Visionary Steve Koonin has spearheaded marketing for iconic brands—from Coca-Cola to Turner to the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks. His offbeat marketing ideas– Tinder night, anyone?– and unique leadership approach have reinvigorated the Hawks franchise. In this episode, Steve shares what it takes to break through the status quo and create a culture of innovation that rewards great ideas and risk taking.
Follow Steve: Twitter | Website
Show Notes
- His vision for the Atlanta Hawks franchise (2:55)
- Risk taking in marketing (6:00)
- How to create a workplace culture where people aren’t afraid to fail forward (7:57)
- The biggest mistake new leaders make (9:06)
- Trading core values for core actions (12:00)
- How fear stifles creativity (19:20)
- The idea behind “Swipe Right” night at the Hawks game (20:38)
- Hiring for the right fit (23:38)
- How to reward the right metrics (25:26)
- The biggest influences on his leadership philosophy (28:35)
- His favorite hobby (31:12)
Resources / People Mentioned
- Atlanta Hawks
- Turner
- Coca-Cola
- Tinder Night at Atlanta Hawks
- Sports Illustrated’s Social 100
- Google’s 100 Most Searched Sports Teams
- Atlanta Hawks basketball court program
- Ronald McDonald House Charities
- Sergio Zyman
- Doug Ivester
- Jack Stahl
Recommended For You
Did you enjoy this episode? Then listen to:
- Kat Cole on Authentic Leadership
- Chipper Jones on What Baseball Taught Me About Failure
- Jessie Graff on Superheroes, Ninja Warrious, and Facing Fear
- Laura Gentile on Building A Winning Brand at ESPN
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