meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
How Leaders Lead with David Novak

#262: Lew Frankfort, Chairman Emeritus and former CEO of Coach – Combine magic and logic

How Leaders Lead with David Novak

David Novak Leadership

Entrepreneurship, Business, Management

4.8596 Ratings

🗓️ 23 October 2025

⏱️ 62 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

He built Coach from a small leather goods brand into a $5 billion global fashion powerhouse.  But Lew Frankfort’s rise to the top isn’t what you’d expect. He started out in public service and even got passed over for a promotion for being “too principled.” But when he came to Coach, he brought relentless drive, strong investigative instincts, and a unique leadership philosophy he calls “Magic + Logic.”  He’s got wisdom to help any leader who wants to build something that lasts – with both quality execution and inspired creativity. In this episode, he shares: What a guidance counselor told him in 9th grade that almost changed everything What to do when you spot a gap in the marketplace One unusual trait to develop if you want to excel at product development and marketing A helpful analogy to help you manage conflict 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.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

There's no product that's more intimate to a consumer, to a woman, than a handbag.

0:06.1

She opens it 60, 70 times a day.

0:09.4

Her essentials are in there.

0:10.8

She touches it, feels it.

0:17.4

If someone had told 20-year-old Lou that handbags would define his career,

0:23.3

what would you have said back then?

0:25.4

I would have said that's absurd.

0:28.0

There's no way.

0:30.0

I would be flabbergasted if someone said it.

0:32.9

And I would think that it would be an out-of-body experience like me going to the moon.

0:39.4

Well, we're going to learn how you got there.

0:42.7

And I want to start by taking you back and taking you way back.

0:46.5

And, you know, you grew up in the Bronx, as I understand it.

0:49.5

Your father was a policeman.

0:52.0

What's a story from your childhood that shaped the kind of leader you are today, Lou?

0:56.6

I think it had to do with going way back with my mother's and father's belief that I could be anything if I worked hard and I was relentless.

1:09.0

And their belief in me unconditionally really helped me through tough periods.

1:15.7

Do you remember a time when, or a story when you felt that belief from them that they gave

1:21.6

you that sense that you could just make anything happen?

1:24.0

I do.

1:24.8

I vividly remember a moment when I was in the ninth grade sitting in a

1:31.0

guidance counselor's office, Mr. Schmutter, with my mother next to me. And he looked at us and said,

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from David Novak Leadership, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of David Novak Leadership and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.