#293 'Sport, Purpose and the Long Game' Ned Wills, CEO at Laureus Sport for Good

About this episode

Ned Wills discusses the impact of Laureus Sport for Good and the importance of long-term thinking in purpose-driven organizations.

Welcoming Ned Wills, CEO of Laureus Sport for Good, to Purposely Podcast - a global foundation that uses sport to end violence, discrimination and disadvantage, working with young people across 40 countries through more than 200 programmes, and chaired by All Black legend Sean Fitzpatrick. Laureus was born from Nelson Mandela's words - that sport has the power to change the world - and 25 years on, Ned makes a compelling case that the organisation is more relevant than ever. But this isn't a story about elite athletes and glitzy awards. It's about what actually makes a purpose-driven organisation endure: deep trust with grassroots partners, a community of 400 volunteer sporting ambassadors, and the rare ability to think in 20-year horizons rather than four-year funding cycles. Ned also reflects on his own unconventional path - sailing, the oil industry, running commercial operations at Harlequins Rugby, and back to Laureus as CEO. He talks about what crossing between the for-profit and for-purpose worlds taught him, why he believes traditional philanthropy alone won't get us there, and what Grant Dalton once said to him on a boat that shaped how he leads. Key Themes Why the…

People in this episode

Host: Mark Longbottom

Guest: Ned Wills

Topics covered

• sport for good
• purpose-driven organizations
• long-term thinking
• community engagement
• leadership
• philanthropy

Keywords

• Laureus
• sport
• purpose
• community
• leadership
• philanthropy
• trust
• volunteers
• grassroots

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Laureus Sport for Good, Harlequins Rugby

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