Richardson Uses Ted Lasso to Inspire Others
Rondal Richardson, C'91, a seasoned professional in the entertainment industry and nationally recognized expert in entertainment philanthropy, will offer “Leadership Lessons: A TED Lasso Talk,” at 4 p.m., Monday, March 25, at Convocation Hall. The talk is co-sponsored by Sewanee’s Center for Leadership and its chapter of Omicron Delta Kappa, the national leadership honor society; it is free and open to the public.
An alumnus of the class of 1991, Richardson currently serves as the senior entertainment and donor services liaison at the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. Inspired by the character Ted Lasso from the popular TV series, Richardson sees profound parallels between Lasso's experiences and his own career journey. He aims to distill the show's impactful insights into his own leadership philosophy by intertwining clips of his favorite Ted Lasso leadership moments with stories of his own experiences.
Throughout his career, Richardson has overseen diverse projects in the entertainment realm, spanning music, film, television, magazine placements, New York Times best-selling book launches, cause marketing, and philanthropic strategies for clients and partners nationwide. At the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, Richardson provides philanthropic support for Kelsea Ballerini, Tyler Childers, Eric Church, Kelly Clarkson, Chris Stapleton, Taylor Swift, Lainey Wilson, Trisha Yearwood, and more than 100 sports and entertainment partners. In the last two decades, he has helped to raise over $215 million for charitable endeavors around the country. He previously served as Entertainment Industry Relations Manager for Vanderbilt University and has served as a voting member of both the Country Music Association and Academy of Country Music for more than 25 years.
Richardson currently serves on the University’s Board of Trustees. During his time as a student at Sewanee, he was honored with the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award for Character; he held the position of Sigma Nu commander, head proctor, and was active in ODK, the Order of the Gown, Student Assembly, the Discipline Committee, Highlanders, and Red Ribbon.
