Let us know what’s on your mind
We trace Stephen Smith’s journey from analyst at Leinster Rugby to founding Kitman Labs and building league-wide systems that put evidence at the heart of athlete welfare and performance.
Along the way, we talk friction with tradition, mentorship, scaling globally, and why leagues now see themselves as talent businesses.
• moving from gut feel to objective decision-making in elite sport
• the early friction between medical staff, coaches, and data
• catalysts that proved the model beyond Leinster
• mentors, hiring like a coach, and scaling a team
• relocating to Silicon Valley and learning fast
• first believers: Everton, IRFU, and building a product with customers
• league-wide platforms for medicine, operations, and development
• why competitive balance and talent pathways drive league economics
• culture, home, and perspective between Ireland and California
• quickfire: sport memories, books, music, and a dream dinner table
If you enjoyed the conversation, if you want to know more about what we do at Sport for Business, you can do so at sportforbusiness.com
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Our upcoming live events on Future Proofing Irish Sport, Children and Sport and Sport for Social Good, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.
