From the Court to the Boardroom
A story of Leadership and Success by Lisa Leslie and Bridgette Chambers
In a new book by power house authors, Hall of Famer Lisa Leslie and award winning CEO Bridgette Chambers, readers quickly learn how to reignite the powerful foundation of strength formed while playing competitive sports and parlay those life changing, high performing behaviors into success in the business world. Through stories and winning strategies, Lisa and Bridgette invite readers to RE-IGNITE their passion and competitive spirit. Next, the authors introduce a path designed to help readers RISE to the challenges ahead and find the inner-strength and constitution to keep REACHING for greatness in business.
Foreword by Earvin “Magic” Johnson
Success in athletics is a lot more than gaining strength, speed, agility, and the particular skills of basketball, football, soccer or any other sport. Becoming a successful athlete means developing strong mental skills, too. These mental skills will help you every step of the way, for the rest of your life, in just about any profession you pursue. Lisa Leslie and Bridgette Chambers are great examples of having all the athletic abilities and the mental skills too!
Having known Lisa since she was a star high school athlete to becoming the one of the great women’s basketball players dominating the court and leading her teams to California state basketball titles, NCAA crowns, WNBA championships and Olympic gold medals, she is a long way from being finished. She took the focus, teamwork and drive for excellence that she learned as an athlete to become a successful role model, sports analyst, businesswoman, and motivational speaker. On top of all that, she has managed to be an amazing mom, a great wife, and a loving daughter.
Bridgette Chambers was also a great athlete first as a swimmer and water polo player and later became a talented soccer player in school and in the U.S. Army. She used her mental discipline in the business world to become a well-known corporate turnaround expert and successful CEO of several huge corporations.
Lisa and Bridgette are both impressive women but they are also really kind, caring people, who want to share what they’ve learned and help others to achieve.
From the Court to the Boardroom describes what it was like for both of them as young girls just realizing that they enjoyed competing in sports to success after their playing days. It explains how they applied those lessons to their business careers. The most important lesson in the book is that you don’t have to be a national champion or an Olympian for these lessons to apply. They share important skills on leadership, determination, teamwork, and striving for excellence. I’m confident the lessons in this book will work for you, too.
– Earvin “Magic” Johnson
About the authors
This dynamo duo has traveled the globe speaking to audiences about leadership, diversity, and personal success. They have co-launched the EmpoweredW Community designed to provide knowledge and support to young entrepreneurs endeavoring to change the world one business model at a time.
Meet Lisa Leslie
Three Time WNBA MVP, Four-Time Olympic Gold Medalist and Hall of Famer
When the “face” of your sport is a Wilhelmina model, you know you’re off to a good start. But Lisa Leslie the most-recognized player in the WNBA and Team USA brought considerably more than a stunning visage and statuesque body to the court. She was the most dominant player in the women’s game.
While at Morningside High School in Inglewood, CA, she led the team to two state championships. In college at the University of Southern California, she was the all time Pac-10 leader in points, rebounds, and blocked shots. After college, Leslie launched her modeling career, signing with the prestigious Wilhelmina Agency in 1996.
She was a member of the gold-winning U.S. Olympic teams in 1996, 2000, 2004 and 2008. She is the first team sport athlete to win four consecutive Olympic Gold Medals.
In 2001, Leslie was the first WNBA player to win the regular season MVP, the All-Star Game MVP and the playoff MVP in the same season. That year, she also led the Los Angeles Sparks to their first WNBA Championship. In 2002, she became the WNBA all-time leading scorer and was named MVP of the regular season for the second year in a row. She led the Los Angeles Sparks to back-to-back Championships. She would go on to win her third MVP trophy of the WNBA in 2006. Leslie is the first woman to slam-dunk in a professional game.
Lisa Leslie sat out the 2007 WNBA season as she and her husband, Air Force Academy graduate and UPS Pilot Michael Lockwood welcomed baby Lauren into the world. She joined the U.S. team that spring and won her fourth Olympic Gold Medal as she retired from the Olympics. In 2009, Lisa Leslie announced her retirement from the WNBA as she played her last season in front of her family, friends and fans!
In Lisa’s off-season she received her Master’s in Business and became an author, releasing her first book, “Don’t Let the Lipstick Fool You”. In her own words, she points the spotlight onto her remarkable life off the court, where being a confident champion was not always simple.
After welcoming her second baby, son MJ, Lisa Leslie became Co-Owner of the Los Angeles Sparks – a professional franchise in the WNBA. In 2013, she joined Michael and became a UPSer, being named the UPS Brand Ambassador while sitting on the advisory board for Capital One for five years.
Lisa also became a commentator for ESPN in 2004, covering the NCAA Women’s Tournament and has not looked back working for all major networks including ABC,CBS, ESPN, Turner, and Fox Sports Net to name a few. She also had the privilege of covering the 2012 Olympics for NBC. Currently, she’s an in-studio co-host of CBS first all -female sports talk show “We Need To Talk”. In 2016 she wrote her second book, “From The Court to the Boardroom” which inspires athletes to use their mental approach to the game and team work in business.
Lisa began her acting career taking drama classes in both high school and college. She made several cameo appearances on top television shows such as Martin, Sister Sister, Moesha and One on One. She also hit the big screen in Love & Basketball and Think Like A Man! Hopefully you saw her in the blockbuster comedy, “Uncle Drew” as she played “Betty Lou”!
Also known for her philanthropic endeavors, she has been summoned to the White House on several occasions with President Clinton, Bush and Obama. As a wife, mom of Lauren (12 years old) and MJ (9 years old) and stepmom to Gabrielle (27 years old) and Mikaela (24 years old), author, sports analyst, motivational speaker, entrepreneur and philanthropist, you can see Lisa Leslie does it all. And she’s not slowing down. She’s a luxury realtor for Keller Williams, yet her proudest accomplishment is being happily married to her husband and real estate partner, Michael Lockwood for 14 years!
Meet Bridgette Chambers
Bridgette Chambers, Ph.D., is an award-winning executive, turnaround expert, growth strategist, educator, and successful business author. Chambers has been recognized more than a dozen times by the American Business Association, including Turnaround Executive of the Year, Maverick of the Year, and Female Executive of the Year. As CEO, Chambers has been at the helm of many successful companies, including Constellation Research, a world-class research technology firm helping clients to unleash the power of emerging and disruptive technologies based in Silicon Valley.
In addition to working with entrepreneurs across the globe, Chambers is a well-known keynote speaker who has shared the stage with Colin Powell, Lisa Leslie, Seth Godin, Michael Eisner, and other notable personal brands, speaking to business, community and academic audiences. In addition to co-authoring From the Court to the Boardroom, Chambers is the author of Profitable Problem Solving, a best seller in the business category on Amazon.
Bridgette is a member of the faculty within Mays Business School at Texas A&M. Chambers is a recognized expert in change and transformation. She speaks on a variety of topics, including Transformational Leadership, Change, Transformation & Culture, Leadership during Times of Change & Transformation, Entrepreneurialism, Diversity & Empowerment, and Profitable Problem Solving™. Chambers delivers workshop and keynote experiences designed to inspire those leading and experiencing change & transformation to a successful, sustainable outcome. Chambers offers workshops that include simulation of organizational change & transformation.
Chambers received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Houston, her MBA from Texas A&M University, and a Ph.D. from NorthCentral University. Chambers developed her leadership skills while serving proudly as a member of the Chemical Corp in the United States Army Reserves and the Texas Army National Guard.
Don’t Let the Lipstick Fool You
by Lisa Leslie
“Don’t Let the Lipstick Fool You” tells Lisa Leslie’s story, from growing up in a single-parent house to rising through the ranks as a WNBA all-star.
With heart and honesty, she shares the hopes, dreams and ambitions that turned her into an Olympian, successful business woman and a loving wife and mother.
Profitable Problem Solving™
by Bridgette Chambers
Learn how to CHANGE, GROW & SAVE your company with strategies designed to ensure profit or personal gain with the Amazon Bestseller!
For High Performers and Entrepreneurial Employees on the Move
If you’re looking for a way to differentiate yourself, grow your career, and increase your net worth… why not begin by putting your problem solving skills to work for you.
Watch for Bridgette’s New Release,
Profitable Problem Solving™ for Executives
Empower your employees to CHANGE, GROW & SAVE your company.
For CEOs and Entrepreneurs Growing their Business
Why do companies let small, simple problems fester and grow into complex, expensive, and disruptive issues? Wouldn’t it be smarter to solve those problems when they are small and encompass less risk?
The great CEOs are the superstars who build a legacy filled with sustained profitability, market-changing innovations that create competitive advantage, and enduring corporate cultures that fuel continuous improvement.
