POPULARITY
70 episodes with kelli masters
6 episodes with kelli masters
4 episodes with kelli masters
4 episodes with kelli masters
5 episodes with kelli masters
2 episodes with kelli masters
2 episodes with kelli masters
2 episodes with kelli masters
3 episodes with kelli masters
In this special edition episode of the Uncommon Podcast, you will hear a panel session from the 2024 Christians Working in Sports (CWS) Conference hosted by Sports Spectrum's Jason Romano that featured three experienced and renowned panelists from the sport industry including Sports Agent and Founder of KMM Sports, Kelli Masters; the Associate AD for Development and Chief Development Officer at Middle Tennessee State University, Hans Malebranche; and Denver Nuggets Assistant Coach, Ryan Saunders. Jason led the panelists through a discussion about the importance of spiritual disciplines in the lives of Christians working in sports.Click here to register for the 2025 CWS Conference and receive the early bird discount cost of only $59. The 2025 CWS Conference is happening on June 20-21 in Minneapolis, MN.Click here to listen to the Sports Spectrum podcast hosted by Jason Romano.Watch this message on our YouTube channel.
This week on Good Follow: Megan, Katie, and Logan discuss Lisa Leslie's take on Rookie of the Year and whether or not Caitlin Clark deserves negativity. Then, lawyer and NFL agent Kelli Masters joins the show to discuss her journey to becoming an agent, navigating a male-dominated industry, and becoming the first woman to represent a first-round NFL draft pick. Finally, Megan shares her WNBA DraftKings picks of the week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this episode, sports agent and the founder of KMM Sports, Kelli Masters, discusses her journey to becoming a sports agent and how she knew that God's calling for her life was to serve in that role. Learn more about Uncommon Sports Group or connect with our community.Get a copy of Kelli's book, High-Impact Life: A Sports Agent's Secrets to Finding and Fulfilling a Purpose You Can't Lose
Attorney, sports agent, and motivational speaker Kelli Masters offers insight to help you find and fulfill your God-given purpose in life.
Attorney, sports agent, and motivational speaker Kelli Masters offers insight to help you find and fulfill your God-given purpose in life.
Attorney, sports agent, and motivational speaker Kelli Masters offers insight to help you find and fulfill your God-given purpose in life.
Attorney, sports agent, and motivational speaker Kelli Masters offers insight to help you find and fulfill your God-given purpose in life.
Attorney, sports agent, and motivational speaker Kelli Masters offers insight to help you find and fulfill your God-given purpose in life.
Attorney, sports agent, and motivational speaker Kelli Masters offers insight to help you find and fulfill your God-given purpose in life.
In this special edition episode of the Uncommon Podcast, you will be able to hear another message from the 2023 CWS Conference given by renowned sports agent and founder of KMM Sports, Kelli Masters. In her talk, Kelli shares her journey to discovering God's mission for her life and equips listeners with tools that will help them live out God's mission in their lives while working in the sport industry.Click here to register or learn more about the 2024 CWS Conference, or click here to learn more about Uncommon Sports Group.
Welcome to episode 116 of Sports Management Podcast. Sam Tiger is the founder and president of Sam Tiger MGMT. Sam is a certified NFL agent, an adjunct professor at Lynn university, an NFLPA certified contract advisor, an entrepreneur and podcast host. Get ready to learn: Why Sam started her own business Passing the NFL agent exam on the first try The importance of relationships in the sports industry How previous podcast guest Kelli Masters helped Sam in her career What her mantra is And much more! WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/58Ub9eENtyA ________________________________________________ Follow us on social media Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube Sign up for the newsletter! www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com
The way athletes conduct themselves has the potential to majorly impact them, their team, and their sport as a whole. With such high stakes and the added influence of social media, personal conduct policies are in place to help maintain the integrity of professional sports leagues. Rocky Dhir talks to Kelli Masters, Daniel Hare, and Brian Michael Cooper about how these policies are created and the discipline processes that provide accountability and continued quality within a sports league. Kelli Masters is an attorney, an NFL sports agent and Founder and President of KMM Sports, a full-service sports management company with offices in New York, Los Angeles and her hometown of Oklahoma City. Daniel Hare is the founder and president of Varsity Search, a legal recruiting company dedicated to building great teams by bringing together lawyers and law firms. Brian Michael Cooper is an accomplished sports executive, currently holding the positions of President & Chief Operating Officer at the American Flag Football League.
The way athletes conduct themselves has the potential to majorly impact them, their team, and their sport as a whole. With such high stakes and the added influence of social media, personal conduct policies are in place to help maintain the integrity of professional sports leagues. Rocky Dhir talks to Kelli Masters, Daniel Hare, and Brian Michael Cooper about how these policies are created and the discipline processes that provide accountability and continued quality within a sports league. Kelli Masters is an attorney, an NFL sports agent and Founder and President of KMM Sports, a full-service sports management company with offices in New York, Los Angeles and her hometown of Oklahoma City. Daniel Hare is the founder and president of Varsity Search, a legal recruiting company dedicated to building great teams by bringing together lawyers and law firms. Brian Michael Cooper is an accomplished sports executive, currently holding the positions of President & Chief Operating Officer at the American Flag Football League.
She is an attorney, an NFL sports agent and Founder and President of KMM Sports. She created her website to inspire you to pursue your calling with confidence and boldness. Kelli has represented more professional athletes than any woman in the industry, having served as agent/contract advisor to players in every NFL draft since 2006 as well as numerous athletes in the MLB draft and the Olympics. In 2010, she made history as the first woman to represent a first round pick in the NFL Draft. Her story of progress through pain was featured as part of Motrin's national "Women in Progress" campaign in 2017. Kelli created the Pushover to Pioneer email course to share with you the best lessons she's learned about pursuing your calling with confidence and boldness. Kelli is a former National and World Champion baton twirler, and was also Miss Oklahoma 1997, winning awards for talent and community service at the Miss America pageant that year. Currently, Kelli serves as an Adjunct Professor at Oklahoma City University and Oklahoma Christian University, teaching Sports Law. She is a sought-after writer and speaker on topics of sports and nonprofit as well as leadership, diversity and discovering purpose in life. Her first book was released in 2021, High-Impact Life: A Sports Agent's Secrets to Finding and Fulfilling a Purpose You Can't Lose. Recognized as one of the most influential women in sports business, Kelli Masters often hears, "You have a DREAM JOB." But she chooses to inspire others not with her successes, but with her vulnerability, sharing not only the victories but also the battles and failures along the way. Kelli is an attorney, an NFL sports agent and Founder and President of KMM Sports, a full-service sports management company with offices in New York, Los Angeles and her hometown of Oklahoma City. www.kellimasters.com
In a unique episode with Sports Agent & Attorney, Kelli Masters, you will hear about the pressure female athletes face when it comes to abortion & their careers. We know this pressure is present across the spectrum with females & building careers but athletes are often manipulated into believing they have "no other choice" than have an abortion. Available NOW on: ExplicitlyProLife.com or wherever you get your podcasts! ✓ YouTube: https://bit.ly/2DiGLin ✓ Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2X15zlZ ✓ Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/30ZA8tw ✓ Google Podcast: https://bit.ly/30V0Kfd ✓ Stitcher: https://bit.ly/331EgvL Connect with Kristan: ✓ Kristan's website: https://bit.ly/3zsv1os ✓ Kristan's YouTube: https://bit.ly/3IVonKg ✓ Kristan's Instagram: https://bit.ly/3ogRApH ✓ Kristan's Twitter: https://bit.ly/3z4a0iu ✓ Kristan's Facebook: https://bit.ly/3yXjhIV ✓ Kristan's GETTR: https://bit.ly/3z1qrMt
GUEST: Kelli Masters, NFL Player Agent SCRIPTURE VERSE: Hebrews 11:1, 6 ----- Receive our 10-day Sports Spectrum Devotional written by professional athletes for FREE when you sign up for our Sports Spectrum Weekly Email Newsletter. Sign up here.
Hall of Fame safety Brian Dawkins and sports agent Kelli Masters join host Rob Maaddi. Dawkins talks about the Philadelphia Eagles starting 7-0, shares his thoughts on rough-the-passer penalties and more. Masters, the first female agent to represent a top-5 NFL draft pick, discusses her journey in a male-dominated industry and what led her to become a sports agent 18 years ago.
Welcome to the Sports Spectrum Minute. A new segment featuring a short clip of inspiration from a previous Sports Spectrum Podcast interview. Today we hear from Kelli Masters, one of the handful of female NFL player agents in the NFL. He appeared on Sports Spectrum's Podcast in August 2017. You can listen to the entire interview here. Receive our Sports Spectrum Devotional written by professional athletes for FREE when you sign up for our Sports Spectrum Weekly Email Newsletter. Sign up here.
Sometimes circumstances align our passion with our profession. However, it takes determination, strength and a fair amount of fight to build on our goals. Cue in Kelli Masters, one of the most influential women in the sports industry and a groundbreaking sports agent. This former Miss Oklahoma, attorney and avid football fan accomplished what no one believed possible-- she became a prolific agent and the first women to represent a first round NFL draft pick. It wasn't an easy task. Kelli's path to success was riddled with roadblocks, "no" answers, biases, no-shows and failed deals before she finally secured her place at a table previously reserved only for men. Several years down the road, Kelli and her KMM Sports agency has closed over $200 million in deals, and continues to flourish. Most impressively, she isn't just trying to keep her seat at the table. Kelli is using her platform to inspire others to pursue improbable goals, recognize that it's never too late to follow one's dreams and find a true purpose to live for. Author of High Impact Life: A Sports Agent's Secrets to Finding and Fulfilling a Purpose You Can't Lose, Kelli is not only a pioneer, she is a game changer and advocate. Her story is sincere, passionate and heartfelt. Listeners will feel her emotions, and will walk away adoring the person that Kelli represents.
Running legend Dick Beardsley has endured a series of setbacks that would cause many to stumble, yet he's prevailed and emerged stronger than ever with a story that's sure to inspire. Kelli Masters knows a thing or two about perseverance as well — she's an NFL agent and one of the most influential women in sports business. You'll hear from Amy Stephens on Heritage Hills and Mesta Park. And meet Yvette Trachtenberg — the businesswoman, mom and runner is tackling the Marathon for the first time.Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OKCMarathonTwitter: https://twitter.com/okcmarathonInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/okcmarathonThe Run to Remember Memorial Marathon podcast is sponsored and produced by Knox Studios, a creative studio and production partner for the modern media age.
Amy speaks with NFL Agent Kelli Masters about representation and player contracts.
On this episode with return guest Kelli Masters we talk about Kelli's new book. "High-Impact Life: A Sports Agent's Secrets to Finding and Fulfilling a Purpose You Can't Lose" How she wrote the book, recorded the audio book and has room for three more books. Kelli shared impactful stories about her clients Aja Evans (Olympic Bobsledder) and Amy Olson (LPGA Player) talking about the importance of brand building. We talk about the college NIL deals and how it's making agents, schools and players think twice about their actions. Finishing up Kelli talks about her experience with the Julius Jones case, right up til the last few hours before he was granted clemency. For more information on Kelli to go www.kellimasters.com Buy her book here: https://www.amazon.com/High-Impact-Life-Secrets-Finding-Fulfilling/dp/1496444531 Listen to Kelli's previous episode here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-is-kelli-masters-kmm-sports/id1387331955?i=1000413503101 The Branch Office Co working Space: https://thebranchus.spaces.nexudus.com/?portal& This episode is presented by the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. Telling Oklahoma's story through its people since 1927. For more information on the Oklahoma Hall of Fame go to www.oklahomahof.com and follow them on instagram www.instagram.com/oklahomahof #thisisoklahoma
Visit leadergrowth.us/podcast to download the show notes for today's episode. Connect with Kelli on LinkedIn here.Connect with Kelli on Instagram @kellimasters.Learn more about KMM Sports here.Connect with David on LinkedIn here.Connect with David on Instagram @imdavidskidmore.
Thank you all for a great 2021! This episode is a short summary with some of my highlights from the year that passed: 00:27 - James O'Brien, Formula 1 Experience (From #12) 02:04 - Mary-Kay Messier, Bauer Hockey (From #13) 04:08 - Nina Wennerström, Wesport (From #15) 06:00 - Josef Boumedienne, Columbus Blue Jackets (From #18) 07:08 - Fiona Green, Winners FDD (From #23) 09:22 - Michael Payne, Consultant for the IOC (From #29) 11:19 - Kelli Masters, KMM Sports (From #31) 14:32 - News from Spotify I would like to thank all the guests and listeners for a great 2021! A special thanks to the sponsors MATCHi & InSport Education! Finally - Thank you to SIGA for joining me in a partnership to improve integrity in sport. Follow us on social media Instagram Facebook Twitter www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com
This week on The Championship Mindset Podcast we speak with Kelli Masters. Kelli is recognized as one of the most influential women is sports business. She is an attorney and Sports Agent who has represented more professional athletes than any other woman in the industry. Kelli has served as agent and contract advisor to players in every NFL draft since 2006 including being the first woman to represent a first round draft pick in 2010. Kelli is a former National and World Champion baton twirler and former Miss Oklahoma. She is also the author of her new book, High-Impact Life. We hope you enjoyed our conversation with Kelli Masters.
Whitlock reacts in real time as the Rittenhouse verdict comes in during the “Fearless” taping. Why is it so hard to be brave and face down liberal social pressure as this jury did? Jason takes his fans back in time to when he mistakenly trusted the media during their coverage of the Michael Brown and Trayvon Martin tragedies. Former first-round NBA draft pick Royce White details why the black community needs to put up a strong defense of the 2nd Amendment. NFL agent and attorney Kelli Masters delves into her advocacy for Julius Jones, the convicted murderer who just had his life sentence commuted in Oklahoma. Plus, Uncle Jimmy tells us the reason Jason may have inspired LeBron James to become a political activist. Today's Sponsor: Get with Good Ranchers today and support American farmers! Visit https://GoodRanchers.com/FEARLESS to get $20 dollars OFF and FREE express shipping. Save 20% on “Fearless” swag! Use Promo Code Fearless20 at: www.shop.blazemedia.com/fearless to make yourself an official member of the “Fearless Army.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
A Look at the Rittenhouse Jury We speak with Paul Butler, Albert Brick Professor in Law at Georgetown University Law Center and legal analyst on MSNBC, about the jury selection process and the importance of racial equality within juries. What's at Stake as Julius Jones's Execution Day Nears We speak with Oklahoma-based attorney Kelli Masters, who was part of Jones's legal delegation during his September commutation hearing. Masters was initially skeptical about Jones's innocence, but after reviewing the evidence, was convinced that Jones was wrongfully convicted. Left to Die in Texas Jail Custody The Texas Observer, a non-profit investigative newsroom, reviewed more than 400 Texas Ranger investigations of jail deaths over the past decade. In their investigation, the Texas Observer found that of the more than 1,100 people who have died in jail custody in Texas since 2010, the majority were pre-trial detainees, people like Sandra Bland, who were never convicted of their alleged crime. We spoke with Mike Barajas, a staff writer for the Texas Observer. He is one of the writers of the special report, "Locked Up and Left to Die" for the Texas Observer. For transcripts, see individual segment pages.
A Look at the Rittenhouse Jury We speak with Paul Butler, Albert Brick Professor in Law at Georgetown University Law Center and legal analyst on MSNBC, about the jury selection process and the importance of racial equality within juries. What's at Stake as Julius Jones's Execution Day Nears We speak with Oklahoma-based attorney Kelli Masters, who was part of Jones's legal delegation during his September commutation hearing. Masters was initially skeptical about Jones's innocence, but after reviewing the evidence, was convinced that Jones was wrongfully convicted. Left to Die in Texas Jail Custody The Texas Observer, a non-profit investigative newsroom, reviewed more than 400 Texas Ranger investigations of jail deaths over the past decade. In their investigation, the Texas Observer found that of the more than 1,100 people who have died in jail custody in Texas since 2010, the majority were pre-trial detainees, people like Sandra Bland, who were never convicted of their alleged crime. We spoke with Mike Barajas, a staff writer for the Texas Observer. He is one of the writers of the special report, "Locked Up and Left to Die" for the Texas Observer. For transcripts, see individual segment pages.
Kelli Masters is an attorney, an NFL sports agent and founder and President of KMM Sports. She is recognized as one of the most influential women in the sports business, and she shares her story in her book "High-Impact Life". In 2010 she made history when she was the first woman to represent an NFL 1st round draft pick. Moreover, Kelli is an adjunct professor at Oklahoma University. _________________________________________________________ SPONSOR Insport Education Sign up for their courses HERE The code gives you 10% ANY course offered. Discount code: sportsmanagementpodcast10 ________________________________________________________ Follow us on social media Instagram Facebook Twitter www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com
*Originally aired July 26, 2021* God made you uniquely, and has specific purposes for your life. Sports agent and author Kelli Masters shares her story of discovering her life's calling, and helps you discern what your passions are and how to live out God's calling on your life, from her book, “High-Impact Life.”
*Originally aired July 26, 2021* God made you uniquely, and has specific purposes for your life. Sports agent and author Kelli Masters shares her story of discovering her life's calling, and helps you discern what your passions are and how to live out God's calling on your life, from her book, “High-Impact Life.”
- "Tennessee School Board Tells Local High Schools NOT TO PRAY after Football Games - So the PLAYERS AND PARENTS LEAD THE PRAYERS ANYWAY!" - "Academy Award-Winner DENZEL WASHINGTON Reveals what GOD HAS BEEN TELLING HIM About How to Handle His 'Senior Years'" - KELLI MASTERS: "A SPORTS AGENT'S SECRETS TO FINDING AND FULFILLING A PURPOSE YOU CAN'T LOSE" - ROBERT GLOVER: Children of Shanghai
Leading Forward: Building Healthy Leaders for Healthy Organizations
An attorney and sports agent, Kelli Masters is the Founder and President of KMM Sports. Kelli was the first woman to represent a top 5 NFL draft pick and has served as agent/contract advisor to players in every NFL draft since 2006. She's been named by Bleacher Report as one of the 25 most influential women in sports. On this episode, she joined Matthew Hall and Ben Dockery to share her story and discuss her new book, High Impact Life. Links from this episode:KelliMasters.comKMM Sportshttps://www.instagram.com/kellimasters/https://twitter.com/KMMsports"How an NFL Agent Went from Pushover to Pioneer" (TEDx talk)25 Most Influential Women in Sports (Bleacher Report)High Impact Life: A Sports Agent's Secrets to Finding and Fulfilling a Purpose You Can't LoseReview Leading Forward in Apple Podcasts and let us know what you think of the show.Keep up with the show on social media: Twitter // Facebook // Instagram
See how sports agent Kelli Masters became the first female in history to represent a top-five NFL draft pick. Plus, why is Belarus weaponizing migrants and what can be done to stop it?
See how sports agent Kelli Masters became the first female in history to represent a top-five NFL draft pick. Plus, why is Belarus weaponizing migrants and what can be done to stop it?
See how sports agent Kelli Masters became the first female in history to represent a top-five NFL draft pick. Plus, why is Belarus weaponizing migrants and what can be done to stop it?
See how sports agent Kelli Masters became the first female in history to represent a top-five NFL draft pick. Plus, why is Belarus weaponizing migrants and what can be done to stop it?
See how sports agent Kelli Masters became the first female in history to represent a top-five NFL draft pick. Plus, why is Belarus weaponizing migrants and what can be done to stop it?
See how sports agent Kelli Masters became the first female in history to represent a top-five NFL draft pick. Plus, why is Belarus weaponizing migrants and what can be done to stop it?
See how sports agent Kelli Masters became the first female in history to represent a top-five NFL draft pick. Plus, why is Belarus weaponizing migrants and what can be done to stop it?
See how sports agent Kelli Masters became the first female in history to represent a top-five NFL draft pick. Plus, why is Belarus weaponizing migrants and what can be done to stop it?
God made you uniquely, and has specific purposes for your life. Sports agent and author Kelli Masters shares her story of discovering her life's calling, and helps you discern what your passions are and how to live out God's calling on your life, from her book, "High-Impact Life."
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
We all want to know our purpose, our calling or what the heck we're supposed to do with our lives. Our desire to live out our purpose can be so strong that we get caught up in achieving our own plans and goals for our lives, rather than trusting in God's. If you can relate, you'll love today's episode with NFL agent Kelli Masters. Kelli has a beautiful story of how she unintentionally ended up working a dream job in sports. It was far from her plan for her life, but God used everything she was passionate about and everything she'd been through to prepare her for what He had for her, to be a trailblazer for women in the world of sports, as an NFL agent. We talk about her dream job, being a woman in a male-dominated industry, how her faith helped her overcome struggles with worshipping achievement and what it means to fight in your own armor. KELLI'S LOVING, LISTENING TO, OR READING: The Coffee Bean by Jon Gordon Follow Kelli on Instagram @kellimasters https://kellimasters.com/ http://kmmsports.com/ SHOP PS46 JEWELRY HERE.
Patricia Traina (Inside Football/The Athletic) provides an overview of the 2018 NFL combine as far as media interview activities. She is also joined by certified NFLPA contract adviser Kelli Masters of KMM Sports, who offers a behind-the-scenes look at how agents help their clients prepare for the combine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
This month's podcast features sports agent, attorney, and the Founder and President of Kelli Masters Management “KMM Sports,” Kelli Masters.Kelli attended the University of Oklahoma, and was named Miss Oklahoma in 1997. She began practicing Business Litigation in 2000, and became a partner and shareholder of the firm from 2005-2012. Now, she is the Founder and President of Kelli Masters Management, and was named a SuperLawyers Rising Star in 2011 and 2012. She has been noted for her fantastic reputation with not only coaches and owners, but as well with the NFLPA for her work with her professional football clients. In 2014, she was named to the 25 Most Influential Women in Sports by Bleacher Report.In this episode, Mike Linch talks with Kelli Masters about her thoughts on building and leading a legal agency. They also discuss the difference between leadership and spiritual leadership, and how those principles influence her day-to-day work. She also gives advice to athletes on things she has seen in the sports world, as well as her advice to women working in leadership positions.
Daniel uses Seinfeld, The West Wing, and past interviews to talk about leadership as influence. Outline: Seinfeld clip demonstrating influence (link): eating dessert with a knife/fork. Daniel bio Main theme from John Maxwell: defines leadership as influence Can always influence regardless of positional authority The Wave at sporting events is an example of this - influencing those in your orbit to then influence others outside your orbit and so on. Houston/Harvey citizen rescuers West Wing clip also demonstrating the power of influencing those close to us (link). Daniel shares a leadership failure from his WOU AD days. Team captains are good examples because they don't become leaders after being named captain; they were leaders and therefore named captains Specifics on how to influence effectively (based 21 Great Leaders: Learn Their Lessons, Improve Your Influence by the Orlando Magic's Pat Williams) Vision (Walt Disney, Nelson Mandela) Tim Selgo from Anchor Up Communication (Ronald Reagan, Winston Churchill, MLK) Joe Castiglione clip on instilling values/culture into his team, and the importance of doing this daily. People Skills (Sam Walton, FDR) Gary Vaynerchuk's Crush It has a chapter that is entirely one word: Care Character Jamy Bechler's The Leadership Playbook: story about Bobby Jones taking a penalty stroke when he could have gotten away with not. "They might as well praise me for not robbing a bank." David Chadwick's Dean Smith book Honor God before all else Not afraid to fail Extreme humility Competence (Bill Gates, Dwight Eisenhower) Back to the West Wing clip. Ainslee displayed competence Boldness (Rosa Parks, Harry Truman) Serving Heart (Mother Theresa, Ghandi) Sports agent Kelli Masters on taking her players on mission trips Luke 22:24-27 - 24 A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. 25 Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. 26 But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. 27 For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. Thank Yous/Acknowledgements: Antioch Live/Clear Day Media Group – music More here. Jonathan Davis – production Clint Musslewhite – voice over
Introduction: Hey everyone and welcome to the All-Star Leader Podcast, where together we learn about leadership from the best and brightest, and keep it fun by connecting it to our passion for sports! I'm your host Daniel Hare, and today we are privileged to be joined by the Executive Director of the Center for Sports Leadership at Virginia Commonwealth University, Dr. Carrie LeCrom. Dr. LeCrom has published in a number of academic journals including the Journal of Sport Management and Sport in Society, and much of her research centers around the role of sport in diplomacy and developing social change. She also authored a paper in 2016 which we'll get into titled Exploring Interactions Between NCAA Division I Athletic Directors and University Presidents: A Qualitative Study From Athletic Directors' Perspective. Dr. LeCrom was herself a student-athlete, earning both athletic and academic All-American honors while competing in soccer at Lynchburg College. This is Dr. Carrie LeCrom; Dr. LeCrom thank you so much for joining us! Interview Questions: So first things first how much soccer do you get to play these days? Rusty Stopped playing a couple of years back; all running now As we alluded to in the intro, you've led some remarkable initiatives using sports as a vehicle to engage with other countries and cultures. Can you tell us more about that? One of the best parts of the job 2006 – friend brought some Ethiopia coaches to the U.S. and asked her to do some leadership training with them; taken off from there Many are funded by the State Department Four part project in August: Kazakhstan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, India (Prior episodes with guests doing international/sports work: Craig Esherick, Kelli Masters, Alicia Jessop) What has been the most gratifying accomplishment or moment of those initiatives? Started as coaches training (train the trainer model) Now helping people use sports to impact their community Worked with coaches/sport administrators in South Africa Programs deal with teen pregnancy, HIV/AIDS See programs take off Working in sports has become more and more popular over the years, with graduate and undergraduate programs popping up all over the country. Tell us a bit about how you see the sports leadership/management field, and talk about what's unique about the Sports Leadership program at VCU. Who doesn't want to work in sports? Concerning because there are so many programs educating more students than the market can support VCU is masters/doctoral program only; so focused only on grad students, all of whom have graduate assistantships (i.e. getting hands on work experience) This makes you look better, and makes you a better candidate Make course content super practical; most students are wanting to work in the industry. Partner with organization who needs some consulting work, and turn the students into consultants. This requires students to be professional and put together a practical work product. For those listening who might be future VCU students, what traits do the successful students you have had possess, and what advice would you give them? Highly self-motivated Willing to try new things Positive/good attitude Book resource: Carol Dweck – Mindset (AFFILIATE) – nobody likes everything about their job, so how you approach those things you don't love is really important Communicate via writing Soft skills are controllable I want to let you teach us a bit out of one of your recent publications. I mentioned in the intro you wrote an article in 2016 titled Exploring Interactions Between NCAA Division I Athletic Directors and University Presidents: A Qualitative Study From Athletic Directors' Perspective. (Link to the full study – requires account); Abstract/Summary. First of all give us the broad overview of this paper, and what you were looking at. Very little research on these individuals who are the leaders of the field NCAA was moving into stronger presidential/institutional control at this time How do you create a strong relationship between presidents and ADs? Interviewed ADs for this paper; working on a second paper based on interviews with presidents (Principles applicable to various types of relationships) Something caught my eye in the context you established early on in the paper that I thought was worth exploring further before getting into the main point. Could you go into transformational leadership vs. servant leadership, and why the research points toward one in athletic directors as potentially more effective? Came from past research on college athletics She doesn't love characterizing leadership into these defined buckets Transformational leadership focuses on the good of the organization over your own interest, whereas Servant Leadership focuses on the need of the followers Servant leadership brings more ethics and you don't lose sight of who your serving, so this type has been shown recently as the preferred type After interviewing these ADs and analyzing their responses, there were four themes that emerged. What were the four themes and then let's talk about each of them? Trust/Communication – It was interesting how “Walter” described developing trust/communication the same way a coach does with a kid. Can you expand on that? You can't just give directives and expect trust to be there; rare for a coach to go into a practice and just start directing. Coaches need to establish relationship of trust and open communication before you start directing. Trust/Communication – What is the “no surprise” rule? Came up over and over again President doesn't want to learn about some major athletics issue from someone else Don't want president to be caught off guard by something they haven't already heard from the AD Social media makes this a bit trickier with how fast news can fly, and it can be hard to figure out which items are big enough to share with the president. Important to communicate so they can figure out how this rule works for them. Alignment – Talk about alignment and how the ADs viewed getting on the same page with the president's vision. Sometimes athletics gets a bad rap for being a rouge department; but every AD mentioned how athletics is just one part of the bigger picture of the university, and how they have to be in alignment with what the presidents want for the university If they know what the president wants, the AD can make better decisions Respect for expertise – What does it mean to “stay in your lane?” Another term that came up multiple times You hire me to do this job, so let me do it ADs don't go over to the Deans and tell them how to run their colleges, and expect to be treated likewise; ADs are the experts and should be empowered to work in their lane. This goes both ways. Many campuses have a President's Council where there is planning amongst the leaders of campus including both academics and athletics, so there can be a place for that. Formal and Informal Relationships – How were the ADs defining each type and what is important about each? Formal – AD report to president, so regular meetings and reports Informal – AD and president have a relationship outside the formal structure; play pickup basketball, meals, etc. Not necessarily friends, just more time together than what the formal structure would generally provide. What was the biggest surprise you found in this research? What are some key takeaways? Consistency of the message from the ADs Relationships are complex and are hard to implement, though the big picture might appear simple Rapid Fire Questions (one word/phrase answers) Name one trait or characteristic you want to see in a colleague. Respect for each other What habit has been key to your success? Showing up and following through / consistency and reliability are undervalued Most important app or productivity tool? Google Drive/shared drives Resource recommendation (book, podcast, etc.) Harvard Business Review IdeaCast One bit of parting advice for our audience? Two things she has found in successful leaders: never stop learning and value relationships over everything else Thank Yous/Acknowledgements: Antioch Live/Clear Day Media Group – music More here. Jonathan Davis – production Clint Musslewhite – voice over
From world class baton twirling to Miss Oklahoma and law school to sports agent, Kelli Masters has found her purpose. Introduction: Hey everyone and welcome to the All-Star Leader Podcast, where together we learn about leadership from the best and brightest, and keep it fun by connecting it to our passion for sports! I'm your host Daniel Hare, and today we are joined by one of the top sports agents in the country, Kelli Masters. Kelli is an attorney, and the owner of KMM Sports, an agency representing athletes in the NFL, Major League Baseball, the Olympics and even the MMA. Kelli is also a five-time world champion baton twirler, and many Oklahoma football fans will remember her and twin sister Kim, who in the 90s graced the lawn of then-Owen Field as the OU baton twirlers. As if all this isn't enough, she is a former Miss Oklahoma. This is Kelli Masters. Hey Kelli thanks for coming on the show! Interview Questions: So let's start the way most leadership/sports podcast interviews do: with baton twirling. How did you get into it and when did you realize it was something you were gifted at? April 10th is World Baton Twirling Day At 4/5, went to OU games and watched the baton twirler on the field; wanted to do that. Mom was a majorette in high school but didn't want her to do it. Soon though they were twirling and by age eight competing all over the country, world championships at 14, retired at 22. Very tough training regimen; 3-4 hours/day 6/7 days per week. Lots of injuries and challenges. No scholarship. Given her great perspective as an agent. Are there skills or traits you learned as a twirler that you feel made you who are today? What are they? Before we get to the sports agent questions, let's talk first about the time you spent as a full-time practicing lawyer. You handled some high level cases and even had one which went all the way up to the United States Supreme Court. Reflect a bit on those years and what stands out to you as important steps to get where you are today. Practicing law gave her great perspective to look at problems and issues in a productive, critical way. Learned to be thorough and an effective advocate. Didn't start off wanting to litigate and wasn't in her comfort zone. She didn't like conflict. But it has been great for her. Sports agency was not a part of her practice the first five years; it was her non-profit practice which first exposed her to the sports world, setting up non-profits for athletes. Practicing law teaches you diligence and how to work hard when no one is paying attention. Argued and won a case at the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in front of Neil Gorsuch, now a Supreme Court justice. As an associate and then partner at your law firm, you undoubtedly witnessed and implemented a variety of leadership styles and effectiveness. Can you talk a bit about what you learned from your time there? Answer is different than it would have been five years ago Culture is key. People who work together to accomplish great things must be in a culture where they feel valued, appreciated and listened to. There is value in pouring time into people that is not work related. Building others up, improving morale, are very important. Must prioritize time for this. You have to have both trust and communication in order to develop this type of culture. When things are left undiscussed, issues arise. Leaders may default to acting strong and unphased, but better to be vulnerable and transparent. And as you transitioned into more and more of your work involving athletes and sports agency, how would you say your experience as a practicing lawyer contributed to the success you're now having in the sports agent world? She sees it both when working with the teams directly, and then through her players' experiences once they are in the team. The top organizations have a winning culture. Spend time valuing people. Patriots and Seahawks are great examples; they reward and value employees. We talk a lot on this show about the importance of organizational culture. You get to see every NFL team in a way most of us don't. What have you observed about the way successful franchises are run? We also talk a lot about the importance of leading yourself. What have you found to be helpful with your athletes who struggle in this area? How are you able to help them lead themselves (which of course then helps them lead others)? Used to think players would listen to her and respond Has learned that developing trust is first. Be vulnerable and authentic. Create high level of expectations, but don't expect perfection. Help them understand and reach their purpose. This is an ongoing conversation. Examples? Cody Hodges at Texas Tech – undrafted but signed as a free agent with the Titans; got to final cuts but didn't wind up sticking in the NFL; played in Europe/Canada/Arena before retiring Along the way Kelli encouraged him to speak to groups; he joined up with Rachel's Challenge based on the Columbine tragedy and grew into a fantastic speaker It was a tough journey for him, but he battled through Talk about “who” they want to be not “what” they want to be. How did you get the first client / break into the sports agent world? Was told at the beginning if she was not willing to break the rules she wouldn't succeed as an agent, but she took that as a challenge Has not wavered from that, though it has been even harder than she thought It is both what you know and who you know; you need to know more than the person on the other side of the table, as well as developing relationships Began working with an Olympic athlete on some endorsement contracts; when that athlete found out Kelli was looking for her first NFL player, he connected her with Cody Hodges, who he had been friends with and shared a youth pastor with. Opportunities always come through people!! You mention your faith quite a bit in your public statements and on your website. Talk about the role your faith plays in your professional life. Growing up in Oklahoma, everyone says they are a Christian, though for many it is just a social thing It never became personal for her until later, after she spent years trying to fill the void inside with accomplishments…but it was never enough At 23, put it all together and was relieved that it wasn't too late to connect with God. Then she thought she was supposed to be a missionary and go take care of orphans in the jungle; but in seeking God's will for her life she discovered the path of law and sports. Faith is just expecting God is going to do what he says he's going to do. This led her to a place she never would have predicted. Even on the tough days, she knows she is where she is supposed to be. This isn't just about chasing happiness, but rather fulfilling a purpose. She's not preachy, though she will encourage them/pray for them/etc. But she does not limit her practice to Christian athletes. Could you share a bit about the mission trips to Haiti. Who goes? Why you do it? Teamed up with Mission of Hope Haiti, and brings her athletes to serve during their offseason Fulfillment of all her dreams to serve as a missionary and to expose her athletes to a life changing experience Her athletes were all going through some tough times, but when they arrived they realized how blessed they are and were grateful. What is a significant professional mistake you have made and what did you learn from it? Grew up terrified of failure When she switched from being fear driven to purpose driven, that changed everything for her Now failure/mistakes are for learning Realized that by doing more than she should for her clients, she is doing them a disservice as well as herself and other clients. Five rapid fire questions Name one trait or characteristic you look for when you hire someone. Go-getter What habit has been key to your success? Making her bed each morning – discipline each day in the little things… Most important app or productivity tool? Outlook calendar Book/podcast recommendation? Anything by Andy Andrews – The Little Things: Why You Really Should Sweat The Small Stuff One sentence of advice for the leaders in our audience? Be willing to be broken and vulnerable; be real and authentic Draft Day David Moore / WR / East Central (OK) – (update: drafted in the seventh round / pick no. 226 by the Seattle Seahawks) Blake Jarwin / TE / Oklahoma State – (update: signed free agent deal with the Dallas Cowboys) Thank Yous/Acknowledgements: Antioch Live/Clear Day Media Group – music More here. Jonathan Davis – production Clint Musslewhite – voice over
© 2020-2025 Ivy Podcast Discovery LLC
