Mental Stillness

Megha Parekh is the Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer of the Jacksonville Jaguars, and she has been with the Jaguars since 2013. As a key member of the team’s executive leadership, she is responsible for a variety of legal and business matters, including transactions, acquisitions, investments, compliance, dispute resolution, risk management, employee growth and development, government relations intellectual property, security, technology, and stadium and real estate development projects.

Parekh plays a central role in shaping the Jaguars’ long-term vision and strategy, including the ambitious stadium of the future initiative and broader Jacksonville development efforts. Her work sits at the intersection of entertainment, law and civic innovation—helping position the Jaguars as a driver of economic development and community engagement in Northeast Florida. During her time with the Jaguars, Parekh has worked on the acquisition of Fulham Football Club, the launch of All Elite Wrestling and the securing of its television broadcast deal, the construction and launch of Daily’sPlace amphitheater, various naming rights and concessions agreements, the Jaguars’ international games and other Khan family sports and entertainment related projects.

Before joining the Jaguars, Parekh was an attorney with Proskauer in New York, where she was part of the Sports Law Group advising clients across professional leagues and franchises. She holds both her undergraduate and law degrees from Harvard, graduating magna cum laude.

In addition to her professional leadership, Parekh is deeply committed to community service and volunteering. She volunteers with Crisis Text Line, supporting individuals in moments of mental health crisis, and with Habitat for Humanity, helping to create safe and stable housing for families in need. Guided by her own experiences, she also advocates for survivors of trauma. She serves on several boards, including the Jacksonville University Public Policy Institute, and advocates for access, inclusion, and leadership development in both sports and the legal profession.Parekh has been recognized as one of SportsBusiness Journal’s “Forty Under 40” and has been featured among the most powerful women in sports, including in the NFL’s series “Earnin’ It”. She is guided by a belief in the transformative power of sports and music to shape stronger, more connected communities and to make people’s lives meaningful.

Fred Turner co-hosted this episode with me. He heads up our training at Abridge Leadership and is an incredible person & leader. The guest in this episode is Brandon J. Hurst! Brandon is a visionary entrepreneur, investor, and business strategist recognized as the operator of two thriving Brooklyn Chick-fil-A locations, including the borough’s first across from the Barclays Center—distinguished for setting benchmarks in growth and operational excellence. A magna cum laude graduate of Alabama State University with an MBA in Finance, Brandon built his career on intentional leadership, scalable growth, and community impact. He is also the founder of Birth of Dream Ventures, where he invests in entrepreneurs and ventures that drive education, financial literacy, and generational wealth. Honored with multiple awards, Brandon continues to mentor, invest, and inspire leaders nationwide.

Follow Brandon on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/iambrandonjhurst/)

Connect with Brandon on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-hurst-bjh/)

Learn More About Brandon (http://www.brandonjhurst.com/)

The Five Seasons of Leadership (https://brandon-j-hurst.kit.com/5-seasons-of-leadership)

Josh Teater is a seasoned PGA Tour professional whose career reflects perseverance, resilience, and a deep love for the game. A Lexington, Kentucky native and graduate of Morehead State University, Josh turned professional in 2001 and spent years competing on mini-tours and developmental tours before breaking through and earning his PGA Tour card.

Over his career, Josh has recorded multiple top finishes on the PGA Tour, including a memorable playoff run at the 2013 Farmers Insurance Open, and has repeatedly battled his way back through the Korn Ferry Tour to compete at golf’s highest level. His journey has made him widely respected among players as a true “journeyman”––someone who keeps showing up, putting in the work, and competing with humility and heart.

His story offers a rare look into the psychological and emotional challenges of professional golf: the pressure to perform, the uncertainty of status, and the mental endurance required to continue chasing excellence year after year.

Josh brings authenticity, honesty, and a grounded mindset to the sport, making his voice especially meaningful in conversations about mental resilience and purpose.

Sebastien Page is the Head of Global Multi-Asset at T. Rowe Price and one of the most respected voices in modern investing and risk management. He leads a global team of portfolio managers, analysts, and researchers responsible for more than $350 billion in assets, and his work sits at the intersection of behavioral finance, macro strategy, and disciplined decision-making under uncertainty.In this episode, we talk about his book "The Psychology of Leadership". Our conversation is timely and practical!#business #leadership #psychology

https://www.psychologyofleadership.net/

In this episode of Mental Stillness, host Derek Sloan sits down with William Salvi — creator of The Executive House and an talented interviewer of CEOs and executives. Together, they unpack what it really means to lead with humanity in high-pressure executive environments. From boardrooms to brand vision, William shares insights from conversations with world-class CEOs on why authenticity, empathy, and self-awareness are becoming the true edge in leadership. This conversation bridges performance and presence — reminding us that even at the top, leadership begins with being human.

The CEO Series is an Emmy award-winning original content series. Each episode profiles a business leader and their respective business. The series provides a humanizing look into the CEOs personal story, mindset and insights of their business and industry.

https://www.ceoseries.com/

Today’s guest, Willy Kuhene, is a global leader at Google overseeing a €0.5B program portfolio spanning North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. He’s the creator of the Standard of Consistency, a leadership framework that helps teams drive high performance through clarity, rhythm, and trust.

In this episode, we explore how consistency becomes a competitive advantage in fast-changing environments, the art of leading global teams with empathy, and the lessons Willy has learned as both a leader and a father—about priorities, unpredictability, and leading with heart.

Willy also shares how his passion for design and intentional living comes to life through nortehaus, a retreat where architecture and leadership intersect.

Links:

• www.wiku.studio

• https://www.amazon.com/Standard-Consistency-mindset-systems-high-performing-ebook/dp/B0FJ7BL1GM/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1NCDV94ZYLD64&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.P-IOmosCL-ZS7XHfdIhhfg.xcCc6Gm3bxCsuhRc6pZuZZx0Zw2Yb4PPO3Lzf9rsnVY&dib_tag=se&keywords=standard+of+consistency+willy&qid=1757685337&sprefix=standard+of+consistency+will%2Caps%2C189&sr=8-1
• wikustudio.substack.com

Dr. (Colonel) Josh McConkey is a best-selling, award-winning author and esteemed Emergency Physician with over 20 years of clinical experience. A former Duke University professor and Board-Certified Emergency Medicine physician, he currently commands the 459th Aeromedical Staging Squadron in the U.S. Air Force Reserves, where he continues to exemplify leadership and service. His acclaimed book Be the Weight Behind the Spear has earned multiple accolades, including a 2025 Telly Award and recognition in national book award competitions, including a Pulitzer Prize nomination. He resides in Apex, North Carolina with his wife, Elsa, where they raise their three children and work together to inspire the next generation of American leaders. He is also running for Lt. Governor in North Carolina

www.weightbehindthespear.com

www.strongernc.com

Gary Noesner, retired FBI Chief Negotiator, bestselling author of Stalling for Time, and one of the world’s foremost experts in high-stakes negotiation and crisis communication. Over his 30-year career, Gary led some of the most complex and dangerous hostage and barricade situations, including prison riots, airplane hijackings, and international terrorism standoffs.

We explore the psychology behind negotiation, the power of time in restoring rational thinking, and what leaders can learn from the FBI’s negotiation playbook when pressure is at its highest. Gary also shares real stories from the field and reflects on how empathy, patience, and communication can defuse even the most volatile situations—insights that extend far beyond law enforcement and into leadership, business, and everyday relationships.

www.garynoesner.com

Jeremy Hurewitz is an espionage expert, corporate intelligence strategist, and author of Sell Like a Spy. In this episode, Jeremy takes us inside the world of spycraft, revealing how techniques used by CIA, FBI, and special forces operatives can dramatically improve the way we build trust, influence others, and communicate with impact. From the power of vulnerability to the subtle art of elicitation, this conversation is packed with insights for leaders and and anyone in the business of relationships.

Jeremy's Background: He started his career overseas as a freelance journalist for a decade based out of Prague and Shanghai. During that time, he also built and ran the international newspaper association Project Syndicate. After returning to his native New York, Jeremy joined the world of corporate security. An influential but little-known industry, Jeremy works with intelligence officers and other former government officials across a range ofservices including kidnap-for-ransom consulting, background investigations, executive protection, and many other sensitive assignments. Jeremy is the author of Sell Like a Spy, which bring spy tradecraft to business and everyday communications. Jeremy writes regularly on foreign policy for a wide range of publications and is a policy advisor on National Security for the Joseph Rainey Center. He is a Strategic Advisor to the corporate intelligence firm Interfor International and head of Interfor Academy. 

Jenn Donahue PhD is an author, retired US Navy Captain and former Commodore for an 1,800 personnel Regiment. While in Afghanistan, Jenn had an assassination attempt on her life. She is a civil engineer who works on large scale, high profile projects. Over her 27-year military career, Jenn has built a bridge across the Euphrates River in the midst of the Iraq war, commanded an 800-personnel Battalion in Afghanistan, and constructed combat outposts in the middle of deserts filled with insurgents.