139 Behind the Growth of TPH Academy with Steve Sanders

139 Behind the Growth of TPH Academy with Steve Sanders

Steve Sanders, Chief Growth Officer at TPH Academy, joins the Sports Business Leaders Podcast to cover the growth of sports academies and how the youth sports landscape is changing. After serving as CEO of SPIRE Academy and working with organizations including IMG Academy, FC Barcelona's U.S. Academy, and Disney on Ice, Steve has built a career helping sports organizations grow through strategy, partnerships, and operations. In this episode, we talk about the rise of academy-style education, how NIL is changing opportunities for youth athletes, why flexible academics are becoming more important than ever, and where technology can improve the youth sports experience. Steve also shares advice for entrepreneurs and companies looking to build successful partnerships with academies, teams, and leagues.

138 Clive Mayhew (GOLF.AI CEO) on AI, Entrepreneurship, and the Future of Golf

Clive Mayhew is the Co-Founder and CEO of GOLF.AI. On this episode we cover how his company is building the world's leading AI platform for golf. With more than 150,000 golfers and thousands of golf courses on the platform, GOLF.AI is using artificial intelligence to improve everything from on-course decision-making and rules interpretation to tee time bookings, customer service, and course operations. Clive shares lessons from a career spanning more than 25 years in technology, including his early days at Netscape, building and exiting multiple startups, and why he believes AI will fundamentally reshape every sport over the next decade. The conversation also explores GOLF.AI's AI Concierge, how golf courses are saving thousands of dollars each month through automation, the importance of building partnerships, and why founders should embrace personal branding as a competitive advantage

137 Inside the NBA G League with Motor City Cruise President China Jude

Dr. China Jude has built one of the most accomplished leadership careers in sports, with executive roles spanning collegiate athletics, the NFL, USA Volleyball, and now the NBA G League. As President of Business Operations for the Motor City Cruise, the Detroit Pistons' G League affiliate, she leads the organization's business strategy, revenue growth, corporate partnerships, ticket sales, fan engagement, and community impact. Her mission is to grow the Cruise brand, deepen its connection with the Detroit community, and create a best-in-class experience for fans and partners alike. In this episode of the Sports Business Leaders Podcast, China shares lessons from more than two decades in sports leadership, discussing how organizations build strong cultures, why community engagement is a competitive advantage, and how business leaders can drive sustainable growth on and off the court. She also offers practical advice for entrepreneurs and companies looking to partner with professional sports organizations, explaining what teams value most when building long-term business relationships.

136 How The Armory Became the Home of Indoor Track & Field

The Armory is home to one of the world's fastest indoor tracks, the historic Millrose Games, and the National Track & Field Hall of Fame. But it's also a nonprofit that helps thousands of young people through education, fitness, and community programs. In this episode, Jake sits down with Rita Finkel and Jonathan Schindel, Co-Presidents of The Armory Foundation, to discuss what it takes to operate one of the busiest track & field venues in the world. They talk about venue operations, fan experience, community impact, youth development, and how The Armory has become a destination for everyone from first-time athletes to Olympians.

135 Major League Table Tennis CEO Flint Lane on Lessons from Building a Pro League

Flint Lane is the founder, CEO, and commissioner of Major League Table Tennis (MLTT). After spending more than two decades building Billtrust into a publicly traded company, Flint came out of retirement to launch the first professional table tennis league in the United States—a league that has quickly grown to 10 franchises, secured a national television partnership with CBS Sports, and attracted world-class athletes from around the globe. Flint shares the lessons he brought from the software industry into sports, including why launching an MVP matters, how MLTT thinks about broadcast distribution, fan acquisition, sports betting, and multiple revenue streams beyond ticket sales. He also discusses the league's long-term vision, expanding franchise ownership, and what it will take to turn table tennis into a mainstream spectator sport in America. Whether you're building a startup, investing in sports, or fascinated by emerging leagues, this conversation offers a behind-the-scenes look at creating a modern sports business from the ground up.