How Leaders Lead with David Novak

Mark Messier, NHL Hall of Famer and six-time Stanley Cup champion, shares his remarkable leadership insights from the ice. He discusses the importance of emotional intelligence and the need to truly understand teammates to boost morale and performance. Messier highlights how to navigate the loss of key players like Wayne Gretzky and the elements that make a winning team. He emphasizes vulnerability in leadership, growing trust, and fostering connections, while also reflecting on his philanthropic efforts and passion for youth hockey.

Today’s guest is Larry Merlo, CEO of CVS Health.When Larry took the helm at CVS in 2011, they were doing about 100 billion dollars in revenue. That’s a lot of money. But guess what? Now they’re doing almost 250 billion in revenue. It’s a remarkable amount of growth.But it’s not the most remarkable thing Larry has done. He also made the bold decision to remove tobacco products from CVS stores – even though they accounted for two billion dollars of revenue.The story is incredible. But what’s even more incredible is why Larry and his team made that decision in the first place.It came from a very simple statement of their purpose as a company. Literally eight words. And it changed everything for them.As leaders, we all need to remember that the best vision in the world isn’t worth a thing if it doesn’t stick with people. This conversation with Larry shows us how to communicate our big ideas in simple, compelling terms. That way, our team members can actually connect with it and apply it when they’re making their decisions each day.You’ll also learn: One thing Larry did early in his career that prepared him for the C-suite later on How to know when it’s time to re-evaluate your organization’s vision Why you may want to make it easy for your team members to fail – no, really What to look for in customer feedback to help you identify consumer needs (and it’s probably not what you think) 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.

Listen to the second part of our conversation with Tom Brady, quarterback of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.If you haven’t heard the first part yet, find it on the podcast feed – you’re going to want to start there. In the second half of our conversation, we talk about Tom’s upbringing, which is where his incredible discipline really starts. Tom also talks in depth about the specific mentality shifts that helped him break through the ranks in college – and this was despite being a pretty dispensable sixth round pick in the draft. Oh, and apologies to Atlanta fans, but yes, he talks about what was going through his head in that epic Super Bowl game against the Falcons when he and the Patriots were down 28-3 and came back to win it all. In every story, in every answer, Tom is teaching us a huge leadership lesson: if we want to lead well, we have to back up our goals with disciplined action. It’s not enough to just set a goal or want to succeed. We’ve got to show up and make the choices that will actually result in hitting those goals. That’s the kind of walk-the-walk leadership that people actually follow. You’ll also learn: Tom’s advice to parents for how to talk to their kids The inspiring question Tom asks when things don’t go right The key advice Tom got that helped him move up the ranks even when opportunities were scarce  The #1 ingredient your team needs to navigate day-to-day conflicts as they arise The mentality you need to muster up when you’re down (and what Tom used in the epic Super Bowl comeback against the Atlanta Falcons) The time Tom got locked in the stadium at Notre Dame and what he had to do to escape 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 Tom Brady, the quarterback of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. And if you know anything about Tom Brady, you know he’s incredibly disciplined.His nutrition, his fitness, his training, his prep, his mindset – the guy has an elite level of dedication to being his best.And that hard work is a huge reason why he is the greatest of all time, the GOAT!But here’s what a lot of people miss. And I want to make sure you don’t miss it. What we’re really seeing when we see Tom Brady’s hard work is someone who has said: I am willing to back up my goals with disciplined actions.In the NFL and in business, everybody wants to win. But not everybody is willing to work hard in order to win. Tom is. His actions prove just how committed he is. He walks the walk, day in and day out, both off the field and on it.It sets him apart as a leader. And it’s the big takeaway for you today: as a leader, do you back up your goals with disciplined action? You’ll also learn: What you can do to change or capitalize on momentum How you establish yourself as a leader in a new environment Why Tom performs at a high level in tough situations (you may not like the answer, but it’s so good!) Tom’s #1 piece of advice for when you don’t feel 100% confident in a situation All the details of Tiger Wood’s mind-blowing warm-up shots before their charity golf match 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 Indra Nooyi, the former Chairman and CEO of PepsiCo.Indra is an incredibly accomplished leader. In her twelve years in charge at PepsiCo, she navigated all kinds of challenges – a global recession, major restructuring, sweeping changes in consumer habits. And yet, in those same twelve years, PepsiCo sales had risen by 80%.That kind of leadership is impressive. But what’s even more impressive is how Indra does it – by looking for ways to elevate others and build them up. She intentionally carves out opportunities for the people she serves. And this isn’t just pie in the sky stuff. It’s practical. In this episode, Indra goes into detail about PepsiCo’s leadership development and retention strategies. She talks about increasing diversity and calling out bias. And she shares her own story as a woman of color and immigrant from India. Great leaders intentionally elevate the people they serve. And that’s the big leadership lesson waiting for you in this episode today. You’ll also learn: Creative ways to celebrate your team (including one you HAVE to try) Specific strategies to boost diversity and inclusion How to stick to a vision, even when the naysayers are (very!) loud The one mistake you should never make when communicating during a crisis How to call out workplace bias The single biggest thing consultants can do to add value The six paragraphs Indra reads every week to stay inspired What it’s like working with Jeff Bezos as a board member for Amazon 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.

Bobbi Brown is the founder of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics and CEO of Beauty Evolution, known for her innovative spirit in the beauty industry. She discusses the importance of surrounding yourself with the right partners to enhance creativity and address blind spots. Bobbi shares her unconventional journey from a makeup artist to a billion-dollar brand leader, emphasizing empathy in teaching and the significance of self-discovery for effective leadership. She also reflects on her transitions in the industry and the value of collaboration for personal and professional growth.

Today’s guest is Ajay Banga, CEO of Mastercard.Ajay is one of the most respected leaders in the world, and he’s a classic example of that old adage, “When you do the right thing, the right things happen.”In fact, that idea of doing the right thing is so core to his leadership style that he coined a term for it – he calls it the “decency quotient.”As a leader it’s not enough to have a good IQ and EQ. We’ve got to be decent, too – to treat others with fairness, and support, and respect. In Ajay’s words, it’s “having your hand on people’s backs, not in their faces.” And it’s not just a fluffy feel good thing. This idea of decency really drives growth. It’s empowering his employees with trust and accountability. It’s ensuring that there is diversity around the decision table in order to guard against blind spots. And it’s helping his team find ways to make the economy more inclusive while still delivering on business goals. At every turn, Ajay shows us that great leaders are guided by decency.You’ll also learn:How to uncover ideas that benefit both your business and society at large  The #1 thing you need to get right as a leader  The critical mindset you need about your competition, whether you’re ahead or behind What you need to foster innovation (hint: it’s probably not what you expect) Why empowerment and accountability go hand in hand Hard-won advice for other diverse leaders who face discrimination 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 Ethan Brown, Founder and CEO of Beyond Meat.You hear a lot of leaders say they want to change the world. But that is literally Ethan’s mission at Beyond Meat. Their company is devoted to getting the same protein as animal meat straight from plants – so they can reduce climate change, improve human health, and help animal welfare. Now that’s an epic mission! And when you listen to Ethan, you realize just how powerful his sense of purpose is. It’s the driving force behind the incredible product development at Beyond Meat. It’s what influences their marketing and competitive strategy. It’s also a huge piece of their team culture. That sense of purpose is like the ultimate source of renewable energy! Now of course, your sense of purpose is going to vary. But great leaders know how to use purpose as motivation when the going gets tough or when they need to reach a big goal. Nobody does that better than Ethan – and with so much intelligence and humility to boot. So let’s dig in and see how great leaders tap into the power of purpose.You’ll also learn: One common tactic that can actually hold your company back, especially in product development and marketing The surprising mindset that helps you stay relevant in a rapidly shifting world How to encourage the “fail fast” culture on your team Why self-awareness is crucial to your growth as a leader 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 Tony Xu, Cofounder and CEO of Doordash. Getting a nice tasty burrito delivered to your door may seem pretty straightforward. But when you think about all the moving parts – vendors, drivers, logistics, traffic, weather, technology – there are a lot of places where problems can pop up!Tony and his team love to solve those problems. And they do it by breaking them down to their smallest details, so they really get clear on what’s happening. At Doordash, Tony is creating a culture of action and ownership – where his people have both the skills AND the attitude they need to really dig into details.To be honest, we leaders sometimes overlook those nitty gritty details. And that can be costly, because we never get the full understanding and clarity we really need to solve the problem.Great leaders have to deal in reality. And sometimes, reality is really detailed. Tony is a great leader who has the curiosity and hard work it takes to break problems down into detailed pieces – and there’s a lot we can learn from him! You’ll also learn: The #1 strategy you need to solve problems – even the really tough ones Two practical ways you can foster more innovation in your company Three standout behaviors to look for as you hire A golden piece of advice for balancing work with the rest of your life The surprising thing Tony teaches everyone at Doordash (and why) 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 Seth Waugh, CEO of the PGA of America.Seth Waugh’s background is actually in finance – most recently, as the CEO of Deutsche Bank. That’s obviously impressive, but what really sets him apart is his unique ability to relate to people at every level of an organization. And that’s exactly what he did when took over as CEO of the PGA of America. He listened, he learned, and he gave his team members a chance to show their character. Along the way, he uncovered some tough issues. But he also was able to see for himself how to address them. Now he and his team are really digging into their big mission, which is to grow the game of golf and make it more inclusive and accessible. Great leaders “get their uniform dirty,” as Seth says, by spending time with all levels of their organization. Seth is a master at this, and you’re gonna be so inspired by this conversation.You’ll also learn: Specific things you need to do in the first six months of any new leadership role What you can do to rebuild trust and communication in an organization  How Seth sees the game of golf evolving for the future  The tough-but-fair policy that Seth uses to hire and develop team members A key caution leaders need to be mindful of as work becomes increasingly virtual 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.