Erika Ayers Badan
Barstool Sports, Former CEO
Acknowledge the tough stuff
When Erika Ayers Badan became the CEO of Barstool Sports, they didn’t even have a P&L. Eight years later, they’re a media empire and a household name worth over $550 million.
Listen to this conversation to get an inside look at how Erika led that effort, and what she’s up to now as the CEO of Food52.
You’ll also see how Erika leads with honesty and directness. She doesn’t shy away from the tough stuff, and that’s important if you want to build trust, solve problems, and get people working together toward a big vision.
You’ll also learn:
- The strategy every upstart brand can use to beat the big guy
- How to get the most out of your creative team members
- What it takes to build an engaged online following
- Advice for women who work in male-dominated industries
More from Erika Ayers Badan
Give people space to work, even if it means mistakes happen
Give your team members the freedom to succeed (or fail) on their own. It might get messy, but it’s critical if you want them to learn and grow.
Digital literacy is now a leadership fundamental
If you want to lead with credibility these days, you’ve got to be a student of the internet. It’s the gateway to practically every audience.
Keep your feedback timely
Don’t wait for those annual reviews to give feedback. When you see behavior worth praising or correcting, do it in the moment.
What it takes to build an online following
Success online comes down to three things: a clear point of view, relentless consistency, and a willingness to show up in real time.
Clips
| Clip | Leader | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Give people space to work, even if it means mistakes happen | Erika Ayers Badan | 1:48 |
| How to work well with creative people | Erika Ayers Badan | 1:28 |
| Digital literacy is now a leadership fundamental | Erika Ayers Badan | 1:28 |
| What it takes to build an online following | Erika Ayers Badan | 1:07 |
| In a turnaround, the solutions you need are inside the building | Erika Ayers Badan | 1:32 |
| Acknowledge the tough stuff with your team | Erika Ayers Badan | 0:52 |
| Keep your feedback timely | Erika Ayers Badan | 0:32 |
| How to push people (without pushing them away) | Erika Ayers Badan | 1:04 |