EPISODE · Dec 9, 2025 · 1H 4M
#020 - Tony Faulkner - What It Really Takes to Build a Sports Business
from Philomath · host Richie O'Brien
In this episode, Tony Faulkner, co-founder of VSI Executive Education and former performance leader at Manchester City and Blackburn Rovers, takes us inside the reality of building a business in the sports industry. He shares how his background in elite football, psychology, and neuroscience shaped the foundations of VSI, why the industry initially doubted the vision, and how the company grew into a global platform for developing sporting directors, executives, and leaders. Tony opens up about the importance of self-awareness, managing pressure, learning from mistakes, and why effective leadership starts with understanding your own behaviours before trying to influence others. Tony also reflects on the personal side of the journey, from the curiosity that drove him to study multiple disciplines to the challenges of staying grounded while running a business for more than 15 years. He talks about resilience, high standards, intrinsic motivation, and the lifelong process of refining who you are.Timestamps:(00:00) Introduction to VSI Executive Education(01:18) The Journey to Founding VSI(04:53) Overcoming Initial Challenges(07:03) Embracing Mistakes and Learning(11:27) Preparing for Challenges(14:07) The Importance of Reflection(19:09) Feedback in Leadership(22:45) Evolution of Leadership Styles(27:24) The Balance of Responsibility in Leadership(30:59) Learning from Mistakes(32:53) Navigating Team Dynamics and Individual Growth(34:39) The Journey into Neuroscience and Psychology(39:19) Applying Neuroscience in Sports Management(43:02) Life Lessons from Sports and Business(47:48) Intrinsic Motivation and Personal Standards(52:00) The Pursuit of Continuous Learning(57:48) Rediscovering Joy and Light-heartedness in LifeFind Tony: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tony-faulkner/Find Richie:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@richieobrienxInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/richieobrienx/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@richieobrienxLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richieobrienx/
Embed this episode
Ready to play
#020 - Tony Faulkner - What It Really Takes to Build a Sports Business
No transcript for this episode yet
Similar Episodes
No similar episodes found.