Inside the Entrepreneur’s Playbook: Learning Leadership from Industry Giants

Through a partnership with Ed Stack, Executive Chairman of Dick’s Sporting Goods, the Tepper School offered a new course this fall designed to immerse MBA students in the mindset, challenges, and strategies of leaders who have built and scaled major organizations.

The Entrepreneur’s Playbook: Leadership for Growth offered the rare opportunity to learn about leadership and growth directly from some of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs and executives.

Building For Growth

The course featured an extraordinary lineup of guest speakers who brought real-world insight and inspiration into the classroom.

"I've always loved being on a college campus, so when Meredith presented the opportunity to share my experiences as an Entrepreneur and Business Leader, I immediately said yes,” said Stack. “Success is not linear, there are always ups and downs in your career, which was one of the main points I wanted the students to understand. I'd like to think we brought some terrific leaders, and clearly showed that their business or career did not go in a straight line. But if you believe and remain steadfast and work hard, that up and down journey can be worth it."

Lauren Hobart, President and CEO of DICK’S Sporting Goods, discussed the company’s remarkable transformation and sustained growth in a rapidly changing retail landscape. She shared candid leadership lessons from her own journey, emphasizing the importance of authenticity, adaptability, and fostering a strong organizational culture that empowers teams to innovate and lead with purpose.

Leading With Purpose

Kevin Plank, Founder and CEO of Under Armour, led a thought-provoking session filled with insights on entrepreneurship, leadership, and personal growth. Drawing from his own experiences building Under Armour from the ground up, he encouraged students to embrace risk, stay focused on their mission, and learn from failure as a driver of innovation.

Michael Rubin, Founder and CEO of Fanatics, followed with a discussion that pushed students to think beyond scale, challenging them to build companies that aren’t just successful, but truly beloved by their customers and communities.

“This course was a master class in building long-term relationships and learning from failure,” said Alex Holder, a part-time MBA student and Senior Product Designer with Dick’s Media. “We make the best decisions we can with the information we have. The real lesson is in how we move forward.”

“One of the biggest lessons I took away was the grit and determination shared by every guest speaker,” added MBA student David Aristizabal. “No matter the challenge, they never gave up, and that mindset really stuck with me.”

Innovating For The Future

Elliott Hill, CEO of Nike, shared his inspiring leadership journey and reflected on the lessons learned throughout his career at one of the world’s most iconic brands. He spoke about his vision for returning Nike to its athlete-focused roots, reconnecting the company’s innovation and storytelling to the needs and spirit of athletes everywhere. Hill also explored how leaders can think strategically about growth in an AI-powered future.

“This course represents the kind of real-world, high-impact learning that defines the Tepper School MBA experience,” said Meredith Meyer Grelli, Interim Executive Director of the Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship and Associate Teaching Professor of Entrepreneurship, who led the course. “Hearing directly from leaders who have shaped industries gives our students unparalleled insight into what it takes to drive growth and lead with purpose.”

Each session offered students a behind-the-scenes look at the decisions, values, and resilience required to lead at the highest levels. They engaged in candid conversations about entrepreneurship, brand building, and leadership under pressure, bridging classroom learning with the realities of modern business.

“Every class left us motivated, whether it was to start our own company or grow a career within a major organization,” said MBA student Danny Onorato when reflecting on the course. “Hearing directly from leaders like Ed Stack, Michael Rubin, Kevin Plank, Lauren Hobart, and Elliott Hill showed us just how many different paths success can take.”

Beyond its immediate impact in the classroom, The Entrepreneur’s Playbook reflects the Tepper School’s commitment to experiential learning, entrepreneurial pursuit, and leadership development, all themes central to the school’s strategic vision. The success of this course underscores the Tepper School’s deep connections across industries and its focus on preparing leaders who think strategically and create meaningful change.