First Basketball 2 Business Event a Slam Dunk

Sydney Kings owner Hoops Capital officially tipped off its new Basketball 2 Business (B2B) series last week, launching with a high-energy event that brought together sport and business leaders to explore pathways, leadership, and culture. 

The debut panel featured a powerhouse lineup: Sydney Flames Head Coach Guy Molloy, Future Flames Head Coach and Flames Assistant Coach Renae Garlepp, and WNBL CEO Jennie Sager. The conversation was guided by journalist Samantha Jurman, who led a wide-ranging discussion on teamwork, retaining talent, women in leadership, and the values that make great teams succeed. 

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Hoops Capital Managing Director Matt Denholm said the launch represents a new chapter for the organisation.

“Basketball is more than a sport; it’s a thriving business. Our B2B program is where the two worlds of Hoops Capital meet, and we are excited to officially launch. This is only the start of what will become a cornerstone of Hoops Capital’s engagement with the business community.”

Guests also heard from co-owner Robyn Denholm, who highlighted the important role partners like Harvey Norman play in making pathway programs such as the bespoke Future Flames possible.

Opening remarks were delivered by Dr Marjorie O’Neill MP, Member for Coogee, who emphasised the Government’s commitment to supporting pathways for girls and women, as well as the importance of connecting business and community through sport. 

Hear it from the panel

Guy Molloy spoke about the mindset required to build high-performing teams:

“If you’re fortunate enough to be part of a great team, it is an amazing feeling being able to achieve more through leveraging skills together. To form a great team, it’s good to reverse engineer it and start by asking ‘what do we want our end goal to be and what do we need to do to achieve our goals?’.”

Renae Garlepp highlighted the importance of making every individual feel valued:

“Everybody has to feel value in order to thrive and succeed. It’s about putting emotion aside and focusing on what they need, what they want to achieve, and how can I help them achieve it. It all comes down to trust, clear communication, and clarity.”

Jennie Sager reinforced that culture is just as important as skill:

“Don't just look for an individual with great skills that can develop but find people who are keen to come onboard and are a good culture fit, so the bond they form as a team is so strong that in 10 years’ time, they are still friends."

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What’s next?

The Basketball 2 Business series will continue to bring together leaders from sport and industry to share insights, spark conversation, and create stronger connections between the court and the boardroom.

Want to get involved? Access the B2B brochure here.