Free Daily Podcast Summary
How Leaders Lead with David Novak: Daily Summaries Delivered
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.
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- 3 days ago1h 7m
#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 game so far, he pinged a double to left field that brought in the winning run and made him a Chicago legend. So yeah, Ben Zobrist knows about pressure. And you do, too: pressure is a part of every leader’s reality. How you understand it, prepare for it, and handle it in the moment can make or break your career – not to mention your overall sense of well-being. This conversation is a candid look at how to navigate all the pressure you face – from success, from failure, from life in general – plus the habits and routines that keep you ready and regulated when you’re feeling it. This episode is for you if: You struggle to deal with pressure, especially after a big success You’re trying to find better self-care habits and routines You want to get better at understanding and managing your emotions You’re a coach or parent of a child athlete You just love all things baseball 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.
- 1 weeks ago51 min
#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, there was a big, painful gap. And you may be in a similar place right now – where you believe you’re on the right track, but the results aren’t showing up yet. In this conversation, you’ll see what great leadership looks like in those seasons when you’re building, grinding, and learning – but not necessarily seeing results. It’s a powerful reminder of the power of consistency … and a fun way to get ready for another exciting year of NFL football! This episode is for you if: You’re in a season where progress feels invisible You need solid advice on managing elite talent You’re trying to connect more meaningfully with your team You want to know what weirdly simple habit Zac attributes his success toTake 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.
- 2 weeks ago1h 15m
#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 isn’t how you feel or what you say. It’s the actions you take. And that alignment is at the heart of the incredible turnaround he’s leading. Under his leadership, Vanderbilt’s football program has gone from being the punching bags of the SEC to one of the NCAA’s most exciting teams, notching their first 10-win season in 2025. This conversation gives you an inside look at what’s driving their success … and an inspiring reminder that your true beliefs show up in what you practice, not what you preach. This episode is for you if: You feel disconnected from your goals or your core values You want to disrupt a culture that’s gotten used to losing You’re feeling discouraged after a setback You just love all things college football 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.
- 3 weeks ago1h 4m
#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. But despite knowing the organization well, he didn’t come right out with a shiny reinvention strategy. Instead, he hit the ground listening – to customers, colleagues, data, and the culture at large. For Tony, listening isn’t passive. It’s something you do with your whole heart and mind. And it’s the foundation of any big change, including a turnaround. If you want to see how he does it (with plenty of memorable stories and metaphors along the way!) don’t miss this episode. This episode is for you if: You work in the retail or hospitality industry You’re leading a big change or turnaround You want to be more intentional in meetings You’re not sure whether to kill an initiative or keep developing 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.
- Aug 20, 20261h 8m
#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 at Callaway, Harry realized it was time to find a new challenge – something that would help him grow into the person he knew he could be. In this candid conversation, Harry breaks down what it really means to bet on yourself: the fear, the risk, and ultimately, what it takes to choose growth over comfort. This is episode is for you if you: Have ever thought about leaving a comfortable job to start something new Want to know the trick to good marketing (hint: it doesn’t involve marketing) Are asking big questions about work, life, and integration Don’t want your functional expertise to limit your next career move 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.
- Aug 13, 20261h 10m
#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 Steve Jobs worked closely to launch what has to be one of the greatest retail experiences ever built. In this episode, you’ll see exactly how they did it – and how it all stemmed from Ron’s belief that you should love your customers. He also talks (with refreshing vulnerability!) about what he learned from his failed turnaround attempt at JCPenney. This episode is for you if: You need to improve the customer experience at your company You’re trying to get buy-in on a big idea You want to build more excellence into your culture You admire Steve Jobs and the Apple brand 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.
- Aug 6, 202654 min
#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 a culture that everyone wants to be a part of? It all comes down to emotional intelligence. You can have the best product in the world. But if you lack the emotional intelligence to connect with people and create a mission they want to be a part of, your bottom line will suffer. This episode is for you if: You’re an entrepreneur (or thinking about becoming one) You want to attract better talent You do any kind of product development work You want a few fun facts about soda to drop at parties 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.
- Jul 30, 20261h 13m
#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 and his team use to forge their culture in real behavior, not just words on a slide deck. That foundation has allowed Rocket to scale massively—including over $16 billion in acquisitions—without losing who they are. This episode is for you if: You are always looking for ways to strengthen your culture You want to find a noble cause for your business You develop products or work with customers You want to be more present at home 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.
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About How Leaders Lead with 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.
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