The Power of Mentorship and Trust in Building a Championship Culture with Scott Howard
The Athletics Of Business
What does it take to build a championship culture that lasts? For Scott Howard, it starts with mentorship, trust, relationships, and a commitment to putting the team above yourself. In this episode of The Athletics of Business, host Ed Molitor reconnects with longtime friend Scott Howard, currently completing his 11th season with the Denver Nuggets organization after nearly four decades in basketball, including 17 years coaching in the college game and over two decades in the NBA. At the heart of this conversation is what truly builds championship culture. Scott shares how growing up in Iowa...
info_outline
One Team, One Heartbeat: How Human Connection Drives Transformation Before the Scoreboard Shows It with Meghan Long
The Athletics Of Business
Why do the same teams keep winning without the most talent? Is it because they’ve learned to embrace the grind, celebrate small wins, and lead people as humans first—so they’d run through a wall for each other? In this episode of The Athletics of Business Podcast, host Ed Molitor is joined by , Area Vice President of US Surgical Sales at . As a former Division I Lacrosse captain at UNC-Chapel Hill, Meghan understands what it takes to build a winning culture. Today, she brings those same principles into her work, leading high-impact growth and turnaround efforts across the medical device,...
info_outline
Connecting Like A PRO: The Four Underlying Motivators Every Leader Needs to Master
The Athletics Of Business
What if every frustrating conversation, every missed connection, and every stalled coaching moment with your team could be traced back to just four hidden forces, forces you've never been taught to see? In this episode of The Athletics of Business Podcast, host Ed Molitor is joined by Paul Bramson, elite leadership trainer, global keynote speaker, and author of Connecting Like A PRO®, to explore the hidden drivers behind every conversation, conflict, and coaching moment. Paul reveals the four underlying motivators that shape how we respond under pressure: the Need to Be Liked, the Need to Be...
info_outline
The Reset Mindset: How Strategic Focus Drives Leadership in a Distracted World
The Athletics Of Business
Do you ever feel pulled in a hundred directions at once, with notifications buzzing and priorities constantly shifting? In a world of constant distractions, competing priorities, and unprecedented change, the ability to focus has become one of the rarest and most valuable leadership skills. But according to Penny Zenker, focus isn't just about paying attention. It's about strategically directing your energy toward what truly matters. In this episode of The Athletics of Business Podcast, host Ed Molitor sits down with Penny Zenker, internationally known as "The Focusologist," to explore how...
info_outline
Leading with Competitive Character: Building Connected Teams That Perform and Care
The Athletics Of Business
In this episode of The Athletics of Business Podcast, host is joined by , Vice President of Sales at . In this encore episode, Will shares insights into his leadership philosophy, drawing from his experiences as a former football player at Indiana University and his current role leading a powerhouse team at Agios. Throughout the episode, Will shares his core values of competitive character, which he defines as the ability to perform under pressure, ethically, and consistently. He dives into how these principles shape his approach to team culture, leadership, and achieving success in the...
info_outline
Ten More Feet: How Resilience and Faith Make the Extraordinary Possible
The Athletics Of Business
Some people chase summits. Others spend the rest of their lives talking about the one they have already reached. Mark Pattison refuses to look in the rearview mirror. In this episode of The Athletics of Business podcast, host Ed Molitor welcomes back Mark Pattison, former NFL wide receiver for the Los Angeles Raiders, mountaineer, entrepreneur, and author of the new book Finding Your Summit: How to Build Resilience and Faith to Rise Above Life’s Challenges. Mark became the first NFL player to climb the Seven Summits, including Mount Everest, but the mountains are only part of the story. This...
info_outline
Beat Yesterday: Competing Within to Win Together
The Athletics Of Business
In this episode of The Athletics of Business, host Ed Molitor is joined by Jake Thompson, the Chief Encouragement Officer at Compete Every Day. Jake takes us on a journey through his entrepreneurial path, from starting his brand with t-shirts sold out of his car trunk to building a global movement worn by leaders in 62 countries. Jake discusses his books Compete Every Day, Lead Better Now, The Line, and his upcoming release, Beat Yesterday. He explores how competition and collaboration can be balanced to foster a high-performance culture in both sports and business. Jake shares how we can use...
info_outline
Heart Equity: What Great Coaches Teach Leaders About Culture Under Pressure
The Athletics Of Business
What if the difference between teams that crumble under pressure and those that rise has little to do with talent or strategy and everything to do with trust? What if the real competitive edge in business is not bigger budgets or better metrics, but genuine vulnerability and a deeper human connection? What if executive isolation is not inevitable, but the result of avoiding hard conversations? And what if the most powerful investment an organization can make is not in technology or talent, but in something far more human, heart equity? In this episode, host Ed Molitor sits down with his good...
info_outline
The New Standard: How BEC and CoEffex Are Redefining Talent Search in Life Sciences
The Athletics Of Business
Our Guest: Ted Coss Ted leads the strategic direction of top talent search firm, Buckman Enochs Coss and Associates (BEC) while ensuring outstanding service and measurable results for clients. With a deep passion for life sciences and healthcare, Ted draws from both professional and personal experiences to understand the transformative impact of these industries. Since joining BEC in 1993, Ted has successfully completed hundreds of executive searches including numerous C-level placements and large-scale commercial team expansions. Many of the leaders he has placed have gone on to shape the...
info_outline
Unlocking the Champion’s Soul with Dr. Jerry Lynch
The Athletics Of Business
Most people chase performance by training the mind and pushing the body. Dr. Jerry Lynch has spent decades proving that’s only part of the equation. Because when pressure hits—when fear shows up, when doubt gets loud, when the moment gets heavy—mindset won’t carry you if your inner foundation is empty. What separates the best isn’t just mental toughness. It’s what champions can access when the stakes are real: meaning, courage, connection, and the soul behind the performance. In his fifth appearance on The Athletics of Business Podcast, Jerry joins Ed Molitor to explore what truly...
info_outlineIn this special solocast of The Athletics of Business Podcast, host Ed Molitor takes us on a personal and powerful journey through the life, lessons, and lasting legacy of legendary coach George Raveling.
This isn’t about hearing what you want to hear; it’s about hearing what you need to hear. Ed shares how Coach Raveling’s words and philosophies shaped him as a young boy, carried him through dark times, and continue to guide his leadership and parenting today.
Through stories of cassette tapes in a hot car, life-changing camp speeches, and powerful lessons on accountability and resilience, Ed paints a vivid picture of a man who impacted thousands, from athletes to leaders to everyday people, striving to be better.
In Loving Memory of George Raveling - Extract from letter by The Daily Coach
On September 1st, the world lost a remarkable person: George Henry Raveling, our mentor, co-founder, and beloved "Coach." He passed away peacefully at 88, surrounded by his family, after a courageous battle with cancer.
Coach Raveling was born in 1937 in a world that didn’t recognize his humanity. Despite the challenges of segregation, he overcame adversity with determination and made a significant impact on countless lives. His legacy is more than just his success in sports and leadership; it’s about the people he touched and the transformations he inspired.
Coach was a gentle, compassionate, and humble soul. He believed in the importance of relationships over victories. His life was about guiding others, offering wisdom, and caring for people, no matter their background. His approach to leadership was uncommon, challenging the status quo and always staying true to his values.
He was a friend, mentor, confidant, and source of inspiration to many. His wisdom and kindness left a lasting impression on all who knew him.
Although we are deeply saddened by his loss, we celebrate his 88 years of life—years full of purpose and meaning. Coach’s story reminds us that it’s never too late to pursue what lights up our soul and make a difference in the world. His mantra, “If it is to be, it’s up to me,” embodies his relentless spirit.
Coach Raveling's impact transcends accolades. He was simply a good person who lived fully, helping others along the way. He will be remembered for his resilience, curiosity, love for life, and the legacy of kindness he leaves behind.
Our condolences and love go to the Raveling family and all who were touched by Coach’s life. We will continue to honor his legacy through how we live, love, lead, and treat others. Rest in peace, Coach. You will always be adored and missed.
Our Host
Ed is a coach down to the very smallest molecule of his DNA. Whether he’s a husband and father at home or working with a client in the business world, he is an energized, passionate, and near-obsessive coach who is fully invested in showing up with all he’s got to help you show up with all you’ve got. His approach insists on presence. He knows no other way to catalyze change except by getting on the court with you, playing side-by-side, and encouraging you to keep pushing, especially when the going gets tough. In the last 30 years, Ed has developed his leadership skills in both athletics and business.
From working as an NCAA Basketball coach at Texas A&M, DePaul NIU, and Lewis University to becoming the Vice President of a national recruiting firm, Ed Molitor has experienced the potential and pitfalls of leadership at every level. As the founder and CEO of The Molitor Group, today Ed guides emerging and established leaders across biopharma and biotech to apply the proven lessons of coaching in their pursuit of inspiring and driving their team’s performance. Through personalized training, workshops, keynote speeches, his writing, and as a podcast host, Ed seeks to empower individuals and their organizations to achieve victory through a focus on transformation, fundamentals, compassion, mental toughness, and vision.
Ed graduated from St. Ambrose University with a B.S. in Business Administration and a minor in Economics where he was a member of the Men’s Basketball team serving as the co-captain his Senior year. Before St. Ambrose, he studied business at Creighton University where he played on the Men’s Basketball teams which included a 1989 MVC Regular Season and Tournament Champions, NCAA Tournament, and a 1990 NIT Tournament.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
-
“If it is to be, it’s up to me.” How Coach Raveling’s famous mantra instilled ownership, responsibility, and resilience.
-
The importance of telling people what they need to hear, not just what they want to hear.
-
How leadership is less about wins and losses and more about relationships, impact, and transformation.
-
Personal reflections on parenting, leadership, and carrying forward Coach Raveling’s legacy.
-
Why his influence extended beyond basketball shaping culture, mentorship, and even history (including his role in the March on Washington and the creation of Air Jordan).
Resources & Links
Ed Molitor
-
Website: https://www.themolitorgroup.com/
Timestamps
-
(00:00) Introduction to Coach George Raveling
-
(01:13) The lasting impact of Coach Raveling's lessons
-
(03:34) "If it is to be, it is up to me": The power of personal ownership
-
(05:42) How Coach's teachings shaped Ed's life and leadership
-
(07:53) The role of mentors in personal growth and leadership
-
(10:45) Coach Raveling’s influence on basketball and beyond
-
(12:18) Stories from Ed's childhood and the influence of Coach Raveling
-
(14:56) The importance of relationships over wins and losses
-
(16:35) Reflections on mentorship and legacy
-
(18:42) Coach Raveling's role in shaping Michael Jordan's partnership with Nike
-
(21:00) The power of community in leadership
-
(23:06) The importance of mentorship for emerging leaders
-
(25:01) Final reflections on living a life of impact and leadership