Working for President Obama, Playing for Coach K and Leadership Advice with Reggie Love

Reggie Love is a true renaissance man and witness to history. Reggie was a political aide and former Duke football and basketball player. He was the captain and a starter for the Duke Men’s basketball team during his senior year. Reggie served as the special assistant and personal aide for President Barack Obama. He has traveled the world, met with world leaders, hung out with Jay-Z and Beyoncé and was at the President’s side during his campaign and while working in the White House.

Reggie and I discuss his best-selling book Power Forward: My Presidential Education. We talk about the inauguration, balancing academics and sports, and mentorship. Having worked directly with two incredible leaders (Coach K and Barack Obama), he shares his wisdom on different management styles and how to lead during uncertain times.

Reggie has a Bachelor of Science degree from Duke in Political Science and Government and an MBA from the Wharton. We talk about the challenges of balancing work and a rigorous MBA program and some of the hardest classes he took while at Wharton.

Discussion Topics:

(4:45) Preparing for the President’s Inauguration day speech.

(9:09) Duke Basketball and going from walk-on to team captain.

(15:14) Mentorship & volunteering to help others.

(20:04) Choosing a career path and advice for recent graduates.

(24:24) The Wharton MBA experience and the most challenging courses.

(28:54) Working one of the world’s largest alternative investment firms.

(31:01) Post-COVID economic recovery discussion.

(35:26) The similarities and differences of Obama & Coach K’s leadership styles.

(38:42) Rapid fire questions.