After more than three decades in the technology sector, I have come to appreciate that innovation can originate from the most unexpected places. Despite this open-minded approach, I never anticipated that a lacrosse field would serve as a source of business wisdom, particularly since I was not an active participant.
Over the past four years, I have been a spectator at my daughter's college lacrosse games at the University of Indianapolis. During this period, her team has achieved remarkable success, winning four consecutive conference titles and making four national championship bids, culminating in one national title.
The resilience, teamwork and determination exhibited by these young women have been exceptional. Their recent final matches of the season highlighted the valuable lessons about leadership and collective success that they have imparted to me—lessons which I can apply within my own team at Nationwide.
The first lesson is that teams win together, not as individuals. In a sport where teams often rely on a few star players, this team defies convention. They thrive as a collective force; when opponents focus on one player, others step up seamlessly. This principle applies equally to business: true success lies in collaboration rather than individual brilliance.
The second lesson revolves around perseverance through tough situations. The captains of this year's team are four seniors who remain from an initial freshman class of 12. They have weathered numerous storms together, including COVID disruptions and three coaching changes in three years. Their ability to adapt and lead under pressure is a quality shared by many successful business leaders.
The third lesson concerns assimilating new members using a bottom-up approach. When you have a deep company culture—even with turnover—the team stays strong. This was evident when a fifth senior transferred from another school in her junior year and an incoming class of freshmen committed to a coach who had left.
The fourth lesson is that greatness requires challenge—on and off the field, these women challenge each other for continuous improvement. As one captain aptly put it, "we don't have to tear each other down to build each other up." This principle is also crucial for sustained corporate success.
The final lesson is about giving your all. The five graduating seniors demonstrated this through their academic and athletic achievements. As a parent, I am proud of my daughter's accomplishments and confident that the skills she developed on the field will serve her well throughout her career. As a leader, I am grateful for the opportunity to learn from her and her team and look forward to applying these lessons in the future.