Back in high school, field hockey was more than a game for Linda Gibson. As team captain navigating a brutal losing streak, she chose to bench the tactics and ask her teammates a simple but profound question: “Why do you love this game?” The answers weren’t uniform, but they sparked unity. The team found renewed energy—not by winning, but by reconnecting to their shared purpose.
Today, Linda leads PGIM Quantitative Solutions as CEO and Chairperson, managing more than $111 billion in assets as part of the investment arm of Prudential Financial. When her firm faced a turbulent season marked by turnover and uncertainty, Linda led the same way she did in high school. She asked her team, “Why are you in this business?” The resulting clarity reinvigorated the culture, transformed communication, and restored momentum.
But leadership, as Linda explains, is not a one-size-fits-all strategy. It’s about emotional intelligence. It’s about seeing the human behind the role and tailoring your approach to help each person thrive. Whether calling out an eye roll in a meeting, launching unscripted video updates with her dog, or teaching executives to read the room, Linda shows that personal connection is not a soft skill—it’s a power move.
In this episode, you will learn:
As a Hall of Fame keynote speaker, longtime Associate Editor for Sports Illustrated, and 14-time New York Times Best-Selling author, Don Yaeger is one of America’s most provocative thought leaders. From walking into Afghanistan with the Mujahadeen to living with football legend Walter Payton, Don has spent three decades embedded with the world’s greatest "Greats." Now a sought-after executive coach and host of the Corporate Competitor Podcast, he translates the lessons of sports and business legends into actionable strategies for building a culture of greatness.
"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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