“We’re only as good as our talent,” said Dan Beckerman, CEO of AEG, when we started talking about what makes a company successful. “Our teams have a minor league system; we have our own development system.”
He was referring to AEG Facilities, which owns, manages or serves over 100 venues all over the world. “Because we have scale, we can start someone right out of college as an event manager and, if they stay with us 12-15 years, they can end up being GM in a building in China.”
I had the pleasure of interviewing Beckerman, who was elevated to the top spot 15 months ago when Tim Leiweke left AEG, and Dave Scott, president and COO of Comcast-Spectacor, who replaced Peter Luukko when he moved on 7 months ago. These two men are now helming extremely important organizations in venues, sports and music and their vision for this industry was the impetus for the interviews.
Both men are focused on the strength of the team. Scott said leaders should always “focus first and foremost on the teams you put together. How you recruit them and how you retain them.”
Diversity is very important to him. “It’s the right thing and you can make a business case that it is the right thing. You want your employees to reflect the market share. I always try to get it right on the front end with recruiting and then develop them and keep them challenged and keep that team great. And I have always had a bias for action. Sometimes you will have too many people thinking and strategizing and not enough people doing.”
Beckerman’s personal interest in recruitment is always top of mind because of his start in the business. His original career path with an MBA in finance was to be in corporate finance or banking, but he decided to take one last chance at something different — sports.
He keeps a three-ring binder full of rejection letters he received for his efforts. The Clippers answered: “We just may have a job for you.”
“That’s the one I pursued,” Beckerman said. One out of hundreds and now look.
The message resonates because here at Venues Today, we have lost a valued member of the team. Dave Brooks, who has been a tremendous contributor to this publication for eight years, is moving on. It hurts to say goodbye and we wish him success in his new endeavors.
But change brings opportunity. We have a great team and everyone has stepped up to fill the gap, particularly, Jessica Boudevin, who had been senior writer. She has been promoted to Acting Managing Editor and I don’t think she’s slept since she got the news. Her efforts have been herculean and highly effective. Join me in congratulating her at IAVM in Portland.
God grant you many years to build strong teams.