How Leaders Lead with David Novak

Feel like you’ve hit a ceiling in your career? Your boldest ideas might be the thing that breaks through—but only if you say them out loud. In this episode, Dave McKay, President and CEO of RBC, shares why going public with big goals isn’t just bold. It’s strategic. Learn how clarity and ambition can rally your team, attract top talent, and accelerate your growth. Oh and yes, there’s a Taylor Swif...

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: What advice do you have for leaders looking to successfully integrate younger talent with a long-standing legacy workforce? How do you rally an organization to move faster—without pushing people to the point of burnout? What does it take to effectively balance the short-term demands with the long-term vision when leading a...

Ever made a decision based on limited info, internal spin, or wishful thinking? You’re not alone—but there’s a better way. In this episode, David sits down with General Motors Chair and CEO, Mary Barra. She shares how a relentless commitment to the truth leads to better decisions, stronger teams, and a culture built on trust. If you want to lead with more clarity and less guesswork, don’t miss thi...

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received about how to handle failure? What tools do you use to maintain a positive mindset when things are hard? How does Danny's "pressure is a privilege" concept apply to leadership? ——— GO DEEPER Scale up your leadership skills in 2 minutes a day with the How Leaders Lead app...

Feeling stuck in a rut? Not sure how to improve your performance? You might be missing one powerful habit—tracking your own progress!  In this episode, David sits down with professional golfer and 2016 Masters champion Danny Willett. He shares how taking notes on his golf game (and his life!) has helped him grow through wins, setbacks, and everything in between. You’ll also learn: Where confidence...

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: As a leader, when you do something that’s never been done before…how do you prepare for the potential pushback? What should leaders consider when deciding how to integrate and retain employees after an acquisition? Based on all the teams and businesses you’ve studied throughout your life, what would you say is the single mo...

Optimism isn’t just a fluffy feel-good feeling. It’s a real asset in business. Learn how to make it your competitive advantage in this conversation with Pat Battle, Executive Chairman of Diamond Baseball Holdings, a company that owns 45 of the 120 minor league baseball teams. You’ll also learn: Why a job change between industries might not be as hard as you think Two questions that will revitalize...

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: What did you teach Chrissy's team about how to franchise well? What would be your advice to someone who’s wanting to take on new roles in a company? What do you think it is about Enterprise and Chrissy’s leadership that has allowed them to continue to see success?  ——— GO DEEPER Scale up your leadership skills in 2 minutes...

What if I told you your biggest competitive advantage is something you’ve already got? For Chrissy Taylor, the President and CEO of Enterprise Mobility, the 90,000 people who work at her company are what she calls “her secret sauce.” And in today’s episode, you’ll learn how to support your team and build a culture that drives growth, delights customers, and finds new ideas.  Plus, Chrissy’s positi...

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: What do you think about Hayes' belief that adversity is his advantage? What’s a story from your career where you had  to lean on the company’s purpose to get the business back on track?  What is it that you love so much about being from the Midwest?   ——— GO DEEPER Scale up your leadership skills in 2 minutes a day with th...

If you think “purpose” is just a bland little word for your mission statement, don’t miss this episode with Hayes Barnard, the founder, Chairman, and CEO of GoodLeap, which helps homeowners finance upgrades that make their homes more sustainable. Listen and see how purpose is a powerful force that helps you make connections, build teams, and drive more innovation. You’ll also learn: What he learne...

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: What is your favorite travel story? What’s your stance on finding the balance between being centralized versus decentralized when you have multiple brands under the same roof? Which is better? What do you think about Glenn's quote, "In god we trust … everyone else bring data”?  ——— GO DEEPER Scale up your leadership skills...

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...