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The Rise of Padel in Saudi Arabia: Najwa Salhab’s Journey (JOPS03E12)

The Rise of Padel in Saudi Arabia: Najwa Salhab’s Journey (JOPS03E12)

by | Jul 2, 2025 | ,

This podcast features Najwa Salhab, a Saudi Arabian padel player, discussing her journey in the sport. She shares insights on padel’s growth in Saudi Arabia, her experiences playing for the national team, and the strategic elements of the game. Najwa highlights the importance of communication and adaptability in padel, drawing parallels between the sport and life skills. The conversation also touches on the differences between men’s and women’s approaches to padel partnerships.

Key points:
1. Padel’s rapid growth in Saudi Arabia, evolving from a trend to a established sport with increasing investment in facilities.
2. The strategic importance of slowing down the game and controlling shots, rather than focusing solely on power.

The Padel Revolution in Greater Manchester: A Tale of Two Cities

The Padel Revolution in Greater Manchester: A Tale of Two Cities

by | Jul 1, 2025 | ,

Padel is booming in the UK, with nearly 900 courts and over 400,000 players as of 2024. Greater Manchester stands out as a regional leader—set to surpass 100 courts by 2025, including the North West’s largest padel hub. Yet, the sport’s rapid growth also highlights stark inequalities: affluent areas like Stockport and Trafford are well-served, while more than 1.3 million residents in boroughs such as Bolton and Salford have no local access. For padel to thrive as a truly inclusive community sport, investment must reach beyond the elite enclaves and into underserved neighborhoods.

From Jeans to Padel: Joe Middleton’s Journey in Crafting Brand Culture (MDE616)

From Jeans to Padel: Joe Middleton’s Journey in Crafting Brand Culture (MDE616)

by | Jun 22, 2025 | , , , , , ,

Joe Middleton, former President of Levi’s Europe and CEO of Canterbury, shares his journey from sports enthusiast to apparel industry veteran. We discuss his new venture, Pulco Studios, a premium paddle wear brand addressing the sport’s unique challenges. Joe reveals insights on crafting brand culture, innovating with fabrics, and navigating intergenerational markets. We explore Pulco’s global expansion strategy and the addictive nature of paddle. Joe offers a fresh perspective on blending sports heritage with fashion-forward thinking, aiming to define paddle’s distinct look and feel. The conversation touches on distribution strategies, product innovation, and the exciting frontier of this rapidly growing sport.

Marta Talaván: Balancing Board Duties and Pro Padel Performance (JOPS03E11)

Marta Talaván: Balancing Board Duties and Pro Padel Performance (JOPS03E11)

by | Jun 18, 2025 | , ,

Marta Talaván, a professional padel player and board member, shares insights into her career and the world of professional padel. She discusses her journey from childhood to becoming a pro, the challenges of playing on the right side, and the importance of partner dynamics in women’s padel. Talaván offers a glimpse into the daily life of a pro player, including training routines and tournament preparations. As a board member, she advocates for women’s padel, addressing issues like equal pay and opportunities. The conversation touches on the future of padel, the need for global growth, and the unique aspects of women’s padel that make it compelling to watch. This Joy of Padel podcast episode provides a fascinating look into the professional padel world from a player’s perspective.

Rewiring Leadership: Dan Docherty on Purpose and Perspective (MDE615)

Rewiring Leadership: Dan Docherty on Purpose and Perspective (MDE615)

by | Jun 15, 2025 | , ,

This podcast features a conversation between host Minter Dial and guest Dan Docherty, exploring leadership, personal growth, and communication in business. Docherty shares insights from his journey from corporate executive to academic and consultant, emphasising the importance of understanding personal values and purpose in leadership. The discussion covers topics such as psychological safety, perspective-taking, and the balance between compliance and compassion in organisational cultures.

Key points:
1. Personal vision and purpose are crucial for effective leadership and career transitions.
2. Creating a coaching climate that balances compliance with compassion is essential for retaining top talent and fostering innovation.

From Burnout to Badass: Dana Cox’s Journey of Self-Discovery (MDE614)

From Burnout to Badass: Dana Cox’s Journey of Self-Discovery (MDE614)

by | Jun 8, 2025 | , , ,

This podcast features a conversation between host Minter Dial and guest Dana Cox, author of “From Burnout to Badass”. They discuss Cox’s personal journey from burnout to self-discovery, exploring themes of authenticity, work-life harmony, and leadership. Cox shares insights on recognising burnout, rewriting one’s life story, and fostering joy in the workplace. The discussion touches on cultural expectations, the challenges of balancing career and personal life, and the importance of vulnerability in leadership.

Key points:

1. Burnout often develops gradually, with individuals unaware they’re on this path until reaching a critical point.

2. Authentic leadership involves being vulnerable, understanding employees as humans first, and creating an environment of safety and mutual understanding.

Padel Courts and Clubs in Greater London

Padel Courts and Clubs in Greater London

by | Jun 6, 2025 | , ,

London’s Padel Revolution: 151 Courts & Counting! Discover how Spain’s hottest racquet sport conquered the capital, from Ilford’s 12-court megavenue to pop-up courts in UB2. We crunch the numbers on indoor/outdoor splits, booking app wars, and which boroughs lead the charge. Grab your racket – London’s padel scene is serving up surprises at every turn!

The Art of Creating Space: Padel Insights with Fredrik Ask (JOPS03E10)

The Art of Creating Space: Padel Insights with Fredrik Ask (JOPS03E10)

by | Jun 4, 2025 | , ,

This Joy of Padel podcast episode features Fredrik Ask, a professional padel player from Norway. Fredrik shares insights on transitioning from tennis to padel, his training experiences in Madrid, and the challenges of finding the right partner in professional padel. He discusses the importance of understanding ball trajectories and developing instinctive play. The conversation also touches on the growing popularity of padel in Saudi Arabia and the cultural aspects of the sport.

Key points:

1. The importance of adapting tennis skills to padel, including learning to use the walls effectively.

2. The need for patience in developing partnerships in professional padel, as frequent changes can hinder progress.

The Padel World Summit 2025: A Spectacle of Entrepreneurs, Glass Boxes, and the Relentless March of Progress (Or Something Like That)

The Padel World Summit 2025: A Spectacle of Entrepreneurs, Glass Boxes, and the Relentless March of Progress (Or Something Like That)

by | Jun 3, 2025 | , ,

The Padel World Summit 2025 in Barcelona showcased the sport’s explosive global growth, with over 6,000 professionals exploring leadership, innovation, and growth strategies. From AI-powered coaching and VR experiences to major brands like Adidas jumping in, padel is transforming from a niche pastime into a €6 billion industry. With 40% female players and rising inclusivity, the summit highlighted padel’s ambition to become an Olympic sport and a global business powerhouse.

Loïc Fery on Padel: Bridging Business Acumen and Sports Passion (JOPS03E09)

Loïc Fery on Padel: Bridging Business Acumen and Sports Passion (JOPS03E09)

by | May 28, 2025 | , ,

This Joy of Padel episode features Loïc Fery, a finance expert and sports enthusiast who owns FC Lorient and co-founded the 10 Padel team in the Hexagon Cup. Fery discusses his journey from tennis to padel, highlighting the sport’s accessibility and social aspects. He shares insights on managing both business and sports teams, emphasizing the importance of talent and emotions in sports. Fery also explores padel’s global growth potential and its possible inclusion in future Olympics.

Key points:

1. Padel’s lower barriers to entry compared to tennis, allowing players of different skill levels to enjoy the game together.

2. The similarities and differences between managing finance teams and sports teams, with emotions playing a crucial role in sports.

To Book Minter!

I’m Minter Dial and I serve my clients by elevating the debate and energy, telling powerful stories and connecting people and ideas. My mission to insert more meaningfulness into our lives and at work. I relish being an engaging professional speaker on leadership, transformation and branding. I’m known for being someone who walks the talk and delivers on or above expectations. I’m the author of four award-winning books, including the second edition of my award-winning book, Heartificial Empathy (April 2023, available in English and French), You Lead published by Kogan Page that won the Business Book Award 2022, and Futureproof (FT-Press/Pearson) that won the Business Book Award 2018. I’m also the producer of the award-winning WWII book and documentary film The Last Ring Home.

My new project is Dialogos, Fostering More Meaningful Conversations that is being published weekly via Substack, which will be converted into a book end of 2023.

Click here to inquire about booking Minter!

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