In this episode our leadership conversation is with CEO of The Sport and Recreation Alliance, Lisa Wainwright. Lisa has held a number of senior roles at Sport England initiating the work on the safeguarding standards, clubmark and volunteering before moving to become CEO at Volleyball England in 2008 and then British Basketball in 2016.  

Internationally she has held roles on the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) World Ethics Panel, European Volleyball (CEV) Credentials Panel as well as being a Director of the British Olympic Association. She is currently a Technical Director for International Volleyball (FIVB) and is a member of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Governance Commission and in 2018, was ranked number 12 in the Top 100 Executive LGBT+ Allies by FT OUTStanding and became an Ambassador for Women on Boards UK. 

With such depth and breadth of leadership experience to draw on this conversation is full of insight into the mindsets, behaviours, skills and communication of leadership. Learn More about The Sport and Recreation Alliance and find Lisa on LinkedIn.

During our conversation, we talked about:

• Taking a holistic approach to people and the skills of holistic leadership
• Shared and reciprocated vulnerability
• Catching physical reactions and pausing
• Values and vision
• Calling out and dealing with defensiveness
• Different ways of speaking up
• Using humour
• Consistent messages, individually tailored
• The importance of people who are not like you
• Courage in leadership
• Saying ‘I don’t know’
• Billie Jean King
• Celia Brackenridge
• Personal Boardroom

LISA’S LETTER + QUOTES

Lisa’s letter to Billie Jean King both appreciates and celebrates the ‘mark made not just on the tennis stage but on the world stage’ and the continuous courage it took to do that. In a moving letter Lisa’s admiration of how Billie Jean King has ‘shone a light on the possible’ and the impact that has had on her as a leader serves as a starting point for a conversation about the role of courage in leadership.

“A person is a person in so many different ways.”

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“I’m still just a teacher - yes, my title is CEO, but what I try to do is help people develop themselves.”

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“I don’t know.”

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“You need people you trust around you, and a collective belief in what you are trying to deliver.”

On our sister podcast, Towards Leadership, we will look in more detail at tools, reflections and practical application of the ideas, insights and inspiration we get from our guests on Leadership Letters. An episode focused on Lisa’s insights will be coming soon. If you are already subscribed to Leadership Letters, look out for it in your podcast feed.

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