

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

Jul 30, 2020 • 1h 2min
#03: Evan Spiegel, SNAP CEO—Secrets of Fostering Innovation
Today’s guest is Evan Spiegel, CEO of Snap. The tech world is driven by innovation. And Snapchat has set the gold standard for getting new ideas to take off, ever since 2011 when Evan Spiegel co-founded the company while he was a student at Stanford. But there’s a lot more to Snapchat’s success than just having these good ideas. They have created a culture where those ideas can actually develop. They have communicated those ideas to teams and stakeholders. Oh, and most importantly, they have actually turned those ideas into reality.But it hasn’t always been easy – especially back in 2018 when some of those new ideas triggered an 80% drop in stock price and a very public outcry.Now, of course, you may not be out to build Silicon’s Valley’s next big thing.But every leader needs to know how to create a culture where big ideas thrive and become reality. So if you want to understand the secrets of fostering innovation, then you don’t want to miss this episode.You’ll also learn:
A fundamental insight about human nature that will change how you think about product development
The one thing Evan wished he’d fully understood about going public
The #1 piece of advice Evan got early on – and probably what you need to hear today
What mistakes to avoid when you’re growing quickly
His surprising response to competitors ripping off his company’s products
Practical ways Evan grew – and keeps growing – in his leadership role
The one common denominator in all Evan’s biggest past mistakes (and how it helps him now)
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.

Jul 30, 2020 • 1h 2min
#02: Larry Fitzgerald, Former Arizona Cardinals WR—How to Lead by Example
Today’s guest is Larry Fitzgerald, who has played for the Arizona Cardinals for 17 years and is widely regarded as one of the best wide receivers to ever play the game. He’s also an incredible philanthropist, investor, and businessman. When we think about leadership, often what comes to mind for us is the person who’s up in front of the crowd, leading the meeting, or giving the big speech.But when you listen to Larry you remember: not all leaders are vocal and up front. Our best leaders are often the ones who just quietly go about their work with excellence. And they earn their role as a leader by setting an example that other people just want to follow.In this conversation we cover a lot of ground – how Larry grew up, how he prepares for games, how he is navigating social justice issues, and now how he’s developing as a businessman. And in every scenario, Larry just quietly exerts so much influence – for the good! – on the people around him.It’s the perfect reminder that great leaders lead by example. You’ll also learn:
Advice for adjusting to new leadership and teammates (from a guy who’s played with almost 20 different quarterbacks over the years!)
The simple but powerful way Larry prepared for every game – and how it applies to you
Three traits that separate great coaches and leaders from mediocre ones
How to lead well even when you’re not the one calling the plays
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.

Jul 30, 2020 • 1h 8min
#01: Kendra Scott, Founder & Executive Chairwoman of Kendra Scott—Strive for Simplicity
Today’s guest is Kendra Scott, Founder, Executive Chairwoman of the popular jewelry brand Kendra Scott.Have you ever gotten stuck because you felt so overwhelmed by how complicated something seemed? It can happen when you launch a new initiative, start a new role, or come up against a new challenge. In those moments we leaders can overcomplicate things! And when we get bogged down like that, it’s really tough to make good decisions and keep our teams moving. If you can relate, then you will love this conversation with Kendra. She knows how to strive for simplicity when she comes up against a challenge.And let me tell you, she has faced her fair share of challenges – from a business failing early on in her career … to being pre-judged as a blonde woman from Texas … to now, navigating the ever-shifting landscape of running a retail business.But with persistence, she pinpoints the heart of an issue – and with creativity, she finds a simple, effective solution. And her team loves her for it. There’s a lot we can learn here about how to strive for simplicity.You’ll also learn:
The power of showing gratitude to your team
How to leverage your failures
Practical ways to fight complacency on your team
One incredible “rule” that transforms and simplifies customer service
Why rejection can work for you
The specific ways Kendra developed herself as a “self-taught” entrepreneur
How Kendra balances parenthood and business
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.

Jul 23, 2020 • 1min
Trailer: How Leaders Lead with David Novak
David Novak lets you be a fly on the wall and learn from the best CEOs, founders & entrepreneurs in business, sports and entertainment to talk about how they lead and get such incredible things done. Past guests include Tom Brady, Condoleezza Rice, Indra Nooyi, Jamie Dimon, Stanley Druckenmiller, Carol Tomé, Ginni Rometty, Ken Langone, Dude Perfect, Roger Goodell, and many others.David, a former cofounder and CEO himself, has been asking great questions and learning from top leaders his whole life. Now he breaks down the key learnings so that by the end of each episode, you’ll have something simple you can apply as you develop into a better leader. That's what this show is all about!