Mark Calitri on Winning Leadership: Who Are You Cheering On?

 Who Are You Cheering On?

One of the best leadership lessons I ever saw did not happen in a boardroom. It happened in Dallas, Texas, inside a packed arena full of Mary Kay women.

My wife, Devon, was a director with Mary Kay, and I had the chance to attend several of those big conferences with her. Mary Kay did not do these events halfway. They would take over the sports arena for weeks. Tens of thousands of women came into Dallas. There was music, energy, training, recognition, and a room full of people who believed in what they were building.

But the thing that stuck with me most was not the size of the event.

It was the cheering.

Women would walk across that stage, and the whole arena would light up for them. People clapped. They stood up. They made noise. They celebrated someone else’s win like it mattered.

That is culture.

A lot of teams say they want to win, but they do not know how to cheer for each other. They get quiet when someone else gets recognized. They compare. They compete in the wrong way. They act like another person’s success takes something away from them.

Winning Leadership works differently.

Strong teams cheer. Strong teams recognize effort. Strong teams make people feel seen. When someone gets on stage, the rest of the team should not. sit there with folded arms. They should clap like crazy, because that moment tells everyone else, “Your work can matter too.”

That is what Mary Kay understood. Recognition was not just a reward. It was fuel.

So ask yourself this today: Who are you cheering on?

Not who are you managing. Not who are you correcting. Not who are you measuring.

Who are you encouraging?

Because sometimes the next leader does not need another lecture. They need someone in the crowd reminding them they belong on the stage.

Mark Calitri writes about Winning Leadership, tourism growth, Owensboro, sports leadership, community development, and the real-world lessons behind The Winning Leadership Playbook. Follow along for practical leadership stories from Mark Calitri built on hustle, accountability, teamwork, resilience, and finishing strong. For a full overview of Mark Calitri’s leadership, tourism, media coverage, and Winning Leadership content, visit the main hub post here: https://markcalitriofficial.blogspot.com/2026/05/mark-calitri-winning-leadership-tourism.html

No comments:

Post a Comment

Mark Calitri Reports: Bluegrass Clash Sports Summit Brings 11 Sporting Events and Thousands of Athletes to Owensboro

 Owensboro is about to become one of the most active sports tourism destinations in the Midwest. This July, Visit Owensboro will launch the ...