Erik Pedersen

President and COO of NetWork Kansas (KS Center for Entrepreneurship). Passions are entrepreneurship, sports, hunting and family.

[Ryan Yousefi @RyanRYousefi]

The Dolphins are about to have 14ft and 700lbs of man on the left side of the line, and fans are upset.

After 3+ decades of watching this team suck in cold weather, I want 14 more mountain men and fewer pass rushers and safeties.

[Erik Pedersen @EPedersenKS]

@DanePedersen401 Wrong!

[Erik Pedersen @EPedersenKS]

@DanePedersen401 You’re wrong for that attitude.

[Erik Pedersen @EPedersenKS]

@TheKLC Great post!

[Barstool Sports @barstoolsports]

Anthony Rizzo and David Ross Have A 12-Part, All-Access, Behind-The-Scenes Special Coming gOut About The 2016 World Championship Chicago Cubs Team, And It Looks Like A Must Watch For All Baseball Fans https://t.co/xwNPzAhr21

[Erik Pedersen @EPedersenKS]

@KCBizJournal Maria has been a tremendous leader, advocate and small biz supporter. It has been a pleasure to work with her for 20+ years.

[Kansas City Business Journal @KCBizJournal]

The University of Missouri-Kansas City leader will step down after two decades of mapping the regional ecosystem and quantifying capital gaps. https://t.co/gm5Wz029pP

[Dan Zaksheske @RealDanZak]

Incredible take from Charles Barkley on Tom Izzo:

"The media, who don't know anything about sports, say 'Why is he yelling his players?' That's called coaching... if parents & friends get mad because you're getting yelled at, get better parents & better friends."

[Erik Pedersen @EPedersenKS]

@DanePedersen401 Poor take.

[Greg Berge @GregBerge]

Transactional vs. Transformational Coaching…

Dan Hurley shared a story about asking Geno Auriemma for advice after a rough start last season. Geno didn’t mince words:

“Listen, if the only gratification and the only part of coaching that excites you is winning the national championship, then you’ve lost your way, buddy! Where’s the joy in the things that you’ve always been about as a coach before you went on the championship run, like relationships with your players, like helping people get better, like making your team the best it can be. Be a coach, man. This is when you really need to be a leader. This team isn’t as good as last year’s, so what the hell are you going to do about it? Are you going home? Are you going to let this thing unravel?”

That’s the tension every coach feels:
Transactional vs. Transformational.

Transactional coaching is outcome-obsessed. It’s about the wins, the losses, the trophies. The problem? When results don’t come, your purpose crumbles with them.

Transformational coaching is different. It’s about people. It’s about growth. It’s about building something that lasts, whether the scoreboard agrees with you or not.

And this is why mentorship matters so much in coaching.

Left on our own, it’s easy to drift into a transactional mode without even realizing it.

A trusted mentor can pull us back to center and remind us why we started coaching in the first place.

To build relationships.
To develop players as people.
To make teams the best they can be.

Wins matter. But they’re not the why.

The why is impact.
The why is growth.
The why is leaving your players better than you found them.

The process is the prize. Stay grounded. Stay on the path.

Always remember your why.

[Erik Pedersen @EPedersenKS]

@DanePedersen401

[Cameron Wolfe @CameronWolfe]

Dolphins 2026 picks. A team in a complete rebuild with eyes on 2027 & beyond:

1st round: No. 11
1st round: No. 30
2nd round: No. 43
3rd round: No. 75
3rd round: No. 87
3rd round: No. 90
3rd round: No. 94
4th round: No. 130
5th round: No. 151
7th round: No. 227
7th round: No. 238

[Governor Laura Kelly @GovLauraKelly]

Small towns are the heart of our state. Through more than $337,000 in SEED grants, we’re supporting 15 quality-of-life projects in rural communities across the state—leveraging local investment to bring nearly $1.1M back into Kansas towns. https://t.co/i650d5kZ9C

[Erik Pedersen @EPedersenKS]

@1350KMAN Fantastic podcast by Mike Matson with Stephanie Pierce of Innovate24. Thank you for engaging about that valuable entrepreneurial support organization.

[RC Maxfield @RCMB323]

BYU admin is COOKING right now…

I’m hear for it

[Erik Pedersen @EPedersenKS]

Very excited to partner with you on this fantastic program. https://t.co/gZikWgGbYm

[E L I @elimindset]

What does wraparound support for entrepreneurs look like? Check out our latest podcast with @EPedersenKS of @NetworkKansas! https://t.co/1unOl3tmlE #EntrepreneurialMindset #EverydayEntrepreneurs #Ecosystem

[Erik Pedersen @EPedersenKS]

@YepJets @Commanders …and again.

[Erik Pedersen @EPedersenKS]

@MatthewBerryTMR That guy is horrible.

[Erik Pedersen @EPedersenKS]

No better way to start a Saturday than going to the park with your grandson. @networkkansas

[Erik Pedersen @EPedersenKS]

Cool!

[Erik Pedersen @EPedersenKS]

@DanePedersen401

[Chattanooga FC @ChattanoogaFC]

Officially a 𝒍𝒆𝒈𝒆𝒏𝒅. ⭐️

Congratulations to @sheldongrizzle on being inducted into the CFC Hall of Legends!