Heidi Pellerano

In conversation with the Chief Commercial Officer at the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football. This is the Blueprint, the podcast brought to you by Leaders and Deltatre about straightforward strategic thinking in sport. This series teases out insights from from leading industry executives about how they strategise. They’ll provide a fresh perspective on sport’s most recognisable organisations, with real life examples of where strategy worked (or didn’t). In this episode, Heidi Pellerano, who leads commercial initiatives at CONCACAF, joins Leaders’ Content Director David Cushnan and Deltatre’s Commercial Strategy Lead Max Barnett to outline her approach to strategic thinking, how and why investing in data is critical, and how working with member associations requires a flexible strategy. 

In conversation with the Chief Commercial Officer at the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football. This is the Blueprint, the podcast brought to you by Leaders and Deltatre about straightforward strategic thinking in sport.  This series teases out insights from from leading industry executives about how they strategise. They’ll provide a fresh perspective on sport’s most recognisable organisations, with real life examples of where strategy worked (or didn’t).  In this episode, Heidi Pellerano, who leads commercial initiatives at CONCACAF, joins Leaders’ Content Director David Cushnan and Deltatre’s Commercial Strategy Lead Max Barnett to outline her approach to strategic thinking, how and why investing in data is critical, and how working with member associations requires a flexible strategy.

The Blueprint – CONCACAF’s Heidi Pellerano

Leaders in EDI shines a light on the progress being made and the challenges being faced in the equity, diversity and inclusion space across sport and neighbouring industries. This season of the Leaders in EDI podcast series features perspectives from outside of the sports industry to develop a more holistic view of the EDI sector, to discuss what specific challenges other industries face, and to understand what we can learn from how they tackle them. Joanna Abeyie is a journalist, broadcaster and social impact entrepreneur who has spent the last 15 years committed to the EDI sector. She is Founder and MD of Blue Moon and Partners, an organisation designed to find the best talent for business and create inclusive environments for employees to thrive and drive business success. She is also Co-Secretariat at Creative Diversity APPG, a cross-party group in UK Parliament to identify and tackle obstacles to diversity in the creative sector, and acts as Commissioner at Civil Service Commission UK and Common Councillor at City of London. She recently stepped down as Head of Creative Diversity at the BBC, where she was tasked with ensuring on-air diversity and inclusions strategies across the broadcaster. The wide-ranging conversation, beginning at 3:05, includes insights into facilitating communication with and between production companies and commissioners, avoidance of stereotypes, and the current lack of socioeconomic inclusion in the creative industry - as well as talk around the best ways to implement EDI strategies, reliability of data (or lack thereof) and what more sport can do to mobilise against discrimination. 

Leaders in EDI shines a light on the progress being made and the challenges being faced in the equity, diversity and inclusion space across sport and neighbouring industries. This season of the Leaders in EDI podcast series features perspectives from outside of the sports industry to develop a more holistic view of the EDI sector, to discuss what specific challenges other industries face, and to understand what we can learn from how they tackle them. Joanna Abeyie is a journalist, broadcaster and social impact entrepreneur who has spent the last 15 years committed to the EDI sector. She is Founder and MD of Blue Moon and Partners, an organisation designed to find the best talent for business and create inclusive environments for employees to thrive and drive business success. She is also Co-Secretariat at Creative Diversity APPG, a cross-party group in UK Parliament to identify and tackle obstacles to diversity in the creative sector, and acts as Commissioner at Civil Service Commission UK and Common Councillor at City of London. She recently stepped down as Head of Creative Diversity at the BBC, where she was tasked with ensuring on-air diversity and inclusions strategies across the broadcaster.  The wide-ranging conversation, beginning at 3:05, includes insights into facilitating communication with and between production companies and commissioners, avoidance of stereotypes, and the current lack of socioeconomic inclusion in the creative industry - as well as talk around the best ways to implement EDI strategies, reliability of data (or lack thereof) and what more sport can do to mobilise against discrimination.

Leaders in EDI – The Creative Industry & Public Service (with Blue Moon’s Joanna Abeyie) 

The Blueprint returns with a conversation with the EVP of Business Operations &amp; Chief Strategy Officer at one of the most storied team brands in sport. This is the Blueprint, the podcast brought to you by Leaders and Deltatre about straightforward strategic thinking in sport.This series teases out insights from leading industry executives about how they strategise. They’ll provide a fresh perspective on sport’s most recognisable organisations, with real life examples of where strategy worked (or didn’t).Kicking off season two is Alex Sugarman Executive Vice President of Business Operations and Chief Strategy Officer at the Chicago Cubs. Having spent 13 years at the famed franchise, Sugarman joins Leaders’ Content Director David Cushnan and Deltatre’s Commercial Strategy Lead Max Barnett for a conversation covering how to work with ownership and operationalise their goals, measuring your strategy framework, and aligning with other local teams.

The Blueprint returns with a conversation with the EVP of Business Operations &amp; Chief Strategy Officer at one of the most storied team brands in sport. This is the Blueprint, the podcast brought to you by Leaders and Deltatre about straightforward strategic thinking in sport. This series teases out insights from leading industry executives about how they strategise. They’ll provide a fresh perspective on sport’s most recognisable organisations, with real life examples of where strategy worked (or didn’t). Kicking off season two is Alex Sugarman Executive Vice President of Business Operations and Chief Strategy Officer at the Chicago Cubs. Having spent 13 years at the famed franchise, Sugarman joins Leaders’ Content Director David Cushnan and Deltatre’s Commercial Strategy Lead Max Barnett for a conversation covering how to work with ownership and operationalise their goals, measuring your strategy framework, and aligning with other local teams.

The Blueprint: Chicago Cubs’ Alex Sugarman

A perspective on the music &amp; events industry from the man who brought #Merky Festival to Ibiza before making his mark at the world’s leading talent agency.Leaders in EDI shines a light on the progress being made and the challenges being faced in the equity, diversity and inclusion space across sport and neighbouring industries. This season of the Leaders in EDI podcast series will feature perspectives from outside of the sports industry to develop a more holistic view of the EDI sector, to discuss what specific challenges other industries face, and to understand what we can learn from how they tackle them.This episode features Jordan Hallpike speaking on the music and events industry. Hallpike holds the unique title of Crossover agent at WME, a world-class entertainment agency whose music roster features the likes of Adele, Bruno Mars, The Killers and Olivia Rodrigo. Prior to starting his current role in April 2022, wherein he facilitates new creative opportunities for WME’s esteemed roster of talent, Hallpike held the position of Director of Talent and Programming at Ibiza Rocks group. Having first joined the organisation in 2011, throughout his time there Jordan oversaw the expansion of Ibiza Rocks events from evening events to pool parties - successfully launching a residency with Craig David - and went on to conceptualise the #Merky Festival, which quickly became an Ibiza staple. Hallpike has also co-founded Applebum events (which celebrate Black and street culture) and creative design studio Midnight Movement.The insightful and engaging conversation, beginning at 5:07, includes talk of socioeconomic barriers to entry, the glass ceiling for minorities, gender imbalance and where the sports industry is learning from the music industry – as well as discussions on platforming artists from all backgrounds, and helping them to forge a brand and legacy.

A perspective on the music &amp; events industry from the man who brought #Merky Festival to Ibiza before making his mark at the world’s leading talent agency. Leaders in EDI shines a light on the progress being made and the challenges being faced in the equity, diversity and inclusion space across sport and neighbouring industries. This season of the Leaders in EDI podcast series will feature perspectives from outside of the sports industry to develop a more holistic view of the EDI sector, to discuss what specific challenges other industries face, and to understand what we can learn from how they tackle them. This episode features Jordan Hallpike speaking on the music and events industry. Hallpike holds the unique title of Crossover agent at WME, a world-class entertainment agency whose music roster features the likes of Adele, Bruno Mars, The Killers and Olivia Rodrigo. Prior to starting his current role in April 2022, wherein he facilitates new creative opportunities for WME’s esteemed roster of talent, Hallpike held the position of Director of Talent and Programming at Ibiza Rocks group. Having first joined the organisation in 2011, throughout his time there Jordan oversaw the expansion of Ibiza Rocks events from evening events to pool parties - successfully launching a residency with Craig David - and went on to conceptualise the #Merky Festival, which quickly became an Ibiza staple. Hallpike has also co-founded Applebum events (which celebrate Black and street culture) and creative design studio Midnight Movement. The insightful and engaging conversation, beginning at 5:07, includes talk of socioeconomic barriers to entry, the glass ceiling for minorities, gender imbalance and where the sports industry is learning from the music industry – as well as discussions on platforming artists from all backgrounds, and helping them to forge a brand and legacy.

Leaders in EDI: The Music & Events industry (with WME’s Jordan Hallpike)

The Founder of Black Eats LDN joins the series to discuss inclusivity in an industry that, through necessity, affects every living person.Leaders in EDI shines a light on the progress being made and the challenges being faced in the equity, diversity and inclusion space across sport and neighbouring industries. This season of the Leaders in EDI podcast series will feature perspectives from outside of the sports industry to develop a more holistic view of the EDI sector, to discuss what specific challenges other industries face, and to understand what we can learn from how they tackle them.This episode features Jackson Mclarty, speaking on the food, beverage &amp; hospitality industry. Mclarty is the Founder of Black Eats LDN, the UK’s first and (so far) only Black-owned restaurant directory. The organisation is a purpose-led platform that offering resources, consultancy services and curates exciting events content in order to platform Black-owned business and offer others the opportunity to engage with the culture. The organisation has hosted events that have seen 150,000+ attendees, and features 300+ restaurants with brand partners including Uber and Apple.The conversation, beginning at 4.27, includes conversation around appropriation vs. appreciation, the importance of affordability, how and why the traditional gender role of ‘woman as cook’ is not reflected in the number of professional chefs, and how diversifying food options at sports venues could positively impact the fan experience.

The Founder of Black Eats LDN joins the series to discuss inclusivity in an industry that, through necessity, affects every living person. Leaders in EDI shines a light on the progress being made and the challenges being faced in the equity, diversity and inclusion space across sport and neighbouring industries. This season of the Leaders in EDI podcast series will feature perspectives from outside of the sports industry to develop a more holistic view of the EDI sector, to discuss what specific challenges other industries face, and to understand what we can learn from how they tackle them. This episode features Jackson Mclarty, speaking on the food, beverage &amp; hospitality industry. Mclarty is the Founder of Black Eats LDN, the UK’s first and (so far) only Black-owned restaurant directory. The organisation is a purpose-led platform that offering resources, consultancy services and curates exciting events content in order to platform Black-owned business and offer others the opportunity to engage with the culture. The organisation has hosted events that have seen 150,000+ attendees, and features 300+ restaurants with brand partners including Uber and Apple. The conversation, beginning at 4.27, includes conversation around appropriation vs. appreciation, the importance of affordability, how and why the traditional gender role of ‘woman as cook’ is not reflected in the number of professional chefs, and how diversifying food options at sports venues could positively impact the fan experience.

 Leaders in EDI: The Food & Hospitality industry (with Black Eat LDN’s Jackson Mclarty)

This is Threats, a podcast about the changing sports media landscape and the conditions that threaten to undermine the traditional model.In this series, Leaders’ Editorial Director James Emmett and Synamedia’s Head of Sport Simon Brydon will identify the conditions that threaten to undermine the traditional model. Alongside a handful of prominent industry experts, they also explore ways that leaders can navigate the ever-evolving sports broadcast space for optimum success in the field.This episode focuses on innovation – how ever-changing technology provides both challenges and opportunities, and how to maximise on the latter. The featured guest is Sharon Fuller, VP of Content and Social for Europe and the Middle East at the NBA, who prior to joining the organisation in February held prominent content positions at Red Bull Media House and at the UK’s very first broadcast innovator, the BBC.

This is Threats, a podcast about the changing sports media landscape and the conditions that threaten to undermine the traditional model. In this series, Leaders’ Editorial Director James Emmett and Synamedia’s Head of Sport Simon Brydon will identify the conditions that threaten to undermine the traditional model. Alongside a handful of prominent industry experts, they also explore ways that leaders can navigate the ever-evolving sports broadcast space for optimum success in the field. This episode focuses on innovation – how ever-changing technology provides both challenges and opportunities, and how to maximise on the latter. The featured guest is Sharon Fuller, VP of Content and Social for Europe and the Middle East at the NBA, who prior to joining the organisation in February held prominent content positions at Red Bull Media House and at the UK’s very first broadcast innovator, the BBC.

Threats: Innovation (with the NBA's Sharon Fuller)

This is Threats, a podcast about the changing sports media landscape and the conditions that threaten to undermine the traditional model.In this series, Leaders’ Editorial Director James Emmett and Synamedia’s Head of Sport Simon Brydon will identify the conditions that threaten to undermine the traditional model, and alongside a handful of prominent industry experts, explore ways that leaders can use these challenges as opportunities for innovation.This episode focuses on choice and price, featuring a discussion with Sebastien Audoux around the difficulties in engaging an audience that already has an abundance of offerings. Audoux is a content technology rights specialist who followed a 15-year television career as a sports commentator with a stint as Head of Sports Digital Content at Canal+. He now works with numerous clients as an independent consultant, and holds board member positions at HYPE Sports Innovation and Decyfr Sport.

This is Threats, a podcast about the changing sports media landscape and the conditions that threaten to undermine the traditional model. In this series, Leaders’ Editorial Director James Emmett and Synamedia’s Head of Sport Simon Brydon will identify the conditions that threaten to undermine the traditional model, and alongside a handful of prominent industry experts, explore ways that leaders can use these challenges as opportunities for innovation. This episode focuses on choice and price, featuring a discussion with Sebastien Audoux around the difficulties in engaging an audience that already has an abundance of offerings. Audoux is a content technology rights specialist who followed a 15-year television career as a sports commentator with a stint as Head of Sports Digital Content at Canal+. He now works with numerous clients as an independent consultant, and holds board member positions at HYPE Sports Innovation and Decyfr Sport.

Threats: Choice and price (with Sebastien Audoux)

This is Threats, a podcast about the changing sports media landscape and the conditions that threaten to undermine the traditional model.In this series, Leaders’ Editorial Director James Emmett and Synamedia’s Head of Sport Simon Brydon will identify the conditions that threaten to undermine the traditional model, and alongside a handful of prominent industry experts, explore ways that leaders can use these challenges as opportunities for innovation.The first episode in the series features a conversation with Rhys Beer, with focus on viewing habits and Gen Z. Rhys Beer, who currently serves as SVP Platform &amp; Content at OneFootball, has 20+ years of extensive experience in the sports media landscape across traditional and emerging platforms. Starting with his role as a Media Rights Manager at the FA, Beer went on to hold positions such as Commercial Director – Media at DAZN Group, VP, Sports Distribution &amp; Business Development at NBCUniversal and Head of Content Strategy &amp; Programming, International at Meta.

This is Threats, a podcast about the changing sports media landscape and the conditions that threaten to undermine the traditional model. In this series, Leaders’ Editorial Director James Emmett and Synamedia’s Head of Sport Simon Brydon will identify the conditions that threaten to undermine the traditional model, and alongside a handful of prominent industry experts, explore ways that leaders can use these challenges as opportunities for innovation. The first episode in the series features a conversation with Rhys Beer, with focus on viewing habits and Gen Z. Rhys Beer, who currently serves as SVP Platform &amp; Content at OneFootball, has 20+ years of extensive experience in the sports media landscape across traditional and emerging platforms. Starting with his role as a Media Rights Manager at the FA, Beer went on to hold positions such as Commercial Director – Media at DAZN Group, VP, Sports Distribution &amp; Business Development at NBCUniversal and Head of Content Strategy &amp; Programming, International at Meta.

Threats: Viewing habits and Gen-Z (with OneFootball's Rhys Beer) 

Reviewing the action from the new event experience where sport meets entertainment, lifestyle and culture.Leaders on the Ground takes you behind-the-scenes at our in-person events, where our team recap the goings-on and key takeaways from the on-stage sessions. This week, the Leaders Team have been in New York, working with sister company Sports Business Journal, for the big launch of 4SE following a pilot event last year. 4SE is a unique event experience that provides a much-needed opportunity for senior executives to explore and navigate the collision of sport, entertainment, lifestyle and culture.In the episode, Leaders Editorial Director James Emmett and Content Director David Cushnan elaborate on the intentions and objectives of 4se, and identify and discuss key themes and takeaways from the sessions – all followed by an insightful conversation with Elke Jones, Chief Strategy Officer at GMR Marketing. The analysis also features snippets from the on-stage content, featuring speakers such as Eli Manning, Fat Joe, the CMO of New Balance and the VP Creative of New Era.4SE, at the intersection of sport, entertainment, lifestyle and culture, is due to become an annual fixture in the calendar each year in May. To find out more, please visit our website at www.4-se.com.Editor's Note: This was recorded on site, so there may be some slight distortion in the audio, but this should not take away from your listening experience.

Reviewing the action from the new event experience where sport meets entertainment, lifestyle and culture. Leaders on the Ground takes you behind-the-scenes at our in-person events, where our team recap the goings-on and key takeaways from the on-stage sessions. This week, the Leaders Team have been in New York, working with sister company Sports Business Journal, for the big launch of 4SE following a pilot event last year. 4SE is a unique event experience that provides a much-needed opportunity for senior executives to explore and navigate the collision of sport, entertainment, lifestyle and culture. In the episode, Leaders Editorial Director James Emmett and Content Director David Cushnan elaborate on the intentions and objectives of 4se, and identify and discuss key themes and takeaways from the sessions – all followed by an insightful conversation with Elke Jones, Chief Strategy Officer at GMR Marketing. The analysis also features snippets from the on-stage content, featuring speakers such as Eli Manning, Fat Joe, the CMO of New Balance and the VP Creative of New Era. 4SE, at the intersection of sport, entertainment, lifestyle and culture, is due to become an annual fixture in the calendar each year in May. To find out more, please visit our website at <a href="http://www.4-se.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.4-se.com</a>. Editor's Note: This was recorded on site, so there may be some slight distortion in the audio, but this should not take away from your listening experience.

Leaders on the Ground: 4SE New York 2023 with GMR Marketing’s Elke Jones

Barney Francis

For our season finale of Leaders Live, IMG’s EVP of Head of Global Production joins the show to run the rule over the sports broadcast and production sector.Leaders Live, produced in partnership with IMG, is our studio talk show on hot button issues in the industry, featuring conversations with leaders from across sport.This edition features former Sky Sports chief and current EVP, Head of Global Production at IMG, Barney Francis, who offers his industry-wide assessment of the sports broadcast space. With Leaders’ Content Director David Cushnan and Editorial Director James Emmett, Francis explains who’s innovating and where the big technical and creative leaps are happening, pinpoints the sector’s biggest challenges and details why it’s never been a more exciting time to be in the sports production game.Francis also takes the Leaders team behind the scenes of IMG Studios at Stockley Park in West London, the home of Premier League Productions, CBS Sports’ Uefa Champions League coverage, ITV’s EFL highlights show and a multitude of other sports programming and production. To watch the broadcast in video, you can visit: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/leaders-executive-sport-ltd-_leaders-live-inside-img-studios-behind-activity-7062426189507751937-lcQx?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=member_desktop 

For our season finale of Leaders Live, IMG’s EVP of Head of Global Production joins the show to run the rule over the sports broadcast and production sector. Leaders Live, produced in partnership with IMG, is our studio talk show on hot button issues in the industry, featuring conversations with leaders from across sport. This edition features former Sky Sports chief and current EVP, Head of Global Production at IMG, Barney Francis, who offers his industry-wide assessment of the sports broadcast space. With Leaders’ Content Director David Cushnan and Editorial Director James Emmett, Francis explains who’s innovating and where the big technical and creative leaps are happening, pinpoints the sector’s biggest challenges and details why it’s never been a more exciting time to be in the sports production game. Francis also takes the Leaders team behind the scenes of IMG Studios at Stockley Park in West London, the home of Premier League Productions, CBS Sports’ Uefa Champions League coverage, ITV’s EFL highlights show and a multitude of other sports programming and production. To watch the broadcast in video, you can visit: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/leaders-executive-sport-ltd-_leaders-live-inside-img-studios-behind-activity-7062426189507751937-lcQx?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=member_desktop" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/posts/leaders-executive-sport-ltd-_leaders-live-inside-img-studios-behind-activity-7062426189507751937-lcQx?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=member_desktop</a>

Leaders Live: Inside IMG Studios | Behind the scenes with Barney Francis

Leaders in conversation: the biggest names in the global business of sport sit down (or stand up) with Leaders Editorial Director James Emmett.

I&#39;ve been a delegate at three of the Leaders in Performance Summits and I&#39;m so glad to see that they&#39;ve decided to share insights in a podcast setting.  I&#39;ve thoroughly enjoyed the Summits and I&#39;m pumped to listen to the podcasts.  Highly recommend their organization!

Good Stuff!

Leaders Sport Business Podcast

Don Garber

Don Garber has been commissioner of Major League Soccer since 1999 and it’s no exaggeration to suggest he has been fundamental to the growth of soccer across the US. (Interview begins at 10 mins 30 seconds).The league is now a thriving 23-team entity, there’s a genuine and unique football fan culture in cities across the States, and the sport has been transformed into a commercial proposition of genuine heft and global significance.Leaders CEO Jimmy Worrall sat down with Garber at the league’s New York headquarters during Leaders Week in the Big Apple back in May, a few short weeks before the US, Mexico and Canada were awarded the right to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup.In this comprehensive discussion, Garber reflects on his near-20-year career guiding the league, from his qualifications – or lack thereof – to take the job in the first place, through the early days of trauma and struggle, to the vision, strategic approach and relationship-nurturing that have gone into building and cementing MLS as a genuine major sport.On the conversational agenda:- The role of a major league commissioner;- What could have been for Garber had he not moved from the NFL to MLS in 1999;- The league’s 10-team, 3-owner nadir and a dinner with ESPN’s John Skipper that proved to be the turning point;- Long-term leadership lessons and the ones he wouldn’t necessarily have abided by if he had his time again;- Why he believes the league’s USP is its young, digitally savvy staff;- Why Gary Bettman should have a statue, and the NFL should never, ever be counted out;- The deep sense of responsibility Garber feels to owners, fans and public-private stakeholders;- His secret passion for R&amp;B music and why his first job, at a gas station, was the best one he’s ever had.

Don Garber has been commissioner of Major League Soccer since 1999 and it’s no exaggeration to suggest he has been fundamental to the growth of soccer across the US. (Interview begins at 10 mins 30 seconds).The league is now a thriving 23-team entity, there’s a genuine and unique football fan culture in cities across the States, and the sport has been transformed into a commercial proposition of genuine heft and global significance.Leaders CEO Jimmy Worrall sat down with Garber at the league’s New York headquarters during Leaders Week in the Big Apple back in May, a few short weeks before the US, Mexico and Canada were awarded the right to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup.In this comprehensive discussion, Garber reflects on his near-20-year career guiding the league, from his qualifications – or lack thereof – to take the job in the first place, through the early days of trauma and struggle, to the vision, strategic approach and relationship-nurturing that have gone into building and cementing MLS as a genuine major sport.On the conversational agenda:- The role of a major league commissioner;- What could have been for Garber had he not moved from the NFL to MLS in 1999;- The league’s 10-team, 3-owner nadir and a dinner with ESPN’s John Skipper that proved to be the turning point;- Long-term leadership lessons and the ones he wouldn’t necessarily have abided by if he had his time again;- Why he believes the league’s USP is its young, digitally savvy staff;- Why Gary Bettman should have a statue, and the NFL should never, ever be counted out;- The deep sense of responsibility Garber feels to owners, fans and public-private stakeholders;- His secret passion for R&amp;B music and why his first job, at a gas station, was the best one he’s ever had.

Ep 40: Don Garber

Janet Evans is a Vice-Chair of Los Angeles' bid for the 2024 Olympic Games, and Chair of its Athletes' Commission. The LA native is a three-time Olympic athlete, and four-time gold medallist, having won medals in the pool at Seoul '88 and Barcelona '92. She's a competitor to her bones, and even had a stab at the US Olympic trials for the London 2012 Games at the age of 40.Evans sat down to record a Leaders Podcast on a beautiful mid-March day in LA at USC, her alma mater, and the home of the downtown sports park should LA win the right to host the 2024 Games.Evans gives us a glimpse of the inner workings of an Olympic bid campaign and looks ahead to the factors that she hopes will swing it for LA when the IOC votes in Peru in September.

Janet Evans is a Vice-Chair of Los Angeles' bid for the 2024 Olympic Games, and Chair of its Athletes' Commission. The LA native is a three-time Olympic athlete, and four-time gold medallist, having won medals in the pool at Seoul '88 and Barcelona '92. She's a competitor to her bones, and even had a stab at the US Olympic trials for the London 2012 Games at the age of 40. Evans sat down to record a Leaders Podcast on a beautiful mid-March day in LA at USC, her alma mater, and the home of the downtown sports park should LA win the right to host the 2024 Games. Evans gives us a glimpse of the inner workings of an Olympic bid campaign and looks ahead to the factors that she hopes will swing it for LA when the IOC votes in Peru in September.

LA 2024 - how an Olympic bid campaign works

Tim Leiweke

Tim Leiweke is probably best known as the long-time CEO of AEG, where he spent 18 years and was hailed as a visionary leader, before leaving the sports and entertainment giant suddenly in 2013, pitching up not long afterwards in Toronto as CEO of Maple Leaf Sports &amp; Entertainment. Almost three years later, he was back in his adopted home of LA, this time starting his own venue specialist operation, Oak View Group – or OVG – which he launched alongside his partners music biz legend Irving Azoff  and the Madison Square Garden company.James visited Tim in his well-appointed office in Westwood, Los Angeles, on a cloudless February or March day this year.On the conversational agenda:- OVG: What is it? Why did he leave Toronto so quickly to launch it? And is it competing with AEG?- The arena business in general: how to fill them, how to commercialise them, how to programme them, how to secure them, how to service them, and how to pick opportunities in the space;- David Beckham in Miami – and why that Major League Soccer project will happen; - a new Kevin Plank-driven arena project in Baltimore; - why Tim would never have given the go-ahead to AEG’s O2 project in London had he had real skin in the game; - secondary ticketing; and the next frontier for content in major global arenas.

Tim Leiweke is probably best known as the long-time CEO of AEG, where he spent 18 years and was hailed as a visionary leader, before leaving the sports and entertainment giant suddenly in 2013, pitching up not long afterwards in Toronto as CEO of Maple Leaf Sports &amp; Entertainment. Almost three years later, he was back in his adopted home of LA, this time starting his own venue specialist operation, Oak View Group – or OVG – which he launched alongside his partners music biz legend Irving Azoff and the Madison Square Garden company. James visited Tim in his well-appointed office in Westwood, Los Angeles, on a cloudless February or March day this year. On the conversational agenda: - OVG: What is it? Why did he leave Toronto so quickly to launch it? And is it competing with AEG? - The arena business in general: how to fill them, how to commercialise them, how to programme them, how to secure them, how to service them, and how to pick opportunities in the space; - David Beckham in Miami – and why that Major League Soccer project will happen; - a new Kevin Plank-driven arena project in Baltimore; - why Tim would never have given the go-ahead to AEG’s O2 project in London had he had real skin in the game; - secondary ticketing; and the next frontier for content in major global arenas.

Ep 13: Tim Leiweke

A tale of two parks as Leaders Editorial Director James Emmett chats to Brooklyn Sports &amp; Entertainment CEO Brett Yormark in London Fields before nipping across town to sit down with digital transformation specialist Luis Vicente in Wimbledon's South Park Gardens.On the agenda with Yormark:- Year 5 in Brooklyn- Content programming across the Barclays Center, Nassau Memorial Veterans Coliseum, Webster Hall, and the Paramount- The Gatorade deal that's changed the D-League into the G-League- Suits - Fraternal competitionOn the agenda with former Manchester City and Valencia exec Vicente:- Sports businesses as communities within a wider media, innovation and tech ecosystem- Facebook, and Dugout - do clubs know what they've got themselves into?- BT Sport and Eurosport - broadcast innovators- LinkedIn as thought leadership platform- Digital natives vs digital immigrantsEnjoy, like, subscribe, comment, review - you know the deal.

A tale of two parks as Leaders Editorial Director James Emmett chats to Brooklyn Sports &amp; Entertainment CEO Brett Yormark in London Fields before nipping across town to sit down with digital transformation specialist Luis Vicente in Wimbledon's South Park Gardens. On the agenda with Yormark: - Year 5 in Brooklyn - Content programming across the Barclays Center, Nassau Memorial Veterans Coliseum, Webster Hall, and the Paramount - The Gatorade deal that's changed the D-League into the G-League - Suits - Fraternal competition On the agenda with former Manchester City and Valencia exec Vicente: - Sports businesses as communities within a wider media, innovation and tech ecosystem - Facebook, and Dugout - do clubs know what they've got themselves into? - BT Sport and Eurosport - broadcast innovators - LinkedIn as thought leadership platform - Digital natives vs digital immigrants Enjoy, like, subscribe, comment, review - you know the deal.

Ep 15: Brett Yormark & Luis Vicente

Paul Smith

Building and selling a hundred million dollar company | The emotional impact of years of striving towards an exit | The responsibility and solace of sports ownership | Cost cuts and rescue packages across sport. Episode 77 of the Leaders Sport Business Podcast - brought to you in partnership with Onside Law - sees David Cushnan and James Emmett chat to Sydney Kings owner Paul Smith (conversation starts at 8:29). Paul founded and grew Repucom into one of the most trusted sports media measurement and consultancy businesses before selling it to Nielsen in a deal reportedly worth $195 million in 2016. After returning to his homeland of Australia, he took a majority ownership stake in National Basketball League (NBL) side the Sydney Kings through his Total Sport &amp; Entertainment (TSA) agency before taking full control in March 2019. On the conversational agenda: - Thrills and spills at the SportAccord Convention in Sochi in 2015; - The journey of building Repucom into a saleable asset and the ultimate deal with Nielsen; - The emotional cliff post-sale, and the path through it; - Leading differently;  - What team ownership can mean for an owner; - The Sydney Kings and the Sydney Flames and why basketball is under exploited in Australia; - The dynamics of taking action in a vacuum of leadership; - The end of the traditional rights model and the beginning of sport taking control of its own destiny. Let us know what you'd like to talk about and who you'd like to hear from on At home with Leaders. @JamesEmmett and @DavidCushnan on Twitter. Thanks again to Onside Law for their support for this podcast. Stay safe, keep in touch.

Building and selling a hundred million dollar company | The emotional impact of years of striving towards an exit | The responsibility and solace of sports ownership | Cost cuts and rescue packages across sport. Episode 77 of the Leaders Sport Business Podcast - brought to you in partnership with <a href="https://www.onsidelaw.co.uk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Onside Law</a> - sees David Cushnan and James Emmett chat to Sydney Kings owner Paul Smith (conversation starts at 8:29). Paul founded and grew Repucom into one of the most trusted sports media measurement and consultancy businesses before selling it to Nielsen in a deal reportedly worth $195 million in 2016. After returning to his homeland of Australia, he took a majority ownership stake in National Basketball League (NBL) side the Sydney Kings through his Total Sport &amp; Entertainment (TSA) agency before taking full control in March 2019. On the conversational agenda: - Thrills and spills at the SportAccord Convention in Sochi in 2015; - The journey of building Repucom into a saleable asset and the ultimate deal with Nielsen; - The emotional cliff post-sale, and the path through it; - Leading differently; - What team ownership can mean for an owner; - The Sydney Kings and the Sydney Flames and why basketball is under exploited in Australia; - The dynamics of taking action in a vacuum of leadership; - The end of the traditional rights model and the beginning of sport taking control of its own destiny. Let us know what you'd like to talk about and who you'd like to hear from on At home with Leaders. @JamesEmmett and @DavidCushnan on Twitter. Thanks again to <a href="https://www.onsidelaw.co.uk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Onside Law</a> for their support for this podcast. Stay safe, keep in touch.

At home with Leaders: Paul Smith

Genius Sports MD Steven Burton on betting, data, and the future of the US sports gaming market | Women's sport in the spotlight | DAZN and the consolidation of the OTT market | Micropayments | Tech to watch | New stuff in new markets. David Cushnan and James Emmett bring you a bumper edition of the Leaders Sports Business Podcast to kick off 2019, as they identify ten key sports industry trends or topics to track across 2019. Including a extended interview with Steven Burton, MD of data and integrity technology specialists Genius Sports, who makes sense of the legislative changes enabling sports betting across the US and plots out the future for the sector across US sport, the episode analyses: - A big upcoming year for World Rugby, the IAAF, Japan, and Qatar; - The commercial and societal momentum gathering behind women's sport; - DAZN's 20-2020 vision and the shifts in the OTT sports broadcasting sector; - Micropayments and innovative rights packages; - 2019 as another step in sport's path to internationalisation; - Athlete power, Kosmos, and the Davis Cup; - Technology adoption and a big year for mobile ticketing; - Start-up events launching in 2019; - Private equity money fuelling league and federation growth.

Genius Sports MD Steven Burton on betting, data, and the future of the US sports gaming market | Women's sport in the spotlight | DAZN and the consolidation of the OTT market | Micropayments | Tech to watch | New stuff in new markets. David Cushnan and James Emmett bring you a bumper edition of the Leaders Sports Business Podcast to kick off 2019, as they identify ten key sports industry trends or topics to track across 2019. Including a extended interview with Steven Burton, MD of data and integrity technology specialists Genius Sports, who makes sense of the legislative changes enabling sports betting across the US and plots out the future for the sector across US sport, the episode analyses: - A big upcoming year for World Rugby, the IAAF, Japan, and Qatar; - The commercial and societal momentum gathering behind women's sport; - DAZN's 20-2020 vision and the shifts in the OTT sports broadcasting sector; - Micropayments and innovative rights packages; - 2019 as another step in sport's path to internationalisation; - Athlete power, Kosmos, and the Davis Cup; - Technology adoption and a big year for mobile ticketing; - Start-up events launching in 2019; - Private equity money fuelling league and federation growth.

Ep 48: The Great US Gambling Rush & a Crystal Ball on 2019

David Hopkinson

From Maple Leaf Sports &amp; Entertainment to Real Madrid | The challenges of change management | Staffing out, staffing up, and building agency capability | The scope of 6-star experiences and a rethink on ticket prices Episode 55 of the Leaders Sport Business Podcast features a conversation with Real Madrid Global Head of Partnerships David Hopkinson (starts at 9:40). The Canadian joined the Spanish footballing giants from Maple Leaf Sports &amp; Entertainment in the summer of 2018, having spent almost 25 years at his hometown sports organisation, latterly as Chief Commercial Officer. Appointed to lead the Real Madrid commercial team into a new era, Tim Leiweke, under whom Hopkinson had worked at MLSE, had the following words to say upon Hopkinson's move to Europe: "Seldom in your life do you run across someone as bright, vibrant, energetic and entrepreneurial as [Hopkinson]. He has a personality that doesn’t just light up a room. He can set a room on fire. “Real Madrid is as big a brand as there is in our industry. Normally you’d have a hard time finding someone who could make it better. They just did.” On the conversational agenda: - From Maple Leaf Sports &amp; Entertainment to Real Madrid - the good, the bad, the ugly, and the unexpected; - The challenges of change management at one of Europe's traditional sporting giants; - Selling partnerships with no Ronaldo and no silverware; - Partner acquisition approaches: shotgun style vs rifle shot; - Building agency capability into the Real Madrid commercial team; - Partner access and working with player agents; - The trend for 6-star in-stadium experiences and why the Bernabeu's €550 million renovation provides a huge opportunity.

From Maple Leaf Sports &amp; Entertainment to Real Madrid | The challenges of change management | Staffing out, staffing up, and building agency capability | The scope of 6-star experiences and a rethink on ticket prices Episode 55 of the Leaders Sport Business Podcast features a conversation with Real Madrid Global Head of Partnerships David Hopkinson (starts at 9:40). The Canadian joined the Spanish footballing giants from Maple Leaf Sports &amp; Entertainment in the summer of 2018, having spent almost 25 years at his hometown sports organisation, latterly as Chief Commercial Officer. Appointed to lead the Real Madrid commercial team into a new era, Tim Leiweke, under whom Hopkinson had worked at MLSE, had the following words to say upon Hopkinson's move to Europe: "Seldom in your life do you run across someone as bright, vibrant, energetic and entrepreneurial as [Hopkinson]. He has a personality that doesn’t just light up a room. He can set a room on fire. “Real Madrid is as big a brand as there is in our industry. Normally you’d have a hard time finding someone who could make it better. They just did.” On the conversational agenda: - From Maple Leaf Sports &amp; Entertainment to Real Madrid - the good, the bad, the ugly, and the unexpected; - The challenges of change management at one of Europe's traditional sporting giants; - Selling partnerships with no Ronaldo and no silverware; - Partner acquisition approaches: shotgun style vs rifle shot; - Building agency capability into the Real Madrid commercial team; - Partner access and working with player agents; - The trend for 6-star in-stadium experiences and why the Bernabeu's €550 million renovation provides a huge opportunity.

Tim Shriver

$100m F1 betting deal | UEFA's OTT plans | RMC Sport's OTT snag | Tim Shriver and the Special Olympics (starts at 16.23) | Mike Davis and Abu Dhabi's sporting strategy (starts at 37.56). Tim Shriver is the Chairman of the Special Olympics, a movement that exists to communicate as well as to play. The son of Special Olympics founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Shriver guided the movement into its 50th year in 2018. Recorded in Abu Dhabi during the Special Olympics Regional Games in March, Shriver sets out with typical passion and articulacy the mission of the movement, which now includes over 100,000 events per year and over five million athletes.The Special Olympics will bring its flagship event, the Global Games, to Abu Dhabi again from 14th to 21st March, 2019. Mike Davis is the Regional Director of CSM Sports &amp; Entertainment in the Middle East and North Africa. CSM has worked closely with the local organising committee for the Special Olympics in Abu Dhabi, and Davis's experience in the region stretches back across the last decade. On the agenda: - The power of the Special Olympics' message during times of fear and suspicion;  - The relationship between Abu Dhabi and the Special Olympics and the expectations and objectives on both sides;  - The event-hosting philosophy of the Special Olympics;  - Abu Dhabi's considered and evolving sports and cultural events strategy.

$100m F1 betting deal | UEFA's OTT plans | RMC Sport's OTT snag | Tim Shriver and the Special Olympics (starts at 16.23) | Mike Davis and Abu Dhabi's sporting strategy (starts at 37.56). Tim Shriver is the Chairman of the Special Olympics, a movement that exists to communicate as well as to play. The son of Special Olympics founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Shriver guided the movement into its 50th year in 2018. Recorded in Abu Dhabi during the Special Olympics Regional Games in March, Shriver sets out with typical passion and articulacy the mission of the movement, which now includes over 100,000 events per year and over five million athletes.The Special Olympics will bring its flagship event, the Global Games, to Abu Dhabi again from 14th to 21st March, 2019. Mike Davis is the Regional Director of CSM Sports &amp; Entertainment in the Middle East and North Africa. CSM has worked closely with the local organising committee for the Special Olympics in Abu Dhabi, and Davis's experience in the region stretches back across the last decade. On the agenda: - The power of the Special Olympics' message during times of fear and suspicion; - The relationship between Abu Dhabi and the Special Olympics and the expectations and objectives on both sides; - The event-hosting philosophy of the Special Olympics; - Abu Dhabi's considered and evolving sports and cultural events strategy.

Ep 44: Tim Shriver & the Abu Dhabi sporting landscape

Meet the power-brokers behind Abu Dhabi's sports strategy | Andy Murray's retirement announcement | Champions League weekend rumours | the AFC Cup and Gulf politics in sport. Episode 49 of the Leaders Sport Business Podcast sees David Cushnan and James Emmett reflect on Andy Murray's retirement announcement, assess the impact of a potential move by Uefa and TEAM Marketing to shift Champions League matches to weekend slots; gauge the political environment at the AFC Cup in the UAE, and introduce a series of conversations with key figures from across Abu Dhabi's sporting landscape. On the agenda: - What next for Andy Murray, and what next for tennis, after Britain's greatest ever tennis player announced his retirement; - Uefa Champions League games on weekends: could it happen, why, when, and how? - The AFC Cup: a platform for politics beyond football in the Middle East; - Abu Dhabi Sports Council General Secretary HE Aref Al Awani (14.20) on the city's sporting strategy; - Acting Abu Dhabi Cricket CEO Matt Boucher (25.18) on the changing objectives for Abu Dhabi's involvement in sport; - Special Olympics World Games 2019 Chief Strategy Officer Tala Al Ramahi (36.56) on building a legacy of inclusion; - Abu Dhabi Golf Club GM Ed Edwards (42.51) on the development of golf in the region and the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship. The Leaders Sport Business Summit, Abu Dhabi, takes place on 30th and 31st January. More information on who's coming, and how you can come too, can be found here.

Meet the power-brokers behind Abu Dhabi's sports strategy | Andy Murray's retirement announcement | Champions League weekend rumours | the AFC Cup and Gulf politics in sport. Episode 49 of the Leaders Sport Business Podcast sees David Cushnan and James Emmett reflect on Andy Murray's retirement announcement, assess the impact of a potential move by Uefa and TEAM Marketing to shift Champions League matches to weekend slots; gauge the political environment at the AFC Cup in the UAE, and introduce a series of conversations with key figures from across Abu Dhabi's sporting landscape. On the agenda: - What next for Andy Murray, and what next for tennis, after Britain's greatest ever tennis player announced his retirement; - Uefa Champions League games on weekends: could it happen, why, when, and how? - The AFC Cup: a platform for politics beyond football in the Middle East; - Abu Dhabi Sports Council General Secretary HE Aref Al Awani (14.20) on the city's sporting strategy; - Acting Abu Dhabi Cricket CEO Matt Boucher (25.18) on the changing objectives for Abu Dhabi's involvement in sport; - Special Olympics World Games 2019 Chief Strategy Officer Tala Al Ramahi (36.56) on building a legacy of inclusion; - Abu Dhabi Golf Club GM Ed Edwards (42.51) on the development of golf in the region and the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship. The Leaders Sport Business Summit, Abu Dhabi, takes place on 30th and 31st January. More information on who's coming, and how you can come too, <a href="https://leadersinsport.com/event/sport-business-summit-2-abu-dhabi/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">can be found here</a>.

Abu Dhabi's sports investment strategy

Mentorship and role models | Imposter syndrome and professional confidence | The importance of reflection. Episode 72 of the Leaders Sport Business Podcast features conversations from in and around the Leaders Meet: Diversity events on women in sport from 6th March with Liz Nicholl (conversation starts at 5:31), CEO of the International Netball Federation, and Becca Valle (conversation starts at 21.23), Head of Marketing at the New York Knicks. Nicholl, speaking at the live-streamed, behind-closed-doors event in London last week, was elected as the President of the International Netball Federation last year. A former netball player herself, Nicholl had two stints as the CEO of the All England Netball Association in her early career, before joining UK Sport in 1999, and serving as CEO of the government agency responsible for investing in Olympic and Paralympic sport in the UK from 2010 to 2019. Valle, speaking from her office at Madison Square Garden after the New York Leaders Meet: Diversity event was cancelled due to the coronavirus, joined the New York Knicks as Head of Marketing in 2017, having previously held executive positions at advertising giants BBDO and Ogilvy &amp; Mather. On the conversational agenda: - Approaches to mentorship and role models; - Imposter syndrome and growing confidence; - Professional journeys; - Asking and giving advice; - The importance of reflection.

Mentorship and role models | Imposter syndrome and professional confidence | The importance of reflection. Episode 72 of the Leaders Sport Business Podcast features conversations from in and around the Leaders Meet: Diversity events on women in sport from 6th March with Liz Nicholl (conversation starts at 5:31), CEO of the International Netball Federation, and Becca Valle (conversation starts at 21.23), Head of Marketing at the New York Knicks. Nicholl, speaking at the live-streamed, behind-closed-doors event in London last week, was elected as the President of the International Netball Federation last year. A former netball player herself, Nicholl had two stints as the CEO of the All England Netball Association in her early career, before joining UK Sport in 1999, and serving as CEO of the government agency responsible for investing in Olympic and Paralympic sport in the UK from 2010 to 2019. Valle, speaking from her office at Madison Square Garden after the New York Leaders Meet: Diversity event was cancelled due to the coronavirus, joined the New York Knicks as Head of Marketing in 2017, having previously held executive positions at advertising giants BBDO and Ogilvy &amp; Mather. On the conversational agenda: - Approaches to mentorship and role models; - Imposter syndrome and growing confidence; - Professional journeys; - Asking and giving advice; - The importance of reflection.

Liz Nicholl & Becca Valle

Sheila Johnson

Behind-the-scenes at Leaders Meet: Innovation | Ted Leonsis' warning on sports betting | Sheila Johnson (5.20) on diversity and the WNBA | Kristin Bernert (28.30) on enhancing the experience at MSG. Episode 50 of the Leaders Sport Business Podcast lifts back the curtain on the Leaders Meet: Innovation event at BAFTA in London on 17th January and features conversations with Monumental Sports &amp; Entertainment Co-Owner and Vice-Chair Sheila Johnson, SBJ basketball writer John Lombardo, and Madison Square Garden Company SVP of Business Operations Kristin Bernert. On the agenda: - The NBA's approach to sports betting; - Sheila Johnson on opening the doors for women and people of colour in sport; - The future prospects of the WNBA; - How the World's Most Famous Arena remains so famous; - Celebrity outreach programmes for the Knicks' front row.

Behind-the-scenes at Leaders Meet: Innovation | Ted Leonsis' warning on sports betting | Sheila Johnson (5.20) on diversity and the WNBA | Kristin Bernert (28.30) on enhancing the experience at MSG. Episode 50 of the Leaders Sport Business Podcast lifts back the curtain on the Leaders Meet: Innovation event at BAFTA in London on 17th January and features conversations with Monumental Sports &amp; Entertainment Co-Owner and Vice-Chair Sheila Johnson, SBJ basketball writer John Lombardo, and Madison Square Garden Company SVP of Business Operations Kristin Bernert. On the agenda: - The NBA's approach to sports betting; - Sheila Johnson on opening the doors for women and people of colour in sport; - The future prospects of the WNBA; - How the World's Most Famous Arena remains so famous; - Celebrity outreach programmes for the Knicks' front row.

Sheila Johnson & Kristin Bernert

Richard Conway

Chris Hana

Getting through Coronavirus | The great calendar reshuffle | The surge in live streaming | The opportunity in esports. Episode 76 of the Leaders Sport Business Podcast sees former BBC Sports News Correspondent Richard Conway (conversation starts at 7:41) and The Esports Observer CEO Chris Hana (26:06) talk via crystal clear internet connection to James Emmett and David Cushnan for another episode of At home with Leaders. On the conversational agenda: - How Richard coped with Coronavirus; - The media coverage of the fallout; - How sport is responding; - The surge in live streaming and the opportunity inherent in it; - Where the real engagement in esports is; - How 'traditional' sports organisations should be approaching esports now; - Do more eyeballs mean more dollars in the virtual world? - How to get an esports grounding during Corona-lockdown. Let us know what you'd like to talk about and who you'd like to hear from on At home with Leaders. @JamesEmmett and @DavidCushnan on Twitter. Stay safe, keep in touch.

Getting through Coronavirus | The great calendar reshuffle | The surge in live streaming | The opportunity in esports. Episode 76 of the Leaders Sport Business Podcast sees former BBC Sports News Correspondent Richard Conway (conversation starts at 7:41) and The Esports Observer CEO Chris Hana (26:06) talk via crystal clear internet connection to James Emmett and David Cushnan for another episode of At home with Leaders. On the conversational agenda: - How Richard coped with Coronavirus; - The media coverage of the fallout; - How sport is responding; - The surge in live streaming and the opportunity inherent in it; - Where the real engagement in esports is; - How 'traditional' sports organisations should be approaching esports now; - Do more eyeballs mean more dollars in the virtual world? - How to get an esports grounding during Corona-lockdown. Let us know what you'd like to talk about and who you'd like to hear from on At home with Leaders. @JamesEmmett and @DavidCushnan on Twitter. Stay safe, keep in touch.

At home with Leaders: Richard Conway & Chris Hana

48-team World Cup | Sport as a political tool | Bringing the razzmatazz to cricket | Keith Pelley’s vision for consolidation in golf | Taking the Giro d’Italia abroad | Why Arsenal’s deal with Visit Rwanda makes sense | Digital storytelling and branded content with the ICC, Hilton, and Lewis Hamilton | Global opportunities for women’s football. Episode 51 of the Leaders Sport Business Podcast sees David Cushnan and James Emmett reflect on a busy two days at the Leaders Sport Business Summit in Abu Dhabi, featuring interviews with: Paolo Bellino (19.39), CEO of RCS Sport on:   - Merging the Dubai Tour and Abu Dhabi Tour to form the UAE Tour;   - The Giro d’Italia as a destination marketing tool;   - The Giro’s visit to Israel and what it meant   - Why a potential start in Japan was ruled out at the last minute;   Peter Silverstone (33.29), Commercial Director of Arsenal FC:   - On the myths around Arsenal’s sponsorship with Visit Rwanda;   - Why the partnership is working for Rwanda already

48-team World Cup | Sport as a political tool | Bringing the razzmatazz to cricket | Keith Pelley’s vision for consolidation in golf | Taking the Giro d’Italia abroad | Why Arsenal’s deal with Visit Rwanda makes sense | Digital storytelling and branded content with the ICC, Hilton, and Lewis Hamilton | Global opportunities for women’s football. Episode 51 of the Leaders Sport Business Podcast sees David Cushnan and James Emmett reflect on a busy two days at the Leaders Sport Business Summit in Abu Dhabi, featuring interviews with: Paolo Bellino (19.39), CEO of RCS Sport on: - Merging the Dubai Tour and Abu Dhabi Tour to form the UAE Tour; - The Giro d’Italia as a destination marketing tool; - The Giro’s visit to Israel and what it meant - Why a potential start in Japan was ruled out at the last minute; Peter Silverstone (33.29), Commercial Director of Arsenal FC: - On the myths around Arsenal’s sponsorship with Visit Rwanda; - Why the partnership is working for Rwanda already

Behind the scenes at the Leaders Sport Business Summit, Abu Dhabi, with Arsenal FC & the Giro d'Italia

John Skipper

Peter Hutton

Listen in on a conversation between Facebook and DAZN. Facebook's Director of Global Live Sports Partnerships and Programming Peter Hutton sat down for a conversation with DAZN Executive Chairman John Skipper in front of a main stage audience at the Leaders Sport Business Summit in London in October (conversation begins at 4.28). Unscripted, unfiltered, and unmoderated, the session provided a unique insight into the minds of two of the executives - and two of the organisations - doing most to shape the future of sports broadcasting. The two men have had their hands at the wheel of the sports media industry through decades of unprecedented growth - Hutton in leadership positions at Eurosport, MP &amp; Silva, Fox Sports International and ESPN Star, and Ten Sports, and Skipper through a storied career at ESPN. They now find themselves shaping the strategy and execution of the sports broadcasting operations at two organisations that promise to change the fundamental model of sports content distribution and consumption. At Facebook, Hutton insists the sports play is as a "business solutions provide". DAZN, meanwhile, is a "pure play OTT streaming service" and Skipper says proudly that its intention is "absolutely to disrupt the current world of pay-TV hegemony over sports rights". On the conversational agenda: - How they find themselves in their current roles; - The key differences between Facebook and DAZN and the 'traditional' sports broadcasters; - The rights landscape, who's buying what, and why; - The rise of Google, Facebook, and Amazon; - The funding and monetisation models of the future; - Changing consumer demands and how to meet them with new technology.

Listen in on a conversation between Facebook and DAZN. Facebook's Director of Global Live Sports Partnerships and Programming Peter Hutton sat down for a conversation with DAZN Executive Chairman John Skipper in front of a main stage audience at the Leaders Sport Business Summit in London in October (conversation begins at 4.28). Unscripted, unfiltered, and unmoderated, the session provided a unique insight into the minds of two of the executives - and two of the organisations - doing most to shape the future of sports broadcasting. The two men have had their hands at the wheel of the sports media industry through decades of unprecedented growth - Hutton in leadership positions at Eurosport, MP &amp; Silva, Fox Sports International and ESPN Star, and Ten Sports, and Skipper through a storied career at ESPN. They now find themselves shaping the strategy and execution of the sports broadcasting operations at two organisations that promise to change the fundamental model of sports content distribution and consumption. At Facebook, Hutton insists the sports play is as a "business solutions provide". DAZN, meanwhile, is a "pure play OTT streaming service" and Skipper says proudly that its intention is "absolutely to disrupt the current world of pay-TV hegemony over sports rights". On the conversational agenda: - How they find themselves in their current roles; - The key differences between Facebook and DAZN and the 'traditional' sports broadcasters; - The rights landscape, who's buying what, and why; - The rise of Google, Facebook, and Amazon; - The funding and monetisation models of the future; - Changing consumer demands and how to meet them with new technology.

Peter Hutton vs John Skipper

Simon Thomas

Simon Bazalgette

Sports rescue packages | Gamifying archive content | How to run an organisation remotely. Episode 75 of the Leaders Sport Business Podcast sees former Jockey Club CEO and current board member of the EFL and the Roundhouse Simon Bazalgette (conversation starts at 10:06) and FIFA Chief Commercial Officer Simon Thomas (conversation starts at 28:48) chat down their line to James Emmett and David Cushnan for another episode of At home with Leaders. On the conversational agenda: - The £50 million rescue package for the EFL; - Advice for leaders on how to run an organisation as an abstract concept rather than a location; - The difference between sport and arts in this crisis; - How sports entities are mucking in to help; - WorldCupAtHome and the challenge of carving out, packaging, and gamifying archive content; - Managing FIFA's partners through the crisis; - The implications of UEFA's Euro 2020 postponement. Let us know what you'd like to talk about and who you'd like to hear from on At home with Leaders. @JamesEmmett and @DavidCushnan on Twitter. Stay safe, keep in touch.

Sports rescue packages | Gamifying archive content | How to run an organisation remotely. Episode 75 of the Leaders Sport Business Podcast sees former Jockey Club CEO and current board member of the EFL and the Roundhouse Simon Bazalgette (conversation starts at 10:06) and FIFA Chief Commercial Officer Simon Thomas (conversation starts at 28:48) chat down their line to James Emmett and David Cushnan for another episode of At home with Leaders. On the conversational agenda: - The £50 million rescue package for the EFL; - Advice for leaders on how to run an organisation as an abstract concept rather than a location; - The difference between sport and arts in this crisis; - How sports entities are mucking in to help; - WorldCupAtHome and the challenge of carving out, packaging, and gamifying archive content; - Managing FIFA's partners through the crisis; - The implications of UEFA's Euro 2020 postponement. Let us know what you'd like to talk about and who you'd like to hear from on At home with Leaders. @JamesEmmett and @DavidCushnan on Twitter. Stay safe, keep in touch.

At home with Leaders: Simon Bazalgette & Simon Thomas

Disruptive forces across sports broadcast | GB Basketball's UGC ban | ESPN &amp; Second Spectrum's 'Full Court Press' | CBS' Super Bowl production under the microscope | Mycujoo and its founders in profile.  Episode 52 of the Leaders Sport Business Podcast is a sports broadcast disruption special, with David Cushnan and James Emmett analysing a handful of the issues at the top of the sports broadcast agenda before introducing a discussion (at 17.07) with Joao and Pedro Presa, the Portuguese twins who co-founded Mycujoo, a user-generated content (UGC) football streaming platform with realistic ambitions of building the single largest football community in the world. On the conversational agenda: - What is Mycujoo and what's in the name; - The business model and how it's evolved; - JustinTV, Twitch, and LinkedIn - inspirations and models; - The journey from tech service provider to tech media company; - Building a football community through long-tail content and what 200 million interactions a year means; - Why Brazil, Indonesia, Thailand, Portugal and the US have proved the strongest markets; - Japan's Nadeshiko League - a Mycujoo case study; - How the twins lead together; - How to recruit and build as a start-up, and why Amsterdam is the perfect base.

Disruptive forces across sports broadcast | GB Basketball's UGC ban | ESPN &amp; Second Spectrum's 'Full Court Press' | CBS' Super Bowl production under the microscope | Mycujoo and its founders in profile. Episode 52 of the Leaders Sport Business Podcast is a sports broadcast disruption special, with David Cushnan and James Emmett analysing a handful of the issues at the top of the sports broadcast agenda before introducing a discussion (at 17.07) with Joao and Pedro Presa, the Portuguese twins who co-founded Mycujoo, a user-generated content (UGC) football streaming platform with realistic ambitions of building the single largest football community in the world. On the conversational agenda: - What is Mycujoo and what's in the name; - The business model and how it's evolved; - JustinTV, Twitch, and LinkedIn - inspirations and models; - The journey from tech service provider to tech media company; - Building a football community through long-tail content and what 200 million interactions a year means; - Why Brazil, Indonesia, Thailand, Portugal and the US have proved the strongest markets; - Japan's Nadeshiko League - a Mycujoo case study; - How the twins lead together; - How to recruit and build as a start-up, and why Amsterdam is the perfect base.

Joao & Pedro Presa

Steve Elworthy

Why Chris Kermode's position is up for grabs at the ATP | Sport's most innovative hospitality experiences | MD Steve Elworthy (19.50) on preparing for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 | How to motivate an events team to peak for delivery | Dealing with conflicting stakeholder interests. Episode 54 of the Leaders Sport Business Podcast sees David Cushnan and James Emmett examine the ATP's player-driven decision not to extend Chris Kermode's tenure as Executive Chairman, before a discussion on the new Formula E race in London breaks out into some thoughts and examples of the best and most innovative hospitality experiences in sport. Later, ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 Managing Director Steve Elworthy (19.50) joins James for a conversation on his preparations for the upcoming tournament. A former international cricketer for South Africa, Elworthy joined sport's executive ranks not long after hanging up his playing boots. The upcoming competition, which will take place in England and Wales from 30th May to 14th July, is the sixth major cricket tournament Elworthy has been involved in running. On the conversational agenda: - How Elworthy went from competing in major tournaments to running them; - The mistakes he's made along the way and how they've informed his management style; - Moving his team from planning to delivery mode and how he motivates them to peak when it matters; - Organisational structure and how to hit deadlines in a coordinated manner; - Dealing with the conflicting demands of various stakeholder.

Why Chris Kermode's position is up for grabs at the ATP | Sport's most innovative hospitality experiences | MD Steve Elworthy (19.50) on preparing for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 | How to motivate an events team to peak for delivery | Dealing with conflicting stakeholder interests. Episode 54 of the Leaders Sport Business Podcast sees David Cushnan and James Emmett examine the ATP's player-driven decision not to extend Chris Kermode's tenure as Executive Chairman, before a discussion on the new Formula E race in London breaks out into some thoughts and examples of the best and most innovative hospitality experiences in sport. Later, ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 Managing Director Steve Elworthy (19.50) joins James for a conversation on his preparations for the upcoming tournament. A former international cricketer for South Africa, Elworthy joined sport's executive ranks not long after hanging up his playing boots. The upcoming competition, which will take place in England and Wales from 30th May to 14th July, is the sixth major cricket tournament Elworthy has been involved in running. On the conversational agenda: - How Elworthy went from competing in major tournaments to running them; - The mistakes he's made along the way and how they've informed his management style; - Moving his team from planning to delivery mode and how he motivates them to peak when it matters; - Organisational structure and how to hit deadlines in a coordinated manner; - Dealing with the conflicting demands of various stakeholder.

Ian Ritchie

Where have all the CEOs gone? | Recruitment and how to do it | CVC's investment in rugby | Qatar's preparations for the Fifa World Cup | Balancing innovation with heritage | How to bring about organisational change. Episode 53 of the Leaders Sport Business Podcast sees David Cushnan and James Emmett discuss the unprecedented number of vacancies at CEO level across key rights holder organisations in UK sport, before handing over to former AELTC and RFU CEO Ian Ritchie (at 17:43) for a more informed opinion. Searches are underway for the CEO role at the Premier League, the EFL, the FA, UK Sport, and the BOA among others. Ritchie ran the Wimbledon tennis championships in his role as CEO of the AELTC from 2005 to 2012, and was then hired to lead the RFU as it built towards the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England. He stepped down in 2017, and is now Chairman of Premiership Rugby, the top tier domestic rugby union league in England. He sat down for a conversation for the podcast on a visit to Qatar, where Ritchie had been sharing his experiences of preparing for major events with a group of local executives involved with preparations for the Fifa World Cup in Qatar in 2022. On the conversational agenda: - Qatar's preparations for 2022 and how Ritchie would handle Fifa as a stakeholder; - The CVC-Premiership Rugby deal, how it went through, and what it will mean for the league and its teams; - Pressure moments at the RFU, preparing for England 2015, and the process that led to Head Coach Stuart Lancaster leaving; - Innovation vs heritage and how Wimbledon gets it right; - Recruitment, culture, and organisational change.

Where have all the CEOs gone? | Recruitment and how to do it | CVC's investment in rugby | Qatar's preparations for the Fifa World Cup | Balancing innovation with heritage | How to bring about organisational change. Episode 53 of the Leaders Sport Business Podcast sees David Cushnan and James Emmett discuss the unprecedented number of vacancies at CEO level across key rights holder organisations in UK sport, before handing over to former AELTC and RFU CEO Ian Ritchie (at 17:43) for a more informed opinion. Searches are underway for the CEO role at the Premier League, the EFL, the FA, UK Sport, and the BOA among others. Ritchie ran the Wimbledon tennis championships in his role as CEO of the AELTC from 2005 to 2012, and was then hired to lead the RFU as it built towards the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England. He stepped down in 2017, and is now Chairman of Premiership Rugby, the top tier domestic rugby union league in England. He sat down for a conversation for the podcast on a visit to Qatar, where Ritchie had been sharing his experiences of preparing for major events with a group of local executives involved with preparations for the Fifa World Cup in Qatar in 2022. On the conversational agenda: - Qatar's preparations for 2022 and how Ritchie would handle Fifa as a stakeholder; - The CVC-Premiership Rugby deal, how it went through, and what it will mean for the league and its teams; - Pressure moments at the RFU, preparing for England 2015, and the process that led to Head Coach Stuart Lancaster leaving; - Innovation vs heritage and how Wimbledon gets it right; - Recruitment, culture, and organisational change.

The athlete sacrifice conundrum | The mechanisms protecting sports teams and leagues | When and where the goodwill will run out. Episode 78 of the Leaders Sport Business Podcast - brought to you in partnership with Onside Law - features conversations with Triple S Sports and Entertainment MD Paul Stretford (discussion begins at 20:09) and Onside Law Partner Jamie Singer (discussion begins at 4:55). Speaking just hours before the Premier League announced it would be consulting its players on a potential 30% pay cut or deferral in the face of mounting public and media pressure, Stretford, whose agency represents the likes of England footballers Wayne Rooney and Harry Maguire, was happy to address what he sees as a mishandled process and a lack of understanding of the contribution many footballers are already making. Singer, meanwhile, gives an overview of the conversations he and his team are having with a range of rights holders looking to protect themselves in uncertain times and no clarity on when or where sports events might be able to restart. On the conversational agenda: - What force majeure is and how it can - and can't - protect sports organisations; - Collaboration, practical solutions and how to protect yourself now; - When the point is that the goodwill will wear thin; - How a player representation business that relies on personal contact keeps going; - The players' perspective in the argument over pay cuts. Stay safe, keep in touch.

The athlete sacrifice conundrum | The mechanisms protecting sports teams and leagues | When and where the goodwill will run out. Episode 78 of the Leaders Sport Business Podcast - brought to you in partnership with <a href="https://www.onsidelaw.co.uk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Onside Law</a> - features conversations with Triple S Sports and Entertainment MD Paul Stretford (discussion begins at 20:09) and Onside Law Partner Jamie Singer (discussion begins at 4:55). Speaking just hours before the Premier League announced it would be consulting its players on a potential 30% pay cut or deferral in the face of mounting public and media pressure, Stretford, whose agency represents the likes of England footballers Wayne Rooney and Harry Maguire, was happy to address what he sees as a mishandled process and a lack of understanding of the contribution many footballers are already making. Singer, meanwhile, gives an overview of the conversations he and his team are having with a range of rights holders looking to protect themselves in uncertain times and no clarity on when or where sports events might be able to restart. On the conversational agenda: - What force majeure is and how it can - and can't - protect sports organisations; - Collaboration, practical solutions and how to protect yourself now; - When the point is that the goodwill will wear thin; - How a player representation business that relies on personal contact keeps going; - The players' perspective in the argument over pay cuts. Stay safe, keep in touch.

At home with Leaders: Paul Stretford and Jamie Singer

Prince Abdullah

David Cushnan and James Emmett are in Abu Dhabi to wrap up two days of the Leaders Sport Business Summit in the capital of the UAE, including interviews with Sheffield United owner HRH Prince Abdullah bin Musaad bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Abu Dhabi Cricket CEO Matthew Boucher, and discussion around the developing sporting investment strategies across the MENA region, innovation in golf, cricket and esports, and word of a potential new football investor taking a City Football Group-style portfolio approach to club acquisition. More reflections on the summit can be found here.

David Cushnan and James Emmett are in Abu Dhabi to wrap up two days of the Leaders Sport Business Summit in the capital of the UAE, including interviews with Sheffield United owner HRH Prince Abdullah bin Musaad bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Abu Dhabi Cricket CEO Matthew Boucher, and discussion around the developing sporting investment strategies across the MENA region, innovation in golf, cricket and esports, and word of a potential new football investor taking a City Football Group-style portfolio approach to club acquisition. More reflections on the summit can be found <a href="https://www.leadersinsport.com/sport-business/six-takeaways-from-leaders-abu-dhabi/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>.

Behind the scenes at Leaders with Sheffield United owner Prince Abdullah

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