Replay: Leading as a Generalist with Trail Blazers’ Senior VP of Innovation & Technology Christa Stout

Madam Athlete

Hi friend! It’s Giselle. I’m jumping on here real quick to remind you that I’m taking a break after over three plus years of weekly episodes to rest, reset, and recalibrate. In case you need a little woman in sports career journey wisdom while I’m away, I’ve pulled this episode from the archives.
This conversation with Christa Stout aired in March 2022 and it is the most downloaded episode of all time. So you’re going to love it. I know I did.
Since the last episode, Christa is still with the Portland Trail Blazers but has now advanced to the position of Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer. This past year she’s helped launch the organization’s new G League affiliate, the Rip City Remix.
Enjoy!
Episode 87:
On today’s episode, I’m talking to the Portland Trail Blazers’ Senior Vice President of Innovation & Technology Christa Stout.
Christa played 5 sports in high school and 3 in college. She has traveled internationally doing development work and has seen the value of sport for social change. Because of a persistent interest in corporate social responsibility, Christa decided to go to business school. As a generalist trying to find her future career, a professor advised her to list out exactly what she was looking for in a job. By considering the qualities she needed in the workplace instead of the job title, Christa found exactly what she was looking for working in professional sports, working first with the Portland Timbers and now the Portland Trail Blazers.
We talk about:
●How taking advantage of every opportunity that came her way in international development, gives Christa more skills than she could ever list on a resume.
●How taking the time to define her values and the qualities she needed in her workplace helped Christa find great jobs after business school.
●The importance of keeping a growth mindset to continue learning the ins and outs of every task as a generalist responsible for leading specialists in their fields.
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