Great coaches teach the fundamentals of the game well. And they use those foundational skills as building blocks for communication, team building, and leadership growth. 

In this episode, Megan Kahn, Chief Executive Officer of WeCOACH, shares that from athlete to coach to conference executive… transferable skills are the difference-maker when it comes to leading at all levels while leveraging a network of support. 

A former collegiate athlete, assistant basketball coach, and athletic administrator, Megan has elevated the WeCOACH through a complete rebrand (Alliance of Women Coaches to WeCOACH in 2018), a new strategic plan, developed several new programs and resources, and well as magnified the reach of WeCOACH on a national level with corporate sponsors, partners, and members. 

Megan founded her own collegiate consulting company, KAHNSULTING, is a founding committee member of the WISE-Tampa Bay chapter, and served as a member of the Local Organizing Advisory Committee for the 2019 NCAA Women’s Basketball Final Four. She is a graduate of the NCAA Women Coaches Academy (2004), NACWAA/HERS (2006), and the Sports Management Institute (2011-12).

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It's easy to know what a thriving culture looks like... but what can you DO to ensure your team feels empowered and connected? 

In this episode, Mano Watsa, the visionary leader of PGC Basketball, the largest education basketball camp in the world with over 150 camps in 30+ US states and Canada, shares the foundational components he's found that allow leaders to build a thriving culture. What a strong culture it’s truly caught, others will find ways not to be consumers of the culture but producers of the culture.

PGC teaches over 10,000 dedicated players and coaches each summer how to think about the game, how to create a championship culture, and how to be leaders on the court, in the locker room, and in everyday life. To learn more, check out: https://pgcbasketball.com/

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“The questions we ask drive the caliber of the conversations we have.” – Mike Erwin

Dive in as Mike and Steve share a powerful dialogue on the power of leaning in as leaders to improve upon our strengths, empowering teams with enthusiasm and optimism. 

Mike Erwin is the co-founder and Chairman of the Board of The Positivity Project. A 2002 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, he served in the Army on Active Duty for 13 years, including three deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, and is currently a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army Reserves. In 2010, Mike founded Team Red, White & Blue (Team RWB), a non-profit organization that enriches veterans’ lives by connecting them to their community through physical and social activity. He serves on the Board for the organization, now 198 chapters and 114,000 members strong. 

Mike earned his master’s degree in positive psychology and leadership, under the tutelage of Chris Peterson, from the University of Michigan — and taught leadership at West Point. He is the co-author of Lead Yourself First: Inspiring Leadership Through Solitude. Mike and his wife, Genevieve, live in the Village of Pinehurst, NC, with their five children.

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What do filmmaking, firefighting, and beekeeping have in common?

Well first... there's chaos is in all three.

But for our incredible guest Jay Williams, the owner of Williams Honey Farm LLC alongside his wife, leading others means finding calm and clarity in the chaos. By focusing on the task in front of us, letting go of things we cannot control, and tuning out all the chaos we as leaders can better care of our teams... similar to how a beekeeper takes care of bees.

Jay has been obsessed with pollinators for the past 12 years.  In addition to producing award-winning honey, Williams Honey Farm works to educate and inspire our next generation of beekeepers through schools, online mentoring, or public education events. While inspiring new beekeepers is the ultimate goal, Jay frequently speaks to audiences of non-beekeepers on the modern-day beehive and what it can teach us about life, family, work, and community.  

 When not chasing around (or being chased) by a bee, Jay spends his time riding on a fire engine at his local fire department.  You can find him at williamshoneyfarm.com or follow along in our journey to make the world a sweeter place @williamshoneytn.

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There's a certain discipline that's accessible to all, but not always applied when leading others. 

In this episode, Kyle Stark, CEO of Stark Contrast Consulting, shares that if we can become "brilliant in the basics," we'll be ready when the opportunity presents itself. Understanding the impact of our leadership in developing retaining talent is a vital part of building team chemistry.

Kyle has spent 30 years coaching and leading with the last 15+ years at the highest levels in professional baseball, resulting in a refined process and significant experience in strategic planning, talent evaluation and selection, coaching, and helping people reach levels of peak performance, leadership development, and driving culture.  In addition to speaking on leadership and culture in many different settings, he has experienced the many challenges of having actually led significant operations.  

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"You don’t need to try to mold others into something that you think they should be. You need to accept them for who they are and use that as a basis for your relationship." - Tom Melanson

Be conscious of the words you use. (SAY)

Do my actions align with my words? (DO)

How do I make others feel? (FEEL)

In this episode, President & Founder Steve Shenbaum chats with Tom Melanson, Director, Brand Hospitality for Tru by Hilton.

Tom serves as Director of Brand Personality for three of Hilton’s brands:  Hampton by Hilton, Tru by Hilton, and Embassy Suites by Hilton, where he is tasked with helping Team Members deliver transformational guest experiences by igniting the brand’s unique service culture. He works to equip hotel teams with tools and resources to drive guest loyalty and while equipping, inspiring, and improving hotel and team performance. 

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“To truly develop empathy is to see each one of us as more than one thing”. - Fred Rogers. Can empathy be learned?  What are practical ways to incorporate empathy into our day-to-day interactions as leaders?

In this episode, President & Founder Steve Shenbaum sits down with Dana Winters, Ph.D., faculty, and academic director of the Fred Rogers Center for Early Learning and Children’s Media at Saint Vincent College, in an impactful dialogue around the impact of leading through simple, intentional interactions. Dr. Winters shares the power of cultivating an environment where connection, reciprocity, and inclusion are evident, empowering others with the opportunity to grow. 

In addition to Dr. Winter's role at the Fred Rogers Center for Early Learning and Children’s Media at Saint Vincent College, she also serves as Assistant Professor of Psychological Sciences and director of the Children’s Studies Minor. Her extensive field research from interviewing prisoners to shadowing crossing guards, from observing Head Start teachers and developing coaches in early childhood systems has informed the co-development of the Simple Interactions approach to support children, families, and their helpers. 

Dr. Winters serves as a UNESCO Faculty Fellow in Children and Youth Studies, collaborating with faculty around the world in the advancement of empathy development and adult-child relationships across developmental settings. She received her Ph.D. in administrative and policy studies from the University of Pittsburgh.

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In this episode, President & Founder Steve Shenbaum sits down for a tactical leadership discussion with Blayne Smith, Principal at Applied Leadership Partners. Join as they discuss the core tenants of creating a sustainable team culture as well as how military experience translates to organizational leadership.

Blayne is a West Point graduate and former Special Forces officer who has successfully transitioned to a highly effective business leader in a variety of industries and capacities. Blayne has built teams and communities through a deep understanding of, and focus on, culture and leadership. Whether serving in corporate, small business, or nonprofit roles, his focus has remained on the people.

Currently, Blayne is a Principal at ​Applied Leadership Partners​, a firm that provides organizational and leadership development for clients across the country. Prior to that, he was President of ​GORUCK​. Blayne is probably most proud of his time as Executive Director of ​Team Red, White, and Blue​, a veterans nonprofit that has grown into one of the most trusted and effective organizations in the space. 

Be sure to share with a friend and subscribe to stay up to date on our weekly interviews. If you’re interested in learning more about Game On’s programming, please visit wwww.gameonnation.com