From the NFL to the WNBA: Stacy Johns' Blueprint for Reinvention

Sixteen years into a career with the Indianapolis Colts, Stacy Johns had built a stadium, run finance and HR, and become one of the only women in the room at every level. So when she left the NFL to help launch LAFC — a brand-new MLS team with no track record, no established fanbase, and no real off-season — people told her she was having a midlife crisis. She thought it necessary.

Stacy and host Everett Sands dig into what she looks for in her first weeks running a new organization: not the finances, but what a team has been tolerating versus celebrating. Now leading the LA Sparks, Stacy is applying the same startup instincts she used to help LAFC sell out a million tickets three years running.

What You'll Learn:

Why Stacy left a comfortable 16-year run in the NFL for an untested MLS startup — and the fear that actually drove the decision. How a naming rights deal with BMO Stadium started with an offhand comment during a stadium tour, not a formal pitch. Why Stacy treats pulling out the signed contract as a sign that a partnership has already failed.

Chapters:

(00:00) Introduction
(00:52) From CPA to Professional Sports
(03:01) Growing the Colts from the Inside
(04:23) Raise Your Hand: How Stacey Advanced
(06:45) Joining LAFC as a Startup
(11:33) Landing the BMO Naming Rights Deal
(14:08) The Million Ticket Flywheel
(15:41) Why Stacey Chose the Sparks
(17:30) First 90 Days: Reading the Room
(20:24) Leading Through Questions
(22:04) Pregame Huddles & a Culture of Praise
(25:12) Using the Offseason Strategically
(27:00) Retention vs. Growth: Where to Focus
(29:31) The Power of Grassroots Partnerships
(32:35) Why Transactional Deals Fail
(34:19) Confidence & Career Advice for Women in Sports

Stacy’s Highlights:

"I just knew myself well enough that there was more to life than one job."

"If we're ever getting the contract out, we have failed our partnership."

"The older I get, the more confident I am that the way females think, the way we lead, the way we run things has a place and doesn't need to require explanation."

Connect:

Connect with Everett: http://linkedin.com/in/everettksands
Connect with Stacy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacy-johns-39bb711/
Continue the conversation: smallbusinessunscripted.com
Learn more about Lendistry: lendistry.com

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