Leaders Worth Knowing Podcast

Leaders Editorial Director James Emmett and Content Director David Cushnan run the rule over the stories moving the global sports industry needle this week. They're joined in the studio by Aquatics GB CEO Drew Barrand. Together they discuss the fallout from the Chinese doping story; and the CEO response to scandal: the motivating factors behind any move or statement and the stakeholder sensitivities that have to be accounted for. Fifa's big ambitions for the new look Mondial de Clubes and the carve-out that's tempting Apple to the rights negotiating table are also covered. Meanwhile, Cushnan had a front row seat for the premiere of the third part of Thomas Bach's Olympic Agenda trilogy: the IOC's AI Agenda, and he liked what he saw. Plus, why the NGB equation of performance + governance = not a lot of room for much else has to change; and what Aquatics GB are doing with the data behind the 550,000 streams of the recent British Championships. The agenda’s out for 4se New York, our sports, media, brands and popular culture show, examining the spaces where sport, lifestyle, culture and entertainment are intersecting.There’s still time to join us in New York on Tuesday 21st and Wednesday 22nd May - visit 4-se.com for more details.

Leaders' Editorial Director James Emmett and Content Director David Cushnan pick out and poke around the stories of the sports industry week, joined by DAZN VP, Right Strategy, Tom Waterhouse.They discuss World Athletics’ announcement it will pay athletes who win Olympic gold this year - and the wider debate over whether and how athletes should be paid that’s opened up - and the BBC and its sports strategy, as Alex Kay-Jelski prepares to step into Barbara Slater’s shoes as Director of Sport.Plus, DAZN’s rights acquisition process; how data and intuition can work together; DAZN’s joint venture with the Professional Fighters League and the competitive MMA space it’s now part of; and whether it’s really possible to serve hardcore fans of a sport and attract casual viewers at the same time.The agenda’s out for 4se New York, our sports, media, brands and popular culture show, examining the spaces where sport, lifestyle, culture and entertainment are intersecting. There’s still time to join us in New York on Tuesday 21st and Wednesday 22nd May - visit 4-se.com for more details.

Leaders' Editorial Director James Emmett and Content Director David Cushnan have a roam around the stories of the sports industry week.On the eve of the Masters, there’s a reminder of Augusta National’s well-manicured and private approach to running a global sports event; remote reflections on the Caitlin Clark-inspired remarkable few weeks for women’s basketball in the United States; honourable mentions for Endeavour’s new arrangement with Silver Lake and Greenfly’s latest funding round; YouTube’s approach to live sport and live sport’s approach to YouTube; and a plan of action for how the Commonwealth Games ought to be reimagined as the search for a host of the 2026 edition continues.The agenda’s out for 4se New York, our sports, media, brands and popular culture show, examining the spaces where sport, lifestyle, culture and entertainment are intersecting. There’s still time to join us in New York on Tuesday 21st and Wednesday 22nd May - visit 4-se.com for more details.

Leaders’ Editorial Director James Emmett and Content Director David Cushnan review the big sports industry stories of the week, joined in the studio by Giulia Zecchini, Co-Founder of Sneaker Sisterhood.There’s reflections on the big motorsport announcement which has seen F1 owner Liberty Media acquire MotoGP in a deal valued at £3.6 billion.Elsewhere, Giulia Zecchini joins the show for a deep dive on sneaker culture: what it is, the challenger brands in the market, and how fashion collaborations are put together.Plus a look back to the on-stage programme at 4se New York in 2023, our sports, media, brands and popular culture show, examining the spaces where sport, lifestyle, culture and entertainment are intersecting.There’s still time to join us in New York on Tuesday 21st and Wednesday 22nd May for the 2024 edition – visit 4-se.com for more details.

Leaders' Editorial Director James Emmett and Content Director David Cushnan return for an extended ramble around the stories of the sports industry week.There’s reflections on the Cheltenham Festival as an event, a social occasion and a sports industry hospitality hotspot; the competing visions for the future of global professional tennis; and the NFL’s latest expansion of its team international marketing programme.Plus a look ahead to the on-stage programme at 4se New York, our sports, media, brands and popular culture show, examining the spaces where sport, lifestyle, culture and entertainment are intersecting.There’s still time to join us in New York on Tuesday 21st and Wednesday 22nd May - visit4-se.com for more details.

Leaders' Content Director David Cushnan has the stories of the sports industry week, and he's joined by Winners Alliance CEO Ahmad Nassar. Nassar discusses Netflix's decision to halt production on tennis documentary Break Point and the latest on the NBA's next media rights deal. He also explains the rationale behind Winners Alliance, the for-profit affiliate of the Professional Tennis Players Association and the Federation of International Cricketers' Association, and its latest project: the launch of a new track and field professional series in partnership with Michael Johnson. Also on the show, Leaders' Javan Odegah stops by to share the latest on the Leaders Diversity Series, and preview his YouTube conversation with the LTA and Amazon Prime Video.

Leaders’ Editorial Director James Emmett sifts through the sports industry stories of the week in the company of World Horse Racing CEO and sports broadcast expert Russell Scott. Leaders MD Laura McQueen is also in the hot seat and outlines what you need to do to win a Leaders Sports Award this year.On the conversational agenda: Reviewing the National Rugby League’s first foray to the US with two action-packed games being played out in front of a 40,000 Las Vegas crowd; the content pillars that are helping World Horse Racing tell new stories; and China’s return as a global sporting superpower.Listen to the podcast below, and subscribe today on Apple, Amazon, Spotify or your chosen podcast platform.

Leaders' Editorial Director James Emmett and Content Director David Cushnan sum up the sports industry week, joined in the studio by British Cycling CEO Jon Dutton.They reflect on the first edition of the Greater Bay Area International Sports Business Summit, held last weekend in Macau, and a new positivity around China’s relationship with sport. There’s also time to examine the abandonment of the DFL’s plan to find a private equity partner for the Bundesliga, challenger sports trying to make it in the USA and Apple’s new scores app.Then Dutton discusses preparations for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games; how British Cycling is restructuring at a time when the national governing body model is “distressed”; the different rhythm of leadership required at an NGB versus his previous role as CEO of the Rugby League World Cup; and commercialising the men’s and women’s Tours of Britain.

Leaders' Editorial Director James Emmett and Content Director David Cushnan take a purposeful stroll through the stories of the sports industry week, joined by Dee Kundra, Managing Director, Americas, for Bayern Munich.There are reflections on the NBA’s annual tech summit - and the concept of in-house rights-holder conferences - and the league’s NB-AI showcase, plus a look at China’s re-emergence on the global sports stage.Then Kundra explains exactly how a regional office for a major football club works and outlines the business, logistics and importance of pre-season club tours, as well as looking ahead to the first edition of the expanded and revamped Club World Cup, which will take place in the United States in the summer of 2025.

Leaders' Editorial Director James Emmett and Content Director David Cushnan sift through the stories of the sports industry week.They ponder China's decision to cancel two Argentina friendlies, as the row over Lionel Messi escalates; putting boots on the ground in new markets, as the NFL selects Madrid as its next host venue; Emirates' new deal with the NBA; the trio of media companies going into business together with a new sports streaming service; and the ATP's viral promo video.And, with half an eye on our 4se New York sport-meets-entertainment event experience (Tuesday 21st and Wednesday 22nd May), there's no better duo to examine the deepening relationship between fashion and sport. For more details on 4se New York, visit: https://4-se.com.