Lead From the Side

This weeks' episode is the Season 2 finale and features Tony Sutton who joins Spencer on the show to discuss his time as the CEO and COO at the RFL along with his other leadership positions such as: Chair of Fitmums COO of Hull College Group CEO of Hull FC Captain of my Sunday League football team This show is made in partnership Performance Leadership, a co-venture of Western Bulldogs and Vi...

In this week's episode, Gary Hetherington joins Spencer on the show to discuss his time with Leeds Rhinos, the Rugby Football League (RFL), Super League, Premier Rugby League, the Leeds Building Society Foundation and beyond. This show is made in partnership Performance Leadership, a co-venture of Western Bulldogs and Victoria University. You can follow Gary and the organizations he is associ...

In this week's episode, Spencer has talks with Trent Oeltjen who played in the MLB for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers. He also earned an Olympic Silver Medal representing Australia & is an expert on high performance sports. Post his playing career, Trent founded Legacy Sports an elite, wellness-first, high-performance program that holistically develops the complete athle...

In this week's episode, Spencer has talks with  Jeremy Edwards, Asia Pacific Rugby League COO and Director of PNG Hunters.  Previously, Jeremey has held sports administration roles with the Sydney and Beijing Olympics, and most recently, the London Olympics and Paralympics as the Venue General Manager of Greenwich Park; an event which then-president of the International Olympic Committee, HRH...

In this week's episode, Spencer has talks with  Colin Mansbridge, CEO of Crusaders RFC in Christchurch, NZ. He has also been the: Head of Agribusiness, Bank of New Zealand (2017) General Manager Consumer Queensland, ANZ (Brisbane) - (2010) Director & Adviser, Sacombank (Vietnam) (2007) Head of Mortgages, Bank of New Zealand (2000) Colin discussed what it takes to lead through tough times,...

In this week's episode, Spencer has talks with Matti Clements.  She is currently the EGM and Director at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS). There, she was also the:  -Acting Chief Executive Officer, -People Development and Wellbeing, Director and -Deputy Director Athlete Wellbeing and Engagement   Previously, she also was the -Director and Senior Psychologist of Mental Edge Consulting a...

In this week's episode, Spencer has talks with Jon Dutton OBE.  He is currently Chief Executive of British Cycling and has been: ·      Director of Cycling World Championships 2023 ·      Major Events Panel Member, UK Sport ·      Chief Executive, Rugby League World Cup 2021,  ·      Tournament Commissioner RLWC2017 and  ·      Chief Operating Officer RLWC2013. Jon discusses his leadership ex...

In this week's episode, Spencer has talks with Justin Rodski, CEO of Melbourne Storm rugby league football club.  In his extensive career, he has also been: Chief Commercial Officer, Chief Customer Officer, and Chief Marketing Officer while at Essendon Bombers FC as well as a producer and journalist both at the Australian Football League (AFL) and Channel 9. This show is made in partnership P...

In this week's episode, an Englishman (PJ Harshorne), a Canadian (Kerry Goulet), and an American etc (Spencer Kassimir) sit down in Australia to talk ice hockey. Sounds like the beginning of a joke but today it is the forum for a fantastically insightful conversation about their leadership at Melbourne Ice and, inherently, internationalism in the world of sport. PJ Harshorne is and has been i...

In this week's episode, Spencer has talks with Simon Johnson, Chair of the Rugby Football League (RFL) in England.  In his extensive career, he has also been: Director of Corporate Affairs - The FA COO, England 2018 Board Member, Swim England Board Member, International Rugby League  This show is made in partnership Performance Leadership, a co-venture of Western Bulldogs and Victoria Univers...

In this week's episode, Spencer has talks with Family of League (formerly Men of League) Chair, Helen Wood Grant who's extensive leadership career spans from the sports world and beyond. This show is made in partnership Performance Leadership, a co-venture of Western Bulldogs and Victoria University. Guest Details- Website: familyofleague.org.au Twitter: @familyofleague LinkedIn and othe...

In this week's episode, Spencer has talks with the AFL Western Bulldogs' 2016 Grand Final Captain Easton Wood., After being drafted in 2007, he made his AFL debut in 2009, and further consolidating his place in the team in 2010. Since then he had a decorated football career.  2015 Charles Sutton Medal winner, the Club’s best and fairest, Premiership player and captain of the side in 2016...

In this week's episode, Spencer has talks with Graham Annesley, currently the head of elite football operations for the NRL (National Rugby League), a former chief executive officer of the Gold Coast Titans, chief operating officer of the NRL and a leading rugby league referee. Graham was a former member of politician in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing Miranda and was th...

David Stevenson is the CEO of the NBL Spencer, however at the time of this interview, David was GM of Operations at the AFL (Australian Football League). In this unique interview, Spencer talks to David about the importance of great leadership and the impact it has had on his career.  Previously, Stevenson was the CEO of Western Bulldogs and had a 17 year career across the world at Nike. Starting...

In this week's episode, Spencer has an in-depth conversation with the first Australian to ever play in the Super Bowl, Ben Graham. Talking from his home base in Geelong, we discuss Graham's transitions, innovations and hurdles from his time playing for the AFL's Geelong Cats and then playing in the NFL for the New York Jets, New Orleans Saints, Arizona Cardinals and then Detroit Lio...

In this episode, we chat about leadership in an in depth interview featuring current Fijian Drua CEO Mark Evans.  Marks previous roles include Director of Rugby at Saracens FC; CEO of Harlequins FC (during the London Broncos/Harlequins RLFC effort); CEO of Melbourne Storm; Chairman of Vitality Netball Super League and CEO of Global Rapid Rugby. Mark also played first XVs for Saracens FC and was th...

This week we chat about the trials and tribulations of leadership in an in-depth interview with Raelene Castle , CEO of Sport New Zealand & High Performance Sport New Zealand . Previously, Castle was the CEO Rugby Australia , the NRL club Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs , and Netball New Zealand. Raelene discusses what she’s been up to, how to attract and retain talent, how she got started and h...

We're here to chat about leadership in an in depth interview about the NRL, Rugby League and a whole lot more with Super Coach Roy Masters and Melbourne Storm GM Frank Ponissi. Masters is the former coach of the Western Suburbs Magpies where he is named Coach of the Century and St George Dragons where he is their longest serving coach. Since 1988, he has also been a columnist for the Sydney M...

When you're at the top, you need to know how to lead from the side. Join host Spencer Kassimir as he interviews the biggest names in Australian sport, to learn what it takes to lead from the side.  Leading in a CRISIS? Leading during times of INNOVATION? This show provides insight into how seasoned leaders in the pressure cooker industry of sports are able to effectively influence and mobilis...