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Themes for 2025

1

Developing Holistic Leaders

Advancing skills and strategies to foster leadership, fueling the future of the game both on and off the court 

Leadership today is about navigating complexity, building influence, and driving collective success. Whether leading on the court, in the boardroom, or within global organizations, elite performers must be intentional about growth, strategy and decision-making.

This theme explores the mindset, strategies and structures that define elite leadership, including:

  1. Decision-making under pressure - how the best leaders stay effective in high-stakes moments
  2. The business of influence - leveraging leadership for impact across sport, business and media
  3. Understanding collective bargaining and negotiations - lessons from athlete unions that apply across industries
  4. Building and sustaining high-performance cultures - fostering environments where athletes and leaders can thrive, innovate, and drive long-term success

Strong leadership isn't just about individual success - it's about building a culture that empowers teams, drives innovation, and creates lasting impact.

2

Business & Investment

Championing athlete-driven investment, innovation and global impact across health, sport and technology 

Athletes are no longer just competitors - they are market movers, investors and industry leaders shaping the future of sports, health and technology. The shift from endorsements to ownership has redefined what it means to be a professional athlete, with players leveraging their platforms for long-term value creation, global influence and equity-driven opportunities.

This theme will bring together athletes, investors, executives and innovators to explore how to collaborate effectively, identify lucrative opportunities and drive industry trends. Whether through private equity, venture capital or strategic partnerships, the conversation is no longer just about making money - it's about building lasting impact and legacy. Key discussions include:

  1. From endorsements to ownership - how the smartest athletes are moving beyond traditional sponsorships into controlling stakes
  2. The biggest capital opportunities across sport, health and technology - where athletes, executives and investors should be looking next
  3. How executives and investors can effectively collaborate with athletes - bridging the gap between capital and influence

Long-term success isn't just about the next contract - it's about ownership and equity.

3

The Impact of New Technologies 

Exploring innovations shaping the future of sports performance and success 

In high performing environments, the ability to evaluate and implement new technologies is essential - but who controls the direction? The intersection of AI, data and human optimization is redefining the way athletes train, recover and compete, with massive implications for teams, investors and the global sports ecosystem.

This theme will explore how players and their ecosystems can harness cutting-edge technologies to extend careers, enhance decision-making and drive sustainable competitive advantages while maintaining ownership of their most valuable asset - their data. Key discussions include:

  1. The role of AI in athlete health, wellbeing and performance optimization - how players and their ecosystems are leveraging real-time analytics to maximize output
  2. The next frontier in injury prevention and recovery - biometrics, predictive analytics and the future of personalized health solutions
  3. Data ownership & monetization - who controls the most valuable insights in sports and how players can reclaim their data
  4. Investment & innovation - where capital is flowing in sports tech, and how players and investors can shape the future

Technology is changing the game - but athletes must lead its evolution, not just adapt to it.

4

Athlete Health & Wellbeing

Prioritizing physical and mental performance to enhance generational health 

At the NBPA, we believe player health should be controlled by players - not dictated by teams, organizations or external stakeholders. Generational Health means empowering current, future and former athletes with the best science, resources and policies to extend careers, optimize performance and ensure well-being long after the final buzzer.

Across all industries, leaders are rethinking recovery, mental resilience and longevity strategies. This discussion will explore the next era of high-performance health, offering insights that translate across sport, business and life. Key discussions include:

  1. Mental resilience & cognitive performance - how elite athletes and executives sustain peak decision-making under pressure
  2. Optimizing the conditions for sustained excellence - balancing training loads, recovery and life beyond the game
  3. The business of health - where innovation and investment intersect in sports science and long-term athlete well-being

Athletes' careers are only as strong as their health - now and for years to come.