Even before he went to the Super Bowl, Spencer Paysinger had led both his high school and college football teams to victory as captain. In the case of his high school team, he was a kid from the streets of South Central Los Angeles thrust into the overwhelming culture shock of elite Beverly Hills High. In both situations, Paysinger found commonality in diversity and difference, inspiring others to succeed through his own leadership and example. And he has continued his leadership throughout his career. Today, he is not only successful in Hollywood as a writer and producer but also an entrepreneur investing in new businesses, as well as sitting on several boards for inner-city schools in LA. In this motivational talk, Paysinger shares his own approach to leadership and building teams—on and off the gridiron. He also highlights the important role that diversity plays in creating winning teams.

Spencer Paysinger isn’t just another successful athlete whose story is portrayed on film. He’s the creative force that developed the concept for All American, pitched it to network decision-makers and still sits in the writer’s room to brainstorm and ensure that the show stays true to its original vision. In this behind-the-scenes look, he tells the story of retiring from the NFL to pursue his dream of becoming a Hollywood writer/producer. From pitching the show from a locker room (worried about being on time to practice) to examining the characters, plot lines and their connection to his real-life story, Spencer walks you through the personal, professional and creative journey behind All American. Sharing clips from the show and insider stories, he answers audience questions and previews what’s ahead in the upcoming season.

The widening divide between rich and poor. The opportunity gap. Racial bias. Blacks and the police. Intersectionality. Substance abuse. The transformative power of education. These are just a few of the complex issues experienced by the characters of All American. In this put-your-phones-down presentation, highlighted by clips from the award-winning hit show, Spencer Paysinger takes on tough topics (chosen with the event organizer) from the perspectives of  both his real-life experience and their portrayal on the show. Audiences are treated to a Q&A that’s focused on opening up dialog and fostering connection.

The journey from an underserved community to college isn’t an easy one. For Spencer Paysinger, it involved making a hard choice between basketball and football at age 13 because football offered more scholarships to college. Then, the culture shock and distance challenges of going from South Central LA to Beverly Hills for high school, which, among other things, included waking up at 5 a.m. to arrive at school on time. In this talk aimed at educators, Paysinger—who considers himself extremely fortunate to have the athletic abilities to earn a college scholarship—examines the many obstacles that today’s young people face, and what educators can do to help.

After retiring from the NFL, Spencer Paysinger thought he was ready for his next venture. After all, he had been told for years that athletes—especially the most successful ones—have certain skills that translate well into other industries. He soon learned it wasn’t true. The “skills” most of us think athletes possess, like intense focus, incredible work ethic and never giving up, are actually traits. And although they are amazing characteristics for someone to have, they don’t guarantee success. In this talk, Spencer shares his story of transition from sportsman to successful Hollywood writer,  producer and entrepreneur, and how he—as well as you—can use these traits to learn new skills and succeed.