Why We Champion Young Leaders

They say, “Overnight Success” takes 18 years. What if I told you I have seen it done in only four seasons? That is the story and success of Jake Reynolds; which I had the recent pleasure of seeing recognized on a global stage. 

Last week, I was in London cheering as Philadelphia 76ers’ Chief Revenue Officer and New Jersey Devils’ Senior Vice President of Ticket Sales and Service Jake Reynolds ascended the stage at the 2017 “Leaders 40 Under 40” event at the Museum of Natural History. A well-deserved honor by the best identifier, developer and manager of talent I have ever met. 

As I applauded the accomplishments of his international honor, and with my longtime friend and colleague, Philadelphia 76ers President Chris Heck at my side, I looked around the other young executives at my table. Adam Davis, Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE) head of global partnerships and New Jersey Devils Chief Revenue Officer sat to my right. The 2016 Sports Business Journal “40 Under 40” Honoree was knee deep in networking conversation after conversation. Adam is one of the best deal makers in the world, period. As might be expected, he used the opportunity of the international event to reconnect with his contemporaries and make new connections across the industry; but in the end, he too was there for Jake. Akshay Khanna, HBSE Vice President of Strategy and 2016 Forbes “30 Under 30” Honoree, fresh off his presentation “The Rise and Opportunity of Esports,” sat across the table. Akshay’s presentation was incredible. We are fortunate in that HBSE is stacked with talent. 

There are at least a dozen (closer to 15) young executives in our organization today who will run major sports properties over the course of their careers. Can you imagine being fortunate enough to work in an organization with this much talent, character and ambition? At HBSE we applaud talent, reward character and celebrate both teamwork and teammates. That is what makes this organization such an incredible and humbling place to work. 

As Jake accepted the award, my phone buzzed and beeped with a proud congratulatory tweet from HBSE Vice President of Human Resources Tyneeha Rivers, a 2016 Philadelphia Business Journal “Minority Business Leader” Recipient. At some point that evening, Chris Heck shared the latest iteration of the “Welcome to the Moment” video open for the upcoming 76ers vs. Celtics game from our brand marketing team led by Philadelphia 76ers Chief Marketing Officer Katie O’Reilly, a 2016(2015) Philadelphia Business Journal’s “40 Under 40” Honoree. The talent in this organization goes much deeper than those receiving awards, but it is nice nonetheless. 

When interviewed about the recognition, Jake used the term “we” repeatedly. He talked about his staff and managers. He talked about the culture and the opportunity he has been given. He deflected and dispensed credit freely and earnestly to his managers and teammates, just the way it should be.  

As the father of three talented, gracious, competitive and beautiful girls; and there is a special, fatherly-pride, that accompanies their accomplishments and efforts. As an executive who believes in leading and loving those he manages authentically and openly, I can admit that a similar pride swells in my heart when I see our incredible executives, our teammates, succeed. I can appreciate the importance and deep significance that public acknowledgement by one’s leaders, peers and industry contemporaries can have on a young leader.

In our organization, I’m often heard saying, “if you do what everyone else does, you get what everyone else gets, and we aren’t interested in what everyone else gets.” Our young leaders don’t want what everyone else wants, they don’t want vanilla, they don’t want the participation trophy - their hands are always first in the air with a question; they aren’t content to stick with the league mold, they’d prefer to ask forgiveness later and break the mold. And sometimes that means staying after practice, and sometimes that means pushing back (on me) a little harder to get their way, and sometimes that means 3 a.m. nights on the laptop, and sometimes, as managers, we need to tell them they are extraordinary, and special.

“Do you want to be the smartest person in the room?” I asked 300 of our more senior executives at our annual “Go Forward” Leadership Meetings this past summer.

Scattered replies from around the room answered me.

“Here’s a thought that comes from experience,” I continued. “If you want to stay in the exact position you are today, then be the smartest person in the room. Take all the work and take the world on yourself. And I guarantee that you will always keep the job you are in today, and probably be very successful in it.”

“Do you want to be a leader? Do you want to grow and challenge yourself and others?” I asked. “Then find people better and brighter and smarter than you to join your team. Grow your team. Nurture your people. Embrace new ideas. Crave diversity of thought in your department and in our organization. Champion your Associates, your Coordinators, your Managers. Grow them – support them – challenge them – raise them up and I promise the reward you will find in others’ successes will trump the satisfaction you find in your own wins. Train. Lead. Develop. Lift up. Celebrate. Challenge. Push.” 

I remember the first day I met Katie O’Reilly, a 22-year-old Administrative Assistant out of the University of Michigan at the NBA League Offices; I remember Adam Davis’ firm 25-year-old handshake as a scrappy sponsorship salesperson at Madison Square Garden; and I remember telling 28-year-old Jake Reynolds that he was about to manage the largest Sales Staff in professional sports (115-strong). Last week, I smiled knowing that this constellation of stars at HBSE is only just beginning to be formally recognized within their industry, and beyond. But what makes me prouder is to see where they are today, leading teams, leading the industry and passing forward what they have learned, to grow the next generation of stars who will lead their teams as they rise together. 

You might be the next star. Just make sure you are working for the right manager in the right culture and you commit to being an extraordinary teammate.