What really makes a team succeed? What slowly tears it apart?  In this episode of Extraordinary Pursuits, Mohamed (“Mo”) Massaquoi joins host Rachelle Kuramoto for a conversation about leading with impact and unlocking team potential. Mo knows a lot about teams. He had an early career as a college and NFL wide receiver. After retiring from the game, he became an organizational psychologist and founded VESSOL, a consultancy providing leaders with change management and organizational transformation guidance.   Listen in to this inspiring discussion to learn why a group of people and a true team are not the same. What non-negotiables consistently bind high-performing teams. How to spot and avoid the pernicious ‘cracks’ that can undermine culture and performance – and much more.  This conversation is a playbook for founders and executives who want to be part of and lead strong teams capable of innovation, resilience, and lasting results.  Time Stamps:  02:53 Mohamed's background and transition into finance    05:32 What inspired Mohamed to pursue organizational psychology   07:14 Unlocking the potential of people within a team  09:14 Common misconceptions and the true force that binds teams  13:12 The non-negotiables of building a thriving team   15:44 Key indicators of a strong, healthy team  17:07 Insidious cracks that can undermine a team’s foundation  19:35 Balancing leadership with delegation in team management  21:17 Team integration: How mergers can accelerate or hinder growth  24:04 Building teams with a human-centered approach  26:46 How VESSOL helps companies build high-performance teams  28:53 Mohamed’s final words on the power of peers  Points of Wisdom:  “People have the potential to make it happen with a good leader.” [06:58] “As teams, we have to share the same values, but that does not mean we have to be the same person.” [13:20]  “Without constant leading, mending, and molding of a team, cracks can appear, and they are really hard to patch when they do.”  [17:58]  About Mohamed Massaquoi:  Mohamed (“Mo”) Massaquoi is an organizational psychologist, former NFL wide receiver, and founder of VESSOL. After a standout football career at the University of Georgia and five seasons in the NFL, Mohamed transitioned into finance with Morgan Stanley. He later earned a master’s degree in Industrial-Organizational Psychology and completed Harvard’s Leadership Development Program.  In 2017, a life-changing ATV accident led to the amputation of his left hand, shaping his perspective on resilience, adaptability, and the dynamics of high-performing teams – especially in times of change. Today, Mohamed helps organizations navigate transformation, unlock growth, and build teams that can truly thrive together.  Follow & Subscribe:   Listen to more episodes of Extraordinary Pursuits   Follow BIP Ventures on LinkedIn   Watch Extraordinary Pursuits on YouTube