Corporate Competitor Podcast is celebrating the 50th anniversary of Title IX with Ann Meyers Drysdale, the first woman to be signed to a collegiate scholarship at UCLA when she committed to play basketball for the Bruins. There she earned All-American honors four times, spent her summers as a member of the U.S. Women’s National Team, and won silver at the 1976 Olympics.
She achieved another first by becoming the first woman to sign a contract with a National Basketball Association team where she was invited to try out with the Indiana Pacers. Although she didn’t make the men’s squad, the barrier breaker went on to have an All-Star career in the women’s professional basketball before moving into the broadcast booth and now the front office as the Vice President of the NBA’s Phoenix Suns and WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury.
Ann credits her success on and off the court to mastering the fundamentals of teamwork, beginning with communicating effectively during periods of transition. “I had three coaches in four years at UCLA, plus my National Team coaches,” Ann explained. “It’s not always easy because everybody has a different role for you, different expectations for you, and may want to create a different team dynamic with new players. That’s why communication is important–especially being a good listener to other people’s ideas.”
Ann says that being active listeners and communicators enables team members to master the fundamentals of any business enterprise. Ann includes among these fundamentals, “knowing who your customer is, knowing what your customer struggles with and knowing what you can control.”
Listeners to the podcast will enjoy an insider’s perspective of the movement for equality in women’s sports as well as state-of-the-art professional sports management.
You will learn from:
"Don is one of the best storytellers I’ve ever met. I’ve known him for a long time and every time we talk I walk away wiser and more inspired. He is the best in the business at teaching you a skill – storytelling – that will last you a lifetime.”
“The ability for athletes to get hired is carried on through you because you are putting out the message that lessons learned from sports are important in life. It is embedded in this podcast, what you’re doing is significant.”
We speak the same language. I am inspired by the stories you tell, the people you have met, and the things you’ve done. Those of us that are competitors like to follow others that have been down that journey, so it is always fun talking to you!”
“Many of the leaders I have worked with were excellent athletes, and I think there is a direct correlation. You’re one of the few people that really has pursued this study, Don. Keep up the great work. What you are doing really makes a difference.”
“Don, you have mastered the skill of interviewing and asking great questions. That is a great skill all leaders need in order to understand their team members’ thought processes.”
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