How Leaders Lead with David Novak

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!