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REAR VIEW MIRROR (RECENT EPISODES)

Managing More than Products

"You always have to find the fastest, the quickest, the most efficient way to get products to customers. And I think that will continue.”

Jeff Rosenthal, former CEO and Board Member of Hibbett, discussed a range of topics, including: leading a publicly-traded company with then 1,000 locations, the importance of vendor relationships with brands like Nike, adidas, Under Armour, and Puma, as well as his perspective on the future of retail. He was also willing to share his personal experience contracting COVID-19.

Industry veterans Rob Langstaff and Dave Larson

A Creative, Contorted
Path to a Partnership

"Look for trends going on and if you can ride that wave, figure out and be in the middle of it and be relevant, everyone else does your work for you. And so really be a curious person as to what’s going on in the world and then try and fit your world into theirs.”

Industry veterans Rob Langstaff and Dave Larson, who formed a partnership that will serve organizations in need of their respective business development and brand strategy expertise. The two formed a friendship during their time at Brooks Running and have combined experience with brands that include adidas, Reebok, Nike, Brooks and Under Armor.

They talked about the value of mistakes and creative briefs, innovative product launches, the iconic adidas Superstar, and more.

Tim Katt - MD & Co-Founder at TACK Ventures

A Feel for the Game(s)

"We weren't exactly sure at all times what it was or what it was going to be. But overall, we considered it a success in the fact that we did something that hadn't been done before and we helped these partners really understand the venture and startup ecosystem in sports tech.”

Tim Katt is Managing Director and Co-Founder of TACK Ventures, a venture capital firm focused on game-changers across sports, media, lifestyle and entertainment. He previously advised executives at leading organizations in the sports industry including adidas, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Fox Sports, Levy Restaurants, MLB, MLS, the NHL, Octagon and UEFA, on corporate innovation and venture investment.

Tim talked about his time with the Detroit Lions, what makes some of their investments stand out and striking a balance quantitative metrics and feeling when investing in the sports tech space.

HEADLINES ON OUR MIND

'We didn't ask permission
to be who we were'

While the world remembers iconic Georgetown basketball coach John Thompson's passing, we stumbled on this conversation with Patrick and Ewing and "Big John" from March 2019 put together by Jordan Brand. "Once we started seeing the Georgetown gear in TV and movies, there was definitely more of a sense that we had arrived."

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