Leaders Worth Knowing Podcast

Digital expert and newly appointed CEO of Stadion gives his views on the innovations happening in the space. The Leaders Broadcast Disruptors Audio Bulletin is a regular podcast for discussion, debate, and analysis around the latest developments in sports content production, distribution and monetisation. On this episode, James Emmett and David Cushnan are joined by Russell Stopford, a giant in world of sports digital, who is newly-installed as CEO of digital agency Stadion, following over a decade of leading digital activity at three of football’s biggest clubs, Manchester City, FC Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.  In an insightful and informative conversation, the trio dive into the latest happenings in the space, such as the NFL’s plans for a new subscription streaming service, Spotify’s giant sponsorship deal with FC Barcelona and of course, 2022’s biggest buzzword, the metaverse. In the process, Stopford offers his expert perspective on the complexity of developing a huge new project like the NFL’s, the untapped potential in the crossover between sports and music, and the big tech question in the development of the metaverse that demands to be solved.  

Atlanta Hawks CMO Melissa Proctor in conversation with Leaders Head of Content David Cushnan. Melissa Proctor is an accomplished leader with 20 years of experience across sports and entertainment. She began her professional life with Turner Broadcasting as an intern, before going on to assume multiple roles during a nine-year stint, such as Director of Insights & Inspiration for the Turner Media Group, Senior Director of Strategy Development at Cartoon Network & Adult Swim, and eventually VP of Brand Marketing & Content at upwave.  Proctor joined the Atlanta Hawks in 2014 as the Vice President of Brand Strategy and quickly rose up the ranks, first assuming the role of Senior Vice President of Strategy in 2015, and then to Executive VP and CMO in 2016. Her interest in the NBA first began as a teenager when she was the first ball girl for the Miami Heat, an experience that went on to inspire the title of her bestselling book ‘From Ball Girl to CMO’. In an insightful conversation conducted live as part of our Leaders Sport Business Summit Abu Dhabi in mid-March, Proctor reveals how the leading NBA franchise is cornering international markets, delving into the details behind the international strategy, the process of working with key stakeholders in new regions and the balance between global expansion and serving the home fanbase.  She also offers her valuable perspective on how the role of CMO has changed in an increasingly digital world, the importance of being a civic asset and how the unique nature of Atlanta as a city informs her marketing approach. 

The big issues facing football around the world, as seen by three international leaders in developing the game. Leaders in Conversation is a series that puts you in the room, fly-on-the-wall style, for discussions between the most influential leaders in sports and media. Our latest episode features James Johnson, CEO of Football Australia, Laura Georges, Secretary General at the French Football Federation and Robbie Fowler, the former England and Liverpool player, in an on-stage session led by Dubai Eye 103.8 host Chris McHardy. This discussion, titled ‘Football Development around the World’, was recorded in mid-March, as part of the Leaders Sport Business Summit Abu Dhabi.James Johnson is the CEO of Football Australia, the country due to co-host the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Prior to joining Football Australia in January 2020, Johnson held senior roles across the world of football, such as Director of International Relationships and Development at the Asian Football Confederation, and Head of Professional Football at FIFA. An esteemed former player for the French national team, Laura Georges is now Secretary-General of the French Football Federation, the current men’s World Champions, and one of the national federations at the forefront of progressing the women’s game. Committed to the promotion of women’s football, Georges served as ambassador of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019 in France and has overseen the development of the women’s refereeing plan. Robbie Fowler is a former player and current manager, best known for his time with Liverpool between 1993 and 2001. To date, he remains Liverpool’s top scorer in the Premier League and is the eighth top scorer in Premier League history. Following his time in the UK, Fowler played in Australia and Thailand and has since transitioned into management, where he most recently managed East Bengal of the Indian Super League.In this fascinating and wide-ranging discussion, the panel discuss, among many other topics, the possibility of biennial World Cup; what works and what doesn’t in different markets across the world when it comes to coaching and talent pathways; and how the development of technology is changing football, for better and for worse.

Behind the Scenes of the fourth edition of the Leaders Sport Business Summit in Abu DhabiLeaders on the Ground takes you behind-the-scenes at our in-person events, where our team will review the action and key takeaways from the on-stage sessions. In partnership with the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, the Leaders team invited 400 senior executives to the world-renowned Yas Marina Circuit for the fourth edition of Leaders Sport Business Summit Abu Dhabi on 16th and 17th March, where we explored the new dynamics of global sport. This episode recaps the two-day summit and explores the key themes. First, our Head of Content David Cushnan and Content Producer Cameron Macdonald are joined by Ryan Norys, Chief Revenue Officer ay AS Roma, to recap the action from Day One. The trio touch on a number of topics, including (but not limited to) the renewed focus on purpose in shaping the identity of clubs, the growing desire to bridge the gap between the elite, professional of sport and the grassroots, community-focused end, and what it is like to be in thick of trying to sell these multimillion pound deals, such as the one recently announced between FC Barcelona and Spotify.Later in the episode, from 23.48, David is joined by Phil Cotton, CEO at Elevate, and Laura Georges, Secretary General of the French Football Federation. In this section, the three discuss the goings-on on Day Two and their review of the summit overall. On the conversational agenda; the impact of investing in new ways to engage fans in the culture, the impact of inspiring women and girls to participate in sport, and the fascinating dynamic created when two of our speakers had opposing views.

In today’s episode, we bring you an important and insightful conversation between three champions for allyship.Leaders in EDI is a monthly series covering news, views, comments and debates happening across the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion space. It also shines a spotlight on the progress being made and the challenges being faced in EDI across sport. This month’s episode, recorded live at our International Women’s Day pop-up event, sees three trailblazing advocates for women in sport discuss the importance of allyship. First on our panel is Katie Shaw, an inspiring female leader in sports and entertainment. Shaw spent seven years at prominent sports marketing company Fuse, before leaving in the latter half of last year to begin a new role of Global Head of Brand Engagement at Entourage Sports & Entertainment Company. A keen champion for women in sport, Shaw was a committee member at Omniwomen UK during her time at Fuse.Joining Shaw is Manisha Tailor, Assistant Head of Coaching at Queen’s Park Rangers, and a leader who has dedicated much of her working life to supporting women and those with mental illness through work in education. A qualified head-teacher with over 15 years of experience working in schools across the UK and Internationally, Tailor is also an education worker for Show Racism the Red Card, and Founder/Director of Swaggarlicious Limited, which uses the power of football and education to engage with diverse community groups and organisations to help them lead a healthy lifestyle and develop lifelong learning skills.Rounding off our panel is the man Tailor sees as a great example of allyship, Chris Ramsey, a former professional footballer and Taylor’s colleague at QPR, where he serves as Technical Director. He has coached and managed at all levels of football, and has been listed among the 30 Most Influential Black People in Football by the Voice, the UK’s leading black newspaper. As an outspoken advocate of social justice and EDI, Ramsey has been lauded as a trailblazer for changing the face of the QPR Academy in a positive way.In an illuminating and educational discussion, the three panelists talked to Leaders hosts Javan Odegah and Laura McQueen about different facets of allyship, such as how to implement allyship on a day-to-day basis, traditional line management vs allyship and how exactly you can “microwave someone’s learning.”The Leaders in EDI podcast is part of the Leaders Meet: Diversity Series, delivered in partnership with Meta, which provides a platform for executives within sport to come together to drive diversity across the industry, accelerate the pace of change and inspire the next generation of executives, through thought-leadership events and digital forums. To find out more about Leaders Meet: Diversity series, please visit https://leadersinsport.com/leaders-events/leaders-sport-business-summit-abu-dhabi/.The fourth edition of Leaders Sport Business Summit Abu Dhabi returns on 16th and 17th March. To find out more and register your interest, please visit https://leadersinsport.com/AD2022Note: This is a live podcast recording, so there may be some slight distortion in the panel section, but this should not take away from your listening experience.

Former BBC exec Stuart Rowson reveals the secrets of making content for younger audiences.The Leaders Broadcast Disruptors Audio Bulletin is a regular podcast for discussion, debate, and analysis around the latest developments in sports content production, distribution and monetisation.On this episode, James Emmett and David Cushnan are joined by Stuart Rowson, a multi-platform expert with a mission to help brands and media companies engage with children and younger audiences. In a fascinating and varied conversation that includes talk of Cocomelon, Hey Duggee and the NFL’s Nickelodeon broadcast, Rowson discusses how he oversaw BBC Sport’s younger audience strategy, the unique work he is doing with Chelsea FC, and reveals what you may be doing wrong in your approach to engaging younger audiences.The fourth edition of Leaders Sport Business Summit Abu Dhabi returns on 16th and 17th March. To find out more and to register your interest, please visit http://www.leadersinsport.com/AD2022

Serial challengers reveal how a distinctive mindset has fuelled their success. Leaders Live is our monthly studio talk show on hot button issues facing the industry, featuring interviews with leaders from across and beyond sport. On this episode, we unpack what ‘the challenger mentality’ actually means, analyse what it takes to build something new, and explore how to make an impact with something different in the sports industry. There’s something inherent in sport about the concept of ‘the challenger’. Not just a necessary half of any one-on-one contest, but something deeper: a romantic notion of potential triumph against the odds; a compelling story that sweeps people up and drives competitors and fans alike; a mindset that inspires, energises and informs strategy. But what about the business of sport? Do the same notions apply here? And how do the most successful start-ups use the challenger mentality to their advantage? To help us answer these questions, we are joined by Philip Sharpe, Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of Infront X, who is an expert in helping global sport brands engage with audiences and monetize their investments by identifying opportunities enabled by digital technology.  Our second guest is Tim Godfrey, Chief Marketing Officer of the Professional Triathletes Organisation, a two-year-old entity that seeks to showcase the passion, ability, setbacks and accomplishments of all those who participate in triathlon, from newbies to professionals, through motivational content, inspiring events such as the Collins cup, and first-of-its-kind ranking technology. Last but certainly not least we are joined by Sharon Fuller, Chief Content Officer at the new eSkootr Championship, the world’s first electric scooter racing series. Launching this year in six different countries across Europe and North America, the series’ goal is to revolutionise micromobility by turning it into a competitive sport for the very first time. The mixed-gender championship has a mission to drive positive change in sport by advocating for inclusion, accessibility and sustainability. If you would also like to watch this episode in video form, visit https://twitter.com/LeadersBiz/status/1496499676299808773?s=20&t=ZrbEETMbE_vJWO8UAnLIwg On 16th and 17th March, we are partnering with Abu Dhabi Sports Council to bring you The Leaders Sport Business Summit Abu Dhabi. To find out more and register your interest, please go to https://www.leadersinsport.com/AD2022 

In today’s episode, we bring you two conversations with two key leaders in sport around the importance of measuring progress and implementing change in the ED&I Landscape. Leaders in EDI is a monthly series covering news, views, comments and debates happening across the equality, diversity and inclusion space. It also shines a spotlight on the progress being made and the challenges being faced in EDI across sport. Our first conversation, beginning at 08:40, is with Leaders’ Managing Director Laura McQueen and Nielsen Sports’ Head of Brands, Lynsey Douglas. The focal point of the discussion was the survey that Leaders ran in collaboration with Nielsen in order to benchmark where members of the Leaders Meet: Diversity series feel we are in the EDI space. The pair cover key statistics from the survey findings and what changes we can make to ensure even better results over the coming year, and take the opportunity to discuss having ambition to drive change, the importance of having an inclusive work environment as we return to the office space, and the key approach to joining a community.   At 21:15, we then move to a guest interview with Leon Mann, an entrepreneur, activist, broadcaster, filmmaker and founder of sports consultancy and production company, Refresh Sport. This conversation expanded on the theme of change, with a focus given to the distinction between short-term change and long-term reform. Within it, Mann offers his valuable insight on reflecting on your own biases, holding leaders accountable, and how taking action in the diversity space will maximise the performance of your business.  The Leaders in EDI podcast is part of the Leaders Meet: Diversity Series, delivered in partnership with Meta, which provides a platform for executives within sport to come together to drive diversity across the industry, accelerate the pace of change and inspire the next generation of executives, through thought-leadership events and digital forums. To find out more about the Leaders Meet: Diversity series, please visit https://leadersinsport.com/leaders-meet-diversity-2The fourth edition of Leaders Sport Business Summit Abu Dhabi returns on 16th and 17th March. To find out more and register your interest, please visit https://leadersinsport.com/AD2022

Leaders Editor-at-large and Head of Content James Emmett and David Cushnan are joined by Sky’s Director of Product Management to discuss what’s going on and why it matters across the sports media industry. The Leaders Broadcast Disruptors Audio Bulletin is a regular podcast for discussion, debate, and analysis around the latest developments in sports content production, distribution and monetisation.On this episode, James Emmett and David Cushnan first consider some of the latest stories in the space, such as the new phase in the discussions around BT Sport: DAZN is out and Discovery is in; and UEFA’s decision to split its next cycle of club competition rights between incumbent TEAM Marketing and US newcomers Relevent Sports.The pair are then joined by Dave Gibbs, Sky’s Director of Product Management – Group Content (Sports & News), Apps, Partner Content & Advertising.On the agenda: the ‘streaming wars’ and how they benefit the customer; the Metaverse and how it will enhance the viewer experience; and the evolving role of UGC in sport and how it fits into Sky’s product strategy.The fourth edition of Leaders Sport Business Summit Abu Dhabi returns on 16th and 17th March. To find out more and register your interest, please visit http://www.leadersinsport.com/AD2022

Sue Anstiss leads a discussion with two female leaders in sport.Leaders in Conversation is a series that puts you in the room, fly-on-the-wall style, for a discussion between the most influential leaders in sports and media. Our second episode is with Jo Osborne and Kelly Simmons in a moderated conversation led by Sue Anstiss.Jo Osborne has worked in television production for two decades, the entirety of which she has spent at Sky Sports. She assumed the role of Executive Producer in June 2021, and throughout the duration of her career has been committed to increasing the visibility of women’s sport.Kelly Simmons took up the new role of Director of the Women’s Professional Game in September 2018 to help deliver and transform professional women’s football in England. Simmons was previously The FA Director of Participation and Development, overseeing the implementation of a £200m four year investment programme into children’s and grassroots football.Sue Anstiss worked in sports marketing and sports PR for over 30 years, delivering highly successful campaigns to get more women and girls talking part in sport and physical activity. In 2020, Anstiss established Fearless Women, a company with powerful ambition to drive positive change for women’s sport.In this discussion recorded as part of October’s Leaders Week London as a session titled ‘To What Extent Should Women’s Sport Replicate The Men’s Sports Commercial And Broadcasting Template?’, the three leaders discuss finding and targeting new fans for women’s sport, building new formats, and the importance of criticism as part of broadcast coverage. The session coincided with the launch of our Special Report, which was produced in partnership with Sky and centered around the women’s sports landscape in the post-pandemic era. To download the report, visit http://leadersinsport.com/sport-business/leaders-special-report-womens-sport-bouncing-back-from-the-pandemicOn 16th and 17th March, we are partnering with Abu Dhabi Sports Council to bring you The Leaders Sport Business Summit Abu Dhabi. To find out more and register your interest, http://www.leadersinsport.com/AD2022