177 Haley Carter on Building Championship Teams and Culture

Haley Carter, President of Soccer Operations for the Washington Spirit, joins the Sports Business Leaders Podcast to discuss leadership, building championship teams, and creating a high-performance culture in professional sports.A U.S. Naval Academy graduate, former Marine Corps officer, professional goalkeeper, coach, and attorney, Haley has built one of the most unique careers in sports. Before joining the Spirit, she helped lead the turnaround of the Orlando Pride, building the roster that won the club’s first NWSL Shield and NWSL Championship.Haley shares how lessons from the military have shaped her leadership style, why culture and fit are critical when building a roster, and how the small decisions made every day ultimately define a high-performing organization.She also offers advice for companies looking to work with professional sports teams, including the importance of doing your research, finding the right decision-makers, and understanding how busy sports executives actually evaluate new opportunities.