Marsha Oliver is the Senior Vice President of Community and Public Engagement for the PGA TOUR, the premier organization in professional golf renowned for organizing professional tours in North America. In this role, Marsha focuses on enhancing the PGA TOUR’s engagement and impact within diverse communities. She joined the TOUR in April 2019, bringing a wealth of over 25 years of experience in public affairs, community relations, marketing, and crisis management across corporate, government, and nonprofit sectors.
Prior to the PGA TOUR, Marsha served as the Director of Public Affairs for the City of Jacksonville under Mayor Lenny Curry and as Assistant Superintendent of Communications for Duval County Public Schools. Her distinguished career includes numerous industry awards and recognition as one of the nation’s top education public relations professionals by the Council of Great City Schools.
Here’s a Glimpse of What You’ll Learn:
- [3:05] Corinne shares her idea about workforce development and career-connected learning with Marsha.
- [5:49] Marsha’s thoughts on being intentional and creating opportunities for career development in the golf industry.
- [7:41] Marsha encourages Corinne to take ownership and pursue her proposal directly with 1st Tee.
- [10:23] Discussion on Marsha’s professional background, growing up in the communities she now serves.
- [18:02] Marsha reflects on her journey from government to the PGA Tour and how her diverse experiences shape her work.
- [25:03] Addressing the value of non-traditional candidates in today’s workforce.
- [29:38] Marsha shares her views on inviting diverse talent into the golf industry and how companies should recruit.
- [31:02] Balancing business objectives with positive community engagement.
- [35:16] Trends and successful strategies for diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in organizations.
- [39:55] Marsha and Corinne discuss the success of East Lake and how intentional community efforts create lasting impact.
- [42:37] The importance of building teams and lessons learned in fostering collaboration and ownership.
- [48:13] Marsha’s insights on receiving help that truly advances organizational missions.
- [51:33] The future of work in the sports and entertainment industries and the continued fight for inclusion and diversity.
- [56:02] Marsha shares two influential books that shaped her life and career: Good to Great and Falling Upward.
In This Episode…
Numerous industries are breaking new ground in diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. How does one leader’s journey from politics to the traditionally-exclusive sport of golf reflect broader changes in society?
Marsha Oliver, a key influencer in promoting diversity in sports, believes the key to transforming the sporting world lies in intentional inclusivity and community engagement. She emphasizes the importance of reaching out to underrepresented communities, ensuring that the world of golf better mirrors the diversity of our society. Marsha ensures her work goes beyond mere representation, creating a substantial impact and fostering inclusive spaces wherever her career takes her.
In this episode of WRK & WIN, Corinne Milien speaks with Marsha Oliver, Senior Vice President of Community and Public Engagement for the PGA TOUR, about her groundbreaking work. They explore the importance of inclusive leadership and how Marsha’s non-traditional background enriches her role. Their conversation highlights the significant strides being made toward a more equitable sporting world.
Resources Mentioned in This Episode:
- Corinne Milien on LinkedIn
- WRK
- Marsha Oliver on LinkedIn
- PGA TOUR
- “[Golf Series] Leading the Charge in Events and Impact With Allison Fillmore” on the WRK & WIN podcast
- Lenny Curry on LinkedIn
- “On being a woman and a diplomat” – Madeleine Albright
- East Lake Golf Club
- Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don’t by Jim Collins
Sponsor for this episode…
This episode is brought to you by WRK.
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