Building Lasting Leaders with Warren West | Episode 1207

Host Spencer Clouatre interviews Warren West, Director of Golf at the Country Club of Virginia, about leadership, mentorship, and career development after West’s 35-year rise from assistant pro to director. West recounts choosing economics, entering the golf industry during the early-1990s recession, and his mentor, that shaped his view that golf is ultimately a people business. They discuss building self-awareness, valuing work ethic and initiative, learning from failure with organizational backing, and mentoring staff by helping them find the right career fit. West explains leading across CCV’s two distinct campuses, maintaining consistent communication in a large organization, gathering member feedback, navigating major construction and course renovation pressures, and emphasizing presence, honesty, genuineness, an ownership mindset, and modeling expected behavior.

Show Notes: 

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

02:01 Warren’s Career Snapshot

03:19 Why Economics

05:10 Recession to CCV Break

07:55 Mentor Paul and PGA Path

09:14 Rising Through CCV Roles

11:09 Two Campuses Two Cultures

14:11 Family Roots and Golf Start

17:56 Early Leadership Lessons

21:25 Self Awareness and Assessments

27:15 Guiding Staff Career Paths

29:29 Basics for Young Pros

30:01 Effort Over Talent

31:23 Mentorship Is Two-Way

33:31 Learning Through Failure

36:36 Keeping Everyone Aligned

40:22 Renovations and Member Friction

43:18 Boards and Strategic Governance

44:59 Planning for Downturns

49:02 Growing Into Bigger Roles

53:20 Leadership Habits That Last

59:04 Final Thanks and Takeaways

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