University of New Hampshire Director of Athletics Allison Rich sits down with ADU’s Steph Garcia Cichosz at the 2024 NACDA Convention to reflect on the key relationships that have defined her career trajectory thus far: connections with mentors, mentees, direct reports, presidents, peers and more. Relatedly, Rich digs into the Wildcats for Life campaign and the importance of reconnecting with UNH alumni, noting: “It all comes down to relationships.” Rich also provides insight into adjusting communication styles, reconciling differences in expectations with a boss and how she’s used competitive moments to propel her career forward.
The conversation is indexed below for efficient viewing: -
0:45 - I want to talk about the relationships that have been important in your career trajectory; who have been some key mentors for you throughout your journey? What were some core lessons they imparted on you?
- 1:51 - How have you reacted at times when you haven’t had alignment with a boss?
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2:51 - Have you had to shift how you prefer to communicate, whether that’s up to a boss or down to a direct report? Have you had to shift tactics based on how others prefer to receive information?
- 4:38 - How do you like to serve as a mentor and how do you help your mentee make the relationship effective?
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5:16 - What steps did you take early in your career to define the right fit for you?
- 6:16 - If you were to go back to the beginning of your time in law school, learning about sports law, would you do anything differently? Would you want to become an NIL lawyer?
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7:26 - How have you established authentic peer relationships in an industry that is all about wins and losses?
- 8:31 - Have you experienced a competitive moment that’s helped propel your career?
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9:31 - You had great fit with your president, who is retiring at the end of the month, and you now have a new president coming in - tell me about establishing that new relationship and cultivating alignment?
- 11:00 - How have your relationships outside the industry kept you grounded and balanced throughout your career?
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12:18 - You’re two years into your tenure with the Wildcats - what have you accomplished and what’s on the near horizon?
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