What great teams require: Lessons from Landon Donovan's fireside conversation at the 2026 Citizens Private Bank Private Equity CFO Conference

With those leadership responsibilities in mind, Citizens Private Bank invited Landon Donovan, one of the most accomplished players in U.S. soccer history and author of The Road Is Never Long Enough, to join Sam Heshmati, Head of Venture Capital and Innovation Banking, for a fireside conversation on leadership, preparation, accountability and teamwork under pressure, days before the United States Men’s National Team played its opening match in the 2026 World Cup.

The conversation opened with Donovan reflecting on his dramatic World Cup goal against Algeria, emphasizing that preparation makes it possible to perform when the moment arrives. It was a fitting introduction to a wide-ranging discussion that touched on leadership, accountability and the mindset it takes to contribute at the highest level. Here are some of the takeaways from the conversation.

Leadership is not a role to perform

One of the conversation's most memorable leadership lessons came from Donovan's early experience with the U.S. Men's National Team. Donovan was given the captain's armband and embraced the responsibility that came with it. Believing leadership required him to direct others, he became increasingly focused on teammates rather than his own performance. After a poor game, his coach challenged that approach and helped him recognize that he was trying to lead in a way that was not authentic to who he was as a player.

Reflecting on that experience, Donovan told the audience, "The most important quality a leader can have is authenticity." Leaders may motivate, communicate and earn trust in different ways, he explained, but people quickly recognize when someone is forcing a style that is not their own. For Donovan, the lesson was that effective leadership begins with understanding how you can best contribute to the team and building from there.

Donovan returned to that point when he spoke about being left off the U.S. roster for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. He described the decision as a gut punch and recalled sitting alone in the locker room afterward before several teammates came in to console him. One of them was Kyle Beckerman, who had just made the World Cup roster for the first time. Rather than focus only on the biggest moment of his own career, Beckerman chose to sit with Donovan in his disappointment. Donovan said the experience helped him understand that leadership requires a broader view than one’s own success or setback. The team is bigger than any individual moment, and leaders have to be able to put the people around them ahead of themselves.

The power of accountability and grace

Donovan reflected on his relationship with David Beckham following Beckham's arrival at the LA Galaxy. As one of the club's established leaders, Donovan initially struggled with the transition that accompanied Beckham's arrival, including discussions around the team captaincy.

The situation became more complicated when Donovan publicly criticized Beckham rather than addressing his frustrations directly. When the two eventually met face-to-face, Donovan apologized and accepted responsibility for how he had handled the situation. Beckham's response proved equally important. Rather than allowing the conflict to deepen, he accepted the apology and focused on moving forward. The conversation ultimately changed the relationship between the two players and helped establish a stronger foundation for the team.

Reflecting on the story, Heshmati noted that effective leadership often requires both accountability and grace. "It's not about am I right or you're right. It's let's get this right," he said. The story illustrated how accountability and grace can work together. One requires the humility to acknowledge a mistake. The other requires the willingness to move beyond it.

The best contributors focus on the team

An audience question prompted Donovan to speak about what advice he would give a young player hoping to reach the professional level. Drawing on his experience as both a player and coach, Donovan cautioned that the growing emphasis on individual branding and personal recognition can be counterproductive. He encouraged young athletes to focus on the qualities that make teams stronger and more successful. In the end, he argued, coaches and other decision-makers look for people who help the team win, not people who generate the most attention.

The discussion reinforced a principle that extends beyond sports. Individual success often follows from collective success and the people who create the greatest impact are frequently those who elevate the performance of the group around them.

Final thoughts

Throughout the conversation, Donovan's most compelling stories and important lessons came from setbacks. He spoke openly about poor performances, conflict with teammates, missed opportunities and moments that forced him to reconsider how he approached leadership. Those experiences helped forge a career that ultimately made him one of the most accomplished players in U.S. soccer history.

For leaders in private equity and venture capital, the challenges may be different, but the process is familiar. Firms are evaluating new technologies, adapting to changing markets, developing future leaders and making decisions that can have long-term consequences. Success often depends on how individuals and organizations respond when circumstances do not unfold as expected.

That is one reason Citizens Private Bank brings together finance leaders, industry experts, advisors and operators at events like the Private Equity CFO Conference. As firms confront new opportunities and challenges, forums that encourage the exchange of ideas and experiences can help leaders put those decisions into context, learn from others who have faced similar situations and approach the future with greater confidence. To learn more about the topics discussed at the Citizens Private Bank CFO Conference, contact your Citizens Private Bank relationship manager.