What happens when a Hall of Fame career ends and the real leadership work begins?

In this episode of Racquet Fuel, hosts Kim Bastable and Simon Gale sit down with Gigi Fernandez, Hall of Fame tennis player, Olympic gold medalist, and founder of Tennis for Hope, to explore what leadership looks like after elite performance. Gigi shares her honest transition from individual excellence to collaborative leadership, including lessons learned running major programs like Chelsea Piers and launching a mission-driven foundation after personal loss. This conversation matters for anyone navigating the shift from being great at something to leading others with humility, purpose, and impact.

What You’ll Learn

• Why elite performance does not automatically translate to effective leadership
• How Tennis for Hope was born from personal adversity and community response
• The importance of surrounding yourself with people who are smarter than you
• How ego can limit leadership growth and what it takes to dismantle it
• Why networking is a long-term leadership skill, not a transactional one
• How tennis uniquely teaches resilience, failure, and emotional regulation
• What legacy-driven leadership looks like beyond wins and titles

Hosts:

Kim Bastable - UF Director of Racquet Sports Education
Simon Gale - USTA Leader & Facility Executive

Guest:

Gigi Fernandez – Founder & President, Tennis for Hope; Tennis Hall of Famer & Olympic Gold Medalist

Learn More & Get Certified

Racquet Fuel is powered by the University of Florida’s Director of Racquet Sports Certificate Program, the industry’s leading education for current and aspiring racquets leaders. Explore our self-paced online courses — Personal Brand Management, Operations & Programming, and Leadership & Finance — and join the next generation of directors shaping the future of the game. 👉 Learn More & Enroll Here

What’s Really Going On with Gen Z in the Workplace?

In this episode of Racquet Fuel, hosts Kim Bastable and Simon Gale sit down with leadership expert and author Tim Elmore to unpack the realities of Generation Z and how they’re reshaping the workforce. Tim breaks down insights from his new book, The Future Begins with Z, explaining what makes Gen Z tick — their mix of high agency, high anxiety, and a craving for authenticity. The conversation hits work-life balance, purpose-driven motivation, four-day workweeks, and how connection is vital.

What You’ll Learn:

• Generation Z is rapidly becoming the core of the workforce.
• They bring strong agency but also elevated anxiety to the job.
• The Peter Pan paradox captures their tension between maturity and authority.
• Leaders must start with belief and understanding instead of frustration.
• Onboarding is a make-or-break moment for Gen Z belonging.
• Meaningful work and work-life balance drive their decisions.
• Gen Z is motivated by a blend of money and mission.
• Entrepreneurial, flexible environments keep them engaged.
• Connection > control when it comes to leading younger employees.
• Gen Z’s preferences will heavily shape the future of work.

Hosts:

Kim Bastable - UF Director of Racquet Sports Education
Simon Gale - USTA Leader & Facility Executive

Guest:

Tim Elmore – Author of The Future Begins with Z, Leadership Expert, Founder of Growing Leaders

Learn More & Get Certified

Racquet Fuel is powered by the University of Florida’s Director of Racquet Sports Certificate Program, the industry’s leading education for current and aspiring racquets leaders. Explore our self-paced online courses — Personal Brand Management, Operations & Programming, and Leadership & Finance — and join the next generation of directors shaping the future of the game. 👉 Learn More & Enroll Here

What’s Driving the Explosion of Pickleball and Padel?

In this episode of Racquet Fuel, hosts Kim Bastable and Simon Gale talk with industry pioneer David Johnson about the massive growth of pickleball and the rising momentum of padel in the United States. David shares his early journey co-founding Pickleball Central in 2006, what he’s learned watching the sport scale, and why participation curves are now shifting as the market matures.

The conversation breaks down the real data behind growth trends, why multi-sport facilities are becoming the new norm, and what operators need to know before adding padel. They dig into staffing needs, leadership skills, membership models, and how hospitality ultimately determines whether a facility thrives.

Hosts:
Kim Bastable - UF Director of Racquet Sports Education
Simon Gale - USTA Leader & Facility Executive

Guest:
David Johnson – Co-Founder of Pickleball Central, Pickleball Consultant

Learn More & Get Certified

Racquet Fuel is powered by the University of Florida’s Director of Racquet Sports Certificate Program, the industry’s leading education for current and aspiring racquet leaders. Explore our self-paced online courses — Personal Brand Management, Operations & Programming, and Leadership & Finance — and join the next generation of directors shaping the future of the game. 👉 Learn More & Enroll Here