From Government to the Private Sector: Centennial Yards President Brian McGowan on Leadership, Risk, and Building The Impossible

This episode features Brian McGowan, President of Centennial Yards Company. We talk about the transformation of downtown Atlanta and what it takes to help lead the world’s largest sports-adjacent entertainment district currently under construction.

Brian’s career is a masterclass in navigating transitions. His work has spanned the Obama Administration, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s office, leading Invest Atlanta, and serving as CEO of the Atlanta BeltLine.

We discuss career reinvention, managing uncertainty, finding opportunity, and why meaningful work often requires resilience, perspective, and the right people around you.