E30: Lance Bradley

In this episode, we sit down with Lance Bradley, whose career trajectory has taken him from the fast-paced world of automotive engineering and management with industry giants like Ford and Mitsubishi, to the fiercely competitive arena of professional rugby. This episode was recorded in December 2023. As of January 2024, Lance has embarked on a new challenge as the CEO of Osprey Rugby Club, after a transformative tenure at Gloucester Rugby Club.

Lance’s journey is a testament to the power of adaptability, strategic thinking, and passion for excellence, qualities that have propelled him from the automotive industry to the pinnacle of sports management. Throughout the episode, Lance delves into the pivotal moments of his career, starting with his early days at Ford, where he honed his skills in innovation and leadership, to his strategic roles at Mitsubishi, where he played a critical role in steering the company through periods of significant change and challenge.

Rich and Lance engage in a deep dive into what it means to drive impact within a business, regardless of the industry. This conversation is a departure from our usual content, focusing on the intricacies of leadership and the importance of building a culture of high performance.

Listeners will gain a unique perspective on the commonalities between succeeding in the corporate world and the world of professional sports. Lance’s foundational learnings from his tenure in the automotive sector have been instrumental in shaping his approach to leadership in sports management. He discusses the importance of team cohesion, the art of making tough decisions, and the relentless pursuit of excellence.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the dynamics of leadership, the challenges of managing high-performance teams, and the journey of transitioning across vastly different industries while maintaining a trajectory of success.