How Leaders Lead with David Novak

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: How can leaders define the concept of "emotional brand equity" in their own brand? How simple is the turnaround strategy SDSS x2 (“stop doing stupid stuff” … and then “start doing smart stuff”)? How do you know when to listen to data and when to rely on pure willpower to get something done? ——— GO DEEPER Scale up your leade...

The real product isn’t always what’s on the shelf. It’s the story—and the feeling—that comes with it. Sharon Price John, CEO of Build‑A‑Bear, reinvented a mall staple by returning the company from a $49 million loss to sustained profits while expanding into digital, adult, and licensing channels.  And here’s the insight that anchored her: Build‑A‑Bear isn’t selling teddy bears. It’s selling meanin...

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: How do YOU  think about mission statements? What are some practical ways a leader can drive the concept of "psychological safety" throughout their organization? What’s your perspective on encouraging emerging leaders to chase what they are good at? ——— GO DEEPER Scale up your leadership skills in 2 minutes a day with the Ho...

What’s the real purpose of business growth? According to Jimmy Kirchdorfer, CEO of ISCO Industries, it’s not just revenue or market share. It’s about creating opportunity—for your team, your customers, and your culture. In this episode, he shares how a golf irrigation supplier grew into a global pipe distributor. It’s a powerful blueprint that shows you how reinvesting in growth (and people) can p...

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: How do you handle criticism when you make a public statement and then change your mind? What are your thoughts on the perspective that someone should try and avoid making an impact on day one of their new role? What’s the best advice you’d give a leader on how to handle high stress? ——— GO DEEPER Scale up your leadership sk...

If you’re leading through a tough season, you know how easy it can be to either sugarcoat the truth or get overwhelmed by it. Southwest Airlines CEO Bob Jordan has faced a lot of challenges since he took over in 2022—from operational setbacks to major policy shifts. In this episode, he shares how important it is to be honest about the reality you’re facing while also staying optimistic about what’...

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: How do you make space for new ideas? What do you think about team discipline to create more long term business sustainability? What can other leaders learn from the "big eyes and big ears" approach to meeting with customers? ——— GO DEEPER Scale up your leadership skills in 2 minutes a day with the How Leaders Lead app — ⁠⁠⁠...

If you want to build smarter solutions and truly serve your customers, you’ve got to get closer to what they’re struggling with. In this episode, Samsara CEO Sanjit Biswas shares how his “big eyes, big ears” mindset helps uncover those opportunities.  You’ll also learn: How to make your engineers love sales (no, really) The one thing you’re missing about curiosity Practical ideas to put your core...

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: How does a leader know if their idea is good enough to power through the slog? What does it mean for revolution to happen through evolutionary ways? Why is it important to change the scenery in order to go "hunt" for new business ideas? ——— GO DEEPER Scale up your leadership skills in 2 minutes a day with the How Leaders Le...

When you’re building something new, it’s easy to get discouraged by how long it takes to gain traction. But if anyone knows how to stay in the game, it’s Steve Case. In this episode, the AOL cofounder and Revolution CEO opens up about the grit, patience, and strategy it took to pioneer the internet—and why most success stories take a lot longer than people think. You’ll hear how he built AOL throu...

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: What does it mean to perform in order to transform? Why is it important to discuss what is not going to be done when a company is strategizing? Why is the power of positivity so important 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...

If you’re wanting to see big change in your company, here’s a question: are you willing to change, too? Gui Loureiro, regional CEO of Walmart for Canada, Chile, Mexico, and Central America, shares what it took to lead a digital and cultural overhaul at Walmart Mexico—and why he had to evolve as a leader to make it happen. This episode is a powerful reminder that the big transformations you want fo...

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: How can leaders empower their people to own decisions while still ensuring they deliver on what matters most? How can leaders avoid over-indexing on data and still keep people at the heart of decision making? What are the most important ways a leader can set the right tone? ——— GO DEEPER Scale up your leadership skills in 2...

If your smartest people aren’t stepping up, maybe it’s time to look in the mirror. In this episode, David sits down with Greg Johnson, the Chairman of Franklin Templeton and principal owner of the San Francisco Giants. Greg shares why ownership—not control—is the key to building high-performing teams and retaining top talent. Whether you lead in finance, sports, or anywhere in between, you’ll walk...

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: Why might it be smart to lean into a leadership role before it's officially yours? How do developmental initiatives help newly promoted leaders transition into their new roles while maintaining strong relationships with former peers? Why are simple team member exercises like listing out responsibilities so powerful? ——— GO...

Why do good teams sometimes fall short? Too often, leaders blame the people — when the real problem is the system they’re working in. In this episode, Chipotle CEO Scott Boatwright shares how operational clarity can unlock performance across your organization.  This conversation is packed with practical insights to help you eliminate friction and elevate your team’s performance. You’ll also learn:...

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: How does someone deal with the pressures of figuring out their path early in their career? How does a "shadow role" help prepare both the individual and the company for a smooth leadership transition? How does the paradigm of having either a one-way door or a two-way door decision empower employees within a big company like...

It’s easy to say you care about customers. But how do you actually make decisions with them in mind? In this episode, David sits down with Amazon CEO Andy Jassy for a behind-the-scenes look at how one of the world’s biggest companies keeps customer focus at the heart of everything, from product launches to leadership culture. You’ll also learn:  The two documents you need before you launch anythin...

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: Do leaders need to be readily available, or is there a line? What can other leaders learn from how Ed navigated the reinvention of the company? What would you say to leaders facing unimaginable personal or professional hardship about how to keep going when it all feels like too much? ——— GO DEEPER Scale up your leadership s...

Ever catch yourself coasting after a big win? That’s the moment today’s guest would tell you to push even harder. In this episode of How Leaders Lead, Delta CEO Ed Bastian shares how he keeps one of the world’s most awarded airlines moving forward—without getting complacent. You’ll see how his mindset of continuous improvement shapes Delta’s culture, sharpens performance, and helps his team stay a...

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: What happens when a leader’s reputation is attacked for something they may not have even done? If you were Frank's mentor, what would you have told him when he had a major setback in starting his new company? Is there a point where involving the team in too many decisions can actually slow down momentum? ——— GO DEEPER Scale...

Want to build the working relationships that open doors—and keep them open? In this episode of How Leaders Lead, David talks with Frank Edwards, Managing Partner of Aqueduct Capital Group. You’ll see how Frank has built a stellar reputation—not through flashy networking, but by showing up consistently, giving credit freely, and treating every relationship with long-term respect. It’s a masterclass...

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: What would you say to leaders who are trying to fight for eyeballs?   In your experience, what should a leader do to drive a results driven culture? As a leader, how do you handle a situation where you didn’t have anything to do with a mistake? ——— GO DEEPER Scale up your leadership skills in 2 minutes a day with the How Le...

If your team isn’t delivering, it might not be a lack of effort or strategy. It might be a lack of clarity. In this episode, David sits down with media and entertainment legend Mark Shapiro. He’s the President and COO of TKO and the President and Managing Partner of WME Group, and prior to that helped lead ESPN and Six Flags.  He shares how clear expectations and feedback are key to creating momen...

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: What’s your take on Dave’s advice to take on three roles at once to move up, and how do you think about moving up in a company? Why do you like Dave's method of evaluating leaders on a 2 dimensional axis? How can leaders make sure that they’re getting the whole story and that they have all the information they need to make...