Val Ackerman
Big East Conference, Commissioner
Respect your team
If you want to accomplish something big, you won’t get very far without a team.
And Val Ackerman knows a LOT about the power of teamwork.
She’s the Commissioner of the Big East Conference and one of the executives behind the iconic “Dream Team” at the ‘96 Olympics. She was also the first-ever President of the WNBA.
And as the new WNBA season tips off May 14th, it’s the perfect opportunity to sit down with Val and get some great insights on how to foster teamwork.
You’ll also learn:
- Tips for leading in high-bureaucracy circumstances
- How to react when someone moves on to a new job
- The mindset you need when the pressure’s high
- Must-hear advice for women leaders
More from Val Ackerman
When the pressure’s on, focus on delivering for your team
Feeling the pressure in a big moment? Focus less on yourself and more on supporting your team. That’ll help you get into the mindset you need to be at your best.
Model the behaviors you want others to develop
If you’re in a position of leadership, remember that people are watching you. Embody the traits you want to see more of. When people can see it, they can be it.
The five "D's" of leadership
For Val, great leadership comes down to these five elements: Doing, Deciding, Delaying, Delegating, and Dividing it all up between you and your team.
Clips
| Clip | Leader | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| The five "D's" of leadership | Val Ackerman | 1:07 |
| Learn to be you | Val Ackerman | 0:53 |
| When the pressure’s on, focus on delivering for your team | Val Ackerman | 1:00 |
| If you have a chance to shadow a great leader, take it | Val Ackerman | 1:16 |
| Balance tried-and-true ideas with out-of-the-box innovationst | Val Ackerman | 1:50 |
| Steward the trust you’ve been given at work | Val Ackerman | 1:26 |
| Model the behaviors you want others to develop | Val Ackerman | 1:13 |
| Stay supportive when people move on to new jobs | Val Ackerman | 0:27 |