Toyota Kata Coaching for Agile Teams & Transformations
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Merritt Paulson
1. SLIDE 1
Merritt Paulson, Owner
and President of the
Portland Timbers was
interviewed by at the date
and time listed above.
2. SLIDE 2
Son of Henry Paulson, the former chairman
and chief executive ofļ¬cer of Goldman
Sachs and 74th United States Secretary of
Treasury.
Majority owner of Peregrine Sports, LLC.
Purchased Portland Timbers/Portland
Beavers in 2007. Also Former Senior
Director Of Marketing & Business
Development For National Basketball
Association
3. SLIDE 3
Merritt is someone I have always looked up
to. Iāve wanted to be in Sports
Management since a little boy and I ļ¬gured
Merritt would be the perfect person to
interview because of his involvement with
the timbers
Another reason I chose him is because he
owns and runs a professional soccer team
and I am a huge soccer fan.
4. Slide 4
Merritt was grown up in a wealthy family.
His father worked under George bush as
secretary of the treasury and was an
excucetive of goldman sachs.
Before sports, Merritt was very interested
in the outdoors, wildlife, and wildlife
conservation.
5. slide 5
Merritt graduated Hamilton College with
a B.A. in 1995. He then earned his
masterās of Business Administration at
Harvard, Graduating in 2000.
Merritt said āCollege made him
understand what he had a true passion
for and what he wanted out of lifeā
6. Slide 6
Paulsonās ļ¬rst job was at the National
Basketball Association as a senior
director marketing and business
development.
He told me āI helped ļ¬nd new sponsors,
oversaw marketing plans for the NBA,
and helped ļ¬nd ways to build NBA fan
base across the world, not just the
U.S.ā
He created NBA League PASS, the
broadband, worldwide, basketball
viewing service over the internet and
through cable providers.
He got the job through one of his
classmates in harvard.
7. SLIDE 7
Merritt began owning the Timbers/
Beavers in 2007. He purchased team for
$15 Million dollars with his investment
group, Shortstop, LLC. His father was
heavily involved in the buying process
and also is a minority stake owner.
Henry also was the man who
approached Merritt about the purchase
in the ļ¬rst place. 3 years after the
purchase they announced that the
beavers would be moved and the
Portland Timbers were to become a
Major League Soccer team.
8. Slide 8
Merritt, unlike other owners, is also the
President of the Portland Timbers. This
means not only has he invested in the
team, he also is the highest manager in
the organization.
On a daily basis, Merritt says he meets
with sponsors, oversees manager/
player duties, resolves any problems
that arise, and helps with marketing
scheming.
9. Slide 9
Mr. Paulson is a big fan of helping the
community. He said you have an
obligation to be a good corporate duty.
Itās unique because athletes get more
attention then most other entertainment
in the U.S. So as a sports organization
you have to be aware that you are
responsible for being a good role model
to everyone.
He is a huge participant in the
community. He is on the board of
trustees at the Wildlife Conservation
Society and is always active in the
Portland community doing ļ¬eld,
building, and ecosystem projects.
10. Slide 10
Merritt Paulsonās father was a massive
inļ¬uence on him. He said āHe was
always there for me and was a great
source of advice in business and with
my current job.ā
His father was also 2008ās TIME
magazineās runner-up for āPerson Of
The Yearā
Henry Paulsonās Net Worth is $700
million.
He admits his father was his inspiration
and role model.
Already mentioned before, but he was
the 74th secretary of the treasury and
Goldman Sachās Excecutive
11. Slide 11
Merritt said āThe most important thing
that you can do in life is to enjoy what
you are doing. In order to do that, you
must ļ¬nd something you are truly
passionate about and you must be
ready to change your path with your
passion.ā
He also told me that making
connections with people through
school, sports, and family is the best
way to get a job. He said you can have
as much education as anyone but if you
donāt know anyone your less likely to
get a job because chances are
someone else competing against you
probably does.
12. Slide 12
Merritt instigated the Portland Timbers
as an MLS (Major League Soccer) Team
in 2009. After a long wait, Merritt ļ¬nally
got a professional soccer team in
Portland. The team has had great
success in itās ļ¬rst year (2011) on and
off the pitch, selling out almost every
home game this season.
For the ļ¬rst time in MLS history, the
Portland Timbers created a runway
project to unveil their home and away
jerseys. This created huge buzz around
the team, in Portland, and across the
country.
13. Slide 14
I learned that education is a crucial part
in creating connections between
people. Merrittās ļ¬rst job was created
from a classmate at Harvard that he
made friends with. So he said knowing
people is your best way to get where u
want to go. I also learned that you have
to do what you truly love, whatever that
is. You have to be ready to change your
education/direction when you ļ¬nd a
different passion as well.
Your Parents are a huge part of your life.
Take advantage of what they have to tell
you and say.
It is not as easy as everyone says it is to
own a professional team, your there on
a day-to-day basis, working on and off
the clock to help your investment.