Under Armour brought together England and Saracens rugby captain Maro Itoje and Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta in North London for an exclusive meeting between two champions exploring the mindset, resilience and leadership required to perform at the highest level.
Despite competing in different sports, the pair have earned reputations as two of the most influential leaders in elite sport. With Maro recently achieving his 100th England cap and captaining the British & Irish Lions to an iconic victory, and Mikel recently delivering a historic league triumph as a manager, the biggest test of champions is how they prepare to go again.
The next challenge is always the biggest, and with Maro set to lead England at another Rugby World Cup, he and Mikel spent time on a basketball court and playing table tennis to delve into each other’s mindsets. Maro benefitted from Mikel’s experience of ending a long wait for silverware while Maro himself reflected on winning back-to-back trophies and discussing with Mikel what it takes to go again and regain the title.
Their conversation covered topics ranging from leadership and accountability to handling pressure, overcoming setbacks and continually striving for improvement. Comparing their leadership styles, they explored where their approaches are similar, and how they differ, with Mikel leading from the touchline, while Maro leads from the pitch.
Under Armour has always been committed to making athletes better, not just with innovative product but by creating opportunities to learn, connect and grow from other members of the Under Armour family.
"I'm a big believer that nothing great is achieved by one person alone. So, whilst I am the leader of the team, there's a group of senior leaders who are making decisions, a group of senior leaders who are supporting and who I can lean on or who I can ask for help in the heat of the battle.”
Maro Itoje
“People see the performance on matchday, but real growth comes from training, discipline and commitment that happens when no one is watching. Leaders take responsibility in game to make the decisions which influence the outcome but that’s built with hours on the training pitch. The best leaders elevate the people around them, not only in pressure moments, but through every action, every day."
Mikel Arteta
For Arteta, leadership is built on trust and creating an environment where individuals can thrive. "I think in our role, you [Maro] as a captain, me as a manager, I think we have to be able to create an environment. That's our purpose. I want to create the environment where the players can fulfill their potential, their dreams, a place where they can have joy and they can feel a belonging within what they want to do with their lives, with their sport in this case.“
A recurring theme throughout the discussion was pressure, a companion through both Maro and Mikel’s careers. As pressure lovers, they view pressure as a privilege; an opportunity and responsibility to lead, to thrive and to overcome any obstacle.
“Pressure comes with expectations, with demands, which have to be your own demands” added Arteta. “No one else should put more demands than you do. You have to feel really passionate about what you want to do.”
The pair also reflected on the importance of resilience, sharing lessons from setbacks and explaining how periods of adversity often provide the greatest opportunities for growth.
Bringing together leaders from different disciplines reflects the belief at Under Armour that the principles behind elite performance are universal. They may operate in different sports, but the qualities required to succeed, commitment, resilience, curiosity and a relentless obsession to improve - and win - remain the same.