EE518 - Jeff Dodds: The Formula for Scaling a Global Sport to 400m+ Fans

In this episode of The Entrepreneur Experiment, Gary Fox sits down with Jeff Dodds, CEO of Formula E, the electric motorsport championship that has grown from no established fan base to more than 400 million fans worldwide. Jeff takes us inside the rapidly expanding business of global sport and explains how Formula E is combining close-combat racing, world-famous manufacturers, sustainability, social media and entertainment to build the next generation of motorsport. He shares the unconventional story of how he moved from leading Virgin Media O2 into Formula E, what he discovered during his first month as CEO, and why he keeps a game of Snakes and Ladders behind his desk as a reminder of the realities of running a scale-up. Jeff also reveals the leadership principles that shape Formula E’s culture, including the three qualities he looks for in every team member: energy, optimism and accountability. He explains how obsessive behaviour can become a competitive advantage, why leaders must focus on what they can control, and how Formula E uses immediate post-race debriefs to turn lessons into action. From managing his energy while travelling for six months of the year to balancing competition, training and recovery, this is a fascinating conversation about leadership, performance and building a global sports platform. For founders, CEOs and anyone trying to scale an ambitious organisation, this episode is packed with practical insights. Show Notes In this episode, we cover: 🏎️ How Formula E grew to more than 400 million fans worldwide 💰 How the business of global sport actually makes money 📱 The role of creators, social media and entertainment in growing a sport 🔥 Why obsessiveness can become a competitive advantage 🪜 Jeff’s “Snakes and Ladders” approach to leading a scale-up ⚡ The three traits behind high-performing teams: energy, optimism and accountability 📝 Formula E’s “I like, I wonder” post-race debrief system 🔋 How Jeff manages energy, travel and recovery as a global CEO 🚀 Why first-mover advantage still matters in business Links and Resources Connect with Jeff and Formula E Formula E official website (https://www.fiaformulae.com/) Formula E on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/formula-e/) Jeff Dodds on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jedodds/) Formula E on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fiaformulae/?hl=en https://www.youtube.com/@FIAFormulaE *Our Sponsors * Nostra: https://bit.ly/nostra26 Azure: https://bit.ly/azure26  Follow The Entrepreneur Experiment: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/entrepreneurexperiment/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@entrepreneurexperiment