Craig Robinson

This time out we salute Craig Robinson, who might well have ended up as your high school music teacher had not the comedy bug bit him hard while in college at Illinois State University. Along with hitting the books, Craig also hit the boards at Second City and doing stand up, eventually moving to Los Angeles where he caught the eye of Jimmy Kimmel's show. As these things do, one thing led to another and Craig has carved out a fine career with guest shots in movies and on tv, a role in the hit sitcom The Office, and more. He also is a fine musician and maintains a couple of musical projects where the music is sweet soul and the comedy is sharp and a little risqué. With that combo we think Craig will be entertaining us for years to come. As always find extra clips below and thanks for sharing our shows! Want more Craig Robinson? Craig's comedy songs usually have a nice romantic intro, then turn a different direction for the payoff as in this clip from the Just for Laughs Comedy Festival in 2008. https://youtu.be/I7BMAWwsMBs?si=CvLfOcPrLhD6ztrg Craig gained mass attention when he took on the role of warehouse foreman Darryl Philbin in The Office. Here are some of his best bits. https://youtu.be/XrHeFFYhd1A?si=jx5UMoY0pobFe2i4 Craig Robinson is a great musical comedian, sometimes with his own band "Nasty Delicious" and sometimes with fellow comic Jerry Minor as in this sensitive ballad. https://youtu.be/pS3WQ-tqntA?si=aEN_ICdKmur1fL2e

In this conversation, Craig Robinson opens up about his pivot from the C-Suite to author, mentor, and advocate for the pursuit of happiness. After attending MIT and Harvard Business School, Craig’s climb up the corporate ladder was impressive and his leadership skills put him at the top of some of the country’s largest real estate firms. However, Craig was seeking fulfillment in other ways that led to a pivot and his desire to take a different path. Craig talks about putting ego aside, seeking personal growth and joy by investing in what mattered to him most: relationships, career, and faith. This self-discovery led to better life balance, mental health, and his desire to research and write a book on happiness. Craig also reflects on his heritage and the impact of his ancestors, highlighting the significance of understanding one's identity. This is a great conversation for those that areseeking change, big or small, and how to curiosity over conviction can open our minds to new possibilities. What you can expect from this episode: How the influence of African American leaders in Atlanta inspired Craig How education and mentorship played a crucial role in Craig's success Why Craig's journey was not linear; it was filled with challenges The importance of nurturing individual talents in children Embracing change and adapting to new opportunities is essential. Fulfillment comes from focusing on purpose,community, and being stretched How pursuing a portfolio career can lead to greater balance and joy Why courage is essential when changing life priorities Why happiness cannot be crowdsourced; it must come from within How relationships are key to long-term happiness and health Examples of how small, intentional changes can lead to greater happiness Guest Resources: www.craigrobinson.com⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigmrobinson/⁠ Guest idea? Feedback? Connect with Greg on his ⁠website⁠ or ⁠LinkedIn⁠ . If you’re loving the podcast, please leave a 5-star rating! Want to skip to the good part? Here’s this episode’s segments: 00:00 Roots in Atlanta: A Journey of Influence 02:58 The Power of Education and Mentorship 06:01 Understanding Heritage and Identity 09:07 Navigating Academic Challenges and Opportunities 11:58 The Role of Community and Support 14:53 Finding a Path in Real Estate 17:51 The Importance of Networking and Seizing Opportunities 20:48 Seasons of Career Growth and Leadership 24:02 Embracing Leadership and Personal Fulfillment 30:23 Finding Your Flow: The Key to Fulfillment 31:44 The Courage to Pivot: Embracing Change in Career 36:01 Happiness: A Choice or a Discipline? 39:39 The Role of Relationships in Happiness 48:11 Wrestling with Identity: The Ego's Impact on Happiness 51:22 Surprising Insights: What Really Brings Happiness? 55:40 Creating Space for Happiness: Small Steps to Big Changes About My Guest: Craig Robinson is an experienced independent board director, c-suite executive and advisor forcommercial real estate, professional services and technology companies. Craig currently serves as an independent director for Lessen, Roofstock, and Second Nature. He is also a Strategic Advisor to Dunes Point Capital, a privateinvestment firm that has invested over $5B in industrial and service companies since 2001. Over the course of his career, Craig has led business units within both large global public companies and private mid-cap growth businesses such as Industrious (now CBRE), WeWork, Newmark, and Colliers I

400. Michelle Obama & Craig Robinson: Their Mother’s Last (Life-Changing) Advice Michelle Obama and her brother, Craig Robinson, co-hosts of the new podcast In My Opinion (IMO) , join Glennon and Abby for a heartfelt conversation about love, loss, and the wisdom their late mother, Marian Robinson, left behind. They open up about parenting in the spotlight, the courage to disappoint others, and the lessons that continue to shape their lives. -The final words from Marian Robinson that changed everything -Why Michelle is finally choosing herself—and how to break free from people-pleasing -The biggest challenge facing kids today—and how parents can help -The one piece of advice they want to pass on to their own children Michelle Obama’s passion for storytelling has set sales records, garnered awards and accolades, and earned her global acclaim. Her memoir, Becoming, spent over 130 weeks on the New York Times Bestsellers list, sold more than 17 million copies worldwide. American Factory, the first film produced by her and her husband Barack Obama’s media company Higher Ground, won the Academy Award for Best Documentary in 2020. Upon its release in 2020, The Michelle Obama Podcast was the most successful original in Spotify history, bringing in more women listeners over 40 than any other podcast. Through the Obama Foundation, she founded the Girls Opportunity Alliance, which supports adolescent girls' education and empowerment around the world. Craig Robinson: Craig Robinson is the Executive Director of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) and host of the Higher Ground podcast Ways To Win. From 2017-2020, he served as the vice president of Player Development and Minor League Operations for the NBA’s New York Knicks. Previously, he was a Division I head men’s basketball coach at Oregon State and Brown, and spent more than a decade working as a trader in the investment banking industry. He is the brother of former First Lady Michelle Obama. Together, they are the hosts of the new podcast IMO (In My Opinion) with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson. Check out our first episode with Michelle Obama here: https://podcasts.apple.com/si/podcast/193-michelle-obama/id1564530722?i=1000606222468

In today’s episode, we dive into the dynamic world of sports and leadership with Craig Robinson. Craig is a distinguished college basketball coach, basketball executive, and podcaster. A former standout player at Princeton, he was twice named Ivy League Player of the Year. Transitioning from a successful finance career, Craig pursued his passion for coaching, leading teams at Boston University and Oregon State University. He has held executive roles with the New York Knicks and Milwaukee Bucks and is now the Executive Director of the National Association of Basketball Coaches. Craig co-hosts the podcast "Ways to Win" with John Calipari, sharing life lessons and strategies from his extensive on-court experience, making his insights valuable beyond the basketball world. Craig Robinson shares his insights on the evolving landscape of leadership and coaching. How has the role of empathy and communication transformed modern coaching? What strategies can you use to build momentum in both your personal and professional life? Craig also delves into his courageous transition from a successful finance career to pursuing his passion for coaching—what challenges did he face, and what rewards did he reap? Additionally, discover practical advice on how to identify and nurture young leaders, manage setbacks effectively, and leverage likability to foster team cohesion. Join us as we uncover these answers and more with Craig Robinson, a leader whose experience spans from the basketball court to the executive office. What to Listen For Introduction – 0:00 Who is Craig Robinson, and how has his diverse career from finance to coaching shaped his approach to leadership? What are the key differences between the authoritarian coaching styles of the past and the empathetic approaches of today? What motivated Craig to transition from a successful finance career to coaching basketball? Empathy and Communication in Leadership – 19:27 Why is empathy crucial for modern leaders and coaches? How can understanding and meeting people where they are enhance your effectiveness as a leader? Insights from "Ways to Win" Podcast – 25:38 Key takeaways from Craig’s podcast, including building personal relationships with team members and creating a culture of accountability. Lessons from prominent guests like Dave Roberts and Dawn Staley on leadership and team dynamics. Identifying and Nurturing Young Leaders – 30:29 What attributes and talents should you look for when identifying potential young leaders? Strategies for nurturing and developing leadership skills in young individuals. Managing Setbacks and Defeat – 34:17 How can you quickly recover from setbacks and losses in both sports and professional environments? Practical advice on managing the psychological impact of defeat and maintaining a forward-looking mindset. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our new book, The Score That Matters , is a USA Today Best-Seller! Buy it here: https://amzn.to/44HucGf Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Craig Robinson is the host of Ways to Win. He's the executive director of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC). From 2017-2020, he served as the VP of Player Development for the New York Knicks. Previously, he was a Division I head men's basketball coach at Oregon State and Brown. He also is the brother of former First Lady Michelle Obama. Notes: What Craig learned from Coach Pete Carill about recruiting : There is a sales element to it. And one of the most important skills to develop is to become a great LISTENER. Ask questions, listen, and ask more questions. Curiosity is the ultimate form of respect. Coach Carill won over Craig's dad because he was curious. That's a good lesson for all of us. President Obama (Craig's brother-in-law) said Craig's discipline and diligence enhanced his presidential campaign. "Craig doesn't profess to know the specifics of politics the way he knows the X's and O's of basketball, but I think what he does understand is the need to wake up every morning doing your best and having a positive attitude. And him communicating that to me was always very helpful." When (future President) Barack Obama was dating Craig's sister (Michelle), he told their family at Thanksgiving dinner that he had aspirations and a plan to be the President of the United States. It seemed crazy at the time, but he made it happen. What are the "must-have" qualities to be a coach on Craig's staff? Connect with people Lifelong learning Curiosity Fill in gaps (be strong where Craig is not) Must be a good listener What Craig looked for in a player when recruiting: Baseline talent (table stakes) 2-3 "bucket-getters" High IQ Flexible After graduating from Princeton, where he played for Pete Carril and was twice named the Ivy League player of the year, Criag wanted to coach. Instead, he went to graduate school and succeeded in the financial world, including spending seven years as a vice president at Morgan Stanley Dean Witter. Then, he pivoted away and took an assistant job on Bill Carmody's staff at Northwestern. That job eventually led Robinson to Brown, where in two seasons he overhauled the program with his work ethic, tough love, and relentless demands on his players. He put a dictionary in the locker room for players to look up the words he used, a tradition that has continued at Oregon State. What made him not immediately go into coaching? Pete Craill telling him to get a real job. It's amazing the influence the people we look up to can have on us. Craig's fondest memory? January 20, 2009. He went to President Obama's inauguration in Washington D.C. He then flew to a game on the west coast (as the head coach of Oregon State). And received a standing ovation from the visiting team's crowd as he walked out!

John-Michael chats with actor/comedian Craig Robinson about comedy, acting and his new series titled "Killing It" on Peacock, and his shows at the San Jose Improv that you can check out at https://improv.com/sanjose/comic/craig+robinson/ Here's a little about Craig: Beginning as a stand-up comedian in Chicago, Robinson first made his mark in the comedy circuit at the 1998 Montreal “Just For Laughs” Festival. Before deciding to pursue his comedy career full time, Robinson was a K-8 teacher in the Chicago Public School System. He earned his undergraduate degree from Illinois State University and his Masters of Education from St. Xavier University. It was while Craig was studying education in Chicago that he also discovered his love of acting and comedy when he joined the famed Second City Theatre. Craig is best known for his portrayal of Daryl Philban in NBC’s THE OFFICE but has also starred in such movies as KNOCKED UP, THIS IS THE END, THE HOT TUB TIME MACHINE SERIES, and MORRIS FROM AMERICA the latter of which he won a Special Grand Jury prize for acting at Sundance in 2016. Craig also plays the role of Leroy in FOX’s paranormal comedy series, GHOSTED. Craig currently resides in Los Angeles and continues to headline solo dates as well as with his band “The Nasty Delicious” all across the globe.