Corporate
Getting to know your U SPORTS coaches: Brett Gibson, Queen's Gaels
U SPORTS sits down with one key athlete, coach, and staff member of each U SPORTS athletic program in our new interview series “Getting to know…”
- Name: Lisa Robertson
- School: University of Regina
- Position: Director of Sport, Community Engagement & Athlete Development
- Seniority: One Year
- Previous job/position: Associate Director, Olympic Oval
- Hometown: Calgary, Alta.
1. How did you get to your current position, and what do you enjoy most about our job?
I was a five-year basketball student-athlete at the University of Calgary. After graduation, I moved on to SAIT to do a diploma in broadcast journalism. As I was finishing up my program at SAIT, Bob Corran, the Dinos athletic director, reached out to me about a new fundraising coordinator position they had created. I looked at the starting salary of $27,000/year and compared it to what new journalists made and BOOM, decision made to start my career in varsity athletics!
I am passionate about sport and what sport does for preparing young adults to take on life after university. The fast-paced nature of sport administration keeps me motivated and energized during the seasons, not to mention feeding my Type A personality. My previous roles with the Dinos and the Olympic Oval didn't expose me to the athletes on a regular basis, and now that I'm the director in Regina, I am absolutely loving the regular interactions I have with our athletes.
2. Who has had the most influence on your career?
Wow - there are a handful of mentors I've had in my career.
I'll start with Bob Corran, he gave me a chance to make a career in sport so I'll forever be grateful to him.
Next, Gary Durbeniuk, former University of Calgary Vice President of Development, he forced me to think/problem solve on my own but always provided me with soft landings when I failed, he challenged me to stretch my goals and he instilled a "relationships-first" philosophy in me.
Then there was Ron Wuotila, who asked me to be a part of his athletics senior leadership team, which allowed me to stretch my wings beyond just athletics fundraising.
Kristine Williamson, is a former colleague and current friend, who inspired me to grow my leadership skills and is to this day, my female leadership mentor.
And then finally, Yves Hamelin, Director of the Olympic Oval. He gave me the freedom and courage to be a bold leader in the Oval, he taught me how to build a program through a bold vision and an uncompromising approach. When I told him, through tears (mine not his), I was leaving the Oval for the University of Regina job, he was very sad to see me leave, so I blamed him for setting me up to become an athletic director - I'm not sure that made him feel any better.
3. What is your greatest sporting moment or achievement?
Hands down, being the sole chairperson of the 15-person ISU Short Track World Cup Organizing Committee. The Oval had not hosted a Short Track World Cup in 10 years (they host long track annually) so we had to start from scratch, including building a spectator bowl of seating around the short track ice surface. I started with the Oval 18 months out from the event, so I had to get up to speed on the sport and the ISU very quickly. I'm so proud to say the event was a RESOUNDING success, we pushed the envelope with the ISU standards by making it a spectator show (working with international federations is challenging at best and more challenging when you want to diverge from their regular ways of doing things), the bowl was packed all three evenings and the event ended up in the black. The post-event meeting with the ISU officials was filled with compliments - our Canadian ISU member said that rarely happens, if ever!
4. How would you define a University of Regina student-athlete?
I would define them as diverse individuals, motivated by the love of their sport and the promise of the future.
5. What does success look like for the University of Regina’s athletics program?
Our newly developed vision is unlocking dreams and potential through the power of sport and I think that speaks to my vision of success. If we can provide our student-athletes competitive teams, where in any given year they have an honest chance of winning a conference and national championships, and we can support a meaningful educational journey to set them up for life after elite sport, then I think we are succeeding.
6. What’s the biggest challenge you face in today’s sports world?
I think the biggest challenge within today's sports world is keeping sport relevant in the public education system. I see the early "elite" sports model of club systems and specialty sport schools as a challenge for developing the next generation of sport for life adults and lifelong sports fans/consumers. I understand the elite development model for the kids who have future potential but it is becoming watered down, and it's lead to the eroding of quality school opportunities.
Now I have to say Saskatchewan is different –schools here are more invested in in-school sports than I've seen elsewhere.
7. Where would you like to see Canadian university sport in the next three to five years?
I would like to see it healthy and thriving as its own unique brand of elite sport. I would like to see sports like volleyball and basketball marketed as the best leagues in the country. They are uniquely positioned without nationwide competition from professional leagues.
8. If you could sit down for dinner with one person in the sports industry (athlete, coach or manager), who would it be? Why? What would you talk about?
That person for me would have been John Wooden. His philosophy of developing good people first and good basketball players second resonates with me. As for the discussion - I would just like to listen to stories of how he worked with people and how he dealt with challenges. He seemed like he was a wonderful human being who found success not at the expense of others, but through investment in others.
9. What do you enjoy doing when you’re away from work?
My passion is horses and the sport of show jumping. As the mother of a daughter now competing in the sport, I don't have a lot of time or money to pursue it myself right now, but once she's gainfully employed I'll be back in the saddle full-time. I also enjoy doing nothing in my free time – I'm getting good at it and plan to keep practicing whenever my schedule allows!