Episodes

  • Steve Koonin (President & CEO @ATLHawks) on Running a Sports Team Like a Media Company & more

    Steve Koonin (President & CEO @ATLHawks) on Running a Sports Team Like a Media Company & more
    Oct 13 2026
    This is the Excellent Leadership Podcast! Chad Biagini (President, Excel Search & Advisory) and Mark Mayleben are here with Steve Koonin (President & CEO @atlhawks & State Farm Arena) to discuss: Excel Search & Advisory Intro (0:00) Steve Koonin Intro (0:22) The Hawks' in-house podcast studio & How the CEO role reinvents itself over time (1:31) Stepping into an ownership controversy five weeks into the job & Building Atlanta's version of LA Live (5:34) What turned the community around & Building trust and alignment with owner Tony Ressler (11:16) "Oysters make pearls": Fighting complacency & Magic City Night's 11.7 billion impressions (16:21) Creating a culture where people take big risks & Why outsiders succeed as sports CEOs (22:30) Building the executive team & Running end-of-season "autopsies" instead of reviews (29:28) The global future of the NBA & Why he reads 4–5 hours a day (35:38) 7 Question Blitz (44:13) This episode is brought to you by Teamworks. See what Teamworks can do for your organization at Teamworks.com. Subscribe To Full Episodes & Clips on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ExcellentLeadershipPodcast Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/excellent-leadership-podcast/id1756992305 Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4KU2g2Baee7a5d04fQfSzs Subscribe on Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b52f086a-0266-4345-be4d-bb8a7cde89fd/EXCELLENT-LEADERSHIP-PODCAST?ref=dm_sh_iGzHwozj5FaE9BcH829Nv8GBz Follow Us: @excellentleadershippodcast on Instagram, YouTube, Spotify & LinkedIn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    50 mins
  • Erick Harper (Athletic Director @UNLV⁩) on Financial Literacy For Athletes in the NIL Era & more

    Erick Harper (Athletic Director @UNLV⁩) on Financial Literacy For Athletes in the NIL Era & more
    Sep 29 2026
    This is the Excellent Leadership Podcast! Chad Biagini (President, Excel Search & Advisory) & Chris Hoppe (Partner, Excel Search & Advisory) are here with Erick Harper (Director of Athletics @unlv) to discuss: Intro (:02) Erick Harper Intro (:24) A memory that sticks out at UNLV & What he saw in taking this role (1:45) Advice to a rising leader & The importance of communication with higher ups (6:26) The importance of of mentoring student athletes & Walk Around Time (11:20) Building the culture of UNLV vs. Empathy within the organization (15:23) Tying in the city of Las Vegas & Leaning to the difference of the product (22:11) Behind the scenes of a head coaching search & Hiring Dan Mullen (27:56) Never compromising your values & Financial literacy for athletes in the NIL era (32:04) Adapting to address the transfer portal & Not being a micromanager (37:44) Where UNLV is going to be in 5 years & 7 Question Blitz (40:30) 7 Question Blitz (57:40) Subscribe To Full Episodes & Clips on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ExcellentLeadershipPodcast Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/excellent-leadership-podcast/id1756992305 Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4KU2g2Baee7a5d04fQfSzs Subscribe on Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b52f086a-0266-4345-be4d-bb8a7cde89fd/EXCELLENT-LEADERSHIP-PODCAST?ref=dm_sh_iGzHwozj5FaE9BcH829Nv8GBz Follow Us: @excellentleadershippodcast on Instagram, YouTube, Spotify & LinkedIn CEO Conversations #CEO #SportsExecutives #DreamJob Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    51 mins
  • Greg Beadles (President & CEO @atlantafalcons) on The Global Business Growth of Football & more

    Greg Beadles (President & CEO @atlantafalcons) on The Global Business Growth of Football & more
    Sep 15 2026
    This is the Excellent Leadership Podcast! Chad Biagini (President, Excel Search & Advisory) is here with Greg Beadles (President & CEO @atlantafalcons) to discuss: Excel Seach & Advisory Intro (:02) Greg Beadles Intro (:25) What the role of CEO in the NFL really is & Where he spends most of his time in business (1:44) Hiring for a coach or GM & The role that Matt Ryan is filling for the team now (4:54) Hiring for core values & Starting out as an intern, becoming CFO to President/CEO of The Falcons (8:31) The First 30-60 Days of becoming President/CEO & Going through reorginization on the business side (17:45) Planning with Owner Arthur Blank & What he has learned from him in business (25:21) The business growth in the NFL & Playing in International games every season (33:04) The growth of flag football & The business of Mercedes-Benz Stadium (37:56) Co-Founding a school & Staying sharp and grounded (44:27) 7 Question Blitz (49:58) Subscribe To Full Episodes & Clips on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ExcellentLeadershipPodcast Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/excellent-leadership-podcast/id1756992305 Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4KU2g2Baee7a5d04fQfSzs Subscribe on Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b52f086a-0266-4345-be4d-bb8a7cde89fd/EXCELLENT-LEADERSHIP-PODCAST?ref=dm_sh_iGzHwozj5FaE9BcH829Nv8GBz Follow Us: @excellentleadershippodcast on Instagram, YouTube, Spotify & LinkedIn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    56 mins
  • Ross Bjork (Athletic Director at The Ohio State University) on The Scale of Being a Buckeye & more

    Ross Bjork (Athletic Director at The Ohio State University) on The Scale of Being a Buckeye & more
    Sep 1 2026
    This is the Excellent Leadership Podcast! Chad Biagini (President, Excel Search & Advisory) is here with Ross Bjork (Athletic Director @theohiostateuniversity) to discuss: This is the Excellent Leadership Podcast! Chad Biagini (President, Excel Search & Advisory) is here with Ross Bjork (Athletic Director @theohiostateuniversity) to discuss: Excel Search & Advisory Intro (:00) Ross Bjork Intro (:26) Setting the tone as Athletic Director & The scale of working at The Ohio State University (2:04) Having the torch passed to him with overlap from Gene Smith & Balancing between honor and tradition (8:46) Having patience when stepping into a new role & Having the right cadence of executives in your organization (15:39) The gospel of being Athletic Director & Accelerating your learning curve when dealing with the media (23:29) Cascading culture throughout roles in an organization & Ensuring values during an interview process (28:19) Balancing football vs. the other 35 sports in the program & Getting the most out of modern athletes (37:15) 7 Question Blitz (46:19) Subscribe To Full Episodes & Clips on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ExcellentLeadershipPodcast Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/excellent-leadership-podcast/id1756992305 Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4KU2g2Baee7a5d04fQfSzs Subscribe on Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b52f086a-0266-4345-be4d-bb8a7cde89fd/EXCELLENT-LEADERSHIP-PODCAST?ref=dm_sh_iGzHwozj5FaE9BcH829Nv8GBz Follow Us: @excellentleadershippodcast on Instagram, YouTube, Spotify & LinkedIn Follow on Instagram & LinkedIn: @excellentleadershippodcast Produced by DBPodcasts - http://www.DBPodcasts.com Producers: Miles Davis, Daniel Demme Krutchkoff & Jordan Winter (c) Excel Search & Advisory #SportsBusiness #SportsIndustry #SportsExecutives #AthleticDirector #SportsCareers #Leadership #SportsManagement #CollegeAthletics Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    57 mins
  • Kristen Holmes (Global Head of Human Performance @whoop) on Athlete & Executive Motivation Ceiling

    Kristen Holmes (Global Head of Human Performance @whoop) on Athlete & Executive Motivation Ceiling
    Aug 18 2026
    This is the Excellent Leadership Podcast! Chad Biagini (President, Excel Search & Advisory) & Matt Rogers (Partner, Excel Search & Advisory) are here with Kristen Holmes (Global Head of Human Performance @whoop) to discuss: Excel Seach & Advisory Intro (:02) Kristen Holmes Intro (:24) Being an athlete at Princeton & Joining WHOOP to enchance human performance (2:30) Preperation for yourself instead of the opponent at hand & What executives are getting wrong with their health (7:18) Executives who inquire about using WHOOP to create boundaries & Biggest solution for corrections (16:15) The importance of sleep consistency along with early caffeine & The competitive advantages achieved in work culture (28:13) Therapy benefits & Managing stress (38:50) The motivation ceiling of athletes & Motivation performance plan principles in the workplace (48:38) The common thread of wining teams & 7 years of data for recovery of professional golfers results (59:46) The one thing YOU can do tomorrow to better your health & Writing a book (1:05:26) 7 Question Blitz (1:17:07) Subscribe To Full Episodes & Clips on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ExcellentLeadershipPodcast Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/excellent-leadership-podcast/id1756992305 Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4KU2g2Baee7a5d04fQfSzs Subscribe on Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b52f086a-0266-4345-be4d-bb8a7cde89fd/EXCELLENT-LEADERSHIP-PODCAST?ref=dm_sh_iGzHwozj5FaE9BcH829Nv8GBz Follow Us: @excellentleadershippodcast on Instagram, YouTube, Spotify & LinkedIn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 20 mins
  • Dan Radakovich (Executive Director of FBSAD Association) on How To Be an Athletic Director & more

    Dan Radakovich (Executive Director of FBSAD Association) on How To Be an Athletic Director & more
    Aug 4 2026
    This is the Excellent Leadership Podcast! Chad Biagini (President, Excel Search & Advisory) is here with Dan Radakovich (Executive Director of FBSAD Association) to discuss: Intro (:02) How much the Athletic Director role has changed & How to differentiate yourself to be hired as an AD (1:23) How to build your generalist muscle & What to do right in the first 60-90 days in onboarding (7:45) Common themes in administration hires that worked & Having success in building college football programs (18:15) What works well to get culture to cement in organizations & Differences for executives from other industries getting into in sports (28:05) If stakeholder management is a muscle that can be built & Looking back at working at Georgia Tech/Clemson/Miami (40:50) 7 Question Blitz (44:36) Subscribe To Full Episodes & Clips on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ExcellentLeadershipPodcast Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/excellent-leadership-podcast/id1756992305 Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4KU2g2Baee7a5d04fQfSzs Subscribe on Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b52f086a-0266-4345-be4d-bb8a7cde89fd/EXCELLENT-LEADERSHIP-PODCAST?ref=dm_sh_iGzHwozj5FaE9BcH829Nv8GBz Follow Us: @excellentleadershippodcast on Instagram, YouTube, Spotify & LinkedIn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    51 mins
  • Candice Story Lee (Athletic Director @Vanderbilt) on The Value of Executive Coaching & more

    Candice Story Lee (Athletic Director @Vanderbilt) on The Value of Executive Coaching & more
    Jul 28 2026
    This is the Excellent Leadership Podcast! Chad Biagini (President, Excel Search & Advisory) & Chris Hoppe (Partner, Excel Search & Advisory) are here with Candice Story Lee (Athletic Director @Vanderbilt) to discuss: Intro (:02) 7 Question Blitz & First job (1:23) The belief in Vanderbilt University & Encouraging people to fulfill their potential (10:10) What to do with your team on tough days & What has changed at Vanderbilt University (15:53) Recruitment in modern day college athletics & Learning how to adapt (24:00) Vanderbilt Enterprises & How to maintain energy as a leader (31:18) The importance of morning routine & Keeping control of her calendar (37:55) Collaboration & Optimization in hiring (44:15) Implementing executive coaching into the organization & Winning SBJ Athletic Director of the Year (49:50) Most common advice lately & Being underestimated (56:53) Subscribe To Full Episodes & Clips on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ExcellentLeadershipPodcast Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/excellent-leadership-podcast/id1756992305 Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4KU2g2Baee7a5d04fQfSzs Subscribe on Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b52f086a-0266-4345-be4d-bb8a7cde89fd/EXCELLENT-LEADERSHIP-PODCAST?ref=dm_sh_iGzHwozj5FaE9BcH829Nv8GBz Follow Us: @excellentleadershippodcast on Instagram, YouTube, Spotify & LinkedIn Follow Us on Socials: @excellentleadershippodcast on Instagram & LinkedIn CEO Conversations #CEO #SportsExecutives #DreamJob Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 2 mins
  • Morgan Shaw Parker (President & COO of @AtlantaDream) on Leaving The NFL for a WNBA Franchise

    Morgan Shaw Parker (President & COO of @AtlantaDream) on Leaving The NFL for a WNBA Franchise
    Jul 21 2026
    This is the Excellent Leadership Podcast! Chad Biagini (President, Excel Search & Advisory) & Matt Rogers(Partner, Excel Search & Advisory) are here with Morgan Shaw-Parker (President & COO of @AtlantaDream) to discuss: Intro (:02) Why she left the NFL for the WNBA & The differences between both leagues (1:22) Challeges of working in WNBA & Investment strategies to keep up with rising valuations (6:19) The difference of The Atlanta Dream & Being committed to the community (10:58) When there’s an opportunity that keeps you up at night vs. Taking on a “fix it” project (15:27) Advice for those with competitng priorities & Where culture within an organization comes from (20:42) Key failures that can shape you & Stand out human traits that she looks at for a team member (30:41) Finding those who are resilient through the hiring process & Hiring for skillset (39:06) Where the WNBA will be in 5 years & What the vibe on an Atlanta Dream game is (46:35) Family vacation visions & 7 Question Blitz (50:09) Subscribe To Full Episodes & Clips on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ExcellentLeadershipPodcast Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/excellent-leadership-podcast/id1756992305 Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4KU2g2Baee7a5d04fQfSzs Subscribe on Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b52f086a-0266-4345-be4d-bb8a7cde89fd/EXCELLENT-LEADERSHIP-PODCAST?ref=dm_sh_iGzHwozj5F Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 2 mins