...
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3 More Questions (Sharon Price John) with David Novak and Koula Callahan

July 14, 2025 • 10 mins
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...
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#247: Sharon Price John, CEO of Build-A-Bear – Meaning is your brand’s superpower

July 10, 2025 • 55 mins
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...
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3 More Questions (Jimmy Kirchdorfer) with David Novak and Koula Callahan

July 7, 2025 • 11 mins
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 a...
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#246: Jimmy Kirchdorfer, Chairman and CEO of ISCO Industries – Grow the business so your people can grow with it

July 3, 2025 • 50 mins
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 ...
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3 More Questions (Bob Jordan) with David Novak and Koula Callahan

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? ——— GO DEEPER Scale up your leadership skills in 2 minutes...
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#245: Bob Jordan, CEO of Southwest Airlines – Be both an optimist and a realist

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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3 More Questions (Sanjit Biswas) with David Novak and Koula Callahan

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? ——— GO DEEPER Scale up your leadership skills in 2 minutes a day with the How Leaders Lead app — ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Download tod...
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#244: Sanjit Biswas, Cofounder and CEO of Samsara – Big eyes, big ears

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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