One Question Leadership Podcast

@1QLeadership Question: Can the Faculty Athletics Representative's (FAR) role overlap with their research and professorial responsibilities?

As a Faculty Athletics Representative at Texas Tech, Professor Brian Shannon is responsible for advocating for student-athlete welfare. While his primary teaching responsibility is contract law, he focuses his policy and research work on mental health law, an area he has been researching for a lifetime due to his family experience with mental illness. 

Professor Shannon explains that mental illness patients often get caught in the criminal justice system without receiving treatment. He also emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between having a mental illness and dealing with mental health challenges. As mental health is a top issue faced by NCAA student-athletes, the NCAA Mental Health Best Practices are continuously updated to provide support. - One Question Leadership Podcat - Tai M. Brown

@1QLeadership Question: Is the path to the athletics director chair always the same?

Sharief Hashim, Director of Athletics at Susquehanna University stopped by 1Q to talk about his journey from recreation director to college athletics director. From assistant basketball coach to interim athletics director, Hashim has navigated his career through passion and purpose.

• working with people
• leading adults
• servant leadership
• understanding business

Hashim's leadership principles include having empathy, understand your leadership style, and get outside of your comfort zone. - One Question Leadership Podcast - Tai M. Brown

@1QLeadership Question: What can college athletics teach us about retention rates?

We asked the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire Chancellor, Dr. Jim Schmidt, about the importance of athletics on a college campus. He gave us insight from research done at UW-Eau Claire which says there are key components that exists in college sports that can translate to higher retention if applied to campus in general.

• Meet students where they are academically, socially, mentally
• Sense of belonging
• Upperclass mentors
• Trusted adults
• Community

At UW-Eau Claire, Black men who are student-athletes have a retention rate in the 90% range, while those of the same group who aren't athletes have a retention rate in the 70% range. Chancellor Schmidt talks about the goals and community strategies the school has put in place to focus on each student. He also talks about how a $70 million athletics facility helps to accomplish those goals. - One Question Leadership Podcast - Tai M. Brown

@1QLeadership Question: How does donor feedback and creativity fit in fundraising?

We asked Alvin Hines II, Sr. Associate Athletics Director at FAU, about athletics fundraising. The key topics covered were how his personality fits within the specific niche of athletic development, what is the process of fundraising in an athletics department, and how much input do donors (and potential donors) have in how funds should be used.

• Personality is a big factor in fundraising
• Season ticket holders are a starting point
• Many big ideas come from donors
• Donors will most likely support their own ideas

Hines notes that one of the biggest jobs of a fundraiser is to leverage your current assets, whether that be under utilized space to events that already exist. - One Question Leadership Podcast - Tai M. Brown

1QLeadership Question: When should a coach or administrator hire an agent?

Garry Rosenfield, Coaches Agent for Coaches Inc., stops by 1Q to discuss his process for valuing coaches contracts and why he believes agents are an asset in terms of representation.

• Football sets the standard for contracts across sports
• Women's Volleyball has the biggest potential
• Process for valuation varies across schools
• Counsel can be necessary beyond negotiating contracts

While many people think agents are only hired for money, jobs, and contracts, Rosenfield believes representation is also necessary for counsel on many of the things required that allow a coach to focus on being a successful coach. - One Question Leadership Podcast - Tai M. Brown

@1QLeadership Question: Would an 'NIT type' event make sense considering the new College Football Playoff structure?

Sean Frazier, VP & Director of Athletics at NIU, stops by 1Q to discuss a few items on his mind as college athletics continues to evolve. 

• Clandestine Transfer Portal activities
• Value of bowl games
• 'NIT type' event tied to the College Football Playoff
• Antitrust thoughts
• Positive outlook in college athletics

Frazier has led NIU athletics for over a decade and continues to provide insight, mentorship, and leadership in the industry. - One Question Leadership Podcast - Tai M. Brown

@1QLeadership Question: Is a Division I athletics director job always the goal?

1Q guest host Dr. Monique Carroll of Chicago State asks Point University VP of Intercollegiate Athletics, Jaunelle White, about leading the athletics department at an NAIA institution after a career of working in NCAA D1. 

• If an opportunity aligns, explore it
• Trust your intuition
• Continue to add to your toolbox
• Have an elite mentality no matter where you are

White discusses building trust with staff, relationships with student-athletes, and hiring as Carroll provides context with questions from a fellow athletics director's perspective. - One Question Leadership Podcast - Tai M. Brown

@1QLeadership Question: Should interns specialize in one area or learn as much as they can about everything?

NCAA Post Graduate Intern (and 1Q guest host) Kendee Hilliard asked Rose-Hulman Athletics Director Ayanna Tweedy about the choice between specialization or getting broad experience during the early developmental years in one's career.

• Be multifaceted
• Say yes to everything
• Learn as much as possible
• Allows you to understand what is needed later

Tweedy brings her insight and experience to the conversation as Hilliard launches her career in intercollegiate athletics. - One Question Leadership Podcast - Tai M. Brown

1QLeadership Question: How does being a woman in football operations intersect with the servant leader mindset?

1Q guest host Mattie White asked Jashell Mitchell, Chief of Staff for Football Operations at Jackson State, about her roles in football and her progression as a leader in college athletics. With extensive experience in operations and a sharp focus on people and details, Mitchell has been recognized as a Rising Executive in the college athletics industry.

• Embrace the role of a woman on staff
• Thrive in people development
• Thrive in off the field details
• Servant mindset
• Consistency

Jashell has worked for legendary coaches, spent time in the NFL, and is very passionate about her home community of Flint, Michigan. - One Question Leadership Podcast - Tai M. Brown - Mattie White

1QLeadership Question: What does it take to be a university's first Director of Athletics?

We asked Darnell Smith, Director of Athletics at Texas A&M-San Antonio, about the process of starting an athletics department. The school did not have varsity sports prior to Smith's arrival. 

• Create a vision
• Hire coaches and staff
• Establish a way to fund the department
• Join a governing body
• Ensure compliance
• Create culture

Darnell smith started as the only person in the department and has hired everyone who is currently a part of the staff. Culture and leadership development are major aspects of his process. - One Question Leadership Podcast - Tai M. Brown

@1QLeadership Question: Can personal and professional purpose intersect?

We asked Misty Brown, Assistant Commissioner at the Southeastern Conference (SEC) if her purpose as a professional intersects with her purpose as an individual. She pointed out that the things she loves to do at work coincide with what she loves to do at home:

• Develop relationships that go beyond the transactional nature of work
• Set aside time for intentional focus on your reason for doing what you do
• Understand how your professional purpose impacts your personal life
• Understand how your personal purpose impacts your professional life

In executing her purpose, Brown has provided internships to student-athletes, created volunteer opportunities at conference tournaments, and designates one day a week to engaging with the young people who compete in the Southeastern Conference. - One Question Leadership Podcast - Tai M. Brown

@1QLeadership Question: What are the steps needed to create a major giving society for a college athletics department?

Colton Primm, Senior Associate Athletics Director at Louisiana Tech, answered this question based on his experience setting up the Aillet Society on campus:

• Establish the purpose of the organization
• Delineate the giving amounts and respective benefits
• Identify and inform potential donors
• Launch the campaign

Primm explains that (at La Tech) the annual fund is used for the general operations of the athletics department, while the major giving society creates long term giving opportunities and is used for specific projects. As the giving amounts get higher, information and access have proven to be the key benefits. - One Question Leadership Podcast - Tai M. Brown

@1QLeadership Question: What elements are necessary for success in a college athletics department?

During a visit with Tulane University's Deputy Athletics Director, Kortne Gosha, we asked what it takes to build a successful athletics program.

• Collaboration within the department
• Relationships with campus administration and external stakeholders
• Valuing the academic environment
• Understanding the intricacies of customer vs consumer
• Prioritizing the student-athlete experience

Gosha has experience leading a department and provides a perspective during a transitional period with the recent departure of the Director of Athletics.

@1QLeadership Question: How can Student-Athletes voice concerns about their experiences on campus?

We asked David Chadwick, Founder & CEO of RealResponse, about solving the problem athletics departments faced in receiving real-time, confidential feedback from student-athletes on campus.

• Anonymity and confidentiality are complex yet important needs
• Ease of reporting allows for more people to come forward
• Not all feedback given is negative

Chadwick started the company as an undergrad after playing his final basketball game at Valparaiso. The company has evolved to include professional leagues, NASCAR, corporations, and the general student body on college campuses. - One Question Leadership Podcast - Tai M. Brown

I asked Keiko Price, Associate VP of Campus Life & Director of Athletics at Emory University, about making tough decisions while leading an athletics department. She answered on the topic of student-athlete accusations against coaches:

1. Be present as much as possible
2. Support the student-athletes and advocate for the coach
3. Assess everyone involved to hear all sides
4. Make the best possible and informed decision

Price is in her third year leading the department. She also covers the impact and challenges of her responsibilities as Associate VP of Campus Life. The conversation is wide ranging and insightful.

@1QLeadership Question: Should a leader have a set process for making tough decisions?

One Question Leadership Podcast - Tai M. Brown

I asked Valparaiso University Director of Athletics, Dr. Charles Small about how social work concepts fit on campus and specifically within college athletics. He covered the concepts below:

1. Understanding the balance of the overall support system while being flexible enough to have an individual approach as everyone's experience is different
2. Understanding the capacity within the community to meet the needs of the different subgroups on campus
3. Levels of Practice
   1. Micro - Understanding the individual and their identity, as well as their well being within their respective environment. 
   2. Mezzo - Understanding and identifying small groups based on identities. 
   3. Macro - Understanding the larger institutions and communities such as athletics department, or the campus as a whole
4. Understanding and implementing Culture Humility - having the humility to maintain self-awareness while respecting and working with others from different walks of life.

Dr. Small has a social work background and comes from a family of social workers, so his insight on the 'person in the environment' is excellent. He covers all this in the context of his work at Valpo here on the One Question Leadership Podcast.

@1QLeadership Question: Is there an intersection between social work concepts and leadership?

-Tai M. Brown

We asked Breakthru Brands Founder, Laura Barnard, about common patterns women face during their leadership journey. The company has worked with over 200 clients, primarily women leaders, to elevate their unique contributions and voices. Based on the data and other studies, Barnard identified two gaps senior women leaders deal with as they progress in their careers:

1. Confidence gap: Senior women leaders are less likely to feel confident in their job performance within their careers. 

2. Authority gap: Senior women leaders are less likely to feel heard and trusted in the workplace, they also experience interruptions and doubt in the workplace.

This insight is interesting because one is internal, while the other seems to be external. Barnard goes in depth about these two gaps and much more during her visit to @1QLeadership. 

@1QLeadership Question: Have you faced the confidence and authority gaps during your career? 

- Tai M. Brown - One Question Leadership Podcast

On the question of creating a strategic plan, Toledo Executive Associate Athletics Director & COO, Nicole Alderson visits @1QLeadership to talk about her involvement in putting together the strategy for Toledo Athletics. Immediately upon being hired, Alderson was tasked with creating the strategy for success for the department. She gives insight on communicating with campus and tying all aspects of campus together to prepare a successful future. - One Question Leadership Podcast - Tai M. Brown

On the question of valuing the human element in the workplace, Michigan Associate AD for Communications & PR, Kurt Svoboda, stops by @1QLeadership  to share his insight on growing people, separating work and home identity, crisis communications, and leadership development. Svoboda also gives his thoughts on analyzing failure within the context of issues management. - One Question Leadership Podcast - Tai M. Brown

On the question of mid-major conference finances, Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Deputy Commissioner, Jessica Grasso visits @1QLeadership to discuss revenue generation, building trust within the conference, and leadership. Grasso gives her insight on what makes the MAAC unique within the industry. She also talks about her philosophy of 'Leading Beyond the W.'  - One Question Leadership Podcast - Tai M. Brown