How Leaders Lead with David Novak

Great companies aren’t built by ego. They’re built by leaders who ask questions, listen, and rely on the smart people around them. And this episode’s guest is one of those leaders! Glenn Fogel is the CEO of Booking Holdings, the company behind big travel brands like Booking dot com, Kayak, Priceline, and OpenTable.  Having been at the company for 25 years, Glenn’s got a lot of experience to draw o...

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: Tell us about the idea of customer mania and how you cascaded it throughout all of Yum.  How do you think about emotional distance among a team? How do you view In-N-Out's decision to not offer mobile ordering … I mean, if you were President, what would you do?   ——— GO DEEPER Scale up your leadership skills in 2 minutes a...

Every business wants loyal customers. But what does it mean to be loyal to your customers? Find out in this episode with Lynsi Snyder, the Owner and President of In-N-Out Burger. Go behind the scenes of this iconic brand and learn how you can boost loyalty in your business. Plus, In-N-Out is a family-owned company. And if you’ve ever worked with your family, you know things can get messy. Lynsi’s...

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: Tell us a story about a time from your career where you had to lead through a crisis and what you learned from that experience. How would you coach someone to get comfortable with asking for business? Can you unpack what Ken says about the biggest impediment to good risk management is imagination?  ——— GO DEEPER Scale up y...

One of your most valuable currencies isn’t money, talent, or even time. It’s trust. See how it can power better partnerships and more opportunities in this episode with Ken Bacon, Cofounder and Managing Partner at Railfield Partners and former Executive VP at Fannie Mae.  If you want to see how to build trust, extend it wisely, and see it return to you, then hit play now! You’ll also learn: A nego...

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: How would you go about offering coaching? Where did you learn to be a great salesperson? How did you and do you stay visible as a leader?  ——— GO DEEPER Scale up your leadership skills in 2 minutes a day with the How Leaders Lead app — Download today in the App Store Get coaching from David by signing up to receive his Wee...

Today’s guest is Allan Thygesen, the CEO of Docusign. Before that, he led Google’s $100 billion advertising business in North and South America. In this conversation, you’ll get a front row seat to how he approaches technology and innovation—including his advice for integrating AI into your business. Plus, he’s got an outlook on sales you need to hear. If selling makes you a little uncomfortable,...

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: What kind of coaching would you give a player or a teammate who made a public mistake that everyone was talking about? What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever had to own up to? What are some of the signs that a business is getting too big too fast?  ——— GO DEEPER Scale up your leadership skills in 2 minutes a day with the How...

Just in time for the Super Bowl, this week’s guest is Harris Barton, the founder and managing director of H. Barton Asset Management. He was also an all-pro left tackle for the 49ers, winning THREE Super Bowls with Joe Montana and Steve Young.  Today, he runs a thriving investment fund, where he has about a billion dollars of assets under management. If you’re feeling stuck on a problem, listen to...

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: What’s changed about leadership since you’ve been out of Yum? Why do you think Jamie gets a much more realistic answer when he asks his employees what compensation they think they deserve? Can you tell us about the “since we last met” exercise? What’s the lesson you take from Jamie calling up Sandy Weill after years of no c...

Some leaders talk a big game. Others deliver big results. If you want to know what separates the two, listen to this episode with Jamie Dimon, the Chairman and CEO of JPMorgan Chase, the largest and most profitable bank in the U.S. You’ll find a wealth of insight into what it takes to cut through the BS and execute big changes.  Great leaders know: you get results when you get to work. If you want...

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: What advice would you give someone who’s trying to develop Bobbi's skill of getting to the heart of the issue? What are some signs that your company is getting cocky and bloated … and how can leaders avoid that?  What do you think it is about Bobbi that has allowed her to grow one billion dollar brand and be on her way to g...

How do some leaders seem to tackle big challenges and make it look effortless? In this episode, David sits down with world-renowned entrepreneur and cosmetics titan Bobbi Brown. Her latest venture, Jones Road Beauty, is growing like crazy because people love how she has simplified the complicated world of beauty and cosmetics. Leaders waste all kinds of time because they overcomplicate things. But...

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: Are there red flags to look for that typically indicate that someone is not going to be a great partner? At what point does someone need to fold and cut their losses? How would you approach coaching someone who tends to be negative, guiding them towards adopting a more positive mindset?  ——— GO DEEPER Scale up your leaders...

Is one of your 2025 goals to strengthen your team or shift your culture? If so, you’ll love hearing from Louise Brady, the co-founder and managing partner at the successful VC firm Piedmont Capital Partners. She shows how powerful it is when leaders prioritize the people around them. When you go above and beyond for your team, it comes back to you—and not just in a fluffy, feel-good way.  As you’l...

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: How can you break down Pat's thought that leaders ought to treat their current job like their next job? What are the best ways a leader can remind their team of their standard of excellence? If you were creating your own shield like Pat, who would be your hero? ——— GO DEEPER Scale up your leadership skills in 2 minutes a da...

Thinking about your next career move?  Most leaders are. But if you don’t approach it the right way, it can cost you.  Sometimes, you can get so caught up thinking about your next big career move that you lose focus on what really matters—which is doing excellent work in whatever role you’re in now. See what that looks like in action in this episode with Louisville men’s basketball head coach Pat...

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: What is it about writing songs that makes you want to keep doing it and how do you keep coming up with ideas? How should business leaders incorporate emotional leadership into their own style? What advice would you give a leader who’s trying to figure out who their core audience is and how to serve them better? ——— GO DEEPE...

If you want to start 2025 with more focus and efficiency, this is the episode for you! Drew Holcomb fronts a beloved Americana band called Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors.  And he knows something that a lot of leaders don’t: you can waste a lot of time and energy chasing after customers and fans that won’t really help your business grow. Listen to this episode to discover the power of super-serving...

In this episode, we take all the great wisdom from the last three months and highlight the most impactful takeaways for you. The Best Of Q4 features leadership insights from these incredible leaders: Eliah Drinkwitz, Head football coach at Mizzou Mike Wirth, Chairman and CEO of Chevron Tom Nolan, CEO of Kendra Scott Fawn Weaver, Founder and CEO of Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey John Peyton, CEO of...

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: How do you as a leader create momentum around big dreams without overcomplicating it for your team? What ways could Karla's ‘fewer, better,’ concept apply to leadership? How would you advise leaders on how to balance maintaining their core offerings with driving innovation and introducing new products? ——— GO DEEPER Scale u...

Got a big idea, but not sure what to do about it? Discover the power of dreaming big (and then starting small) in this episode with Karla Gallardo, the co-founder and CEO of Cuyana.  Inspired by her upbringing in Ecuador, Karla co-founded Cuyana on the principle of selling fewer, better things. Thirteen years later, they’ve hit $35 million in annual revenue and are loved by tastemakers like Meghan...

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: What’s the secret to staying hands-on with the details without getting bogged down in them? What would you say to a leader dealing with this dysfunction tax, but they say, “Well, it’s always been this way so there’s nothing I can really do about it.”?  What would you say to leaders who are kicking the can at offering coachi...

What’s the “dysfunction tax” — and how is it costing your business?  Find out in today’s episode with Jared Belsky. He’s the CEO of Acadia, a digital marketing agency that works with big names like Red Roof Inn, Maggiano’s, and Party City. Plus, Jared has a lot of practical advice to maximize your ad agency partnership — for better communication, ad creative, and results!  You’ll also learn: The d...

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: What is your take on Doug's belief that you can’t perform at your best mentally if you aren’t at your best physically? What is it about Doug’s leadership that made him so successful in a field he didn’t know much about? How can leaders in a competitive industry retain their top talent? ——— GO DEEPER Scale up your leadership...