On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: What do you think about edginess in branding and reframing edginess as entertainment? What advice do you have for leaders trying to build momentum for a brand just starting out? What can leaders of larger companies do to stay agile and move fast in the same way small companies can? ——— 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!

They sold a $300 coffin. They made a candle with Ozzy Osbourne’s DNA. And built a $1.4B beverage brand doing it. Mike Cessario, founder and CEO of Liquid Death, has turned irreverent ideas into a marketing juggernaut. But behind the stunts is a seriously disciplined approach to brand, strategy, and execution. If you're building a challenger brand—or just trying to make people actually notice your product—don’t miss this episode. You’ll also learn: How to earn attention, even on a tiny budget The kind of “unsafe” marketing ideas that break through the noise What challenger brands can do to beat the big guys Why you should market to the customers everyone else ignores 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 can leaders define the concept of "emotional brand equity" in their own brand? How simple is the turnaround strategy SDSS x2 (“stop doing stupid stuff” … and then “start doing smart stuff”)? How do you know when to listen to data and when to rely on pure willpower to get something done? ——— 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!

The real product isn’t always what’s on the shelf. It’s the story—and the feeling—that comes with it. Sharon Price John, CEO of Build‑A‑Bear, reinvented a mall staple by returning the company from a $49 million loss to sustained profits while expanding into digital, adult, and licensing channels.  And here’s the insight that anchored her: Build‑A‑Bear isn’t selling teddy bears. It’s selling meaning. If you want to expand and grow your brand (without losing its heart), hit play on this episode! You’ll also learn: A turnaround formula so simple, it fits in four letters An analogy to honor your company’s past—without getting stuck in it The math (and magic) behind a viral “Pay Your Age” campaign What decisive leaders understand that hesitant ones miss 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 do YOU  think about mission statements? What are some practical ways a leader can drive the concept of "psychological safety" throughout their organization? What’s your perspective on encouraging emerging leaders to chase what they are good at? ——— 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’s the real purpose of business growth? According to Jimmy Kirchdorfer, CEO of ISCO Industries, it’s not just revenue or market share. It’s about creating opportunity—for your team, your customers, and your culture. In this episode, he shares how a golf irrigation supplier grew into a global pipe distributor. It’s a powerful blueprint that shows you how reinvesting in growth (and people) can power your success and scale your business. You’ll also learn:  Why “do what you love” might be terrible career advice What psychological safety looks like in a team (and how to preserve it) The one sales skill leaders often overlook Jimmy’s first-hand story of bailing Scottie Scheffler out of jail at the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla 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 do you handle criticism when you make a public statement and then change your mind? What are your thoughts on the perspective that someone should try and avoid making an impact on day one of their new role? What’s the best advice you’d give a leader on how to handle high stress? ——— 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’re leading through a tough season, you know how easy it can be to either sugarcoat the truth or get overwhelmed by it. Southwest Airlines CEO Bob Jordan has faced a lot of challenges since he took over in 2022—from operational setbacks to major policy shifts. In this episode, he shares how important it is to be honest about the reality you’re facing while also staying optimistic about what’s next. Listen to this episode and you’ll have a powerful framework for leading through whatever challenges you’re up against right now.You’ll also learn: The #1 thing to do if you want to develop more leaders A better mindset for handling pressure without burning out Advice for changing your stance on an issue What most leaders get wrong in crisis communication 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 do you make space for new ideas? What do you think about team discipline to create more long term business sustainability? What can other leaders learn from the "big eyes and big ears" approach to meeting with customers? ——— 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 want to build smarter solutions and truly serve your customers, you’ve got to get closer to what they’re struggling with. In this episode, Samsara CEO Sanjit Biswas shares how his “big eyes, big ears” mindset helps uncover those opportunities.  You’ll also learn: How to make your engineers love sales (no, really) The one thing you’re missing about curiosity Practical ideas to put your core values into action A helpful formula to prioritize your R&D budget 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 does a leader know if their idea is good enough to power through the slog? What does it mean for revolution to happen through evolutionary ways? Why is it important to change the scenery in order to go "hunt" for new business ideas? ——— 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!

When you’re building something new, it’s easy to get discouraged by how long it takes to gain traction. But if anyone knows how to stay in the game, it’s Steve Case. In this episode, the AOL cofounder and Revolution CEO opens up about the grit, patience, and strategy it took to pioneer the internet—and why most success stories take a lot longer than people think. You’ll hear how he built AOL through years of slow progress, what he looks for in entrepreneurs today, and how that iconic line, “You’ve Got Mail,” came to be. If you’re feeling stuck or off track, this episode will help you refocus and recharge!You’ll also learn: Three qualities of successful entrepreneurs The #1 mindset you need if your business is in growth mode A powerful leadership lesson from the disappointing AOL-Time Warner merger Why a one-size-fits-all leadership style might let you down 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 does it mean to perform in order to transform? Why is it important to discuss what is not going to be done when a company is strategizing? Why is the power of positivity so important 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!

If you’re wanting to see big change in your company, here’s a question: are you willing to change, too? Gui Loureiro, regional CEO of Walmart for Canada, Chile, Mexico, and Central America, shares what it took to lead a digital and cultural overhaul at Walmart Mexico—and why he had to evolve as a leader to make it happen. This episode is a powerful reminder that the big transformations you want for your team and company will also mean some transformation for you personally.  You’ll also learn: A powerful question to ask in meetings that’ll keep your work customer focused Specific strategies that help your team feel valued How to shift to a more agile process for implementing ideas An insight you need to hear before your next career talk with your boss 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 can leaders empower their people to own decisions while still ensuring they deliver on what matters most? How can leaders avoid over-indexing on data and still keep people at the heart of decision making? What are the most important ways a leader can set the right tone? ——— 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 your smartest people aren’t stepping up, maybe it’s time to look in the mirror. In this episode, David sits down with Greg Johnson, the Chairman of Franklin Templeton and principal owner of the San Francisco Giants. Greg shares why ownership—not control—is the key to building high-performing teams and retaining top talent. Whether you lead in finance, sports, or anywhere in between, you’ll walk away with practical strategies to give your people more agency and unlock their full potential. You’ll also learn:  Why you really shouldn’t wait to fix that personnel issue One danger to watch out for when you expand The two elements to focus on if you want to develop more leaders What really drives employee retention 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: Why might it be smart to lean into a leadership role before it's officially yours? How do developmental initiatives help newly promoted leaders transition into their new roles while maintaining strong relationships with former peers? Why are simple team member exercises like listing out responsibilities so powerful? ——— 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!

Why do good teams sometimes fall short? Too often, leaders blame the people — when the real problem is the system they’re working in. In this episode, Chipotle CEO Scott Boatwright shares how operational clarity can unlock performance across your organization.  This conversation is packed with practical insights to help you eliminate friction and elevate your team’s performance. You’ll also learn:  What you're getting wrong about accountability Two factors that will boost your confidence The mindset you need heading into every performance review Scott’s take on tariffs, consumer confidence – and what it means for leaders right now 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 does someone deal with the pressures of figuring out their path early in their career? How does a "shadow role" help prepare both the individual and the company for a smooth leadership transition? How does the paradigm of having either a one-way door or a two-way door decision empower employees within a big company like Amazon? ——— 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!

It’s easy to say you care about customers. But how do you actually make decisions with them in mind? In this episode, David sits down with Amazon CEO Andy Jassy for a behind-the-scenes look at how one of the world’s biggest companies keeps customer focus at the heart of everything, from product launches to leadership culture. You’ll also learn:  The two documents you need before you launch anything big What it’s like to shadow Jeff Bezos in every meeting A simple framework to help you delegate the right decisions  Why Andy thinks AI will reinvent customer experience as we know 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.