If you want to ignite your creativity and develop great ideas, you’ve got to understand the power of pattern thinking. 

It’s the ability to spot what’s working for someone else, and then adapt it to your own situation to create something new.

And this episode’s guest is an outstanding pattern thinker. Scott Harrison is the founder of the nonprofit charity:water, which works to bring clean, safe water to the more than 700 million people in the world who need it.

Listen to this conversation to see pattern thinking is helping him do it—and how you can put this skill to work in your world, too.

You’ll also learn:

• How to build a compelling brand
• What a major career pivot looks like
• The power of storytelling
• One way to keep your blindspots from setting you back

Here is the article David mentioned: Six practical ideas to transform your business with the power of pattern thinking

———

FEATURED RESOURCES

The How Leaders Lead mobile app

Download the app and scale up your leadership skills in under 2 minutes a day

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to:

1. What's the most powerful leadership lesson you’ve learned from the female leaders you’ve worked with?
2. How can managers strike the balance of letting people make mistakes and learn for themselves while at the same time not jeopardize business performance?
3. As a leader, how do you know when it’s time to go?

———

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 Erika Ayers Badan became the CEO of Barstool Sports, they didn’t even have a P&L. Eight years later, they’re a media empire and a household name worth over $550 million.

Listen to this conversation to get an inside look at how Erika led that effort, and what she’s up to now as the CEO of Food52. 

You’ll also see how Erika leads with honesty and directness. She doesn’t shy away from the tough stuff, and that’s important if you want to build trust, solve problems, and get people working together toward a big vision. 

You’ll also learn:

• The strategy every upstart brand can use to beat the big guy
• How to get the most out of your creative team members
• What it takes to build an engaged online following
• Advice for women who work in male-dominated industries

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to:

1. What did you do to counter the negative perceptions and recruit great people to the food service industry?
2. What stood out to you most about Aaron’s leadership that you think leaders everywhere should emulate?
3. How much is too much when it comes to sharing with your team?

———

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 your team to feel comfortable taking risks and being open, it’s up to you to set an example of vulnerability.

That big idea comes through loud and clear in this conversation with Aaron Witt, the CEO of BuildWitt. His company serves what Aaron calls the “Dirt World” — those businesses doing the infrastructure and construction work most of us take for granted.

See how this up-and-coming leader sets the example of vulnerability, and learn a few tips to elevate your communication and storytelling skills along the way.

You’ll also learn:

• How to create memorable content that resonates with people
• The surprisingly “small” tip that will help you accomplish big goals 
• Why every leader should level up their communication skills
• The danger that might be lurking in times of big growth

———

FEATURED RESOURCE

The How Leaders Lead mobile app

Download the app and scale up your leadership skills in under 2 minutes a day

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to:

1. Did you ever have a viral moment happen at Yum! Brands?
2. How do you inspire your team to embrace an agile mindset daily, especially when the pace of change can feel overwhelming?
3. How did you embrace new technologies like AI?

———

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!

No doubt about it: the world is changing fast. 

As a leader, how do you help your team navigate that uncertainty instead of feeling overwhelmed by it?

Listen to this conversation with John Peyton, the CEO of Dine Brands – which includes IHOP, Applebee’s, and Fuzzy’s Taco Shop.

You’ll find practical strategies to help your team stay agile and act with urgency.

Because, let’s face it: a fast-changing world also brings a ton of opportunities if you know how to respond to them.

You’ll also learn:

• The real value of AI for businesses
• Three questions to answer if you want to differentiate your brand
• How to drive home a big message so it actually sticks
• The #1 leadership quality you need to connect with younger generations

———

FEATURED RESOURCE

The How Leaders Lead mobile app

Download the app and scale up your leadership skills in under 2 minutes a day

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to:

1. What’s your take on Fawn saying she went after a big project for the press story? Would you have done the same thing?
2. As a leader who mines every scenario for insights, what advice can you give leaders about “mining for the gem” in difficult scenarios?
3. How should leaders approach defining the ideal type of employee that aligns with their company’s needs and culture?

———

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 need some inspiration to keep moving forward on a big mission, this is it.

Today’s guest is Fawn Weaver, the Founder and CEO of Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, which has been the most awarded whiskey in the world for six years running.

It’s named for a former enslaved man named Nearest Green, who taught Jack Daniel everything he knew about distilling whiskey. Fawn uncovered his story and brought it to life, all while building a brand that’s valued at over $1 billion.

Hit play now to learn how she did it and get inspired by her relentless ability to learn from the past while always moving forward. You’ll also learn:

• What an “intrepreneur” is–and why you might need to hire them
• PR strategies that help your brand get the attention it deserves
• How to learn from your past without living in it
• Why you don’t need to follow every new leadership trend

***CONTENT NOTE*** In this episode Fawn talks briefly about how she flirted with suicide at age 20. She shares what she learned from it and how she used it as fuel to live a fulfilling life. Please take care while listening and feel free to skip ahead during that part if you need to.

———

FEATURED RESOURCE

The How Leaders Lead mobile app

Download the app and scale up your leadership skills in under 2 minutes a day

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to:

1. What’s your take on Tom saying you don't have to be passionate about your product in order to be a great leader?
2. What is your opinion on whether or not leaders should create emotional distance between themselves and their employees?
3.  If you were in Tom’s seat as CEO, how would your leadership style differ or not differ knowing that you were in the minority as a male?

———

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!

Today’s guest is Tom Nolan, the CEO of Kendra Scott, a jewelry brand that’s been crushing it lately—posting nearly double-digit growth for 44 consecutive months and counting.

But as you’ll hear today, it’s not just about the results. It’s about how you treat people along the way. In this episode, you’ll see how to make stronger connections with both your customers and your team members. And you’ll see how it can drive meaningful results in your business.

You’ll also learn:

• A weird advantage of not being passionate about your product
• What most leaders miss about customer satisfaction
• Must-hear advice for anyone who works with a founder
• Why innovation doesn’t have to mean chasing shiny new objects

———

FEATURED RESOURCE

The How Leaders Lead mobile app

Download the app and scale up your leadership skills in under 2 minutes a day