Michael Powell, NexXT Chapter Solutions Group
Michael Powell
Michael Powell is no stranger to the skills and values learned through playing sports.
As a proud Canadian, he lost his fair share of teeth playing hockey, and dabbled in baseball and basketball — eventually landing a basketball scholarship at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) in Edmonton.
“I was fortunate that I had a chance to do the things that I love to do when I was a kid, which was to play sports. You meet a ton of friends that way and you build those social skills,” Powell says. “Learning how to play means you also have to kind of learn how to get along too.”
Powell’s kids, who are now in their mid-twenties, were also involved in athletics growing up. He says he wishes a program like Free Play existed at that time.
“It was very impressive for me to learn how Free Play was targeting our most underprivileged kids in providing them with something that I would have taken for granted (back then) — access to play.”
Powell learned about Free Play three years ago through a friend who was already involved as a sponsor with the organization. He was keen to give back partly due to the opportunities, time, and financial support that people in his community dedicated when he was involved in youth sports.
“There was a lot of fundraising and a lot of support. So for me, giving back to an organization like this financially is an easy decision to make,” he explained. Powell also provides leadership development support on occasion to the Free Play programs, something he’s passionate about given his work as Principal of NexXT Chapter Solutions Group.
Powell works with business owners and senior leaders using proven models to get better results, which is often measured by profitability and increased effectiveness. From his decades of experience at work, and through sports, Michael says he believes the most effective form of leadership is leading by example — something the Free Play program does well.
“If (the leaders) are inspiring the kiddos to finish strong, we have a bright future in our community,” he says.
When Powell reflects on the most important lesson he learned through his own coaches and leaders while playing sports, he thinks about the importance of being challenged to do his best on any given day.
“The only person that knows if you did your best is the person that looks back at you in the mirror. In the times in my life when I can look in the mirror and know I gave it my all, there's a smile in the mirror. And I like that smile,” he says.
Powell uses that lesson he learned through sport in his everyday life now.
“It helps inspire me when there's an obstacle on my desk, and (encourages me) to fight through those obstacles.”
That’s one of the many reasons Powell is inspired to keep supporting Free Play, and encouraging others to do the same.
“I’m drinking the Kool-Aid in buckets, and I plan on drinking a lot more Free Play Kool-Aid going forward.”
Written by: Emily Rendell-Watson
