July 2025

From the Basketball Court to Community Management: Drawing Parallels Between Two Leadership Roles — Lessons Learned and Insights Gained By Dave Calloway, FirstService Residential

M arch 16, 2001, Monmouth University was about to play Duke University in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. It was a daunting task considering Duke was ranked #1 in the country, was the number one seed in the tourna ment, and Monmouth was the 16 seed. At that point in time, a 16 seed had never beaten a 1 seed. So, at the press conference the day before the biggest game in Monmouth University history, a member of the press asked me, the head coach of the team, what I would tell our team about our realistic chance of winning the game. I said what came to mind, “Many people have told me that they have the winner of the Monmouth vs Duke game to win the whole thing.” While that line became popular, Duke did sneak by Monmouth, and as I boldly predicted, went on to win

the National Championship. As I reflect on that moment, and coaching Division I college basketball in general, I have come to realize that the skills and experiences gained from coaching and working with assistant coach es and a team translate remarkably well to the business world, particularly the realm of community management, partnering with boards, and serving residents. Both roles require a deep understanding of people, the ability to see through the lens of others, motivate and inspire, and the strategic acumen to navigate complex environments. Leadership On and Off the Court There are so many definitions of leadership. My favorite is influencing a group toward a common goal. This could not be any truer in either coaching or com CONTINUES ON PAGE 28

“...the skills and experiences gained from coaching and working with assistant coaches and a team translate remarkably well to the business world...”

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JULY 2025