What does it take to foster belonging and community impact in one of the most competitive, high-pressure industries in the world: professional sports?
Join us for a live conversation featuring:
Dr. Kara Allen, architect of the NBA’s first Chief People, Impact and Belonging Officer role and former executive leader with the San Antonio Spurs
Dr. Hooria Jazaieri, award-winning professor and researcher, lead author of the case study Leading Social Impact from the NBA C-Suite
Kia Afcari, Director of Greater Good Workplaces at the Greater Good Science Center, University of California, Berkeley
Drawing from Dr. Allen’s experience with the San Antonio Spurs, we’ll explore her fascinating journey designing and leading the first Chief People, Impact and Belonging function in all of professional sports. Dr. Allen will share how, in the wake of the Uvalde Elementary School shooting and other societal pressures, she and her team helped the Spurs prioritize community and societal impact as an equal and interrelated goal alongside building a championship-caliber team and ensuring financial strength. We will also highlight Dr. Allen’s values-based leadership philosophy, grounded in compassion, belonging, authenticity, and her belief that business success is inextricably linked to societal well-being.
In this conversation, you’ll learn:
How leaders build trust and psychological safety without sacrificing performance
Why people thrive when they feel a genuine sense of belonging at work
How sustained excellence depends on a strong organizational culture that holds under internal and external pressure
What organizations in any sector can learn about the link between financial success and community impact
This conversation goes far beyond the court. It is designed for business leaders, managers, culture-builders, and anyone interested in science-backed strategies for creating communities where people can thrive, even in moments of conflict and change. Few leaders choose to embed belonging and social impact at the core of a major sports franchise. Even fewer have done it under public scrutiny and competitive pressure. Leave this conversation motivated with practical insights you can immediately modify to fit your team, your organization, and your community.
Register here for this free online event. Please note, this event has been standardized to the Eastern Time Zone.