How Leaders Lead with David Novak

Feel like you’ve hit a ceiling in your career? Your boldest ideas might be the thing that breaks through—but only if you say them out loud. In this episode, Dave McKay, President and CEO of RBC, shares why going public with big goals isn’t just bold. It’s strategic. Learn how clarity and ambition can rally your team, attract top talent, and accelerate your growth. Oh and yes, there’s a Taylor Swift tie-in, too. One strategy that can radically change your career trajectory Why hiring people with personal ambition isn’t enough (and what to look for instead) The mentality you need to lead a market How to accomplish big goals without jeopardizing integrity Take your learning further. Get proven leadership advice from these (free!) resources: The How Leaders Lead App: A vast library of 90-second leadership lessons to stay sharp on the go Daily Insight Emails: One small (but powerful!) leadership principle to focus on each day Whichever you choose, you can be sure you’ll get the trusted leadership advice you need to advance your career, develop your team, and grow your business. Connect with David: Keep Up with David on LinkedIn Follow David on Twitter The How Leaders Lead Instagram View insightful clips on TikTok Watch full interviews on YouTube Get the USA Today Bestselling Book "How Leaders Learn"

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: What advice do you have for leaders looking to successfully integrate younger talent with a long-standing legacy workforce? How do you rally an organization to move faster—without pushing people to the point of burnout? What does it take to effectively balance the short-term demands with the long-term vision when leading a business? ——— 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!

Ever made a decision based on limited info, internal spin, or wishful thinking? You’re not alone—but there’s a better way. In this episode, David sits down with General Motors Chair and CEO, Mary Barra. She shares how a relentless commitment to the truth leads to better decisions, stronger teams, and a culture built on trust. If you want to lead with more clarity and less guesswork, don’t miss this conversation. You’ll also learn: How a crisis shapes your culture The #1 thing you need to do to make sure your people feel valued A strategy to make big problems way more manageable What “ambidextrous leadership” is – and why it’s crucial to your success Take your learning further. Get proven leadership advice from these (free!) resources: The How Leaders Lead App: A vast library of 90-second leadership lessons to stay sharp on the go Daily Insight Emails: One small (but powerful!) leadership principle to focus on each day Whichever you choose, you can be sure you’ll get the trusted leadership advice you need to advance your career, develop your team, and grow your business. Connect with David: Keep Up with David on LinkedIn Follow David on Twitter The How Leaders Lead Instagram View insightful clips on TikTok Watch full interviews on YouTube Get the USA Today Bestselling Book "How Leaders Learn"

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received about how to handle failure? What tools do you use to maintain a positive mindset when things are hard? How does Danny's "pressure is a privilege" concept apply to leadership? ——— 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!

Feeling stuck in a rut? Not sure how to improve your performance? You might be missing one powerful habit—tracking your own progress! In this episode, David sits down with professional golfer and 2016 Masters champion Danny Willett. He shares how taking notes on his golf game (and his life!) has helped him grow through wins, setbacks, and everything in between. You’ll also learn: Where confidence really comes from How to reframe high-pressure situations The first step when it’s time for a big course correction A story you’ve probably never heard from the Sunday Danny won his Green Jacket Take your learning further. Get proven leadership advice from these (free!) resources: The How Leaders Lead App: A vast library of 90-second leadership lessons to stay sharp on the go Daily Insight Emails: One small (but powerful!) leadership principle to focus on each day Whichever you choose, you can be sure you’ll get the trusted leadership advice you need to advance your career, develop your team, and grow your business. Connect with David: Keep Up with David on LinkedIn Follow David on Twitter The How Leaders Lead Instagram View insightful clips on TikTok Watch full interviews on YouTube Get the USA Today Bestselling Book "How Leaders Learn"

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: As a leader, when you do something that’s never been done before…how do you prepare for the potential pushback? What should leaders consider when deciding how to integrate and retain employees after an acquisition? Based on all the teams and businesses you’ve studied throughout your life, what would you say is the single most common factor that leads to a team or business failing?  ——— 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!

Optimism isn’t just a fluffy feel-good feeling. It’s a real asset in business. Learn how to make it your competitive advantage in this conversation with Pat Battle, Executive Chairman of Diamond Baseball Holdings, a company that owns 45 of the 120 minor league baseball teams. You’ll also learn: Why a job change between industries might not be as hard as you think Two questions that will revitalize your customer experience The most underrated negotiation tip How to think creatively about your underutilized assets Take your learning further. Get proven leadership advice from these (free!) resources: The How Leaders Lead App: A vast library of 90-second leadership lessons to stay sharp on the go Daily Insight Emails: One small (but powerful!) leadership principle to focus on each day Whichever you choose, you can be sure you’ll get the trusted leadership advice you need to advance your career, develop your team, and grow your business. Connect with David: Keep Up with David on LinkedIn Follow David on Twitter The How Leaders Lead Instagram View insightful clips on TikTok Watch full interviews on YouTube Get the USA Today Bestselling Book "How Leaders Learn"

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: What did you teach Chrissy's team about how to franchise well? What would be your advice to someone who’s wanting to take on new roles in a company? What do you think it is about Enterprise and Chrissy’s leadership that has allowed them to continue to see success?  ——— 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!

What if I told you your biggest competitive advantage is something you’ve already got? For Chrissy Taylor, the President and CEO of Enterprise Mobility, the 90,000 people who work at her company are what she calls “her secret sauce.” And in today’s episode, you’ll learn how to support your team and build a culture that drives growth, delights customers, and finds new ideas. Plus, Chrissy’s positive energy is guaranteed to (sorry for the pun, but) pick you up! You’ll also learn: What many companies overlook when they reposition their brand One tip for being a better communicator (and anyone can do it) An idea to build mentorship into your culture What Chrissy learned in the 17 Enterprise jobs she had before becoming CEO Take your learning further. Get proven leadership advice from these (free!) resources: The How Leaders Lead App: A vast library of 90-second leadership lessons to stay sharp on the go Daily Insight Emails: One small (but powerful!) leadership principle to focus on each day Whichever you choose, you can be sure you’ll get the trusted leadership advice you need to advance your career, develop your team, and grow your business. Connect with David: Keep Up with David on LinkedIn Follow David on Twitter The How Leaders Lead Instagram View insightful clips on TikTok Watch full interviews on YouTube Get the USA Today Bestselling Book "How Leaders Learn"

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: What do you think about Hayes' belief that adversity is his advantage? What’s a story from your career where you had to lean on the company’s purpose to get the business back on track? What is it that you love so much about being from the Midwest?  ——— 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!

If you think “purpose” is just a bland little word for your mission statement, don’t miss this episode with Hayes Barnard, the founder, Chairman, and CEO of GoodLeap, which helps homeowners finance upgrades that make their homes more sustainable. Listen and see how purpose is a powerful force that helps you make connections, build teams, and drive more innovation. You’ll also learn: What he learned about marketing from Elon Musk Why feeling like an underdog might be your biggest advantage The mindset you need to keep pushing, even after success The AI lifehack that’s like having “a genius in your pocket” Take your learning further. Get proven leadership advice from these (free!) resources: The How Leaders Lead App: A vast library of 90-second leadership lessons to stay sharp on the go Daily Insight Emails: One small (but powerful!) leadership principle to focus on each day Whichever you choose, you can be sure you’ll get the trusted leadership advice you need to advance your career, develop your team, and grow your business. Connect with David: Keep Up with David on LinkedIn Follow David on Twitter The How Leaders Lead Instagram View insightful clips on TikTok Watch full interviews on YouTube Get the USA Today Bestselling Book "How Leaders Learn"

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: What is your favorite travel story? What’s your stance on finding the balance between being centralized versus decentralized when you have multiple brands under the same roof? Which is better? What do you think about Glenn's quote, "In god we trust … everyone else bring data”?  ——— 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!

Great companies aren’t built by ego. They’re built by leaders who ask questions, listen, and rely on the smart people around them. And this episode’s guest is one of those leaders! Glenn Fogel is the CEO of Booking Holdings, the company behind big travel brands like Booking dot com, Kayak, Priceline, and OpenTable. Having been at the company for 25 years, Glenn’s got a lot of experience to draw on. Yet he’s the first to admit when something isn’t his area of expertise. And instead of guessing, he trusts the experts on his team to guide the way. If you want to know the secret to staying humble and building an engaged team, hit play and discover the power of knowing what you don’t know! You’ll also learn: The importance of data (with one big caveat) How to push for innovation in a successful, established company The #1 mistake companies make after an international acquisition The mindset you need for painful decisions Take your learning further. Get proven leadership advice from these (free!) resources: The How Leaders Lead App: A vast library of 90-second leadership lessons to stay sharp on the go Daily Insight Emails: One small (but powerful!) leadership principle to focus on each day Whichever you choose, you can be sure you’ll get the trusted leadership advice you need to advance your career, develop your team, and grow your business. Connect with David: Keep Up with David on LinkedIn Follow David on Twitter The How Leaders Lead Instagram View insightful clips on TikTok Watch full interviews on YouTube Get the USA Today Bestselling Book "How Leaders Learn"

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: Tell us about the idea of customer mania and how you cascaded it throughout all of Yum. How do you think about emotional distance among a team? How do you view In-N-Out's decision to not offer mobile ordering … I mean, if you were President, what would you do?  ——— 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!

Every business wants loyal customers. But what does it mean to be loyal to your customers? Find out in this episode with Lynsi Snyder, the Owner and President of In-N-Out Burger. Go behind the scenes of this iconic brand and learn how you can boost loyalty in your business. Plus, In-N-Out is a family-owned company. And if you’ve ever worked with your family, you know things can get messy. Lynsi’s got a lot of hard-won wisdom to help you navigate those situations with confidence and grace. You’ll also learn: One big reason your messages aren’t getting through to your team What makes a “good” idea not so good Wisdom for anyone who works with their family Why In-N-Out doesn’t offer mobile ordering—and the leadership lesson behind it Take your learning further. Get proven leadership advice from these (free!) resources: The How Leaders Lead App: A vast library of 90-second leadership lessons to stay sharp on the go Daily Insight Emails: One small (but powerful!) leadership principle to focus on each day Whichever you choose, you can be sure you’ll get the trusted leadership advice you need to advance your career, develop your team, and grow your business.

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: Tell us a story about a time from your career where you had to lead through a crisis and what you learned from that experience. How would you coach someone to get comfortable with asking for business? Can you unpack what Ken says about the biggest impediment to good risk management is imagination?  ——— 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!

One of your most valuable currencies isn’t money, talent, or even time. It’s trust. See how it can power better partnerships and more opportunities in this episode with Ken Bacon, Cofounder and Managing Partner at Railfield Partners and former Executive VP at Fannie Mae. If you want to see how to build trust, extend it wisely, and see it return to you, then hit play now! You’ll also learn: A negotiation strategy you probably haven’t heard before Two qualities of leaders who make good decisions Why your assumptions might be endangering your business The one thing no one tells you about success Take your learning further. Get proven leadership advice from these (free!) resources: The How Leaders Lead App: A vast library of 90-second leadership lessons to stay sharp on the go Daily Insight Emails: One small (but powerful!) leadership principle to focus on each day Whichever you choose, you can be sure you’ll get the trusted leadership advice you need to advance your career, develop your team, and grow your business.

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: How would you go about offering coaching? Where did you learn to be a great salesperson? How did you and do you stay visible as a leader?  ——— GO DEEPER Scale up your leadership skills in 2 minutes a day with the How Leaders Lead app — Download today in the 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!

Today’s guest is Allan Thygesen, the CEO of Docusign. Before that, he led Google’s $100 billion advertising business in North and South America. In this conversation, you’ll get a front row seat to how he approaches technology and innovation—including his advice for integrating AI into your business. Plus, he’s got an outlook on sales you need to hear. If selling makes you a little uncomfortable, don’t worry! Listen to this conversation and learn how to embrace that role—and why you can’t overlook it if you want other people to follow you. You’ll also learn: Practical advice to integrate AI into your business The two most important factors for a startup Why what seemed like “chaos” at Google was actually key to innovation How to make your team more well rounded Take your learning further. Get proven leadership advice from these (free!) resources: The How Leaders Lead App: A vast library of 90-second leadership lessons to stay sharp on the go Daily Insight Emails: One small (but powerful!) leadership principle to focus on each day Whichever you choose, you can be sure you’ll get the trusted leadership advice you need to advance your career, develop your team, and grow your business.

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: What kind of coaching would you give a player or a teammate who made a public mistake that everyone was talking about? What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever had to own up to? What are some of the signs that a business is getting too big too fast?  ——— 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!