Powerful at Work Radio

E61: “How sports can make you a better leader” with Lee Hackett, CEO, Speaker and Podcast Host

Lee Hackett · December 15, 2021

Entrepreneur · Leadership · Artificial Intelligence · Wellnessin

Interview with Lee Hackett

E61: “How sports can make you a better leader” with Lee Hackett, CEO, Speaker and Podcast Host

Podcast: Powerful at Work Radio

December 15, 2021

Playing sports takes drive, determination, and discipline. It also means being coachable, humble and resilient, all of which are core qualities in any great leader. In this Powerful at Work Radio podcast episode, Lee Hackett shares his journey from soccer player to CEO. He…

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Key topicsWhy 2025 Is the Year CMOs and CIOs Must Lead TogetherAs customer expectations evolve and tech stacks converge, the need for tight alignment between marketing, IT, and sales has never been greater. Lee explores how Bluprintx helps unify these functions-leveraging data, predictive insights, and connected experiences-and why CMOs and CIOs must co-own transformation to drive meaningful growth. Lessons from 20+ M&A TransactionsLee shares insights from over 20 M&A deals across the buy and sell side-from due diligence to integration. He discusses how leadership mindset, team alignment, and tech strategy play critical roles in whether a deal adds value or erodes it. This is a must-listen for executives thinking about growth, acquisition, or exit strategy. Rewriting the Enterprise Playbook: How Mid-Market Businesses Can Win with AI Before the Giants Catch UpLee shares why mid-market companies are now better positioned than ever to outpace enterprise competitors-if they adopt the right AI-driven strategies. Drawing on Bluprintx’s work across sectors and its partnerships with Adobe and Salesforce, he reveals how to scale fast with agile architecture, personalized experiences, and integrated workflows-without the bloat or bureaucracy. View all topics →

About Lee Hackett

CEO of Bluprintx, Digital Growth Strategist and Former Pro Athlete

20+ M&A transactions across buy & sell sideTop 50 UK Most Ambitious Business Leader, 2023Wigan Athletic Former professional footballerBluprintx Group CEO

Lee Hackett is the Group CEO of Bluprintx, a global consultancy helping mid-market and enterprise businesses turn technological complexity into competitive advantage. With a proven track record across the UK, US, APAC, and the Middle East, Lee works at the intersection of strategy, sales, and technology - guiding leadership teams through AI adoption, digital transformation, and scalable growth.

Lee brings sharp, real-world insight to conversations around the convergence of marketing, sales, and service. He advises businesses on how to deliver enterprise-grade outcomes through integrated, data-led strategies. Under his leadership, Bluprintx has become a trusted partner to some of the world’s most influential platforms, including Adobe and Salesforce, further cementing its reputation for delivering measurable business impact at scale.

A former professional footballer, wellness advocate, and father of three, he leads with a balance of performance and perspective. He speaks openly about staying mentally clear while scaling companies, living with intention as a leader, and bringing athletic discipline into the boardroom. With the addition of his personal experience of over 20 M&A transactions across both the buy and sell side, his perspective is especially valuable for founders, executives, and investors alike.

Whether discussing AI readiness, sales enablement, operational strategy, or deal execution, Lee delivers stories and strategies that resonate with forward-thinking leaders.

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About this episode

Playing sports takes drive, determination, and discipline. It also means being coachable, humble and resilient, all of which are core qualities in any great leader.

In this Powerful at Work Radio podcast episode,Lee Hackettshares his journey from soccer player to CEO. He shares why being the “tough as nails” leader was not the way, but becoming obsessed with what he didn’t know and staying curious was what transformed him into a stronger leader and business owner.

Tune in to hear more about Lee’s journey and why it's always about the team, not an individual person...

Episode Outline:

[05:18] The loneliness of making the tough decisions is part of the job.

[07:47] How playing sports gave Lee the confidence and transferable skills he needed...

[10:42] Team dynamics and being the youngest manager in the room...

[11:59] The opponent is actually the other team and we need to band together.

[13:32] It took me years of learning the hard way and making tons of mistakes...

About Lee Hackett:

Lee is the CEO of BluprintX, responsible for their strategic growth. He specialises in straight-talking consultancy for C-Level at some of the largest organisations in the world.

Lee was a professional footballer with Wigan Athletic FC before turning to the world of business.

As a seasoned operator and investor of start up businesses, Lee specialises in how to drive revenue and improve scalability through the power of data and technology. He has played a leading role in the creation and scaling of 7 startups in 3 continents over the last 10 years, driving over £50 million in net new revenue without a single penny of outside investment. Several became market leaders within 1-3 years, leading to trade sales to FTSE 200 organisations and global companies.

A leading practitioner of BrandTech for amazing customer experience, Lee is a popular public speaker on marketing, big data, people transformation, entrepreneurship and how to grow profitable business quickly. He is a firm believer in using technology and innovation to drive modern organisations, speaking around the world in key cities such as London, Tokyo, New York and more.

Lee hosts BluprintX's podcast series, Level Up, which documents a raw look into real business issues. If you’re interested in featuring as a guest on the podcast or having Lee speak at your event, contact Lee at speaking@thisisbluprint.com.

Lee is currently working on his first book, which will show entrepreneurs and startups how to master data to scale up their business.

Connect with Lee:

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/leehackett/

Website: https://www.bluprintx.com/

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/bluprint_x

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/BluprintX

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