Today’s guest is Paul Varga, the former Chairman and CEO of Brown-Forman, the largest distilling company in the world with brands like Jack Daniels and Woodford Reserve.  They have a saying at Brown-Forman, “Build Forever.” The company started in 1890, and the way Paul sees it, it was his responsibility to steward two key parts of the business. He wanted to continue to build their iconic brands, but he also made it a top priority to build their people up as well. Because what a tragedy it would be if the brands grew and their people didn’t grow with it!  What you’re about to hear is why Paul cared so deeply about developing his people and ultimately, how that drove success in their business. The great leaders I know build forever, stewarding both their brands and their people. 

Today's guest is Molly Fletcher, who CNN hailed as the female Jerry Maguire, for her work negotiating over $500 million in contracts as a sports agent.  If I were to ask you what you do for a living, my guess is you likely wouldn't respond with “I'm a negotiator.” But when you think about it, you're in negotiations multiple times a day: as you collaborate with your team about a project deadline, as your leadership team debates what the company should focus on, and even something as simple as which restaurant you should go to for a client meeting. You constantly have to work through a variety of priorities to settle on a satisfactory decision. The great leaders I know understand that they are constantly negotiating and have learned to navigate these situations extremely well. And you're about to learn negotiation from someone who has done a lot of it. 

Today's guest is Patrick Spence, the CEO of Sonos. So many tech companies that build consumer products are set up in a way where they make their products obsolete every time they launch a new product. The idea is that the minute the new device is available, their customers will abandon the old product and buy the newest model.  But what's interesting is that Sonos has a very different strategy. They set out to build their products to last. They want their customers to have their products for a long, long time. It's a unique approach in their industry. But there's something about it, that core principle that ties in well with the mark of a great leader.  You see, the great leaders, I know, they build the last, they make decisions to keep the brand strong beyond just the present moment. They develop leaders in their organization. So there's always a pipeline of strong talent when new opportunities arise. They treat their customers with dignity and respect, which breeds long term brand loyalty.  I could go on and on and what you're about to hear from Patrick Spence, and how he leads Sonos as their CEO, is that he's leading with this build the last approach in all aspects of the business. I can't wait for you to listen in.

Today's guest is Terry McGurk, the Chairman of the Atlanta Braves. In 2016, right after the Braves went 68-93 (a pretty rough season), Terry told me that it would take five years to turn the franchise around. Well guess what? He had a turnaround plan that worked. And in 2021, the Braves won the World Series, which is exactly what he predicted.  In this episode, you'll hear him talk about how they did this. But the lesson for us here as leaders is that Terry had extreme clarity about where he and the organization needed to go.  Many leaders don't have a clear vision for their teams. Instead, they get caught in a vicious cycle of responding to emails and attending meetings without doing the necessary work to pause and zoom out and get clear about where the company needs to go.  The goal of the leader is to take their team to victory. And we can't do that if we haven't first identified exactly where we need to go.  You're about to hear how a great leader like Terry McGuirk had a clear view of success and how he assembled a team around him to execute that vision.

Today’s guest is Larry Bossidy … the former chairman and CEO of Honeywell International and author of the book Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done. Have you ever put together a business strategy that didn’t work? Or perhaps the plans to execute that strategy weren’t effective and ultimately, you failed? Building a strategy is one thing and executing it successfully is another.  But Larry knows what it takes to get things done and in this conversation, you’re going to hear how he leverages three things, just three things to make big things happen: people, strategy, and operations. It was the process and discipline he put around those parts of the business that made his teams successful and it’s what you can focus on as a leader if you too want to be successful.

Today’s guest is Elane Stock, the CEO of ServiceMaster Brands. There’s an adage I’m sure you’ve heard: the only way to gain control is to give up control. If you’ve ever run a business or led a team, you know how true this statement is. I’m sure you also know how hard it can be to give up control.    But if we want our companies to grow, we have to learn to trust our partners and team members and allow them to do their part to build the business. What you’re going to hear in this episode is how Elane has learned to give up control while running a franchise system where her company owns the brands and the franchisees own their independent businesses. Whether you’re struggling to give up control running a large business with franchisees or running a small business, there’s a lot here for you on today’s episode.  And here’s what I want you to learn today: the great leaders I know have learned to give up control. 

Today’s guest is James Gorman, the Chairman and CEO of Morgan Stanley. In Australia, there’s something known as the Tall Poppy Syndrome. In a field of poppies, there are always one or two that stand out from the rest and it disrupts the beauty of the field. And so for that reason, they’ll snip off those poppies … they trim them down so they don’t stand out amongst the others. What’s interesting is that as a culture, Australians do this with one another. If someone starts to succeed and think too highly of themselves, they help to keep each other grounded. And it’s important for all of us, as leaders, to know who keeps us grounded. Humility is vital if we want our success to be sustainable.

Today’s guest is Jim Nantz, an Emmy Award winning sports commentator, and in my opinion, the top sports commentator in the world! He’s the voice of the NFL on CBS, the NCAA’s March Madness, and golf—in particular, the Masters. As you well know, Jim is an incredible storyteller and communicator. He is able to pull stories and statistics seemingly from nowhere that really capture the moment.  What you may not realize is just how much work he puts in to prepare for every broadcast. Regardless of how much time you spend in front of a camera, showing up prepared is a quality of great leaders. And I’ll tell you, Jim is an exceptional leader who’s at the top of his game. I think you’re going to learn a lot from Jim and be inspired by how he does his work.

Today, we're going to talk about a book that I coauthored with my friend Jason Goldsmith, a sports performance coach for world class athletes. The book is available now wherever you buy books, and is titled Take Charge of You: How Self-Coaching Can Transform Your Life and Career. Now, what makes this book different is you can obviously read this book from front to back, and I know you'll enjoy the stories that Jason and I tell. But the big differentiator is that we have great exercises and tools that you can use in this book to help you coach yourself to reach your full potential in your life and career. This is a book you can not only read, it's a book you can use again and again to take yourself to new heights. Now, you know, I usually do these podcasts myself and ask all the questions, but I thought it'd be a lot of fun to let you hear from both Jason and I and have someone else interview us. So I asked my friend Donna Barton Brothers to sit in and guide our conversation. Donna is a former jockey and world renowned broadcaster for NBC. She's the one you see at the Kentucky Derby interviewing the winner on horseback (while riding backwards). So we're off to the races! Let's not wait any longer. Here's a very fun conversation with two of my good friends, Donna Barton Brothers and Jason Goldsmith.

In this BONUS episode of How Leaders Lead, David shares the introduction to his new book, Take Charge of You: How Self-Coaching can Transform your Life and Career. Find out how to take the methods and metrics of coaching into your own hands and find the success you want in life.

This week’s guest is Dr. Tom House, a world-renowned expert in the biomechanics of throwing who's coached elite athletes like Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Nolan Ryan, and Greg Maddux. He's been called a quarterback whisperer and a pitching guru, but if you ask him, he prefers to simply be called “coach.”  Tom is the preeminent pioneer who brought science into the coaching equation. For decades, Tom has used elite athletes to create models that others can replicate. For example, if you're a little league pitcher or high school quarterback, Tom has developed technology that will compare your mechanics and timing to Nolan Ryan or Tom Brady. Now just think about the coaching that provides young up-and-coming athletes! The leadership lesson for us here is that we should do the same in business. We should look to those who’ve come before us that have been wildly successful and mirror our approach to what they do to build healthy, high-performing businesses. The great leaders learn from the best and then apply those learnings to be even more successful themselves. You're going to learn: How to learn from the best and democratize that information How to make a habit of continuous improvement How to embrace failure as a more valuable learning experience than success What Tom learned when he slowed down Sandy Kofax’s pitch, and how that information transformed coaching How to turn broken players into top-performers Why preparation is more valuable than talent How Tom Brady became one of the fastest quarterbacks in NFL history How Drew Brees went from a busted, career-ending shoulder injury back to top-performance The story behind Disney’s movie Million Dollar Arm How to bring out the best in your team members PLUS, Tom’s advice the parents of student athlete (hint: the struggle is worth it).

Today's guest is Stephanie Stuckey, the CEO of Stuckey’s. This company started in 1937 by Stephanie's grandfather who opened a single store in eastern Georgia. It was one of the country's first roadside retail shops. At its peak in the 1970s, Stuckey’s had grown to 368 stores in 40 states, along pretty much every major interstate. From humble beginnings to a roadside empire. But then, things turned for the worst due to external threats and internal weaknesses. When Stephanie took over the business in 2019, she was faced with challenges in every aspect of the business.  How do you reimagine a brand and get the train back on the track? Well, you can't live in the past. You can't be thinking about how it used to be. You have to think about how it has to be TODAY. So she went to work thinking about new possibilities, new ways to make money, and new ways to satisfy customers. The result? A company that was losing money is now profitable again and the brand legacy has been restored.  So whether you're leading a turnaround like Stephanie is or simply need to reimagine the way you get things done in your company or with your team, there's a lot you can learn from this week’s episode, like: How to revive a brand How to generate new revenue streams The benefits of an entrepreneurial mindset  How to build rapport with customers and partners How to cultivate employee involvement  PLUS, how a has-been company is making a comeback in 21st century style.

Today’s guest is Shantanu Narayen, the Chairman and CEO of Adobe. It’s the leader’s job to communicate the vision of the company in a way that ignites the hearts and minds of the people they lead and plant the flag of a big idea. Our teams don’t show up simply for the paycheck. They want something bigger to be a part of, a compelling vision to get behind that infuses all kinds of meaning and passion into their day to day. Since 2018, Adobe’s valuation has tripled and is now at 300 billion dollars. That type of growth is possible because of the work Shantanu has done to lead his team toward a compelling vision. Adobe is a team of innovators and they’re chasing a vision they believe in, one their team is pursuing together, and with passion. There’s a lot we can learn from Shantanu and how he’s igniting the hearts and minds of the people he leads. In this episode, you’ll learn: How a software engineer becomes a CEO, and what roads and flags have to do with it How to prioritize long-term innovation AND short-term execution How to disrupt your own company in order to stay ahead of competitors Why having data AND a narrative matters in an Adobe performance review Why this year’s stock price is not a good indicator of current performance PLUS, Why your vision may not yet be aspirational ENOUGH

Today's guest is Larry Senn, who's actually the father of corporate culture, and the Chairman and Senn Delaney. Larry and his business partner were hired by Sam Walton in the early days of Walmart. And it was there that Larry began to understand the intangible part of an organization that really makes a difference. Today, we call this company culture, which is simply defined as the way people behave and the way they work together. Believe it or not, Larry published the world's first research on corporate culture, and has spent his entire career helping organizations be at their best, when you think about it, helping others be at their best. That is what being a great leader, and a great coach is all about. And I'll tell you, Larry has made quite an impact in my life as my coach over the years. In this episode, you’re going to learn: How Larry built a flower business and bought a Jaguar K 120 sports car at age 18 How Larry learned that he was in the wrong career after college, and what he did to make a change What Larry learned as a consultant for Sam Walton before Walmart went big How to build exercises that inspire employees to embrace change  What jigsaw puzzles reveal about teamwork How to build actionable work values and principles  Why it’s hard to get company cultures to change How to develop the mindset of a leader The best and worst things leaders can do for (and to) their companies PLUS How to thrive at work and home without making compromises

Today's guest is Brittany Fuisz, the Founder and CEO of Malibu Mylk. Building something from scratch is not easy. In fact, the majority of businesses that launched don't make it past five years. So what is it that allows some companies to thrive while others fail? Whoever leads the business in the mindset they approach their work with is a key ingredient in the success of a company. And in my conversation with Brittany, you're about to see a unique mindset on full display as she tells a story of launching Malibu Mylk. Brittany has what I call a startup mindset, and what I mean by that is incredible passion to make something big happen and truly change the world. They're not willing for someone to tell them what to do. They think outside the box, they give themselves the permission to charge forward and they attack every unknown and challenge with optimism. In this episode you’ll learn: What’s going on in the milk category How to build a brand from scratch as an outsider How a celebrity’s advice sent Brittany down an unexpected career path How Brittany scaled the success of her blender to something that could be mass-produced How to respond to setbacks in quality What it really takes to be ready for a meeting with Whole Foods How the Malibu Mylk subscription model works The formula for a great culture How to embrace pushback that improves the brand PLUS, Brittany shares a promo code for getting your own batch of Malibu Mylk! Find the tools you need to become a better leader at https://howleaderslead.com. Get your first order of Malibu Mylk 20% off when you use the promo code LEAD20 at checkout.

Today's guest is Scott Hamilton, an Olympic gold medalist and founder of the Scott Hamilton Cares Foundation, an organization that is working to eliminate cancer. Now, Scott obviously doesn't need much of an introduction. You already know about his gold medal and figure skating. You probably have seen his incredible backflips on the ice. And you have likely watched him as a commentator on the Olympics over the years. And while you may know him for his successes, you may not know about the challenges that he's had to overcome to win. His childhood illness, cancer, multiple brain tumors, the times he's fallen on the ice in critical situations. Scott says any goal will always have obstacles, difficulties and setbacks. You will be defined not by those setbacks, but by how you respond to them. There's so much that we can learn from Scott about how to get up after we all fall and let me tell you something, we all do. I'm so excited to have you listen in. Here's my conversation with my new friend – and soon to be yours – Scott Hamilton.

Today's guest is Ken Chenault, the Former Chairman and CEO of American Express, and the current Chairman and Managing Partner of General Catalyst, a dynamic private equity firm. Now, if you run a business or lead a team, there are moments when you need to lean into confrontation. And I don't mean dance around the confrontation, I'm talking about facing it head on. For a lot of people, this can be really hard to do, really intimidating. But the great leaders I know, like Ken, have learned how to engage in constructive confrontation. In this episode, you'll also learn:

Today's guest is Aneel Bhusri, the Co-Founder, Co-CEO and Chairman of Workday, an American on‑demand financial management and human capital management software vendor. When Aneel started Workday with David Duffield, they defined a handful of core values for their company. Now this is pretty common practice for business leaders, but here's the problem. A lot of leaders write down the company values and never think about them again. They even laminate them, put them up on the wall, but I’ve got to tell you, all they do is collect dust. But that wasn't the case with Aneel and his Co-Founder Dave Duffield, they decided that investing in their people was going to be the number one value at their company. So how did they live out that value?  Well, believe it or not, they personally interviewed the first 500 team members they hired. Now that's something that says they value people over anything else. The key lesson here is that they aligned their schedules and their priorities with the company's number one value. You see, the great leaders I know walk the talk of their core values. They just don't write them down and forget them. They actually use their core values to dictate how they spend their time, and how they focus their energy. We have a lot to learn from today's conversation, including: Why Aneel shifted from applying for a job at Apple to join an HR software startup instead How a hostile takeover led to a new venture What value system Aneel and Dave built the company around Why the Co-Founders interviewed the first 500 employees together, regardless of other work and time priorities  Why Aneel looks for “shiny new penny folks” when hiring talent Why the tech team goes off-site every few years to talk about the future How to get customers involved in innovation How to build partnerships between humans and machines that don’t compromise the work value of either Why Aneel prefers having a Co-CEO Why Phil Mickelson does Workday advertising PLUS Aneel’s advice for aspiring leaders Find the leadership tools and resources you need to up your game at https://howleaderslead.com

Today’s guest is Ginni Rometty, the Former Chairman, President and CEO of IBM and current Co-Chairman of the OneTen Initiative. Rising through the ranks from systems engineer to CEO, Ginni has learned to be comfortable with situations outside her comfort zone, because that’s where she grew the most in her journey as a leader. While leading IBM, Ginni learned what was essential about IBM that must endure before making changes that set the company up for future growth in new industries. And so what you're about to hear from Ginni, and what you'll learn from her journey to become CEO of IBM, is that great leaders are comfortable being uncomfortable.  In this episode, you’ll learn:  How to mentally process a promotion to the top job - especially as a woman How Ginni’s mother modelled the courage and leadership Ginni needed to succeed Why propensity to learn is more important than a college degree in a job candidate Why women don’t put themselves forward for new assignments and how to help them go the distance Why preparing for the next job might actually a bad idea How to make the leap from being an individual contributor to a leader who coordinates other people effectively How to focus on the long-term with conviction and a thick skin Why Ginni’s favorite IBM achievement is employee engagement How the hybrid cloud works and the future of artificial intelligence at IBM and around the world How the OneTen Initiative intends to tap hidden pools of talent by changing priorities in hiring PLUS, Ginni’s single biggest piece of advice for reinventing yourself and your company   Check out videos from this episode and other great interviews at https://howleaderslead.com

Today's guest is Dave Calhoun, the President and CEO of Boeing, the largest aerospace company and leading manufacturer of commercial jetliners Defense, Space and security systems. Dave joined Boeing as CEO in January of 2020, and little did he know the challenges that he’d be up against only a couple months later, when COVID hit. But what Dave has shown is the great leaders restore stability in the midst of a crisis. When we are thrown a right hook that we don't expect when things are a bit chaotic, we look to great leaders to show us how we should think and behave. Now what you're going to hear in this interview is how Dave helped Boeing navigate not only COVID and the massive impact that it had on the airline industry, but also how Boeing has handled the situation of their 737 Max, which was banned from flying passengers due to two plane crashes in 2018 and 19. Now it takes a strong leader to navigate those situations and restore stability on the other side.

Today's guest is Will Ahmed, the Founder and CEO of WHOOP, a wearable fitness tracker that measures a few key metrics to help top athletes and everyday consumers achieve peak performance. You're going to learn that Will is an incredibly sharp young leader. Believe it or not, he's in his early 30s, running a company that was recently valued at $3.6 billion. Running a company at that level requires a whole other level of discipline, when it comes to focusing in on what truly matters. If you want to keep your business healthy, no matter what size a company you lead, it's imperative that you measure and keep your eyes on a few vital metrics at all times. You're going to learn: How problems with athletic overtraining led to a company that helps monitor sleep The hidden side of sleep and the WHOOP tracker How WHOOP can compete with the Apple Watch How simple metrics lead to better decision-making How Will went from student athlete to company builder How Will maintains steady focus through delegation and meditation Why the WHOOP business model emulates Peloton instead of FitBit How to “Growtain” your customers How to be excellent in multiple complication industries at once How WHOOP built promotion partnerships with top athletes and sports networks How to find and develop people who are high intensity AND high humility Why WHOOP pays its employees to sleep PLUS Will’s best advice for entrepreneurs

To round off 2021, today’s episode features six of David’s favorite insights from the year from leaders like Marvin Ellison, Indra Nooyi, and Tom Brady. You’re going to learn about how to react to overwhelming and scary situations with focus, confidence, planning, and communication. Plus, David will teach you his number one exercise for taking stock of where you are now in order to work towards where you want to go. In this episode, you’ll learn: David’s 3x5 exercise for self-evaluation going into a new year Tom Brady’s model for clear, current communication with teammates Niren Chaudhary’s process for bringing clarity and purpose to overwhelming situations Indra Nooyi’s advice for balancing work and home life Kara Goldin’s conviction about how to escape the bondage of fear in business Andy Roddick’s ritual for staying focused to play point after point in tennis without losing it Marvin Ellison’s story about learning to stand out as himself rather than blend in as someone else Check out https://howleaderslead.com/best-of-2021/ for more great leadership insights, and go to https://howleaderslead.com/survey to share your great insights about the podcast!

Today's guest is Steve Kerr, the head coach of the Golden State Warriors. Earlier in his career as a player, Steve won three NBA titles with the Chicago Bulls alongside the one and only Michael Jordan. He then went on to win two more titles playing for the San Antonio Spurs, and then he became a coach and won three more titles for the Warriors. Needless to say, this guy knows how to win, and he knows how to build teams that win. What you may be surprised to learn, though, is how he does it. The way Steve leads is by understanding the power of the team, from superstars to bench and everything in between. You're going to hear all about this on today's episode, as well as how you too can apply Steve's insights to whatever team you happen to be leading. In this episode you'll learn: Who Steve Kerr learned from in order to coach Why joy matters in casting the vision for a team What a great team player looks like How to coach superstars and the bench What it takes to rack up 300 passes a game How to work past mental barriers to perform with excellence How to motivate the team How to delegate areas of weakness with strength What Steve learned from playing with Lute Olson, Phil Jackson, and Gregg Popovich Why Steve wanted to let the Warriors coach themselves one game Who Steve would pick if Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Kevin Durant all came out in the draft in the same year What Steve thinks about The Last Dance documentary How Steve balances priorities at home and on the court Find the tools you need to become a better leader at https://howleaderslead.com.

From the United States Marine Corps to Wall Street, Eric Gleacher believes the world belongs to the aggressive. After one round of golf with the right person, the trajectory of his career changed as he pursued his dream of working in finance. After only four years at Lehman Brothers, Eric became a partner and was a large part of establishing the merger and acquisition department. Against the advice of many around him, Gleacher left Lehman Brothers to start his own firm. These risks and experiences have culminated in Gleacher’s book, Risk, Reward, Repeat. Listen as David and Eric discuss the indelible impact of the Marines, working with flawless integrity, and how to take the right risks. in this conversation, you're going to learn: The story behind Eric’s new book, Risk. Reward. Repeat How golf helped Eric get to Wall Street Where mergers and acquisitions all started What the Marines taught Eric about confidence, integrity, and leadership How to take risks in your career How the My Nickel argument can transform your meetings with potential clients

A force of positivity and pioneer of Financial Technology, Alexa von Tobel felt so strongly about democratizing financial advice for Americans that she dropped out of Harvard business school to build her first business, LearnVest, in 2008. After revolutionizing digital financial services, she sold LearnVest the very same week that she gave birth to her first child. Now, Alexa von Tobel is the Managing Partner of Inspired Capital, a venture capital firm which she founded in 2019.  You'll also learn: How growing up in a medical family and losing her Dad in high school prepared Alexa for life and leadership. How studying the psychology of happiness prepared Alexa to quit business school during a Recession and start a finance education company. What leaders can do to lead through uncertainty and stay sane, healthy, and fulfilled. Why Alexa sold LearnVest to Northwestern Mutual and started a venture capital firm in New York City. The fastest way to get “no” and “yes” when fundraising. The importance of having people around you who believe in you, encourage you, and keep you accountable. The one thing you need to do in order to succeed.

Scott Mahoney, the Chairman and CEO of Peter Millar, goes the distance to for quality in how he shapes the brand and develops his people. Coming up in business, it wasn’t until Scott worked at Polo that he found his love for golf and apparel sales married in an exciting career. He was inspired to buy Peter Millar during the long drive back from a USGA meeting, and moved quickly to scale the brand up. Scott leads with attention to getting things done more efficiently by getting people excited to do them. For example, knowing that Peter Millar product can only be sold once store associates put it on the floor, Scott and his team designed the shipping arrangements to be intuitive for stockroom employees to handle. He even threw a mint in the shipping box to sweeten the deal. Scott was quick to bring nearly everything in house to ensure the quality of product, marketing, promotion, finance, and production, and has taken the apparel world by storm as a result. SHOW NOTES Peter Millar then and now How Scott got into fashion and sales at Polo How the crazy idea to buy Peter Millar became reality  Turning a golf sweater company into a lifestyle brand Getting into Nordstrom and the trick to getting product from box to shelf Getting into brick and mortar Clothing the US President’s Cup golf team Building an e-commerce business with the same great quality Getting to the top and staying focused  Building a high-quality culture Lightning Round Find the tools you need to become a better leader at https://davidnovakleadership.com and https://howleaderslead.com.

Dr. Neal ElAttrache is a renowned American orthopedic surgeon best known as the Lead Physician for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Rams — as well as his patents and innovation in sports medicine. As a leader, Neal believes strongly in the three “A’s” — Affability, Availability, and Ability. Listen as David and Neal discuss why chasing passion is a sure way to set yourself up for failure and burnout, and that there’s something better to chase. Show Notes Intro Finding joy in performing Tommy Johns surgery Growing up to become a surgeon Pursuing purpose over passion in your career How to think critically and sensitively as a surgeon What it's like serving as team physician for the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Dodgers Working with Baseball Hall of Famer Joe Torre, NFL coach Sean McVeigh, golfer Brooks Koepka, and the legendary Tom Brady How to be mentored and mentor others Lightning Round Advice for aspiring leaders Find the tools you need to become a better leader at https://davidnovakleadership.com and https://howleaderslead.com.

Every leader knows how important listening is. But how often do we break it down and try to understand what it actually means to be a good listener?  Today’s guest, Rob Light, can really help us answer that question. He’s the Managing Partner of Creative Artists Agency, the world’s largest talent and sports agency. As the head of their music division, he has represented some huge names like Bruce Springsteen, Beyonce, Prince, Dua Lipa, and more.  Being a good listener is key to Rob’s success – from landing new clients, striking great deals, mentoring young talent. He knows how to be present, ask questions, and genuinely care about the answers. This conversation is the perfect reminder that we can accomplish so much more as leaders when we learn to listen.  You’ll also learn: One practical strategy you can ask to close deals decisively and get a win-win How to spot opportunities and holes in the market The power of giving credit to your team – and how it helps you win, too Practical strategies for getting more meaningful responses when you communicate

How do leaders navigate conversations about the challenges parents, and especially women, face in the workplace? The first step is to simply have the conversation and get the shared perspectives of men and women. In this special episode from the How Leaders Lead Insight Series, Ashley Novak Butler, the Executive Director of the Lift-a-Life Foundation, interviews her dad, David, and Indra Nooyi about Indra’s new New York Times best-selling book, My Life in Full: Work, Family, and Our Future. Indra shares her story about growing up in India and the support she had to pursue her career while being a devoted mom, and the challenges she faced that she wants to remove for women coming up behind her in business, including problems with HR, childcare, and even cobblestone paths. 0:00 | Show intro 2:16 | The story behind Indra Nooyi’s memoir, and why work-life balance is the wrong goal. 9:48 | Upbringing: What Indra and David learned from their families that equipped them for future success, and how to extend those benefits to others. 16:42 | Coming up next week… Rob Light, Managing Partner of Creative Artists Agency 24:39 | How to set expectations for juggling the priorities of work and family with your spouse in order to have a fulfilling marriage. 35:15 | The surprising link between Mom guilt and the perfection gene. 40:01 | Expanding the presence of women in leadership. 46:26 | Advice for dealing with condescending behavior towards women.  49:47 | How to protect your reputation and health in business. 55:10 | Insights on mentorship and advocating for talent in general and women in particular. 58:51 | How to improve human resources to better serve all talent, and the implications of how two different people viewed the same cobblestone pathway. 1:08:48 | How to help women re-enter the workforce. 1:11:07 | Family lightning round 1:13:01 | How to make work-family life work. 1:14:45 | Farewell Find the tools you need to become a better leader at https://davidnovakleadership.com and https://howleaderslead.com.

Today’s guest is Jessica Kim, Co-Founder and CEO of ianacare, a digital platform that connects family caregivers with the resources they need to care for their loved ones.  Jessica founded ianacare because she herself was a caregiver in her mother’s last days of life. She saw firsthand how frustrating, exhausting and isolating the experience was, and she knew there had to be a better way.  That’s how great entrepreneurs think. They truly understand their customers’ problems on a human level, and then they set out to solve those problems with excellence.  So if you run a business yourself, or if you want to someday, or if your company simply serves customers in any way…  Listen to this conversation and see how to solve your customers’ problems at a human level.  You’ll also learn: The perspective you absolutely must have before you launch anything digital How the hiring process changes through various stages of your business What to do if you don’t have much expertise for your startup (and why that’s actually okay)  Practical tips for leading hybrid and remote teams

Anyone listening this show knows that I am absolutely passionate about the game of golf, and how blessed I am to have been able to play with some of the top players in the game. So we thought we'd mix things up a little bit and create an episode featuring some of the best stories we've heard from around the golf course - some that I'm sure you've never heard before, and you definitely don't want to miss. Grow yourself as a leader with resources from https://davidnovakleadership.com and https://howleaderslead.com.

Today’s guest is Dan Cathy, Chairman & CEO of Chick-fil-A. With Dan at the helm, Chick-fil-A has become the envy of the restaurant industry. The average unit volumes in their stores are absolutely unheard-of – even though they’re only open six days a week. And they’ve had sales increases every single year of the 75 years they’ve been in business. You can’t do that kind of growth for that long without being really good at innovating and adapting. But somehow they’ve done it while also staying true to their founding principles and values.  The secret, Dan says, is to “marry the mission and date the methods.”  That means they’re not afraid to try new ideas or get rid of whatever’s not working – whether that’s a strategy or a process or a menu item. But the core mission never changes.  If you’re the kind of person who wants to chart a bold path forward but you don’t want to lose sight of what got you to where you are, then you’re going to love this conversation. You’ll also learn: Two often-overlooked aspects of innovation How to create margin for unexpected opportunities  One key step you need when you develop your idea – and it’s something most people skip The most important thing you need to get right in order to delight customers

Today’s guest is Tom Brady, the quarterback of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and – let’s be honest – the greatest of all time. Now, we all go into new situations where we're expected to come in, turn the team around, and perform. And that’s exactly what Tom did at the Bucs, winning the Super Bowl in his very first season at Tampa Bay. That’s why we call him the GOAT, right!? In this conversation, we really dig into what made that transition from the Patriots to the Bucs so darn successful. Of course, Tom is known for his elite discipline and his grit. And with good reason! But Tom is also incredible at building relationships with his teammates, coaches and management.  For us leaders, so much depends on how we connect and communicate with people. Do we know how to convey our expectations clearly? Do we know how to build consensus? Do we have the courage to tackle the tough conversations right away and not let them fester? Tom sure does! And this conversation is a goldmine of wisdom for how to build strong relationships through clear communication – especially if you find yourself leading in a new situation.  You’ll also learn: Specific ways to build trust when you step into a new situation  One critical thing to avoid in your one-on-one relationships at work How to adjust to a new boss A key mindset shift you can use when things don’t go as planned 

Today’s guest is Johnny Taylor, President & CEO of SHRM, the Society of Human Resource Management, which is the association for over 300,000 human resource officers in 165 countries. The formula for success in any business is to get your people capability right. That’s how you’re going to satisfy more customers. That’s how you make more money. And more importantly, that’s how you make a bigger difference in the world. When it comes to getting your people right, Johnny Taylor has figured out a huge piece of the puzzle. And it’s something a lot of us overlook: empathy. Not sympathy! But empathy – the ability to see a situation from someone else’s perspective and respond with compassion.  He says empathy isn’t just a mushy feeling or moral idea. It’s a business skill – something we actively need to be working toward in our organizations and developing in our leaders.  If you’re not sure how to do that, don’t miss this episode! You’ll also learn: Three benefits of remote work (and one huge danger)  The paradigm shift every HR department needs in order to shake the bad rap The #1 reason you’re overlooking great talent How to keep your best people Specific ideas to drive diversity and inclusion

Today’s guest is Jimmy Dunne. He’s the Vice Chairman and Senior Managing Principal at Piper Sandler. He was one of the founders of Sandler O'Neill + Partners which was acquired by Piper Jaffray in 2020. He is renowned for how he led his firm in the wake of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center. Sixty-six of his associates tragically died that day, including the firm’s founder Herman Sandler and Jimmy’s best friend Chris Quackenbush.  Jimmy made the incredible decision early on in the wake of the attacks that the firm needed to provide for the families of fallen associates, including a college education for every child who lost a parent.  Jimmy’s ability to anticipate the needs of others not only helped him lead through the crisis, but also helped him prepare for that awful day before it even arrived. And it’s a wonderful reminder for all of us to look out for the people we serve by thinking about what they need even before they do. It’s such a privilege to talk to Jimmy today and I know you are going to be so inspired by his incredible empathy and humility.   You’ll also learn: An honest reflection on what it was like to lead after the devastating losses his firm suffered in the 9/11 attacks What to rely on when you’re not feeling confident or at your best  The importance of responsibility, especially in tough situations What you should never do when you make a mistake – and what to do instead

One of your most important jobs as a leader is to define reality. You have to figure out what is really happening in your organization if you want to make it better. And today’s guest is Alberto Carvalho, the Superintendent of Miami-Dade County Public Schools, and someone who knows exactly how to define reality. He leads the fourth largest school district in the nation, and it’s quite the success story today.  But it sure wasn’t when Alberto took charge. Schools were failing. The finances were an absolute mess. And there was a real lack of conviction in leadership positions. Alberto had to define a tough reality at Miami-Dade. But once he understood what wasn’t working, he used it as the foundation for their turnaround – and you’ll hear exactly how he’s done it.  This conversation is going to give you the inspiration and courage you need to tackle whatever tough reality you may be facing right now. You’ll also learn: One breakthrough idea to help you build unity in your top leadership team What to do when a major disruption hits your space (instead of panicking or giving up) Practical ways to bust through bureaucracy and eliminate roadblocks Why it’s so crucial for kids to learn about leadership while they’re young

Today’s guest is hall of fame and former world #1 tennis player, Andy Roddick. You may remember him destroying opponents with his serve, or winning the 2003 US Open, or even hosting Saturday Night Live!  But these days, he’s doing all kinds of other fun stuff. He’s the CEO of the Andy Roddick Foundation, which supports kids in low-income communities. He’s co-founded two companies, one in healthcare and another in commercial real estate. And if all that weren’t enough, he has also launched Sweetens Cove Spirits and is out there making Tennessee bourbon! Can you imagine pivoting from what you’ve known your whole life and jumping headfirst into one new situation after the other?  Andy knows what it’s like to feel out of place and uncomfortable doing something new. But he also knows what it takes to get comfortable. He asks lots of questions. He prepares diligently. And he knows how to develop the right relationships.  Every leader finds themselves in new situations, where we don’t know the lay of the land. This conversation will show you exactly how to navigate those situations. You’ll also learn: How to overcome the resistance of getting into a new venture you don’t understand A mindset shift that will change the way you think about preparation The power of a simple ritual to stay mentally resilient The surprising benefits of productive conflict and how to lean into it

Today’s guest is Becky Frankiewicz, President of ManpowerGroup North America, which is the leading workforce solutions company in the world. Now when she took the job, she was stepping into a whole new world. Why? Because Becky actually made a name for herself in various marketing, sales, and finance roles at PepsiCo.  And not every leader can go from finding breakthrough marketing ideas for snacks to leading a workforce solutions company!  But Becky is one of the most creative problem solvers around. She has a really clear grasp of what she’s good at. And with that, she’s confidently taking all those skills she developed in the consumer world and using them to help connect workers to jobs. This conversation will help you understand the trends and big ideas in today’s workforce – including artificial intelligence, and career training, and managing multiple generations. Plus, it will inspire you to learn what makes you truly unique in the workforce – so you can thrive in any career you pursue, too. You’ll also learn: 3 major workforce insights you need to know to be prepared for the future One trick to get to the heart of an issue so you truly solve the problem The #1 thing you need to do as a company to truly attract great talent The big danger we risk if we don’t give or ask for feedback

​​Today’s guest is Timo Boldt, Founder and CEO of Gousto, the largest meal kit company in the United Kingdom, which Timo founded at the ripe old age of 27. In the last seven years, its valuation has grown to over one billion dollars!  That is some seriously impressive growth.  And you’re going to love hearing how Timo and his team have done it.  He is constantly pushing himself and his company to grow and get better. They’ve been through all the standard founder-led challenges and have come through them with a culture that’s obsessed with delivering great value, working collectively, and dreaming big dreams. It takes a lot of intention to push yourself and stretch your beliefs. But it’s worth it. Because to paraphrase Timo, setting mediocre targets is a really good way to get mediocre results! This conversation is basically a blueprint you can follow if you want to find creative ways to stretch yourself and your team and go for big goals. You’ll also learn: The most crucial aspect of leadership that no one will teach you at business school How to push for high performance while still being supportive of your team The #1 mistake every founder should avoid when making their first senior hire  One practical (and fun) strategy any leader can use to stay connected to a fast-growing business Why feedback to your employees isn’t enough – and how to actually apply it

In this special episode of the How Leaders Lead podcast, listeners will learn that all top leaders are incredible “AVID LEARNERS” - people who’ve demonstrated a real commitment to continuous learning throughout their careers. They all learn by DOING. They all ASK a lot of QUESTIONS and LISTEN CLOSELY for real insights. And at some stage of their career, each of them has learned from FAILURE. So subscribe, and we’ll deliver more impactful – and actionable – insights as the year continues!

Get ready for an inspiring conversation with today’s guest, Lonnie Ali. She’s the wife of legendary boxer Muhammad Ali and a powerful leader in her own right. She incorporated, built, and sold, Greatest of All Time, Inc. and also founded the Muhammad Ali Center, which is a nonprofit museum and cultural center devoted to inspiring the world through Muhammad Ali’s legacy. Lonnie is an extraordinary leader with a big heart and a clear moral compass. It’s easy to see why she and the GOAT had such a great partnership.  If you need a jolt of inspiration in your life, this is the conversation for you. It’s going to remind you that the best things in life and business often happen when we give without expecting something in return.  Plus Lonnie shares a few beautiful stories of Muhammad Ali, including the backstory of when he lit the Olympic torch at the 1996 Games in Atlanta. You’ll also learn: The practical things we can do each day to make sure we lead with a moral compass Why self-belief is important – but not enough – for success The hidden power of gratitude for leaders Beautiful and inspiring stories of the GOAT himself, Muhammed Ali

Today’s guest is Bob Greifeld, the former CEO of NASDAQ. These days, the NASDAQ is a powerhouse market. But that was not the case when Bob took over. It was small and struggling. During his time in charge, he grew the market by a whopping 2000%, attracting companies like Apple, Microsoft, Starbucks, and Amazon.  In this conversation, we go behind the scenes of that amazing turnaround. You can see for yourself how Bob’s relentless focus and drive helped make it happen. If you’ve ever looked at a big project or even just your day’s to-do list and felt overwhelmed, this conversation is going to help you tap into that power of focus, too.  You’ll also learn: What you absolutely have to do in your first 100 days in a new job A specific formula to balance promoting from within versus hiring from outside How to sift through your to-do list to determine what you should actually work on What you’re really trusting when you go with your gut

Today’s guest is Jeff Lawson, the co-founder & CEO of Twilio, one of the world’s fastest growing technology companies. Millions of software developers use their platform to add communications to apps and websites we all use, like airbnb and Lyft. Jeff has a unique point of view as an entrepreneur. He has a foot in both the technical developer world AND the executive world. So if you need to make your business more digital or get more from your technical talent, then his perspective is going to be invaluable to you. But he may also challenge you a bit. So often in business we get wrapped up in our solutions – features, shiny products, sales roll-outs, and all that good stuff. But in all our obsession over the solution, we often overlook the problem. What huge unsolved issue is out there that customers are struggling with every day? Jeff says THAT’S what we should all be looking for. And if you want to find it, this conversation is a great place to start. You’ll also learn: Two things you can take away from any startup experience, even if it doesn’t work out  How to structure teams so even big companies can stay agile and innovative One often-overlooked insight to getting the most out of your technical talent How to inject accountability and leadership at every level of your organization

Today’s guest is Wendy Clark, Global CEO of Dentsu International, and the first female CEO of a big six global advertising agency. Before that, she did incredible work as a marketing executive at Coca-Cola and AT&T. She’s a giant of the advertising world. She is literally in the hall of fame. But despite all her success, Wendy is the absolute master of embracing the underdog mentality.  It’s how she stays motivated, both personally and professionally, and how she continues to over-deliver and outperform. She really is the master of mindset, and she will show you how to lean into the underdog mentality and use it as fuel to work for you. If you’ve ever felt underestimated at work or like the underdog in your industry, then you are going to love this conversation. You’ll also learn: How to use marketing savvy in a leadership setting so your big ideas connect Three questions you can ask to evaluate a creative idea  Key insights about social media that every leader should know A better approach to work and life than “balance”

Today’s guest is Mickey Drexler, the former CEO of The Gap, J. Crew, and Banana Republic. He’s the legendary king of retail who put all those stores (and several others) on the map. These days he and his son have teamed up to build a new clothing brand called Alex Mill. Mickey is a hard-charging guy with plenty of conviction. When you listen to him, you remember just how compelling it is when a leader has a unique vision and really believes in it.  But visionaries like Mickey usually don’t reach the heights they do unless they’re willing to break some rules along the way. You’ll be so inspired by all the stories he tells of times he had to go against the grain in order to see his vision through – including how he helped Steve Jobs shape the timeless clean aesthetic of the very first Apple store. If you’re a rule breaker yourself, you’re going to love this. And if you’re not, you may just want to become one after you listen!  You’ll also learn: Tips for eliciting great creative marketing and advertising work How to go through the firing process with decency and integrity Why you need to develop an inner circle of trusted partners  The most important person you need to talk to if you work in retail

Today’s guest is Stephen MR Covey. As the CEO of Covey Leadership Center, he built the largest leadership development company in the world, and orchestrated the successful merger of Franklin Covey. He’s also the New York Times bestselling author of the excellent book, Speed of Trust. If you’ve ever felt like your business just doesn’t move fast enough, you’re going to love this conversation. Stephen believes there’s one secret ingredient in a business that can help a team move faster and be more successful. That secret ingredient is trust. And it makes sense, right? If our team members feel like they’re always jumping through hoops and being micromanaged, they’re never going to do their best work. And they’re certainly not going to work quickly. As leaders, it’s up to us to extend that trust to our teams so they can go out and do amazing things. That’s easier said than done, though! How can we trust our teams more while still minimizing risk and keeping people accountable?  Stephen is going to help us learn to extend trust the right way.  You’ll also learn: Three ingredients that can build trust on a team – starting in a single day Why a team with stark differences can be an advantage instead of a liability Tips to navigate the risks associated with extending trust The surprising risks of not trusting people (and how you can avoid them)

Today’s guest is Milind Pant, CEO of Amway. Amway is the largest direct selling company in the world, with over ONE MILLION independent business owners – a.k.a. entrepreneurs. Milind has tapped into something that’s helping him grow as a leader AND helping his entrepreneurs at Amway grow their businesses. That secret ingredient is community. We all want to do business with people we know and trust. But the big question is … as leaders, how do we build those relationships in today’s digital landscape? How can we develop that sense of community with our customers? If you’re not sure, listen to this episode. There is a wealth of wisdom and inspiration here to help you build trust by building community. You’ll also learn: A proven blueprint to set yourself up for success in any new role The opportunity awaiting when social media and e-commerce intersect The most dangerous thing to avoid in leadership, especially in seasons of big change How to differentiate your business from a huge competitive force like Amazon

Today’s guest is Cathy Engelbert, the first Commissioner of the WNBA. She is a trailblazer, having also served as the first-ever female CEO of Deloitte. But the WNBA is a whole new challenge. She is leading with an incredible drive, using her “players first” philosophy to take women’s sports to the next level. Cathy knows how to get big things done – and as you’ll hear, it’s often the small things that matter more than we realize.  Plus: don’t miss the story of the incredible two-hour conversation Cathy got to have with the late Kobe Bryant. You’ll also learn: How to build consensus by building relationships One practical strategy you can use in a new role to create trust with your team  Hard-won advice for aspiring young leaders, especially women What it’s like behind the scenes of negotiating a collective bargaining agreement