How Storytelling Drives Purpose in Sport – With Radha Balani of Think Beyond

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Sid Bensalah welcomes Radha Balani, Partner and Director of Strategy at Think Beyond, for an honest conversation about purpose, performance, and progress in sport. From her deep experience shaping strategies for some of the world’s most iconic clubs and brands, Radha breaks down how sport can—and should—be a vehicle for social change, commercial growth, and community impact.The episode explores why sport can’t fake purpose, how storytelling connects fans to values, and what it takes to turn corporate talk into measurable action. They discuss bold moves by clubs like Liverpool FC, the shift from philanthropy to shared value, and why data shows purpose-driven brands outperform their peers.Radha doesn’t shy away from hard truths. She calls out systemic issues in the industry, from performative sustainability to gender inequality, and offers grounded, practical advice for sports executives who want to lead with integrity and impact.Timestamps00:00 How Storytelling Drives Purpose in Sport – With Radha Balani of Think Beyond 01:30 The Role of Sports Beyond Results and Revenue 04:26 The Power of Storytelling in Sports 10:07 Translating Purpose into Action 30:01 The Impact of Purpose on Performance30:22 From Philanthropy to Shared Value 32:00 Data Supporting Purpose-Driven Companies 33:49 Challenges in the Sports Industry 35:37 Addressing Inequality in Women's Sports 44:00 The Role of Athletes in Social Change 48:26 Advice for CEOs and GMs 50:08 Inconvenient Truths in the Industry 52:23 Lightning Round Q&A 55:59 Closing ThoughtsWith her trademark mix of honesty, logic, and warmth, Radha gives listeners a clear view of what the future of sport could—and should—look like.Support the show☞ Stay Connected with Pre-Zero Sports Talk!Join host Sid Bensalah and the Pre-Zero Sports Talk community for real conversations beyond the game, where sport meets leadership, faith, performance, purpose, identity, community, and impact.Follow & Engage 🔹 Spotify Video → Watch Full Episodes🔹 YouTube → Subscribe & Join the Conversation🔹 X → @PreZeroST🔹 Instagram → @PreZeroSportsTalk🔹 LinkedIn → Connect with the Community🔹 TikTok → @PreZeroSportsTalk🔹 Substack → Get Exclusive UpdatesYour Voice Matters!🎤 Got feedback or a topic idea?We’d love to hear from you → Send your thoughts here💡 Support the Podcast 👉 Donate.