How Leaders Lead with David Novak

He’s one of the most accomplished amateur golfers in the game – a four-time U.S. Mid-Amateur champion and four-time Masters competitor. Just last month, he captained the 2025 Walker Cup team to victory over Great Britain and Ireland.  Nathan Smith knows how to get the most out of himself and his team, especially when the pressure is on and the stakes are high. In this episode, he shares the leader...

At age 25, he walked away from a successful seven-figure business, and took a big swing on a risky idea. Thrive Market Cofounder and CEO Nick Green knew he wanted to make healthy food more accessible. But at a time when everyone was chasing speed and scale, he made a big bet on the membership model. 1.7 million members later, it’s safe to say it worked. In this episode, he shares: His early career...

As a kid, she had to hide her favorite red nail polish from her parents. Today, she’s the founder and CEO of Olive & June, a $100 million nail polish brand. But in between, Sarah Gibson Tuttle had to navigate a career she wasn’t really passionate about … and find the courage to chase a big idea.  In this episode, she shares: The untold stories behind the brand’s rise How she turned frustration int...

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to:  How should leaders apply the concept, "sell what you sell", into their marketing strategy? How can leaders maintain brand consistency while being flexible on the product offerings in different markets? How can leaders running multiple teams and business units find the right balance between alignment and autonomy? ——— GO DE...

GUEST: Paul Brown, Cofounder and CEO of Inspire Brands, which includes Arby’s, Sonic, Dunkin’, and more.  LISTEN FOR: Insights on clear messaging, leading multiple brands, the changing media landscape, and sharing best practices Take your learning further. Get proven leadership advice from these (free!) resources: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The How Leaders Lead App⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: A vast library o...

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to:  How can you measure motivation and what can leaders do to drive that in their organization? How can leaders sustain high performance while managing their energy? How can leaders who are great a dreaming big make visions practical and real? ——— GO DEEPER Scale up your leadership skills in 2 minutes a day with the How Leader...

Every leader wants to bring more energy to the table—but it’s not about pushing harder or working longer. It’s about channeling your energy toward what truly matters. In this episode, David talks with Klaus Kleinfeld, the former CEO of Siemens and Alcoa, and the author of the book Leading to Thrive. You’ll see how to use purpose as a guiding force to manage your energy, inspire your team, and crea...

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to:  How can leaders build the courage and the conviction to pursue a vision that others might not see right away? How should leaders think about what belongs with the core team versus what can be outsourced to freelancers? What can leaders do to build a ‘resolve it now’ culture on their teams when it comes to resolving conflic...

GUEST: Hayden Brown, CEO of the global freelance marketplace Upwork LISTEN FOR: Insights on AI, remote work, and what it really takes to lead with clarity (and why it’s 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 sha...

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to:  How can leaders keep performance high in the face of constant change? What can leaders do to get their teams to believe in a vision that feels bigger than what they think is possible? What is a good ‘gut check’ to know if you’re actually leading with humility? ——— GO DEEPER Scale up your leadership skills in 2 minutes a da...

What does it take to build a dynasty … and keep it going? Clark Hunt, Chairman and CEO of the Kansas City Chiefs, shares what it takes to deliver results year after year in one of the most competitive leagues in the world. You’ll go point by point through the five things every dynasty needs—plus hear how humility plays a surprising role in long-term success. Whether you’re an NFL diehard or just l...

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to:  What habits or practices do you use to stay grounded so you can show up as a counterbalance for your team? How do great leaders balance mission and performance so they don't lose sight or purpose and profitability? What levers should leaders be paying attention to in order to keep customers loyal? ——— GO DEEPER Scale up yo...

What does it take to grow a breakthrough product … without losing your balance as a leader? Tom Hale, CEO of Oura, shares how he’s scaling one of the most innovative wellness companies out there—the one behind the popular (and powerful) Oura Ring.  See how he’s constantly calibrating to offer the right blend of support and challenge, value and pricing, innovation and trust. You’re going to love th...

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to:  What can leaders do to ensure bureaucracy doesn’t creep in and take over their company? What’s your process of evaluating the input of others and how does that ultimately play into the decision you make? What do you do to reinvent yourself and while staying current? ——— GO DEEPER Scale up your leadership skills in 2 minute...

As a leader, you’ve got to know your numbers. But you can’t maximize your impact as a leader unless you know how to make those numbers mean something to your team. In this episode, David talks with Roger Crandall, President and CEO of MassMutual, a leader who blends sharp analytics with powerful storytelling. You’ll learn how to turn data and revenue goals into human-centered stories that actually...

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: What's your take on leaders making sure they are replaceable in order to move up the ladder? What can emerging leaders do to have an impact not only on their team but on people in any  division of their organization? How can leaders learn to trust their gut intuition? ——— GO DEEPER Scale up your leadership skills in 2 minut...

Have a big idea, but not sure how to make it happen? David Levy has been there. As Co-CEO of Horizon Sports & Experiences and the former President of Turner Networks, he’s led some of the boldest moves in sports and media. He forged the landmark March Madness deal that let fans watch every game across CBS and Turner. And now, he’s betting big on new ventures like The Pickleball Slam and Unrivaled,...

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: What would you tell leaders looking to make an industry shift to do in order to prove they have what it takes to get the job done? How can leaders in the creative space help develop the skill of creativity in their people? David, what’s a story from your career where you entered into an alien environment, and how’d you navi...

Every leader faces the unknown. The best ones lean into it. When Peter Cuneo became CEO of Marvel, the company had just emerged from bankruptcy. But under his leadership, it became one of the most valuable entertainment brands in the world. By the time it was sold to Disney, Marvel’s stock had risen from just 96 cents to over $50 a share. In this episode, Peter shares the bold, practical leadershi...

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: Do you agree with the idea that everything someone needs is already inside of them? How can leaders incorporate mental skills training into their day-to-day routine? What other methods or frameworks are helpful in building confidence as a leader? ——— GO DEEPER Scale up your leadership skills in 2 minutes a day with the How...

Most people think confidence and resilience are just part of your personality. But high-performance psychologist Dr. Michael Gervais knows better: they’re skills you can train. In this inspiring and practical conversation, Dr. Gervais shares the same mental strategies he uses to help Super Bowl champions, Olympic gold medalists, and top Fortune 500 CEOs be at their best. Hit play now and learn how...

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: What’s the most interesting thing you learned about F1 racing from your interview with Zak? What do you think about clarity beating the consensus in high pressure moments? How does a leader ensure that every person on the team is tied to the overall performance of the organization? ——— GO DEEPER Scale up your leadership ski...

You can hire great people and set bold goals … yet still fall short. Why? Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing, knows the answer. And it has less to do with talent, and more to do with something most leaders overlook. This episode pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to build a high-performance team—and why clarity might be your most powerful tool. You’ll also learn: Why exclusivity was hurt...

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: What do you think about edginess in branding and reframing edginess as entertainment? What advice do you have for leaders trying to build momentum for a brand just starting out? What can leaders of larger companies do to stay agile and move fast in the same way small companies can? ——— GO DEEPER Scale up your leadership ski...

They sold a $300 coffin. They made a candle with Ozzy Osbourne’s DNA. And built a $1.4B beverage brand doing it. Mike Cessario, founder and CEO of Liquid Death, has turned irreverent ideas into a marketing juggernaut. But behind the stunts is a seriously disciplined approach to brand, strategy, and execution. If you're building a challenger brand—or just trying to make people actually notice your...