
#270: Allison Ellsworth, Founder & Lead Creative, poppi – Build your brand
2025-12-18 | 1h 4 mins.
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: What a “black ops budget” is – and why you need one! The importance of building a brand, not just selling a product What it’s really like to pitch on Shark Tank Channel-by-channel social media tips (one might make you squirm) 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.

#269: Damola Adamolekun, CEO, Red Lobster – Show the path to success
2025-12-11 | 59 mins.
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 also learn: The #1 reason companies falter after longstanding success Practical tips for anyone leading in a struggling business A mindset shift to help you better at accepting criticism Why your energy around the office matters more than you think 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.

#268: Gregg Renfrew, Founder and CEO of Counter – Step back to move forward
2025-12-04 | 1h 13 mins.
Imagine this: you build a company from scratch, sell it at a billion-dollar valuation, get ousted, and watch it crumble under new leadership… Then you buy it back, shut it down, rebrand it, relaunch it – and grow it all over again. That’s exactly what Gregg Renfrew, the Founder and CEO of clean beauty brand Counter (formerly Beautycounter) has done. In this episode, she opens up about the emotional and strategic rollercoaster behind one of the most dramatic stories in recent business history. She shares what she’s learned about product development, resilience, and why, sometimes, you’ve got to take a step back if you want to move forward. You’ll also learn: The power of emotional connection – and emotional distance Why you probably have too many products How Martha Stewart taught her NOT to lead Her no-BS take on beauty standards (hint: it’s actually a lesson in confidence) 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.

#267: Michael Meldman, Founder and Chairman of Discovery Land Company – Be one of one in your category
2025-11-27 | 1h 2 mins.
How do you make your brand stand out? Ask Michael Meldman. He’s the founder of Discovery Land Company, a global portfolio of high-end private golf communities known for doing things differently. By tossing out the traditional country club rulebook and building around comfort and community, he’s created a truly distinctive brand. He’s also a co-founder of Casamigos Tequila, the billion-dollar brand he built with George Clooney. In this episode, he shares how he builds brands that deliver exactly what the market wants and needs. If you want to create something unique or stand out in your category, don’t miss this one. You’ll also learn: What most leaders get wrong about brand experience The key to attracting great talent How to sell your product’s emotional benefits (not just its features) 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.

#266: Richard Fain, Former CEO of Royal Caribbean Group – Push past comfortable
2025-11-20 | 1h 12 mins.
Today’s cruise ships are floating cities – complete with waterslides, sushi bars, and even roller skating rinks. But it wasn’t always that way. Today, we’re joined by the leader who helped pioneer the megaship era and transform Royal Caribbean into a global vacation powerhouse. Richard Fain served as CEO for 33 years, building a culture where big ideas could thrive and the whole team was willing to push past what was comfortable or passable in order to deliver truly “wow” experiences. If you want to create a culture that’s big on innovation, don’t miss this episode. You’ll also learn: What “UFB” stands for (you can probably guess the middle letter) The surprisingly simple strategy that can help your internal initiatives take off How to apply the rule of thirds to your innovation strategy Why he got an emergency phone call from the Swedish Air Force 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 with David Novak