How Leaders Lead with David Novak

Today’s guest is Tim Ryan, US Chair and Senior Partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers, one of the top accounting and consulting firms in the world. You don’t get elected to this kind of position if you’re not absolutely at the top of your game. And Tim sure is. He is one of the smartest guys around. But that does not mean he has all the answers. In fact, in his words, he “drives himself crazy with listening.” He’s always seeking out more data points and drawing out differing perspectives.It’s really at the heart of how they serve their clients and formulate strategy.And that willingness to listen has also empowered him to make some really bold decisions. Right after he was elected to his role in 2016, there was a tragic, racially charged shooting in Dallas. Tim listened to his employees’ rousing response. And it motivated him to drastically shift his entire leadership strategy to focus on racial injustice. That’s the big leadership lesson waiting for you today. When you know how to listen to different perspectives, you can make even the toughest decisions from a place that’s informed and empathetic. And that’s definitely the mark of a great leader.You’ll also learn: A practical blueprint for making diversity a real priority at your company The #1 thing to focus on when things feel scary or chaotic at work The 3 big trends every business needs to be dialed into right now What to do when you make a mistake (yes, this is the hard-won wisdom after the infamous Oscars blunder) 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 Jamie Dimon, Chairman and CEO of JPMorgan Chase.If you haven’t already heard part one of this conversation, check the feed and start there instead. It’s a masterclass in dealing with problems by preparing for them ahead of time.But some problems aren’t possibilities waaaaaay off in the future. They’re right here, right now! And in part two, we get into how Jamie deals with those day-to-day issues.And there’s a real humility in how he does it. He’s always listening and learning. He genuinely wants to know the issues on the ground in his organization. But he doesn’t stop there. He actually follows through so the problems he uncovers get solved.It’s rare to find a leader who is willing to listen to issues. But a leader who follows up and actually fixes those issues? That’s the stuff of legend. But it doesn’t have to be! You just need a plan. And that’s the big takeaway in this conversation with Jamie: always have a plan to deal with problems.You’ll also learn: Specifics idea for recognizing your team members’ accomplishments Four things young leaders can do if they want to make their mark Why listening to your front lines is half the job – and what you have to do in addition in order to earn your team’s respect One brilliant idea to help you tackle tough conflicts we often tend to avoid Jamie’s unique approach to strategic planning – and why he’s careful about how his company uses 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’s guest is Jamie Dimon, Chairman and CEO of JPMorgan Chase.He took this job back in 2006 – and it has not been an easy road. He faced the global financial crisis in ‘08, the COVID-19 pandemic, and all its aftermath. It’s just been one thing after another. But I love the no-nonsense way Jamie approaches leadership in these tough moments. He isn’t surprised by problems. He’s prepared for them. As he puts it, “you don’t have a war and then decide to have an army. You better have the army first.”As leaders, we have to be real and say that problems are going to come up.They might be big or small, short-term or long-term. But one thing’s for sure: they’re going to be there. And we’ve got to be prepared.There’s just so much we can learn from Jamie so we always have a plan to deal with problems.You’ll also learn: Jamie’s source of motivation in tough times – and why it’s critical for team-building  How to listen to both the data and your gut when you’re making big decisions How Jamie’s readjusted his life and work after a major health scare  Specific ways corporations can be more socially responsible The surprising trait you need more of the higher up you get in an organization 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.

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.