THE ED MYLETT SHOW - Unapologetically Breaking Down Barriers

Episode Date: December 12, 2018

Christine Simmons is the President and COO of the WNBA's LA Sparks and is HERE with me in the interview seat and you do NOT want to miss this champion share her incredible story on how she was able to fight adversity to become a top-level executive in one of the worlds most respected organizations. As a 2018 EBONY POWER LIST Hero, being listed amongst the great MVPs including Steph Curry, James Hardin, and Venus Williams, failure, fear, and intimidation never stopped Christine from dominating the sports world and being a trailblazer for other women in business. This interview reveals TOP LEVEL BUSINESS STRATEGIES on the art of communication, the best strategies for growing your brand and how to command a room. Find out straight from the source what its like to win a WNBA championship and maintain a ferocious work ethic! We get very REAL about the issues that minorities and women face in the business space. Christine breaks down head-on exactly HOW to navigate these waters and STILL find TREMENDOUS success in business and all other areas of her life. All while being a single mother!

Welcome to the Ed Milett Show, the place for leaders, dreams and champions. Welcome back to Max out everybody, I'm Ed Milett, I am super pumped about today's interview because I have a very unique and special woman sitting here with me today. This lady, by the way she's funny too, she's not gonna be good, but this lady is the president and chief operating officer of the WNBA's LA Sparks, and her name is Christine Simmons, so thank you for being here. Thank you for having me, this is exciting. It's already been good off-key. I know, I know. So obviously you're an executive of one of the biggest sports franchises in the world. That's a pretty unbelievable achievement you've had in your life. And we're going to get to that part, but I want to go back a little bit.

So because I want people to have the background, I started the show and I want to feature prominent people that are maxing out obviously different areas of their life. And in your case, obviously all of your achievements are impressive. But also those of you that aren't watching this, but listen to the audio, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very graduate. One of my sisters did begin college, but so, and the craziest part about it

is that my mom is a skinny, my girlfriend from Oregon. My dad is a black man from Pensacola, Florida. In fact, he ex-marine and ex-pomona-pedi. We were talking about 909, right? And we had an empire. So he pulls my mom over to get her number. That's how I got here today. You got to be kidding me.

No, dead serious, dead serious. Are you kidding me? No, it's a story. Two story. I don't know that might get him in trouble. But no, no, no, last time was a very honorable cop. I'm sure. But my mom's first husband was Mexican. So I have three older half sisters that are white and

Mexican. Oh, my goodness. Then my mom and my dad, then they divorced when I was seven. So she raised four of us on her own. And then it just on her own. Can I ask you, did your dad was gone all together? Or was he still in your life? He was like, so she raised four of us on her own. And then it just kind of... When you say on her own, can I ask you, so did your dad was gone all together, or was he still in your life? He was like, he was here and there, you know?

And we didn't have a very close relationship as I grew up. So really it was a stun mom, with these four crazy chicks that she was trying to raise. My dad and I have since reconnected, and it's been amazing, and I'm so grateful to have him back in my life. Once I got to college, we kind of reconnected again. But so talk about United Colors of Venetian.

Like it is my family. We don't know if we're doing tamales or gumbo or egg Christmas. That is unbelievable. See, your mom is a pretty big figure in your life. She is everything. She is everything. You know, it's those people that you just watch them work and they don't have to teach you what discipline is or what work ethic is. And like my

mom, we never sat down and talked about working hard. You know, she raised for very strong women and and so she was she was every. So she's so she was your model in that sense from the work standpoint. We're talking off camera about how intense you are. By the way, you know, seven-year-old son. I do Christian. Christian. And we're talking about how intense you are, by the way, you're on a seven-year-old son. I do, Christian. Christian, yes. And we're talking about how intense you are sometimes in your sports. I'm just curious how personalities are made up because to become as successful as you become, you have exemplary traits about you, which we're going to talk about some of them today, but you're pretty intense.

I mean, you were athlete, right? Yes. And you went far farther in your athletic career than I did. I was three-liter athlete in high school. So volleyball, basketball, and track. And I think that anytime you are in athletics, then that gives you an intensity. It's a drive. It's an internal competition.

Like, I don't even care what you're doing. I need to be better for me. And so for my intensity with my son, and again, I mentioned I'm on the board of positive coaching lines. So we're all about making sure that they have great experiences. And so I knew that I needed to kind of take myself.

And I want to make sure you had a really good experience. Yes, coaches to coaching. So I let them do that. But I want him to be his best him. Yeah. I want him to max out, right? I know. I know.

You know, as you talk about like rainvention, right? So I was an athlete. I had two knee surgeries in high school. In high school. In high school. ACL and MCL. So blue my knees out. So I was being scouted for volleyball that didn't work out. My grades were decent enough to get me in So I did go to UCLA so I was pre-med there. I know. So yeah, so this whole thing. I know it's this

This is important though because there's a lot of people listening to this that at one point in time We're chasing one dream or all path in their life Yeah, and then new passive revealed themselves. So you go in there, pre-med, tell me about that. I go in pre-med and then there was this thing where I thought I was gonna model for a hot second. I even did that, that wasn't working out. They were like, they wanted me to be so skinny.

I was like, no, I like to eat too much. I didn't, it didn't work out. And so that wasn't for me. So pre-med, I wanted to help people. But when we talked about exposure and just I didn't have a lot of exposure to what the possibilities were. So I knew, Dr. Lawyer, right?

Yeah. I knew, at that time, I remember I had this figure in my head, if you're a doctor, you'll make $100,000 and you'll be wealthy and you're good to go. And there's a path to get there, right? And I was like, done. And I get to help people. Cool. Cool.

All in. So in my undergraduate career at UCLA, I found myself helping people a bit too much. I was in the community. I was mentoring. I was tutoring. I was doing hypertension screenings on Khrinschev Boulevard. I was leading all of these student organizations.

I was protesting and shutting down Wusher and Westwood around propositions at the time. And I always joke that had I maybe been studying a little bit more, it might be Dr. Simmons today instead of smith organizing, because I didn't get into medical school. Got it. This is great to hear. Did I fail?

Thank you, sir. Thank you. Well, thank you for being so honest about that. So. And it took a while for me to be able to say that publicly. Like, I feel like, oh, I changed paths. Yeah. You didn't get it. Check. Come on, let's changed paths. You didn't get it. Like come on let's be real you didn't get it. That's I did not know that all

the research is done on you too so that's really that's awesome that you're willing to share that so all of this monster success comes out of you not essentially getting good enough grades getting into medical school. But at the time I was also working at UCLA after I graduated and it's in a building that happens to have a basketball court in it. Back in the day we called it the At that time I was also working at UCLA after I graduated and it's in a building that happens to have a basketball court in it. Back in the day we called it the Men's Gym. They changed the name now, I'm old.

But the NBA guys would come in the off season and play pick-up ball. Well, one of those guys happened to be Irving Magic Johnson. And so at the time he had all of his clinics across the country focusing on HIV and AIDS. And so I said, okay, go talk to him. You want to start clinics? Here's magic, go talk to him. So I got the balls up to do it. And I went up and I said hello and introduced myself. I told him what I wanted to do. And we ended up, he let me pick his brain and... So life altering decisions right there. It's kind of how I'm here now Literally that one decision that one should that one piece

That's the whole thing isn't it like in your life There's these moments. Yeah, and you get a handful of them. I think yeah, I agree There's not just one you get a handful and you better make your move when you have that opportunity the whole I mean the whole direction of your, the trajectory of your entire life is altered by that decision to walk over there. And that's going to be pretty damn scary, too. It was so scary.

I imagine like I'm walking through, there's all these dudes, like you have to, you know what it's going to be. You know, like, oh, here we go. But I was like, deal with it. Let's go. You want this? Let's go. Like you're going to have to do it.

It was scary, even. So just start sort of just an ongoing relationship that you've maintained over time. Exactly. You've always though, I've just listened to your story. I got a really weird question and I had no idea I was going to ask you, but you've always been kind of a leader though, it sounds like to me. Like if you're organized in protest, you're taking it. So you're a leader.

I am. It's my default. It's what I go to. If I see a problem, I need to fix it. I can't just sit there and watch it not be fixed. Or, and then the more you do that, as I'm sure you know, then they tag you to do more, and then you keep doing more.

So yeah. This is the question I didn't always gonna ask you, but I'm just listening, so I have to ask you this. You ever, do you think in your life, get into politics? No. Never. No.

Wouldn't be something you do. So you're cause oriented, you're a leader, you're an unbelievable communicator, you got a total background. It's something you don't think you would ever do. Now, I like the power not the fame, and the power allows you to make the impact. And I think we separate so much with like nonprofits,

politics, and business. And we don't have to do that anymore. So true, right? You can make a ridiculous impact without having to be in politics. Your business can make a ridiculous social impact without having to be a 501c3. I really, the way I've led the sparks is as more of a social entrepreneurship. We can't compete, I can't compete against the Lakers, I can't compete against the Clippers. So I'm like, well I need

to stop trying to go after sports marketing dollars. Let's talk about diversity inclusion, let's talk about employee retention, right? And experiences for employees. Let's talk about women's empowerment. Let me be your partner in the community, because we have such a great presence in the community. We're doing financial literacy programs

for hundreds of kids alone with our partner, Echo Trust. Yeah, it has nothing to do with basketball, right? That's brilliant. But we're partners in the community because we have been there for so long. And especially in this time of the woman that everybody's talking about, which is fantastic that women are finding their voices. But a lot of entities are like, well, how do we, how do we do it? Women don't have 22, 23 years now, right?

So now we can give you a more authentic and organic way to engage women and that's meaningful and it's not just about basketball on the court. How come you don't think, maybe they haven't, I don't know it, but that has seemed to me to be a little bit, sports are usually copycat, right? So the warriors, for example, go small ball, now everybody tried to go small ball, right? The big leagues, if you got guys that can throw a hundred miles an hour in the bullpen, everyone's going to have a few of those people. Am I wrong that the sport, and I don't mean this critically at the league at all, but

why isn't every team expanding their brand like that in the league? They're trying. They are. I think we don't quite have the budget so people don't quite know of the work that's being done, but more and more at the team level, it's community first. And it's, we're finally the leak. And I think it's a little routed in traditionalism, right? Because, you know, sports is hardcore tradition.

And there are your basketball traditionalists. It's like, it's be about the basketball. It's only about the basketball, because these are ridiculously talented athletes, right? And I think you can do both. I think you can win championships. Look at this ring. Everybody watching the YouTube or you're looking kidding. This is you guys.

I wore that ring earlier. This leg is legit. I like to I told you sometimes a championship rings in women sports. They go with the little. Yeah, that is like we want to damn championship. Right. Like there's no doubt what that is and I'm very deliberately putting on a finger like you're like stress about you like yeah yeah yeah but like all the haters out there I'm like have you seen my room? I'm sorry

it's not awesome it's a little irreverable but waiting is awesome I'm waiting for the second one so I can put it on this finger. So anyway, I think that thing is so heavy. You can even eat one on the other side just to throw off your balance. It's amazing. My wife wasn't pressed you walk it in those heels down her shoulder. Yeah, the heels, the ring, it's a lot. But it's, you know, and I'm so proud of the ring. I got to help design it, but I wanted it big because it becomes a conversation piece.

Yeah. And then I get people to, and like, it's funny in the airport yesterday. I was coming back from a UC region meeting, and the TSA, she was like, is that a super boring? I was like, well, kind of. Right, right. Kind of, it's my super boring,

but I get to be able to start talking about the league. But to your point, the teams are beginning to do it. The league is finally, I think, in a point comfortable with saying, we're okay with being a cause, It doesn't take away from the basketball. We can do both. Wow, that's awesome. Yeah.

So, you end up, I want to go back and then we're getting into the league and your team here in a second, too. But you fascinate me. So, you end up getting, you had some pretty good jobs before this, too. So, you end up with NBC, Disney. You worked with an Urban and Magic's company as well. I did. And so, how do you end up, I doubt you saw yourself as a sports executive, right?

So take us through the journey. How do you end up becoming the president of, you know, and I arguably, you know, one of the biggest franchises in sports, but also in your league, I think in my opinion, maybe it's because I live here, the most well-known in successful one in your sport too. So how do you end up there? You know, it's business as business, right? And so whether it's the business of entertainment,

whether it's the business of joint ventures and strategic alliances as I worked in Irvin's offices, doing those types of things, or the business of sports. I'm running a business. And so you look at each one, you analyze what the need is where, you know, and how you operate it most effectively where the demand is, how do you create the demand, and you work to grow the business.

So there's always been this threat of advocacy in all that I do, and that's what aligned me so well with working for Irvin. So when I was at Disney and NBC Universal, my role was to increase spend with diverse business owners, whether they were women-owned businesses, minority-owned businesses, veteran-owned businesses,, LGBT owned businesses. Because if we look at the pie of money that these corporations are spending, there's only 10% pretty much, that's

the goal for all of those categories of businesses. So the running joke is like, okay, so you basically you're a straight white man who's able-bodied and never served in the military and you're getting 90% of the money, right? And so there's lots and it's not a just a pie, there's tons of opportunity for everybody. But most importantly, you're missing out on innovation, right? If the same person is coming up with the same idea because they came up from the same place that you and I did, we're not gonna, I'm gonna have a different opportunity. I'm gonna have a different lens. And so we're gonna get there faster,

we're gonna get there better, we're gonna have a different product. And you're leaving money on the table. So yeah, that's the right thing to do, but we're talking dollars, right? It's dollars. I look at you, so then a different lens. I've never heard someone say it to me that way.

That's, let's talk about those couple things. So you end up, how has being, let's start with a woman first, being a woman. How has, what are the unique things, all the ladies that are listening today, and the men listening to it, who interact with women, because we do every single day, right?

Yes, yes. How has being a woman, are there issues that I don't know about as a male, I'm a one male, too. I'm a straight white male. So, um, is that something? Do you carry that with you? Are you cognizant of it? Like, how's that? How's that operating your mind? You know, I think each woman is going to be different and each leader is different. Um, I, I do, I do carry it with me because I know there's funny, I joke, I speak fluent, chicken, half fluent

dudes. So I can translate pretty well. But you know I think that one because I may be the first in something I am so aware of that because I don't want to be the last and it's bigger than me. Now there are some women that just say no I'm just doing a job I'm here and that's that's great too. But for me as a woman specifically as a woman of color, I know that the scrutiny is even more.

They're just waiting. Unfortunately, the reality is they are waiting. And I don't get the mulligan, right? I don't get the mulligan, or the woman behind me doesn't get that mulligan, because that will be taken into account. So I think that that is something that I take with me but there are there are strengths on both sides, you know, I think we as women are a bit more detailed oriented, right? We want a dot-fee, I want to cross every T. We have an EQ that can be a little more softer to your point, although I've had to learn

to like tone down my intensity because it was spending when you're not intimidating and I'm like, wow, well, there's some people that might disagree, but. But why does a woman need to just stay on that? Like, this is where it's gonna get cool. Yeah. Because I wanna ask you stuff that people are afraid to ask.

Like, why should a woman have to dial it down or dial it up, but that is something a woman thinks about in business? If you walk in a room, you're like, hey, because I'm a woman or because I'm also a minority woman. Oh yeah. Every room. Know your effect on a room. Now that that can be used in any business scenario. It's just a matter of what is that effect and why is it there and why should they have to know we shouldn't have to think about that. The reality is that we do. Okay. And until we get to the point where we

don't then I can just think of it as just a business person. Yeah. Until then, I do have to think of it as a business woman, as an African-American business woman, as sometimes the youngest in the room, although that's starting not to happen anymore. I'm like, I'll be 44 in December, so that's okay. I like it.

I like the age. I'm being really honest with you. I'm not, because I do all my research for the interviews. Yeah. I'm not exaggerating, I tell you something. I thought you were about 15 years younger than that. I'll take it. No, I'm not because I do all my research for the interviews. I'm not exaggerating. I tell you some, I thought you were about 15 years younger than that. I'll take it. No, I'm not kidding. Your presence is that of somebody probably beyond that age, obviously, but I honestly,

that's what I thought. Thank you. I think you're up 29 or 30. Wow. Okay, you later. No, it's a fact I did. That's what I thought. But no, and so you have to know your fact on a room.

So when I am in a room where it's all men, then there is a different version of Christine and I'm going to bring to the table. When I'm in a room of all women, I'm going to, I want, especially with the women, we have to make sure I feel the need to make them feel as confident as I feel as as as brilliant as I feel as beautiful as I feel that day. And maybe I don't feel beautiful that day, but I want them to feel better. How do you do that? Which one would you like to do it? It's just, it's being present with them.

Yeah, you're excellent at that, by the way. Well, I mean, you learned, right? And I'm learning about you and understanding you and who are you and what you're starting from, then I'm going to get another learning that I may not have gotten. And just when people feel like someone cares, then... I agree with you.

You know? So there's different versions. There's different versions. If there's couples, you want to make sure, like I want to make sure that I am paying my respect to your wife as I walk in this house. And this is her home. And she is the woman that's making you the man,

and you're the man that makes you the woman. So how does that dynamic work? So and I think everybody has different versions of themselves depending on who they are, but it's still me. It's still you. How do you do that? So here's some hard stuff. Because I hear these things often. I have a lot of my company. I think we're probably 50% women or more and I would guess I'm guessing we're more than 50% minority in the company. I think I don't know how the exact stats, but how did you have that balance between you

said earlier, like they're waiting for me to slip? So how do you have a balance between sort of in the back of your mind? It's probably not some strategy to have. Let's catch her doing something. It's a bias or a lack of understanding or an unconscious thing that people have. Let's catch her doing something. It's a bias or lack of understanding or an unconscious thing that people have. I want you to talk to people that are in the minority community here for a second. Yeah. I'm wondering how you navigate the balance and this is something no one ever asks people. Knowing that that's probably a truth that you're going to deal with. Yeah. This is a hard question.

Yeah. But yet not being so obsessed or focused on it that perhaps you begin to create some potential scenarios that may not have existed if you wanted to think that's a really difficult thing I would imagine. It is, it is because you, I think really what it is is bring your best work to the table, bring your A work to the table. Bring your A game. If you're bringing your A game and then we know as just over achievers that want to max out on everything, then you're going to over prepare. Regardless of your back when you're going to over prepare, you're going to over research,

you're going to urban use to be like, okay, you're prepared, you've got it, he used to joke about how much because I always want to, I may not always be the smartest person in the room, but no one's going to outwork me. So if I'm doing that and I'm bringing my best my best game to the table, then I can just be confident and I know I let it all out on the table. And I can be aware and know that I can't do a half-ass job. Yeah. Right? So if you're just aware that you cannot do a half-ass job, you can't coast. But then again, you quickly become the person who doesn't want to anyway. Right.

Yeah. And then that just breeds winners regardless. Really good. That's really, really good because some of the business people I coach obviously are minority business people. And I tell them about those opportunities that come along. I know for sure this, you're gonna have fewer. So you better take advantage of the ones

that come your way. Any other dynamics you would say, if you're given advice to somebody right now who's in the business community, who's like, let's just go all the way. I was watching an interview yesterday with St. Louis Williams. And she recently had that issue at the US Open

that you saw where she was upset with the official. I thought the official overreached and how he penalized her some people thought that her behavior was totally inappropriate The first time I heard Serena talk about it. I was interested because she said I don't get the same Lee way if you will as a man would being a woman. Yeah, that's the first thing she said she said that several times the interview I said yes, she took it a step further and she said, I don't get the same leeway as a woman and I really don't get the same leeway as an African-American woman in that regard too. If you were speaking to the women that are listening to this, are Asian-Americans, African-Americans, Latino-Americans, whatever it might be, what would advice would you give them for navigating

that landscape? You know, I think it's a matter of one building allies. You have to build allies, both in your communities and in these intersectionalities that we have, right? I mean, we're talking gender, we're talking ethnic background, we could be talking sexuality, we could be talking socioeconomic level, right? But wherever that is, so build those allies there. So you have a safe space. To help figure out these problems and people that understand them. There's going to be things that

we can help navigate because I've been there and kind of help you through and translate, right? Because if I'm going to be the only chick in the room of all these dudes, and I'm the one at the cigar club all the time, like I can, I can translate. I'm like, okay ladies, chick in the room of all these dudes, and I'm the one at the cigar club all the time, like I can, I can translate. I'm like, okay ladies, this is what's happened. This is what they meant. Let me translate. And then they're like, oh, okay, got it. And same thing with the dudes.

I'm like, this is what she said. And this is why she said it. And this is because she was feeling this, you know what I mean? So one build those allies within your community, but within also externally as well, outside of your communities. And also externally as well, outside of your communities. And also externally from the company too. You wanna have just as many allies inside as you do outside.

You wanna make sure that people outside understand your work. We as women tend not to brag about what we do. That's true. We're not gonna be like, look what I did, look what I did. We expect if I put in the work that you're going to recognize it. Are you cognizant of being great at relating, I know the different versions of you, but Marty observed you. So you're graded, you're graded in interacting. People that we both know have told me this and then you're graded in interacting with men,

you're graded in interacting with women, you're good. So, alright, is that something you're very conscious of? Is almost, I guess, knowing who you're with when you communicate. It's really everything to me as sales. It's to some extent you're selling yourself, you're selling them on taking a particular action, you're selling the franchise. So are you cognizant of that version, but also just meeting them where they are, I guess, the way I said. I think it's the meeting them where they are.

Because it's funny, one of my dear friends and mentors was like, I was talking, I don't like sales. But I've been in business development roles like most of my career, right? And I hate sales. And he was like, what are you talking about? You're selling all the time to your point. And so when I can be authentic

and when I can speak passionately about something, and then meet someone where they are and understand who they are and what their goal is, then I can relate. Then I got, okay, now I got it. Okay. But like if I don't know you, I don't do my research on you, I'm not passionate about what we're talking about.

And I don't think it's going to be a win-win for either of us. If I have research and I'm thinking, well, this is even a good deal for you. Let's not. Then I cannot do that. So yeah, that is one of, it's, see, uncomfortable. That's one of my strengths. Yeah, and you got uncomfortable saying it was one of your strengths.

You did it earlier, too. The other thing you do is, and I know this isn't a magic job, it's the thing that you both seem to do it a lot, you smile a lot. No, no, no, I'm serious. How did you not smile? Look at this gorgeous view on Friday afternoon

with great people. Is that because you're here, or is that something you do a lot? I'm serious. Is that something you do? I do a lot. Okay. And I think that that's, that may seem like a really small thing. Yeah.

But for people, listen, it's like I have some deficiencies too. They're different than obviously what you would deal with. My deficiencies are I have a look about me. That's really intense. Tense. Yes. I've got this really deep voice. Yes.

I would consider myself to be an acquired taste unless you know me, right? But after I, like, oh, he actually is a decent person. And, you know, and your build is so like, waif like, and I mean, so neat. Right. That's not intimidating at all. Right. And, but so, one of the things that some of my mentors told me earlier that I forget often, this may seem like a really basic thing.

Yeah. But like, dude, smile. Yeah. Like, smile. Like, tell your face you're excited to be here. Right. And that's just, that's like, I'm really small thing. It's what I, right when I met you, I'm like, dude, smile. Yeah. Like smile. Like tell your face, you're excited to be here. Right. Right. And that's just, that's like, I'm really small thing. That's what I mean.

Right when I met you, I'm like, hi, I'm like, why am I smiling so much? Because she's smiling so much. It just sounds like something's amazing. I'm that serious. It's, you know, it's funny. Like, there used to be times. And of course, you know, in your boss, when you're with bosses, you do, there are sometimes you don't see eye to eye.

And Irving would have been in a bad mood. And I was like, you know what, and most people, because he can, when he's, when we're intense and we're bosses and we have to make big decisions. And you're not happy about it. Sure. And a lot of other peers and colleagues would go in

and then I go, he's in a bad mood. Yeah. Every time I go in, same way, Karen, you're in a haze, no, no, bring it in. Okay, yeah, no, we gotta talk about this. And then everybody just like, changes, yeah.

I mean, why not? Yeah, yeah, that by the way, for the video, people you're all seeing this, like she likes the room up. What have you learned from working with Magic Johnson? Oh, never sub learning, never stop pushing. What's a skill he has that most people would not know about behind the scenes, something. Oh the scenes? Yeah, I mean because he's

he shares a lot about about his process but the discipline like he works out every morning still to this day. 3-4 or 5 o'clock in the morning just the discipline with which he researches everything that he's doing and gets his key people to provide that information. He dives deep, you know, in the beginning and just really make sure that he understands that deal and just is just really intense in his preparation and his studying of it. Yeah, he is. Are you, he's a mentor then? He is, for sure. Okay. Yeah, kind is. He is. Are you, uh, he's a mentor then?

He is, for sure. Okay. Yeah, kind of still bossed to. Still bossed. Bossless. One of the bosses. Well, obviously, you know, those you, Magic speaking of my company in a few weeks,

and one of the reasons I asked him to come in was because, I don't care if you add math, just the math. He's one of the most successful men in the country. He is. And so you're getting mentored, have been up close to, one of the most successful men in the country. Yeah. And getting mentored, have been up close to one of the most successful men in the country. And the thing is that I love about him is he's relentless. In other words, you can't buy his will to win. You could buy it with championships. You

couldn't buy his will to win when he got sick. You couldn't buy his will to win with a bunch of money. You can't buy his win with the win with accolades, the dodgers, the sparks, the lakers. It's like, I just keep going. He's relentless. And I admire that. So let's have a job for him. Yeah, yeah, cuz this is a big job and Your partner, I guess I call your partner the CEO of the team is also an African-American woman, correct? GM. Yeah, yeah, yeah, she handles more the player So he's everything on the court. She's EVP and GM and then I'm everything off the court all business operatives Penny toller and not only is she the basketball genius as it relates to putting a team together, she

is the first woman to ever score basket when the league started as a spark. So talk about legacy. Yeah, yeah, she's phenomenal. So that's awesome. So the two of you sort of the duo on both sides of the operation. And so your job is to grow the brand to some extent, correct? So let's talk about some of the things you did because this applies to all other businesses. We talked a little bit on it as well, but one of the things you focused on is women's

empowerment too. So that's actually on the other side of your ring, on the inside of that thing, is the logo. Yeah, it's our We Are Women logo. That is so cool. So tell us about that a little bit. Yeah, so it's a funny story. So go back to Irvin's Will of Win and the people he hired. So a gentleman whom I also report to our columnist,

I don't know, Board of Governors. I first season, I was an executive on loan. And so I was just kind of helping out. And then I guess I did, I guess I did okay job at the game in the job. Congratulations, you got the job. Now go break an attendance record. I was like, I just got the job.

Like are you kidding me? Like we barely have an office. We were working the first season out of Irvin's conference room. The entire organization. But anyway, so we knew how do we bigger than basketball. And so a woman on my team at the time, she and I would just kept putting our heads together. And right around that time there was some instances

of domestic violence in sports. That was when a lot of it started to happen. And so we were like, okay, let's really just kind of just bring it around women's empowerment in general. And but not just around sports. You know, there was some fantastic things that women are doing in the greater LA area that we can highlight along the way. But really it came down to economic empowerment and the power of a woman's dollar. And the power of products and services and a league geared and powered by women. So how do I fill Staples Center? Not just because I'm giving out tickets for free. I want people to pay the dollar, the ten whole dollars and it takes to get a blow. Nobody here that by the way?

It's such a great value this leak. All the sea sars. They are. Like, you can take a family of four in the hundreds, in the lower bowl and still eat. And see some amazing flipping athletes, everybody. Like amazing ridiculous athletes. Every guys like dang these girls can ball like. Well, you're the thing for me, not to interrupt you back.

I can say, I actually think the brand of basketball is more interesting because it's not just like ISO ball. And I don't mean they're critical of the NBA. I love the NBA. Yeah, it's exciting. These ladies share the basketball. They can shoot, they can score. Their handles are unbelievable.

I think the defense is like, it's fundamental basketball at its best. That's exactly right. Team best. That's exactly right. Team ball. That's exactly. That's such a great brand of basketball. In fact, if you have a young person who wants to learn to play basketball, I would argue watching the WNBA fundamentally would be the better lead for them to be studying at a coach. So many of our coaches bring their teams for that reason. Boys and girls. Yeah and girl. So back to we are women. So we created the We Are Women campaign. We launch it every year and the goal is to sell

at Staples Center. But it's also to highlight the great work that women are doing in the community. One woman she, in fact English, was her second language, but she served the seniors in her community and would go and provide meals for them in Maywood. And so she was nominated. So we got to go and tell the story of the work that she's doing. So there were all of these different pieces that women are doing in the community that are just lifting all of us up. And so we get to tell their stories and celebrate them

on court. And then we do a woman of the year. And then last year we did a man of the year, because it's important. We got to, it's not just about empowering women. It's also about enlightening men as to what women can do too. Empowering women and enlightening men. Hopefully that's what we're doing today.

Yeah, exactly. Hopefully what we're doing today. And so, you know, you're, by the way, what you've really done is you just expanded what the brand is. And everybody listens and has any business. I don't care if you're a trainer and a gym, you own a dry cleaners. These same business principles apply to you too. How can you get more involved in the community?

How can you expand the brand? How can you begin to affect people in ways that seem not directed to profit, but inevitably, do drive profit? It is my go-to-market strategy. I am gaining market share, period. So the time and money and resources spend on converting a hardcore NBA fan versus the timing money

to create new sparks fans. I don't have to create a basketball fan, but I can create a sparks fan. So a woman who may not, or even a man who may not necessarily be a fan of basketball, can come and enjoy themselves and have fantastic experience, and now they're a sparks fan, right? That mom, like me, is if I have to watch Pokemon one more time, I'm gonna lose my mind, but me and my son can have a great time at the game, right?

Gosh. Social-conscious millennials who want a deeper reason for the money they're spending while they're looking really, really cool court side, right? Those are the folks on focus on, so we've increased market share, we're leading the league and ticket sales, we're leading the league and attendance.

Congratulations. Thank you. That's brilliant and it's like the one that makes I wanted to have you on here was this point right here. I think that Compared to the other teams I know in the league and I know we're not doing that you can't speak to this you've expanded What the brand is and what it means to people and that's not easy to do when something is new even though the league's been around a while It's not like the Lakers brand. It's been around forever. So what's the hardest part of your job? God, there's there's lots. I think when you still run into those that

you have to sell on what women can do and what they should be doing. And right now there's a big debate about lowering the rim so women can dunk better or whatever. Oh, is should be doing. And right now there's a big debate about lowering the rim so women can dunk better or whatever. Oh, is there? Yeah. And it's really the fan who doesn't really understand our game, right?

We talked about it being more elegant, being it's a different style of basketball. And it's phenomenal. We don't have to lower the rim to appease you. We're not trying to be the female NBA. That's not who we are, who we want to be. Where we have our own sport, we have our own game, it's globally recognized. You'll be okay. What's the best part of your job? The impact, the young girl who now knows that

she could either be a professional athlete on the biggest stage, in the biggest city. She could either be a professional athlete on the biggest stage in the biggest city. She could run a team, hell, she could own a team if she wanted to. And because I didn't have that, I didn't know that, right? So as you talk about going back to your childhood and how those pieces, like just that one conversation I may have with that one young lady who said, wow, I didn't know that this was a job or that woman could do that or whatever. And then the other part is being able to see these women live out their dreams. These beautiful humans that they are, these complex global athletes,

they are MVPs, they are champions, they are Olympians, they are all of this and they're still having to fight to live their dream here domestically. And they're at the top of their game. And so when we won the championship, it was the first time that anyone on the team had won, but for Penny, she was the only one. She has two previously, so now she has three. And to be able to see the players and the exuberance and just that, I still get goosebumps. You can see it on the face.

It's a joke. Yeah, the stories of these ladies is remarkable. I feel like the league itself and your team, particularly for it, was a stock, it's a buy. I just feel like there's this major growth that can come to the league, that can come to people that has become more aware of. And I think part of it is the stories of the ladies as well.

And I wanted you here today for something that you just said too. There's somebody watching this, there's a young woman somewhere who is seeing someone who looks like her, who's achieving. One of the great things about social media and what could be one of the great things in society today, if we could finally find a way to come together as a society, is to begin to show the diversity of all the people that are winning that all the people are successful. I pray for a day that when my granddaughter is coming up that she, it's a foregone conclusion in people's minds that

that's the case. So you're very humble about it, but you are pioneering a path that's really of this generation, one of the first people doing it, but you are you're pioneering a path that's really of this Generation one of the first people doing it right hopefully someday that'll be different But one of the other paths that you navigate I want to ask you about this has been so good by the way because I've covered in so many Good things but one of the other things that you do is you're balancing being a single mother Yes, and then executive and being busy. What is your what how do you do that? And what is a is there a typical day and like like, like, given I, so people go, well, I want to be the president of a big organization.

I want to run something. Do you? Because this is what the schedule will look like. This is what you'll be doing every single day. So give someone a flavor. Because the grammar is I'm the president. The grammar is I have this ring. I have this influence.

I have to work with magic. I have this incredible prestige and title. All this influence, all that. And then there's like the stuff, right? So what's that look like? What's the grind look like? You know, and it's funny because you have to, I think highly competitive people

and those who have achieved some success aren't in love with the glamour. They're in love with the grind, right? And I think it's like, you know, I love crunching out like creating that new partnership deck that I'm gonna come and I'm like, okay, this is why we need to partner together because I'm going to create this and the custom thing for that and we're going to activate this and we're going to end that part.

So I am literally the one putting together coming up. There's, I have a fantastic team as well, but we create these opportunities for a holistic partnership that touch every aspect of our department. So whether, you know, your name is in lights and staple center for your company, whether your employees are coming as ticket holders, whether we're activating in the community, whether we're doing something on social, whether we have a player representing your organization, all of those ideas have to come to come and create those.

And you've got to create the deck to be able to sell that. Then you've got to go to the meeting and sell it. And then I've got to come and do fantastic interviews so I can spread the word. And then there's the audits and the payroll. And so I am the president, but operating officer means I have literally been doing budgets and payroll. And we finished an audit, going to start another one,

and all of that kind of stuff. So it is a grind and it, but again I love it. I do. So are you, are you, are you, are, wake up early person? Are you a routine person? I'm a really late person. Okay. And then I get up somewhat early. I'm just thinking. About four hours. What? Yeah. Okay. So you just say that like it's normal. That's not, that's not. Well go for hours. What? Yeah. Okay, so you just said that it's normal. You just say, you know, well, for you and I it is. Okay, all right.

But I wrote this in my book as a matter of fact. And I have this theory that it's, we probably both should get more sleep. Yes. But I do have this theory that it is the quality of the sleep you get beyond just the time. Okay. But there's a line of,

but did you just hear what she just, it's so, maybe achievers, it'd be all right, she was like, they tape for granted how kind of cycle they are. So I'm like, how much you sleep for hours? What? Everybody else? No, not everybody does that, right?

I do have a need though. Like I'll go two, three days every now and I'm like, nope, I'm not getting that a bit. I'm not, you know what, I might brush my teeth. If you're lucky. I'm like, you know, so I know when I got to shut it down. I know when I got to shut it down. Okay, so but but this is be real here.

You don't get where you are by hoping and dreaming these things. You can hope and dream them, but you've just flat out busted your tail. And let's just be real everybody, okay? That's the schedule you're heard about. Plus she's a mother, right? And listen to me on this.

If you are in one of these categories, we're describing you're going to have to even do more of this than everybody else. It's another level, right? So, accepted. It's just it's a fact you need to hear this message. All of the things you've achieved, this is where it gets really good for me because it's like, well, what really separates you? Okay. It's obviously your brilliant, you're an unbelievable communicator. For someone who doesn't like stales, you said the word sell four times in that last sentence. I'll go back and play, but I think it was four plus percent.

That's right, that's selling. So you definitely are selling. The interview is selling too. But it's like the schedule's freaky though, right? It's freaky, it's intense. And I think it's a matter too, and to your point about me being a mom, I had to rethink how I'm a mom.

When I first started this, I was ashamed that I had to bring him with me from time to time. And I serve on a number of boards as well. I was a president of the UCLA Alumni Association, so I represent all 500,000 Bruins that ever graduated from UCLA. I just finished that term, but while I'm still on that board, I'm now a Regent does a date for the UC Regions. So the UC Regions is the governing board of all ten of the UC campuses. And then I'll be a voting Regent next year. I do charity

work. But I bring him with me. And now he's learning presence. He's learning authority. He's learning he belongs right? I'm still I am still convincing myself and we're being real that I belong. There's still times in my mind where I have in posture syndrome and all that other kind of stuff and you know and you got to remember no you you belong girl you you earn this like you got this but it real. And because society tells you otherwise a lot of times, and people are quick to point out the failures. And I recently adapted to that and said, you know what, I may have failed a task,

but that does not make me a failure. I does not. That's a task. And maybe I didn't meet that goal. And you better believe I'm going to meet it next time. It doesn't make me a failure. I'm still pretty awesome. Oh, that was so good.

You have to believe that. That was so good. Oh, because you just said something. No one's used that phrase on my show before either too, but I suffered from it sometimes. So you mean you said imposter syndrome. There's this part of, I think, a lot of us as we're doing while we're winning, especially those of you that are starting to achieve, you actually think it's a fluke or they don't really know who you really are. And the fact is, I just gave this talk to where I went to college.

I went to University of Pacific, I played baseball there and I said, I wish I could have gone back there and someone would have told me, hey, you're really good. You're special. You're awesome. Because I didn't know it. To this day, I'm 47, life's gone pretty good. I still, once in a while, get that impostor syndrome. I'll be driving to a speech and for some reason,

that one, I'm like, why do they want to hear from me? I swear to God. Wait, that happened on the way here today. I was like, hey, that's not really me. Do you really want me to know? Someone talked to me into it. I'm 100% sure. So by the way, not only she's not only an imposter,

not only does she belong, but she's achieving. She's part of the 2018 Ebony Power List. So you're on that list with Steph Curry and Venus Williams. I am. And so this is so awesome, right? Like tell them what category you're in too. This is pretty cool.

It's crazy. It's the MVP category. And they're mostly athletes. And I was like, what? This isn't insane. Typically, I'm in the MVP category and they're mostly athletes and I was like, what? This isn't sane. Like, typically I'm in the woman category because I'm in a women's business and okay, fine, that's cool. I'm just, if that helps me get the word out, then that's fantastic. And really, I'm just, beyond, you see, I'm studying right now.

I'm a very good presenter until I'm talking about me. It's true. I am so humbled at this. And it really is a testament to the Sparks organization, our ownership group, to their commitment to making sure that we have a platform. And now it's being nationally recognized on the number of different ways. And so. It's a testament to you.

So you do this what you said earlier, and said all women do, but you deflect achievement, you deflect the compliment, you deflect your unbelievable impact you're making. And so it is a reflection on that, it's a reflection on you. They name you, right? And so it's unreal that you've done it. And speaking of that, we don't have a few more minutes left. I'm like, I'm enjoying this so much.

We're gonna hear, we're here all day. I wish we were because there are so much that you do unconsciously well that I'd like to bring out of you. So I'm going to make you do this for a second. So right now, is there a player on the sparks? I think I know who you would say, and I don't have a favorite player. but who is sort of the go-to score on the team right now? You know, we have a few. And because, again, it's a team, right? It's team ball, right? So you have Candace Parker who's a very versatile player, and you have Nekke Gumike, who's

like, she's like a female James Worthy, right? She's a slicer, but with ridiculous efficiency, right? You have Chelsea Gray that can create a shot out of, like, think there's no play left Chelsea Gray creates that shot and then you have a Lena Beard who is defensive player of the year so so it's you can't pick a player because we play team ball on purpose and we have to move that ball around it just depends on the play and the you know let's take those four particular players and I'm gonna put we're gonna put six people in a room. Okay. Magic Johnson. Okay. You. Yeah. And the four players. Okay. What do you have in common? So you're all mega achievers. What are some of the common traits amongst these people?

Um, drive, um, competitiveness. Everybody wants to, and not against each other. Just, okay, wait, true story. Well, we want to know championship. So Just, okay, what true story will we want to know championship? So me, Penny, Irvin, and we're on the floor, won the championship. It was insane. Minnesota links had been dominant for quite some time. We dethroned them, Irvin's going crazy to Minnesota.

And we won, we're on the floor, we haven't got the trophy yet. Irvin's like, looks at me and Penny, you ready to do it again next year? Right away. Right away immediately. And I was like, dang, can I get some champagne? My hair first, like, no!

And then we paused, and we were like, yeah, let's do it, let's do it. And we got to the finals, but we didn't win. We went game five, we have a series of five, and so, and so it's that competitiveness, that drive that, okay, how can I beat myself, okay, what can I learn today, what's the new thing I can do today, and no one will not work me. All of us are work, our workhorses. I love that.

That is, by the way, if I were asked that question, that would be my answer. My answer would be some freakish drive, which I put competitive as all that are there. And then you just out work everybody. Yeah. And that is the common line of the guests on my show that have maxed out. It's a common guest to the people that have mentored me. I always say, I think in business, you definitely, I mean, obviously the ideas you've created,

even to span the brand of the team, they're brilliant. So you've used your head to do that. But what has separated you is your heart. And you win at the end of the day, you have to have the right strategies in business, but you win with your heart and not your head ultimately. It's just out working everybody at your drive, at your ambition. I think you're amazing. So let's talk about the team just for a second and then just so everybody, I want people to go see the team. Yes. Yes. And so, and by the way, so there's a lot of other listens that are in Southern

California. And if you're not, you're in other parts of the country go see go find out where your local team isn't go see these incredible athletes play And if you're around the world just become engaged in this product because I think like all brands This could become a global brand. I'm just gonna tell you right now. So so Why should somebody it's it's inexpensive? inexpensive, and the athletes are incredible. Give me one more reason why somebody should come see a WNBA game, particularly maybe the Spartans. The Spartans are unique. It's a party.

It's a different sporting environment. We have a DJ, we bring in its LA, right? So we bring in entertainment on timeouts. We have magic moments, we have people performing. So you have ridiculously amazing basketball, right? It's affordable. It's family friendly, but it's still fun. And literally people have the greatest time when they come. Yeah, you really believe this. I do. Yeah, you really do. And what I love about it is, as just a sports fan is, I just tell you, it's straightforward. Not everybody listening,

this is a sports fan. I just think the quality of the sports unbelievable. I just really do. Thank you. I do. Okay, so I quality of the sports unbelievable. I just really do Okay, so I go all the way back. Okay You were Nine when your mom and dad's seven. Okay, so you're seven years old and so I'll go back to that little girl I just think it's fascinating just for a second just have some perspective because you're in the middle of doing what you do Yeah, but if you went back to that that girl at that time, there had to be some sense of turmoil going on in your life. All of a sudden your daddy's not in the house and your mom's now got these four girls she's raising. And I'm just picturing this beautiful girl going through her life and just thinking, man, if I could go back there and tell her,

you know, amazing your life's going to be, yeah. And there's a lot of people listening to this. I'm proud of you, by the way. Thank you. I'm really happy for you too. That's a lot. And but there's millions of people listening to this. Yeah. Who, they're at a point in their life that like,

look, another thing in my world has been perfect either. I don't come from the perfect family. I don't either, but I'm coming from a perfect family. Everything in my life right now isn't perfect. I've made some mistakes, I've had a relationship that didn't work out, my business didn't work out, maybe I didn't get my degree, maybe I got my degree and I thought that was gonna change everything

and I don't have my dream job. And so I get a chance to sit down with Christine Simmons for a cup of coffee for just a couple minutes. And I get to ask her, what would your advice be to me to transform my life, to change my life? What would be the things you would tell that person if they could ask you? Be relentless about reinventing yourself.

And know that you have the power already. No one has to give it to you. I think women we suffer from that a bit more because we've been put in our place for so long and so given someone an opportunity is phenomenal and more grateful for every opportunity that you give us and then watch us work which is actually worth the taglines for the NWBA. But it's true, watch us work, watch what I'll do. You give me that up to you, watch what I'll do. And adversity makes you better.

When I have a candidate who comes in and I am looking to bring someone on, I need a creative solutioner. I need someone who's going to figure it out. I need someone who's got thick skin. So as you achieve, and for those of you you again back to the glamour versus the grind, it's not easy and it's you your circle gets way smaller, right? And there's more scrutiny and there's more challenges and there's all of these things that you but yet you have to and seen. Hey, no, I didn't have a horrible day yesterday. You know what I mean?

Like and and so those are the things that, but it makes you better. And turn that, it's energy. Like, we feel like, I feel like, you know, it's energy. And you have to, in its heart, when you're constantly being kicked and kicked, how do you turn that energy? It's almost like, it's almost like black panther when it's suit. His suit kept hitting like the get bullets and hit his bullet, and then that kinetic energy would build up and it would just, wow, right?

So now I'm at the point where I'm like, oh, tell me no. Why? Careful what you do when you tell me no, because now I'm gonna come back with a force because in you have your moment, don't get me wrong. You have your moments where you're disappointed or you're like, why, why did this happen again? Or why did this not happen again?

Get that. Have your safe space. Now let's move on. Let's go. How are we going to, how are we going to change it? You can't, you have to move forward. Yes. Constant forward movement.

Relentless. So use that word. Relentless. All my emails, it says, are we relentless? Drive for excellence. Does it really? Yes, relentless. And people call you crazy.

Yeah. People are going to agree, they're not going to understand. They're going to think that you're a rating B or, you know, in two intents. And so you figure out the nuances of it. But stay relentless, keep reinventing yourself and change the energy. Oh my gosh, that's good.

Because I do think, like, I just think energy is influence and I think it's infectious too. And that's the thing about you, like, immediately. I'm talking about like within two seconds, your energy is beautiful. It's attractive, right? It's connecting. Yeah. And so, and it is difficult to bring that energy when the world is kicking you,

but you're absolutely right. You've got to turn that energy around. You've got to get up. You've got to be relentless. I love what you talked about reinventing yourself too. That version of you right now is producing the results you're getting. You've got to reinvent and get better.

I think you are incredible. Oh, it's so mutual. It's so intense we're. I'm serious like that. I'm serious like that. I'm serious like that. You have been such a joy. Like this is amazing. Thank you.

So today was wonderful. It's so good. I already kind of know they're going to be like, would you bring her back and do just like these business questions? I'd love it. But I'm so impressed. And thank you for being you.

Thank you for breaking down some of these barriers. Thank you for doing this today because I promise you I know the impact this conversations had on so many people and I can't wait to hear about how do people find you though? We want to help you grow your social media and grow the sparks too. So how can they best find you? So sparks is LA underscore sparks on all platforms. And apologetically underscore Christine is on Instagram. See you in Simmons on Twitter.

Okay, so we need to go, you need to be connected with this woman because I feel like you, I think you probably feel like I do. I wanna watch even what the future holds for you too. Okay. And it was really an honor to do this for you today. So thank you so much. Thank you.

You enjoyed it, so, so much. Hey everybody, we did it again. I brought you out to somebody who's maxing out their life and for information today, really gonna help so many of you max out your life as well. I brought you out to somebody who's maxing out their life and for information today is really going to help so many of you max out your life as well. I hope you enjoyed the program. Spread the word. We're the number one growing program in the world.

More people need to know about this. You're following me on Instagram and Ed Mylett. Every day I do the two-minute drill. So when I make a post, every day on my main feed, first two minutes, everybody makes a comment. You're in a drawing. You get coaching calls with my guests. Me, here, books, all kinds of stuff.

You get from doing that. And if you miss the first two minutes, just comment every day. We pick a winner at the end of the week who comment it every day. So please do that. God bless you. And max up.

Oh.