Sports Management Podcast

Welcome to episode 254 of Sports Management Podcast.
Today's guest is Ugo Valensi, CEO of Volleyball World. Ugo has held leadership roles across sports, media, and commercial strategy, including senior positions in tennis, football, and global sports marketing. In this episode, he shares how Volleyball World is transforming one of the world's largest participation sports into a global commercial powerhouse.
In this episode, we spoke about:
• How Volleyball World is commercializing a sport with 800 million fans
• The role of CVC Capital Partners in accelerating growth
• Building athlete brands and fan engagement in volleyball
• Future trends in sports media, OTT platforms, and content consumption
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Introduction to Volleyball World
00:15 What Volleyball World Actually Does
01:24 Commercializing an 800 Million Fan Sport
03:26 Lessons from Tennis & Football
05:05 Athlete Storytelling & Docuseries
06:12 Indoor vs Beach Volleyball
08:09 Reinventing Beach Volleyball
08:23 Road to Los Angeles 2028
09:42 Volleyball's Biggest Growth Markets
11:38 Planning Events Years Ahead
13:05 Vision for the Next Five Years
14:33 The Future of Sports Consumption
16:25 Creating One Global Fan Narrative
17:20 Ugo's Career Journey
24:10 Networking & Career Advice
28:28 The Role of Private Equity in Sports
 
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Welcome to episode 253 of Sports Management Podcast.
Today's guest is Lise Klaveness, President of the Norwegian Football Federation. In 2022, she became the first woman to lead the federation in its 120-year history and has since become one of the most influential voices in global football governance, equality and leadership.
In this episode, we spoke about:
Leading Norwegian football through major global controversies
FIFA governance, World Cup hosting and human rights
Building equality in football on and off the pitch
Leadership, networking and career advice for future sports professionals
Timestamps
00:00 First Female President
00:14 Why She Said No
02:17 The FIFA Speech
05:11 Principles vs Politics
07:47 World Cup Governance
10:59 Football & Human Rights
15:39 Should Sport Be Political?
16:48 World Cup Life Behind The Scenes
19:35 From Player To President
24:24 Becoming Technical Director
25:40 Breaking Glass Ceilings
29:18 Equality In Football
34:16 Advice For Future Leaders
35:37 The Value Of Hard Work
38:01 Khalida Popal's Incredible Story
 
Lise Klaveness shares her remarkable journey from professional footballer and lawyer to becoming the first female President of the Norwegian Football Federation. The conversation explores FIFA governance, World Cup hosting, human rights, equality in football, leadership under pressure, and the responsibilities of sports organizations in modern society.
Whether you work in sports business, football administration, coaching, governance or leadership, this episode provides valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of global football.

Welcome to episode 252 of Sports Management Podcast.
Today's guest is Patricio Misitrano, CEO of Racket Social Club and a key figure behind Racket360, one of the most ambitious ecosystems in the rapidly growing racket sports industry. From club operations and events to e-commerce and league management, Patricio has spent decades helping grow racket sports across the United States.
In this episode, we spoke about:
The growth and future of padel in the United States
Why community is the secret to successful clubs
Building careers in the racket sports industry
Networking, hiring and leadership lessons from sport
Timestamps
00:00 Welcome to the Show
00:20 Inside the Racket360 Ecosystem
02:34 The State of Padel in America
04:10 Tracking Padel's Rapid Growth
06:15 Why Courts Alone Don't Work
07:00 Key Trends Shaping Padel
07:58 The Rise of Indoor Facilities
09:26 Community Is Everything
11:16 Building a Successful Club
15:48 Can the USA Become a Padel Powerhouse?
20:06 Growing Up with Padel in Argentina
22:00 From Coach to CEO
23:41 What Great Employers Look For
24:44 Careers Beyond Coaching
28:34 Networking That Opens Doors
30:46 The Ultimate Networking Expert
Patricio Misitrano shares practical lessons on leadership, club operations, community building, hiring, networking and the future of padel in the United States. Whether you're a sports executive, coach, entrepreneur, student or racket sports enthusiast, this episode offers valuable insights into one of the fastest-growing sectors in the sports industry.

Welcome to episode 251 of Sports Management Podcast.
In today's episode, we are joined by Daren Hornig, CEO of Courts App — a marketplace often described as the "Expedia for racket sports," helping players find and book courts anytime, anywhere.
In this episode, we spoke about:
Building a two-sided marketplace for racket sports
How AI is transforming sports facility access
The explosive growth of pickleball and padel
Why most sports careers aren't what people expect
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction to Courts App 00:19 What Is the "Expedia for Racket Sports"? 01:12 The Problem: Unused Courts 02:17 Why Technology Was Missing in Racket Sports 03:36 AI Integration & ChatGPT Booking 04:24 AI Concierge "Hey Courtney" 05:19 Tech Background & Startup Lessons 06:56 Why He Entered Racket Sports 07:48 Marketplace Model Explained 08:31 Growth of Padel & Pickleball 09:17 Transition from Real Estate to Tech 10:53 Building the Right Startup Team 11:45 Challenges in a Fragmented Industry 14:58 AI, Free Time & Sports Growth 16:29 Dynamic Pricing & Increasing Participation 27:58 Why Working in Sports Isn't What You Think
SPONSOR: Listeners of the Sports Management Podcast get an exclusive 20% off on SportsPro+ with the code SMPOD20. All you need to do is head to sportspro.com/membership and start exploring today.
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Welcome to episode 250 of Sports Management Podcast.
In today's episode, we are joined by Alan Stein Jr., who has spent over 15 years working with elite NBA athletes and is now a world-renowned keynote speaker and author. In this conversation, we dive deep into what truly separates elite performers from the rest and how those lessons apply far beyond sports.
In this episode, we spoke about:
The habits and mindset of elite performers
Why discipline beats motivation every time
How to perform under pressure
How to apply sports lessons to business and leadership
Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome & Episode 250 Milestone 00:39 What Elite Athletes Teach About Performance 01:20 Mastering the Basics 02:03 Confidence vs Humility 03:18 Process Over Outcome 03:46 What Separates the Top 1% 04:34 Consistency as a Superpower 05:20 Discipline vs Feelings 06:09 Why Motivation Is Overrated 08:26 Performing Under Pressure 09:05 Pressure Is Self-Imposed 10:58 Visualization & Self-Talk 13:41 Being Okay With Losing 16:27 Sports Lessons Applied to Business 27:34 The "Next Play" Mindset
SPONSOR: Listeners of the Sports Management Podcast get an exclusive 20% off on SportsPro+ with the code SMPOD20. All you need to do is head to sportspro.com/membership and start exploring today.
Follow Sports Management Podcast on social media

Instagram
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LinkedIn
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www.sportsmanagementpodcast.com