Pau Gasol has won multiple championships and has received numerous accolades for his basketball prowess. In addition, he has a passion to help others. His foundation works to reduce childhood obesity by promoting physical activity, healthy eating, rest, and emotional well-being.
Jathan Janove: What’s the source of your passion to reduce childhood obesity?
Pau Gasol: I think I’ve always been aware that I got this far thanks to the basic values and healthy habits that my parents instilled in me. Being physically active, learning about how food helps your mind and body, having a safe and nurturing environment at home, and establishing routines before we went to bed to be fully rested and restored, are things that our parents taught us. They are now pillars of our foundation, which are essential for children to achieve their full potential. That’s why my brother Marc and I created the Gasol Foundation in 2013.
The ultimate aim is to end the pandemic of childhood obesity, a disease that is much more frequent and dangerous than people think until they see the statistics and what it leads to. The United States and Spain are among the countries most affected (especially in vulnerable and underserved families). The fact that Marc and I have lived in these two countries is why we have focused our efforts there, but our goal is to be able to be present in all the countries that are threatened by alarming and growing rates of childhood obesity. We want to promote healthy habits and protect kids everywhere.
Janove: You are a member of the Marshall Goldsmith 100 Coaches. What prompted you to be part of this group and what’s your involvement?
Gasol: After reading a couple of Marshall’s books, we were able to connect with each other. From the first moment we met, I knew he was someone I wanted to be close to and learn as much as I could from him. When he talked to me about being a part of the 100 Coaches program and the concept behind it, I couldn’t say no. It seemed like a great opportunity to share knowledge with people of different fields.
Thanks to this initiative, I have met amazing people, and a lot of synergies have come out of thes relationships. One of my goals going forward is to share the experience I’ve accumulated over so many years of professional career: if I can help others on their journey as many have helped me –whether they’re athletes, people figuring out their paths or members of an organization– that’s what leaving a legacy means to me.
Janove: Marshall Goldsmith Stakeholder Centered Coaching focuses on making organization leaders better. As an athlete, you’ve dealt with coaches most of your life. How would you compare and contrast organization leadership coaching with the kind of coaching you’ve received as an athlete?
Gasol: Both types of coaching have a number of similarities: they maintain the basic values as well as the skills necessary for the team to function. For example, in both fields the leaders should be aware of the strengths, qualities, and areas of needed improvement of each team member in order to maximize each team member’s contributions to the group.
The best team isn’t the sum of its individual members, but the one that finds the way for them to best work together. Characteristics like humility, perseverance and emotional intelligence should be abundant in the leaders of teams and organizations. It’s a real art to always know what kind of motivation each member of your team needs.
Janove: For readers of this interview who want to support your foundation, what should they do?
Gasol: In the first place, if a reader is interested in working with the Gasol Foundation, I want to express my deepest gratitude. Both in Spain and the US, habits in vulnerable families have gotten worse with the Covid-19 pandemic. The help we’re getting is translating into life changing impact in the lives of many families. If they want to learn more or donate, they can visit www.gasolfoundation.org or follow us on our social networks.
Janove: What do you foresee in your future as a coach, whether in sports or the organizational world?
Gasol: I’m excited to use my experience and knowledge to support individuals and teams in order to excel on whatever they like to pursue. I’m already exploring possibilities with different partners, so I’m looking forward to the future. Right now, I give talks and conferences for different companies that want to learn about the similarities between leadership in companies and sports, and I also share my thoughts about leadership subjects on my social networks, especially LinkedIn.
Janove: What leadership traits stood out with the late Kobe Bryant and what might others learn from his example?
Gasol: Kobe was a natural leader. An absolute one of a kind. He understood the importance of dedication and hard work. He led his teammates and brought us together through his determination and example. With him at your side, he was always going to demand to bring your best effort. Thanks to his leadership, we won those championships in 2009 and 2010. But everybody else had to fulfill their role. Teamwork makes the dream work.