Season 6 kicks off with the Living Leadership Interview. In the segment, I was lucky to sit down with Marco Ferruzzi to discuss his leadership philosophy and how he sees it playing out in his day-to-day.

Marco is the Sporting Director for San Antonio Futbol Club (SAFC) and is also the parent of a Trinity sport management alumna! He is a San Antonio native and after graduating from Keystone High School, we attended the University of North Carolina to play soccer. After a long professional playing career, Marco obtained his USSF coaching 'A' license and got the opportunity to join the coaching staff at FC Dallas. After two decades in Dallas, Marco came home to San Antonio to assume his current role with SAFC in November 2023.

During our conversation, he highlights the importance of mentors and how leaders (mentors) have the vision to support followers and to help them recognize gifts they might not even see that they possess. Marco talks at length about why it's important for leaders to be great listeners, to have a clear vision, and create inclusive environments in which employees feel safe to make mistakes and be innovative.

Listen for how Marco talks about emergent leadership and how people can BE leaders even without the title.

After my conversation with Marco, I lecture on chapter 1 of Peter G. Northouse's "Leadership: Theory and Practice." General concepts of leadership are discussed, the term is defined, and there's a special focus on the connection between leadership and power.

Send me your thoughts and let's keep the conversation going on Twitter / X (@TingleJK) or on LinkedIn.