How Leaders Lead with David Novak

Today’s guest is Kara Goldin, the CEO and Founder of Hint Water, which is the leading brand for unsweetened flavored water. It may surprise you to learn that Kara founded this company having no experience at all in the beverage industry. It all started when she wanted to swap her diet soda for water, but she found drinking plain water too boring. So she created a whole new product category that’s disrupted the beverage industry and helped a lot of people live healthier lives.For Kara, her lack of experience in the industry was just an obstacle she needed to tackle, nothing more. If there’s something she’s afraid of or unfamiliar with, she just takes it head on. She sees fears and obstacles as opportunities to grow – and sure enough, that’s just what they become.It’s the kind of perspective all leaders need, and you are going to get a ton out of this conversation – including the inside scoop on how Kara got a KILLER deal on SuperBowl airtime! You’ll also learn: What to do if you have a great idea – but not much experience in a certain space One important thing to keep in mind if you want to motivate your team around a mission What to remember the next time a door slams in your face How to get a bargain on a SuperBowl ad (and whether or not the ad worked!) 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.

Today’s guest is Jesse Cole, the Founder of Fans First Entertainment & Owner of Savannah Bananas. He’s the one-of-a-kind innovator behind the incredible (and unlikely) popularity of this small Coastal Plain League baseball team.That’s because the sell-out crowds at a Savannah Bananas game aren’t really there for the baseball. They’re there for the dancing grandmas and conga lines and – get this – the underwear salute! Now, there’s a phrase you never saw coming on a leadership podcast!  But this is all a part of Jesse’s plan. He knows how to stand out and get attention – and even better, he does it all because he truly loves fans and customers. If you want your business to stand out, this conversation is going to be an absolute game changer for you. You’ll also learn: One simple exercise to help you disrupt a category A question you can ask to get more attention for your product or service How to get inside the head of your customer so you can serve them better Two ways you can bring your core values to life for your staff and customers 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.

Today’s guest is Joey Zwillinger, Co-Founder of Allbirds, the world’s most comfortable shoe according to Time Magazine. His company is growing by leaps and bounds, and they’ve pioneered a truly sustainable shoe that people really love.But all of it almost never happened. Fortunately, a few years ago, Joey had the courage to ask himself one really powerful question. And when he did, he got a healthy sense of urgency that NOW was the time to start a company that could make a significant impact on the problems surrounding climate change.That healthy sense of urgency is something we can all use, even in our day-to-day lives, to help us figure out what we really want to focus on. In this conversation, you’ll hear how Joey tapped into it for himself, his team, and his company. Plus, you’ll get great insights on making business more sustainable, marketing your products’ differentiators, and lots more.You’ll also learn: How to leverage the power of mentorship, both for corporate leaders and entrepreneurs Tips for navigating business decisions while still upholding your most important values A practical strategy you can use the next time you face a sticky problem A dangerous mindset you have to weed out, especially in successful companies 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.

Today’s guest is Niren Chaudhary, CEO of Panera.Have you ever been absolutely overwhelmed by a challenge? Maybe it was a crisis … or a huge turnaround effort … or just a really complex problem you had to fix?Those are the moments that define us as leaders.And Niren Chaudhary can teach us so much about how to turn those challenging moments into defining wins.When he took over at Panera in 2019, Niren had an uphill challenge to revitalize a fading brand. He made some big shifts and got the company back on track … And then – wham – the COVID crisis hit and they lost 50% of their business in a week. Talk about big challenges! In those moments, Niren says, we have “begin with the end in mind.” What does reality look once we get through that challenge? That big vision gives our teams the hope, optimism, and clarity they need to move through it. When it comes to tough situations, few people have more wisdom than Niren. This episode will inspire you to tackle your next big challenge.You’ll also learn: A priceless blueprint for any leader tasked with a big revamp Four key insights for building a business in a post-COVID world The game-changing mindset you can use when you feel overwhelmed How to communicate a big idea so people actually remember it 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.

Today, you’ll see that business wisdom and leadership insight can come from ANY age – because our guest for this episode is 15-year-old Mikaila Ulmer, the Founder and CEO of Me and the Bees Lemonade.Mikaila turned the lemonade stand she started as a four-year-old into a nationally distributed brand that has sold 2 million bottles of honey lemonade and is backed by Shark Tank investor Daymond John.She is a fearless leader with a big heart who is wise beyond her years. And you are going to see your big ideas and dreams in a whole new way after you listen to this conversation.You’ll also learn: One incredible idea you can use to inspire your team at the start of each meeting Why telling the story of your product or service is so vital Two big takeaways from Shark Tank investor Daymond John The #1 ingredient (no pun intended) to succeeding in sales Advice for parents whose kids have an entrepreneurial idea 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.

Marvin Ellison, Lowe's CEO, shares his inspiring journey of taking on tough assignments throughout his career. He discusses the value of hearing from front line team members, fitting into work culture, and the importance of work-life balance. Ellison's fearless leadership approach and courage in facing challenges are highlighted, encouraging listeners to demonstrate similar qualities in their roles.

Today’s guest is Lauren Hobart, President & CEO of Dick's Sporting Goods.If you look at any job description for a leadership role, the one thing that’s ALWAYS going to be listed there is … drumroll, please … excellent communication skills.In fact, we talk about communication skills in leadership so often that it’s easy to forget what it actually means to communicate well.Today’s conversation with Lauren is the perfect reminder of what great communicators do. It’s not just about being well spoken – although Lauren certainly is. It’s more than that. Lauren sees communication as a way to connect with people. It’s a huge reason she has been tapped to take the reins at Dick’s Sporting Goods, making her one of only 41 women CEOs leading a Fortune 500 Company.This conversation is a masterclass in great communication – how you can relate better to your direct reports, address conflict, get your vision across, and so much more. I can’t wait for you to learn how to communicate by making a connection.You’ll also learn: One super practical strategy to use with your direct reports if you don’t already  Tips for navigating disagreements with a colleague you really respect What to do (and not do) when you’ve got a toxic person on the team Why giving your team clear objectives isn’t enough (plus what you need to add) 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.

Today’s guest is General Ray Odierno, the former Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army – which is the top job in the Army. He retired in 2015 as a four-star general and now works in the private sector, consulting on minor little subjects like country risk and cybersecurityNow it’s one thing to talk about trusting a leader in a workplace setting. But trusting a leader in the military goes up a whole other level, where the stakes can literally be life and death. After 39 years of military service, through three tours in Iraq, Ray is absolutely a leader people trust – and he knows how to help others become trustworthy leaders, too. He believes there are three key qualities, and we dig into each one in this incredible conversation.You’ll also learn: One practical tip to become a better speaker, especially if public speaking doesn’t come naturally to you What one Army study said made a leader “toxic” (and it probably isn’t what you think) How to spot a team who is thriving under their current leadership What leaders can do to balance immediate needs with long-term strategies 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.

Today’s guest is Kevin Johnson, CEO of Starbucks.Do you ever feel like your organization is incredibly complex? Like it takes forever to get anything done?It’s a pretty common issue, especially if you lead in a big or fast-growing organization.Now, obviously, Starbucks is a massive company. They operate in 82 countries with 383,000 employees. But they’re still able to innovate and adapt quickly. In fact, they embrace the mantra that they can go from idea to action in 100 days. This works because Kevin uses something called distributed leadership – where employees are empowered to make decisions themselves but also given common values and strategies to guide them.Kevin tells us how we can use the same principles to stop getting bogged down and instead unleash some really great energy and innovation in our own organizations. You’ll also learn: The unforgettable image that influences every decision Kevin makes Two key components of building trust in relationships – and how to incorporate them at work How to transition a business from founder-led to founder-inspired Why empowering your employees isn’t enough (and what you need to add to it) The 3 things you cannot afford NOT to do in a crisis 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.

Today’s guest is Madeline Bell, President & CEO of the world-renowned Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.Now you’ve probably heard how important it is for leaders to “walk the talk” – for our actions to sync up with our words.After all, our people are only listening to us some of the time. But they are watching us all the time. What’s our tone? Our body language? Do we listen? Do we take time off? That kind of visibility can be a lot of pressure. But it’s also a huge opportunity to model the behaviors we want to see more of from our team. And a lot of us miss that opportunity.But Madeline doesn’t! She knows how powerful her own behavior is for setting the tone at her hospital. She recognizes people watch her – and that visibility is an opportunity for her to shape a stronger culture.And it has helped guide her team through a global pandemic – despite staff exhaustion, financial strain, and rapidly shifting information. And she’s still been a champion for the incredible medical innovation the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia is known for.So let’s dive in and see how she does it – and how we can also build stronger teams simply by modeling the right behaviors for them.You’ll also learn: How to get comfortable saying “I don’t know” – while still offering reassurance The key to finding the silver linings in a crisis or tough situation An incredibly practical strategy to help your team bounce back after a big disappointment Advice for anyone who struggles with the dreaded “imposter syndrome” 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.