The Athletics of Business

Captain: The Athlete's Guide to Being an Exceptional Team Leader with John O'Sullivan and Dr. Jerry Lynch

What if the best captain on your team is not the loudest, most talented, or most popular player? For John O'Sullivan and Dr. Jerry Lynch, true captaincy is not about status. It is about skill, choice, relationships, and the daily behaviors that help a team become more connected, accountable, and resilient. In this episode of The Athletics of Business, Ed Molitor is joined by John and Jerry to discuss their new book, Captain: The Athlete's Guide to Being an Exceptional Leader. Together, they unpack why leadership in sports is often misunderstood, why teams should stop automatically handing captaincy to the best player, and why every athlete has the ability to develop leadership from the inside out. John and Jerry explore what great captains actually do: they build trust, model the standard, serve their teammates, communicate with courage, and protect the culture when things get hard. They also explain why influence is relational, not positional, and why the most effective leaders are often the ones willing to do the unseen work. From self-awareness and servant leadership to tough conversations, kindness, accountability, and gratitude, this conversation is a powerful reminder that leadership is not something you wait to be given. It is something you choose to practice every day. OUR GUESTS John O' Sullivan John O'Sullivan is an internationally known TEDx Speaker and the founder of the Changing the Game Project, which he started in 2012. He is the author of two #1 Bestselling books, Changing the Game and Every Moment Matters, and a leading youth sports blogger, while being a host of the Way of Champions Podcast, one of the top-rated podcasts in the world for coaches. Former collegiate and professional soccer player, and has coached for over 20 years on the youth, high school, and college levels. He has consulted with US Olympic Committee, US Soccer, USA Football, US Lacrosse, USA Swimming, Ireland Rugby, Aussie Rules Football, and many more John is on the National Advisory Board for the Positive Coaching Alliance and the National Association for Physical Literacy. Dr. Jerry Lynch Jerry first learned about extraordinary performance and excellence as a nationally ranked competitive athlete sponsored by Nike, running world-class times from 5,000 meters to the marathon, setting an American record in the half-marathon, winning a National Championship, and many other races against athletes half his age. He took what he learned about himself and life from his competitive days and parlayed it into a dynamic, successful career helping athletes and coaches in all sports to use his performance and leadership strategies to up their game and discover the best version of themselves. Dr. Lynch has been recognized as one of the top five in his profession nationwide. He has worked with teams, coaches, and athletes in the NBA, Pro Lacrosse, Major League Soccer, with men's and women's basketball, lacrosse, soccer, tennis, golf, and other sports at the universities of North Carolina, Duke, Maryland, California, Syracuse, Stanford, Harvard, and Middlebury. Dr. Lynch is the author of 18 books in over 10 languages and the founder and director of WAY OF CHAMPIONS, a human potential and performance consulting group helping others master the deeper inner game for sports, business, and life. Jerry is a dynamic, entertaining, inspirational, provocative, and humorous teacher and speaker with topics on leadership, coaching, team culture building, winning the relationship game, and core value development. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE: * Why captaincy is a skill that can be taught, practiced, and developed. * Why the best player is not always the best leader on the team. * How coaches and teammates can identify real leaders through behaviors, traits, and trust. * Why influence comes from relationships, not titles or positional power. * How captains serve as the bridge between coaches, teammates, and the team culture. * Why great leaders must learn to have hard conversations with courage and respect. * The difference between being liked, being respected, being nice, and being kind. * Why self-awareness is the foundation of exceptional leadership. * How elite athletes like Tim Duncan and Kobe Bryant modeled servant leadership. * Why gratitude, joy, and service can elevate both leadership and performance. RESOURCES & LINKS John O' Sullivan & Dr. Jerry Lynch * Website: https://changingthegameproject.com/ [https://changingthegameproject.com/] * Website: www.wayofchampions.com [http://www.wayofchampions.com] * Get the Book: Captain: The Athlete's Guide to Being an Exceptional Team Leader [https://amzn.to/4ubBg8Z] * Way of Champions Podcast on Apple Podcast [https://apple.co/2QuWfVb] * Jerry's LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-jerry-lynch-www-wayofchampions-com-13aa149/] * Jhon's LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachjohnosullivan/] Ed Molitor * LinkedIn: Ed Molitor [https://www.linkedin.com/in/themolitorgroup/] * Website: CoEffex [https://coeffex.com/podcast] * YouTube Channel: The Athletics of Business [https://www.youtube.com/@theathleticsofbusiness] TIMESTAMPS ● 00:01:07 Why winning takes more than talent ● 00:02:00 Introducing Captain: The Athlete's Guide to Being an Exceptional Leader ● 00:03:10 Why teams often choose captains for the wrong reasons ● 00:05:24 Why captaincy should be treated as a skill ● 00:10:08 Why captains are connectors between coaches and teammates ● 00:11:53 Why influence comes from relationships ● 00:14:45 The hardest conversations captains must learn to have ● 00:16:00 Why respect matters more than being liked ● 00:19:15 The three-part structure of Captain ● 00:26:44 Why self-awareness is the competitive advantage ● 00:33:45 The difference between being nice and being kind ● 00:39:18 Tim Duncan and the power of leading by example ● 00:42:37 How Kobe Bryant learned to bring teammates along ● 00:45:36 Where to find the book, podcast, and leadership resources

The Human Side of Leadership: Building a Culture of Purpose-Driven Performance with Jeff Schaffnit

What changes when the work you lead is deeply personal? For Jeff Schaffnit, his career in the pharmaceutical industry is directly connected to his son, Carter, who was born with severe hemophilia. That personal experience shaped not only the work Jeff chose to pursue, but the kind of leader he strives to be. In this episode of The Athletics of Business, Ed Molitor and Jeff dive into what it takes to build a culture where purpose and performance strengthen one another. Jeff shares why patient stories serve as a North Star for his team, how he evaluates talent through the lens of heart, mind, and execution, and why great teammates put the patient and the team ahead of individual recognition. He also explores the human side of leadership: building trust, calling out silos, coaching instead of simply telling, developing future leaders, creating space for vulnerability, and helping people manage their time and energy in demanding environments. As AI continues to influence healthcare and business, Jeff offers a powerful reminder: technology may change how the work gets done, but the future still belongs to leaders and organizations that keep humanity at the center. OUR GUEST Jeff Schaffnit is the General Manager and Head of Rare Blood Disorders at Sanofi, where he leads work focused on serving patients and families impacted by rare blood disorders. With more than 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, Jeff is known for his ability to build and inspire high-performing teams, design effective commercial organizations, and translate complex challenges into clear, pragmatic strategies that deliver results. His leadership approach combines a strong strategic lens with disciplined execution, enabling teams to perform in dynamic and highly regulated environments. His connection to this work is deeply personal. Jeff's son, Carter, was born with severe hemophilia, an experience that helped shape Jeff's career and continues to influence the way he leads. For Jeff, the mission is not abstract. It is about helping patients live fuller lives and building teams that understand the responsibility and privilege of serving them. At his core, Jeff believes that performance is built through people—through clarity, alignment, trust, and a shared commitment to purpose. And ultimately, the true measure of success is the impact that work has on patients' lives. Jeff holds an MBA from the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management and a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE: * How Jeff's son's hemophilia diagnosis shaped his career and personal mission. * Why patient stories keep teams connected to the meaning behind their work. * How Jeff builds culture around purpose-driven performance. * Why he looks for heart, mind, and execution when building a team. * What great teammates understand about collaboration, ego, and accountability. * Why trust begins with listening, especially when leading new people or teams. * The difference between coaching someone and simply telling them what to do. * How leaders can model wellness, boundaries, and energy management. * Why Jeff's team encourages people to "Find Your Five" and reclaim meaningful time. * Why vulnerability has been one of Jeff's most important leadership growth areas. * How leaders can transform while performing without losing sight of the human impact. * Why a leader's most important job is developing the team. * Why Jeff believes the future of leadership and healthcare must remain human first. RESOURCES & LINKS Jeff Schaffnit * LinkedIn: Jeff Schaffnit [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-schaffnit-b006a948] * Sanofi: Sanofi US [https://www.sanofi.us/en] * Article: To Drive Value in Hematology Research, We Must Prioritize the Patient Experience [https://www.ajmc.com/view/to-drive-value-in-hematology-research-we-must-prioritize-the-patient-experience] Ed Molitor * LinkedIn: Ed Molitor [https://www.linkedin.com/in/themolitorgroup/] * Website: CoEffex [https://coeffex.com/podcast] * YouTube Channel: The Athletics of Business [https://www.youtube.com/@theathleticsofbusiness] TIMESTAMPS * 00:01:19 What gets Jeff out of bed every morning * 00:02:18 Jeff's personal connection to hemophilia * 00:04:40 Why patient stories anchor the team's purpose * 00:06:31 AI in healthcare and the importance of human connection * 00:07:46 Building culture through heart, strategy, and execution * 00:09:55 What makes someone a great teammate * 00:10:53 Calling out silos and protecting the culture * 00:12:51 How patient stories bring culture to life * 00:16:08 The damage caused by micromanagement * 00:17:06 How leaders build trust with new team members * 00:24:42 Owning your mindset as a leader * 00:32:20 Why vulnerability does not always come naturally * 00:35:00 Why a leader's real job is developing the team * 00:37:16 Development is a two-way street * 00:38:28 Advice Jeff would give his younger self * 00:39:54 Building meaningful networks and mentorships * 00:40:50 Why the future of leadership is still human first

From the Foxhole to the Final Four: Roadmap to Coaching Greatness with Coach Bob Starkey

What keeps a coach grounded after more than 40 years, over 900 wins, 27 NCAA Tournament appearances, five consecutive Women's Final Fours, and a national championship? For Bob Starkey, the answer has never been about the record. It has always been about the relationships. In this episode of The Athletics of Business Podcast, Ed Molitor is joined by one of the most respected assistant coaches in women's college basketball for a conversation about leadership, preparation, connection, and the standards that build great teams. Bob traces his coaching philosophy back to Alan Osborne, the junior high coach who invested in him not just as a player, but as a young person. From there, he shares the lessons he learned from some of the most influential leaders in sports, including Dale Brown, Don Meyer, Sue Gunter, George Raveling, Nick Saban, and John Wooden. Those lessons shaped the way Bob approaches everything: loyalty, work ethic, initiative, preparation, failure, resilience, and the daily discipline of becoming the best version of yourself. Bob also opens up about the personal journey that has shaped his leadership, including his wife Sherri's battles with MS and breast cancer, and how her attitude through adversity taught him the power of perspective, gratitude, and choosing your response every single day. From the Foxhole Test and defensive sticker helmets to journaling, rereading books, morning meditation, and the "Next Best Action" mindset, this episode is filled with practical wisdom for coaches, leaders, and anyone committed to building something real. Because great teams are not built by talent alone. They are built through trust, preparation, connection, accountability, and the people willing to stand in the foxhole with you. OUR GUEST Bob Starkey is one of the most accomplished assistant coaches in the history of women's college basketball. He has been part of nearly 1,000 collegiate victories, 27 NCAA Tournaments, 10 Elite Eight appearances, and five consecutive Women's Final Fours. In 2023, he was part of the LSU Tigers staff that won the national championship under head coach Kim Mulkey. Bob served as acting head coach for LSU during its 2007 Final Four run and has coached at Marshall University, West Virginia State, LSU under Dale Brown, Sue Gunter, and Kim Mulkey, as well as Texas A&M under Gary Blair. He is the author of The Art of Being an Assistant Coach and publishes Hoop Thoughts, where he shares insights on coaching, leadership, and personal development. Bob is also deeply committed to community impact and serves on the board of directors for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, supporting the fight against cancer. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE: * How a junior high coach shaped Bob Starkey's lifelong approach to leadership * Why the greatest coaches measure impact through relationships, not records * Lessons on leadership from Dale Brown, Don Meyer, George Raveling, Nick Saban, and John Wooden * Why loyalty, work ethic, initiative, and preparation remain timeless standards * How failure becomes a teacher when leaders are willing to examine it honestly * Why "the process" starts with controlling today and taking the next best action * How daily habits, reflection, reading, and journaling build consistency over time * Why storytelling creates buy-in, belief, and deeper connection with a team * What the "Foxhole Test" reveals about trust, accountability, and true teammates * How transformational leadership stays rooted in connection, attitude, and hard conversations RESOURCES & LINKS Bob Starkey * Visit LSU Website to learn more about Coach Starkey - https://lsusports.net/sports/wbball/roster/coach/bob-starkey/ [https://lsusports.net/sports/wbball/roster/coach/bob-starkey/] * X (Twitter) - https://x.com/CoachBobStarkey [https://x.com/CoachBobStarkey] * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hoopcoachbobstarkey/ [https://www.instagram.com/hoopcoachbobstarkey/] * Hoop Thoughts Newsletter: https://hoopthoughts.blogspot.com/ [https://hoopthoughts.blogspot.com/] * Book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Art-Being-Assistant-Coach-coaching/dp/B0006QL0FM [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Art-Being-Assistant-Coach-coaching/dp/B0006QL0FM] Ed Molitor * LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/themolitorgroup/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/themolitorgroup/] * Website - https://coeffex.com/podcast [https://coeffex.com/podcast] * YouTube Channel - The Athletics of Business - https://www.youtube.com/@theathleticsofbusiness [https://www.youtube.com/@theathleticsofbusiness] Referenced: * Legacy [https://www.amazon.com/s?k=legacy+james+kerr&adgrpid=175456684747&hvadid=726126412479&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9076838&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=15699931921511435768&hvtargid=kwd-300495912389&hydadcr=26669_11784474&mcid=c6d59655184a3770bef8a010237bff86&tag=hydglogoo-20&ref=pd_sl_1g2eoi4j78_e] — James Kerr * Atomic Habits [https://www.amazon.com/Atomic-Habits-Proven-Build-Break/dp/0735211299] — James Clear * The Coffee Bean [https://www.amazon.com/Coffee-Bean-Simple-Lesson-Positive/dp/1119430275] — Damon West & Jon Gordon * The Daily Stoic [https://www.amazon.com/Daily-Stoic-Meditations-Wisdom-Perseverance/dp/0735211736] / Ryan Holiday * The Pyramid of Success [https://www.amazon.com/Coach-Woodens-Pyramid-Success-Building/dp/0830737189] — John Wooden

The Power of Mentorship and Trust in Building a Championship Culture with Scott Howard

What does it take to build a championship culture that lasts? For Scott Howard, it starts with mentorship, trust, relationships, and a commitment to putting the team above yourself. In this episode of The Athletics of Business, host Ed Molitor reconnects with longtime friend Scott Howard, currently completing his 11th season with the Denver Nuggets organization after nearly four decades in basketball, including 17 years coaching in the college game and over two decades in the NBA. At the heart of this conversation is what truly builds championship culture. Scott shares how growing up in Iowa Falls, Iowa shaped his values around humility, community, accountability, and relationships. He reflects on the mentors who changed his life, including the legendary George Raveling, Pat Riley, and Leonard Hamilton, and the lessons they taught him about leadership, trust, consistency, and serving something bigger than yourself. From stories about Pat Riley's "Core Covenant" and "Disease of Me," to George Raveling's philosophy of giving without keeping score, this episode is filled with practical leadership lessons for coaches, executives, team builders, and anyone trying to create an environment where people can thrive together. Scott also opens up about the evolution of his own leadership journey, what he learned through decades in coaching and the NBA, and why the strongest organizations are built on alignment, trust, accountability, and relationships that endure long after the scoreboard changes. If you care about leadership, mentorship, culture, and the kind of trust required to build winning teams, this conversation will stay with you long after it ends. OUR GUEST Scott Howard is completing his 11th year with the Denver Nuggets front office and his first as Director of College Scouting. He was originally hired as Director of College Scouting before the 2015-16 season. He was General Manager of the Nuggets' GLeague team, the Grand Rapids Gold from 2021-2023, and Director of Player Personnel from 2021-2025. Prior to joining the Nuggets, Howard was part of the Charlotte organization, both the Bobcats and then the Hornets, as their Director of Scouting. He spent the previous season as a scout with the Milwaukee Bucks. His next stop was with the Toronto Raptors as Director of International Player Personnel, where he was responsible for all aspects of player personnel outside of North America and coordinated player workouts ahead of the NBA Draft. He also served as a scout for the Washington Wizards from 2000-2004. Howard also spent 17 years as a collegiate coach, including seven seasons at the University of Miami, three seasons at the University of Nebraska, and one season each at Southern Illinois, Drake, and Southern California. In addition to his Nuggets career, Howard has a company called "Winning Matters Most" where he does public speaking and consulting. Howard received his bachelor's degree in physical education in 1983 from Iowa State University, where he was a two-year letterman for the basketball team. He earned his master's degree in educational administration from the University of Iowa in 1985 while serving as a volunteer assistant and graduate assistant coach. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE: * How growing up in a small town shaped Scott's lifelong commitment to relationships, community, and giving back * Why some of the hardest moments in your career can become the foundation for long-term growth * What true mentorship really looks like and how it shapes who we become * How George Raveling modeled generosity, curiosity, and paying it forward * The difference between being motivated "to have" vs "to be" and why it changes everything * Why trust is essential to building a championship culture * How Pat Riley's concepts of the "Core Covenant" and the "Disease of Me" apply far beyond sports * Why some of the most impactful mentors in your life may be younger than you * What it means to "borrow other people's brilliance" and how humility accelerates growth * How alignment, accountability, and trust shape winning teams and sustainable organizations RESOURCES & LINKS Scott Howard * LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/scott-howard-789927158/ [http://linkedin.com/in/scott-howard-789927158/] * Website - https://www.nba.com/nuggets/ [https://www.nba.com/nuggets/] Ed Molitor * LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/themolitorgroup/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/themolitorgroup/] * Website - https://coeffex.com/podcast [https://coeffex.com/podcast] * YouTube Channel - The Athletics of Business - https://www.youtube.com/@theathleticsofbusiness [https://www.youtube.com/@theathleticsofbusiness] Referenced: * The Winner Within [https://www.amazon.com/Winner-Within-Life-Plan-Players/dp/0425141756] — Pat Riley * Showtime [https://www.amazon.com/Show-Time-Inside-Lakers-Breakthrough/dp/0446514276] — Pat Riley * Unraveling George Documentary [https://www.thedaily.coach/unraveling-george] Timestamps * [00:00] Introduction * [01:00] Introduction to Scott Howard & his Denver Nuggets journey * [03:01] Reconnecting after 20+ years * [04:27] Iowa Falls: small towns, great people * [08:23] Walking on at Iowa State & pursuing D1 coaching * [11:44] The price: fired 3x, volunteer coaching, never quitting * [12:07] Resilience & reframing through setbacks * [13:32] "I'm not letting someone else define who I am." * [15:20] The Unraveling George doc & Coach Raveling * [17:26] Raveling: educator first, rare in coaching * [20:12] Preparing coaches for life, not just the game * [21:56] Losing Raveling and his mother in the same season * [26:07] "I don't keep score," Raveling's most powerful line * [28:47] "Never forget the bridges that got you across" * [37:07] The Kevin McKinnon story: players leading players * [39:11] Doing work that matters, not climbing the ladder * [43:01] Pat Riley as mentor & the book that changed everything * [44:00] The Winner Within: Innocent Climb & Disease of Me * [45:04] Motivated "to be" vs. "to have" * [50:38] The "best day" problem in pro sports * [52:38] When trust breaks, the blame game starts * [53:41] Learning from mentors

One Team, One Heartbeat: How Human Connection Drives Transformation Before the Scoreboard Shows It with Meghan Long

Why do the same teams keep winning without the most talent? Is it because they've learned to embrace the grind, celebrate small wins, and lead people as humans first—so they'd run through a wall for each other? In this episode of The Athletics of Business Podcast, host Ed Molitor is joined by Meghan Long [http://linkedin.com/in/meghan-l-083805a], Area Vice President of US Surgical Sales at BioTissue [https://biotissue.com/]. As a former Division I Lacrosse captain at UNC-Chapel Hill, Meghan understands what it takes to build a winning culture. Today, she brings those same principles into her work, leading high-impact growth and turnaround efforts across the medical device, biotech, and pharmaceutical industries over the past 14 years. Meghan shares how the core principles of elite athletics—direct communication, discipline, working within constraints, and genuine care for people—translate directly into building high-performing teams in business. She opens up about taking over a team that hadn't hit quota in 13 years, and how she rebuilt trust, created alignment, and generated momentum by focusing on people first, not just performance. Throughout the conversation, Meghan reinforces a simple but powerful truth: when people feel seen, supported, and challenged, they respond differently. They take ownership. They commit to each other. And that's where real performance begins. If you've ever faced a turnaround, stepped into a struggling team, or are looking to elevate how you lead and develop people, this conversation will give you a practical and grounded perspective on what it takes to build a culture that lasts. Listen now to learn how to create belief before the scoreboard reflects it—and how to build a team that competes, connects, and wins together. OUR GUEST Former Athlete, Forever Leader. Meghan Long is a veteran sales leader with 14 years of experience driving high-velocity growth across Medical Device, Biotech, and Pharma. Currently serving as Area Vice President of US Surgical Sales at BioTissue, Meghan has delivered some of the most remarkable turnarounds in her industry — including hitting quota for the first time in 13 years, growing a region 248% year-over-year, and leading a division to $50M in revenue. She's worked with private equity-backed organizations, launched new products, and built winning cultures from the ground up. A UNC Chapel Hill graduate and former Division I lacrosse captain, Meghan brings the same competitive drive and leadership to the boardroom that she brought to the field. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE: * How discipline, consistency, and effort shape high-performing teams * Why direct, honest communication builds trust faster than avoiding hard conversations * The role of small wins in creating momentum before results show up * How constraints can drive better thinking and stronger execution * What it takes to rebuild a struggling team without focusing on the past * Why "one team, one heartbeat" cultures outperform individual-driven teams * How treating people as humans—not roles—drives commitment and effort * The importance of leveraging individual strengths to elevate team performance * How listening, vulnerability, and connection strengthen leadership impact * Why repetition and belief are essential to building and sustaining culture RESOURCES & LINKS Meghan Long * LinkedIn - http://linkedin.com/in/meghan-l-083805a * Website - https://biotissue.com/ Ed Molitor * LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/themolitorgroup/ * Website - https://coeffex.com/podcast * YouTube Channel - The Athletics of Business - https://www.youtube.com/@theathleticsofbusiness [https://www.youtube.com/@theathleticsofbusiness] 2026 Coaching Effect Summit – Driven by Data, Powered by People May 5‑6 in Omaha, NE (Tenaska Center) CLICK HERE TO JOIN US: https://coeffex.com/2026-coaching-effect-summit Timestamps * [00:00] Dynamic Intro * [00:59] Introduction to Meghan Long * [02:34] Meghan's background: athletics, leadership, and UNC * [05:40] Early influences and discipline from a young age * [07:39] Choosing UNC and the impact of Coach Jenny Levy * [08:46] The power of direct communication in leadership * [11:35] Growth through tough feedback and early setbacks * [14:09] Building confidence through effort and consistency * [17:49] Why small wins create winning cultures * [18:01] Rebuilding teams and achieving turnaround success * [20:11] Innovation and creativity under constraints * [24:33] "There's a time to carry and a time to be carried." * [28:20] Empowering and leveraging individual strengths * [31:21] Building "one team, one heartbeat." * [33:44] Rewriting team identity and future vision * [35:08] Adapting to change in a fast-moving industry * [35:59] Developing talent and promoting from within * [37:57] What prepares someone for leadership * [40:00] Why transformation journeys are most fulfilling * [40:40] Mentoring women in male-dominated industries * [43:18] The impact of mentorship and giving back