Adam Heieck, CEO of Youth on Course, reflects on why there is not a secret to his organization’s success, the importance of transparency, communication and trust, and who are his two favorite golf playing partners. 

THE FIRST CALL: Please give us a short overview of your company.
ADAM HEIECK: Youth on Course provides youth with life changing opportunities through golf. It does this by subsidizing rounds of golf, providing high school internships and college scholarships for youth who need it most.

TFC: What time do you wake in the morning, and what time do you typically start the workday?
AH: My kids are usually up around 6:45, which means I'm up around 6:45. I'll check and respond to emails/texts and scan industry press releases off and on when getting ready. I'm normally in the office around 8:30.

TFC: What are key elements to leadership or to being a good leader?
AH: I'm big on transparency, open communication and trust. Leaders need to ensure the environment they create is a safe one … one where honest feedback is shared and not taken personally. We share as much information with one another as possible. We hire smart and talented people at Youth on Course — my job is to support our team and give them the resources they need to achieve our goals and fulfill our core purpose. 

TFC: Who is your role model?
AH: My parents. They worked hard to give my sister and me opportunities in life and taught me the value of hard work.

TFC: Knowing what you know today, what professional advice would you give a younger you?
AH: I've been asked this a few times and its made me realize how impatient I was early in my career. I'm still somewhat impatient and I think it serves me well, but I would get easily exasperated when I was younger and it didn't help my decision making. Pick your battles.

TFC: What’s the last book you read?
AH: “The Undoing Project” by Michael Lewis, which discusses decision making in uncertain situations. Dealing with bias in judgement and more.

There is little question that the Hall of Fame course architect’s influence will be firmly imprinted on the outcome of the 43rd Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits this week