The Business of Creativity Podcast

Dr. Ian Williamson | Dean | UC Irvine Paul Mirage School of Business - The Business of Creativity Podcast

Dr. Ian Williamson [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ianowilliamson/], Dean of UC Irvine's Paul Merage School of Business, shares how he applies his assessment framework to both his leadership role and the organizations he advises. He explains that, whether leading an academic institution or consulting with companies, success depends on regularly understanding the external environment, evaluating operational health, and aligning strategy with future trends. * He applies the same logic to organizational assessment: identify external shifts, sense them early through the right advisors, and translate insights into strategy, hiring, and service design * His talent management philosophy includes building internal capabilities ("making") alongside acquiring new talent ("buying") to create sustainable performance Williamson's approach highlights that effective leadership requires continual reflection on where time is spent, awareness of the environment's influence, and disciplined adjustments to remain relevant. – The Business of Creativity Podcast – Tai M. Brown

Ryan Holloway with Wes Abercrombie | Peak Sports MGMT - The Business of Creativity Podcast

BOCreativity Question: When should an entrepreneur's role change within the company they founded? Peak Sports MGMT executives, Ryan Holloway [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanpeaksports/] (President) and Wes Abercrombie [https://www.linkedin.com/in/wesleyabercrombie/] (Vice President), talk about evolving roles within the company. Holloway, co-founder and president, has been the technician, the manager, and the entrepreneur throughout the company's existence. Abercrombie started in an entry-level position and has worked his way up to the #3 executive within the organization. The two hash out roles and responsibilities as Abercrombie's role and influence has grown along with the company. Peak Sports MGMT is a 3rd Party Multi-Marketing company which operates primarily within the college athletics industry. - The Business of Creativity Podcast - Tai M. Brown

Urina Harrell | Founder & CEO | Vox Pop Branding - The Business of Creativity Podcast

Urina Harrell [https://www.linkedin.com/in/urinaharrell/] started her company, Vox Pop Branding [https://www.voxpopbranding.com/], while she was a student-athlete at Duke. At the time, college athletes couldn't make any extra income as it was before the Name-Image-Likeness movement we see today. Now, 11 years later, she is still focused on the purpose of the company which is to help people grow their businesses using positive impact messaging. Key insights: * Communication breakdowns often underlie organizational challenges * Her background as a Walmart buyer informs her marketing expertise * If the work you do is based on who you are, work-life balance can be elusive With clients such as Jrue & Lauren Holiday, Harrell is very selective in the businesses she engages with. The primary filter is the focus on positive impact. - The Business of Creativity Podcast - Tai M. Brown

Matt Roberts | Founder & CEO | Drive & Company - The Business of Creativity Podcast

Matt Roberts [https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-c-roberts-88934b1/] created a newsletter that almost every NCAA Division I Director of Athletics reads everyday. The D1.ticker [https://www.d1ticker.com/] is one of the primary sources of information covering key business developments throughout the college athletics industry. His business, Drive & Company, exists to make the lives of decision makers in college athletics easier. * Build trust through consistency * Act on ideas that add value to customers * Be realistic about who you are and what you are good at In this episode, Roberts covers the thought process behind creating the business and how he views value creation around his company's purpose. - The Business of Creativity Podcast - Tai M. Brown

Kaity Iwashita | Co-President GWBA | FT-MBA '23

Kaity Iwashita [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaity-iwashita/], FT-MBA and Co-President of Graziadio Women's Business Association discusses how she got an internship with Nike, her goals with GWBA, and the importance of networking.