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How Leaders Lead with David Novak

#294: Bobby Long, Partner and Co-Founder, Piedmont Capital Partners – See the best in people

How Leaders Lead with David Novak

David Novak Leadership

Entrepreneurship, Business, Management

4.8596 Ratings

🗓️ 4 June 2026

⏱️ 68 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

As the Partner and Co-Founder of Piedmont Capital Partners, Bobby Long invests in big problems that need big solutions – stuff like Alzheimer’s research and lithium ion technology. But he does it all in the most relational way: listening with humility, doing deals on a handshake, and looking for ways to truly serve everyone he meets, regardless of their status. In this episode you're going to find out what happens when someone decides to use everything they've built to actually change the world. These days, it can feel like climbing the ladder of success means we have to be a little cynical and disingenuous in our relationships. But in this episode, you’ll see a better way – one where seeing the best in people can be what actually makes you successful.  You’ll also learn: The refreshing sales philosophy that made Bobby successful in the insurance business How to be generous to others without being a doormat What it really means to be a great communicator The shocking move he made to save a longstanding PGA golf tournament 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

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0:00.0

Hello and welcome to another episode of How Leaders Lead with David Noback.

0:04.4

Today we have Bobby Long on the show. He's the partner and co-founder of Piedmont Capital Partners,

0:09.5

and he invests in big problems that need big solutions, stuff like Alzheimer's Research and

0:14.9

lithium-ion technology. But Bobby does it in the most relational way. He listens with humility,

0:20.8

he does deals on a handshake.

0:22.3

And he looks for ways to truly serve everyone he meets.

0:26.1

In this episode, you're going to find out what happens when someone decides to use everything they've built to actually change the world.

0:33.6

Enjoy this episode with David and Bobby, and I will see you at the debrief.

0:43.0

Thank you. Enjoyed this episode with David and Bobby, and I will see you at the Deep Brief. You started your career at 22 cold calling Fortune 500 CEOs in New York to sell corporate life insurance.

0:52.3

That's true. Knowing almost nothing about the business when you did it.

0:56.8

You know, what gave you the audacity to go straight to the top?

1:01.6

I mean, you didn't go middle up.

1:03.3

You went straight to the top.

1:05.4

I figured if that's where the big market is, why am I going to waste my time doing anything else?

1:11.4

Let's go.

1:12.3

And I figured that I could get people that knew what they were doing to go with me because they would think this guy has, and this guy is half crazy.

1:24.3

And but I want to go see what happens.

1:26.3

And that's exactly what happened.

1:28.4

What's your most memorable call?

1:31.0

Well, actually, you know, it's like 29 years old, and we were doing a deal with Syrox,

1:36.9

and it was a guy named David Kearns, and we had gotten the deal done.

1:41.4

And that was a big deal, and he called me up, and he said, listen, I've got a, I need to see you in my office tomorrow

...

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