How Leaders Lead with David Novak

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...

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...

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 he...

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 f...

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 you...

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 con...

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:

The tech landscape is changing faster than ever, as we’re all trying to navigate big shifts in AI, consumer shopping habits, and more.

But it’s nothing new to Julie Bornstein. She’s been at the forefront of retail for decades, leading big brands like Nordstrom and Sephora through the ecommerce revolution.

And now, as the Founder and CEO of the AI-powered fashion search engine Daydream, she’s once again at the bleeding edge of technological change. 

But through every shift, the thing she keeps coming back to is this: people skills matter mo...

If you’re a leader, you know how important the skill of listening is. It’s the foundation for every strong relationship in your world. But in the daily hustle, it can be hard to slow down and truly be present in every meeting and conversation.

Take it from Marty Smith, one of ESPN’s most recognizable faces. In his years covering college football, golf, and NASCAR, he’s earned the trust of some of the sports world’s biggest names … simply by listening well.

In this episode, he takes us behind the scenes of those relati...

What separates leaders who survive massive change from the ones who get blindsided by it?

David Dorman has had a front row seat to disruption throughout his career, both as the former CEO of AT&T and as a board member for PayPal, Motorola, CVS, and Dell. 

In this conversation, he talks about how he “sees around corners” – not only preparing for industry shifts before they happen but also becoming the kind of leader people trust to guide them through it. 

This episode is for you if: 

You spend more time thinking...

Happy 250th birthday to the United States of America! It’s a great moment to reflect on everything that makes this country so special. And maybe have a hot dog or two.

But this milestone also comes at a moment where our country feels more divided than ever. So today, David sits down with Joe Manchin, the former Governor and Senator of West Virginia. His independent political stance gave him a unique opportunity to find common ground in Washington, even among people with deep disagreements.

Every leader needs to get people with different perspectives aligned an...

Dave Ritterbush has helped lead some of the most successful consumer brands in America, including Califia Farms, Dreyer’s, and Quest, which sold for a billion dollars in 2019.

And he’s learned something that most leaders never figure out: you have to build your current systems for what’s next. Make sure you have the right infrastructure, processes, and organizational capabilities before you need them, not after.

If not, you may find that the biggest obstacle for your company’s growth … is your own company! Listen to this episode and get inspired to think bigger, build bett...

The World Cup is in full swing, and if you’re watching, you know – the intensity and stakes are unlike anything else in sports. 

So it’s the perfect time to sit down with Landon Donovan, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest American soccer players of all time.

But after a disappointing performance in the 2006 World Cup, he nearly walked away from the sport entirely. 

That crisis taught him a powerful leadership lesson: you can’t make your job your whole identity. And that insight – alongside some therapy – gave him the freedom to...

Shawn Johnson won America’s hearts as a gold medal gymnast at the 2008 Olympics. And her husband, Andrew East, is a former NFL player.
But after their athletic careers, they stepped into the world of content creation – and quickly realized they had no idea what they were doing.

They dove in headfirst, experimenting and learning as they went – with plenty of missteps along the way. But it worked: they’ve built a following of over 12 million people across all social channels. And together they run the media company Family Made – all while being true to themselves...

As the Partner and Co-Founder of Piedmont Capital Partners, Bobby Long invests in big problems that need big solutions – stuff like Alzheimer’s research and lithium ion technology.

But he does it all in the most relational way: listening with humility, doing deals on a handshake, and looking for ways to truly serve everyone he meets, regardless of their status.

In this episode you're going to find out what happens when someone decides to use everything they've built to actually change the world.

These days, it can feel like climbing the ladder of succ...

If you lead a business, you know providing great service is vital.

But what does that actually mean?

For David Lafitte, CEO of the popular Western retailer Tecovas, it means radical hospitality. Stuff like offering shoppers free drinks, personalization, and a space to linger. Treating everyone who walks through the doors like a high-value customer. Encouraging staff to create relationships, not just transactions. 

And as you’ll see in this conversation, that kind of people-first mentality doesn’t apply only to customer service. It can also change the way you build your whole busin...

Today, she is the CEO of Ulta Beauty, leading over 1500 stores worldwide, striking partnerships with Chanel and Beyonce, and creating record growth since she took over in early 2025. 

That kind of career momentum doesn’t happen by accident. And in this conversation, you’ll see the “progress over perfection” mentality that’s helped Kecia do it – all while building a strong team culture that’s laser focused on serving customers. 

If you’ve ever felt stuck overthinking a decision, here’s what it takes to beat analysis paralysis and keep pushing forward even when you don’t have all the a...

What’s the soul of your brand? And why might it be the secret to unlocking a new chapter of growth for your company?

Today, David sits down with Mark Smucker. He’s the CEO and Chair of The J.M. Smucker Company, which is home to iconic brands like Smucker’s, Folgers, Uncrustables, Hostess, and Milk Bone.

And he’s obsessed with understanding the soul of a brand. By knowing what his brands truly stand for, he and his team can make smarter creative decisions, take the right risks, and keep growing even when consumer...

Minted Founder Mariam Naficy was ready to shut it all down. She’d spent nearly all the capital from her angel round, but nothing was selling. 

Then, she experimented with crowdsourcing stationery and card designs from independent artists, and everything changed.

Sales exploded. And 18 years later, Minted is in 75 million homes worldwide, empowering tens of thousands of independent artists and designers to make a living.

And it’s a testament to Mariam’s ability to find the potential in people that others miss. Whether it’s with customers, independent artists, or her own team, she...

You’re hustling to land new customers … but what if the ones you already have are quietly slipping away?

Kurt Kane saw this problem on day one as CEO of TruGreen. And after years of driving transactional growth as CMO of Wendy’s, he saw the opportunity to grow TruGreen by leaning into long-term customer satisfaction and retention. Now, he’s revitalizing the brand and getting his team engaged in the mission, too.

This episode will help you see your customers (and their feedback) in a whole new light – and reveal just how important it is to fall...

Most leaders think they’re in the business of selling their product. JC Curleigh thinks that’s exactly what limits your growth.

And as CEO of Pelican, he’s helping the company make a profound shift: they’re not in the protective case business, they’re in the protection business.

JC understands that great brands sell more than products, and he knows how to position them the right way. In fact, it’s how he led turnarounds at iconic brands like Levi’s and Gibson Guitars. 

In today’s episode, you’ll see how to use the same...

Most leaders say they’re comfortable with change.

But what happens when the change is so big, it threatens your entire business model?

Julie Hansen is no stranger to disruption, having spent her career in online media. Now, as CEO of the language learning app Babbel, she’s facing the biggest one yet. AI is changing the way we learn languages — and raising questions about whether we’ll need to at all.

But Julie doesn’t fear change. In fact, in her words, “if your business isn’t changing, it’s dying.” 

In this episode...

Most organizations look inward when they build strategy. How did we do last year? Can we do 10% better this year?

But that internal focus makes you miss the big changes happening in your market. 

When it comes to disruptive change, John Donahoe has seen it all — as the CEO of Nike, eBay, and ServiceNow. Today, he’s navigating the seismic changes in college sports as Athletic Director at Stanford.

In this conversation, he’ll unpack how to navigate big changes with smart strategy and servant-minded leadership. Plus, he gets vulnerable about the mistakes he made...

In his 29 years as a PGA Tour caddie, Ted Scott has won four Masters and an Olympic gold – not by having all the answers, but by asking the right questions at the right time. 

It’s how Ted guides the #1 player in the world, Scottie Scheffler, without getting in the way of his greatness. It’s his go-to strategy for getting better at anything. And it’s why he’s considered by many to be one of the best caddies to ever pick up a bag.

If you’ve ever struggled with when to speak up and when t...

Five years ago, Shea Ralph walked in as head coach of Vanderbilt’s women’s basketball team and inherited a broken program. There wasn’t much trust or talent left.

But now, Vandy is flying as a #2 seed in this year’s NCAA tournament, and Shea has just been named National Coach of the Year. 

Go behind the scenes of their turnaround, and see how Shea’s unique story and perspective helped drive it – including how she motivates her team to get good results without letting those results define who they are. 

You’ll also learn:<...

Roy Williams is without a doubt one of the best college basketball coaches of all time. As the men’s head basketball coach at two storied programs – Kansas and UNC – he won three national championships and made nine Final Four appearances.

And through every moment, Roy had one standard: don’t step off the court until you’ve gotten better. That applied to his players, his staff, and himself.

Most leaders know they should focus on daily improvement. The hard part is actually making it into something real instead of just empty words. In this episode, R...

Peter Wharton-Hood became CEO of LIFE Healthcare in August 2020 – right in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic – with no healthcare experience.

He was an accomplished banking executive, but he had zero context for what it takes to run a hospital. And it was his job to lead 16,000 healthcare workers through a generational crisis.

But Peter stepped into the role with a team-first philosophy that’s shaped his whole career. His people are his priority. He puts the team’s best interest before his own, and he isn’t afraid to cut a top performer if they aren’...

“You have to be brutal with your time.”

As the Chair, President and CEO of Allstate, Tom Wilson knows that time is the one resource you can’t get more of. And he is the master of every hour on his calendar.

But Tom’s discipline with time isn’t about shutting people out. It’s about being present for what matters – and knowing exactly what that is.

In this episode, Tom shares how to be ruthlessly disciplined with your time while staying deeply connected to your team and purpose, why clarity is the ultimate f...

Content Warning: This episode includes a candid conversation about depression and suicide. 

If you or someone you know is struggling, you can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential, and available 24/7. You’re not alone.

—

Blake Mycoskie built TOMS into a $700 million business with a simple idea: sell a pair of shoes, give a pair away to a child in need.

But that success didn’t protect him from a seven-year battle with depression. And after selling TOMS, he lost his sense of purpose – and nearly lost...

“This is a once-in-a-generation technology transition.”

That’s how Eric Kutcher, Senior Partner and North America Chair at McKinsey & Company describes the AI moment we’re living through. And he should know: he’s spent 28 years coaching the world’s top companies through massive change.

In this 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.

You’ll also learn:

How do you get 7,000 people aligned on a new strategy? Ask Logitech CEO Hanneke Faber, who pulled it off in just 24 hours.

The former Dutch national diving champion (yes, really) knows that the best strategies aren’t handed down from above. They’re co-created with the people who’ll bring them to life. And at Logitech, the results speak for themselves: eight consecutive quarters of growth and record margins.

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...

The 2026 Winter Olympics kick off tomorrow! And who better to get you in the spirit than the guy who has brought Olympic stories to life for more than four decades!

Jimmy Roberts is a 13-time Emmy Award-winning broadcaster for NBC and the Golf Channel, and he’s the voice behind some of the most unforgettable human moments in Olympic history.

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.

Whether you’re leading a team, trying to b...

You don’t win three Super Bowls without knowing how to be a great teammate.

Jason Garrett spent years as an NFL quarterback, then served as Head Coach of the Dallas Cowboys. And through it all, he’s learned that strong teams need shared commitment from everyone, not just the leader.

In this 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.

Plus, it’s full of grea...

When Ania moved to the US from Poland at the tender age of 12, she didn’t speak a word of English.

Today, she’s the CEO of Taskrabbit, after building her leadership chops at Walmart, Uber, and Airbnb.

You don’t get that kind of career trajectory by playing it safe.

In this episode, Ania shares 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.

If you want to mo...

Great leaders don’t cling to one leadership style.

They adapt as people and situations change. And they figure out how to do it without losing what makes them real.

Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins shares how he’s learned to lead through major transformation with honesty, vulnerability, and a clear understanding of what his people – all 90,000 of them – need from him.

If you're navigating change (or just trying to be a little more human as a leader!), then this one’s for you.

You’ll also learn:

How do you keep your team motivated, even when things are going well? 

Just ask Marriott President and CEO Tony Capuano. As the guy in charge of the world’s largest hospitality company (10,000 hotels in 143 countries!), he knows a thing or two about success.

But he’s also keenly aware that success 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! 

You’ll also learn:

Happy New Year! We’re ringing in 2026 with a special episode to help you lead with more intention and focus this year.

And this time, Koula puts David in the hot seat! He shares the five simple practices he returns to every year to build momentum (without burning out by February). One is simple enough to fit on an index card.
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.

Take your learning further. Get proven leadership advice from th...

In this special holiday episode, David and Koula revisit one of our favorite questions around here:

What’s a story from your childhood that shaped the kind of leader you are today?

You’ll hear funny, insightful stories from past guests like Jamie Dimon (CEO of JPMorgan Chase), Lynsi Snyder (Owner of In-N-Out), Andy Jassy (CEO Amazon), and many more top leaders.

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...

Go behind the scenes of one of today’s hottest brands with Allison Ellsworth, founder and Lead Creative at poppi.

After a memorable Shark Tank appearance, poppi exploded into the cultural zeitgeist – going viral on TikTok, getting shout-outs from celebrities, and scaling from startup to $500 million in just four years.

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.

You’ll also learn:

Can Red Lobster pull off the greatest comeback in restaurant history? After filing for bankruptcy, shedding value, and losing relevance, it won’t be easy.

But it’s the kind of challenge that Damola Adamolekun thrives in. After returning P.F. Chang’s to profitability, he is now making waves as Red Lobster’s youngest-ever CEO.

In this episode, he shares what it’s like to lead at a young age, the strategies that work in a turnaround, and how to show your team a clear path to success without sugarcoating the truth.

You’ll als...