Marketing News of the Month: Pumpkin Spice, Personal Branding and More

During the month of August, there were many news stories that reflected brand identity, brand promotion, brand storytelling, brand strategy, personal branding, product packaging, and more.

NO MORE MRS. AFFLECK

The marriage that everyone wanted to last dissolved with a public announcement in August. Singer and actress Jennifer Lopez filed for divorce from actor and director husband Ben Affleck after a brief two-year marriage. While the couple nearly wed two decades ago and called off the wedding at the last moment, everyone was rooting for them this second time around. In addition to the end of the marriage, Lopez legally dropped the surname "Affleck" to return to her professional (stage) name. How will this turn of events affect both careers and personal brands?

AMAZON RETURNS

Amazon has launched a new program called "Fulfillment by Amazon Returnless Resolutions," which will allow sellers using its fulfillment services to issue product refunds without items being returned. Amazon's aim is to increase customer convenience by rolling out this "keep it" return option. Competitor Walmart's e-commerce platform, Walmart Marketplace, also gives sellers the ability to allow customers to keep their items and receive a full refund. Will this new Amazon program increase sales?

BAN OF WOMEN'S VOICES

According to CNN, Afghanistan's Taliban has banned the sound of women's voices in public. Apparently, "Since a woman's voice is considered intimate, it should not be heard singing, reciting, or reading aloud in public."

LOCAL NEWS AND RADIO

Once upon a time, local news was a mainstay on the radio. But no more due to shrinking ad revenues and how people consume news. New York City's biggest news radio outlet, WCBS 880 AM, announced that it would sign off the air this month, which ended a nearly six-decade run as a local news source for the nation's largest city. The news format will be replaced by sports talk programming.

SPACE TRAVEL

We learned that two astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, currently residing at the International Space Station - who had initially planned on being there for 8 days - will have to remain there until February 2025. According to NBC News, "NASA will free up two seats on an upcoming SpaceX launch, that will be taking a new rotation of space station crew members to the orbiting outpost. By transporting two astronauts instead of the planned four, Wilmore and Williams will be able to fly back in the open seats in February." How does this impact NASA's brand?

STARBUCKS NEWS

While Starbucks announced that its Pumpkin Spice Latte would return to stores on August 22nd - earlier than ever - there was other Starbucks-related news. Current Chairman and CEO of Chipotle, Brian Niccol was appointed chairman and CEO of Starbucks and will begin in those roles in early September. The big news, however, is that he will get a private jet to commute from his Southern California home to his Seattle office. According to CNN Business, "Niccol's private jet perk has brought some attention to the climate change implications of those flights and Starbucks' projection as an environmentally friendly business, which recently rolled out new cups that use less plastic and eliminated plastic straws...Niccol is expected to travel often, visiting stores and workers since he's running a global operation of 39,000 stores and 450,000 employees."

On a related note, IHOP and Krispy Kreme also launched pumpkin spice items. According to Nielsen, "Pumpkin space has cemented itself as a fall staple, with Americans spending more than $500 million on pumpkin spice products each year."

DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION

The 2024 Democratic National Convention will go down in history (or should I say HERstory?) for the nomination of VP Kamala Harris and Tim Walz. Even Meghan McCain, daughter of John McCain, former Senator from Arizona (and prisoner of war hero), wrote, "Maybe Republicans just shouldn't have conventions...just forfeit because I DO NOT KNOW HOW YOU CAN COMPETE WITH THIS! #DNC2024 (August 22, 2024 on Twitter/X) We'll see if the Democrats' ticket and message resonate in November.

SECOND LIFE FOR PARIS OLYMPICS EQUIPMENT AND ATHLETES' VILLAGE

While the event seats and Athletes' Village are now empty, what happens to all the equipment from the 2024 Paris Olympics? According to France 24, "Over decades, the Olympics have forged a reputation for monumental waste, with whole stadiums sometimes left to rot once the two-week sporting extravaganza moves on. But Paris promised to do things differently, using temporary venues to cut construction work but also forcing suppliers to think about a "second life" for the equipment they supplied, from tennis balls to the sand for the beach volleyball.

"Before we ordered anything, we thought about what this thing is going to become afterwards," Paris 2024 sustainability director Georgina Grenon explained. "At the start of the procurement process, every time Paris 2024 issued a tender, they included a clause asking the supplier to propose a second life for their products. Many of the facilities and much of the equipment used for the Olympics will be immediately redeployed for the Paralympics, which run from August 28 to September 8.

But after that, they will head to new homes. For example, the extra-fine sand used for the beach volleyball court in front of the Eiffel Tower, one of the Games' iconic venues, has been promised to a club in the Paris region. In addition, "Paris 2024" logos will be scrubbed off podiums so that they can be used elsewhere. The 600,000 items of office furniture leased from French company Lyreco will be taken back and used by the firm to launch a new second-hand furniture business. The more than 14,000 mattresses made from recycled plastic used in the Olympic Village will be given to the French army, while their cardboard bases will be recycled. The tennis balls used at Roland-Garros Stadium, including those hit by teary gold medal-winner Novak Djokovic, will be donated to French sports clubs, as will much of the other sports equipment from javelins to shot puts. Two swimming pools, the climbing wall, and the skateboarding parks are also set to be dug out and moved – most of them to the deprived Seine-Saint-Denis suburb northeast of Paris. The rented scaffolding from the temporary stands will be dismantled and re-used."

And according to Dwell.com, "Officials plan to retrofit athlete apartments from the Olympics Athletes' Village into housing for local residents. The area will contain schools, shops, gardens, parks, 2,500 homes, a hotel, offices, and city services."

JORDAN CHILES CONTROVERSY

While the Olympic bronze medal that was originally awarded to American gymnast Jordan Chiles was re-allocated to Romanian gymnast Ana Barbosu in Bucharest, the controversy continues, adding a sad asterisk to the very successful Paris 2024 Summer Olympics.

CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA

After more than 100 years of address-free living, this California seaside town where actor and director Clint Eastwood once served as mayor is moving forward with a plan to assign street numbers to homes and businesses but many long-time residents are unhappy about the change. According to ABC News, "When asked for their address, residents describe their homes' color or style, nearby landmarks like cypress trees and fire hydrants, or their location relative to the nearest cross street. Many houses have signs with whimsical names like Neverland, Dreamcatcher, and Pinch Me or descriptors such as "San Antonio 3 SE of 9th...In 1953, Carmel threatened to secede from California over proposed state legislation requiring house numbers. The bill didn't pass."

And of course, without street numbers, there's no mail delivery service. Everyone picks up their mail at the U.S. Post Office, the only building with an official address in town.

DEATH OF WALLY AMOS - HE CHANGED CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

According to Biography, "Wallace WALLY Amos Jr., the man behind the Famous Amos cookies brand, has died. The 88-year-old was surrounded by family, who said the cause of death was complications from dementia. Amos was best known for the cookie brand he started in 1975 and sold in 1988. But before his entrepreneurial days, he was the first Black talent agent for William Morris Agency. While there, he discovered Simon & Garfunkel. Amos spent his later years developing additional cookie companies, a muffin brand, and promoting children's literacy.

In 1967, Amos moved to Los Angeles, where he struggled to set up his own personal management company. Burdened with the debt of his failing business, Amos began to take comfort in baking chocolate chip cookies. He started bringing cookies along to business meetings. With financial backing from singers like Marvin Gaye and Helen Reddy as well as an innovative marketing initiative that included an extensive advertising campaign and a gala grand opening, the first Famous Amos cookie store opened on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles in March 1975. (I vividly recall visiting that location often in my youth!) Within months, 38-year-old Amos had opened two more West Coast locations, and the New York–based Bloomingdale's department store had begun selling the cookies.

Outside of his entrepreneurial work, Amos traveled as a motivational speaker and dedicated himself to ending illiteracy in the United States. He worked with organizations such as Read to Me International, the YMCA, and Literacy Volunteers of America, serving as the group's national spokesperson from 1979 until 2002. President George H.W. Bush presented him with the Literacy Award in 1991. He even had a reading room at his cookie shop in Hawaii, where he relocated in 1977. Wearing a watermelon hat, he read to children at his shop on Saturdays."

DEATH OF PHIL DONAHUE - HE CHANGED TV TALK SHOWS

Sad news was reported by The Hollywood Reporter.  "Phil Donahue, the talk show innovator who changed the conversation and the course of daytime television with the weekday program he hosted for nearly three decades, has died. He was 88. According to his family, he died at his New York City home following a long illness. Survivors include his wife of 44 years, "That Girl" star Marlo Thomas. They met when she was a guest on his show — he was a divorced single father living with and raising his four sons at the time — before marrying in May 1980.

The Cleveland, Ohio-native hosted more than 6,000 iterations of "The Phil Donahue Show," from the first, broadcast from a Dayton, Ohio station on November 7, 1967, through the last, seen nationwide on syndication via Multimedia Entertainment, on September 13, 1996.

Donahue addressed contemporary and controversial topics and invited his studio audience to participate, carrying his microphone into the crowd. He became adept at interweaving their questions and remarks with his own commentary.

The issue-oriented approach was novel, and his topics — abortion, incest, artificial insemination, alcoholism, penile implants, homosexuality, same-sex couples raising children and priests' pedophilia, to name just a few — proved cutting-edge, making his show notorious and popular.

Donahue had things pretty much all to himself until 1985, when Oprah Winfrey launched her own talk show. He said, "It's just not possible to overstate the enormousness of her impact on the daytime television game. It was staggering." (She would dethrone him atop the ratings in 1987.)

After he had turned 60 and received 11 Daytime Emmy's, Donahue called it quits in 1996, and Winfrey presented him with a Lifetime Achievement honor. She said, "I want to thank you for opening the door so wide, wide enough for me to walk through. Had there not been a Phil Donahue, I don't believe there could have been an Oprah." In May 2024, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Joe Biden."

What other recent marketing buzz caught your attention? There's always something happening that impacts marketing, so tune in to #DebbieLaskeysBlog for the scoop!


Image Credits: Starbucks, Amazon, and Harris/Walz Presidential Campaign.

Let's Celebrate #WomensEqualityDay with Erika Andersen!

Today is Women's Equality Day and marks the 104th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote. This important day celebrates the achievements of women's rights activists (including my great-grandmother who marched for women's suffrage in New York in the early 1900's) and reminds us of the struggles that women still face including equal pay for equal work and top leadership roles - which is especially apropos due to the current American Presidential race.

According to the National Women's History Alliance, "At the behest of Representative Bella Abzug (D-NY), in 1971, the United States Congress designated August 26th as "Women's Equality Day." The date was selected to commemorate the 1920 certification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, granting women the right to vote. This was the culmination of a massive, peaceful civil rights movement by women that had its formal beginnings in 1848 at the world's first women's rights convention in Seneca Falls, New York. The observance of Women's Equality Day not only commemorates the passage of the 19th Amendment, but also calls attention to women's continuing efforts toward full equality."

Today, to celebrate this important day, I have invited Erika Andersen to return to my blog. I've had the incredible pleasure of knowing Erika Andersen for many years, and she first appeared in a Q&A on my blog back in 2011. She is the founding partner of Proteus, where she and her colleagues support leaders at all levels to get ready and stay ready to meet the future. Erika advises senior executives and also shares her insights through her books, speaking engagements, and social media. In addition to her latest book, Change from the Inside Out, she is the author of four previous best-selling books: Be Bad First, Leading So People Will Follow, Being Strategic, and Growing Great Employees. Erika is also a popular leadership blogger at Forbes.com, and the creator and host of the Proteus Leader Show podcast.

QUESTION: Today, I celebrate my great-grandmother, who was a suffragist who marched for women's rights in New York in the years leading up to the passage of the 19th Amendment. What does this day mean to you, and what do you hope girls and young women learn about August 26th?

ERIKA ANDERSEN: I'm right there with you – both my grandmothers were suffragists, as well, and they demonstrated for women's rights as young women. In fact, I'd like to share a photo of me as a young teenager trying on my grandma Lote's "March Uniform."

My mom and dad were also feminists, and my brothers and sister and I were all raised to believe that we could build good full lives for ourselves that included whatever kind of work and family we wanted. That's what Women's Equality Day means to me: an affirmation that we will continue to move toward a world where girls and women, no matter their circumstances, their ethnicity or religion, have the freedom to pursue and attain the professional and personal goals they desire.

I hope that girls and young women today learn about the history of the fight for women's rights, so they understand how we got where we are today, don't take what we have now for granted, and commit to keep moving forward. For instance, I recently had a conversation with my oldest granddaughters, who are 11 and almost 14, where I shared with them the fact that only 50 years ago, unmarried women couldn't get credit cards in their own names. They were, I'm happy to report, shocked, and it led to a marvelous conversation about the inequalities that still exist and how to change them.

SHARE THIS: What does #WomensEqualityDay mean to me? An affirmation that we will continue to move toward a world where girls and women, no matter their circumstances, their ethnicity or religion, have the freedom to pursue and attain the professional and personal goals they desire. ~@ErikaAndersen #DebbieLaskeysBlog

QUESTION: Marilyn Loden coined the term "glass ceiling" when speaking on a panel at the 1978 Women's Exposition in New York City. According to the Washington Post, "When her turn came to speak, she thought about how she had been tasked at her company to explore why more women weren't entering management positions. She had gathered enough data that she felt confident that the problem extended beyond what her colleagues were wearing or saying. Loden explained, 'It seemed to me there was an invisible barrier to advancement that people didn't recognize, a glass ceiling.'" While it's been more than 40 years, the problem persists. Many well-known women have used the term including Hillary Clinton, Madeleine Albright, Aretha Franklin, and Oprah Winfrey. How do you think women can shatter the "glass ceiling" - perhaps, some ideas that would be applicable in any industry?

ERIKA ANDERSEN: So much good and thoughtful content has been written about this. Before I weigh in, I want to highlight a recent book on this topic, written by a friend and client of mine, Bonnie Hammer, one of the most celebrated executives in media for the past 40 years. It's called "15 Lies Women Are Told at Work...and the Truth We Need to Succeed." Bonnie systematically dismantles the key limiting and untrue things women are told about how they need to behave, to help us break that glass ceiling. It's refreshingly blunt and funny – and so true. I recommend it highly.

Her book aligns with my own premise that a lot of what holds us back as women at work is our own self-doubt, second-guessing, and concern about "the rules." A friend of mine, a skilled coach, used to say that the most effective approach to work was to be "confident but not cocky." And I believe this applies especially to women. Women who believe in themselves, their capabilities, and their ideas without being cocky (i.e., dismissive of others, unrealistically positive without having the facts, etc.) tend, in my experience to have the most success in corporate environments.

At the same time, it must be said that even the most confident, least cocky women will have a hard time succeeding in environments where the deck is stacked against them: where those in power refuse to open their ranks and share authority and responsibility with their female colleagues. So, it's also important for women who do have power, and powerful men who are their allies, to work to make sure their organizations are as fair and open as possible in their policies and culture. 

QUESTION: According to an article published by the BBC entitled, "Why We Use Women's Professional Titles Less Than Men's," "Across many fields, women who have earned formal titles report that others neglect or dismiss these titles, or even condemn women's claims to them." To see proof, we can look to the American First Lady to see how many people dismiss Dr. Jill Biden's title. So, how can we get gender parity when it comes to professional titles?

(Read the full article here: https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20210216-why-do-professional-titles-actually-matter)

ERIKA ANDERSEN: This is a great article, Debbie – thanks for sharing it. I’ve noticed this "untitling" or "uncredentialing" of women for many years. Another version of it is using women's first names in situations where a man with an equal level of power or achievement would be called by his last name. (I noticed it recently when the two teachers of one of my grandkids were referred to as "Mr. Hutton and Joan.") 

I think we can move the ball on this one by consistently requesting, as women, that we be accorded our proper titles. And if people tell us that we're being "too sensitive," or that "they're just trying to make things less formal and more friendly" (two common defensive responses), we can keep the temperature from escalating while continuing to make our request by saying something like, "From your point of view, this isn't very important. However, it is meaningful to me, so I'd like you to refer to me as X.  Thank you." 

QUESTION: During my career, I've had more male bosses than female bosses, and without a doubt, the men were more supportive. The women were less likely to recognize my accomplishments in group settings and sometimes took ownership of my successes. Were these women leaders what has been referred to as QUEEN BEE LEADERS? And what would you have done in these situations?

(Here's a good post about this topic: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-41165076)

ERIKA ANDERSEN: Because I’ve worked with so many women executives over the years, I've observed most every level of supportiveness: from women bosses who were the kind of "queen bee" described in the article, to women who were extraordinarily supportive of other women's success, who actively mentored and coached their younger colleagues and formed strong bonds with their peers.

In situations where I was coaching women who had less supportive women bosses, I encouraged them to get very clear about the specifics of how they wanted their boss to treat them differently, and to ask for it respectfully. I always suggested that they not make gender an aspect of their request – in other words, that they not include any version of "we as women should support each other," but simply ask to be supported as an employee and a colleague. It seemed to me, if their boss had a psychological issue about supporting other women, that leaning into that aspect of the relationship was only likely to backfire!

QUESTION: Earlier this year, you wrote an inspiring post for Forbes entitled, "My Personal Heroines on International Women's Day." Can you please share a brief recap?

(Here’s the link: https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikaandersen/2024/03/04/my-personal-heroines-on-international-womens-daywho-are-yours/)

ERIKA ANDERSEN: Thank you! The core point of that post was an encouragement for readers to reflect on the "heroines" in their own life and family, and I offered the examples of my paternal great-grandmother, my two grandmothers (the suffragists I mentioned above) and my mom, a powerful and committed feminist.

I love the idea of honoring those who came before us in this personal way. I think most of us have wonderful women in our lives – relatives, teachers, friends – to whom we can give thanks and to whom we can look for inspiration.

QUESTION: And lastly, you penned one of my fave quotes: "Great leaders don't do it alone...they get help." Can you please share a few examples as to how.

ERIKA ANDERSEN: Let's connect this back to the theme of Women's Equality Day. I’ve noticed that when women leaders are in their power – that is, when they're feeling confident and not cocky, and are relying on some of the things that research shows women tend to be better at than men – they automatically include more voices in decision-making, and they are much more likely than men to acknowledge when they don't have experience in a particular domain and to invite the input of others who do have that experience.

In other words, I've found (and again, research confirms this) that women have a more collaborative approach to leadership – which is the definition of "getting help." And the research also shows that this kind of approach increases productivity and feels more fair to those involved. In other words, you go, girl.

As always, my sincere gratitude to Erika for sharing her insights about issues that impact us all. For a special treat, check out Erika's next appearance on my blog on November 4th, when she participates in my #HolidayLeadershipSeries.

Image Credits: Debbie Laskey and Erika Andersen.

Link to book referenced in second question's response:

15 Lies Women Are Told at Work...and the Truth We Need to Succeed by Bonnie Hammer:

https://www.amazon.com/Lies-Women-Are-Told-Work/dp/1797176420

Link to "Research" referenced in final question's response:

https://www.apa.org/topics/women-girls/female-leaders-make-work-better#:~:text=Decades%20of%20studies%20show%20women,organizational%20dedication%2C%20and%20improve%20fairness

Read previous posts on #WomensEqualityDay here on my blog:

Gender Bias and Women's Equality Day (with Amy Diehl) (August 2023)

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2023/08/gender-bias-and-womens-equality-day.html

Let’s Celebrate Women’s Equality Day! (with Kim Elsesser) (August 2022)

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2022/08/lets-celebrate-womens-equality-day.html

As We Celebrate 1920, Work Remains to See More Women in Top Leadership Roles (with Susan Colantuono) (August 2021)

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2021/08/as-we-celebrate-1920-work-remains-to.html

Quotes from Inspiring Women During 2020 (December 2020)

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2020/12/2020-was-year-of-women.html

Connect with Erika at these links:

Website: https://erikaandersen.com

Website: https://www.proteus-international.com

Books: https://erikaandersen.com/books

Check out Erika’s previous appearances here on my blog:

FALL BACK TO READING SERIES – Featuring Erika Andersen (October 2023)

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2023/10/fall-back-to-reading-series-featuring_01710409622.html

How Magic and Happiness Impact Leadership (April 2023)

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2023/04/how-magic-and-happiness-impact.html

Tips to Become “Change-Capable (May 2022)

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2022/05/tips-to-become-change-capable.html

Three Leadership Secrets: Build Consensus, Be Open to Challengers, and Delegate (May 2021)

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2021/05/3-leadership-secrets-build-consensus-be.html

Review of: Leading So People Will Follow by Erika Andersen (October 2019)

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2019/10/fall-back-to-reading-with-12-thought.html

Leadership + Strategy = Amazing Employee Experience (November 2018)

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2018/11/leadership-strategy-amazing-employee.html

Review of: Be Bad First by Erika Andersen (October 2018)

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2018/10/fall-reading-recap-leadership-branding.html

Are You the Type of Manager or Leader YOU Would Follow? (January 2014)

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2014/01/are-you-type-of-manager-or-leader-you.html

Want to be Nicknamed Strategy Guru? (July 2011)

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2011/07/want-to-be-nicknamed-strategy-guru.html 

Five Business Lessons from the Paris 2024 Olympics

While the Paris 2024 Olympics and my #OlympicsLeadershipSeries are now history, there are many business lessons we can learn from this exciting international event.

PLANNING

In September 2017, Paris was awarded the 2024 Summer Olympics, also referred to as the 33rd Olympiad, thus, the planning began then.

According to Wikipedia, “The Olympic events were held in the city of Paris and its metropolitan region, including the neighboring cities of Saint-Denis, Le Bourget, Nanterre, Versailles, and Vaires-sur-Marne. The basketball preliminaries and handball finals were held in Lille, which is 225 km (140 mi) from the host city, Paris; the sailing and some of the football games were held in the Mediterranean city of Marseille, which is 777 km (483 mi) from Paris. Football was hosted in five additional cities: Bordeaux, Décines-Charpieu (Lyon), Nantes, Nice and Saint-Étienne. Meanwhile, the surfing events were held in Teahupo'o village in the overseas territory of French Polynesia, which is 15,716 km (9,765 mi) from Paris.” 

With all those locations plus transportation, housing, and food for 10,500-plus athletes, a team of experts was needed for such a large undertaking.

According to CBS News, “At 594 athletes, the United States had the largest presence at the Olympics. Trailing the U.S. was France, with 572 athletes, and then Australia, with 460 athletes. On the opposite end of the scale, four countries – Belize, Liechtenstein, Nauru and Somalia – sent just one athlete each to compete at the Olympics.”

A take-away for businesses is, when tasked with a large project, spend the time to learn all the facts, assemble a talented and enthusiastic team with many areas of expertise, and above all, don’t be afraid to think outside the box to create an incredible result.

COURTESY

Athletes demonstrated courtesy toward one another. Audience members demonstrated courtesy as they watched the competitions. And the International Olympic Committee demonstrated courtesy when it acknowledged its error from the Opening Ceremony, when athletes from South Korea were introduced as representatives of North Korea.

A take-away for businesses is to always demonstrate courtesy toward employees and customers and acknowledge (and own) errors when they occur.

TEAMWORK

While athletes competed in both individual and team competitions, however, they all represented their countries, for example, TEAM USA represented the United States.

A take-away for businesses is to explain the importance of teamwork in onboarding activities, on-going training, and the creation and maintenance of a positive corporate culture.

And to quote American Olympian Chloé Dygert, an American professional racing cyclist who has won seven gold medals at the UCI Track Cycling World Championships and three medals (one silver and two bronze) at the Olympic Games, "The team behind the team is everybody."

COMMUNICATION

204 countries were represented at the 2024 Summer Games with 54 from Africa, 48 from Europe, 44 from Asia, 41 from the Americas, and 17 from Oceania. As a result, a single language had to be used to make communication possible. Since the event took place in France, the main language was French, but some sports have universally-understood words or phrases.

A take-away for businesses is to avoid industry lingo when possible. It’s important to present information in as clear a manner as possible to employees, customers, and fans.

RECOGNITION

Exceptional athletes received medals (gold, silver, and bronze), and during the medal ceremonies, the three top winners stood on podiums and listened to the national Anthem of the gold medalist.

A take-away for businesses is to recognize the quality work product of employees on a regular basis and also create unique ways to showcase special employees and/or their successes.

What other business lessons did you learn from the Olympics? Chime in and share.

SHARE THIS: Here are five business lessons from the #Olympics: planning, courtesy, teamwork, communication, and recognition. What would you add? #DebbieLaskeysBlog

Image Credit: Paris 2024 Olympic Organizing Committee.

Sharing Some Memories from the #Paris2024 #OlympicGames

The recent Paris 2024 Olympics are now history, but before the curtain closes completely on what was, without a doubt, an exciting two weeks of competition, highs and lows, fashion, medals, surprises, and excitement, I’d like to share the highlights that I will remember. I’ll try to be brief, but I’m sure you’ll agree that there were so many highlights!

First, in case you missed my #OlympicsLeadershipSeries that ran here on my blog from July 25 through yesterday, during which I featured 17 inspiring thought leaders and their perspectives as to how leadership aligned with the Olympics, I invite you to read or re-read each of the posts. I guarantee that they will inspire you to think about leadership in new and different ways – and you will also be transported back through history because each participant shared their most memorable Olympic events and/or heroes.

Second, please tune into my blog tomorrow for my final Olympic-related post of 2024 entitled, “Five Business Lessons from the Paris 2024 Olympics.”

And now, without further ado, here we go…

THEME

The theme of “One World” was evidenced again and again by the inspiring athletes. The camaraderie was felt through this viewer’s television screen at the conclusion of each event when an athlete came in first, they would hug or be hugged by their competitors.

For example, when Lucia Moris of South Sudan fell to the ground in agony during a preliminary heat of the women’s 100-meter race, before medics arrived, her competitor Silina Pha Aphay of Laos rushed to her side. After Aphay finished the race, she ran back and called for help. Even after medics arrived, she remained by the injured athlete’s side.

ATHLETES

Did you know that only five countries have participated in every Summer Olympic Games? Those five are Australia, France, Great Britain, Greece, and Switzerland. For the Paris 2024 Olympics, 206 countries participated. Of those countries, 11,000 athletes participated. The United States, France, and Australia had the largest country representations – each between 450-600. And the least represented countries were Belize, Liechtenstein, Nauru, and Somalia – each sent only one athlete to compete. Russian and Belarusian athletes competed as “Individual Neutral Athletes” – because the International Olympic Committee (IOC) voted to suspend both countries from competition due to the ongoing war in Ukraine. And finally, for the first time, the IOC announced that an equal number of men and women athletes competed at the Olympics.

SHARE THIS: A fun fact: There were the most marriage proposals during any Olympics at the #Paris2024Olympics. ~Tony Estanguet, President of #Paris2024 #DebbieLaskeysBlog

Which athletes stood out to you? To me, American gymnast Simone Biles with her four medals, American swimmer Katie Ledecky with her four medals, and Swedish and American-born pole vaulter Armand “Mondo” Duplantis with his gold medal and world record. Duplantis summed up his experience eloquently, “If I don’t beat this moment in my career, I’m pretty ok with that. I don’t think you can really get much better than what happened.”

This Paris Games hosted Olympians of a wide range of ages. The youngest competitor was skateboarder Zheng Haohao of China at 11-years-old; and the oldest was 65-year-old Juan Antonio Jimenez Cobo, an equestrian from Spain. Zeng Zhiying (age 58) competed at table top tennis and made her Olympic debut almost four decades after she missed out on being selected to represent China in Los Angeles in 1984. Zeng represented Chile and is affectionately called "The Table Tennis Grandma."

Did you hear about the muffin man? Norwegian swimmer Henrik Christiansen became obsessed with the chocolate muffins at the Olympic village, and thanks to social media, he made the muffins stars in their own right.

And did you know that the Olympic Village has offered free healthcare to athletes since the 1932 Los Angeles Summer Games? Fun fact, the concept of an Olympic Village began at the 1932 Games.

SHARE THIS: The Olympic Games have the power to unite us because we can all find something inspirational or something we can relate to in each athlete's story, whether it is a story of success or of disappointment. ~Tatjana Schoenmaker #DebbieLaskeysBlog

 

MEDALS

The number of medal events was 329. The United States won total 126 medals (40 Gold, 44 Silver, and 42 Bronze), China won 91 total medals (40 Gold, 27 Silver, and 24 Bronze), and host country France came in fifth with 64 total medals. According to NBC, “Medalists at the Paris Olympics will get to own a piece of the one of the world’s most iconic structures. An original piece of the Eiffel Tower is included at the heart of each Olympic and Paralympic medal this year as host nation France puts its own stamp on the 2024 medals…Approximately 5,084 medals were created: 2,600 for the Olympics and 2,400 for the Paralympics.”

Unfortunately, a disappointing asterisk will forever tarnish the Paris Olympics. American gymnast Jordan Chiles won the bronze medal for floor exercise, however, there was an appeal of the score. The American team appealed four seconds late, and now the Romanian team has appealed, so now the Bronze medal will go to a Romanian gymnast. While Chiles has been ordered to return her medal, the US Olympic Committee has planned to appeal. According to the Associated Press, “The dispute may be a months-long or even years-long battle over the gymnastics scores.” Time will tell as to how this drama unfolds.

Another reason why this is sad is that the photo from that floor exercise medal/victory ceremony will forever be etched into all viewers’ minds as one of the highlights from the Paris Olympics. America’s two gymnasts (Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles) bowed down to Brazil’s gold medal winner.

And, regarding medals, did you know that medals can equate to a financial reward other than advertising endorsements? According to Business Insider, “US athletes receive $37,500 for a gold medal, $22,500 for a silver medal, and $15,000 for a bronze medal. Hong Kong offers the highest reward with gold medalists earning up to $768,000.”

LOGO, MASCOT & MOTTO

According to the Olympics, "The logo for Paris 2024 combines three separate symbols – the gold medal, the flame, and Marianne, the personification of the French Republic. Each of these symbols reflects a part of the French identity and values. It is also the first time in history that the same emblem has been used for both the Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games."

According to the Olympics, "The name of the Paris 2024 mascot is Olympic Phryge (pronounced FREE-juh), based on the traditional small Phrygian hats that the mascots are shaped after. The name and design were chosen as symbols of freedom and to represent allegorical figures of the French republic. The Olympic Phryge is decked out in blue, white and red - the colors of France’s famed tricolor flag – with the golden Paris 2024 logo emblazoned across its chest."

According to the Olympics, "The motto of the Olympic Phryge and Paralympic Phryge is: “Alone we go faster, but together we go further,” representing the ways in which the mascots, and the people of the world, can make each other better by working side-by-side."

THIRD OLYMPICS FOR PARIS

Paris served as host for the Olympics for the third time in 2024. The first time was in 1900, and the second time was in 1924. In 2024, five new sports were featured: breaking (aka, breakdancing), skateboarding, sport climbing (aka, rock wall climbing), surfing, and 3x3 basketball. The surfing competition took place 9,770 miles away from Paris in Teahupo'o, Tahiti, an island in French Polynesia; and the sailing competition took place in Marseille, about 500 miles south of Paris on the Mediterranean Sea.

SNOOP DOGG

Did you follow Snoop Dog around Paris? Using the hashtag #FollowTheDogg, he shared his Olympic experiences all over social media. My favorite story and related photos were when he and friend Martha Stewart dressed in equestrian clothing and attended the dressage competition. According to reports, his involvement was meant to attract a new audience to the Olympics, but I would argue that he solidified the existing fan base.

OPENING CEREMONY

Was that a boat parade, or was that a boat parade? Despite months, if not years, of naysayers saying it couldn’t be done, the parade of athletes took place along the Seine River in an incredible manner. Some countries had so many athletes that they arrived via a large boat, and some countries arrived in smaller boats. But without a doubt, no host country will ever match the originality, creativity, and artistry of that opening arrival of athletes.

There may have been rain toward the end of the Opening Ceremony, and the country of South Korea may have been introduced as North Korea, but international singing sensation Céline Dion’s appearance on the Eiffel Tower to sing a ceremony finale in French surprised and delighted the audience in person and the many who watched on television or their devices. In fact, as far as viewership numbers go, according to Statista.com, “The opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris drew 28.6 million U.S. TV viewers, making the broadcast the most watched opening ceremony for a Summer Olympics since 2012.”

And lastly, the Olympic cauldron shone brightly in a large balloon and hung high in the sky (via a tether) each night so that Parisians could see and enjoy it.

MINIONS

The cute yellow characters from the DESPICABLE ME movie franchise appeared in a mini movie during the Opening Ceremony and created much laughter by their always-entertaining antics! The Minions even appeared on some of Team USA’s attire.

GREEN PARIS AND RIVER SEINE

Paris expected 15 million people during the Olympics, so the city reduced its dependence on cars. The city closed more than 100 streets to motor vehicles, tripled parking fees for SUV’s, removed 50,000 parking spots, and built more than 800 miles of bike lanes since 2014. According to city officials, the changes contributed to a 40 percent decline in air pollution.

In addition, some competition did take place in the Seine River, after years of tests and conflicting stories about too much pollution.

And did you notice the purple track at the Stade de France? It has a secret ingredient: shells. This was part of Paris’ plan to put sustainability at the forefront of the event. According to IFLScience.com, “Every year, it’s estimated that over 10 million tons of mollusk shells from oysters, clams, and mussels are produced and end up in landfills. Sports flooring manufacturer Mondo and fishing cooperative Nieddittas found a way to create a more sustainable solution to both issues: the latter produced and cleaned up the shells, which were then crushed up ready for Mondo to incorporate into the track.” 

CO-BRANDING

What products stood out due to their co-branding with the Olympics? Some of mine included the Minions (see above) from their recent movie, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts with their “Go USA” collection “to fuel your dreams and sweeten your victories,” Chipotle (meals aligned with various athletes),  designer Ralph Lauren who designed all of Team USA’s uniforms, GK Elite (Team USA’s Women Gymnasts’ apparel), Visa, and Samsung. Let’s not forget that each day during the competition, there was a unique Google Doodle!

Did you know that the Coca-Cola Company is the longest-standing partner of the Olympic Movement? It’s supported every edition of the Olympic Games since 1928. Its renewed partnership until at least 2032 extends the brand’s association with the Olympic Movement to a historic 104-year relationship.

CYBERSECURITY & SAFETY

With over 13 million tickets sold and more than 15 million visitors to Paris, the Games were an attractive target for cyberattacks. And even though here was an arson attack on Paris' high-speed rail service just hours before the Opening Ceremony, it did not affect the event.

LA 2028 SUMMER OLYMPICS

With the Paris 2024 Olympics now history, it’s time to turn the page to the next Summer Olympics in Los Angeles (my hometown) in 2028. LA Mayor Karen Bass was part of the Opening Ceremony delegation with first lady Dr. Jill Biden as well as the Closing Ceremony delegation with second gentleman Doug Emhoff. She met with French officials, dignitaries, and business leaders to study how Paris prepared for the 2024 Olympics. At the Closing Ceremony, it was nice to see the Mayor of Paris (a woman) handing off the Olympic flag to the Mayor of Los Angeles (also a woman, the first time that has been done in Olympic history, aka HERstory).

According to Tony Estanguet, President of Paris 2024, “The most difficult part of any love affair is saying goodbye. And at the Closing Ceremony, we are all in love with the Games. The feelings of hope, inspiration, and love will remain. And when the time comes, we will be reunited in Los Angeles in 2028.”

According to Mayor Bass, “If you go to one of the Olympic venues in LA in 2028, you’re going to take public transportation. For our city where we’re born with cars, it’s going to be difficult…We need 3,000 buses, [but we’re going to have] a car-free Olympics.”

SHARE THIS: Only five countries have participated in every Summer Olympic Games: Australia, France, Great Britain, Greece, and Switzerland. #Olympics #OlympicGames #Paris2024 #FunFact #DebbieLaskeysBlog

Image Credits: The Olympic Games (Céline Dion and ARTistic Gymnastics), Elisa Barg (Louvre Pyramid and Olympic Flame), Carlos Barria/Reuters (whale and surfer), Jerome Brouillet (surfer and surfboard), Gabriel Buoys/AFP/Getty Images (podium ceremony for the artistic gymnastics women’s floor exercise event), and Henrik Montgomery/TT/TT News Agency/AFP/Getty Images (Martha Stewart and Snoop Dog).

A Recap of the Inspiring #OlympicsLeadershipSeries on #DebbieLaskeysBlog

Each day during the 33rd Olympiad, I’ve had the honor of featuring an inspiring expert in my #OlympicsLeadershipSeries. Each day, either a leadership expert, a marketing expert, or a technology expert shared insights as to how leadership aligned with the Olympics. With the competition now history, it’s time for a series recap.

But first, make a note on your calendar to swing by my blog tomorrow on August 13th for a recap of the Paris 2024 Olympics competition and on August 14th for five business lessons from the Paris 2024 Olympics.

ERIC JACOBSON (USA)

Olympic moment vividly recalled: 1988 – American swimmer Greg Louganis struck his head on the springboard during the preliminary rounds.

Olympic moment/event = lack or clear leadership: American swimmer Michael Phelps earned 28 Olympic medals (23 Gold), was a five-time Olympian, and demonstrated leadership during and after his Olympic pursuits.

Olympic sport demonstrates effective leadership: Any Olympic TEAM sport has the capacity to demonstrate effective and/or inspirational leadership.

Business lesson from Olympics: Several provided, here are two: fair play and respect for others.

Personal choice of sport if an Olympic athlete: Marathon Road Running.

JAMES STROCK (USA)

Olympic moment vividly recalled: 1980 – the highly anticipated ice hockey confrontation of the United States and the Soviet Union.

Olympic moment/event = lack or clear leadership: 1936 – the Summer Olympics in Berlin constituted the backdrop for extraordinary, extreme events of leadership, and leadership failure.

Olympic sport demonstrates effective leadership: Whether competing in an individual capacity or as part of a team, effective and inspirational leadership is the foundation for superhuman endeavor.

Business lesson from Olympics: Dedication and focus; resilience amid failure; adaptability amid kaleidoscopic circumstances; individual self-control; the capacity to serve as part of a team; and a sense of being part of a larger enterprise and community that require tending to, sometimes at considerable personal cost.

Personal choice of sport if an Olympic athlete: Racewalking.

SIMON PORTER (UK)

Olympic moment vividly recalled: 2012 – During the opening ceremony of the London Olympics with what appeared to be the Queen jumping out of a helicopter.

Olympic moment/event = lack or clear leadership: To bring any of the Olympics to fruition is an amazing example of leadership.

Olympic sport demonstrates effective leadership: Rowing.

Business lesson from Olympics: Training, commitment, and perseverance lead to success.

Personal choice of sport if an Olympic athlete: Canoe slalom.

MELANIE BELL (USA)

Olympic moment vividly recalled: 1996 – Our ability to recall details is so tied to where we watch something like the Olympics, who we were watching with, and what stood out or not. I was with my family in Ireland, during the 1996 Olympics that took place in Atlanta, and we spent a lot of time in pubs watching the Olympics.

Olympic moment/event = lack or clear leadership: 2016 – The debacle that has been dubbed "Lochtegate," when a group of American swimmers said they had been robbed at gunpoint while enjoying a night out in Rio – but they lied about what happened.

Olympic sport demonstrates effective leadership: Every single moment! Every Olympic moment is so infused with inspiration. But if pressed to pick one, ice hockey.

Business lesson from Olympics: Watching the competition has to do with the emotional connection the Olympic brand has with its audience. I will gladly watch sports I've never played and don't follow simply because the athletes are the best of the best.

Personal choice of sport if an Olympic athlete: Synchronized swimming.

MIKE FOX (USA)

Olympic moment vividly recalled: 1984 – Standing on the field at Dodger Stadium during the Gold Medal Presentation for baseball was a great moment for baseball fans around the world.

Olympic moment/event = lack or clear leadership: Today, we see players from many countries in Major League Baseball, but few realize that the promotion of baseball around the world began in 1956, when Walter O'Malley took the Dodgers to Japan. Walter's son, Peter O'Malley, picked up the torch to promote baseball around the world.

Olympic sport demonstrates effective leadership: Baseball because it takes 9 players to interact with a variety of skills to be able to play a game that, at any moment, the unknown can occur.

Business lesson from Olympics: Many countries depend on the Olympics to fund and promote their sports.

Personal choice of sport if an Olympic athlete: Baseball.

SHEP HYKEN (USA)

Olympic moment vividly recalled: 1980 – when the US Olympic hockey team won the Gold in Lake Placid, New York. 

Olympic moment/event = lack or clear leadership: same event as above.

Olympic sport demonstrates effective leadership: All Olympic sports represent effective leadership.

Business lesson from Olympics: Do your best – every day.

Personal choice of sport if an Olympic athlete: Hockey.

AMANDA HAHN-PETERS (USA)

Olympic moment vividly recalled: The Olympic Movement goes way beyond winning medals. In fact, there are 10,000+ athletes (as of 2021) who compete at the Summer Olympics and only 339 events to medal in. At its core, the three main values of Olympism are excellence, respect, and friendship.

Olympic moment/event = lack or clear leadership: When two-time Olympian Simone Biles withdrew from the Women's Gymnastics team and individual all-around competition in the 2021 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, citing mental health concerns, her decision to withdraw represented a courageous act of leadership.

Olympic sport demonstrates effective leadership: Rowing.

Business lesson from Olympics: If you want to be successful, surround yourself with a great supporting team.

Personal choice of sport if an Olympic athlete: Gymnastics.

CLAUDIA VACCARONE (SWITZERLAND)

Olympic moment vividly recalled: Summer of 1980, the Olympic Games in Moscow: Italian high jumper Sara Simeoni won the Gold Medal affirming her previously set world record. 

Olympic moment/event = lack or clear leadership: The Olympic Committee sparked outrage in the summer of 2021 at the Tokyo Games after banning swim caps designed specifically for natural hair. The International Swimming Federation rejected an application to certify products from the Black-owned brand Soul Cap, which created inclusive swim caps for people with dreadlocks, afros, and other natural hairstyles. This was a dreadful mistake, failing to acknowledge the diversity of athletes in swimming, their right to comfort, and the importance of representation of all body/hair types, especially for young audiences worldwide! The ban was eventually lifted, and the caps are allowed today.

Olympic sport demonstrates effective leadership: Volleyball.

Business lesson from Olympics: The Olympics are a reminder that the principles of dedication, teamwork, adaptability, and integrity are just as essential for achieving athletic greatness as for excelling in the competitive arena of business.

Personal choice of sport if an Olympic athlete: I swim, bike, hike, and do stand up paddle and yoga regularly and would love to compete in any of those sports, in a category suitable to my age.

REBECCA HEROLD (USA)

Olympic moment vividly recalled: 1988 – in a qualifying event for the springboard competition swimmer Greg Louganis hit the back of his head doing a dive with multiple backwards somersaults. His head was bleeding. A doctor quickly gave him stitches, and he continued when it was again his turn. Even with that disastrous first dive, he finished third in the qualifying round and returned the next day to win the gold medal. And then he went on to win another gold medal in the platform diving event! However, following this event, the world found out about that he was HIV positive – and he was harshly criticized for continuing on in the competition, and even participating at all..

Olympic moment/event = lack or clear leadership: Same event as above.

Olympic sport demonstrates effective leadership: Weightlifting.

Business lesson from Olympics: It takes planning, practice, setting goals, and dedication for an athlete to win a medal…Business success also requires planning ahead, practicing necessary key skills, setting goals, and being dedicated to staying the course.

Personal choice of sport if an Olympic athlete: Race walking.

SUSAN FRIESEN (CANADA)

Olympic moment vividly recalled: 2010 Olympics in Vancouver (Canada): Sydney Crosby's overtime goal that beat the USA team in Hockey.

Olympic moment/event = lack or clear leadership: 2020 Olympics – when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) chief had been turning a blind eye to doping and financial scandals, especially perpetrated by the Russians. The IOC has put revenues from TV and corporate sponsorships above the safety of the athletes.

Olympic sport demonstrates effective leadership: Rowing.

Business lesson from Olympics: Like the Olympics and in business, the best leaders use conscious cues to shape their culture and act consistently.

Personal choice of sport if an Olympic athlete: Figure skating.

IAN GOLDING (UK)

Olympic moment vividly recalled: 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona (Spain): when Derek Redmond, the British 400m runner, suffered a hamstring injury in the 400m semi-final. Despite the pain, he continued the race limping, and with assistance from his father, managed to complete a full lap of the track.

Olympic moment/event = lack or clear leadership: Team pursuit track cycling! I always think this is a great example of collective leadership – where a team of four professionals work together with a collective goal, supporting each other to the very end.

Olympic sport demonstrates effective leadership: Any team sport at the Olympics is a great demonstration of inspirational leadership.

Business lesson from Olympics: One: Never give up! You have to have the resilience to keep going, whatever is being thrown at you. And two: To become an Olympic athlete takes years of hard work and dedication – success does not happen overnight!

Personal choice of sport if an Olympic athlete: Field hockey.

ANTHONY GAENZLE (USA)

Olympic moment vividly recalled: Michael Phelps winning over and over again the last two Summer Olympics was amazing to watch.

Olympic moment/event = lack or clear leadership: When the US Olympic basketball team went from Dream Team to afterthought, it really showed a lack of leadership. There were no clear leaders on the team that helped the players gel nor inspired them to play hard. As a result, the US Olympic basketball team, despite continuing to send NBA stars, has been in decline.

Olympic sport demonstrates effective leadership: Gymnastics.

Business lesson from Olympics: The Olympics, while still very popular, lost a bit of steam when they went to the every-other-year format. Staggering the Olympics with Winter one year and Summer two years later, despite individually maintaining the four years in-between dynamic, has resulted in "Olympics overload." That four-year build-up added a lot of anticipation by creating scarcity and a sense of urgency.  

Personal choice of sport if an Olympic athlete: Basketball.

JERRY ANGRAVE (UK)

Olympic moment vividly recalled: 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal (Canada): David Wilkie swimming the 200m Breaststroke.

Olympic moment/event = lack or clear leadership: Led by Lord Seb Coe, the organization of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London stands out as a result of his bringing together all the sporting bodies, all the infrastructure, all the volunteers, and all the testing…that left an indelible legacy.

Olympic sport demonstrates effective leadership: Any or all of them.

Business lesson from Olympics: Stay on the front foot and keep pushing. Have a plan but assume there is always at least one of your competitors who has put in a few more minutes training every day or has thought about the execution of their plan in a better way.

Personal choice of sport if an Olympic athlete: Swimming.

RUSSEL LOLACHER (CANADA)

Olympic moment vividly recalled: 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta (Georgia, USA): I was glued to the TV for Donovan Bailey's historic 100m sprint. It was over before you knew it! Bailey ran the 100m in 9.84 seconds to become the fastest man alive to date. It was inspiring. It was a moment for Canadian sports to show what was possible. Canadians weren't just great at what we were expected to be great at. We could show the world another side of ourselves that they hadn't seen — with an exclamation mark!

Olympic moment/event = lack or clear leadership: 2021 Summer Olympics in Tokyo (Japan):  What do you do when you are competing with a friend for the highest Olympic honor in your sport and you keep tying each other? Well, if you're Mutaz Barshim of Qatar, you ask to share it. After two-and-a-half hours of competition between Barshim and Italy's Gianmarco Tamberi for gold, they posed a simple question and were granted it… The typical response to a tie is a "jump-off" until one wins gold, the other silver. But when Barshim asked to share, the official responded, "It's possible." Rather than forcing a competition that neither athlete wanted, the Olympics embraced sportsmanship, which is what the event is supposed to be about.

Olympic sport demonstrates effective leadership: Ice hockey.

Business lesson from Olympics: It's a journey with many milestones and setbacks along the way… In business, it's no different. We are continually playing the long game in regard to building and fostering relationships, leveling up our skills, learning from our failures, crafting resiliency, establishing the right mindset, and more. Both Olympic and business journeys start with visions and missions, and both are long journeys to those hopeful realities, only possible based on the quality of their leadership.

Personal choice of sport if an Olympic athlete: Soccer (football everywhere else).

MICHAEL BRANDT (SWITZERLAND)

Olympic moment vividly recalled: 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo (Yugoslavia at the time and now Bosnia and Herzegovina): the figure skating performance by Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean to Maurice Ravel's Bolero. The British are generally not that great at winter sports, and figure skating was, at the time, dominated by the Soviet Union. So, the fact that Torvill and Dean won a gold medal was in itself spectacular. But the actual performance itself was flawless in its execution and remains, today, absolutely breathtaking to watch.

Olympic moment/event = lack or clear leadership: The greatest lack of leadership in the Olympics surrounds the manner in which the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) initially dealt with doping issues.

Olympic sport demonstrates effective leadership: It's the spirit, unity, and leadership within teams that bring out the true essence of sportsmanship and success in the Olympics, rather than the sport itself. The Fijian Rugby 7’s team's journey to gold at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) is a perfect example. Their story is not just about just winning; it's about overcoming adversity, embodying national pride, and showcasing the power of collective effort and leadership.

Business lesson from Olympics: The Olympics demonstrates again and again the importance of building a strong team culture. 

Personal choice of sport if an Olympic athlete: Sailing.

MARK C. CROWLEY (USA)

Olympic moment vividly recalled AND lack or clear leadership: I have two. First, at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, when Dick Fosbury decided to high jump by scaling the bar with a backward flop instead of the traditional scissors approach. This instantly taught me that existing paradigms can be changed and aren't set in stone. It obviously had an impact on me! And second, my dad was an older man when I was born. He was the Minnesota state champion in the pole vault and had hoped to make the 1936 team, but he got hurt and didn't qualify. However, he and a friend (who went on to become a judge on the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals) stowed away on the US ship (set for the 1936 Olympics) from New York to Germany. My father saw Jesse Owens run under the gaze of Hitler. And, my father snuck into Hitler’s box and stole an Olympics flag. I had it hanging in my room as a kid.

Olympic sport demonstrates effective leadership: Gymnastics.

Business lesson from Olympics: That people from all countries and backgrounds can come together and be united by their sports — not ideologically at odds with one another. We surely need the Olympics for this.

Personal choice of sport if an Olympic athlete: Basketball.

ALLAN PRATT (USA)

Olympic moment vividly recalled: 1992 – at the Barcelona Summer Olympics, the opening ceremony flame cauldron was lit by a flaming arrow.

Olympic moment/event = lack or clear leadership: Michael Phelps has become the face of the Olympics with his record-setting 28 medals (23 Gold).

Olympic sport demonstrates effective leadership: The relay race including the passing of the baton demonstrates inspirational leadership.

Business lesson from Olympics: The "pass the baton" concept is a useful business lesson because good leaders delegate so that all employees can shine. If leaders don't pass the baton, or delegate, then no one can shine.

Personal choice of sport if an Olympic athlete: Swimming.

DEBBIE LASKEY (USA)

Olympic moment vividly recalled: 1980 – American figure skaters Tai and Randy had to pull out from competition at the last moment due to injury – but they were still heroes!

Olympic moment/event = lack or clear leadership: 1994 – American figure skater Nancy Kerrigan was attacked by competitor Tonya Harding’s ex-husband and others – Kerrigan demonstrated leadership in an extremely difficult time.

Olympic sport demonstrates effective leadership: 1988 – Jamaican bobsled team.

Business lesson from Olympics: Teamwork.

Personal choice of sport if an Olympic athlete: Curling and moguls.

I hope you enjoyed this unconventional way to analyze Olympic history while simultaneously learning about the events and athletes that compete during this amazing event. Remember to visit my blog tomorrow and Wednesday for more Olympic-related stories, lessons, and highlights!

Image Credit: Paris 2024 Olympic Organizing Committee.

OLYMPICS LEADERSHIP SERIES – Featuring Allan Pratt

With the eyes of the world on Paris, France, for the 33rd Olympiad, which events are you looking forward to? Do you know that the surfing competition will take place 9,770 miles away from Paris in Teahupo'o, Tahiti, an island in French Polynesia? In the spirit of previous leadership series here on my blog, I've asked 17 leadership and marketing experts to respond to five questions with the hope that both the questions and answers lead you to think about the Olympics in new and interesting ways.

For today's post, I'd like to introduce Allan Pratt, based in Los Angeles, California. Allan is an infosecurity strategist and represents the intersection of management and technology. With an MBA Degree and six CompTIA certifications in computers, cloud computing, networks, servers, security, and mobility, he translates tech issues into everyday language that is easily understood by all business units. He has been a contributor to several technology blogs and has been quoted in industry publications. Currently, Allan is an assessment writer for an international scholastic publisher; and for the past 12 years, he has taught numerous CompTIA certification courses at Los Angeles City College (online since the covid pandemic began). His most significant accomplishment was the creation of the Cybersecurity Certificate and A.S. program for LACC, the first program of its kind within the entire Los Angeles Community College District.

Allan is also my husband – we met in grad school – and while we both studied marketing, Allan detoured into technology. Since I've surpassed 600 posts on my blog, the time is long overdue for Allan to make an appearance. With his experience as a technology professor, his view of leadership is unique: he is shaping the tech leaders of the future, which is why his insights are especially relevant for this #OlympicsLeadershipSeries.

Before we begin, here are my two favorite quotes about the Olympics:

"In baseball and in business, there are three types of people. Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen, and those who wonder what happened." ~Tommy Lasorda (Team USA Baseball Manager in 1984 and Olympic gold medalist)

"You have to believe in yourself when no one else does — that makes you a winner right there." ~Venus Williams (Team USA Tennis, 4-time Olympic gold medalist)

QUESTION: What Olympic MOMENT do you most vividly recall, and why?

ALLAN PRATT: At the 1992 Barcelona Summer Olympics, the opening ceremony flame cauldron was lit by a flaming arrow, shot by Paralympic archer Antonio Rebollo. Like the 65,000 fans in the stands and the many watching on TV, I was in awe as to how precise Rebollo's aim had to be. What a truly Olympic moment!

QUESTION: What Olympic MOMENT OR EVENT stands out due to EITHER a lack of OR evidence of LEADERSHIP?

ALLAN PRATT: Swimmer Michael Phelps has become the face of the Olympics as a result of his being the most decorated Olympian of all time with a total of 28 medals. He also holds the all-time records for Olympic gold medals, Olympic gold medals in individual events, and Olympic medals in individual events.

According to Olympics News, "It is a name that resonates around the world, even among people who may not be fans of sport. Michael Phelps, arguably the best swimmer in history, is regarded as one of the greatest athletes of all time, not just due to his record-breaking feats, but also due to the longevity of his career."

QUESTION: What Olympic SPORT demonstrates effective and/or inspirational leadership?

ALLAN PRATT: To me, the relay race including the passing of the baton demonstrates inspirational leadership. It is the ultimate example of teamwork and coordination. A relay race is an event where a team of four athletes run equal predetermined distances in a sprint race, each passing a rod-like object called a "baton" to the next person to continue the race. A team can be disqualified if any member drops the baton during the handover or if the handover occurs outside the designated area. The 4x100m relay was introduced as a men's only event at the 1912 Stockholm Olympics, and the event was first run by women at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics.

QUESTION: What is an important BUSINESS LESSON we can learn from the Olympics?

ALLAN PRATT: The "pass the baton" concept is a useful business lesson because good leaders delegate so that all employees can shine. If leaders don't pass the baton, or delegate, then no one can shine. And, to quote John Quincy Adams, the sixth U.S. President, "If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you're a leader."

QUESTION: If YOU competed in the Olympics, which sport would you choose, and why?

ALLAN PRATT: Swimming, because I was a swimmer in my youth. I agree with this quote from Olympic athlete Dawn Fraser from Australia, "It's a beautiful thing, diving into the cool crisp water and then just sort of being able to pull your body through the water and the water opening up for you."

SHARE THIS: If leaders don't pass the baton, or delegate, then no one can shine. ~@Tips4Tech #OlympicsLeadershipSeries #DebbieLaskeysBlog

My gratitude to Allan for sharing his leadership insights and for being a part of my #OlympicsLeadershipSeries.

Image Credit: LinkedIn.

To watch the flame lighting from 1992:

https://youtu.be/gmRf41SVHS4?si=c2oh8i-9avUUMIU0

To read more about Relay Races:

https://olympics.com/en/news/athletics-relay-races-rules-history-world-records-olympics

To read more about Dawn Fraser:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dawn_Fraser

The Paris Olympics’ One Sure Thing: Cyberattacks (April 16, 2024)

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/16/world/europe/paris-olympics-cyberattacks.html

France Bracing for Cyberattacks During Summer Olympics (April 8, 2024)

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/08/us/politics/france-cyberattacks-summer-olympics.html

Connect with Allan at these links:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allanp

Twitter/X: https://www.twitter.com/Tips4Tech

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Tips4Tech

Mastodon: https://techhub.social/@Tips4Tech

OLYMPICS LEADERSHIP SERIES – Featuring Mark C. Crowley

With the eyes of the world on Paris, France, for the 33rd Olympiad, which events are you looking forward to? Do you know that the surfing competition will take place 9,770 miles away from Paris in Teahupo'o, Tahiti, an island in French Polynesia? In the spirit of previous leadership series here on my blog, I've asked 17 leadership and marketing experts to respond to five questions with the hope that both the questions and answers lead you to think about the Olympics in new and interesting ways.

For today's post, I'd like to introduce Mark C. Crowley, based in La Jolla, California. Mark's mission is to fundamentally change how we lead people in workplaces around the globe, and he's the author of "Lead From The Heart: Transformational Leadership for the 21st Century" - a book that has been taught in 11 American universities. Before writing his book, Mark spent over 20 years in the dog-eat-dog world of financial services. He held two national level positions at one of America's largest financial institutions, where he was named leader of the year. Quite untraditionally, Mark proved that deeply caring about and supporting people, and thereby positively affecting employee's hearts, had a profound effect on motivating their sustained engagement, loyalty, and productivity. 

Before we begin, here are my two favorite quotes about the Olympics:

"In baseball and in business, there are three types of people. Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen, and those who wonder what happened." ~Tommy Lasorda (Team USA Baseball Manager in 1984 and Olympic gold medalist)

"You have to believe in yourself when no one else does — that makes you a winner right there." ~Venus Williams (Team USA Tennis, 4-time Olympic gold medalist)

QUESTION: What Olympic MOMENT do you most vividly recall, and why?

MARK C. CROWLEY: I have two. First, at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, when Dick Fosbury decided to high jump by scaling the bar with a backward flop instead of the traditional scissors approach. This instantly taught me that existing paradigms can be changed and aren't set in stone. It obviously had an impact on me!

My dad was an older man when I was born. He was the Minnesota state champion in the pole vault and had hoped to make the 1936 team, but he got hurt and didn't qualify. However, he and a friend (who went on to become a judge on the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals) stowed away on the US ship (set for the 1936 Olympics) from New York to Germany. My father saw Jesse Owens run under the gaze of Hitler. And, my father snuck into Hitler’s box and stole an Olympics flag. I had it hanging in my room as a kid.

SHARE THIS: Existing paradigms can be changed and aren't set in stone. ~@MarkCCrowley #OlympicsLeadershipSeries #DebbieLaskeysBlog

QUESTION: What Olympic SPORT demonstrates effective and/or inspirational leadership?

MARK C. CROWLEY: Gymnastics. These athletes demonstrate resilience and courage — two essential leadership traits. Not getting down on oneself after a flaw or a fall is another example we can all learn from.

QUESTION: What is an important BUSINESS LESSON we can learn from the Olympics?

MARK C. CROWLEY: That people from all countries and backgrounds can come together and be united by their sports — not ideologically at odds with one another. We surely need the Olympics for this.

SHARE THIS: We need the Olympics to see that people from all countries and backgrounds can come together and be united by their sports — not ideologically at odds with one another. ~@MarkCCrowley #OlympicsLeadershipSeries #DebbieLaskeysBlog

QUESTION: If YOU competed in the Olympics, which sport would you choose, and why?

MARK C. CROWLEY: Men's basketball. I'm very interested in cooperation, collaboration, teamwork, not to mention coaching effectiveness.

My gratitude to Mark for sharing his leadership insights and for being a part of my #OlympicsLeadershipSeries.

Image Credit: WordSwag.

To read about the Fosbury Flop:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fosbury_flop

To read about Dick Fosbury:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Fosbury

To read about Jesse Owens:

https://olympics.com/en/athletes/jesse-owens

Connect with Mark at these links:

Website: https://markccrowley.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markccrowley

Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/markccrowley

Book: Lead from the Heart: https://markccrowley.com/book-2

Three Cheers for National Book Lover's Day!

If you always carry a book wherever you go, or slip a book quote into every conversation, or have a bookcase that resembles the Leaning Tower of Pisa due to the large number of books causing the shelves to lean, then you know why today is a special day. If you're like me, since today is National Book Lover's Day, you describe yourself as a bibliophile!

Last year, I read 50 books - most were fiction, and a few non-fiction books were sprinkled into the mix. This year, thanks to the Goodreads hashtag, #GoodreadsChallenge, I have set a goal of 60 books, and I am well past the half-way mark.

Thanks to the Leaders Who Fiction virtual book club led by Melanie Bell in Texas (you can learn more about the group and the monthly selections by visiting @LeadersWhoFiction on Instagram), I have been inspired by many books this year including American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins, All the Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby, and The Lonely Hearts Book Club by Lucy Gilmore. My fave book of 2023 was part of the Leaders Who Fiction book club, and I highly recommend that everyone read it: Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt.

Share this: Fellow bibliophiles, let's celebrate by buying more books and celebrating authors because it's National Book Day! #DebbieLaskeysBlog #NationalBookLoversDay

This year's goal is definitely within reach because I recently purchased a new bookcase to hold my book overflow. Thanks to Amazon's recommendations, I had purchased approximately 50 works of fiction plus another dozen non-fiction (leadership and marketing) books.

So, tune in at the end of the year for a recap of my 2024 most memorable books as well as my fave book of the year.

Share this: What's your fave book of all time? Mine is The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. #DebbieLaskeysBlog #NationalBookLoversDay

Watch this Ted talk featuring Lisa Bu: How books can open your mind:

https://www.ted.com/dubbing/lisa_bu_how_books_can_open_your_mind

Meet Lisa Bu: https://www.ted.com/speakers/lisa_bu

Here are some amazing quotes about reading:

Books are a uniquely portable magic. ~Stephen King

The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go. ~Dr. Seuss

Books shouldn't be daunting, they should be funny, exciting and wonderful; and learning to be a reader gives a terrific advantage. ~Roald Dahl

There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate's loot on Treasure Island. ~Walt Disney

If you give a person a book, you give him the world. ~Kristin Harmel

For you unlock magic that is hidden within, and opening the cover is how you begin. Oh, all the worlds and the places you'll see; when you hold a book, you hold the key. ~Caroline Derlatka

Image Credits: Debbie Laskey's Library and Funny Feet Socks.

Read other posts on my blog capturing the magic of books:

The Best Book I Read in 2023 (February 2024)

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2024/02/the-best-book-i-read-in-2023.html

Introducing the 2023 "Fall Back to Reading Series" (September 2023)

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2023/09/introducing-2023-fall-back-to-reading.html

Let's Celebrate Global Company Culture Day! (September 2023)

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2023/09/lets-celebrate-global-company-culture.html

Inspiring Reading As We Approach Women's Equality Day (August 2023)

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2023/08/inspiring-reading-as-we-approach-womens.html

Happy National Book Lovers Day! (August 2023)

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2023/08/happy-national-book-lovers-day.html

OLYMPICS LEADERSHIP SERIES – Featuring Michael Brandt

With the eyes of the world on Paris, France, for the 33rd Olympiad, which events are you looking forward to? Do you know that the surfing competition will take place 9,770 miles away from Paris in Teahupo'o, Tahiti, an island in French Polynesia? In the spirit of previous leadership series here on my blog, I've asked 17 leadership and marketing experts to respond to five questions with the hope that both the questions and answers lead you to think about the Olympics in new and interesting ways.

For today's post, I'd like to introduce Michael Brandt. Based in Lugano, Switzerland, Michael is a Certified Customer Experience Professional (CCXP) with 25 years of experience in B2B customer-facing roles delivering lasting changes with measurable growth. He is also a founder Member of the European Customer Experience Organization (ECXO). His main focus areas include Voice of the Customer and Loop Closing, Complaint Management, Customer Experience Culture, NPS* Metrics, and Customer Journey Mapping.

Before we begin, here are my two favorite quotes about the Olympics:

"In baseball and in business, there are three types of people. Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen, and those who wonder what happened." ~Tommy Lasorda (Team USA Baseball Manager in 1984 and Olympic gold medalist)

"You have to believe in yourself when no one else does — that makes you a winner right there." ~Venus Williams (Team USA Tennis, 4-time Olympic gold medalist)

QUESTION: What Olympic MOMENT do you most vividly recall, and why?

MICHAEL BRANDT: At the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo (Yugoslavia at the time and now Bosnia and Herzegovina), I vividly recall the figure skating performance by Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean to Maurice Ravel's Bolero. The British are generally not that great at winter sports, and figure skating was, at the time, dominated by the Soviet Union. So, the fact that Torvill and Dean won a gold medal was in itself spectacular. But the actual performance itself was flawless in its execution and remains, today, absolutely breathtaking to watch.

QUESTION: What Olympic MOMENT OR EVENT stands out due to EITHER a lack of OR evidence of LEADERSHIP?

MICHAEL BRANDT: In my opinion, the greatest lack of leadership in the Olympics surrounds the manner in which the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) initially dealt with doping issues. Their lack of decisiveness and clarity in dealing with these issues was glaring and caused much confusion and frustration in light of retroactive disqualifications and the reassignment of medals. For those athletes who were reassigned medals later, they will have missed out on the memorable experience of having stood on the podium to receive their medals. The case of Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva would tend to indicate that the issue still persists to a certain extent.

QUESTION: What Olympic SPORT demonstrates effective and/or inspirational leadership?

MICHAEL BRANDT: It's the spirit, unity, and leadership within teams that bring out the true essence of sportsmanship and success in the Olympics, rather than the sport itself.

The Fijian Rugby 7’s team's journey to gold at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) is a perfect example. Their story is not just about just winning; it's about overcoming adversity, embodying national pride, and showcasing the power of collective effort and leadership.

Fiji's win was more than just a medal; it was a historic moment for the nation of Fiji, bringing together a sense of unity and pride across the country. 

The team faced numerous challenges, including limited resources and the aftermath of a tropical cyclone, yet their resolve never faltered. The leadership, both from the coaching staff and within the team, was pivotal in keeping the team focused and motivated. Moreover, the team's deep-rooted cultural values of teamwork, respect, and humility played a crucial role in their success. The way they integrated these values into their play and team dynamics was truly inspirational. It underscores how leadership that is inclusive and rooted in cultural identity can lead to remarkable achievements.

The Fijian Rugby 7's victory in Rio is a vivid reminder that in sports, as in many aspects of life, leadership that fosters unity, resilience, and respect can propel teams to incredible heights. It's a powerful lesson on the impact of leadership that values and nurtures collective effort and cultural identity.

SHARE THIS: In sports, as in many aspects of life, leadership that fosters unity, resilience, and respect can propel teams to incredible heights. ~@cxexcellence #OlympicsLeadershipSeries #DebbieLaskeysBlog

QUESTION: What is an important BUSINESS LESSON we can learn from the Olympics?

MICHAEL BRANDT: The Olympics demonstrates again and again the importance of building a strong team culture. Olympic teams often exhibit remarkable unity, focus, and dedication to their goals. This strong culture is built on a foundation of shared values, clear objectives, and mutual respect among team members. 

In the business world, striving for and encouraging a similar culture can motivate employees, enhance productivity, and align the team toward common business objectives. A strong team culture supports collaboration, encourages taking ownership, and helps to confront challenges collectively.

Also, Derek Redmond's unforgettable moment at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona (Spain) really drives home the point that winning is not just about crossing the finish line first. It's about the grit, the push, and the heart you show along the way, especially when the going gets tough. Redmond, hobbling on one leg with his father by his side, showed us that sometimes, it's the fight in you that counts more than the medal you take home.

This scene was a massive lesson for anyone in business (and in life, really). It shows us that reaching one’s goals isn't just about the final result. It's about the hustle, the bounce-back after a fall, and doing things with integrity. It's a shout-out to the idea that the way we tackle our challenges can be just as important as conquering them. So, in the world of suits and ties (or home offices and video calls), it's a reminder to cherish the journey, stick together through the tough times, and always play fair. After all, how you run the race says a lot about who you are.

As I always say: customer experience (CX) is not just about the destination, the journey getting there is just as important!

SHARE THIS: How you run the race says a lot about who you are. ~@cxexcellence #OlympicsLeadershipSeries #DebbieLaskeysBlog

QUESTION: If YOU competed in the Olympics, which sport would you choose, and why?

MICHAEL BRANDT: If I had to pick an Olympic sport, it would be sailing. Sailing is about understanding the environment, similar to navigating the complex terrain of customer experience across various cultures and markets. Sailors adjust their strategies based on the wind and water, much like adapting CX strategies to ever-changing market dynamics and customer feedback. The sport demands a balance between innovation and risk management —pushing the limits while maintaining control, reflecting the approach needed in CX program implementation. Sailing combines strategy, teamwork, and adaptability, mirroring the skills and qualities I like to think I bring to my professional work.

My gratitude to Michael for sharing his leadership insights and for being a part of my #OlympicsLeadershipSeries.

Image Credit: Milosz Sakowski via Unsplash.

Sharing more on Michael's Olympic highlights:

Remembering Torvill and Dean’s timeless 'Boléro' figure skating routine at the 1984 Winter Olympics:

https://www.classicfm.com/composers/ravel/torvill-dean-bolero-1984-olympics/

Fiji Waltz to Olympic Rugby Sevens Gold Against Outclassed Great Britain:

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/aug/11/fiji-great-britain-rio-2016-rugby-sevens-final

Meet Derek Redmond:

https://derekredmond.com/brand-ambassador

For the 2024 Summer Olympics, the sailing competition will take place about 400 miles (or 660 km) away from Paris in Marseille. According to the Olympics website, "Marseille is naturally focused on the sea and thus provides exceptional sailing conditions...The quality of the water conditions off the coast of Marseille, with relatively constant winds and a coastal configuration that is correctly oriented in relation to the dominant winds, without any currents or tides, will ensure ideal tactical and strategic conditions for the competitors."

https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/venues/marseille-marina

Connect with Michael at these links:

Website: https://www.cx-excellence.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-brandt-ccxp-9512a33

Twitter/X: https://www.twitter.com/cxexcellence

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Brandt_CX

Check out Michael’s previous appearance here on my blog:

Is Customer Experience Different Around the World? (July 2022)

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2022/07/is-customer-experience-different-around.html

*The Net Promoter Score (NPS) is a well-known measurement used to determine the percentage of customers who would recommend your company to their family and friends, based on a question like this, "On a scale of one to ten, how likely are you to recommend us?"