Today, we welcome Dr. Molly Hayes Sauder to the Power Seat. As Dean of the Business School at York College of Pennsylvania, Dr. Sauder shares what it was like stepping into the Power Seat early and how her experience as a high school and collegiate athlete with a background in sports business shaped the way she leads, shows up, and gives 110%. We talk about how putting in extra effort sets up your next move, not just for yourself but for the people around you. We gained unexpected insights into the business of sports, including the parts most people never see or talk about.

This conversation is about leadership, continuous learning, and building paths for others to succeed.

Take your seat.

Learn more about Dr. Sauder:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mollyhayessauder/

Episode Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Dean Molly Sauder

00:42 Entering the Business of Sports

01:22 "Start with what you know about yourself"

04:06 Seeing Sports Through a Business Lens

06:31 Lessons from College Volleyball

08:09 Taking Leadership Lessons from Taylor Swift

08:39 Importance of Building and Utilizing A Social Network

10:23 "This is a leadership skill not many people talk about..."

12:48 Navigating a Male-Dominated Industry

14:53 Reality of the Sports Industry

18:02 Full Transparency of the Abusive Side of the Industry

20:58 Stepping into the Dean Power Seat

21:31 Dr. Sauder's Approach to Tackling New Challenges

22:04 Today’s effort unlocks tomorrow’s role.

23:50 Changing Self-Talk for Success

25:05 Learning From Everyone and Everything

26:23 The Value of Surrounding Yourself With Diverse Perspectives

29:00 "If I wasn't continuing to learn, I would probably not be a leader people want to be around"

30:23 What You Take Away From Uplifting Others

33:15 "Growth is not always a straight line"

36:05 Is there a secret to success?

38:12 The Advantage Gained from Hands-On Experiences

41:29 Champion of Students AND Their Visions

42:36 Seats of Power Tradition: Takeaways and Closing Question