As a South Carolina native and leader in the field of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI)I can say for sure that NCAA coach Dawn Staley is no ordinary leader. From her time as an Olympic gold medal-winning basketball player to her coaching role leading the South Carolina Gamecocks to an undefeated 38-0 season, Staley has a lot to teach us about what it takes to be stable and successful in a race. the arena.

It's easy to attribute Staley's success as a former athlete and coach to “luck,” but it's anything but. Staley has invested in DEI, head and mentoring her team and herself – all of which I suspect have contributed to her record wins over the years.

Who is Dawn Staley?

Dawn Staley is an American basketball coach and player who was inducted into the Hall of Fame. She has played on all sides of the court as a three-time Olympic gold medalist and also as the head coach of a gold medal winning team. Because of its incredible history, it currently is (and rightfully so). the highest paid coach of the blacks in women's basketball. But that's not all.

Related: Companies are deprioritizing DEI. Why they shouldn't and how to rededicate themselves.

Staley stands for pay equity

While many companies and organizations are moving away from DEI, others are doubling down and seeing huge rewards. Knowing very well equity inequality between the women's and men's basketball leagues, Staley has been a fearless advocate for equal pay for herself and her players. When negotiating her record deal, she had a lawyer present to ensure she got the fairest financial deal possible.

Moreover, after receiving her deserved financial due, she was generous enough to share the wealth. She is reported to have sent all the Black Division 1 coaches a portion of its net profits from a previous championship to send the message that when one of us wins, we all win.

Related: Why paying women equal pay helps—not hurts—your business

Staley understands the power of mentorship

Entrepreneurs from all walks of life have mentioned mentoring – whether given or received – as responsible for their current business success. Staley knows she needs her team as much as they need her, which requires mentoring. She has always been a force on the court and a voice of reason and guidance for her team, passing on what she has learned for the benefit of everyone in her orbit.

Staley has been clear about the symbiotic relationship she has with her players. Staley said to one Oklahoma-based newspaper“I don't train to win awards, I really don't. I'm very, very happy to just be there for my players.” Having led her team through numerous victories and walking alongside them every step of the way, Staley repeatedly proves that mentoring is an essential component of any leader's and team's success.

Related: Managing a black woman? Here's how to become her success partner and ally.

Staley knows the value of being present in any role – big or small

From her days as a player to now being a nationally renowned coach, Staley has proven that there is no role too big or too small to serve. In the early stages of a business, most entrepreneurs know firsthand how to wear multiple hats for months and sometimes years in order to get the results they seek.

Staley knows that juggling act all too well. Supporting teammates on the field is a role that requires consistency, cooperation and consistency. Coaching, in turn, has given her the tools to build confidence, empower others and delegate. Whether as a teammate or a coach, she fully commits to her role and being steadfast with her team has paid dividends.

Staley knows how to build and rally a team toward a common goal

While it seems like the perfect team fell into Staley's lap, nothing could be further from the truth. She struggled to take a team with a fair history and transform it into a solid, consistent competitive unit. This season, Staley even had to replace the entire starting lineup and was still able to get them back to the semifinals. This was not an accident. It was the result of creating and fostering a foundation of good team building and trust.

Staley selects players who understand what it means to work hard for a common goal. When businesses hire team members, they often hire for “culture fit” and select the applicant with the most impressive resume or academic credentials.

However, what they often fail to consider is the education and values ​​that each young employee possesses. In the past, Staley has emphasized her philosophy of only recruiting players who respect their parents, pointing out that if a player doesn't respect their parents, they won't respect their coach. Staley has strategically built a team of players whose values ​​were aligned with building a relationship of trust and respect with their coach. As we can see, her selective choice has had positive effects on her team's performance and rapport.

Related: Avoiding the sea of ​​sameness: How hiring for culture improves DEI

Final thoughts

The consistent winning streak enjoyed by the South Carolina Gamecocks is by no means an accident. Serving as a coach after his playing experience is a valuable asset and puts Staley in a powerful position from which to lead others. It shows that Staley has been there and done that and knows the path to success because she lived it first hand as a player. In addition, her ability to put herself in her team's shoes is a form of SENSITIVEa key pillar in DEI. From this sensitivity, she could build trust after carefully selecting team members who had the values ​​and tenacity needed to truly respect the game, their coach, their teammates and themselves. Dawn Staley exemplifies what strong leadership looks like by advocating that she and others work toward DEI, resilience, and excellence.