Leadership & Sport in Olympic City USA with Vanessa Zink

USA USA USA!!! If you're anything like us, you've been in a haze of Olympics magic this summer. The power of sports to inspire and bring diverse cultures, countries, and beliefs together is undeniable, but what about the role of sports in developing organizational leaders? In this episode, we welcome Vanessa Zink, Chief Communications Officer for the City of Colorado Springs - fondly known as Olympic City USA - to The Upshot Leadership podcast. Colorado Springs is home to the US Olympic Committee, which supports the National Governing Bodies of each sport and is home to a renowned training center where countless athletes come to live and train as they prepare for the ultimate competition.

 

Managing a team of 14 directly responsible for the Mayor's communications, city-wide initiatives, and internal communications for 3,000 employees, Vanessa serves in a high-visibility and high-impact executive role in Olympic City. Previously, Vanessa served in various roles at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee and the U.S. Golf Association, where she served media at major events, including three Olympic Games and several USGA Championships. Vanessa is a passionate sports enthusiast and former college athlete - competing as a gymnast and track & field athlete at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh and going on to become a graduate assistant gymnastics coach at Ball State.

Tune in to learn how her background in sports shaped her career and made her the communications leader she is today. She will discuss building a high-performance team, finding mentorship, setting boundaries, and building a support network in and out of work.