PCA Updates
Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) is honored to welcome Colin Burns to its New England Board.
As a Director at PwC and former professional soccer player, Colin has the experience and expertise to guide and support PCA, a national non-profit working to inspire youth to be their best selves through sports done right.
At PwC, Colin consults for global clients across a variety of industries and competences. PwC has recognized Colin as a notable coach and mentor to many consultants, helping them quickly progress through their careers and achieve their goals from promotions to grad school placements. Coaching and mentoring come naturally to Colin who had a lengthy career in professional soccer in Europe, playing in the top leagues of Sweden, Norway, Moldova, and Finland. A leader both on and off the field, Colin successfully fought the Swedish Football Association for players’ transfer rights, culminating in a new rule (the Burns Rule). Colin’s story is featured in a sports psychology book (This is Your Brain on Sports) and has provided welcome fodder for many publications around the world including, ESPN, The Boston Globe, Expressen (Sweden), TV4 Sweden, Soccer America, etc. Colin earned a BSc from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and interned for both the Boston Red Sox and the New England Patriots while in college. Colin earned an MBA from Emory University. He and his wife are raising two young sons.
As for why he joined the Board of PCA in New England, Colin says “I’ve been fortunate to have been coached by incredible leaders during my youth and professional career. Through my own journey from professional sports to the business world, the positive impact those coaches had on my life continues today. I’m excited to support an organization that is having a positive impact on millions of youth athletes, helping to shape their future success on and off the field.”
The PCA/NE Board is comprised of individuals who represent many of New England’s most respected organizations, institutions, and corporations and share PCA’s belief in the power of sports done right to make a positive impact. Board members include: PCA-New England Board Members include: Kim Beckett Community Volunteer; Matthew Cohn Kirkland & Ellis; Dr. Joseph N. Cooper UMass Boston; Colleen Coyne The Boston Pride; Tracy DeForge The Player’s Impact; Vona Hill Black Vanguard Alliance; Brian Hogan Fidelity Investments, retired; Mark Lev Fenway Sports Management; Board Chair Mark Melito Deloitte; Sean Quirk Cannons Lacrosse Club; Bruce Richardson Salesforce; Shawn Sullivan Boston Celtics; Bob Sweeney Boston Bruins; Natalie Curtis Thorne; and Joe VanBuskirk New Balance.
Nationally, Positive Coaching Alliance is supported by exceptional athletes, coaches, and leaders through its National Advisory Board including New Englanders Tommy Amaker, Brad Stevens, Katey Stone Kristine Lilly, Jerry York and more.
Beth O’Neill Maloney, Regional Director of PCA/NE, says “Colin’s experience as an athlete, from youth to professional, as a consultant, and as a parent will be invaluable to Positive Coaching Alliance. Colin appreciates how a positive sports experience helps kids build the social emotional skills—the character, leadership, grit, resilience, compassion and more—needed to thrive in sports, in business, and in life.”
