Building Athlete Brands

Betting on Yourself | Josh Barney, CEO of SEAT

What does it take to build one of the sports industry's most respected communities? In this episode of 4th Quarter Labs, host Robert Johnson sits down with Josh Barney, CEO of the SEAT Conference, for a conversation about leadership, entrepreneurship, sports technology, and the people working behind the scenes to create unforgettable fan experiences. Josh shares his journey from leading technology initiatives with the Utah Jazz to acquiring and rebuilding the SEAT Conference after it went dormant during the pandemic. Along the way, he opens up about betting on himself, overcoming uncertainty, balancing family with a demanding career, and why building relationships has become the foundation of his success. This conversation goes beyond conferences and technology. It's about creating opportunities for others, embracing difficult decisions, and understanding that the best moments in sports are made possible by thousands of professionals working long before fans ever walk through the gates. If you enjoy conversations at the intersection of sports, business, technology, and leadership, be sure to subscribe to 4th Quarter Labs.

Building Athlete Brands

In Episode 4 of 4th Quarter Labs, Robert Johnson sits down with Deno Anagnost, CRO of Student Athlete Score, to talk about the rapidly evolving NIL landscape, athlete brand building, and what it takes to create real value for student-athletes beyond the biggest stars in college sports. But this conversation goes well beyond sports tech. Deno opens up about leaving a 14-year career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, stepping into startup life, and learning how to redefine success when the external scoreboard (title, status, and security) is gone. They also dig into resilience, identity, personal growth, and how experiences like surviving cancer can completely reshape the way you approach work, ambition, and life.

Mapping the World of Sports

What does it take to build a category-defining company over 15 years when nobody is watching? In this episode of 4th Quarter Labs, Robert Johnson sits down with Hongwei Liu, Founder and CEO of Mappedin [https://mappedin.com?utm_source=chatgpt.com], to explore the journey from a university side project to one of the world's leading digital mapping platforms. Hongwei shares the unlikely story of launching Mappedin from a dorm room at the University of Waterloo, landing his first customer, and making the decision to leave school to pursue a vision that many thought was impossible: creating a digital map of every building on earth. The conversation goes far beyond maps. Robert and Hongwei discuss entrepreneurship, leadership, scaling teams, raising capital, AI, sports technology, and the reality behind so-called "overnight success." From powering fan experiences at some of the world's biggest sports venues to helping first responders navigate complex environments, Mappedin is quietly building infrastructure that most people never see, but increasingly rely on every day. Hongwei also opens up about the evolution of his leadership style, why communication matters more than ever, and the lessons he's learned after spending more than a decade building alongside world-class customers, investors, and teammates.

How the CEO of FanReach Is Transforming Sports Venues and Leadership

In this in-depth interview, Gabe Smallman, CEO of FanReach, shares insights into the sports technology industry, fan engagement strategies, and leadership lessons learned from decades of experience in sports and live entertainment. Discover how FanReach is transforming fan experiences and the future of sports venues.

Bryan Moynihan - Valero Alamo Bowl

Episode 1 :: 4th Quarter Labs From chaotic game days to the nitty-gritty of ticket sales, it's not all glamour. Brian Moynihan, VP of Ticket Sales for the Alamo Bowl, shares his journey through the sports industry, from his early days at UT Austin to his unique experiences launching the Houston Texans. It's a blend of creativity, hard work, and a sprinkle of luck. The reality? There are tough days filled with stress and uncertainty, but that’s what makes the wins feel so much sweeter.