118: Pro Athlete Turned Tech CEO Reveals Path to Entrepreneurial Success| Lyle Adams

Jan 16, 2025

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Are you struggling to build a team that takes true ownership of their work? How do you transition from being hands-on with every decision to empowering others to drive results?

In this episode, former p rofessional soccer player turned tech entrepreneur Lyle Adams shares his journey from walking on at Wake Forest University to becoming one of Uber's first 100 employees and founding Spry, a fast-growing athletic compliance platform. Through his experiences as an athlete, early Uber employee, and founder, Lyle provides invaluable insights on building high-performing teams, maintaining authenticity during organizational challenges, and the power of curiosity in driving professional growth. His unique perspective bridges the worlds of elite athletics and business leadership, offering practical wisdom on delegation, talent development, and creating a culture of ownership.

This Episode Covers:

Why curiosity is the fundamental trait that enables both athletic and business success
How to transition from being the technical expert to an effective leader who empowers others
The importance of being authentic and transparent with your team during organizational challenges
Why hiring people smarter than you is key to scaling yourself as a leader
How to create a culture of ownership vs. "renters" in your organization
The critical balance between remote work flexibility and in-person collaboration
Why great leaders should aim to make only 8 major strategic decisions per year

Episode Highlights:

(00:00) Introduction to Lyle Adams – Damon introduces Lyle and his remarkable journey from professional soccer to tech entrepreneurship.

(02:46) Walking On at Wake Forest – Lyle shares his story of perseverance and earning a spot on one of the nation’s top soccer programs.

(09:29) Winning a National Championship – Lyle reflects on the camaraderie and culture that drove his team to victory.

(14:34) Life as a Professional Athlete – Lyle discusses the challenges of transitioning from college to the pros and lessons learned along the way.

(22:44) From Soccer to Tech – Lyle talks about his transition to the corporate world and the pivotal moments that led him to Uber.

(28:58) The Uber Experience – Lyle recounts his time as one of Uber’s first 100 employees and the lessons learned from scaling a global game-changer.

(39:43) Founding Spry – Lyle explains the inspiration behind Spry, its mission, and how it empowers student-athletes in the NIL era.

(46:17) Advice for Founders – Lyle offers practical tips on leadership, delegation, and staying focused as a startup founder.

(54:26) Reflections on Fatherhood – Lyle shares his experiences as a new dad and the lessons he’s learning from this exciting chapter of life.

(56:05) Where to Connect with Lyle – Lyle shares how listeners can reach out and learn more about Spry.

About Lyle:

Lyle Adams, Founder and CEO of Spry, a leading athletic compliance platform serving over 200 customers, brings a unique blend of elite athletics and tech industry expertise to his role. As one of Uber's first 100 employees, he spent six years in key leadership positions helping scale the company's operations and analytics capabilities. Before his successful transition to tech, Lyle was a professional soccer player in Major League Soccer, having earned his spot as a walk-on at Wake Forest University where he led the team to a national championship. His journey from professional athlete to tech executive and entrepreneur culminated in founding Spry, where he leverages his comprehensive experience to revolutionize NIL technology for athletic departments and student-athletes.

Resources Referenced:

Spry

Lyle Adams on LinkedIn

Podcast Contact Information:

Website: www.learnit.com

Email: podcast@learnit.com