We are in a time where women holding elite positions of leadership should not be a surprise any more, but of course it is. Every time a ceiling is shattered or a step is taken towards a new frontier by someone crossing a boundary built by gender, race, sex or creed, the world rightfully takes notice. Last week another wall was crossed when the Hamilton Honey Badgers of the fledgling Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), which is slated to tip off in May named Chantal Vallée head coach and general manager. She’s the first woman in history to hold both positions on a men’s pro team. The response has gotten worldwide exposure, mostly seen as a great next step vs. a push for a disruptive startup to gain headlines. Vallée has been coaching teams on various levels for years, so the decision that this place in time was right to make a statement by team president John Lashway to have Vallée take this historic step was now. Clean slate, great opportunity. Where will it go? It certainly has gotten off to an interesting start.
We were able to catch up with Chantal, whose bio you can read here, and asked her about the role…
This opportunity has become quite the news story, how do you stay focused on the task at hand. How valuable is time management and how do you manage your time?
I was hired to build a successful team, and this is my only focus. I am happy to respond to media and answer their questions. Since this is groundbreaking, it is important that I be available.
I see my time management like drawers that open and close. One drawer might hold a label such as “recruiting players”, another “finding staff”, another “media”, and yet another “personal self-care” or “rest”. When I open a drawer, I am present, I am in the moment, and I focus on the task at hand. When I close it, it’s closed until I get to it again tomorrow, or next week.
The best coaches are teachers first, who are some of the folks who have influenced you?
John Wooden and Pat Summitt. Wooden for his pyramid of success, his methodical teaching, his integrity and his faith. Summitt because of her intensity, her competitive spirit, and her daring coaching consistently with zero tolerance for anything but excellence.
We live in a world of growing personal brand, how do you manage all that is coming at you from a brand standpoint. And speaking of brands are there brands that are looking to tie to you already, and who would you like them to be?
My most important personal value is integrity. In that sense, I make sure to remain true to myself. I do not base my self-worth on media status, job, successes…or failures! This allows me to stay grounded. Who I am and what I do are two different things. My identity is in who I am; not what I do.
I haven’t received any interest from specific brands for a specific sponsorship. At the same time, several hundred tweets did see my name tagged to many significant brands like the WNBA, Nancy Lieberman, the Big 3, and great world class athletes to name a few. I would value being tied to any brand that keeps it real and genuinely cares about people.
The media focus on you will be intense. What are the key messages you want people to walk away with?
- I dedicated my life to bettering myself as a leader and as a human being. With an inward focus I grew and changed. Only then did the outward transform around me.
- Investing in people as human is key. Winning is the by-product.
- If we want to be excellent, there’s no room for ego. This is a phrase I use all the time for myself and for my teams.
Basketball seems to become the most progressive sport in terms of opportunity now for women. Why is that vs say, soccer or even hockey?
I think it may have to do with a bit of history and a lot of opportunity. Women’s basketball evolved at the same time as the men’s game and was used in American women’s colleges as a means to exercise. It is a sport that not only has been practiced by women for a long time but also saw mostly women as coaches for the longest time. And Pat Summitt. Because of her winning record she drew so much attention to the game and that women are capable of being great coaches.
Is there a key message that you keep coming back, and if so what is it?
In today’s world, whether male or female, anyone can be hired based on competence and track record.
