Inclusive Leadership in Action: Russ Ewell’s Journey from Sports to Systems Change

Russ Ewell — Founder of E‑soccer and Digital Scribbler; CEO of Hope Technology Group; host of the Lead Different Podcast; and father of children with disabilities. His inclusion journey began when his eldest son was born with Down syndrome, which led him to create inclusive sports programs so kids with and without disabilities could play together.When Russ Ewell saw his son segregated in youth sports, he built a different model—launching E‑soccer to bring kids together on the same field. In this conversation with Tim Villegas, Russ unpacks what inclusive leadership looks like: empathy, compassion, emotional intelligence, and the humility to keep learning. They also discuss the everyday “micro‑moments” that either build or undermine inclusion (like at a coffee shop), and why culture—not just programs—determines whether people gain independence or remain isolated. Tim closes by sharing his own path from psychology student to inclusive educator, sparked by a classroom observation and strengthened by planning around student strengths. Complete show notes and transcript: https://mcie.org/think-inclusive/russ-ewell-inclusive-leadership/