In Part 1 of this episode, our co-founders Ryan Richardson and Moon Javaid tell the origin story of RISE and explain the problem that started it all: the lack of usable learning and development inside sports organizations. Moon shares how he turned a simple idea into a purpose-driven approach. This conversation is practical and honest. Expect: - Why early-career learning in sports is often missing compared with other industries - How a small idea became a program through iteration and listening the design choices that let useful learning scale without becoming generic - What operator-first learning looks like when it’s tied to organizational outcomes If you lead learning, run operations, or work inside a team that needs practical skills (not checklists), this episode is for you. Subscribe to the channel to be notified when part 2 drops!
About our Guest: Moon Javaid
Moon Javaid is the Chief Growth & Innovation Officer of the Baltimore Ravens, recognized as a visionary leader in professional sports for over 12 years.
He is a two-time Sports Business Journal Forty Under 40 honoree and a Silicon Valley 40 Under 40 recipient, reflecting his broad industry influence. As Chief Strategy Officer of the San Francisco 49ers, Moon engineered innovative initiatives like the SAP Executive Huddle and Member Inclusive Menu, driving record-setting revenues and transforming fan experience. He also co-founded Elevate Sports Ventures, where he expanded strategic business leadership globally.
Moon's groundbreaking work in analytics, business intelligence, and growth operations has set new standards for innovation across the sports industry.
Connect with Moon: https://www.linkedin.com/in/moon-javaid-5143b111/
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Video Contents & Chapters:
00:01 Intro: welcome to The Learning Lever
00:31 Why this episode: origin story & what to expect
01:37 Moon’s background: Cleveland, Northwestern, consulting, 49ers
04:27 When learning became more than a job interest
06:46 Late-night ideas: rising costs of education & focused programs
08:24 What makes training stick: practical, applied learning
11:54 The moment the Rise idea crystallized (writing it down & sharing)
12:51 Pitching the idea internally: conversations with Al (49ers)
15:01 How Ryan & Moon met: the Levi Stadium tailgate & early rapport
18:00 Why the partnership worked: complementary skills and trust
20:24 The sports learning problem: small teams, diverse roles, motivated people
23:59 First steps for Rise: finding the right people, knowledge, and context
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