The greatest lessons in leadership aren’t found in textbooks—they’re lived, experienced, and told through stories. That’s why we capture and share insights directly from athletes, coaches, and executives who have thrived in the world of professional sports.

Our founders, Karen DePodesta and Michelle Tannenbaum, are no strangers to this world. Married to longtime sports executives Paul DePodesta (Cleveland Indians, Oakland A’s, LA Dodgers, San Diego Padres, NY Mets, Cleveland Browns) and Mike Tannenbaum (New Orleans Saints, Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, Miami Dolphins, ESPN), they’ve had a front-row seat to the dedication, resilience, and leadership that define champions on and off the field. Watching and learning from some of the most remarkable individuals in sports, they realized these lessons could benefit leaders everywhere—in business, in teams, and in life.

Leveraging their extensive and successful business careers and experience, they created On This Topic to bring those powerful stories into the learning and development space. From locker rooms to front offices, from high-pressure decisions to quiet moments of perseverance, the lessons of sports translate into timeless insights for organizations looking to grow stronger leaders and more connected teams.

Because leadership isn’t just taught—it’s lived.