About Us
Whether you are new to leadership or have committed years to intentional practice, there is something for everyone at Strive.
What We Do
At Strive, we're dedicated to spreading the power of character-driven leadership.
At Strive, we believe that authentic leadership must be character-driven based on a foundation of social and emotional learning. By prioritizing self and building individual character, individuals can develop a solid foundation to lead others. With over twenty years of robust researched based curriculum, we can build leaders who are prepared to meet the challenges of the 21st century.
Our Curriculum
To meet the ever changing landscape of leadership development Strive has multiple curricula designed to meet the specific needs of the people we partner with. From on-the-field leadership workshops utilizing our Strive Five sport curriculum, to our 21st century aligned Work Based Learning curriculum we have what your program needs to take it to the next level.
Our curricula are designed around seven core competencies: Grit, Empathy, Communication, Self Awareness, Culture, Motivation, and Energy. These competencies are part of knowing yourself and connecting with others, of being fair and honest, of sticking with it and growing from failure. We take the time to research and implement the most up to date practices in our associated fields. We align our work with organizations such as CASEL, Character Lab, Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, and the Growth Equation as well as distinguished experts such Shira Evans – Director of Olympic Sports Nutrition at UNC-Chapel Hill, and Dr. Julie Amato – Sports Psychologist at Elite Mindset Sports Psychology.
A character-driven leader might be a coach or an athlete, a principal or a sixth-grader. Whoever they are, our curricula support leaders in setting the stage for others to become character-driven leaders too.
Our Core Values
Key to the process of character-driven leadership is the understanding that core values are actionable commitments. The Strive family embodies seven core values.
Know thyself
Know thyself is central to Strive’s philosophy; we practice what we preach by taking time to better understand ourselves.
Fill tanks
We build empowering, connected cultures in which leaders grow and thrive.
Brush it off and grow
Taking a risk and failing is an amazing way to learn. We brush it off, get a little wiser, build resilience, and keep moving forward.
Be fair and honest
In prioritizing play we maintain a commitment to fairness. Integrity is expected.
Choose laughter
Humor is an important part of Strive’s culture. We choose to take ourselves lightly, which allows others to do the same.
Stick with it
This is hard work. We know and embrace this. The Strive team is all in.
Find the best in yourself so you can inspire the best in those around you
This value comes from Kevin Morgan, Strive’s founder. When we live by these values and better ourselves, the effect is contagious. A rising tide lifts all boats and we send our participants, as well as ourselves, into the world leading by example.
Our Story
Strive: How You Lead Matters, originally known as Sports Challenge Leadership Academy, was first created in 1996 by founder, Kevin Morgan and co-founders, Jeremy Edwards and Kevin Small. These three friends, all coaches and educators, served as pioneers in identifying the need to intentionally teach core leadership skills to young leaders. Their decision to take action with the creation of Sports Challenge Leadership Academy (Sports Challenge) remains the driving force behind the various ways that we Strive today, impacting young leaders in sport, school and community organizations.
Today, Strive: How You Lead Matters is an educational non-profit dedicated to spreading the power of character-driven leadership. In Coach Morgan’s words, “we encourage young leaders to find the best in themselves so they can inspire the best in those around them.”
Since 1996, Strive has worked with over 40,000 coaches, teachers, students, and athletes.
In true character-driven leadership form, every Strive experience is adaptable to meet your specific needs.
Our History
Curious ABOUT what we were up to in 2024?
Our Team
We are a team of inspiring individuals, passionately committed to the process of character-driven leadership. Professionally speaking, we are coaches, educators, advocates and life long learners. Our knowledge, skills and engaging personalities are what make Strive unique. We care deeply about connection over content and we are here to serve as your guide.
Caroline Letner
Krista Bacchieri, M.S.W
Breanna LeCompte
Annika Watchman
Denzel Dixon
Jack Keffer
Lakin Roland
Sasha Williams
Tiffany Lockridge
Our Board
Kevin Morgan, Founder, Strive: How You Lead Matters; President, The Lon Foundation
Tom Arenberg, Board Chair, Strive: How You Lead Matters; Accenture (Retired)
Jamie Chiarieri, Vice President, High Yield Credit Analyst, T. Rowe Price
Jon Debrich, Managing Director, Barclays Capital
Jon Fetterolf, Partner, Zuckerman Spaeder LLP
David Joseph, Co-Founder, America Scores Los Angeles; Writer and Fulbright Specialist
Will Lenzner, Director, Will to Win Consulting
Anthuan Maybank, President, Champion BODY; Olympic Gold Medalist
Isabel Medina, Business Operations Director, JP Morgan Chase
Kelsey Mensch, Program Officer, Rodel
Chuck Pulsfort, Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc.
Hallie Snyder-Sacchetta, Corporate Counseling Associate, Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell LLP
Andrea Valentine, Executive Director, Strive: How You Lead Matters (Retired)
Elena Veale, CFP, Senior Associate, JPMorgan Private Bank.
Peter Taylor, CPA, Senior Manager, PwC
Ways to Engage
From volunteer opportunities to intentional fundraising, join our purpose of spreading the power of character-driven leadership today!
Stay Connected
Sign up to keep your leadership skills sharp and stay updated on all things Strive.
"*" indicates required fields