Your career spans professional sports, business leadership, and academia. How have these experiences shaped your perspective on leadership and talent development?
It is the combination of these three areas that makes the difference: my experience in achieving and fostering peak performance; advising and coaching executives accordingly; and, finally, the solid foundation provided by academic teaching and research. The first key issue is setting, aligning, and reviewing objectives. And this applies not only to individuals, but above all to teams, departments, or the entire organization. Significant changes are on the horizon as a result of data-driven decision-making.
In the Sports Management MBA, you will teach "People & Talent Management in Sports Organizations." Why is talent management becoming increasingly important for sports organizations today?
In Sports, continuously improving one's own skills is the norm. This isn’t the case in management. We’re changing that with our MBA program. Participants will be equipped to continuously develop their organizations and employees. In the age of AI, the ability to anticipate the skills that will be needed and to devise appropriate development measures is more important than ever. In this context, students also examine typical team dynamics, values, and loyalty structures within sports organizations, particularly in clubs and associations, which influence talent management, too.
Sports organizations often operate in a highly emotional and public environment. What leadership challenges make them different from traditional businesses?
Sports are all about emotion and commitment. Interest is usually very high. Energy must be channeled in the direction that is strategically most important. This can be challenging for managers when all employees are following their hearts.
Your second module focuses on “Leadership and Organizational Behavior in Sports”. What leadership qualities are most critical for success in today's sports industry?
The key issues shaping the future across all industries are also fundamental to sports management, such as data-driven decision-making. Since sports themselves are largely analog in nature, it is important to bridge the gap between the different levels. There are various aspects to consider, such as whether I work for a sports organization or a sponsor. Sports is a very diverse industry.
Throughout your career, you've worked with high-performing teams in very different environments. What lessons about teamwork and organizational culture have stayed with you?
Many! One aspect could be surprising: diversity is a key factor. A team is only as strong as its weakest part. As a leader, it is essential – and deeply inspiring – to bring together individual strengths and then fully harness them in a specific situation. In sports, what counts is being a strong performer – that is, turning skills into success. This applies to individuals as well as to teams.
Change, setbacks, and public scrutiny are common realities in sports. How can leaders effectively navigate these challenges?
The key is to adjust expectations, not just set ambitious goals. In general, setbacks, constant adjustments, and even detours are part of the daily routine – and part to be successful, too. Leaders have to constantly decide when to pick up the pace, when to take a break, and when to hit the reset button.
What practical insights can students expect to gain from your courses?
I’ll be flexible about which aspects the students are particularly interested in. After many decades of experience and continuous personal development, I know one thing for sure: there is no single recipe or way for success. Rather, I want to encourage all participants to pursue their own paths with dedication, drawing on the skills and inspiration we provide in the MBA program. In sports management in particular, no single method or skill is absolutely crucial in practice. Here, as is typical in sport, diversity comes into play – that is, the combination of various necessary strengths. Through joint team challenges, among other things, students will experience this art precisely: building strategic skills whilst at the same time responding flexibly to change.
What excites you most about contributing to the new Sports Management MBA?
The key lies in consistently focusing on the needs of the future. The world of sports is evolving rapidly, and not just on the playing field. We anticipate the topics that will be particularly valuable and important for the participants’ future careers. As someone with a hands-on background in both sport and business, I find the Sports Management MBA to be the perfect compact program for effectively boosting participants’ managerial performance. It focuses precisely on the key skills essential for future professional success. I simply enjoy supporting and challenging others – and, in turn, being challenged myself.