Before stepping under the bright lights of Las Vegas, we were asking ourselves some key questions: how well would the group engage with the content? Would genuine connections form between attendees? Would referrals flow between people? And would there be appetite to do it all again?
Every single expectation was exceeded.
The clearest signal came from people who weren’t even there. Non-attendees began reaching out immediately to secure their spot next year.
Thirty business leaders came to Vegas. What really made it work wasn’t the venue, the speakers, or the agenda — it was the people in the room. Humble, open-minded, generous. Every single one of them willing to share their own expertise and equally willing to absorb others.
The conference highlight was Cameron Ciraldo, Head Coach of the Canterbury Bulldogs, taking the stage as our keynote speaker. Cameron brought the room to life. Hearing a high-performance sporting environment described from the inside — the culture, the standards, the relentless pursuit of improvement — was incredible.
‘Play to Win’ is based on the parallels between elite sport and business. In a sporting contest, it’s obvious who is playing to win and who is playing not to lose. It’s equally obvious in a boardroom. Cameron brought these parallels to light beautifully.
My ‘Play to Win’ book was also officially launched at the conference, and having Cameron there to mark the occasion made it a moment to remember, particularly considering he was one of the coaches interviewed for the book.
Amazing dinners. Brilliant speakers. A VIP NRL season opener. Golf at the Wynn — the best course on the strip. And a lot of fun only Vegas can offer.
A huge thanks to Luke Grima for co-hosting, to CNX 2 Sports for their support, and to Michael Fishwick for his contribution to the golf event (including first prize). Most of all, thanks to every attendee who showed up fully and gave the group everything they had.
The question of whether there would be a next year was settled quickly. The conversation moved quickly from if to where.
In 2027, we’ll take Play to Win to Shanghai and wrap it around the Formula One Grand Prix.
The pressure is now on to make next year even bigger and better. Stay tuned.
