The Connective Role Of A Commissioner With The Big East’s Val Ackerman
Big East Commissioner Val Ackerman joins ADU’s Steph Garcia Cichosz at the 2022 Women Leaders Convention to discuss the ways a commissioner connects their member institutions and effectively represents their various interests at the national level before reflecting on the value of streamlined communication channels. Ackerman and Garcia Cichosz also talk about the evolving nature of leadership, the importance of “escape hatches” as a way to instill balance in a busy work schedule and how the industry has evolved for working moms.
The conversation is indexed below for efficient viewing (click the time stamp to jump to a specific question/topic).
00:00 - Introduction
00:41 - How are you managing the various personalities of your member institutions when you communicate with them during this time of change for the industry?
02:20 - What strategies did you use to create your initial connections with your university presidents?
04:04 - How do you navigate relationships when stakeholders (a president and AD) aren't totally in alignment?
05:19 - How long were the rose-colored glasses (of being a new commissioner) on before you had to make a hard decision?
07:21 - How did you communicate with Big East student-athletes when making decisions for their safety during the pandemic? How did you navigate the pressure of those decisions?
08:45 - How do you continue to evolve as a leader?
11:08 - Do you set time aside for yourself everyday or do you have any consistent routines to make sure you're staying balanced and keeping your own cup filled?
13:32 - When you began your career in pro sports, there weren't these kinds of spaces like Women Leaders to nurture and support women in the industry... with what you know now, what advice would you give to Day One Big East Commissioner Val Ackerman?
