Full Circle: Bringing a Lifetime of Learning Back to the Atlanta Braves

Last week brought a rush of nostalgia, gratitude and deep reflection as I got the chance to speak to the Atlanta Braves' ticket sales team in the very stadium that first sparked my Major League dreams 34 years ago. Though my playing days ended long ago, baseball paved the path to my role as CEO of Learnit by instilling a passion for continual growth that I now get to share far and wide. Getting to give back to the organization that first believed in me by talking with their talented staff about leadership felt like coming full circle in the most beautiful way.

In my talk, I shared the challenges I faced when my baseball career ended early—from grieving a lost identity to discovering a new purpose. We discussed essential principles like avoiding comparisons, building connective habits despite uncertainty, and leading with compassion.

But perhaps my favorite part of the day was a team-building exercise I led after my talk. Attendees paired up to interview each other and then share what they’d learned by taking on the identity of their partner to introduce “themself.” Watching their creative energy and curiosity about another connected me profoundly with the people who are carrying on the talent development I so benefited from early on and reminded me why I'm so proud to continue serving organizations in all industries behind the scenes today.

I left feeling lifted by the laughter and wisdom. My deepest thanks to Dan Earnes and Paul Adams for inviting me to speak as they carry the torch empowering talent within the Braves organization. It was surreal and magical to represent Learnit while reconnecting with the team that set my growth journey into motion long ago. Just like skill-building, life has a way of circling back when we keep nurturing relationships with care.

I welcome any excuse to return to the ballpark again soon! But whether halls of fame or less glamourous organizations, Learnit’s mission remains helping companies build success from the inside by levelling up skills and collaboration. My days competing on the field taught me that world-class cultures arise from  the daily habits and choices of each team member. I'm honored to continue passing those lessons on. Go Braves!

Standing in Truist Park sharing my story and Learnit's growth mindset principles with the very Atlanta Braves ticket sales team felt like coming full circle with the team that had drafted me decades earlier. I shared the challenges I faced when my Major League dreams came to an end--from grieving a lost identity to discovering anew purpose and we discussed essential principles like avoiding comparisons and building strong habits. But perhaps my favorite part of the day was a team-building exercise I led after my talk. Attendees paired up to interview each other and then share what they’d learned by taking on the identity of their partner to introduce “themself.” Watching their creative energy and curiosity about one another connected me profoundly with the people who are carrying on the talent development I so benefited from early on. Deep thanks to Dan Earnes and Paul Adams for inviting me to speak as they carry the torch empowering talent within the Braves organization. Go Braves!