Professional sports industry

Photography: Tracy Wilcox/Golfweek Arnold Palmer won more than 100 amateur and professional golf tournaments by relying on the skills that his father, a greenkeeper, had taught him. Charismatic yet humble, and a risk taker on the course, he leveraged his popularity with fans into business success, paving the way for future generations of celebrity athletes. […]

Photography: Sean Pollack Some call him the greatest coach in history. Before retiring in May 2013, Sir Alex Ferguson spent 26 seasons as the manager of Manchester United, the English football (soccer) club that ranks among the most successful and valuable franchises in sports. During that time the club won 13 English league titles along […]

All too often, leaders fail to explain what they mean when they talk about organizational structure, financial results, their own jobs, time management, and corporate culture. Left unclear, these concepts can throw a firm into turmoil—but when given proper focus, they confer extraordinary leverage.

When our society talks about leaders, we focus on formal roles, such as the CEO. This view undervalues the role of informal leaders-team members who influence...

Analysis of college coach compensation shows how hard it is to align pay with performance.

The World Cup has drawn on national pride to captivate hundreds of millions around the globe in the most-watched TV event ever. Most people watch the...

Work can’t be meaningful if we don’t know how to say goodbye.

Bryant Pharmaceutical's flagship product, a popular arthritis medicine called Seflex, is selling well--but not well enough. With generic versions due...

Despite a raft of scandals, Americans can’t get enough football.

Some teams, by the very nature of their work, must consistently perform at the highest levels. How do you--as a team leader, a supervisor, a trainer,...

Daily frustrations add up.

When Merritt Paulson tried to build a new sports stadium in Portland, he faced vitriolic protests. Here’s how he learned to negotiate in the spotlight.

The captain of the U.S. women’s soccer team is an outspoken advocate for social justice.

The NFL wide receiver on becoming the best he could be

Although construction is one of the riskiest things any company will do, upper management often ignores the risk or treats it as if it's uncontrollable....

Over the past 20 years the social media influencer industry has completely rearranged the way information and culture are conceived, produced, marketed,...

Joe Girardi wrote in a third-grade essay that he wanted to play for the Chicago Cubs and grew up to do exactly that. After retiring from catching, he coached for the New York Yankees and managed the Florida Marlins for one year, at the end of which he was both fired and named National League […]

The renowned tennis player reflects on founding the Women's Tennis Association Tour, being outed as gay, her work to make tennis diverse, and more.

With the new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) in the bag, the lock-out finished, and the NFL season ready to start uninterrupted, it is worth asking...

Quarterback, coach, GM, or owner?