Phil Andrews – CEO, USA Fencing

Phil Andrews – CEO, USA Fencing

What does it take to lead change in a rapidly evolving sports landscape? In this episode of Defining Moments, Dustin Heise sits down with Phil Andrews, CEO of USA Fencing, to explore leadership, innovation, and the realities of transforming sports organizations in an era of constant change. Phil shares lessons from leading major organizational turnarounds, balancing commercial growth with athlete success, and building cultures that embrace accountability and innovation. The conversation dives into strategic planning, managing change, growing participation in sport, leveraging AI, and why communication remains one of the most important leadership skills in any organization. From expanding fencing's reach through creative partnerships and earned media to navigating the opportunities and challenges of emerging technology, Phil offers practical insights for leaders inside and outside of sport. Whether you're leading a national governing body, a business, or a growing team, this episode is packed with valuable lessons on adapting, innovating, and building organizations that thrive in uncertain times.

Suzanne Paulins – Chief Executive Officer, Swimming Canada

In this episode of Defining Moments, Dustin Heise sits down with Suzanne Paulins, Chief Executive Officer of Swimming Canada, to explore the leadership lessons she's learned from grassroots sport, parent volunteering, and guiding one of Canada's most successful Olympic organizations. Suzanne shares why feedback-rich cultures create stronger teams, how a clear sense of purpose helps leaders navigate complexity, and the remarkable story of relocating Canada's Olympic and Paralympic Swimming Trials just weeks before the event after a facility fire threatened the competition. The conversation dives into athlete-centred leadership, building accessible sport systems, creating opportunities for future generations, and why Suzanne believes sport remains one of the most powerful nation-building forces in Canada. Whether you're a leader in sport, business, or your community, this episode offers practical insights on collaboration, resilience, and leading with purpose.

Lyle Adams – Founder & CEO, Spry

In this episode of Defining Moments, Dustin Heise sits down with Lyle Adams, Founder and CEO of Spry, a leading collegiate athletics management platform helping athletic departments streamline operations and better support coaches, administrators, and student-athletes. A former professional soccer player turned sports technology entrepreneur, Lyle shares how lessons from elite sport shaped his approach to leadership, resilience, and building a high-growth company. He reflects on the challenges of entrepreneurship, the importance of learning from failure, and why growth is rarely linear. The conversation explores the future of collegiate athletics, the increasing complexity facing athletes and administrators, and how technology can create more time for coaches to focus on what matters most: developing people. Lyle also offers thoughtful insights on athlete specialization, NIL, the transfer portal, and the evolving landscape of sport. This episode is packed with practical leadership lessons on perseverance, innovation, culture, and solving the right problems. What You'll Learn: *  Why failure is one of the greatest tools for growth  *  How elite athletes develop transferable leadership skills  *  The importance of building feedback-driven cultures  *  Why solving problems matters more than building features  *  The future of college athletics and sports technology  *  How leaders can create more impact by focusing on efficiency and people

Matthew Jolles - President & CEO, Gotham Sports & Entertainment Holdings

In this episode of Defining Moments, Dustin Heise sits down with Matthew Jolles, President & CEO of Gotham Sports & Entertainment Holdings, to explore how sport can become more than competition. Matthew shares how his time with ESPN and X Games shaped his belief in sport as a platform for culture, inclusion, and opportunity. He also unpacks his mission to make youth sports more transformational, affordable, and athlete-focused. From servant leadership to building organizations where players feel known by name, this conversation is about creating lasting impact in sport, business, and community.

Brett M. Johnson – CEO, Benevolent Capital | Chairman of Rhode Island FC & Centreville Bank Stadium

In this episode of Defining Moments, Dustin Heise sits down with Brett M. Johnson, CEO of Benevolent Capital and one of the most influential voices in the business of sport today. Brett shares the journey behind building Rhode Island FC, helping lead the resurgence of Ipswich Town FC, and why he believes sport is one of the most powerful tools for community connection and long-term economic impact. The conversation dives into sports ownership, entrepreneurship, leadership, stadium development, and the lessons Brett has learned while building organizations that extend far beyond the game itself. From taking risks and surviving adversity to creating values-driven cultures and investing in people first, Brett offers a candid look into what it really takes to build something meaningful in sport and business. This episode is a masterclass in vision, resilience, and the future of sports as an asset class.