Connection as a Competitive Advantage, featuring Dennis Lauscha

Dennis Lauscha carries one of the most demanding leadership portfolios in sports—President and CEO of the New Orleans Saints, the New Orleans Pelicans, and a wide network of Gayle Benson companies. Sitting down at the Saints training facility, Michelle Johnston and Dennis unpack what’s changing fastest in the NFL and NBA—and what leaders can learn from it. Dennis breaks down a major business reality fans don’t always see: how the shutdown of regional sports broadcast partners forced teams to rethink distribution, marketing, and the entire way games reach the public. The Saints and Pelicans responded by moving deeper into content creation and direct-to-consumer offerings—expanding visibility across Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and the Florida panhandle, and reframing what “small market” even means. He and Michelle tackle the real tension leaders feel: calendars that don’t match values, the pressure professional sports can put on families, and the manager’s responsibility to set clear expectations and coach performance with honesty and respect. CHAPTERS: 00:00 A capital gap across the Gulf South 00:36 Inside Dennis Lauscha’s role leading Saints, Pelicans, and Benson companies 01:41 The seismic shift: regional sports networks disappear 03:10 Becoming a content company: broadcasts, radio, and direct-to-consumer 05:52 Connection at scale: listening systems and “number one” fan experience 07:34 Kaizen in action: making every voice speak up in meetings 09:23 Psychological safety: bring the problem and a solution 11:42 Beyond Gen Z labels: explain the “why” and set people up to win 14:51 One life, one calendar: leadership pressure and work-family balance 18:39 Why the Benson Leadership Academy exists 22:37 Leader vs. manager: art + science 25:28 Loyalty and trust as a talent strategy 26:42 The “it factor,” DEI, and widening the talent pipeline 30:06 Dennis’ career path: Loyola, CPA, and the Saints audit that changed everything 37:42 Leadership under Gayle Benson and the “double/triple bottom line” 42:45 Advice for breaking into pro sports: commitment, growth, and opportunity 44:35 Closing and thanks Special thanks to our friend Brian Wayy for the theme music this season! Track Title: My Heart's On Fire Follow Michelle for more inspiring content: Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSeismicShiftwithMichelle  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michelle-johnston-0264b5b Instagram: instagram.com/michellekjohnston  Website: https://michellekjohnston.com/