How Leaders Lead with David Novak

Great leaders don’t cling to one leadership style. They adapt as people and situations change. And they figure out how to do it without losing what makes them real. Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins shares how he’s learned to lead through major transformation with honesty, vulnerability, and a clear understanding of what his people – all 90,000 of them – need from him. If you're navigating change (or just t...

How do you keep your team motivated, even when things are going well?  Just ask Marriott President and CEO Tony Capuano. As the guy in charge of the world’s largest hospitality company (10,000 hotels in 143 countries!), he knows a thing or two about success. But he’s also keenly aware that success is never final. And it’s up to leaders to set the pace and keep raising the bar. So if you want to bu...

Happy New Year! We’re ringing in 2026 with a special episode to help you lead with more intention and focus this year. And this time, Koula puts David in the hot seat! He shares the five simple practices he returns to every year to build momentum (without burning out by February). One is simple enough to fit on an index card. If you want to make 2026 the year you focus on the right things (not jus...

In this special holiday episode, David and Koula revisit one of our favorite questions around here: What’s a story from your childhood that shaped the kind of leader you are today? You’ll hear funny, insightful stories from past guests like Jamie Dimon (CEO of JPMorgan Chase), Lynsi Snyder (Owner of In-N-Out), Andy Jassy (CEO Amazon), and many more top leaders. As you slow down for the holiday sea...

Go behind the scenes of one of today’s hottest brands with Allison Ellsworth, founder and Lead Creative at poppi. After a memorable Shark Tank appearance, poppi exploded into the cultural zeitgeist – going viral on TikTok, getting shout-outs from celebrities, and scaling from startup to $500 million in just four years. In this episode, Allison shares how to build a brand that moves fast, disrupts...

Can Red Lobster pull off the greatest comeback in restaurant history? After filing for bankruptcy, shedding value, and losing relevance, it won’t be easy. But it’s the kind of challenge that Damola Adamolekun thrives in. After returning P.F. Chang’s to profitability, he is now making waves as Red Lobster’s youngest-ever CEO. In this episode, he shares what it’s like to lead at a young age, the str...

Imagine this: you build a company from scratch, sell it at a billion-dollar valuation, get ousted, and watch it crumble under new leadership… Then you buy it back, shut it down, rebrand it, relaunch it – and grow it all over again. That’s exactly what Gregg Renfrew, the Founder and CEO of clean beauty brand Counter (formerly Beautycounter) has done. In this episode, she opens up about the emotiona...

How do you make your brand stand out?  Ask Michael Meldman. He’s the founder of Discovery Land Company, a global portfolio of high-end private golf communities known for doing things differently. By tossing out the traditional country club rulebook and building around comfort and community, he’s created a truly distinctive brand. He’s also a co-founder of Casamigos Tequila, the billion-dollar bran...

Today’s cruise ships are floating cities – complete with waterslides, sushi bars, and even roller skating rinks.  But it wasn’t always that way. Today, we’re joined by the leader who helped pioneer the megaship era and transform Royal Caribbean into a global vacation powerhouse. Richard Fain served as CEO for 33 years, building a culture where big ideas could thrive and the whole team was willing...

Jim McCann didn’t set out to become an entrepreneur. He was a social worker and bartender before finding his way into the floral business. But no matter what he did, he always found a way to connect with people. That instinct eventually led him to build 1-800-Flowers, where he expanded the business strategically, turned it into a household brand, and tapped into the power of customer relationships...

Bracken Darrell led remarkable turnarounds at both Old Spice and Logitech. Now he’s the CEO of VF Corporation, where he’s working to revitalize iconic brands like The North Face, Timberland, Vans, and more. Hit play on this episode and take a look at his playbook. It’s all about constantly growing and designing things to be better – whether it’s a product, a team, or his own understanding of quant...

She flipped the script on modern dating and built a billion dollar global brand. But Whitney Wolfe Herd’s path to success hasn’t been easy. After co-founding Tinder and walking away under difficult circumstances, she founded Bumble, a dating platform where women make the first move. In this refreshingly honest conversation, she opens up about her missteps and lessons, how she’s redefined success,...

He built Coach from a small leather goods brand into a $5 billion global fashion powerhouse.  But Lew Frankfort’s rise to the top isn’t what you’d expect. He started out in public service and even got passed over for a promotion for being “too principled.” But when he came to Coach, he brought relentless drive, strong investigative instincts, and a unique leadership philosophy he calls “Magic + Lo...

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...