It is likely that someone who excels in one area is more likely to do so in others.  A survey reported in the Wall Street Journal, compiled by Bain Consulting partner Patrick Manning has highlighted which of the Olympic sports are most likely to produce a leader in the boardroom as well as the locker room, and the one to go after is rowing.
Manning compared the post Olympic business careers of 840 US and GB athletes across a range of seven sports.  Rowing produced no less than 8% of medallists going onto senior roles as board members, partners or managing directors of large firms well ahead of the second and third sports which were taken by swimmers and sailors.
Ireland’s close affinity with sport has perhaps allowed a greater crossover with plenty of examples of success.  Ronnie Delaney, our most recent track Gold medallist went on to head the old B&I Ferry company while Hugo MacNeill has held a number of very senior roles at Goldman Sachs.
Dedication, commitment to performance and working as part of a team, whether that is with coaches or team mates are some of the reasons why sport is seen as a good breeding ground for business.  An Olympian or other sporting star can often add lustre to a business whether in a sales, marketing or more general board level, as was highlighted in last week’s Sport for Business Round Table on Sport and Employment.
Together with Sport for Business members Sigmar Recruitment and Boardmatch we will be hosting a business breakfast briefing in September on ‘Making business better through Sport’.  Details will be finalised in the coming weeks but if you would like to be considered for a place at the briefing, please contact us today.
View all the latest news on the commercial side of Irish sport
Find out more about how Sport for Business can be of benefit to you
Subscribe today for the free Sport for Business daily news digest