There is no “I” in team - and no person better poised to attest to that than Rachel Lewis, COO of Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Since joining the ‘Caps organization in 2003, and through her previous experience in the sports management industry, Rachel has learned the importance of collaboration and the impact it has on and off the field.

We live in a world of “The Best”, “The First”, “The Most” so it’s not surprising that competition has become such an integral part of our society. So where does that leave collaboration?

Is it better for a leader to be feared or loved? A question that Machiavelli posed centuries ago is still unanswered today. Though doubtful he could have envisioned this question in relation to office culture, this is where we find ourselves. It has been proven that happy employees are more beneficial to the bottom line. But how much emphasis should be put on creating a particular corporate culture?

The New Consumer is more tech-savvy than their parents’ generation; they have the ability to compare pricing at the click of an app and can tweet about unsatisfactory customer service as it happens. How then can we satisfy the consumer that wants it all while at the same time ensuring that older, loyal, customers stay engaged? Marketing needs to adapt, retention programs need to evolve and companies need to listen to their clients. How can all this be achieved?