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The Gift Of Vulnerability With Texas’ Drew Martin

Guest Drew Martin, Texas
23:53 min watch

Summary

University of Texas Executive Senior Associate AD Drew Martin joins ADU’s Steph Garcia Cichosz at the 2024 PACnet Conference for a discussion on branding, realignment, benchmarking for success and personal and professional vulnerability. Martin and Garcia Cichosz begin with a deep dive into the evaluation process that went into UT’s decision to move to the SEC and the way that decision will impact the UT brand and identity. In the context of benchmarking for success on a personal and professional level, Martin opens up about his experience of coming out as a gay man in his early 30s while working at a Power 5 institution: “There was nothing scarier than that. And if I could conquer that monster, I could conquer anything.” Martin also reflects on creating boundaries to dictate how and when to blend personal and professional identities on social media before sharing insight into the core values of his leadership style.

The conversation is indexed below for efficient viewing (click the time stamp to jump to a specific question/topic).

  • - Let’s talk about Texas in terms of brand identity - how have you and your team had to evolve your thinking about the UT brand and how can you continue to push the boundaries while staying true to the tradition of Texas Athletics?
  • - When the leadership was initially thinking about this move to the SEC, did it trigger a reexamining of UT’s core values? In that process, did you discover anything that needed to change?
  • - How have you benchmarked yourself, professionally and personally? How have you analyzed gaps in your experience and how have you addressed those things?
  • - In times of change, leaders often have to step out of their comfort zone - that requires a level of personal vulnerability with your peers, your AD, your staff. How has that played out for you? How have you allowed yourself to change in real time?
  • - What did your support systems look like then and what do they look like now?
  • - How have you defined that line for what you do and don’t share publicly, specifically with social media?
  • - How would you define yourself in 3 words and how would you define your leadership style in 3 separate words?
  • - What would you say to your past self, the Media Relations Intern at Mississippi State, and what would you say to your future self?

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