An NBA Team Has Been Following Your Career for 13 Years: The Phillip McKibbins Story (Part 1 of 7)

Thirteen years after telling NBA Commissioner David Stern his ideas were crap — an NBA team called to say they had been watching his career ever since.In Part 1 of 7 of the Leadership Sovereignty Podcast's Speaking Truth to Power series, host Ralph Owens and co-host Terry Baylor welcome Phillip Gregory McKibbins — CTO and Chief Innovation Officer of the Dallas Mavericks. Over 30 years, Phillip has worked at Sony Pictures, the Walt Disney Company, ESPN, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and now the NBA. But none of it started with a blueprint. It started with a young technologist in a meeting with the most powerful man in basketball — who refused to stay silent.Phillip recounts the moment he told Commissioner David Stern that everything the NBA was doing with its draft combine was crap, how he spent the next three years rebuilding it, and how 13 years later that moment of courage became the reason the Dallas Mavericks came calling. This is the episode that sets the stage for one of the most powerful seven-part series in the show's history.What you will learn in this episode:- How one moment of courage in a meeting with David Stern changed the trajectory of Phillip's career- Why the NBA tracked his career for 13 years before making the call- How Phillip went from emerging technology at ESPN to CTO of an NBA franchise- Why Aaron LaBerge called Phillip "the technology whisperer" — and what it means for your career- How to position yourself as someone who understands the business, not just the technologyThis episode is for you if:- You are a technology professional who wants to reach the C-suite- You have ever been in a room where everyone was silent — and you had something to say- You want to hear a real-world story of what patience, courage, and consistency produce over time- You are ready to be inspired by a 30-year career built on speaking truth to power***********************************👤View Phillip McKibbins' guest profile, resources, and contact information***********************************Chapters00:00 Introduction and Excitement for the Episode14:12 The Evolution of Becoming a Leader***********************************📺 Watch This Episode on YouTubeClick here to watch the full video of this episode. ***********************************🌐 Visit the Leadership Sovereignty HubEverything you need to lead with clarity, confidence, and strategy — in one place.https://www.leadershipsovereignty.com- Listen to or watch our full episode library- Download free leadership frameworks, guides, and tools- Read in-depth show notes and guest takeaways- Submit your leadership questions or episode topic suggestions***********************************📩 Get Every Episode Delivered to Your InboxJoin the Leadership Sovereignty newsletter and get new episodes, leadership insights, and exclusive resources — plus get instant access to our free AI Toolkit: the practical guide smart professionals use to think clearer, communicate better, and make smarter decisions at work.*Sign up for our newsletter************************************⭐ Help a Leader Find This ShowIf this episode added value to your leadership journey, take 60 seconds to leave a rating or review. Every review puts this content in front of another professional who needs it.🟣 Leave a Review on Apple Podcasts🟢 Leave a Rating on Spotify✍️ Leave a written Review***********************************🔁 Know Someone Who Needs to Hear This?Share this episode with a colleague, mentor, or team member who would benefit from this conversation. Leadership grows when we invest in the people around us.***********************************📲 Follow the ConversationStay connected and join the leadership conversation on social media.▶️ YouTube🔗 LinkedIn📸 Instagram🎵 TikTok🧵 Threads🐦 X📘 Facebook***********************************🎤 Work With Ralph & TerryLooking for dynamic speakers for your next event or leadership summit? Ralph and Terry bring executive-level insight, real-world leadership strategy, and an engaging presence that moves audiences to action.*Connect with us************************************💰 Support Independent Leadership MediaThis show is independently produced to keep the content unfiltered and audience-first. If these conversations are helping you lead better, your support directly funds the next conversation. ★ Support this podcast ★ ***********************************📄 Full Episode TranscriptClick here to view the episode transcript.