#240: Scott Boatwright, CEO of Chipotle – Remove complexity to unlock performance
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.
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50:16
3 More Questions (Andy Jassy) with David Novak and Koula Callahan
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?
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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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10:21
#239: Andy Jassy, CEO of Amazon – Start with the customer and work backward
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.
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51:40
3 More Questions (Ed Bastian) with David Novak and Koula Callahan
On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to:
Do leaders need to be readily available, or is there a line?
What can other leaders learn from how Ed navigated the reinvention of the company?
What would you say to leaders facing unimaginable personal or professional hardship about how to keep going when it all feels like too much?
———
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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9:17
#238: Ed Bastian, CEO of Delta Air Lines – Never stop improving
Ever catch yourself coasting after a big win?
That’s the moment today’s guest would tell you to push even harder.
In this episode of How Leaders Lead, Delta CEO Ed Bastian shares how he keeps one of the world’s most awarded airlines moving forward—without getting complacent.
You’ll see how his mindset of continuous improvement shapes Delta’s culture, sharpens performance, and helps his team stay ahead in one of the world’s most competitive industries.
You’ll also learn:
One factor that can always differentiate your business
The surprising way that product quality shapes your culture
An inspiring mindset for anyone who’s in a tough moment
What Tom Brady (yes THAT Tom Brady) is teaching Delta
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.
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 wisdom of these leaders into actionable insights you can use to elevate your own leadership game. Whether you’re just starting your leadership journey or already leading teams, this show helps you build the confidence you need to lead well.
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