Cynt Marshall, the first Black Female CEO in the NBA and former AT&T executive, shares her incredible journey from growing up in public housing to leading major organizations with a philosophy grounded in joy, integrity, and people-first leadership. She opens up about her early lessons, personal losses, and how she transformed a workplace in crisis into a national model of inclusion and culture. We also discuss Mark Cuban, the Mavs' new ownership, the Luka trade, and the future of the Mavericks. Cynt’s take on leadership, her perspective on the Mavs, and her unwavering optimism make this one of our most interesting conversations yet.

In This Episode

• [01:38] The Origins of “Cynt the Sprint”

• [02:50] The Three L's of Leadership: Listen, Learn, Love

• [04:30] Killing the Light and Changing the Culture

• [07:30] Joy vs. Happiness: A Philosophy of Resilience

• [09:54] Breaking Barriers at UC Berkeley

• [13:30] Grace at Delta Gamma: A Lesson in Belonging

• [15:30] Corporate Growth at AT&T & Navigating Bias

• [20:00] The Call from Mark Cuban

• [34:00] The Mavericks Culture Crisis

• [38:00] Introducing CRAFTS: A New Leadership Framework

• [42:00] Fan-Centric Thinking & Building Mavs TV

• [48:30] From Customer Service to Coaching Staff

• [52:00] The Role of Faith in Corporate Culture

• [55:20] Mentoring the Next Generation of Leaders

• [59:10] Why Diversity Isn’t Enough—Inclusion Matters

• [01:03:00] What Legacy Really Means

• [01:07:00] Getting Real About Work-Life Balance

• [01:12:00] “You’ve Been Chosen”: The Message Behind the Memoir

Resources Mentioned

You've Been Chosen by Cynthia Marshall

The Power of Nice by Linda Kaplan Thaler & Robin Koval

Tom Leppert's Article on the Luka Trade

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Fred Perpall is not just the CEO of The Beck Group and the President of the USGA—he’s a powerhouse of purpose, grit, and vision. From humble beginnings in The Bahamas to becoming a national leader in architecture and golf, Fred shares the pivotal moments that shaped his career, his leadership philosophy, and why golf is more than just a game. This episode explores how he built a meaningful life by refusing to compartmentalize work, play, and purpose.

In This Episode

[00:00] Meet Fred Perpall: Bahamian roots, basketball dreams, and a journey to leadership

[04:00] Golf’s Unexpected Gift: How a private club and a generous offer changed everything

[08:00] Seeing Opportunity, Not Division: Learning from success instead of resenting it

[12:30] Sports, Self-Esteem, and Showing Up: From athlete to top of his class to CEO

[17:00] On Work Ethic and Confidence: Outworking everyone and staying grounded

[21:30] From Architect to CEO: Curiosity, mentorship, and leading with vision

[26:00] Managing Across Generations: What’s changed and why it’s a good thing

[30:00] Architecture + Construction: Making two worlds work under one roof

[34:00] Tech, AI & Innovation in Construction: How Beck is preparing for the future

[38:00] Golf as a Mirror of Life: Integrity, community, and learning from the game

[42:00] Adaptive Open & Inclusion: Making golf accessible for everyone

[45:00] Golf’s Growth & Equity: Expanding the game without losing its soul

[48:00] Topgolf & New Entrants: Embracing change while keeping the core

[51:00] Golf Ball Rollback: Why USGA is speaking for the future of the game

[53:00] Golf Ball Rollback Debate: Why performance limits matter and protecting tradition

[56:00] Access & Equity in Golf: Fred’s vision for a more inclusive, community-based sport

[58:30] Golf as Cultural Connector: From the barbershop to the country club

[1:01:00] Global Perspective: What the U.S. can learn from how other countries embrace golf

[1:04:30] Leadership and Legacy: Mentorship, servant leadership, and building up others

[1:08:00] USGA’s Long Game: Investing in the future of the game—especially junior and adaptive players

[1:11:30] Final Word: Faith, family, and making your whole life count—not just your title

Resources Mentioned

• The Beck Group

• USGA (United States Golf Association)

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Ken Hersh, energy entrepreneur and current CEO of the George W. Bush Presidential Center, shares his unconventional journey from liberal arts major to pioneering a whole new industry in energy private equity. From early business failures and bold pivots to investing with Richard Rainwater and creating Natural Gas Partners, Ken breaks down the highs, lows, and lessons learned. He also dives into public policy, the evolution of America’s energy landscape, and the fine line between good ideas and good investments.

In This Episode

[00:00] Intro: Who is Ken Hersh?

[01:07] Early Days and Business Plan Origins

[02:00] Founding NG Partners in a Pre-Private Equity World

[05:00] Resilience, Background, and the Fastest Tortoise

[07:30] Education, Princeton, and Finding His Own Path

[10:00] Morgan Stanley, Energy Markets, and Breaking In

[13:00] The Fortuitous Call from Richard Rainwater

[16:00] Bold Moves and Moonlighting with McKinsey

[20:00] Birth of Natural Gas Partners and First Investments

[24:00] Pivoting Strategy When the Market Shifted

[28:00] Betting on People vs. Assets

[30:00] What Makes a Good Founder?

[34:00] Investing Philosophy and Risk Alignment

[36:00] The Energy Transfer Home Run

[41:00] Mentorship from Richard Rainwater

[45:00] Reflections on Energy Policy and Public Perception

[50:00] U.S. Energy Independence and Shale Revolution

[55:00] The Realities of Energy Transition and Clean Tech

Resources Mentioned

• The Fastest Tortoise by Ken Hersh

• Natural Gas Partners (NGP Energy Capital)

• George W. Bush Presidential Center

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