Live India, Love Football

(It Hasn’t Changed in 20+ Years) I’ve been working in the sports industry for over two decades now, and there’s one question I’ve been asked consistently, across countries, roles, generations, and formats: “What is the most important skill one needs to succeed in the sports industry?” My answer in the early 2000s was simple: Communication skills. And here we are in 2026 and my answer is still exactly the same. If anything, it has only become more important. The only evolution I’d make today is this: Spoken communication skills. In a world where AI can write emails, decks, proposals, strategies, and even speeches, what truly differentiates people is their ability to express , engage , and connect , in real time, as a human being. I’m talking about: • The ability to clearly articulate an idea, opportunity, or vision • The ability to engage one person or an entire room • The ability to listen deeply, remember what was said, and reflect it back meaningfully • The ability to delive...

A very personal update, with an unexpected connection to sport They say it’s a cliché, but clichés exist for a reason. When I held our daughter in my arms for the first time, I fell in love. That part was expected. What I didn’t expect was what happened after . Over the next few days, every time my wife and I looked at our daughter, we would just… smile. Not the polite, Instagram kind. The kind that comes from somewhere deep inside. A quiet, goofy, uncontrollable smile. As if we had achieved something monumental. As if she was our trophy. And suddenly, without trying, my mind went back to sport. Back to my younger days in the US, playing elite-level football (soccer), lucky enough to be part of a really good club team. We won a few championships back then. And after every win, the trophy would sit proudly in the clubhouse. It wasn’t a particularly fancy object. Some metal. Some engraving. Nothing magical about it on its own. But every time we looked at it, something happened. We felt ...