Former Yum! Brands CEO, David Novak, shares insights on continuous learning for effective leadership. He emphasizes learning from experiences, people around you, and maintaining curiosity. Novak believes in turning learnings into action, a key trait of successful leaders.

David Novak: Take Charge of You David Novak is Co-Founder, retired Chairman and CEO of Yum! Brands, the world’s largest restaurant company with over 45,000 restaurants in more than 135 countries and territories. During his tenure as CEO, Yum! Brands became a global powerhouse, growing from $4 billion in revenue to over $32 billion. After retiring in 2016, he became Founder and CEO of David Novak Leadership, dedicated to developing leaders at every stage of life. David is also the host of the top-ranked podcast, How Leaders Lead and founder of the leadership development platform of the same name. An expert on leadership and recognition culture, David is also a New York Times bestselling author. His books include Taking People With You: The Only Way to Make Big Things Happen, O GREAT ONE! A Little Story About the Awesome Power of Recognition, and his latest book with Jason Goldsmith, Take Charge of You: How Self Coaching Can Transform Your Life and Career*. In this conversation, David and I discuss the importance of finding joy in our careers. David highlights several of the key questions that he utilizes when helping others to uncover how joy can show up their work. He encourages us to surface the single biggest thing that’s important right now in order to get immediate traction. Key Points Sometimes your best (and only) coach is yourself. Use joy as your destination finder. Find your joy blockers by asking yourself: what’s getting in the way of my joy? Your worst days often provide insight on this. Discover your joy builders by asking yourself: what would grow your joy personal and professionally? Your most memorable days are starting points for answers here. Your goal is to surface your single biggest thing. This changes over time, but ideally is only one thing, one at a time. That’s how you gain traction. Resources Mentioned Take Charge of You: How Self Coaching Can Transform Your Life and Career* by David Novak and Jason Goldsmith Interview Notes Download my interview notes in PDF format (free membership required). Related Episodes How to Find Your Calling, with Ken Coleman (episode 352) Align Your Work With Your Why, with Kwame Marfo (episode 542) How to Nail a Job Transition, with Sukhinder Singh Cassidy (episode 555) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.

David Novak, co-founder of YUM! Brands Inc., shares insights on inclusive leadership, empowering employees, recognizing contributions, and the rise and fall of Crystal Pepsi. He discusses transforming company culture, leadership training, and his philanthropic endeavors.

Legendary co-founder and former CEO of Yum! Brands, David Novak, shares insights with Ed Mylett on the nuances of transformative leadership. They discuss active learning, creating a vibrant leadership culture, tackling talent retention issues, mentoring, and the power of storytelling in leadership. A roadmap to achieving excellence and influencing others.

Former CEO of Yum! Brands, David Novak, shares insights on continuous learning, idea collection, and the importance of recognition in leadership. He discusses leadership slumps, curiosity reignition, and the transformative power of gratitude. Stories include Crystal Pepsi and Cool Ranch Doritos. Explore his recommended book list and the role of creativity in the workplace.

David Novak, retired Chairman and CEO of Yum! Brands, discusses pattern thinking in leadership to create new value. Being an active learner is crucial for successful leadership, seeking out patterns proactively to innovate. He emphasizes the importance of exploring outside usual experiences to gain insights and create something new.

David Novak, Creator of Cool Ranch Dorito and former CEO of Taco Bell, shares insights on leadership, continuous learning, and navigating industry changes. Topics include mastering emotional intelligence, embracing vulnerability, and leading disruption. Learn about the impact of mindset on decision-making, the importance of personalized recognition in leadership, and unlocking potential through expert guidance on MasterClass.

David Novak, the co-founder and former CEO of Yum! Brands, shares captivating insights from his impressive career overseeing KFC, Taco Bell, and Pizza Hut. He discusses the high hopes and ultimate failure of Crystal Pepsi, emphasizing the importance of feedback and adaptability. Growing up in 23 states taught him resilience and the ability to assess situations quickly. Novak reflects on his journey from advertising to operations, revealing how leadership is shaped through both successes and setbacks.

Former Yum! Brands CEO David Novak shares insights on empowering others, lessons from market-beating executives, and why prioritizing people over results is a winning strategy in leadership. Discussion includes learning from experts like Warren Buffett and the value of honesty and communication in business interactions.

David Novak, the co-founder and former CEO of Yum! Brands, shares his incredible journey of scaling a fast food empire from $4 billion to $32 billion. He unpacks the pitfalls of launching Crystal Pepsi and the creative spark that led to the invention of Cool Ranch Doritos. Novak emphasizes the importance of listening, fostering a culture of feedback, and leading with action, while also addressing the roles business leaders play in societal issues. His insights extend to mentoring the next generation of leaders.