ILA Podcast

Becoming the Guardians

Phronesis: Practical Wisdom for Leaders

with Brian Barren

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Brian Barren, President of Business Operations with the Cleveland Guardians, talks sport leadership and how a team can unite and inspire a city.

About Brian Barren

Brian Barren enters his ninth season with the Cleveland Guardians and sixth as President of Business Operations. He joined the organization in January 2014 and served as Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing over his first three seasons. Brian oversees all aspects of the club l s business functions in his present capacity.

Barren joined the Guardians following an accomplished, 24-year career with Procter & Gamble in Cincinnati, OH. He developed a wide variety of skill sets and expertise in Customer Business Development and general management of multi-functional business teams. As a senior leader at P&G, Brian had team leadership responsibility on the Wal-Mart and Kroger Teams, two of P&G’s top customers globally.

Brian is a 1989 graduate of Princeton University, where he earned a degree in History that included his senior year thesis researching the integration of Major League Baseball. He played football for four years at Princeton as a classmate and teammate of Toronto Blue Jays President & CEO Mark Shapiro. Brian was also an Army ROTC scholarship student at Princeton, fulfilling his commitment to the U.S. Army as a tank commander upon graduation.

Brian and his wife, Kris, reside in downtown Cleveland and have two sons, Billy and Brad. Brian was one of Dan and Catherine Barren’s six children. His late father was a well-respected teacher and high school football coach for many years at Columbus Academy (where Brian graduated in 1985) and finished his coaching career as the inaugural Head Football Coach at Notre Dame Cathedral Latin (Hall of Fame Class of 2004). Brian serves as a board member for College Now Greater Cleveland, the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission, and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Host Scott J. Allen

Scott Allen

Scott J. Allen, Ph.D., is the Standard Products—Dr. James S. Reid Chair in Management at John Carroll University. He is an associate professor and teaches courses in leadership, management skills, and executive communication. He is also a communications coach, consultant, author, podcast host, and entrepreneur. For almost two decades, he’s worked with clients to improve their leadership and communication skills. Learn more about Scott here.

About Phronesis

Phronesis: Practical Wisdom for Leaders offers a smart, fast-paced discussion on all things leadership. Scott and his expert guests cover timely, relevant topics and incorporate practical tips designed to help you make a difference in how you lead and live.