With the eyes of the world on Italy for the 25th edition of the Winter Olympics, which events are you looking forward to? In the spirit of previous leadership series here on my blog, I've asked a dozen leadership and marketing experts to respond to five questions with the hope that both the questions and answers lead you to think about leadership, personal branding, and the Olympics in new and interesting ways.
For today's post, I'd like to introduce Eric Jacobson, based in Kansas City, Missouri. Eric has three decades of experience in successfully leading employees and teams through periods of revenue growth, new product development, and re-engineering. He is an experienced mentor and coach and holds an MBA Degree from Keller Graduate School. His passion is helping individuals to become effective leaders at work, within organizations, and wherever they are called upon to lead and inspire. Eric's writings about leadership and management appear regularly on his blog, and he's been a valued contributor to my many leadership blog series over the past 15 years!
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’s a story of success or of disappointment. –Tatjana Schoenmaker (South Africa’s most decorated Olympian) #OlympicsLeadershipSeries2026 #DebbieLaskeysBlog
QUESTION: What is your favorite WINTER Olympics sport, and why?
ERIC JACOBSON: I enjoy watching many of the WINTER Olympics sports, however my two favorites are alpine (downhill) skiing and the luge. Having skied when I was younger, I relate to that sport better than any of the other winter sports, and I have an appreciation for both the difficulty and grace of the sport. Watching luge is fascinating to me as well, because it’s a sport I can’t ever imagine trying, especially when you consider lugers reach speeds of over 87 miles per hour feet-first. It’s dangerous and exhilarating.
QUESTION: What WINTER Olympics sport most “visually” demonstrates teamwork, and why?
ERIC JACOBSON: Ice hockey. Like many team sports, I agree with this description of ice hockey: "It is not a one-player show; it's a symphony of different talents working together harmoniously. This is where the magic of teamwork comes to life. You learn to communicate effectively, coordinate with your teammates, and make split-second decisions that could change the course of the game."
SHARE THIS: A team sport is not a one-player show; it's a symphony of different talents working together harmoniously. ~KatzBrosHockey via Eric Jacobson #OlympicsLeadershipSeries2026 #DebbieLaskeysBlog
QUESTION: According to Suzanne Robb, COO of Alloy, “Define what victory means to you, and keep that vision in mind. You’re the one who gets to determine when you’re making progress, what success means, and what your focus should be. When you get a win, take time to celebrate. In business as if life, you’ve got to run your own race.” With this quote in mind, which Winter Olympics event or result stands out in your memory, and why?
ERIC JACOBSON: The most memorable is the U.S. ice hockey team’s earning the men’s gold medal when they competed against the Soviet Union team during the Lake Placid 1980 Olympics. Even though the Soviets were the overwhelming favorites to win, the U.S. team comprised almost entirely of collegiate players, won the game 4 to 3. This dramatic upset and “Miracle on Ice,” as it became known, transcended into legend, and in 2000, the Associated Press named the win as "the top sports moment of the 20th century."
QUESTION: During the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, entertainer and businessman Snoop Dogg used the hashtag #FollowTheDogg and shared his Olympic experiences on 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, Snoop’s involvement was intended to attract a new audience to the Olympics. If you were in charge of the Winter Olympics, who would you invite to attract a new audience, and why?
ERIC JACOBSON: Great question. And it is a tough choice to select just one person. I believe that even though the Winter Olympics reach a diverse audience, a significant portion of viewers are older adults and those from higher income and educated backgrounds. Therefore, to attract a new audience, finding a person admired, inspired, and followed by younger individuals – early in their education journey and careers – could be a good strategy. Possibly Drew Barymoe, Jennifer Hudson, Ed Sheeran, Ariana Grande, or Bruno Mars.
QUESTION: The 2026 Winter Olympics will be the first Olympic Games under the leadership of International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Kirsty Coventry. She is a former Zimbabwean politician, sports administrator, and former Olympic swimmer and world record holder. She is also the first woman, first Zimbabwean, and the first African to serve as IOC President. According to Reuters, “Kirsty Coventry smashed through the IOC’s glass ceiling in March 2025 to become the organization’s first female President in its 130-year history.” What are your thoughts about this development for the world’s biggest multi-sport organization – and its future?
ERIC JACOBSON: Like my support for when more women enter top leadership positions at companies around the globe, it’s encouraging to see Kristy Coventry break through the glass ceiling as she assumes her new role with the Olympic Games. As with any new leader, my hope is she will bring fresh perspectives and strong leadership skills, and that she will advocate for inclusiveness and unity within the Olympics.
A final reminder, as you watch the competitions, make a note on your calendar to swing by #DebbieLaskeysBlog each day through February 22nd for leadership and marketing inspiration. A small interruption to the series will take place on February 20th to celebrate "National Leadership Day," then the Olympics series returns on February 21st. A series recap will be featured on February 22nd. Enjoy the Olympics!
Image Credit: Olympics.
Celebrate "National Leadership Day" on February 20, 2026 with Eric Jacobson here on my blog!
Read Eric's previous appearance here on my blog:
SPRING LEADERSHIP SERIES 2025 – Featuring Eric Jacobson (March 31, 2025)
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2025/03/spring-leadership-series-2025-featuring_01077719335.html
Meet Eric at this link:
Blog: https://ericjacobsononmanagement.blogspot.com
Check out the hockey website Eric mentioned:
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