

How Leaders Lead with David Novak
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.
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
Mentioned books

Nov 27, 2023 • 11min
3 More Questions (Jim Levine) with David Novak and Koula Callahan
On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to:
What’s your experience been like writing your new book compared to books you’ve written in the past?
How should leaders go about hunting down new ideas?
Have you ever been in a role where you’ve faced a lot of rejection?
———ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Get coaching from David by signing up to receive his Weekly Leadership Plan. It builds on each podcast episode by offering actionable steps you can take each week to incorporate the learnings from the episode into your leadership style. It only takes about 5 minutes and is a great way to start off your week!
Become a better leader in 5 days with our free, 5-Day Leadership Tune Up. This five-minute-a-day program is designed for the busy leader – it cuts right to the chase and gives you the practical know-how you’ll need to boost your confidence as a leader.
Subscribe to the How Leaders Lead podcast to ensure you never miss an episode!

Nov 23, 2023 • 47min
#162: Jim Levine, literary agent – Ignite the talent of those around you
Jim Levine, literary agent, shares insights on helping others win, the world of publishing, and writing a book. Topics include successful nonfiction books, offering feedback, the aspect of listening, insider tips on writing a book, and unexpected parenting advice.

Nov 20, 2023 • 13min
3 More Questions (Yamini Rangan) with David Novak and Koula Callahan
On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to:
What impressed you most about Yamini?
What advice can you give CEOs who are taking over from founders of companies, particularly in a scenario when the company is healthy and thriving?
What’s something leaders can learn from treating their culture as a product?
———ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Get coaching from David by signing up to receive his Weekly Leadership Plan. It builds on each podcast episode by offering actionable steps you can take each week to incorporate the learnings from the episode into your leadership style. It only takes about 5 minutes and is a great way to start off your week!
Become a better leader in 5 days with our free, 5-Day Leadership Tune Up. This five-minute-a-day program is designed for the busy leader – it cuts right to the chase and gives you the practical know-how you’ll need to boost your confidence as a leader.
Subscribe to the How Leaders Lead podcast to ensure you never miss an episode!

Nov 16, 2023 • 55min
#161: Yamini Rangan, CEO of HubSpot — Fortune favors the focused
Yamini Rangan, CEO of HubSpot, joins David to discuss the power of focus in leadership. They explore HubSpot's success and the importance of making better decisions. The episode covers topics such as company culture, shifting to management roles, overcoming imposter syndrome, and putting customers at the center of your business.

Nov 13, 2023 • 10min
3 More Questions (Dr. Mark Esper) with David Novak and Koula Callahan
On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to:
How should leaders at the very top stay informed about what’s actually going on in their business?
How should leaders handle disagreements with their boss?
What do leaders need to be thinking about when it comes to recruiting?
———ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Get coaching from David by signing up to receive his Weekly Leadership Plan. It builds on each podcast episode by offering actionable steps you can take each week to incorporate the learnings from the episode into your leadership style. It only takes about 5 minutes and is a great way to start off your week!
Become a better leader in 5 days with our free, 5-Day Leadership Tune Up. This five-minute-a-day program is designed for the busy leader – it cuts right to the chase and gives you the practical know-how you’ll need to boost your confidence as a leader.
Subscribe to the How Leaders Lead podcast to ensure you never miss an episode!

Nov 9, 2023 • 47min
#160: Dr. Mark Esper, Former U.S. Secretary of Defense — Keep the mission in mind
Dr. Mark Esper, former U.S. Secretary of Defense, discusses staying focused on the mission, handling disagreements with bosses, establishing teamwork and servant leadership, and the importance of understanding history.

Nov 6, 2023 • 11min
3 More Questions (Paul Sarvadi) with David Novak and Koula Callahan
On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to:
Should you hire people for their input or their output?
When have you failed fast and what did you learn from it?
What’s your take on how companies today should incorporate DE&I into their organizations?
———ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Get coaching from David by signing up to receive his Weekly Leadership Plan. It builds on each podcast episode by offering actionable steps you can take each week to incorporate the learnings from the episode into your leadership style. It only takes about 5 minutes and is a great way to start off your week!
Become a better leader in 5 days with our free, 5-Day Leadership Tune Up. This five-minute-a-day program is designed for the busy leader – it cuts right to the chase and gives you the practical know-how you’ll need to boost your confidence as a leader.
Subscribe to the How Leaders Lead podcast to ensure you never miss an episode!

Nov 2, 2023 • 50min
#159: Paul Sarvadi, Chairman & CEO of Insperity — Making differences work
Paul Sarvadi, Chairman & CEO of Insperity, discusses his unique approach to diversity, equality, and inclusion in the workplace. Instead of simply checking off DEI initiatives, he focuses on building genuine connections and finding commonality. Topics include the importance of a people plan, hiring for more than productivity, the limitations of DEI programs, and personal growth as a leader.

Oct 30, 2023 • 11min
3 More Questions (Mike White) with David Novak and Koula Callahan
On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to:
What advice can you give leaders about how to negotiate well?
What can someone do to move from a specialized role to one of a leader / General Manager?
Why do you think leaders derail and what can leaders do to avoid that?
———ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Get coaching from David by signing up to receive his Weekly Leadership Plan. It builds on each podcast episode by offering actionable steps you can take each week to incorporate the learnings from the episode into your leadership style. It only takes about 5 minutes and is a great way to start off your week!
Become a better leader in 5 days with our free, 5-Day Leadership Tune Up. This five-minute-a-day program is designed for the busy leader – it cuts right to the chase and gives you the practical know-how you’ll need to boost your confidence as a leader.
Subscribe to the How Leaders Lead podcast to ensure you never miss an episode!

Oct 26, 2023 • 53min
#158: Mike White, Former Chairman and CEO of DirecTV — Resilience in a changing world
Today’s guest is Mike White, who served as the Chairman and CEO of DirecTV from 2010 until his retirement in 2015.As you might recall, that’s exactly when streaming services really took off. People were cutting the cord on traditional TV left and right and the whole media landscape got turned upside down. So what does it take to be a great leader when the world is changing right before your eyes? It takes resilience—and a lot of it! And if you’ve ever wanted to really see what resilience looks like in action, then you’re going to love this conversation. Mike doesn’t lose his stride when things get tough. He knows how to see around corners and anticipate what’s coming. And most importantly, he knows how to keep people going when things feel uncertain.The truth is, the world is ALWAYS changing, and this conversation will help you tap into the power of resilience in a changing world. You’ll also learn:
What it’s like to be a CEO on the TV show Undercover Boss
Three big-picture market trends that every leader needs to understand
The most common blind spot in business (and how to account for it)
How to leverage the advantages of being an underdog to a major competitor
Three negotiation tricks—including one weird one you’ve probably never heard
The #1 factor that derails leaders
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 dayWhichever 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.


