When Christine Barone joined the Harvard water polo team, she had never played the sport before. By graduation, she was co-captain.
She was shocked. She wasn’t the best player on the team. She wasn’t scoring the most goals. But she showed up every day with the right attitude, she knew where every teammate was in the pool, and she made it her job to get the ball to the star players so they could score.
When Christine reflected back on why she’d been chosen co-captain, it clicked: knowing your role and making your teammates better is its own kind of excellence.
Today, Christine is CEO and President of Dutch Bros—one of the fastest-growing brands in the quick service beverage industry, with a goal of opening 2,029 shops by 2029. After senior leadership roles at Starbucks and guiding True Food Kitchen through high-growth phases, Christine has built her leadership philosophy on the same principle she discovered at Harvard: it’s not about being the most valuable player. It’s about creating the most valuable team.
In this episode, you will learn:
From the Harvard pool to the C-suite of a nearly $2 billion company, Christine Barone proves that the strongest leaders aren’t the ones who do everything themselves—they’re the ones who build the conditions for everyone else to thrive.
Resources:
"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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