July '26 Newsletter
The Secret Power of Sports: Inspiration
At a different time in my professional life, I joined a group of people that believed we could change the unfortunate early legacy of golf as an elitist, sexist, and racist sport by leaning into the power of sports. Tiger’s famous “Hello World” introduction set the stage for opening the sport to everyone, as best evidenced by the global appeal of golf today: open for virtually everyone!
The World Cup had me riveted to the TV. How powerful is “futbol?” It reached 11.5 BILLION viewers, more than the preceding 2 World Cups combined! It was a celebration of countless cultures…think about tiny Cape Verde standing tall against the biggest sport nations on earth. Or the absolute diversity of cultures, races, religions, even politics. And think about the global nature of citizenship, where each of us found ourselves rooting for a team based on what…simple interest, or a great athlete story or maybe because they were the underdog? Do all Americans understand strategy or the complexity of soccer? Probably not yet. Do we understand the celebration of the culture of sport, its skill, its passion, and its impact as a force for good, that transcends all the limitations of modern living, replacing it with joy and inspiration? Absolutely.
My view of the local importance of soccer has changed as well. First, we are blessed with a density of elite, high-level pro and amateur soccer. Think about the amazing San Diego FC, the Wave, Surf Cup soccer, and the YMCA, not to mention all the “backyard” games going on endlessly. My soccer bandwidth was too narrow, focused on things like winning or great PR for San Diego or even being profitable. Thanks to the amazing lesson of this World Cup, I now see soccer/futbol teaching the value of sport, the value of teamwork, the benefits of belonging to something bigger than you. It is inspiring us all to play a role in making the world a more approachable place to celebrate the humanity we all share. Play on!
Bob
San Diego SPORT Innovators
SDSI Walton Innovation Lab Featured in The Coast News
The Coast News recently featured SDSI's Walton Innovation Lab for its track record helping companies in the San Diego lifestyle industry scale into success. The story highlighted graduate success stories like Parkit, SurfDry, and GearHugger, and showed how the program gives entrepreneurs significantly better odds of success than the industry norm. After years of helping local brands skyrocket into success, we're grateful to see that impact recognized. Read the full article here. Applications for the next cohort are open now through August 24th. If you or someone you know could benefit from this kind of mentorship, apply now.
Welcome New Members:
Kristin Biggs is Chief Operating Officer at Brixton, a global lifestyle apparel, headwear, and accessories brand distributed in more than 30 countries and known for blending timeless style with modern design. With more than 20 years in retail and consumer products, Kristin leads Brixton's global operations, spanning supply chain, logistics, purchasing, inventory planning, merchandising, and strategic planning, and is passionate about building high-performing teams and scalable processes for sustainable growth. Connect with Kristin on LinkedIn here, and check out Brixton here.
Cadre AI is an AI strategy and implementation firm that helps businesses turn AI uncertainty into measurable results. Through strategy, leadership training, and custom engineering, the team helps identify and implement the highest-impact AI use cases. Recently named an official OpenAI Service Partner, the company works across industries from professional services to retail, helping teams cut through the noise and put AI to work where it actually drives ROI. Learn more about Cadre AI here.
Stephen Huber has joined us in our new “Citizen” category of membership, open to execs between opportunities or leaders no longer affiliated with a brand. Stephen has an amazing pedigree: Naval Aviator (Go Navy!), MBA from UCLA, operating executive at Home Care Providers. After leading the sale of Home Care Providers, Stephen is looking for his next seat as a COO, President, or GM at a company built around health, fitness, or active living, and welcomes the chance to connect with fellow SDSI members building in that space. Connect with Stephen here.
Will Regan’s Silk Screen Shirts is a San Diego-based custom apparel and branded merchandise company, handling everything from uniform programs to online company stores and fulfillment. The team specializes in scalable apparel solutions for teams, events, retailers, fitness brands, and growing multi-location businesses, backed by quality decoration and reliable execution. Learn more about Silk Screen Shirts here.
Hearty SDSI welcome to CEO Alan Cole and his truly amazing GovX, the largest online retailer focused exclusively on serving the U.S. military and first-responder communities, connecting over 5 million members with thousands of brand partners across manufacturers, entertainment brands, and professional sports teams. Founded in La Jolla in 2011, the company now employs a team of 100 and generates more than $100M in annual sales across dozens of active lifestyle categories. Through GovX Gives Back, the team also supports dozens of nonprofits that care for those who serve. Learn more about GovX here.