#251: Peter Cuneo, Former CEO and Vice Chairman of Marvel Entertainment – Embrace the unfamiliar
Every leader faces the unknown. The best ones lean into it.
When Peter Cuneo became CEO of Marvel, the company had just emerged from bankruptcy. But under his leadership, it became one of the most valuable entertainment brands in the world. By the time it was sold to Disney, Marvel’s stock had risen from just 96 cents to over $50 a share.
In this episode, Peter shares the bold, practical leadership moves behind that remarkable turnaround—and how embracing the unfamiliar helped him spark innovation, make big bets, and unlock his team’s full potential.
You’ll also learn:
Why your “outsider” status is a secret weapon
What to protect at all costs if you want a creative culture
The strategic thinking behind hiring Robert Downey, Jr. as Ironman
The two culture shifts every turnaround needs
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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33:44
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33:44
3 More Questions (Dr. Michael Gervais) with David Novak and Koula Callahan
On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to:
Do you agree with the idea that everything someone needs is already inside of them?
How can leaders incorporate mental skills training into their day-to-day routine?
What other methods or frameworks are helpful in building confidence as a leader?
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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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11:24
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11:24
#250: Dr. Michael Gervais, Renowned high-performance psychologist and founder of Finding Mastery – Train your mind
Most people think confidence and resilience are just part of your personality. But high-performance psychologist Dr. Michael Gervais knows better: they’re skills you can train.
In this inspiring and practical conversation, Dr. Gervais shares the same mental strategies he uses to help Super Bowl champions, Olympic gold medalists, and top Fortune 500 CEOs be at their best.
Hit play now and learn how to train your mind and unlock new levels of performance in your work!
You’ll also learn:
A simple process for finding your personal purpose
A better way to think about teams (especially if you're tired of thinking about teams)
How to hack your confidence
The mindset some people dismiss—and top performers rely on
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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1:00:53
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1:00:53
3 More Questions (Zak Brown) with David Novak and Koula Callahan
On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to:
What’s the most interesting thing you learned about F1 racing from your interview with Zak?
What do you think about clarity beating the consensus in high pressure moments?
How does a leader ensure that every person on the team is tied to the overall performance of the organization?
———
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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9:25
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9:25
#249: Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing – Performance is everyone’s job
You can hire great people and set bold goals … yet still fall short. Why?
Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing, knows the answer. And it has less to do with talent, and more to do with something most leaders overlook.
This episode pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to build a high-performance team—and why clarity might be your most powerful tool.
You’ll also learn:
Why exclusivity was hurting the brand—and what fixed it
The mindset you need if you want long-term partnerships
How to make split-second decisions (with wisdom straight from the pit!)
What most leaders miss about gathering real input
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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