In order to be successful, every leader must develop a game plan that accounts for the politics and personalities of everyone involved.

In this special edition of the AFP Conversations Podcast, Jim Kaitz, president and CEO of AFP, speaks with DeMaurice Smith, who will kick-off the AFP 2021 Executive Institute, sponsored by PNC. Smith has served as executive director of the National Football League Players' Association since 2009, and prior to his role now, was recognized as one of the best trial lawyers in the country.

In this interview, Smith gives a preview of his keynote, “Operational Game Strategy: Managing Plans, Politics, and Personalities,” where he will share insider stories from both his current leadership position and his previous life as a homicide prosecutor that exemplify the importance of strategic planning and contextual decision making.

AFP 2021 takes place November 7 - 10 in Washington, D.C. To learn more about the event and register, visit AFP2021.org.

Being a “backable” person means you are able to rally others around a new idea in a way that inspires action, and great leaders invest in backability because it makes their people more adaptable to addressing complex problems.

In this special edition of the AFP Conversations Podcast, Jim Kaitz, president and CEO of AFP, sits down with Suneel Gupta, who is speaking at the AFP 2021 Certification Keynote, sponsored by PNC. Gupta is the author of the bestselling book, Backable, which uncovers how the key to success is in your ability to persuade others to take a chance on you.

In this interview, Gupta gives a preview of his keynote, “Backable: Why Some Ideas Catch Fire While Others Get Ignored,” where he will present the surprising truth about why some ideas are embraced while others get ignored, and shares techniques for turning a new idea into an inspiring vision.

AFP 2021 takes place November 7-10 in Washington, D.C. To learn more about the event and register, visit AFP2021.org.