#303: Daniel for Unity - Sports Entrepreneur & Investor

Daniel Bernard has enjoyed over twenty years’ experience in the Sports

Industry, having built operations, companies and platforms across

multiple territories and jurisdictions. As an active strategic investor into

startups and early-stage companies in the sports and sports technology

sector, Daniel is launching new initiatives to help optimise the use of

data and technology by Sports Associations and Federations.

Born in London in the UK, Daniel has lived in France, Spain, and Italy

before settling in Israel in 1999. Working in television for the Sports Channel offered a broad entry into the industry, and he worked from the ground up through logistics and production to deal with broadcast rights acquisitions.

In 2004, Daniel founded the Sports Data agency that was to become Redwood International Sports. Redwood was a first mover in advanced analysis of player and team performance always adopting innovative technologies to increase the company’s capacity to deliver quality data and insights for its customers.

Daniel turned his focus in 2015 to the gaming sector and created brand new platforms for emerging markets, dealing with everything from compliance and regulation to product and IT delivery. As part of this journey, he founded Suntech Innovation in Kyiv, Ukraine, delivering fully customised and turnkey product for the specific market.

Grateful to continue working in an industry he enjoys so much, Daniel is an active investor in the sports sector. In addition to his own angel investing, he is a Venture Partner with Mindspring Capital, sits on the advisory board for Sharp Alpha Fund and is connected with a number of VC funds with a global reach into the Sports Industry. In addition, he works with selected companies as a board member or in an advisory role, to bring value through strategic, operational and business development partnerships.

Daniel wholeheartedly believes in servant leadership. At the center of his core values are a dedication to hard work, high energy, an entrepreneurial spirit and creating teams that embrace diversity of thought as much as they embrace diversity of background. He is a strong advocate for gender equality and believes that, beyond being morally and ethically correct, it is also extremely wise commercially.

After over two decades in the Sports Industry, Daniel is now looking to maximise his focus on creating a positive impact on people’s lives through sport, both children and adults alike and in parallel via commercial and philanthropic initiatives. At the heart of this endeavour, he has founded Ride For Unity, bringing together business leaders, trailblazers and athletes from around the world to cycle together and spread the values of Diversity, Tolerance, Inclusion and Sustainability through active sessions with schools, universities and commercial forums.

His Top Leadership Tip is:

Leadership is so often associated with a person who stands at the front, strong in command with others following them wherever they go.

My thoughts on leadership have evolved to see things differently. Each of us has our own capabilities, our own possible future. We cannot know what the best future for those around us can be. Hence, in leadership, the best we can do is to be like a shepherd at the back to allow them to step forward themselves without fear, as we guide and support them in their journey. It is a leader’s responsibility to help steer whilst still allowing our people to find their own path to their best self. 

Be the Shepherd your people need, rather than the commander they think they want.

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