How Leaders Lead with David Novak

349 Episodes

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#221: Pat Kelsey, Head Men’s Basketball Coach at the University of Louisville – Crush it where you’re at

2025-01-0958:23

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 Kelsey. Plus, get an inside look at the way he’s using a strong culture to turnaround one of the most storied basketball programs in the nation. You’ll also learn: The one thing you need to do to get your core values to stick What to focus on when you’re not the most talented person in the room How to approach a job when it’s not the role you ultimately want The most underappreciated part of any organization’s success ——— FEATURED RESOURCES The How Leaders Lead mobile app Download the app and scale up your leadership skills in under 2 minutes a day

3 More Questions (Drew Holcomb) with David Novak and Koula Callahan

2025-01-0615:06

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 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 Weekly Leadership Plan. It builds on each podcast episode by offering actionable steps you can take each week to incorporate the learnings from the episode into your leadership style. It only takes about 5 minutes and is a great way to start off your week! Subscribe to the How Leaders Lead podcast to ensure you never miss an episode!

#220: Drew Holcomb, Musician – “Super serve” your core audience

2025-01-0201:10:58

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 your core audience—plus find tons of creative inspiration to kick off 2025! You’ll also learn: The #1 enemy of creativity (hint: it’s not what you think) Must-hear advice for anyone who struggles with perfectionism Insights for succeeding in any industry that’s constantly shifting One brilliant way to strengthen your connection with your spouse or partner ——— FEATURED RESOURCES The How Leaders Lead mobile app Download the app and scale up your leadership skills in under 2 minutes a day

#219: The Best Of Q4

2024-12-2642:57

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 Dine Brands (IHOP, Applebee’s, Fuzzy’s Taco Shop) Aaron Witt, CEO of BuildWitt Erika Ayers Badan, CEO of Food52 and former CEO of Barstool Sports Scott Harrison, Founder and CEO of charity: water Jeni Britton, Founder of Jeni’s Ice Creams Doug Hirsch, Owner of Arizona Drive Pickleball Team and founder of Seneca Capital Jared Belsky, CEO of Acadia Karla Gallardo, Cofounder and CEO of Cuyana ——— FEATURED RESOURCE The How Leaders Lead mobile app Download the app and scale up your leadership skills in under 2 minutes a day

3 More Questions (Karla Gallardo) with David Novak and Koula Callahan

2024-12-2310:49

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 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 Weekly Leadership Plan. It builds on each podcast episode by offering actionable steps you can take each week to incorporate the learnings from the episode into your leadership style. It only takes about 5 minutes and is a great way to start off your week! Subscribe to the How Leaders Lead podcast to ensure you never miss an episode!

#218: Karla Gallardo, CEO of Cuyana – Dream big, then start small

2024-12-1950:50

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 Markle and Jessica Alba. Listen now if you’re ready for some serious motivation to turn YOUR big idea into reality. You’ll also learn: What to prioritize in your product development if you want loyal customers Why *not* making the sale is sometimes a good thing Powerful insights that anyone in the retail space needs to hear What most people get wrong when they’re looking for investors ——— FEATURED RESOURCES The How Leaders Lead mobile app Download the app and scale up your leadership skills in under 2 minutes a day

3 More Questions (Jared Belsky) with David Novak and Koula Callahan

2024-12-1611:54

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 coaching? ——— 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 Weekly Leadership Plan. It builds on each podcast episode by offering actionable steps you can take each week to incorporate the learnings from the episode into your leadership style. It only takes about 5 minutes and is a great way to start off your week! Subscribe to the How Leaders Lead podcast to ensure you never miss an episode!

#217: Jared Belsky, CEO of Acadia – Avoid the dysfunction tax

2024-12-1254:57

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 danger of getting too far from the details What to do when you want to fire your ad agency Tips for making an effective creative brief Why asking the wrong kind of questions is a huge missed opportunity ——— FEATURED RESOURCES The How Leaders Lead mobile app Download the app and scale up your leadership skills in under 2 minutes a day

3 More Questions (Doug Hirsch) with David Novak and Koula Callahan

2024-12-0912:55

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 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 Weekly Leadership Plan. It builds on each podcast episode by offering actionable steps you can take each week to incorporate the learnings from the episode into your leadership style. It only takes about 5 minutes and is a great way to start off your week! Subscribe to the How Leaders Lead podcast to ensure you never miss an episode!

#216: Doug Hirsch, Owner of Arizona Drive Pickleball Team and Founder of Seneca Capital – Excellence is a habit

2024-12-0553:50

“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 inspiring look at what it takes to bring habits of excellence into your world. You’ll also learn: Why that chip on your shoulder might be a good thing The leadership quality that builds a loyal, transparent culture How to know when it’s time to move on from a job One of leadership’s most underrated tools—and how to use it ——— FEATURED RESOURCES The How Leaders Lead mobile app Download the app and scale up your leadership skills in under 2 minutes a day

3 More Questions (Jeni Britton) with David Novak and Koula Callahan

2024-12-0214:21

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 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 Weekly Leadership Plan. It builds on each podcast episode by offering actionable steps you can take each week to incorporate the learnings from the episode into your leadership style. It only takes about 5 minutes and is a great way to start off your week! Subscribe to the How Leaders Lead podcast to ensure you never miss an episode!

#215: Jeni Britton, Founder of Jeni's Ice Creams – Stay attuned to your instincts

2024-11-2856:26

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 lead when you’re naturally shy and introverted One practical tip to use the next time you need a confidence boost Why you should differentiate your “company” from your “business” The power of an iterative, open approach to product development ——— FEATURED RESOURCES The How Leaders Lead mobile app Download the app and scale up your leadership skills in under 2 minutes a day

3 More Questions (Scott Harrison) with David Novak and Koula Callahan

2024-11-2512:33

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 world? ——— 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 Weekly Leadership Plan. It builds on each podcast episode by offering actionable steps you can take each week to incorporate the learnings from the episode into your leadership style. It only takes about 5 minutes and is a great way to start off your week! Subscribe to the How Leaders Lead podcast to ensure you never miss an episode!

#214: Scott Harrison, Founder and CEO of charity: water – The power of pattern thinking

2024-11-2153:15

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 water to the more than 700 million people in the world who need it. Listen to this conversation to see pattern thinking is helping him do it—and how you can put this skill to work in your world, too. You’ll also learn: How to build a compelling brand What a major career pivot looks like The power of storytelling One way to keep your blindspots from setting you back Here is the article David mentioned: Six practical ideas to transform your business with the power of pattern thinking ——— FEATURED RESOURCES The How Leaders Lead mobile app Download the app and scale up your leadership skills in under 2 minutes a day

3 More Questions (Erika Ayers Badan) with David Novak and Koula Callahan

2024-11-1813:54

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 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 Weekly Leadership Plan. It builds on each podcast episode by offering actionable steps you can take each week to incorporate the learnings from the episode into your leadership style. It only takes about 5 minutes and is a great way to start off your week! Subscribe to the How Leaders Lead podcast to ensure you never miss an episode!

#213: Erika Ayers Badan, CEO of Food52 and former CEO of Barstool Sports – Acknowledge the tough stuff

2024-11-1456:18

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 stuff, and that’s important if you want to build trust, solve problems, and get people working together toward a big vision. You’ll also learn: The strategy every upstart brand can use to beat the big guy How to get the most out of your creative team members What it takes to build an engaged online following Advice for women who work in male-dominated industries

3 More Questions (Aaron Witt) with David Novak and Koula Callahan

2024-11-1113:59

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 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 Weekly Leadership Plan. It builds on each podcast episode by offering actionable steps you can take each week to incorporate the learnings from the episode into your leadership style. It only takes about 5 minutes and is a great way to start off your week! Subscribe to the How Leaders Lead podcast to ensure you never miss an episode!

#212: Aaron Witt, CEO of BuildWitt – Set the example of vulnerability

2024-11-0758:01

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 leader sets the example of vulnerability, and learn a few tips to elevate your communication and storytelling skills along the way. You’ll also learn: How to create memorable content that resonates with people The surprisingly “small” tip that will help you accomplish big goals Why every leader should level up their communication skills The danger that might be lurking in times of big growth ——— FEATURED RESOURCE The How Leaders Lead mobile app Download the app and scale up your leadership skills in under 2 minutes a day

3 More Questions (John Peyton) with David Novak and Koula Callahan

2024-11-0410:21

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 — Download today in the App Store Get coaching from David by signing up to receive his Weekly Leadership Plan. It builds on each podcast episode by offering actionable steps you can take each week to incorporate the learnings from the episode into your leadership style. It only takes about 5 minutes and is a great way to start off your week! Subscribe to the How Leaders Lead podcast to ensure you never miss an episode!

#211: John Peyton, CEO of Dine Brands (Applebee’s, IHOP) – Stay agile in a changing world

2024-10-3155:22

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-changing world also brings a ton of opportunities if you know how to respond to them. You’ll also learn: The real value of AI for businesses Three questions to answer if you want to differentiate your brand How to drive home a big message so it actually sticks The #1 leadership quality you need to connect with younger generations ——— FEATURED RESOURCE The How Leaders Lead mobile app Download the app and scale up your leadership skills in under 2 minutes a day

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