CSC Voices, Beyond the Scoreboard host: Trip Durham, 2D Consulting, LLC

Guest: Andrea Williams, University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) Director of Intercollegiate Athletics

In this CSC Voices: Beyond the Scoreboard episode, UIC Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Andrea Williams sheds light on modern leadership in sports athletics — from mastering the art of listening to defining servant and situational leadership. With over 25 years in collegiate and professional athletics, she unpacks how empathy, inclusion, and innovation can power high-performing, authentic teams.

In this conversation, we explore:

• Developing listening skills and embracing curiosity as essential tools for communications professionals and leaders alike.
• Leading with servant and situational leadership to create inclusive environments where individuals thrive.
• Building confidence through humility and vulnerability, and how that fosters trust within teams.
• Defining success through coaching and mentorship, and recognizing those “quiet moments” when impact is most felt.
• Encouraging creativity and innovation, even when staffing and budgets are limited.
• Balancing support and challenge to maintain high accountability without sacrificing compassion.
• Ensuring the student-athlete voice is heard — through advisory committees and meaningful feedback processes.