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 wi...
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#279: Eric Kutcher, Senior Partner, McKinsey & Company – AI is about growth, not just productivity
<p>“This is a once-in-a-generation technology transition.”</p> <p>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.</p> <p>In this episode, Eric breaks down the AI revolution in practical terms, dives deep into what truly makes a team great, and shares a story involving three thousand stress balls that you’ll never forget.</p> <p>You’ll also learn:</p> What it means to work with “long term urgency” How to...
#278: Hanneke Faber, CEO, Logitech – Co-create with your team
<p>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.</p> <p>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 life. And at Logitech, the results speak for themselves: eight consecutive quarters of growth and record margins.</p> <p>In this episode, Hanneke shares how she pulled off a 24-hour strategy sprint, why she tells her team “today is the slowest day of the rest of your...
#277: Jimmy Roberts, Emmy Award-winning broadcaster, NBC & Golf Channel – Curiosity builds connection
<p>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!</p> <p>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 unforgettable human moments in Olympic history.</p> <p>In this episode, Jimmy shares how curiosity fuels connection, and how it can help you listen more deeply and connect authentically with the people you lead.</p> <p>Whether you’re leading a team, trying to b...
#276: Jason Garrett, 3x Super Bowl Champion and Former NFL Head Coach – You can lead from anywhere on the team
<p>You don’t win three Super Bowls without knowing how to be a great teammate.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>In this episode, he shares how strong teams are forged – and it’s often not what you’d expect. If you want to build a culture where anyone can step up and lead, this is the episode for you.</p> <p>Plus, it’s full of grea...
#275: Ania Smith, CEO, Taskrabbit – Take risks that teach you something
<p>When Ania moved to the US from Poland at the tender age of 12, she didn’t speak a word of English.</p> <p>Today, she’s the CEO of Taskrabbit, after building her leadership chops at Walmart, Uber, and Airbnb.</p> <p>You don’t get that kind of career trajectory by playing it safe.</p> <p>In this episode, Ania shares how taking bold risks has helped her succeed, and why she’s building a culture where people are encouraged to be bold, experiment, and learn both from what works and what doesn’t.</p> <p>If you want to mo...
#274: Chuck Robbins, Chairman & CEO, Cisco – Adapt your leadership style
<p>Great leaders don’t cling to one leadership style.</p> <p>They adapt as people and situations change. And they figure out how to do it without losing what makes them real.</p> <p>Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins shares how he’s learned to lead through major transformation with honesty, vulnerability, and a clear understanding of what his people – all 90,000 of them – need from him.</p> <p>If you're navigating change (or just trying to be a little more human as a leader!), then this one’s for you.</p> <p>You’ll also learn:</p> How to scale your busines...
#273: Tony Capuano, President & CEO, Marriott International – Success is never final
<p>How do you keep your team motivated, even when things are going well? </p> <p>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.</p> <p>But he’s also keenly aware that success is never final. And it’s up to leaders to set the pace and keep raising the bar. So if you want to build a culture that never settles, this is the episode for you! </p> <p>You’ll also learn:</p> Three traits he...
#272: 5 ideas to lead with more clarity in 2026
<p>Happy New Year! We’re ringing in 2026 with a special episode to help you lead with more intention and focus this year.</p> <p>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 enough to fit on an index card.<br>If you want to make 2026 the year you focus on the right things (not just more things), then this is the episode for you.</p> <p>Take your learning further. Get proven leadership advice from th...
#271: Childhood moments that shaped the world’s top leaders
<p>In this special holiday episode, David and Koula revisit one of our favorite questions around here:</p> <p>What’s a story from your childhood that shaped the kind of leader you are today?</p> <p>You’ll hear funny, insightful stories from past guests like Jamie Dimon (CEO of JPMorgan Chase), Lynsi Snyder (Owner of In-N-Out), Andy Jassy (CEO Amazon), and many more top leaders.</p> <p>As you slow down for the holiday season to spend time with your loved ones, let this episode remind you how important it is to know your own story and learn from...
#270: Allison Ellsworth, Founder & Lead Creative, poppi – Build your brand
<p>Go behind the scenes of one of today’s hottest brands with Allison Ellsworth, founder and Lead Creative at poppi.</p> <p>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 million in just four years.</p> <p>In this episode, Allison shares how to build a brand that moves fast, disrupts in all the right ways, and knows exactly how to stay culturally relevant.</p> <p>You’ll also learn:</p> What a “black ops budget” is – and why you need one! The importan...
