2026 Leadership Ames Alumni Event
Join us for an engaging and thought-provoking evening with Paul Shirley – former Iowa State Cyclone, professional basketball player, author, entrepreneur, and nationally recognized speaker.
Paul’s career has taken him from Hilton Coliseum to the NBA and international courts, and ultimately into the worlds of business, writing, and leadership development. Through candid storytelling and sharp insight, Paul will share lessons learned from navigating high-pressure environments, building resilience, leading through uncertainty, and redefining success beyond the scoreboard.
This event offers a unique opportunity Leadership Ames alumni to reconnect with classmates, expand your professional network, and gain fresh perspectives on leadership, adaptability, and purpose – from someone who has experienced leadership at every level.
Whether you’re leading a team, building a business, or looking to grow personally and professionally, this conversation promises inspiration, humor, and practical takeaways you can apply immediately.
Schedule of events:
6:00pm – Doors open, cash bar open
6:30pm – Dinner buffet open
7:00pm – Welcome and presentation from Paul Shirley
8:30pm – Event to conclude
Space is limited, sign up today!
To learn more about Leadership Ames, please visit this page on our website.
About the speaker: Paul Shirley
Paul Shirley played for 17 professional basketball teams in a nine-year career, including stops in Spain, Greece, Russia, and with three teams in the NBA: the Chicago Bulls, Phoenix Suns, and Atlanta Hawks. He’s the author of six books, including Can I Keep My Jersey?, Stories I Tell On Dates, The Process is the Product, and The Art of Focused Work. He created a TV pilot for Fox based on his life as a vagabond professional basketball player.
Paul’s the founder of The Process, a workspace that helps creatives, entrepreneurs, and independent workers build systems so they can manage distractions and do focused work on meaningful projects.
In his talks, Paul combines the elements of humor and vulnerability that helped him win the Story Smash! storytelling competition at the Hollywood Improv in Los Angeles. He’s spoken at colleges, at conferences, for business groups, and at book launches as far away as Spain. His speaking superpower is his ability to turn intimidating concepts (managing distractions, doing focused work, dealing with failure) into digestible takeaways that leave audiences feeling connected with him and each other.
Event sponsors:
