Here is the second in what will continue to be a series of key communicators and their thoughts during this challenging time. We started with Kirk Reynolds, Ray Ridder of the Warriors and Josh Rawitch of the Diamondbacks, and now spread out to other s areas; esports, the NHL, Bundesliga and the NBA. We thank David Higdon of Riot Games, Dee Kundra of FC Bayern Munich, Mike Altieri of the LA Kings and Barry Baum of the Milwaukee Bucks for taking the time. Want to share your insights, they are welcomed, just email me joefavorito1@yahoo.com and we can set it up.
Mike Altieri is now SVP of Communications at the L.A. Kings, a place he has been for almost 25 years. He has seen his shares of ups and downs over the years, so his spot atop the leadership of one of the most proactive franchises in hockey is extremely valuable.
Other than the obvious of no games, what has been the biggest surprise you have been dealing with, either as a one off or on a daily basis?
I think the biggest surprise has been the adaptability. Our entire operation has seamlessly moved to remote functioning and the transition has been really good to date. Granted much of my function is content-based and everyone is super-focused on keeping our fans engaged as best we can but to see the resilience of our group in finding means to be creative with technology and communication has been very encouraging. On a larger scale I have been pleasantly surprised watching our communities come together for each other. Just going for walks and passing total strangers I have found the general nature of people to be full of warmth and empathy for each other.
Is there a special lesson learned so far in this?
Probably for me it would be that there is always options for solutions. None of us have ever been through a cultural and social experience such as this yet if you push for solutions you will discover options that you didn’t think existing. The key is to push yourself to take steps. There is no roadmap here. You take the steps as individuals and you take the steps as teams. Not doing anything or being paralyzed by fear will only make it more difficult to discover options and solutions. Through some great advice I started an exercise to engage with all of our part time workers on the game entertainment side of our business. We have been doing 2-3 Zoom calls per week with about 4-5 people at a time and giving them a chance to give feedback on their work experience. Normally these are people I would only see in passing at our games and this exercise has allowed me to pursue my own education and really dig down into all of their needs, challenges and possible ways to improve going forward. It has been extremely beneficial to me and something I wouldn’t normally have the bandwith to do.
Whats been the biggest challenge in the process?
The lack of actual human connection. Video calls are great and they help maintain relationships but I miss the personal engagement with the people I cherish the most – outside of my immediate family. I can’t see or spend time with my brothers, their families and my closest friends. My colleagues, who mean the world to me, just being able to connect with them within the office environment or traveling together on business trips. Those experiences with them are so important and valuable to me. Working in sports as part of a team, you miss the games and competition, and everyone pushing each other to achieve one common goal where the results play out before your very eyes. That is a huge hole in my life right now.
Who are some of the people you have seen emerge as leaders in this so far?
Well I have been very inspired by some of our leadership in state government, including here in California and Los Angeles. And selfishly I LOVE what John Krasinsky has done with Some Good News. Just beautiful. But in my industry, AEG CEO, Dan Beckerman, has continued to shine as our corporate leader. Working at the team level, Dan has always lead our entire company in a team-based fashion. Everyone has a role of value and importance and his ability to lead by example at an extremely high level of a very large company, without losing connection with everyone continues to be impressive. He was also just named to Gavin Newsom’s new state task force on business and recovery for the State of California which is a credit to his knowledge and influence.
What is the message that you as leaders in your business on the comms side have been able to convey to staff?
The hardest part is the uncertainty. No one truly knows where this is going so I try to just maintain engagement and provide as much reassurance and feedback as I can. It’s an uneasy and concerning time for all of us so I think just being open and willing to talk about the anxiety and concern we all share is helpful. Having a large staff, not just on the communications side but throughout our marketing and content development team, I try to do a brief check-in with as many people I can in small group or one-on-one settings. Everyone wants to feel valued so I think as a leader that is one thing I can easily to do help ease the stress. Giving each person an opportunity to just catch-up, what’s happening in their environment and hear their challenges and concern – even if I can’t provide answers or solutions – I am hopeful that brings value to them.
This job is now more 24/7 than ever before probably, how are you able to break from being constantly on?
For me it would be having my family constantly under the same roof together. It makes it easy. My son is a senior and was in the midst of his last year at home before going off to college. On the down side he won’t have a prom, or a senior year of interaction with his classmates, and his graduation will be remote. But my wife and I now get some very valuable and intimate time with him – time that normally would have been fleeting and inconsistent. Everyday we sit down for lunch and dinner as a family and we just talk, laugh and engage with each other. Music is always on in the house and on most evenings we end up together in our den watching movies and shows. It’s truly been a gift.
David is one of the more well traveled leaders in the sports communications industry, with leadership positions at the LPGA, NASCAR, CART (now IndyCar) the ATP Tour and now Riot Games. His perspective as the gaming and esports world adjusts is always welcomed.
Other than the obvious of no games, what has been the biggest surprise you have been dealing with, either as a one off or on a daily basis?
Very pleased to see the quick action and innovation taken by traditional sports to embrace esports. This is a win-win that will benefit both industries in the years ahead.
Is there a special lesson learned so far in this?
One thing that differentiates Riot Games from others historically is the transparency of our communication and focus on direct outreach to fans. The benefits of a fan-first communications team and approach have been crystal clear during this global pandemic.
Whats been the biggest challenge in the process?
1. Replacing valuable “fly-by” discussions with teammates; and 2. Continuing to connect with colleagues in different departments/areas of our business.
Who are some of the people you have seen emerge as leaders in this so far?
Obvious, perhaps, but Adam Silver’s stock continues to rise
This job is now more 24/7 than ever before probably, how are you able to break from being constantly on?
My daughter’s presence WFH with us has been a silver lining. She has joined us here in Santa Monica from Chicago, where she works for the agency VMLY&R as a strategist. Her presence has shifted the time of my daily run–using her grandfather Hal Higdon’s new app– from morning (my preference) to afternoon (her preference). I’ll take it though!
Dee Kundra leads Marketing and Communications for the Americas for one of the world’s storied sports brands, FC Bayern Munich. Now in London awaiting the chance to return to the U.S., we wanted her perspective on how football, and FCB are handling things.
Other than the obvious of no games, what has been the biggest surprise you have been dealing with, either as a one off or on a daily basis?
I think it was very interesting for me to see our fans’ reaction to isolation and lockdown. They were adamant that they wanted to see only positive messages/content from the club, relive great memories and escape from reality. They didn’t want to see more negative news about the pandemic. I expected this to a certain extent but it was a very strong message from the outset.
Is there a special lesson learned so far in this?
Generally, for company leaders the importance of building and investing in your communications/media department is now clearer than ever as this is often the only department that can function externally during times of crisis.
What’s been the biggest challenge in the process?
At this time sports media are keen to fill their outlets with content. The biggest challenge for someone in my position is to fulfill all of the requests that are coming in.
Who are some of the people you have seen emerge as leaders in this so far?
For me, individual athletes are leading the charge here. FC Bayern players, including Robert Lewandowski, Leon Goretzka and Joshua Kimmich were amongst the first to donate money to help the battle against COVID-19, generating millions. Athletes are also using their time at home to build their profiles and really connect with their fans. I’d be interested to see some statistics of how their followings have grown during this time.
What is the message that you as leaders in your business on the comms side have been able to convey to staff?
We are the only external function for the club right now. It is our time to be super creative and highlight the immense value we bring to the FC Bayern family.
This job is now more 24/7 than ever before probably, how are you able to break from being constantly on?
It’s very difficult to switch off from work at the moment, especially when you work across time zones. I find that I have to be very disciplined with myself and when I switch off my laptop for the day I do my best to disconnect completely. Another important point to mention is taking care of yourself and your sanity first. That way you can provide better support to your team and those that are relying on you to keep a clear head to navigate this period.
Barry is now Chief Communications Officer at the Milwaukee Bucks after doing outstanding work at BSE Global and the Brooklyn Nets. We wanted to see what things were like in Wisconsin, and an additional NBA perspective is also always welcomed.
Other than the obvious of no games, what has been the biggest surprise you have been dealing with, either as a one off or on a daily basis?
I’m surprised by how quickly all of us have adapted to working from home and getting into a daily rhythm. It’s been very satisfying to be part of a team that has remained closely knit and not missed a beat during the past six weeks. Our work lives, and in large measure our personal lives, are based on a basketball schedule and knowing what’s coming up. But through this new uncertainty we are staying together and supporting each other, albeit remotely.
Is there a special lesson learned so far in this?
Crisis situations can bring the best out in people. In rallying around each other, we are showing determination, creativity, teamwork, kindness and empathy. It’s about staying positive and caring about your colleagues and people you associate with.
What’s been the biggest challenge in the process?
The lack of in-person interaction is not just challenging, but is miserable. That’s really the basis of our work. So it’s critical to reach out to colleagues, reporters, producers and others that you would normally speak with on a regular basis to see how they are. From a work perspective, it’s a challenge to know how much the public wants to hear from players, coaches and senior management during this continuing tragedy. It’s a fine line, but, as a communications team, we are doing our best to manage it. In addition to providing player interviews for local media content, we continue to share positive initiatives by the organization, such as this Saturday when Fiserv Forum will be used to distribute 2.5 million non-surgical face mask kits that will hugely help the community.
Who are some of the people you have seen emerge as leaders in this so far?
From overall leadership, NY Gov. Cuomo has been an outstanding leader throughout this crisis. His daily briefings have been brilliant and honest and compassionate. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has led the way in the sports world, from the moment he put the NBA on hiatus to each of his thoughtful and transparent interviews. In running our organization, Bucks president Peter Feigin has demonstrated great leadership by providing regular communication to the executive team and the entire staff. He has held several virtual companywide Town Halls and sends a weekly update to the staff, as well. He’s also instituted a companywide contest by challenging the staff, in small teams, to come up with well thought out business initiatives that we can consider implementing in this new world we are in. His accessibility and compassion have been appreciated throughout the organization.
What is the message that you as leaders in your business on the comms side have been able to convey to staff?
I regularly reach out to department leaders to see how we can support their business, whether by providing internal or external message points or by helping with new business or community objectives during this time. We also share pertinent information provided by the NBA or by local health officials.
This job is now more 24/7 than ever before probably, how are you able to break from being constantly on?
Weather permitting, I go for a run every day, often shoot hoops with my kids in our driveway, walk our new puppy (named Brooklyn) several times a day, connect with friends or colleagues via Zoom or by phone, and have dinner with my family.
Thanks to all for sharing their thoughts and experiences…hearing from some of the best in their fields hopefully will continue to help others keep things going…every day is closer to the end of this!
