Laura Dixon is the President of Pro Sports Assembly, an association uniting professional sports business leaders to foster a fair and progressive future for the industry. She is also the Founder of Long Game Ventures, a firm that guides sports business leaders to achieve their goals for impact. With a strong background in sports business and management, Laura has held significant roles in shaping the careers and social impact of sports figures, including NBA All-Stars and Olympic gold medalists. As a former head of external relations for Spurs Sports & Entertainment and executive director of the Spurs Foundation, she has demonstrated a profound ability to build relationships and implement sustainable financial strategies.
Here’s a Glimpse of What You’ll Learn:
- [3:18] Laura’s leadership journey and how her experience at Spurs Sports and Entertainment shaped her career.
- [6:48] Insights into Pro Sports Assembly and its role in uniting sports business leaders for collective impact.
- [8:08] The C-Suite Circle initiative and what it offers to new sports leaders.
- [14:24] How Laura’s passion for building teams has driven her work in leadership development and social impact.
- [16:39] A behind-the-scenes look at creating human rights plans for the 2026 FIFA World Cup bid.
- [18:58] The leadership challenges of driving change in the sports industry and how Laura finds common ground.
- [21:20] How Pro Sports Assembly advocates for inclusivity and amplifies underrepresented voices in professional sports.
- [25:54] Building high-trust teams and creating intentional, safe spaces for leadership development.
- [29:25] Examples of successful leadership that combine performance with an inclusive work culture.
- [34:36] Laura’s mentors and the impact they have had on her leadership approach.
- [39:00] How Laura inspires innovation within her team and encourages a blend of work-life balance.
- [45:13] What excites Laura about the future of Pro Sports Assembly and the upcoming Medal of Leadership Awards.
In This Episode…
In the world of sports management, merging innovation with inclusivity is a key challenge for leaders. What strategies are effective in balancing these critical aspects?
Laura Dixon, a distinguished leader in sports business, reveals that the secret to navigating this challenge lies in embracing open dialogue and actively seeking diverse perspectives. By prioritizing these elements, leaders can foster a culture that naturally integrates innovative ideas with inclusive practices. Laura emphasizes the crucial role of technology in enhancing these efforts, noting that when used thoughtfully, it can empower and include rather than marginalize. This targeted approach solidifies the foundation of equity and inclusion within an organization, driving substantial and sustainable impacts in the sports industry.
In this episode of WRK & Win, Corinne Milien speaks with Laura Dixon about her leadership role in merging innovation and inclusivity in sports. They discuss the transformative power of inclusive leadership, the impact of technological advancements like AI, and the challenges and successes of implementing human rights initiatives in sports settings.
Resources Mentioned in This Episode:
- Corinne Milien on LinkedIn
- WRK
- “Why Not You? Emily Jaenson’s Guide to Confidence and Courage in Professional Growth” on the WRK & WIN podcast
- “Mobilizing Communities and Athletes for Change With Diahann Billings-Burford” on the WRK & WIN podcast
- “[Basketball Series] Creating Inclusive and Empathetic Sports Venue Experiences With Antony Bonavita” on the WRK & WIN podcast
- Laura Dixon on LinkedIn
- Pro Sports Assembly
- Long Game Ventures
- National Society of Black Sports Professionals
- Jessica Berman on LinkedIn
- Cynt Marshall on LinkedIn
- Michele Roberts on LinkedIn
- Ami Galani on LinkedIn
- Oracio Galindo on LinkedIn
- Dr. Jamil Northcutt on LinkedIn
- Peter John-Baptiste on LinkedIn
- Antony Bonavita on LinkedIn
- Dr. Debonair Oates-Primus on LinkedIn
- The Assembly Leadership Retreat
Sponsor for this episode…
This episode is brought to you by WRK.
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From fostering employee engagement through positive employee relations to developing future leaders with their Leadership Development programs, WRK‘s services are designed to maximize the performance of your team and ensure a vibrant, inclusive work culture.
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