Episodes

  • #246: Jimmy Kirchdorfer, Chairman and CEO of ISCO Industries – Grow the business so your people can grow with it

    #246: Jimmy Kirchdorfer, Chairman and CEO of ISCO Industries – Grow the business so your people can grow with it
    Jul 3 2025
    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.
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    50 mins
  • 3 More Questions (Bob Jordan) with David Novak and Koula Callahan

    3 More Questions (Bob Jordan) with David Novak and Koula Callahan
    Jun 30 2025
    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!
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    13 mins
  • #245: Bob Jordan, CEO of Southwest Airlines – Be both an optimist and a realist

    #245: Bob Jordan, CEO of Southwest Airlines – Be both an optimist and a realist
    Jun 26 2025
    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.
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    49 mins
  • 3 More Questions (Sanjit Biswas) with David Novak and Koula Callahan

    3 More Questions (Sanjit Biswas) with David Novak and Koula Callahan
    Jun 23 2025
    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!
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    10 mins
  • #244: Sanjit Biswas, Cofounder and CEO of Samsara – Big eyes, big ears

    #244: Sanjit Biswas, Cofounder and CEO of Samsara – Big eyes, big ears
    Jun 19 2025
    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.
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    1 hr
  • 3 More Questions (Steve Case) with David Novak and Koula Callahan

    3 More Questions (Steve Case) with David Novak and Koula Callahan
    Jun 16 2025
    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!
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    14 mins
  • #243: Steve Case, Cofounder of AOL – Success takes time

    #243: Steve Case, Cofounder of AOL – Success takes time
    Jun 12 2025
    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.
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    1 hr and 1 min
  • 3 More Questions (Gui Loureiro) with David Novak and Koula Callahan

    3 More Questions (Gui Loureiro) with David Novak and Koula Callahan
    Jun 9 2025
    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!
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    10 mins