Debbie Laskey's Blog: WINTER OLYMPICS LEADERSHIP SERIES 2026

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 Melanie Bell, based in Northern California. Melanie is the Co-Founder of Strategic Piece, a company that helps B2B businesses generate outstanding revenue growth by bringing together their marketing, sales, and service teams around an information-driven customer experience. However, Melanie is not only about marketing. She founded Leaders Who Fiction, a virtual monthly book club (where we met in November 2023), while running Strategic Piece. Through Leaders Who Fiction, Melanie helps people develop leadership skills by reading fiction and participating in intellectual, business-oriented conversations centered around a selected novel. Prior to Strategic Piece, Melanie was President of Marketing Interface, which she founded in 2014, after serving as Director of Marketing at SURGE Accelerator/SURGE Ventures. Melanie earned a BA in International Development from McGill University in Montreal and an MBA from Rice University in Houston.

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?

MELANIE BELL: I want to start by saying that I’m unbelievably excited it’s time for another Olympics. And there are so many fun winter sports to watch – from the glamorous figure skating and grace of skiing to the terror of things like the skeleton. We’re undoubtedly in for a treat.

I’m most excited to watch ice hockey this year. I follow the NHL closely because hockey is such a fun sport that requires high levels of athleticism. What can I say? Seven years of living in Canada converted me into a mega-fan! It’ll be fun to watch players represent their country and play on different teams than we see during regular hockey season.

QUESTION: What WINTER Olympics sport most “visually” demonstrates teamwork, and why?

MELANIE BELL: Well, hockey does require large teams, so that’s an obvious one. The other sport that comes to mind is pairs figure skating. Let me just say, if I was ever going to let a guy pick me up and spin me around on ice like that, it would absolutely (a) scare the pants off me and (b) require insane amounts of trust and teamwork in the partnership.

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?

MELANIE BELL: I remember watching Surya Bonaly compete in figure skating in the 90's. She was such a powerful skater, and I think the judges penalized her for her strength. Not that I’m a figure skating expert. I remember watching her last performance and wanting to cry right along with her. And let’s not forget everyone’s favorite Jamaican bobsled team from the 1988 Olympic Games in Calgary!

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?

MELANIE BELL: I also loved when Snoop and Martha did that, and I’m very excited that Stanley Tucci will be involved this time around. Other interesting personalities that could be fun — someone who’s popular with kids to get the next generation interested in the events and sports that comprise the Olympics. I also think the Kelce brothers are having a moment, and with their sense of humor and banter, they’d make a great addition as well, at least for the US audience.

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?

MELANIE BELL: We should celebrate any time someone with that kind of credible background and who is from a historically underrepresented group achieves a new position. I’m a believer that diversity makes organizations stronger and perform better, and data backs that up. Kirsty sounds like she’ll bring a lot to the table, and with the past controversies and rumors surrounding the corruption of international sporting events, I hope that this marks a new chapter for the IOC.

Debbie Laskey's Blog

Tuesday, February 17, 2026

WINTER OLYMPICS LEADERSHIP SERIES 2026 - Featuring Melanie Bell

SHARE THIS: Diversity makes organizations stronger and perform better. ~Melanie Bell #OlympicsLeadershipSeries2026 #DebbieLaskeysBlog

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