Leaders Worth Knowing Podcast
The biggest names in the global business of sport sit down with Leaders Editorial Director, James Emmett, and Content Director, David Cushnan.
Recent Episodes
Oct. 15, 2026
Rwanda's Grand Prix, Manchester City's punishment, and Netflix's next big football play
Netflix has acquired the exclusive broadcast rights in Spain to the 2030 men's Fifa World Cup, a move which underlines its live sports ambition and marks a first foray into football in Europe. James Emmett and David Cushnan are back in the studio after a frantic Leaders Week London to examine the streaming giant's latest move, and reflect on Netflix's VP of Non-fiction Series & Sports Brando Riegg's appearance on stage at Stamford Bridge. Elsewhere, Rwanda has signed a 10-year agreement with F
Oct. 15, 2026
Microsoft CTO Simon Crownshaw on AI, sport as a crucible for innovation, and how he picks sponsorship deals
Simon Crownshaw is Microsoft’s international factotum: Worldwide Director for Media & Entertainment, CTO, and AI evangelist, he is also the key to the sports and entertainment marketing arsenal at Microsoft. He joins James Emmett to discuss how artificial intelligence is transforming the sports industry, from content creation and production workflows to fan engagement and the future of media itself. Simon's career has taken him from Disney, Pixar and Industrial Light & Magic to Microsoft, wher
Oct. 9, 2026
Leaders Week London in review: NBA Europe, Alexis Ohanian, Snoop Dogg and other tidbits from Stamford Bridge
The curtain has fallen on Leaders Week London at Stamford Bridge, and James Emmett and David Cushnan are joined by an all-star lineup to reflect on the major themes of the Summit. Next League Founder and CEO Dave Nugent, Trippant Founder and CEO Tom Scott and Abe Madkour, Publisher and Executive Editor of Sports Business Journal share their highlights. They include the latest from on and off stage on NBA Europe, as EMEA Managing Director George Aivazoglu provided a status update; Europe's venu
Oct. 7, 2026
Leaders Week London - day 1 as it happened: Scott O'Neil, Kevin Demoff, Francesca Bodie and a cast of thousands
As the dust settles on the first day of the Summit at Stamford Bridge, James Emmett and David Cushnan gather their thoughts - and those of guests Shivs Thevarr, VP of Global Partnerships at the Milwaukee Bucks; Francois Westcombe, MD of Ticketmaster Sport EMEA; and Steve Gera, Former President, Grand Slam Track. They reflect on some of the big themes to emerge across the stages and on the floor, including the leadership lessons coming out of LIV Golf CEO Scott O'Neil's morning session; Louise Y
Sept. 30, 2026
Addressing critical needs: Inside the PIF sports strategy
Two of the PIF’s most senior sports insiders, Mohamed Alsayyad and Faisal Al Sabah, join the Leaders Worth Knowing podcast this week to unpack the latest iteration of the Saudi Public Investment Fund’s strategy for sports and entertainment. Mohamed Alsayyad is Head of Marketing, Corporate Brand & Strategic Advisory at the PIF. He’s been with the organisation for over 10 years and has seen sport develop in importance across three different eras – and three distinct strategies. He now runs sports
Sept. 27, 2026
Who’s watching women’s sport? With Chelsea Women CEO Aki Mandhar
Aki Mandhar, CEO of Chelsea Women, is the first guest in a new series, from Leaders and research agency GWI, exploring demographics, attitudes and priorities amongst fans of women’s sport. GWI’s Director of Research Services Peter Kent joins David Cushnan, to frame up the conversations through GWI’s extensive data on the topic. In this episode, Mandhar explains how Chelsea think about, segment and then serve its fans, on and off the field; how the club is creating distinct event experiences fo