The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that overallemployment for Sports Psychologists is projected to grow by 7% from 2023 to2033, which is faster than the average for all occupations. On average, about13,000 job openings for psychologists are expected each year over the nextdecade. Many of these openings will stem from the need to replace workers whoare transferring to different occupations or exiting the labor force, such asthrough retirement.

Sports psychologist Scott Goldman, PhD, consultingperformance psychologist for the Golden State Warriors,  highlights that while elite athletes arevaluable performers, they are also human beings like anyone else. “I see myrole as a psychologist within a sports organization as being an embedded360-degree resource,” he explains, serving athletes, coaches, and front officemanagers who are responsible for talent evaluation and staff onboarding.

Goldman was one of the first clinically trainedpsychologists to become an integral part of both college and professionalsports organizations. His early full-time positions at the NCAA level includedroles at the University of Arizona and the University of Michigan. He has alsoworked with professional teams such as the Miami Dolphins and Detroit Lions,and has consulted for the Washington Wizards and Chicago Cubs. One of Goldman’skey achievements is the development of the Athletic Intelligence Quotient (AIQ)assessment tool, which measures the performance-specific cognitive traits thatcontribute to athletic success. He collaborated with James Bowman, PsyD, fromthe Albert Ellis Institute in New York City, on the AIQ for 15 years before itwas published in 2012. The test, described in a 2020 article in the New YorkTimes Magazine as “a comprehensive user’s manual to an elite athlete’s brain,”is utilized by the NCAA and various professional sports teams, as well asinternational clubs and first responder departments.

Goldman’s team defines intelligence as “the ability toacquire, process, and apply information.” Drawing from the Cattell-Horn-Carrolltheory of intelligence, Goldman and Bowman sought to define the cognitiveabilities that are most relevant in navigating the complex challenges ofsports: “We viewed sport as a constantly mutating puzzle and asked ourselves,‘What cognitive abilities are most impactful in solving that?’” Goldmanrecalls.

Over the past decade, awareness of the importance ofprotecting athletes' mental health has significantly increased. Goldmancontributed to the 2013 National Athletic Trainers Association’s consensusstatement on addressing psychological concerns among college athletes and waspart of the mental health task force that established "bestpractices" for the NCAA in 2016. In 2019, both the NBA and NFL beganrequiring teams to provide regular access to behavioral health clinicians attheir facilities, leading many NFL teams to hire psychologists for thispurpose. Goldman joined me this week to share more insights on these importantdevelopments.

For more information: https://aiq.team/ 

Email: [email protected] 

LinkedIn: @ScottGoldmanPh.D

Recent Gallup research reveals that only 22% of surveyedU.S. workers strongly agree that they feel connected to their team's culture atwork. Team culture encompasses the shared beliefs, behaviors, workingpractices, and values within an organization. For instance, a business mightcultivate a team culture focused on excellence, innovation, or service,depending on its core purpose. Workplace culture is vital as it guides bothindividual and collective actions, making it essential for the success or failureof any organization. By fostering a strong team culture, companies can improveemployee satisfaction, distinguish themselves from competitors, and attract toptalent.

Further research from the Harvard Business Review indicatesthat high-performing teams are exceedingly rare; only 8.7% of respondents ratedtheir teams highly. This study identified five key behaviors related to trustthat set high-performing teams apart. These teams typically begin by discussinghow they will collaborate, leading to fewer misunderstandings and smootherteamwork in the future.

Marci Schnapp is an entrepreneur and visionary leader whocurrently serves as the Founder and Vision Mover at CollabGenius. With over 20years of experience in business, consulting, coaching, and executive search,Marci brings a wealth of expertise to her work. Over the past decade, she hasapplied CollabGenius's innovative teamwork theories and bias-free talentassessment methods. Her focus is on attracting, retaining, and developingindividuals based on their skills, values, and fit within the organizationalculture, which is vital for future success. She excels in identifying andnurturing talent to ensure the organization's growth and success.

CollabGenius is a behavioral science-driven platform thatmodernizes how executive search firms, coaches, business consultants,recruiters, and organizations build high-performing teams and help individualsbecome better team players. With over 20 years of experience in talentassessment, leadership strategy, and team development, I have dedicated mycareer to helping businesses achieve measurable success through data-drivendecisions.

At CollabGenius, we provide the tools and insights to:

🎯 Accurately identify toptalent. 

🤝 Design collaborativeand aligned teams. 

⚠️ Prevent costly hiring mistakesby understanding candidate behaviors and stress responses. 

🔍 Gain clarity byuncovering blind spots and making informed decisions. 

📈 Foster sustainableorganizational growth by placing the right people in the right roles.

For more information: https://www.collabgenius.io/ 

LinkedIn: @MarciSchnapp

Succession planning involves identifying key organizationalpositions and developing action plans for individuals to take over those roles.By comprehensively understanding current and future goals, this preparationensures that the right people occupy the right roles both now and, in theyears, ahead.

According to a recent survey commissioned by Scotiabank,Canadian small businesses are facing challenges related to succession planning.As many small business owners prepare for retirement, findings from the studyreleased in October 2024 indicate that approximately 31% of small businessowners in Canada intend to sell their businesses by 2030. The survey alsoreveals that about 65% of owners have a succession plan; however, 43% of thoseplanning to sell in six years or more do not have a plan.

Business and Exit Strategist Stephanie Hayes believes anythingis possible if you create it yourself. She emphasizes that she is not youraverage business coach—her approach is anything but typical. At times, she maybe above average, and at others, she may be below average, but she guaranteesthat she will never remain stagnant.

You don’t want the average experience either, so you’rehere. You seek connection, thoughtful dialogue, intellect, and innovation. Eachday, you want to feel exceptional—better than average.

Hayes is the founder of Assets to Exits, a pathway forestablished business owners to transition from merely generating revenue tobuilding wealth and preparing for a future exit from their businesses. Thebusiness community often focuses on startups and early growth phases,overlooking established businesses that are profitable yet may leave theirowners feeling stagnant, uninspired, or directionless. Many business ownersmistakenly believe that an exit strategy is only for Silicon Valley startups orventure-funded companies; however, most businesses have already created value. Theycan leverage that value and multiply it over time with some adjustments.

Leveraging her expertise in business model design andinnovation strategy, Stephanie developed an asset-based business model to helpowners shift their focus and work towards a financially rewarding exit.

For more information: https://stephaniehayes.biz/ 

LinkedIn: @StephanieHayes

The 2022 Canadian Student Wellbeing Study, commissioned byStudiosity—a leading online study platform for post-secondary institutions—andconducted independently by Angus Reid, has been fully released. The studyhighlights the critical need for equitable student support by exploring factorssuch as student stress, motivation to achieve high grades, and attitudestowards cheating, segmented by age, household income, location, and field ofstudy. This report also includes year-over-year data from the 2021 survey,aiming to provide the higher education sector with a comprehensiveunderstanding of current students' feelings, commitments, and overallwellbeing.

Key findings include:

- 76% of students report balancing work and studies.

- 40% of students have seriously considered dropping out oftheir college or university, marking a five percentage point increase from2021.

- 54% of students have personally observed cheating, with15% stating it happens frequently.

- 77% of students believe that cheating has become moreprevalent, attributing this trend primarily to the ease of academic dishonestyin online learning environments.

- 61% of students feel engaged with their college oruniversity, with 17% strongly agreeing, showing significant differences amongacademic programs.

- 64% of students are at least somewhat optimistic abouttheir employment prospects after completing their college or universityeducation.

Ryan Peebles, the executive director of the studentrepresentative council at St. Clair College, joins me this week to discuss howstudent support related to advocacy, inclusion, and diversity has evolved overtime. He shares his insights on how a quality college education can preparestudents of all ages for success in the workforce and beyond.

For more information, visit:https://www.stclair-src.org/ 

Follow us at: @st.clairsrc

In the UnitedStates, a staggering one in five children—equivalent to over 14.5 millionkids—have been identified as having special healthcare needs, as highlighted bythe National Survey of Children's Health.

According to thePew Research Center, as of 2023, approximately 3.05 million children are livingwith single fathers across the nation, a notable decline from the peak numberrecorded in 2005. Aaron DeVries, a dedicated advocate for inclusion, shares a personalconnection to this cause as the father of a daughter with a disability. He haswitnessed firsthand the life-changing effects of inclusive education and theimportance of nurturing supportive communities.

Aaron’s missionis clear: to empower families, ensuring that every child, regardless of theirabilities, is fully embraced and supported in their environment. His passionfor championing inclusion drives his work. Alongside his parenting journey, heis the enthusiastic host of The Inclusive Dad Podcast, where he delves intotopics surrounding inclusion, offering practical insights and resources.

If you’reinterested in sharing your experiences or insights, he invites you to be aguest on his podcast, which focuses on inclusion and advocacy from theperspective of a parent. Recently, Aaron joined me to discuss these significantthemes further.

For additionalinformation, visit https://theinclusivedad.com/. To listen to the podcast, gotohttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inclusion-and-disability-advocacy-from-a/id1371390804.

Access to funding is essential for fostering opportunities

**Severe Funding Shortfalls Impacting People with

Over 52,000 individuals are currently on waiting lists for

These services are not luxuries; they are lifelines that

The "Journey to Belonging: Choice and Inclusion,"

“It hasn’t been funded properly,” states Community Living

Community Living Essex County and the broader developmental

Karen Bolger, the Executive Director at Community Living

According to available data from a Pew Research Center

I am many things: an entrepreneur, professor, strategist,

More than anything, I am passionate about storytelling and

My purpose is to open up possibilities that help you create

Dr. Paul Rivera is a strategic planner, expert facilitator,

An expert in data analysis, Dr. Rivera effectively links

For more information: https://beactchange.com/ 

LinkedIn: @PaulRivera, PhD 

Follow: @be.act.change 

According to the Washington Post and the Centers for Disease

As a neurodivergent life coach, Christian Vinceneux helps

Are you parenting a child with ADHD or autism and feeling

Many parents feel lost after following advice from providers

If you're neurodivergent yourself, things can become even

Before blaming yourself, remember that most strategies fail

Shifting to this mindset is crucial for discovering

I don’t offer quick fixes; instead, I show you how to better

My methodology is family-centered, neuro-affirming,

For more information:

LinkedIn: @ChristianVinceneux 

According to Statista and the Forbes Business Council, new

These innovations have not only changed how athletes prepare

Charles Sims' journey is filled with rich stories and

For eight years, I served as the CTO for the LA Clippers

Known as the 'Hurricane CTO,' Charles Sims is a seasoned

For more information: https://www.hurricanecto.com/ 

LinkedIn: @CharlesSims

Milestones of great significance deserve acknowledgment and celebration, and

Through this podcast, I hope to have provided meaningful and

Together, we have worked to create an inclusive and