How Leaders Lead with David Novak

“Excellence” is a word we tend to throw around in the business world. But it’s not just a standard you aim for. It’s a habit you develop! And no one exemplifies that better than Doug Hirsch, the owner of the Arizona Drive Pickleball Team and founder of Seneca Capital. Plus, he’s a philosophy buff, a chess whiz, and a nationally ranked pickleball player himself! Hit play on this conversation for an...

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: Do you have any practices similar to Jeni where you get connected to your sense of intuition? What does Jeni's take that leadership is about finding the sweet spot of compromise mean for you and your leadership style? Have you ever had to get into character to perform a task or get something done? ——— GO DEEPER Scale up you...

When it comes to decision making, do you trust your instincts? Listen to this episode with Jeni Britton, the founder of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, and learn from a leader who’s fully attuned to her creative instincts and knows how to trust her gut. Also, you’ve been warned: this episode contains graphic details of wildly creative ice cream flavors. You will get hungry. You’ll also learn: How to l...

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: What can leaders learn from this mindset of continuous striving, even after achieving significant success? How can leaders apply this approach of transparency and trust by integrating these types of feedback loops into their own businesses? Can you share a story about the work Yum! did to address food insecurity across the...

If you want to ignite your creativity and develop great ideas, you’ve got to understand the power of pattern thinking.  It’s the ability to spot what’s working for someone else, and then adapt it to your own situation to create something new. And this episode’s guest is an outstanding pattern thinker. Scott Harrison is the founder of the nonprofit charity:water, which works to bring clean, safe wa...

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: What's the most powerful leadership lesson you’ve learned from the female leaders you’ve worked with? How can managers strike the balance of letting people make mistakes and learn for themselves while at the same time not jeopardize business performance? As a leader, how do you know when it’s time to go? ——— GO DEEPER Scale...

When Erika Ayers Badan became the CEO of Barstool Sports, they didn’t even have a P&L. Eight years later, they’re a media empire and a household name worth over $550 million. Listen to this conversation to get an inside look at how Erika led that effort, and what she’s up to now as the CEO of Food52.  You’ll also see how Erika leads with honesty and directness. She doesn’t shy away from the tough...

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: What did you do to counter the negative perceptions and recruit great people to the food service industry? What stood out to you most about Aaron’s leadership that you think leaders everywhere should emulate? How much is too much when it comes to sharing with your team? ——— GO DEEPER Scale up your leadership skills in 2 min...

If you want your team to feel comfortable taking risks and being open, it’s up to you to set an example of vulnerability. That big idea comes through loud and clear in this conversation with Aaron Witt, the CEO of BuildWitt. His company serves what Aaron calls the “Dirt World” — those businesses doing the infrastructure and construction work most of us take for granted. See how this up-and-coming...

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: Did you ever have a viral moment happen at Yum! Brands? How do you inspire your team to embrace an agile mindset daily, especially when the pace of change can feel overwhelming? How did you embrace new technologies like AI? ——— GO DEEPER Scale up your leadership skills in 2 minutes a day with the How Leaders Lead app — Down...

No doubt about it: the world is changing fast.  As a leader, how do you help your team navigate that uncertainty instead of feeling overwhelmed by it? Listen to this conversation with John Peyton, the CEO of Dine Brands – which includes IHOP, Applebee’s, and Fuzzy’s Taco Shop. You’ll find practical strategies to help your team stay agile and act with urgency. Because, let’s face it: a fast-changin...

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: What’s your take on Fawn saying she went after a big project for the press story? Would you have done the same thing? As a leader who mines every scenario for insights, what advice can you give leaders about “mining for the gem” in difficult scenarios? How should leaders approach defining the ideal type of employee that ali...

If you need some inspiration to keep moving forward on a big mission, this is it. Today’s guest is Fawn Weaver, the Founder and CEO of Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, which has been the most awarded whiskey in the world for six years running. It’s named for a former enslaved man named Nearest Green, who taught Jack Daniel everything he knew about distilling whiskey. Fawn uncovered his story and bro...

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: What’s your take on Tom saying you don't have to be passionate about your product in order to be a great leader? What is your opinion on whether or not leaders should create emotional distance between themselves and their employees?  If you were in Tom’s seat as CEO, how would your leadership style differ or not differ know...

Today’s guest is Tom Nolan, the CEO of Kendra Scott, a jewelry brand that’s been crushing it lately—posting nearly double-digit growth for 44 consecutive months and counting. But as you’ll hear today, it’s not just about the results. It’s about how you treat people along the way. In this episode, you’ll see how to make stronger connections with both your customers and your team members. And you’ll...

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: Let’s say Mike Wirth calls you and says David, you’re CEO of this business. Where would you start? What should leaders do to create a system that invites employees to share what they REALLY think and feel about what’s going on in the business? What advice would you give a leader on how they can bring a team together over an...

If you want to be a good leader, you’ve got to listen to your people. But *just* listening isn’t always enough. You’ve got to ask questions. You’ve got to pay attention. But then, you’ve to respond. That’s the piece most leaders miss, and it makes all the difference for engaging your team and solving your organization’s biggest problems. To see how it’s done, listen to this episode with Mike Wirth...

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: How do leaders find the balance between being a visionary while also having a grip on what’s going on here and now? If you were a college football coach in today’s environment, knowing all you know about what it means to retain great talent, how would you go about creating a culture that players wouldn’t be tempted to leave...

Great leaders know how to motivate their teams, and in this episode, you can see how it’s done. Eliah Drinkwitz is the head coach of the University of Missouri football team. Last year was a breakout season for this Mizzou team, with an 11-2 season and a victory over Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl.  Eliah motivates his players by balancing connection, encouragement, and challenge. It’s a formula yo...

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 Q3 features leadership insights from these incredible leaders: Charlie Scharf, CEO and President of Wells Fargo Constance Schwartz-Morini, Founder and CEO of SMAC Entertainment Ram Charan, the world’s most influential business consultant  John Mackey, Cofounder a...

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: Should every entrepreneur and leader have a sense of ‘play’ in their role? How do you create such loyal customers? How do you evaluate John's decision to sell his business to Amazon?  ——— 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...

As a leader, you know…  There’s often tension between the big ideas and dreams you have and the pressure you feel to conform to convention or other people’s expectations. If you want wisdom to navigate that tension, listen to this episode with John Mackey, the co-founder and former CEO of Whole Foods Market.  Whole Foods has got to be one of the most compelling retail success stories in recent mem...

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: How can entrepreneurs leaders do a better job of giving up control so that their company can really thrive?  Was there a time in your career where in order to sell product, you had to convince people they had a problem that they didn't know they had? Are there any problems that come along with being passionate about what yo...

Passion is powerful. When you let your belief in a product or an idea shine through, people respond—and that passion can keep you going in both the good times and the bad. See how to put passion to work in your business in this episode with Chris Riccobono. He’s the CEO of UNTUCKit, the incredibly successful clothing brand known for making a dress shirt you don’t have to tuck in.  If you want to g...

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: What would give you the confidence in someone outside of your industry to come in and run strategy for an organization? If you were to all of a sudden find yourself as the owner of an NFL team, how would you go about learning about the new industry? What’s your take on Jimmy's opinion on hiring based on a candidate's person...