Former University of New Mexico Vice President and Director of Athletics/recently-named University of Houston Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics Eddie Nuñez sits down with ADU’s Tai M. Brown during the 2024 Men's Final Four in Phoenix to share how challenges such as Hurricane Katrina and the pandemic honed his difference maker mindset. Nuñez walks Brown through his thought process of moving football out of state to compete during the pandemic and reflects on the value of relationships when navigating difficult decisions. Nuñez also discusses how he defines success and identity in the context of his job title: “I want to make a difference – that’s what we all do this for. It’s about our student-athletes and what we can do to make a difference. Whatever aspect or ability they give us to do so, we want to make it happen.”
The conversation is indexed below for efficient viewing: -
0:53 - What I know about you is that you’re a problem-solver. Two problems you’ve had to manage in your journey as a leader were Hurricane Katrina and the pandemic. Tell me about your approach to solving problems, specifically in those specific situations.
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4:31 - The [New Mexico] governor made a decision that they felt like was the best for the majority of people involved. They looked at the same points you looked at - talk to me about weighing how different perspectives on the same decision can come to different conclusions.
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7:07 - Talk to me about your thought process on who to call when things come up [in the context of Hurricane Katrina], how you decide this is the best thing - or not - for the University community and the broader community.
- 10:02 - Do you come out of something like that feeling like, “Hey, I can handle things at a high level.”
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11:45 - We’re here at an event put on by Playfly, a company that is getting market share in the multimedia rights industry. From the perspective of a department that’s signed on with Playfly, when people approach you and share their unique value proposition, how do you look beyond it and objectively assess the opportunity?
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14:37 - I want to go back to what your daughters said - “Dad, you’re always trying to find a way to make something better.” With that mindset, you’re on all the time. As an overachiever, you’re looking for ways to overachieve and improve. Can you define success if you’re always looking for a way to improve?
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16:59 - Do the people around you feel like they’re being affirmed when you’re always looking to improve?
- 19:21 - You’re on numerous councils and committees - tell me about how you navigate being present and productive for all of them.
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21:18 - How do you prioritize that committee work among the work you have to do in your role as campus leader?
- 22:46 - Talk to me about understanding what to prioritize and when to prioritize it - if you're looking at two things that are very important, how do you know that, at the current moment, this is what I need to focus on.
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24:48 - We know what you do. But who is Eddie Nuñez, separate from what you do and your role in the office?
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