1.question Podcast

Georgetown AD, Lee Reed, and Matt Behrens, supporter and former Hoyas Student-Athlete, visit @1QLeadership to discuss the Behrens family gift funding a new athletics position focusing on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Behrens, a member of the 2018 Big East Champion Men's Lacrosse team, talks on the importance of standing with those who are affected by injustice. Reed talks about meeting with Student-Athletes and informing donors about what is going on, within the department, regarding racial injustice.

Torre Becton, Head Athletic Performance Coach for Football at Cal, visits @1QLeadership to discuss the adjustments the S&C-Athletic Performance coaches have had to make to, not only make sure the workouts are compliant with COVID-19 policies, but also keep the Student-Athletes motivated without a season. Becton also talks about the reporting lines that help to make the Athletic Performance aspect of Cal Athletics efficient.

Assistant Men's Basketball Coaches Saddi Washington of Michigan and DeAndre Haynes of Maryland visit @1QLeadership on leadership during the pandemic. The two cover learning from their head coaches on how to manage sudden change as a leader. Washington talks on being on the floor to play in the Big Ten tournament when the season was cancelled. He also discusses working with first-time head coach Howard. Haynes touches on being Big Ten champions and leading Student-Athletes through the loss of the season.

MELT CEO, Vince Thompson visits @1QLeadership guest host Curti to discuss the ramifications of being a major player in sports marketing during the pandemic. Thompson talks about all the parties involved in trying to devise a potential adjustment strategy for a client partnered with the SEC Conference. He also discusses moving his 1000 person internship program online for the MELT Academy and mentions the abundance of experienced people who will be willing to take lower paying jobs in the future, just to get back in the workforce.

Jordan Lewis, Alabama WBB Student-Athlete, visits @1QLeadership guest host Hilliard on leadership, pandemic challenges, SAAC and a number of other things. Lewis, currently in grad school, talks about being challenged academically during lockdown. She reflects on her early years recommending that Student-Athletes get involved with organizations outside of athletics. The conversation wraps on Alabama's SAAC and advice for younger athletes looking to be leaders.

Newly named University of The Incarnate Word AD, Richard Duran, visits @1QLeadership to discuss his path to the chair. Duran, at 31 and in the industry for just under 10 years, talks about the opportunities that have been presented to him during his career. He touches on his background in fundraising operations how it led to his experience in development. Strengthening campus relationships, doing things for the right reasons, and leading during the pandemic are all topics covered in the conversation.

Dave Brown, Founder & President of Gridiron visits @1QLeadership on the topic of scheduling college football games. Brown talks about his business setup and understanding the needs of conferences, campus, and Athletics Directors when it comes to getting games scheduled. He mentions that relationships are a heavy part of his business. The conversation wraps on the topic of scheduling during the pandemic.

Emmanual Flowers, redshirt junior football player at Michigan State, joins @1QLeadership guest host Hilliard to talk Student-Athlete to Student-Athlete about the challenges of being a college student during the pandemic. The two talk about working out, studying, and leadership among other things. Flowers also talks about speaking up in meetings about racism and social injustice with the football team and the athletics department as a whole. He also talks about adjusting to new MSU head coach Tucker.

Illinois State Deputy AD/SWA Leanna Borner visits ISU Volleyball Student-Athlete Kendee Hilliard on @1QLeadership to discuss working in college athletics. Topic covered include Bordner's role as Deputy and SWA, challenges of being a woman in the industry, and servant leadership. The conversation wraps with advice on how to get into and be successful in the industry.

Jen Baker, Director of Athletics at Johns Hopkins University, visits @1QLeadership to talk about having a direct line of communications to the country's leading hub for information regarding the pandemic. She talks about how her background in the military and in engineering helps her during her first year as AD in terms of applied problem solving. Baker also covers being creative in finding ways for the Student-Athletes to practicing leadership while at home.

William & Mary AD Huge and FB Coach London visit @1QLeadership talk about the interactions and conversations on campus as the country expresses its frustration with racism. Huge speaks on her experience engaging students for in-depth discussions. London talks about engaging his players and being forthright about his experience as a police officer prior to becoming a football coach. The conversation wraps on the potential for positive outcomes from the unified voices heard around the world.

Jessie Gardner, Assistant AD for Student-Athlete Enhancement at Alabama, visits @1QLeadership to discuss the necessities for a successful Student-Athlete Development program. Gardner talks about the strategic approach to holistic development and understanding the needs of coaches, administration, and Student-Athletes. She also lays out the fundamental aspects needed no matter the level of available resources.

Jeff Fucci, Associate AD for Capital Projects and Innovation at USC, visits @1QLeadership to discuss managing capital projects during the pandemic. Fucci, former USC Director of Football Operations gives insight on the process of deciding on materials for facilities that can't be chosen over a video call. He mentions the portfolio method of working on capital projects and explains his thoughts on short-term, mid-term, and long-term developments. Fucci also talks about donor involvement as the facilities progress toward being complete.

AJ Maestas, Founder and CEO of Navigate Research, joins @1QLeadership guest host, Diana Curti of Wakefield Research Partners, to discuss the changing landscape of Multimedia Rights (MMR). The conversation covers moving primarily from desktop to mobile in terms of marketing and touches on the need to be ready now for Gen-Z consumers. The pair also cover post-pandemic MMR and wrap the conversation on the possibility of changing the current model used by many in college athletics.

Dr. Renae Myles Payne, Sr. Associate AD for Administration at Miami, chats with Illinois State Volleyball SAAC VP, Kendee Hilliard on @1QLeadership. The discussion covers concerns of parents who have Student-Athletes returning to campus during the pandemic and MOAA's statement on social injustice. Myles Payne emphasizes active listening as an important tool, and calling out discriminatory policies if they exist within the workplace. The conversation also covers being a woman in a male-dominated industry.

Bill Curry, former head football coach at Georgia Tech, Alabama, Kentucky, and Georgia State visits @1QLeadership to discuss the frustration expressed across the country with regard to racism. Curry talks about being mentored by Andrew Young and some of lessons he learned playing and coaching football. He recalls two very different experiences being stopped by the police, once while he was driving and the other when his African-American teammate was driving. The conversation wraps on his disappointment in seeing the video of a women using her ability to call the police on an innocent African-American man as a weapon.

Dr. Eric Laudano, Sr. Associate AD for High Performance at Saint Joseph's, revisits @1QLeadership to discuss the process of creating the Return to Activity Plan for Saint Joseph's University as the country emerges from the pandemic lock down. Laudano talks about working with a number of campus departments outside of athletics to ensure students and Student-Athletes alike are safely reintegrated to campus life.

Saint Joseph's University AD Jill Bodensteiner is joined by Sr. Associate AD for High Performance, Dr. Eric Laudano on @1QLeadership on the topic of having one position overseeing all aspects of Student-Athlete well-being. Bodensteiner talks about the reasons for creating the position while Laudano talks about the the structure of the position. They both give details on defining success for the position and why they believe it is necessary for Student-Athlete well-being.

John Shukie, President & Co-Founder of Forward Progress, stops by @1QLeadership to talk about the NCAA's upcoming Values-Based Revenue Distribution. Shukie breaks down the three criteria involved with the distribution. He also goes into detail on APR and how schools can set themselves up for a possible future distribution specifically after weathering COVID-19.

Will Reece, Founder of the Collegiate Athletics Leadership Symposium (CALS), visits @1QLeadership to discuss the event and how it has grown in relevance in the college athletics industry. Reece labels his process of allowing attendees from one year to determine who should be invited the following year as, "by invitation, but not exclusive." He also strives to keep the "safe space" atmosphere of the event by not filming sessions or having much, if any, media present.