What happens when you stop accepting the rules you’ve been handed and start redesigning the game itself?

Cassidy Lichtman is a former U.S. National Team volleyball player, gender equity advocate, and the leader of professional volleyball at Athletes Unlimited. In this episode, Cassidy and Lisa explore what it takes to build futures that don’t yet exist, even when the system seems rigid.

Cassidy shares the story of reimagining professional women’s sports in the U.S. What if athletes were centered as partners, not commodities? She breaks down how Athletes Unlimited is building leagues differently and why those choices matter far beyond sports.

The conversation also dives into moments of decision-making in complicated moments, including how Athletes Unlimited responded when its values were tested, and how constraints, frustration, and “this doesn’t make sense” moments can become catalysts for systemic change. Cassidy models what it looks like to question “used futures” and create something better.

In this conversation, you’ll learn:

• How to spot systems that feel “off” and start redesigning them
• How values can show up in business models
• Why women’s sports offer a powerful blueprint for future-facing leadership

This episode is a masterclass in agency, imagination, and long-term thinking—and a reminder that if a future doesn’t exist yet, maybe it’s yours to build.

Links from the episode:

• Athletes Unlimited
• Lisa interviews Cassidy about Athletes Unlimited
• VIdeo Recap: Look at this Thing We’ve Built
• The P/ ath
• Cassidy Lichtman’s TED Talk, “The Power of My Voice”

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