167: Erika Ayers Badan on Leading Barstool Sports (former CEO), Building a Career & Finding Talent
Jun 5, 2024
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Former CEO of Barstool Sports and author Erika Ayers Badan talks about her book 'Nobody Cares About Your Career', talent scouting, managing influencers, sports betting, and funny moments at Barstool Sports in an entertaining and insightful podcast.
Fostering trust and providing freedom for challenging talent to excel at Barstool.
Challenges in international sports betting expansion require tailored strategies for diverse audiences.
Humor and absurdity create a unique, creative work environment at Barstool Sports.
Deep dives
Barstool's Humor and Work Environment
Barstool's work environment is described as a constant source of laughter and humor, with funny incidents happening both within the organization and on the internet. One memorable incident involved the head of sales getting locked in the bathroom, causing amusement and disrupting work dynamics. Barstool's blend of stupidity and humor created a unique and entertaining work atmosphere, where even mishaps turned into funny anecdotes.
Erika's Insight on Talent Management at Barstool
Erika discusses talent management at Barstool, highlighting the importance of identifying challenging talent that resists being managed. She emphasizes the significance of fostering trust, providing value, and creating a supportive environment for talented individuals to thrive. Erika shares that managing difficult talent like Biz Nasty at Barstool involved offering freedom to operate while paving the way for success, allowing talent to challenge the status quo and excel.
Challenges and Opportunities in International Sports Betting Expansion
Erika reflects on the challenges faced during Barstool's expansion into international sports betting, exemplified by signings like troops and expressions for soccer content. The diffuse nature of international fan bases posed monetization difficulties for Barstool, highlighting the complexity of catering to diverse audiences globally. Erika acknowledges the experimentation in building content around soccer and the need for tailored strategies to succeed in international sports betting markets.
The Future of Sports Betting and Its Impact on Sports and Leagues
Erika offers insights on the future landscape of sports betting and its potential impact on sports and leagues. She remarks on the evolving dynamics of the sports betting industry, emphasizing the need for leagues to maintain integrity and transparency amidst growing betting involvement. Erika reflects on the balancing act required to integrate sports betting into the sports ecosystem responsibly, considering financial incentives, betting addiction risks, and the evolving sports entertainment landscape.
Erika's Transition and Humor as a Management Tool
Erika reflects on a former boss's advice to 'laugh first,' highlighting the importance of humor in handling challenging situations. She divulges funny moments at Barstool, showcasing the organization's culture of humor and absurdity. Erika's anecdotes capture the essence of Barstool's work environment as a place where laughter and comic mishaps create a unique and entertaining setting conducive to creativity and collaboration.
Erika Ayers Badan joins the NIA boys to discuss Barstool Sports, her new book, Nobody Cares About Your Career, Finding Talent, and much more.
Timestamps:
(00:00:00) - Intro
(00:01:29) - The vision behind Nobody Cares About Your Career
(00:04:25) - Why Erika hates Quiet Quitting
(00:08:57) - Barstool’s Secret Sauce
(00:21:08) - The Influencer Landscape
(00:25:11) - Leveraging the internet
(00:33:01) - Talent: Scouting and Management
(00:45:17) - Sports Betting and the Degen Economy
(00:53:03) - Funniest Moments at Barstool
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