What does leadership look like when performance is public, pressure is constant, and every decision is tested in real time?
As BMI Board Network marks its first anniversary and its 11th flagship discussion, we invite you to a special edition that brings board-level themes into a setting where stakes are high, visibility is constant, and leadership is tested every day: top-level sport.
Since its launch in May 2025, BMI Board Network has brought together a growing community around board-relevant themes – from succession and CEO-Chair relations to crisis management and the evolving profile of board members. This anniversary edition continues that ambition from a fresh angle: the leadership and governance realities behind elite basketball.
This time, the discussion will bring together two well-known leaders from Lithuania’s two most prominent basketball organisations, both alumni of BMI’s Executive MBA programme. Together, they offer a rare perspective across different levels of the sports ecosystem – from club leadership to the European league level – and a compelling lens on how governance, strategy, stakeholder expectations, and public pressure intersect in high-performance organisations.
The discussion will be focused on real-life experience, practical insight, and behind-the-scenes realities, followed by audience Q&A.
Participants can expect a conversation around:
- What it really means to lead a sports organisation beyond what is visible publicly;
- How leaders operate when expectations are high and scrutiny is constant;
- The relationship between governance, strategy, operations, and performance;
- How decision-making differs at club and league level;
- What business leaders and board members can learn from high-pressure sport environments.
Speakers
Paulius Motiejūnas
CEO, EuroLeague Basketball (2023-2026)
Paulius Motiejūnas is one of the most recognised leaders in Lithuanian and European basketball management. Over many years, he played a key role in shaping the operational and strategic success of Kaunas Žalgiris and Žalgiris Arena, helping the organisation overcome financial challenges and position itself among the EuroLeague’s strongest clubs in areas such as ticketing, fan experience, and infrastructure. He was named EuroLeague Best Club Executive in 2018, 2019, and 2023, and Best Sports Executive in Lithuania in 2017 and 2020.
Paulius is an alumnus of the EMBA Class of 2021 at BMI Executive Institute.
Martynas Giga
Chief Executive Officer, BC Rytas Vilnius
Non-Executive Board Member, Vilniaus atliekų sistemos administratorius
Martynas Giga is a results-driven executive and board member with extensive experience leading complex organisations, overseeing major investments, and strengthening governance. His background spans strategic leadership, financial performance, capital allocation, digital and operational transformation, and stakeholder management across both regulated and competitive environments. He is recognised for strategic clarity, integrity, and the ability to balance growth, financial discipline, and long-term value creation.
Martynas is an alumnus of the EMBA Class of 2019 at BMI Executive Institute.
Moderator
Rytis Valūnas
Fractional General Counsel at Nexa.Watch, Board Member at BMI Executive Institute, and President of the BMI Alumni Executive Club
With broad experience across corporate law, governance, and board leadership, Rytis will guide the conversation and help draw out the wider leadership and governance lessons behind the speakers’ experiences.
Event details
- Date: 12 May
- Time: 9:30-11:00
- Location: BMI Executive Institute Office, Artery Business Center, Konstitucijos ave. 18B, Vilnius (7th floor)
A special anniversary edition of BMI Board Network – bringing together sport, governance, and leadership in a conversation you will not want to miss.
Register