At CSA Search & Consulting, we believe great leadership starts with continuous learning. Each month, our team will highlight a book that has shaped how we think, lead, and serve our clients. From timeless leadership principles to modern insights, CSA Bookshelf is designed to share ideas that drive impact across collegiate athletics and higher education. This month we will hear from Vice President, Athletics for CSA, Marcy Lanoue.
Reviewer: Marcy Lanoue, Vice President, Athletics
Book: Legacy: What the All Blacks Can Teach Us About the Business of Life by James Kerr
Why I Chose This Book
Some books find you at exactly the right moment in your career. Legacy was one of those books for me.
While serving as a senior athletics administrator at the University of San Diego, I had the privilege of meeting Ian Foster, then an assistant coach for the New Zealand All Blacks (and later their head coach). His daughter was a scholar-athlete at USD, which brought him to campus and gave our senior leadership team and head coaches the opportunity to spend time with him.
During his visit, Ian shared stories about the culture that has made the All Blacks one of the most successful teams in sports history. Rather than focusing on championships or tactics, he spoke about humility, purpose, accountability, and the responsibility every player has to leave the jersey in a better place than they found it. He introduced us to James Kerr’s Legacy, encouraging us to think beyond wins and losses and instead focus on building cultures that endure.
One moment from that conversation has stayed with me ever since. Ian explained that every person who wears the All Blacks jersey is simply its temporary steward. Their job isn’t to protect their own legacy, it is to strengthen the culture for the next generation. That idea fundamentally shifted how I think about leadership. Success is not measured only by what we accomplish while we’re in a role, but by the people we develop, the standards we uphold, and the organization we leave behind.
Years later, as I work alongside my amazing colleagues at CSA Search & Consulting, with universities and search committees to identify transformational leaders, I find myself returning to the principles in Legacy again and again.
Key Takeaways
One of the book’s most powerful messages is that culture is a competitive advantage. Winning isn’t the starting point, it is the outcome of consistently investing in people, relationships, and shared standards.
Perhaps the most recognizable principle is the All Blacks’ philosophy of “Sweep the Sheds.” After every match, even after winning a world championship, the players clean their own locker room. It is a simple but profound reminder that no individual is ever bigger than the team and that humility is a hallmark of great leadership.
Another lesson that resonates deeply with me is the importance of surrounding yourself with people of strong character. Talent opens doors, but integrity, selflessness, emotional intelligence, and a willingness to elevate others are what sustain exceptional organizations. Throughout my work in executive search, I’ve found that the best leaders aren’t always the loudest voices in the room, they are often the ones who build trust, create alignment, and bring out the best in those around them.
The book also reinforces the importance of optimism and consistency. Great leaders create belief, especially during uncertainty. They establish clear expectations, remain steady under pressure, and inspire others through their actions far more than their words.
Finally, Legacy reminds us that leadership belongs to everyone. Titles create authority, but influence is earned. Every member of an organization contributes to its culture, and the strongest teams empower individuals at every level to take ownership, support one another, and lead with intention.
Why It Matters for Leaders
As college athletics continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, leaders are navigating constant change, from NIL and revenue sharing to conference realignment and shifting expectations across higher education. While the environment continues to change, the foundations of exceptional leadership remain remarkably consistent.
Legacy reminds us that lasting success is never built solely on strategy or talent. It is built on relationships, trust, humility, accountability, and a shared commitment to something larger than ourselves.
That lesson has stayed with me since hearing Ian Foster speak at the University of San Diego. It continues to influence how I evaluate leaders, facilitate executive searches, and think about organizational culture today. Every search is an opportunity to help an institution find someone who won’t simply fill a position but will leave the program stronger than they found it.
To me, that is the true meaning of legacy!!