How Leaders Lead with David Novak

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#297: Dave Ritterbush, CEO, Califia Farms – Build for what’s next

June 25, 2026

Dave Ritterbush has helped lead some of the most successful consumer brands in America, including Califia Farms, Dreyer’s, and Quest, which sold for a billion dollars in 2019. And he’s learned something that most leaders never figure out: you have to build your current systems for what’s next. Make sure you have the right infrastructure, processes, and organizational capabilities before you need them, not after. If not, you may find that the biggest obstacle for your company’s growth … is y...

#296: Landon Donovan, US Soccer Legend – Separate who you are from what you do

June 18, 2026

The World Cup is in full swing, and if you’re watching, you know – the intensity and stakes are unlike anything else in sports.  So it’s the perfect time to sit down with Landon Donovan, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest American soccer players of all time. But after a disappointing performance in the 2006 World Cup, he nearly walked away from the sport entirely.  That crisis taught him a powerful leadership lesson: you can’t make your job your whole identity. And that insight ...

#295: Shawn Johnson & Andrew East, Olympic Gold Medalist, Former NFL Pro – Experiment and learn by doing

June 17, 2026

Shawn Johnson won America’s hearts as a gold medal gymnast at the 2008 Olympics. And her husband, Andrew East, is a former NFL player.But after their athletic careers, they stepped into the world of content creation – and quickly realized they had no idea what they were doing. They dove in headfirst, experimenting and learning as they went – with plenty of missteps along the way. But it worked: they’ve built a following of over 12 million people across all social channels. And together they ...