Marlin Kim Ng, Derek Jeter the Leader on the Trailblazer Situation

Marlins GM Kim Ng is the first woman in the Big Four League to post such. She talks with Post columnist Steve Serby about breaking barriers and how she goes about her business.

Q: How would you describe your leadership style?

A: I will describe it this way, I think number 1 is leading by example. I think number 2, I will try and be as direct and honest as I can with people. And third, I will say that I really care about the employees and will help them get to where they want to go in their careers. I think it is really important for them to know that it is not only about this team, but also about them as individuals. And I think it helps them understand and that’s what empowers them. Number 4, I am not a micro-manager. I believe that is giving people a regime to work with, and you are giving them the freedom to be creative. And 5, I am a team player, and I want to hear from them. I am not a rule-by-iron-fist person. … I am definitely collaborative and inclusive. And finally, I would say that during all those things, I try and be as efficient as possible.

Q: Describe the pressure or responsibility of being a quote-unqualified trailblazer.

A: I definitely feel that pressure. I know it’s there. A lot of people are watching me. But I feel that my experience and my performance and my staff are going to help us a lot in trying to win the World Championship.

Q: Do you see yourself as an inspiration?

A: This is not something I sit there and have full knowledge about. I think that now when people bring it to me, I know that I am, it is a subconscious thing. I frame it like this: On a daily basis, I don’t necessarily think I’m an inspiration, but I feel a responsibility, that people are watching me.

Q: What do you think you have achieved in one man’s game and one man’s world? Are you able to open a door that others and you yourself have struggled to open all those years?

A: I think I’m quite reliable. I was a college athlete. I played a game that is not the same, it is largely the same in softball. I think I have a great idea to talk to athletes and coaches. The work ethic is very big. I was always trying to stay ahead of the curve. I think I have a background that was found in the context of the way the industry was moving, which was more of an analytical background.

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Marlins General Manager Kim Ng
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Q: How would you describe your negotiation style?

A: I think I like to shoot it fairly straight. I don’t like wasting a ton of time. I will dance when needed, but I will just try and be as efficient as I can, tell people where I am coming from, I try to understand where they are coming from, understand their situation Try and why they think the things they do. And really try and have constructive conversations all along the way.

Q: How does the leadership style of Derek Jeter compare to the leadership style of George Steinbrenner?

A: Looking at what Derek has done with the organization, Derek has shown a lot of leadership, and has shown that he is going to do something that was not necessarily popular. … He has shown great patience. He is trying to build this organization from the ground up, and that means taking many steps back to move forward.

Q: What did you learn from Brian Cashman during your time with the Yanks?

One: I was always impressed with how prepared he was, and completely. I think a Yankee had a lot to do with his personality throughout his career and working for Mr. Steinbrenner. And secondly I always admired Brian for how he handled the media … just try and be as straightforward as you can, obviously knowing that he had a job to do.

Q: What traits do you see for your ideal baseball player?

A: I would say that they have to do a lot of work. The ideal for me is to have players of great merit and be open-minded… spontaneous… team players.

Q: You think you are describing Derek Jeter and Don Mattingly.

A laugh). Don’t think it’s like a subject? … and, of course, you want them to have talent.

Q: How would you describe Don Mattingly’s managerial style?

One: I think Donnie found a really interesting style. He is the manager of a player. I think he is very reliable. He is able to put himself in the shoes of the players, apparently he was a player, on a huge stage. I think Donnie is a real positive man, and a positive manager. I see him as understanding young players. Which is not easy to do. I have now worked with a handful of managers, because you are trying to balance the career of a winner and a player today and how they can be useful to you in the future. And I think Don does a very good job of it.

Q: What do you hope Marlins Way is?

A: I think that’s the same as all the things we’ve talked about now. You clearly want them to be given 110 percent at all times. You always want them hustling. You always want to keep the competition on their toes. In terms of their playing style, you want it to be versatile, and … you just want to make it tireless. It was one of the things that I really got from being with Yankee at that time [from 1998 to 2001] – Just absolutely relentless, everything they did, whether it was working the count, or whether it was the pitcher pounding the zone. … Our bench was relentless. Every night there was a fight. And every night was a different hero. I call [‘98] Team up the sum of the parts, because every night it was somehow different that paved the way. When I talk about my career, that team was really inspiring for me, in which they just day-out on a consistent and reliable basis.

Q: Jets Porter and Engels have suspended Mickey Callaway for sexual harassment.

A: I’m not sure what those vetting processes were, but I think a big way for me is that there should be a greater number of women in sports. I think that when you have more women in sports, you gain more understanding and you have more resources to help you get involved in that vetting process.

Q: Who are you leaders in sports or outside of sports?

A: I will call Pat Summit… John Wooden… Joe Torre. The other two that I have been around, which I have not done, but have just read about them.

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Brian Cashman (l to r.), Kim Ng and Joe Torre in 2001 with the Yankees.
NY Post: Charles Weinberg

Q: Why Torrey?

A: I think he’s an incredible patient, calm demeanor. He shows great loyalty to his people. Will give you the benefit of doubt. And tries to put people in areas where they will succeed. He has a way of conveying a lot of complex information, sometimes minutia, a very succinct way of talking about it, and by boiling it down to very easy-to-understand information. He keeps it simple. I also think that he shows humanity in his leadership style.

Question: You mentioned Pat Summit. Who are the other women in sports whom you admire?

One: Billie Jean King. Incredibly vocal, incredibly soulless. so inspiring. Very inspiring. From all that I have read about him, he is about a movement, and engaging other people, and really encouraging them to give a voice.

Q: Why were you a Yankees fan and not a Mets fan growing in fresh meadow?

A: (Laughs) I was a bit ahead, I think. It was the late 70s and the Yankees were very good back then.

Q: After Thurman Munson died in that plane crash, did you have a scrapbook of articles?

A: I did. I did It was a disastrous day for me. I remember listening to it on the radio … absolutely crushed.

Question: Was that your favorite Yankee?

A: He was.

Question: What was that about?

A: That was just tough. He was strict, uniform was always filthy. He was leading the group, didn’t really care what many people think, and he was very clutch.

Question: Two dinner guests?

A: My father, Barack Obama.

Q: Why is your father?

Izumi: Passed on my dad, and so would be great to talk to him again.

Q: How proud are you of your mother?

A: (Laughs) Exceptionally proud.

Q: She might never have imagined this role, I think that would be right?

A: No, not at all. She never wanted me to do an internship [with the White Sox] Where I was making so little money. She did not want to see my University of Chicago degree go to waste.

Marlins
Kim Ng talks to Derek Jeter during the Marlins game this season.
Getty Images

Q: Favorite movie?

One: “Deer Hunter.”

Question: Favorite actor.

a: [Robert] De Niro.

Q: Favorite actress?

One: Meryl Streep.

Q: Favorite singer / entertainer?

A: Lizzo.

Q: Favorite food?

A: A bone-in ribeye steak.

Q: How proud are you that there is no doubt that you are accepted in the world of baseball?

A: Very proud. I think this is one of the things that really makes me come home when I get a job. … I knew I was accepted, but I think it was interesting to many people inside the industry as well as outside the industry, then I can get an understanding of how accepted . In terms of the perception of you guys, it takes a lot to break down walls, just because I’m not a man. I think in the minds of a lot of people that was always going to be a tough obstacle for me. But I don’t think they quite … a lot of people didn’t need to understand who I was, or the relationships that I had built up over the years. And so I think it is not so easy to be accepted by many different sectors of the baseball population. And so this is something that I am very proud of.

Q: What advice would you give for women who want to be the next Kim Ng?

One: I would just say that they need to be prepared, they need to be focused, to be persistent … and not for the answer.

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