Corporate Competitor Podcast
What do most Fortune 500 executives have in common? They learned important lessons on the fields and courts of their high school and collegiate sports teams. This is true for both men and women. Ernst & Young found that a whopping 94% of women holding a C-suite position, played sports. Join 11-time New York Times Best-Selling Author Don Yaeger on his journey to sit with some of the brightest executives in the world as we discuss how sports shaped their professional trajectory in life.
Episodes
Ep. 235: Softball shaped Kelli's belief that great leadership is about setting others up to win. In this heartfelt episode, she shares how her time as a scrappy leadoff hitter inspired a team-first mindset—and how embracing her adoption story became the key to building trust and loyalty as a leader.
Don't miss:
- Her simple 1–10 check-in that helps leaders truly understand how their team is ...
Ep. 234: Notre Dame Football and having “Rudy” as a coach shaped the way Mike views “grit” and “grind” today! In this episode, you will learn how to turn personal wins into shared victories.
“If you have a great day, make it a point to share that feeling with your entire organization,” he shares. “That way everyone can enjoy it and feel proud.”
Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes Don’s favorite quotes ...
Ep. 233: This CEO’s high school was so tiny that it didn’t have a track team, so he started a squad from scratch, built up the roster and even coached them, all while running a swift 4:25 mile along the way.
That mindset—identifying a challenge and pursuing a solution—never left him. Years after starring on the team, Sanford saw an opening in the real estate market. He realized that the fut...
Ep. 232: Training for her ultramarathon in Spain helped Heidi break big goals into small, achievable steps. Her approach offers a compelling blueprint for building trust, inspiring teams, and elevating the customer experience.
Rooted in small-town Kansas values and shaped by global experience, you will learn in this conversation how to stop treating customers like transactions.
Ep. 231: How does a moment become momentum? You will learn the model to capture, accelerate, and reverse momentum as featured in my new book with Gen. Bernard Banks.
From commanding in Desert Storm to teaching at West Point and Rice University to transforming organizations, Bernie’s perspective is battle-tested, data-backed, and built to help leaders at every level create their own momentum shift.
Ep. 230: From college football to the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, John Tuttle has always thrived in competitive arenas. Now as President of Acrisure, he leads 19,000 employees in one of the fastest-growing fintech companies on the planet.
Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes Don’s favorite quotes from today’s episode and a reflection question so you can apply today’s insi...
Ep. 229: Playing for The Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys shaped the creator of Babcock Ranch—America’s first solar-powered town. You will learn:
- Why Syd requires every team member to sign a Team Agreement—and what happens when they don’t.
- How a quarterly Day of Service st...
Ep. 228: Get excited for the Kentucky Derby with Spectrum Vice President Mark Kornegay! “Horses are like people—they can burn themselves out trying to keep up with the fastest ones, instead of running their own race,” he shared on this episode.
Mark’s career also includes leadership roles at Microsoft, Palo Alto Networks, and he served as a Special Agent for the FBI and an Assistant U.S. At...
Ep. 227: A devastating injury during the National Championship game left Robert paralyzed from the neck down. Told he’d never walk again, he began a new journey, one fueled by his three-word mantra: “Compared to what?”
Robert shares how that question helped him shift from victimhood to victory—and how you ca...
Ep. 226: Running marathons shaped this CEO’s 35-year rise from “Amway Project Intern” to the corner office. From his first days at Amway to overseeing 14,000 employees in 100 countries, Michael reflects on his journey to teach you:
- How to avoid creating a culture where people are panicked to fail
- Why raising your hand ...
Ep. 225: Our conversation explores powerful leadership lessons in radical transparency—revealing why honest reporting, even when the news isn’t good, is essential for real progress. Learn how the Ford executives brought challenges to the table to solve them together.
If you missed part 1, listen here: https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-224/
Our B...
Ep. 224: Former Boeing and Ford CEO went to Kansas on a gymnastics scholarship and later competed in a semi-pro tennis circuit. Learn how sports shaped one of Fortune’s "World’s Greatest Leaders."
To listen to PART 2 of the conversation, visit: https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-224/
Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes Don’s favorite quo...
REWIND EPISODE: In celebration of March Madness, we are “rewinding” back to my conversation with 5-time National Champion Coach K! In his 42 seasons at Duke, Mike Krzyzewski built a dynasty that few programs in the history of the game can match. As the head coach of the U.S. Men’s National Basketball Team, he brought home six gold medals. So you might say that Coach K knows a little something about getting “buy...
Ep. 222: Europe’s top badminton player turned founder and CEO of the AI-powered platform revolutionizing contract management joins the show! You'll learn how to:
- Use customer feedback wisely – Stay true to your vision without trying to please everyone.
- Prioritize progress over perfection<...
Ep. 221: As an executive at the largest steel producer in the U.S., Tabitha brings her softball and volleyball experience to the world of structural engineering.
Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes Don’s favorite quotes from today’s episode and a reflection question so you can apply today’s insights.
Do you want to write a book? In my new role as Publisher at ...
Ep. 220: Marta described herself as a “maniac about soccer,” but by her senior year of high school, she walked away from the game, a choice she later regretted. Years later, as an accomplished investment strategist, that lingering regret shaped a critical career decision—one that taught her the power of seizing opportunities, even when they feel overwhelming.
Learn why elite leaders step up...
Ep. 219: Brown University’s rowing team shaped Cameron as he endured grueling six-day-a-week practices under the relentless watch of Coach Scott Roop. Exhausted and frustrated, he hit an all-time low. Then, during a brutal practice, as the crew rowed endlessly with no relief in sight, Roop’s words stuck with him for life: "If you have to dig a ditch, you might as well whistle while you're doing it." Learn how h...
Ep. 218: This U.S. Squash National Champion and 12X IRONMAN teaches you how to “Think Big” in your business. You don’t necessarily have to write an 8,000lb elephant into a meeting like Mark did, but this episode will show you how to elevate your team’s vision, break down massive goals into achievable steps, and create a culture o...
Ep. 217: After playing for the Kentucky Colonels in the ABA, George transitioned from professional basketball to business, learning from another Colonel – Founder of KFC Harlan Sanders.
Sanders’ attention to detail was unmatched. He didn’t just talk to customers—he observed them, analyzing what they left...
Ep. 216: Instead of dwelling on the disappointment that his San Jose State Football career was cut short due to injury, this CEO chose to view his past experiences as preparation for his next chapter. He leaned into the discipline, teamwork, and mental toughness learned on the field to build one of the fastest-growing organizations in the financial services industry.
Our BONUS RESOURCE for ...
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