iCapital’s Post

🌍🎉 A Global Celebration of Excellence 🎉🌍 Congratulations to France and the entire world for hosting the Olympic Games 2024, a spectacular event that brought us all together to witness the best of human spirit and performance. 🇳🇱 #TeamNL Shines Bright 🇳🇱 I’m incredibly proud of The Netherlands, #TeamNL, for securing an impressive 6th place overall. For a country of nearly 18 million, this is nothing short of extraordinary. 🏆 The Winning Formula: Strategy - Structure - Culture 🏆 In my business, I often emphasize the importance of getting the balance between Strategy, Structure, and Culture right. The Dutch sports organisation NOC*NSF exemplified this with its mission to "connect and inspire The Netherlands through the power of sports". Their goal? A top 10 position at the Olympics, which they surpassed with flying colors. 1️⃣ Strategy: NOC*NSF set a clear mission to place The Netherlands among the top 10 at the Olympics, backed by a long-term strategic plan that ensures consistent progress and focus on achieving this goal. 2️⃣ Structure: They appointed a strong leadership team, including an outstanding Chef de Mission, and provided world-class facilities for athletes to train, compete, and recover. This well-organized structure has been crucial in supporting the athletes' success. 3️⃣ Culture: NOC*NSF nurtures a national culture that deeply values sports. This culture not only drives high participation rates but also ensures that athletes become role models, inspiring the next generation to engage in various sports, whether it's picking up a tennis racket, a volleyball, a hockey stick, or starting marathon training. As many of us return from holidays, let's take a moment to reflect on the Strategy - Structure - Culture balance within our organizations. It’s this balance that drives both sporting and business success. #Olympics2024 #TeamNL #Leadership #BusinessStrategy #Inspiration #Culture #PerformanceExcellence

Sports do not build character. They reveal it 🏆🌟💫 Reflecting on this timeless wisdom by John Wooden, I'm inspired by the profound impact that watching sports has on our lives. In Euro and Copa America 2024, teams showcased resilience, teamwork, and determination—qualities that transcend sports and resonate in our personal and professional journeys. Carlos Alcaraz's historic victory at Wimbledon 2024 epitomizes perseverance and emotional intelligence, demonstrating how dedication and focus lead to triumph. His journey inspires us to pursue excellence with unwavering determination. In June 2024, Islam Makhachev's victory over Dustin Poirier highlighted strategic brilliance and resilience in the octagon, showcasing the mental fortitude needed to succeed. Simultaneously, Real Madrid's UCL 23-24 triumph illustrated leadership and teamwork on a global stage, emphasizing the importance of strategy and collective effort in achieving goals. These sporting events teach us invaluable life lessons—resilience in the face of challenges, teamwork in pursuit of common goals, and the discipline to excel under pressure. They remind us that sports not only entertain but also inspire, shaping our character and values in profound ways. Let's continue to draw inspiration from these stories as we navigate our paths, embracing the transformative power of sports in both personal growth and professional development. **#LifeLessons #SportsImpact #PersonalGrowth #ProfessionalDevelopment #Leadership #Wimbledon2024 #Euro2024 #CopaAmerica2024 #UCL23_24** --- Feel free to share your reflections on how sports have influenced your own journey!

SUSTAINABILITY IN GREATNESS USA Team showed they are still the best in the world. They are full of talents such that they can create two teams and still win but they need to play their own game which is up tempo. The game with Serbia was not their game since it's a controlled game that benefitted Serbia. Indeed, basketball is not just a talent game but a mind game such that whenever you put five players on the floor that their mind and body are in sync with one another. In the end it is a teams sport. So congratulations to USA team! With LeBron at 39 yo, KD at 35 yo, Curry at 34 yo, one question lies which is sustainability of USA's basketball greatness in the world in succeeding years since there is no doubt that other countries are narrowing the gap. Sustainability, succession planning, talent and capacity building are key in business and in sports too (since sports is a business). For now All the best to USA Team for winning the Gold!! https://lnkd.in/gnFDwqMu

In 2018, the USA failed to qualify for the World Cup. Devastated and with no team to support, my eyes turned to Iceland 🇮🇸. The unlikely rise of an island nation with less than 400,000 people quickly turned into a David vs. Goliath story, especially when they drew against football giants Argentina. (And yes, it inspired my passion for Iceland...) With the Euros and Copa America tournaments now in full swing, the true power of storytelling is back in action. Instead of the David vs. Goliath story of 2018, we now witness the last hoorahs of legends like Modric and Kroos, and the intense battle of Group E, where all teams are tied (3,3,3,3). For marketers, we love "the script," a story that captivates a nation's fans and draws you in, no matter who you support. For me, the perfect script is Toni Kroos going out in style; for others, it's witnessing Ronaldo's "perfect assist." Football fan or not, just as these teams create compelling narratives, everyday brands need a strong story, too. Whether it's a comeback, an underdog tale, or a legacy of excellence, your brand narrative can create an emotional connection with your audience. What's your brand's script? Or, if you're a football fan, what story pulls you in? #Euros2024 #CopaAmerica2024 #Marketing #Storytelling #Branding #MadisonTaylorMarketing

MEET THE NEW BEYOND SPORT... The positive impact of the Paris 2024 Olympics offered a great time to reflect on Beyond Sport’s now 16-year journey.   Four years after our founding we had the ultimate boost of the London 2012 Olympics and we sure did take advantage of it. We created a great platform for discussion & collaboration on sport's role in social change – with Muhammad Ali, David Beckham, Tony Blair, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson and then Mayor, Boris Johnson.    On the front pages of national and international newspapers day before the Opening Ceremony, with Beckham and Ali on stage with a brilliant Afghan refugee who had become a cricket coach and translator after being fostered to the UK. The icing on the cake for me was the next day when I got to carry the Olympic torch down Camden High Street. The early days of Beyond Sport were about providing opportunity to talk about sport's potential role in the world, connect the deeply commercial world of sport with NGOs & charities on the ground and to elevate and reward excellence. We brought together politics and business at the highest level, we inspired and informed leaders in sport and provided a new recognition for sport for development.  Our convenings were the true power of Beyond Sport – connecting people, inspiring those in power and opening funding models. Unquantifiable impact.   So, while I was not hanging out with world leaders this time around, I reflected that just prior to the Paris Games I had been in the city to see a panel discussion about our new Olympism365 Innovation Hub with the IOC and Women Win – an initiative advancing new ideas and technologies to maximize sport’s impact. This partnership represents how Beyond Sport has changed – from catalyst to protagonist. In our first 10 years we granted $1.56m and in the last five we have granted $10.83m. 150 NGOs with receive grants in 2024. Beyond Sport has moved into its next phase. Partnerships don’t just include the IOC and Women Win, but Under Armour, New Balance Foundation, Unilever, Z Zurich Foundation, Sun Life and Team Snap.   As we celebrate this transition and the positive change it will deliver, we are more connected to the change – delivering more programs in communities that are tackling some of the world’s biggest social issues in extremely complex times. Sport is now recognized as a mainstream solution. We know the benefit that comes from a brilliantly devised program in a safe space with an outstanding coach.   Looking ahead, we envision a world where sport drives opportunity, equity and community. Our new brand leans into the role we believe sport can play to address our most pressing challenges. It will help drive our renewed mission to champion people and communities through our programs and partnerships. It speaks to passion; progress and the platform sport can provide to create and scale impact through collective action. Join us on our journey to create a more progressive world through sport.

❌ Brands - take a page from the USA's book 🇺🇲. Those are Poland's Olympic medalists from Paris: 🇵🇱 Aleksandra Mirosław, the gold medalist and record holder in women's speed sport climbing 🧗♀️and Julia Szeremieta, the 20-year-old sensation who brought Poland its first Olympic boxing medal in 32 years and its first-ever medal in women's boxing. 🥊 For them, the Olympics are now over. There will be laurels, congratulations, interviews... ❌ But that's still not enough. In a country obsessed with football, volleyball and (even) ski jumping, they don't have superstar status. ➡️ To transform athlets from occasional heroes into idols who inspire future generations, you need more than just Olympic enthusiasm. 🔴 You need money. I'm not talking about government and strategic investments in sports here ➡️ I'm talking about solidifying athletes' image and recognition, which in turn increases their media and sponsorship value. Let them be true #idols. 📺 It's also a nod to the athletes themselves, who act as magnets, drawing millions to their TV screens (and the advertising that comes with it). So why not follow the lead of #Comcast and #XFINITY, who, with their "Congratulations" ad campaign, genuinely thanked US 🇺🇸 athletes for their Olympic success? It's a simple, powerful message. The production isn't fancy or complicated - footage from their youth and early successes juxtaposed with their #Olympic triumphs. ❌ No overt brand exposure. Wouldn't it be a fantastic campaign in your country if, before the evening News, in cinemas, on YouTube and across social media, there was a campaign paying tribute to the athletes? ➡ "Your effort. Our pride. Thank you." It's easy for brands to attach themselves "before" and "during." It's worth considering what comes next and how a brand can position itself subtly "in the background" of an athlete's success.

I was recently very inspired by young Finnish athlete, Mustafe Muuse, who was awarded as the Role Model at National Sports Gala. He gave a powerful speech that resonated deeply. He spoke about the principals of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, through his own experiences, in his own words, with positive and encouraging tone. Muuse spoke in the context of (competitive) sports, but in my view, his words fit well also in the work context and business. Three points from his speech I find worth of borrowing and reflecting, as I believe that being successful in those supports us in achieving aspirational business goals: - Let's not only dream, but ensure that every colleague in the organization feels valued, not despite their diversity, but for it - Let's aim to see business not only as competition, but as way of building bridges and increase hope - Let's make sure that if one of the colleagues, or even competitors, fails or falls, we are not the ones judging, but we help to lift them back on their feet Thank you Mustafe Muuse for inspiration! You are a true Role Model. Link to the speech (in Finnish): https://lnkd.in/d-Ta5y6W

If you've worked with All Colors, you know we love drawing parallels between communication strategies and sports. Our Managing Director, Kristof De Roeck, takes it up a notch—suggesting companies plan and organize like the world’s top athletes did for Paris. Instead of just chasing short-term wins, why not aim bigger and set your sights on dominating in four years? Curious? Read the full story on Business AM: https://lnkd.in/eZTYi-kX

Happy Lunar New Year! As we celebrate new beginnings, it's the perfect time to strengthen our high-performance sports systems and support our athletes on their journey to success with a big cycle of major events ahead for Asian based athletes with SEA Games – Asia Games – Continental Championships – World Championships – Olympic Games. I'm working on an initiative designed to ensure athletes and coaches receive the right resources at the right time to compete at major international events. Through structured planning and a needs analysis, we can align efforts across agencies and other partners to maximize impact and enhance the long-term success of sports programs. Having implemented this process successfully previously, I’ve seen firsthand how informed decision-making leads to better performance outcomes. Now, I’m keen to bring this approach to more sports systems, working closely with athletes, coaches and sports leaders with their key stakeholders. If you’re passionate about building a stronger sports system, let’s connect! Drop a 🏆 in the comments if you want to see athletes thrive in 2025 and beyond. Let’s work together to build a high-performance strategy that delivers sustainable success for our athletes and inspires the nation. #HighPerformance #SportsLeadership #AthleteSuccess #StrategicPlanning #SportsDevelopment #TiiAConsulting #PhilippineSports #IndonesianSport #HongKongSport #VietnamSport #basketball #volleyball #football