#151: Big Ten Conference Commissioner Tony Petitti: Leading with diverse partners and engaging unmanaged change

Sport and the Growing Good

Tony Petitti leads the Big Ten Conference during a period of significant change in college athletics. We addressed a range of questions including: What are his daily routines? Who does he collaborate with? What is unmanaged change and how does Tony engage it?

1. Self-awareness in making the transition into his area of leadership. “The most important change” in Tony’s career.

2. The value of “being on the ground” in his work.

3. Always listening and having enthusiasm. “People gravitate to people who care.”

4. The best athlete strategy.

5. “Give people more” to do. Reward them not with just compensation, but “with more work.”

6. “The best thing you can do for a young person is to widen their skillset.”

7. Questions to consider: What you do. Who you do it with. How much you make. The third is least important.

8. Keys to making sense of the college sports environment: Listening.

9. Why it’s important to have a meaningful connection with the SEC.

10. Unmanaged change. “If you’re a leader and you’re trying to run your organization and most of the change is happening outside of your decision-making, that’s a problem.”

11. Working with Presidents and Chancellors. Getting them the information they need so that they can make decisions. Having group calls but also individual check-ins.

12. Being highly transparent and sharing information. “I’d rather share more.”

13. “Working for the Presidents and Chancellors but with the Athletic Directors.”

14. 30-40% of his calls are spontaneous, unplanned.

15. Tony’s advice to aspiring leaders: Show that you care. Listen. Have broad interests and skills. Connect yourself to good people.