Excellent Leadership Podcast

By Excel Search & Advisory x DBPodcasts

The Excellent Leadership Podcast interviews sports and entertainment CEOs, Presidents, General Managers, Athletics Directors, Head Coaches, Elite Athletes and Performers. We explore their career journ... more

4.9

8888 ratings

Download on the App Store

Download on the App Store

Get it on Google Play

FAQs about Excellent Leadership Podcast:

How many episodes does Excellent Leadership Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 70 episodes available.

Excellent Leadership Podcast episodes:

July 14, 2026 Desireé Reed-Francois (Director of Athletics @ArizonaWildcats) on Caring For Student Athletes & more
This is the Excellent Leadership Podcast! Chad Biagini (President, Excel Search & Advisory) & Chris Hoppe (Partner, Excel Search & Advisory) are here with Desireé Reed-Francois (Director of Athletics @ArizonaWildcats) to discuss:
Intro (:02)
Her first job & Being present (1:15)
Deciding to become an Athletic Director because of her brother & How Chad got into Executive Search (6:17)
Running Athletics for a school that she went to & Comparing notes with a Fortune 500 CEO (13:23)
The differences in being an Athletic Director now vs. when she started & Creating a sense of belonging (18:10)
High low high in an interview process & The importance of caring about your student athletes (22:43)
How YPO changed her life & Investing in the people around you (29:44)
Knowing when to dive deep & Evolving as a leader (35:44)
The weight of your words & Being prepared to step into an executive role as the next generation (43:30)
Learning from your peers & Studying to become better (52:10)
7 Question Blitz (57:40)
Subscribe To Full Episodes & Clips on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ExcellentLeadershipPodcast
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/excellent-leadership-podcast/id1756992305
Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4KU2g2Baee7a5d04fQfSzs
Subscribe on Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b52f086a-0266-4345-be4d-bb8a7cde89fd/EXCELLENT-LEADERSHIP-PODCAST?ref=dm_sh_iGzHwozj5FaE9BcH829Nv8GBz
Follow Us:
@excellentleadershippodcast on Instagram, YouTube, Spotify & LinkedIn

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
...more
1h 3min
July 07, 2026 Derek Schiller (President & CEO of Atlanta Braves) on Building Braves Vision in 32 Days, Strategic Risks & Building A Championship Winning Culture
This is the Excellent Leadership Podcast! Chad Biagini (President, Excel Search & Advisory) is here with (President & CEO of @Braves) to discuss:
Intro (:02)
The Atlanta Braves being a public company & Building a mix-use development (1:14)

Sustaining success & Near term and long term goal setting (8:50)
Championing Innovation & Braves Vision being created in 32 days (16:23)
Preparing for situations that may never happen & Holding strategy and planning meetings (26:10)
Day to day focus for the senior leadership team in selling memories & Early mistakes (32:23)

Hiring for culture fit & How a listener can get enough reps to become a CEO in professional sports (42:09)

Taking strategic risks in your career & The best leaders that he’s worked for (50:02)
What is needed for CEO's in Number 2’s & Launching the women’s line (47:40)
7 Question Blitz (56:37)Subscribe To Full Episodes & Clips on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ExcellentLeadershipPodcast
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/excellent-leadership-podcast/id1756992305
Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4KU2g2Baee7a5d04fQfSzs
Subscribe on Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b52f086a-0266-4345-be4d-bb8a7cde89fd/EXCELLENT-LEADERSHIP-PODCAST?ref=dm_sh_iGzHwozj5FaE9BcH829Nv8GBz
Follow Us:
@excellentleadershippodcast on Instagram, YouTube, Spotify & LinkedIn

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
...more
1h 6min
June 30, 2026 Ryan Ellis (CEO of @TravisMathew) on Brand Initiative, Fabrication, Evaluating Partnerships & more
This is the Excellent Leadership Podcast! Chad Biagini (President, Excel Search & Advisory) & Mark Mayleben (Partner, Excel Search & Advisory) are here with Ryan Ellis (CEO of @TravisMathew) to discuss:

Intro (:02)

Leading TravisMathew & Brand Initiative (1:06)

Intake variables to make changes & Fabrication (9:28)

Early days of pitching to golf shops & Early clothing line creativity (14:37)

How Ryan connected with the founders & Keeping top performers in the company through culture (21:51)

Keeping energy high & The first account wins (28:14)

State of the golf endemic industry & Marketing opportunities (34:41)

Evaluating partnerships & Sales correlation if their tour player wins (39:36)

What is needed for CEO's in Number 2’s & Launching the women’s line (47:40)

7 Question Blitz (55:49)

Bonus Clip (1:03:46)

Subscribe To Full Episodes & Clips on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ExcellentLeadershipPodcast

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/excellent-leadership-podcast/id1756992305

Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4KU2g2Baee7a5d04fQfSzs

Subscribe on Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b52f086a-0266-4345-be4d-bb8a7cde89fd/EXCELLENT-LEADERSHIP-PODCAST?ref=dm_sh_iGzHwozj5FaE9BcH829Nv8GBz

Follow Us:
@excellentleadershippodcast on Instagram, YouTube, Spotify & LinkedIn

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
...more
1h 5min
June 23, 2026 John Needham (President of Publishing & Esports @RiotGames) on The Mission at Riot Games & more
This is the Excellent Leadership Podcast! Chad Biagini (President, Excel Search & Advisory) & Mark Mayleben (Partner, Excel Search & Advisory) are here with John Needham (President of Publishing & Esports @RiotGames) to discuss:

Intro (:02)

First 60 days in a new organization & The mission of Riot Games (1:06)

Making yourself for accessible to a large team & Opening ceremonies for finals (3:52)

Game leadership teams & Top priorities within the Esports community (9:34)

John’s first job & Professional athletes love gaming (15:05)

Being known as "Excel Guy" at Sony & Starting his career in gaming (19:12)

Deciding what a game is looking to accomplish & Active marketing strategies (27:36)

How the business of Esports works & Locating high performers throughout the company (35:46)

The evolution of Esports & Their economic model (41:30)

The global operation with 20 offices worldwide & Taking on publishing at Riot Games (47:16)

Common traits within mentors & Building a foundation of trust within your team (53:49)

7 Question Blitz (57:12)

Bonus Clip (1:03:46)

Subscribe To Full Episodes & Clips on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ExcellentLeadershipPodcast

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/excellent-leadership-podcast/id1756992305

Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4KU2g2Baee7a5d04fQfSzs

Subscribe on Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b52f086a-0266-4345-be4d-bb8a7cde89fd/EXCELLENT-LEADERSHIP

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
...more
1h 5min
June 02, 2026 Josh Brooks (Athletics Director at University of Georgia) on Key Values, NIL Era Strategies, Giving 100% All The Time
This is the Excellent Leadership Podcast! Chad Biagini (President, Excel Search & Advisory) & Chris Hoppe (Partner, Excel Search & Advisory) are here with Josh Brooks (Athletics Director @UniversityOfGeorgia-official) to discuss:

Intro (:02)

Favorite Moments & Putting Pressure on himself to win Championships (1:24)

Going from Director of Football Operations to Athletics Director & How an executive builds resistance (4:40)

Hiring for high level pressure coaching & The key values that University of Georgia looks for (8:47)

What hiring for Head Coach in Football looks like & Always giving 100% with all of the sports programs at the University (14:34)

Using his executive team as a super power & reading the room to embrace debate (20:17)

Finding balance for board members & Not micromanaging (26:37)

Striking a balance with football playing student athletes & Revenue sharing strategy splits (33:20)

Measuring if the system is working outside of wins and losses & Honest assessment of staff and student athletes (38:38)

Primary reasons that most athletes choose schools & Pros/Cons of working at a big university vs. a small school (44:15)

Mistakes to avoid as a new Athletics Director & The importance of having mentors (50:35)

Taking pride in your job & Striking a balance in deals being done (57:40)

Managing Donor Fatigue & Pros/Cons of working at a big university vs. a small school (1:03:44)

His secret lasagna recipe & 7 Question Blitz (1:05:14)

Subscribe To Full Episodes & Clips on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ExcellentLeadershipPodcast

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/excellent-leadership-podcast/id1756992305

Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4KU2g2Baee7a5d04fQfSzs

Subscribe on Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b52f086a-0266-4345-be4d-bb8a7cde89fd/EXCELLENT-LEADERSHIP-PODCAST?ref=dm_sh_iGzHwozj5FaE9BcH829Nv8GBz

Follow Us:

@excellentleadershippodcast on Instagram, YouTube, Spotify & LinkedIn

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
...more
1h 14min
May 26, 2026 Gene Sykes (Chair U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee) on LA28 Success, Effective CEOs & more
This is the Excellent Leadership Podcast! We are at the premiere of Season 3! Chad Biagini (President, Excel Search & Advisory) & Mark Mayleben (Partner, Excel Search & Advisory) are here with Gene Sykes (Chair U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee) to discuss:

Intro (:02)

Being Chair of USOPC & Ingredients of a Healthy Board (2:01)

Organizations building trust on their board & Strategic governing boards vs. operating boards (9:13)

Common behaviors of effective CEOs & Where boards get CEO selection wrong (14:51)

When it’s time to consider a step up candidate & LA28 Board responsibilities (20:38)

How Gene got to where he is today & Goldman Sachs formula for success (29:01)

Being in the mergers and acquisitions business & Being at the introduction of the iPhone with Steve Jobs (34:58)

What success will look like for LA28 & 7 Question Blitz (43:03)

Special Bonus Clip: Establishing The Maggie Junior Golf & Communnity Foundation with Colin Morikawa (51:26)

Subscribe To Full Episodes & Clips on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ExcellentLeadershipPodcast

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/excellent-leadership-podcast/id1756992305

Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4KU2g2Baee7a5d04fQfSzs

Subscribe on Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b52f086a-0266-4345-be4d-bb8a7cde89fd/EXCELLENT-LEADERSHIP-PODCAST?ref=dm_sh_iGzHwozj5FaE9BcH829Nv8GBz

Follow Us:

@excellentleadershippodcast on Instagram, YouTube, Spotify & LinkedIn

CEO Conversations

#CEO #SportsExecutives #DreamJob

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
...more
54min
May 12, 2026 Mark Jackson (Athletics Director at Northwestern University) on Investing In All Sports, DNA of Hiring, The Science of Optimism, Mentor Mt. Rushmore
This is the Excellent Leadership Podcast! We are at the premiere of Season 3! Chad Biagini (President, Excel Search & Advisory) & Chris Hoppe (Partner, Excel Search & Advisory) is here with our thirty seventh guest, Mark Jackson (Athletics Director, Northwestern University) on to discuss:

Intro (:02)

The moment Mark decided to become an Athletic Director & Hiring Yes or No People (1:37)

Biggest Lessons Learned from USC to Vilanova to Northwestern & Superpowers that Northwestern has while maintaining excellence (6:14)

DNA of hiring the right kind of coaches for Northwestern & Getting stakeholders to all march in the same direction (13:04)

Investing dollars throughout all sports programs & Strategy involed in NIL era (19:26)

Continued evolution as a person & The science of optimism (29:14)

Mount Rushmore of Mentors & Determining where money goes throughout sports (34:31)

Managing donor fatigue & Alignment within the Executive team (41:11)

Onboarding in all of these organizations & Unplugging from the workplace (50:09)

The importance of understanding what an Athletics Director does & Lessons learning from working in the NFL (55:41)

Emotional equity & 7 Question Blitz (1:01:00)

Subscribe To Full Episodes & Clips on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ExcellentLeadershipPodcast

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/excellent-leadership-podcast/id1756992305

Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4KU2g2Baee7a5d04fQfSzs

Subscribe on Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b52f086a-0266-4345-be4d-bb8a7cde89fd/EXCELLENT-LEADERSHIP-PODCAST?ref=dm_sh_iGzHwozj5FaE9BcH829Nv8GBz

Follow Us on Socials:

@excellentleadershippodcast on Instagram & LinkedIn

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
...more
1h 12min
August 19, 2025 Shelly Cayette (President of Business Operations, Charlotte Hornets) on Staring with The New Orleans Hornets, 10 Years at Cleveland Cavaliers
This is the Excellent Leadership Podcast! We are at the finale for Season 2! Chad Biagini (President, Excel Search & Advisory) & Mark Mayleben (Partner, Excel Search & Advisory) is here with our thirty sixth guest, Shelly Cayette (President of Business Operations, Charlotte Hornets) on to discuss:
Intro (:02)
Being a student athlete at Tulane University & Working in the Casino Industry (1:30)
Working in Marketing for The New Orleans Hornets & Going From Marketing To Sales (7:00)
Working a Community role in New Orleans & Working for The Cleveland Cavaliers during COVID (11:53)
Balancing work with Motherhood & Advice to her younger self (17:31)
The pitch to join The Cleveland Cavaliers & Key pillars that lead to her successes (27:55)
Working with strong executive business leaders & Perfecting an interview process (33:43)
Staying sharp & 7 Question Blitz (43:50)
Subscribe To Full Episodes & Clips on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ExcellentLeadershipPodcastSubscribe on
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/excellent-leadership-podcast/id1756992305Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4KU2g2Baee7a5d04fQfSzsSubscribe on
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b52f086a-0266-4345-be4d-bb8a7cde89fd/EXCELLENT-LEADERSHIP-PODCAST?ref=dm_sh_iGzHwozj5FaE9BcH829Nv8GBz
Follow Us on Socials:
@excellentleadershippodcast on Instagram & LinkedIn
CEO Conversations
#CEO #SportsExecutives #DreamJob

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
...more
56min
August 13, 2025 Clark Lea (Head Football Coach of Vanderbilt University) on The Week Leading Up To Beating #1 Alabama, Insisting Character & Consistency In Players
This is the Excellent Leadership Podcast! We are back for Season 2! Chad Biagini (President, Excel Search & Advisory) & Kari Goodwin (Partner, Excel Search & Advisory) is here with our thirty fifth guest, Clark Lea (Head Coach of Vanderbilt University Football) on to discuss:
Intro (:02)
Favorite Half Time Speeches & Setting the rules for a college football team (:56)
Playing Football at Vanderbilt University & Aligning the full program with their ultimate vision (4:41)
What excites him most about coaching college football at Vanderbilt & Instilling consistent behaviors (9:21)

The week leading up to beating #1 University of Alabama & Instilling character in players (19:01)
Assessing talent in a recruit & The importance of making adjustments as a new coach (30:00)

Communication through the media & Prioritizing when hiring for the coaching staff (38:28)

7 Question Blitz (47:35)
Subscribe To Full Episodes & Clips on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ExcellentLeadershipPodcastSubscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/excellent-leadership-podcast/id1756992305
Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4KU2g2Baee7a5d04fQfSzs
Subscribe on Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b52f086a-0266-4345-be4d-bb8a7cde89fd/EXCELLENT-LEADERSHIP-PODCAST?ref=dm_sh_iGzHwozj5FaE9BcH829Nv8GBz

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
...more
55min
July 22, 2025 Danita Johnson (President of Business Operations - D.C. United) on Creating A Culture of Success, Finding A Sense of Purpose, A System of Process
This is the Excellent Leadership Podcast! We are back for Season 2! Chad Biagini (President, Excel Search & Advisory) & Matt Rogers (Partner, Excel Search & Advisory) is here with our thirty fourth guest, Danita Johnson (President of Business Operations of D.C. United) on to discuss:

Intro (:02)
How deep sports love runs with her family & Being part of a military family (:51)
Why she chose a career in sports & Starting with a Minor League team (4:19)
Walking into her first MLS job & Creating a culture of success (11:39)Leaving a system of process & Advice for managing up for ownership groups (18:58)
Finding a sense of purpose & The importance of knowing the type of person you’re hiring (23:28)

The process of hiring people for specific roles & Advice for those stepping into leadership roles (30:45)

The importance of taking risks & Why people should be D.C. United supporters (38:55)
The explosive growth of D.C. United & Biggest learnings from leading at Los Angeles Sparks (45:25)
The leaders who helped shape her career & Teaching confidence (51:14)
7 Question Blitz (59:29)
Subscribe To Full Episodes & Clips on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ExcellentLeadershipPodcast

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/excellent-leadership-podcast/id1756992305
Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4KU2g2Baee7a5d04fQfSzs

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
...more
1h 8min

FAQs about Excellent Leadership Podcast:

How many episodes does Excellent Leadership Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 70 episodes available.