PODCAST · business
How Leaders Lead with David Novak
by David Novak
How Leaders Lead gives you a front-row seat to exclusive conversations with the world’s most iconic leaders across business, sports, and entertainment. Hosted by David Novak, Co-founder and former CEO of Yum! Brands, this podcast pulls back the curtain on how top CEOs, founders, and game-changers make things happen. When you tune in, you’ll learn from legends like Tom Brady, Condoleezza Rice, Jamie Dimon, Coach Prime (Deion Sanders), Indra Nooyi, Stanley Druckenmiller, and more. Other guests include: CEO of Starbucks CEO of Target Co-founder of Home Depot and many others... David’s unique perspective and thought-provoking questions distill the wisdom of these leaders into actionable insights you can use to elevate your own leadership game. Whether you’re just starting your leadership journey or already leading teams, this show helps you build the confidence you need to lead well.
Episodes
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#311: Mark Pincus, Founder & Former CEO, Zynga – Trust your instincts, but vet your ideas
Back in 2007, Mark Pincus had a gut feeling that adults would play games on their phones if they were just woven into their daily lives. On that instinct, he founded Zynga and built the biggest games of the early social internet — including FarmVille, Words With Friends, and Zynga Poker. Four…
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#310: Demond Martin, Cofounder and CEO, WellWithAll – Recognize how others shape you
A lot of leaders brag that they’re “self made.” Demond Martin says he’s “community built.” He recognizes all the people who helped him move out of a violent environment as a preteen and go on to work at the White House, graduate from Harvard Business School, and become a successful hedge fund...
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#309: Ben Zobrist, 2x World Series Champion – Prepare for pressure
Game 7 of the 2016 World Series had gone to extra innings. The Cubs were trying to break a 108-year championship drought that some called a curse. If you’re a baseball fan, you already know what happened next: With two runners on base, Ben Zobrist stepped up to the plate. Despite being 0-4 in the...
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#308: Zac Taylor, Head Coach, Cincinnati Bengals – Consistency creates results
Imagine being Zac Taylor in 2019. He was 0-11 in his first season as head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals. He knew they were doing a lot of things right, but the results just weren’t coming. Eventually, they did: just over two years later, Zac led his team to the Super Bowl. But for a while…
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#307: Clark Lea, Head Football Coach, Vanderbilt – Belief is a practice
We’ve all got big goals and dreams, both for ourselves and our people. But often, there’s a gap between what we say we want and what we’re actually willing to do to get it. Vanderbilt head football coach Clark Lea is obsessed with closing that gap. For him, the ultimate measure of your beliefs...
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#306: Tony Spring, Chairman & CEO, Macy’s, Inc. – Hit the ground listening
Everyone says to “hit the ground running.” Tony Spring thinks that’s terrible advice. Tony is the Chairman and CEO of Macy’s, Inc. an iconic retail institution with over 150 years of history. He took charge in 2024 after a 35-year career moving through the ranks at sister company Bloomingdale’s....
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#305: Harry Arnett, Cofounder & CEO, MUNICIPAL – Bet on yourself
As a leader, you take chances all the time. On big ideas. On new hires. On financial investments. But when was the last time you bet on yourself? That’s what Harry Arnett did when he co-founded the golf sportswear brand MUNICIPAL along with Mark Wahlberg. After years of success running marketing…
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#304: Ron Johnson, Creator of the Apple Store – A great customer experience is an act of love
You’ve probably been inside an Apple Store. And if you have, you know: it’s a totally different kind of retail experience. That’s because of Ron Johnson. He was Steve Job’s handpicked hire to launch the Apple Store, after Steve saw how Ron revitalized Target with an emphasis on design. He and…
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#303: Ben Goodwin, Cofounder, CEO & Formulator, OLIPOP – The power of emotional intelligence
It’s statistically harder to get a job at OLIPOP than it is to go pro in the NBA. And after this conversation with CEO and Cofounder Ben Goodwin, you’ll see why. OLIPOP is a prebiotic soda Ben formulated and built from the ground up. So how did he go from creating tasty soda products to building…
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#302: Varun Krishna, CEO, Rocket Companies – Culture is rooted in behavior, not words
We’ve all heard the famous quote that “culture eats strategy for breakfast.” But as CEO of Rocket Companies, Varun Krishna knows that a healthy work environment doesn’t just happen. In this episode, he talks about why so many organizations get it wrong. He also shares several key principles he…
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#301: Julie Bornstein – Founder & CEO, Daydream – People skills matter most
The tech landscape is changing faster than ever, as we’re all trying to navigate big shifts in AI, consumer shopping habits, and more. But it’s nothing new to Julie Bornstein. She’s been at the forefront of retail for decades, leading big brands like Nordstrom and Sephora through the ecommerce...
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#300: Marty Smith, Reporter, ESPN – Deep listening builds deep trust
If you’re a leader, you know how important the skill of listening is. It’s the foundation for every strong relationship in your world. But in the daily hustle, it can be hard to slow down and truly be present in every meeting and conversation. Take it from Marty Smith, one of ESPN’s most...
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#299: David Dorman, Former CEO, AT&T – See around corners
What separates leaders who survive massive change from the ones who get blindsided by it? David Dorman has had a front row seat to disruption throughout his career, both as the former CEO of AT&T and as a board member for PayPal, Motorola, CVS, and Dell. In this conversation, he talks about how…
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#298: Joe Manchin, Former Governor and Senator, West Virginia – How to find common ground
Happy 250th birthday to the United States of America! It’s a great moment to reflect on everything that makes this country so special. And maybe have a hot dog or two. But this milestone also comes at a moment where our country feels more divided than ever. So today, David sits down with Joe...
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#297: Dave Ritterbush, CEO, Califia Farms – Build for what’s next
Dave Ritterbush has helped lead some of the most successful consumer brands in America, including Califia Farms, Dreyer’s, and Quest, which sold for a billion dollars in 2019. And he’s learned something that most leaders never figure out: you have to build your current systems for what’s next.…
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#296: Landon Donovan, US Soccer Legend – Separate who you are from what you do
The World Cup is in full swing, and if you’re watching, you know – the intensity and stakes are unlike anything else in sports. So it’s the perfect time to sit down with Landon Donovan, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest American soccer players of all time. But after a disappointing...
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#295: Shawn Johnson & Andrew East, Olympic Gold Medalist, Former NFL Pro – Experiment and learn by doing
Shawn Johnson won America’s hearts as a gold medal gymnast at the 2008 Olympics. And her husband, Andrew East, is a former NFL player.But after their athletic careers, they stepped into the world of content creation – and quickly realized they had no idea what they were doing. They dove in...
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#294: Bobby Long, Partner and Co-Founder, Piedmont Capital Partners – See the best in people
As the Partner and Co-Founder of Piedmont Capital Partners, Bobby Long invests in big problems that need big solutions – stuff like Alzheimer’s research and lithium ion technology. But he does it all in the most relational way: listening with humility, doing deals on a handshake, and looking for...
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#293: David Lafitte – CEO, Tecovas – Serve others with radical hospitality
If you lead a business, you know providing great service is vital. But what does that actually mean? For David Lafitte, CEO of the popular Western retailer Tecovas, it means radical hospitality. Stuff like offering shoppers free drinks, personalization, and a space to linger. Treating everyone…
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#292: Kecia Steelman, CEO, Ulta Beauty – Progress over perfection
Today, she is the CEO of Ulta Beauty, leading over 1500 stores worldwide, striking partnerships with Chanel and Beyonce, and creating record growth since she took over in early 2025. That kind of career momentum doesn’t happen by accident. And in this conversation, you’ll see the “progress over...
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#291: Mark Smucker, Chair and CEO, The J.M. Smucker Company – Understand the soul of your brand
What’s the soul of your brand? And why might it be the secret to unlocking a new chapter of growth for your company? Today, David sits down with Mark Smucker. He’s the CEO and Chair of The J.M. Smucker Company, which is home to iconic brands like Smucker’s, Folgers, Uncrustables, Hostess, and…
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#290: Mariam Naficy, Founder and Chairman, Minted – See the possibilities in people
Minted Founder Mariam Naficy was ready to shut it all down. She’d spent nearly all the capital from her angel round, but nothing was selling. Then, she experimented with crowdsourcing stationery and card designs from independent artists, and everything changed. Sales exploded. And 18 years later,...
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#289: Kurt Kane, CEO, TruGreen – Fall in love with customer retention
You’re hustling to land new customers … but what if the ones you already have are quietly slipping away? Kurt Kane saw this problem on day one as CEO of TruGreen. And after years of driving transactional growth as CMO of Wendy’s, he saw the opportunity to grow TruGreen by leaning into long-term...
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#288: James “JC” Curleigh, CEO, Pelican Products – How to reframe what you sell
Most leaders think they’re in the business of selling their product. JC Curleigh thinks that’s exactly what limits your growth. And as CEO of Pelican, he’s helping the company make a profound shift: they’re not in the protective case business, they’re in the protection business. JC understands…
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#287: Julie Hansen, CEO, Babbel – Don’t fear change
Most leaders say they’re comfortable with change. But what happens when the change is so big, it threatens your entire business model? Julie Hansen is no stranger to disruption, having spent her career in online media. Now, as CEO of the language learning app Babbel, she’s facing the biggest one...
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#286: John Donahoe, Former CEO of Nike, Director of Athletics at Stanford – Create strategy from the outside in
Most organizations look inward when they build strategy. How did we do last year? Can we do 10% better this year? But that internal focus makes you miss the big changes happening in your market. When it comes to disruptive change, John Donahoe has seen it all — as the CEO of Nike, eBay, and...
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#285: Ted Scott, Caddie for Scottie Scheffler, PGA Tour – Great questions demand great answers
In his 29 years as a PGA Tour caddie, Ted Scott has won four Masters and an Olympic gold – not by having all the answers, but by asking the right questions at the right time. It’s how Ted guides the #1 player in the world, Scottie Scheffler, without getting in the way of his greatness. It’s his...
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#284: Shea Ralph, Head Coach of Women’s Basketball, Vanderbilt – Ground your team in values, not results
Five years ago, Shea Ralph walked in as head coach of Vanderbilt’s women’s basketball team and inherited a broken program. There wasn’t much trust or talent left. But now, Vandy is flying as a #2 seed in this year’s NCAA tournament, and Shea has just been named National Coach of the Year. Go…
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#283: Roy Williams, Former Men’s Basketball Head Coach, North Carolina – Get better every single day
Roy Williams is without a doubt one of the best college basketball coaches of all time. As the men’s head basketball coach at two storied programs – Kansas and UNC – he won three national championships and made nine Final Four appearances. And through every moment, Roy had one standard: don’t…
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#282: Peter Wharton-Hood, CEO, LIFE Healthcare Group – Pick team players over individual performers
Peter Wharton-Hood became CEO of LIFE Healthcare in August 2020 – right in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic – with no healthcare experience. He was an accomplished banking executive, but he had zero context for what it takes to run a hospital. And it was his job to lead 16,000 healthcare…
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#281: Tom Wilson, Chair, President and CEO, Allstate – Be brutal with your time
“You have to be brutal with your time.” As the Chair, President and CEO of Allstate, Tom Wilson knows that time is the one resource you can’t get more of. And he is the master of every hour on his calendar. But Tom’s discipline with time isn’t about shutting people out. It’s about being present…
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#280: Blake Mycoskie, Founder, TOMS Shoes and ENOUGH – Stay connected to your why
Content Warning: This episode includes a candid conversation about depression and suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling, you can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential, and available 24/7. You’re not alone. — Blake Mycoskie built TOMS into a...
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#279: Eric Kutcher, Senior Partner, McKinsey & Company – AI is about growth, not just productivity
“This is a once-in-a-generation technology transition.” That’s how Eric Kutcher, Senior Partner and North America Chair at McKinsey & Company describes the AI moment we’re living through. And he should know: he’s spent 28 years coaching the world’s top companies through massive change. In this...
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#278: Hanneke Faber, CEO, Logitech – Co-create with your team
How do you get 7,000 people aligned on a new strategy? Ask Logitech CEO Hanneke Faber, who pulled it off in just 24 hours. The former Dutch national diving champion (yes, really) knows that the best strategies aren’t handed down from above. They’re co-created with the people who’ll bring them to...
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#277: Jimmy Roberts, Emmy Award-winning broadcaster, NBC & Golf Channel – Curiosity builds connection
The 2026 Winter Olympics kick off tomorrow! And who better to get you in the spirit than the guy who has brought Olympic stories to life for more than four decades! Jimmy Roberts is a 13-time Emmy Award-winning broadcaster for NBC and the Golf Channel, and he’s the voice behind some of the most...
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#276: Jason Garrett, 3x Super Bowl Champion and Former NFL Head Coach – You can lead from anywhere on the team
You don’t win three Super Bowls without knowing how to be a great teammate. Jason Garrett spent years as an NFL quarterback, then served as Head Coach of the Dallas Cowboys. And through it all, he’s learned that strong teams need shared commitment from everyone, not just the leader. In this...
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#275: Ania Smith, CEO, Taskrabbit – Take risks that teach you something
When Ania moved to the US from Poland at the tender age of 12, she didn’t speak a word of English. Today, she’s the CEO of Taskrabbit, after building her leadership chops at Walmart, Uber, and Airbnb. You don’t get that kind of career trajectory by playing it safe. In this episode, Ania shares…
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#274: Chuck Robbins, Chairman & CEO, Cisco – Adapt your leadership style
Great leaders don’t cling to one leadership style. They adapt as people and situations change. And they figure out how to do it without losing what makes them real. Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins shares how he’s learned to lead through major transformation with honesty, vulnerability, and a clear...
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#273: Tony Capuano, President & CEO, Marriott International – Success is never final
How do you keep your team motivated, even when things are going well? Just ask Marriott President and CEO Tony Capuano. As the guy in charge of the world’s largest hospitality company (10,000 hotels in 143 countries!), he knows a thing or two about success. But he’s also keenly aware that success...
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#272: 5 ideas to lead with more clarity in 2026
Happy New Year! We’re ringing in 2026 with a special episode to help you lead with more intention and focus this year. And this time, Koula puts David in the hot seat! He shares the five simple practices he returns to every year to build momentum (without burning out by February). One is simple...
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#271: Childhood moments that shaped the world’s top leaders
In this special holiday episode, David and Koula revisit one of our favorite questions around here: What’s a story from your childhood that shaped the kind of leader you are today? You’ll hear funny, insightful stories from past guests like Jamie Dimon (CEO of JPMorgan Chase), Lynsi Snyder (Owner...
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#270: Allison Ellsworth, Founder & Lead Creative, poppi – Build your brand
Go behind the scenes of one of today’s hottest brands with Allison Ellsworth, founder and Lead Creative at poppi. After a memorable Shark Tank appearance, poppi exploded into the cultural zeitgeist – going viral on TikTok, getting shout-outs from celebrities, and scaling from startup to $500...
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#269: Damola Adamolekun, CEO, Red Lobster – Show the path to success
Can Red Lobster pull off the greatest comeback in restaurant history? After filing for bankruptcy, shedding value, and losing relevance, it won’t be easy. But it’s the kind of challenge that Damola Adamolekun thrives in. After returning P.F. Chang’s to profitability, he is now making waves as Red...
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#268: Gregg Renfrew, Founder and CEO of Counter – Step back to move forward
Imagine this: you build a company from scratch, sell it at a billion-dollar valuation, get ousted, and watch it crumble under new leadership… Then you buy it back, shut it down, rebrand it, relaunch it – and grow it all over again. That’s exactly what Gregg Renfrew, the Founder and CEO of clean...
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#267: Michael Meldman, Founder and Chairman of Discovery Land Company – Be one of one in your category
How do you make your brand stand out? Ask Michael Meldman. He’s the founder of Discovery Land Company, a global portfolio of high-end private golf communities known for doing things differently. By tossing out the traditional country club rulebook and building around comfort and community, he’s...
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#266: Richard Fain, Former CEO of Royal Caribbean Group – Push past comfortable
Today’s cruise ships are floating cities – complete with waterslides, sushi bars, and even roller skating rinks. But it wasn’t always that way. Today, we’re joined by the leader who helped pioneer the megaship era and transform Royal Caribbean into a global vacation powerhouse. Richard Fain…
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#265: Jim McCann, American entrepreneur and former CEO of 1-800-Flowers – Find a way to connect
Jim McCann didn’t set out to become an entrepreneur. He was a social worker and bartender before finding his way into the floral business. But no matter what he did, he always found a way to connect with people. That instinct eventually led him to build 1-800-Flowers, where he expanded the…
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#264: Bracken Darrell, CEO of VF Corporation – Good design can make anything better
Bracken Darrell led remarkable turnarounds at both Old Spice and Logitech. Now he’s the CEO of VF Corporation, where he’s working to revitalize iconic brands like The North Face, Timberland, Vans, and more. Hit play on this episode and take a look at his playbook. It’s all about constantly…
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#263: Whitney Wolfe Herd, Founder and CEO of Bumble – Your mission is your mobilizer
She flipped the script on modern dating and built a billion dollar global brand. But Whitney Wolfe Herd’s path to success hasn’t been easy. After co-founding Tinder and walking away under difficult circumstances, she founded Bumble, a dating platform where women make the first move. In this...
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#262: Lew Frankfort, Chairman Emeritus and former CEO of Coach – Combine magic and logic
He built Coach from a small leather goods brand into a $5 billion global fashion powerhouse. But Lew Frankfort’s rise to the top isn’t what you’d expect. He started out in public service and even got passed over for a promotion for being “too principled.” But when he came to Coach, he brought...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
How Leaders Lead gives you a front-row seat to exclusive conversations with the world’s most iconic leaders across business, sports, and entertainment. Hosted by David Novak, Co-founder and former CEO of Yum! Brands, this podcast pulls back the curtain on how top CEOs, founders, and game-changers make things happen. When you tune in, you’ll learn from legends like Tom Brady, Condoleezza Rice, Jamie Dimon, Coach Prime (Deion Sanders), Indra Nooyi, Stanley Druckenmiller, and more.
Other guests include:
CEO of Starbucks
CEO of Target
Co-founder of Home Depot
and many others...
David’s unique perspective and thought-provoking questions distill the wisdom of these leaders into actionable insights you can use to elevate your own leadership game. Whether you’re just starting your leadership journey or already leading teams, this show helps you build the confidence you need to lead well.
HOSTED BY
David Novak
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does How Leaders Lead with David Novak have?
How Leaders Lead with David Novak currently has 477 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is How Leaders Lead with David Novak about?
How Leaders Lead gives you a front-row seat to exclusive conversations with the world’s most iconic leaders across business, sports, and entertainment. Hosted by David Novak, Co-founder and former CEO of Yum! Brands, this podcast pulls back the curtain on how top CEOs, founders, and game-changers...
How often does How Leaders Lead with David Novak release new episodes?
How Leaders Lead with David Novak publishes regularly with 477 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to How Leaders Lead with David Novak?
You can listen to How Leaders Lead with David Novak on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts How Leaders Lead with David Novak?
How Leaders Lead with David Novak is created and hosted by David Novak.
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