The Work in Sports Podcast - Insider Advice for Sports Careers

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Is Networking Dead? May 24, 2021

Last week I had a friend reach out who was applying for a cool job with a professional sports team. Since I really like and respect this person, and I know people at the professional sports team, I volunteered to reach out on their behalf to my friends at the team and put in a good word.

Now, I didn’t bring this up to show off my altruistic nature and overall good dudedness. I bring this up because something very interesting happened, something I haven’t been able to stop thinking about ever since.

My conversation with my friend in pro sports, led me to wonder… Is Networking Dead?

Here is the scene.

I reach out to my friend, a former guest on the show by the way, and I tell them the details – got a friend in the final round, they’re great, wonderful addition to your team, hard-worker, experienced, can you put in a good word with the hiring manager?

Their response:

“Hey Brian, normally I would do this for you in a heartbeat, your friend seems like a wonderful candidate. But just two weeks ago there was a new company policy instituted whereby no employee can discuss or advocate for candidates to a hiring manager. The goal is to remove bias, and create a truly inclusive staff without favoritism, nepotism or cronyism. By keeping the process devoid of influence, we believe we will be stronger throughout our organization.”

Ok, process that for a second.

My initial thought was…good for you and your organization.

I’ve long been an advocate of D, E & I – but have always wondered how it will happen, how do we do it?

I talked with Vincent Pierson who at the time was the Director of D, E, I at MiLB, and asked, this is all wonderful in theory but what do we do? Like, how does this become a reality?

I’ve asked Kali Franklin, John Ferguson, Philicia Douglas, Dr. Bill Sutton and many others – what do we do?

This initiative right here, expressed by a professional sports team is the most concrete example I’ve heard to date of process change to adapt to a more inclusive workplace.

I’m here for it. But it begs the question – is Networking Dead?

One more thing before we get into what this means. I have always hated the “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know” concept. It drives me insane and is such 1990’s era thinking.

Bear with me as I repat a story some of you have heard. I started at CNN/Sports Illustrated in 1996. There were probably about 30 of us entry level production assistant and associate producers hired at the same time. 4-5 of them, were there because they knew people. One had a dad who was a famous sports media columnist, other had influential parents or uncles.

They were hired because of who they knew.

Guess what, they all bombed out in under a year. They didn’t have the skills or the aptitude to do the job.

Organizations got smarter and realized – hiring unqualified people really hurts us more than some intangible idea of playing favorites to some influencer.

You can’t just know people and get by. You don’t get hired as a favor to your influential Mom or Dad.

Skills matter. Just listen to last week’s guest, Michelle Andres SVP of the Baltimore Ravens, she said “I need to see your skill set on your cover letter, not just that you are a fan.”

Now, let’s get back to the big topic – Is Networking Dead?

Sports Content Creation Takes Flight With Michelle Andres, SVP, Baltimore Ravens May 19, 2021

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast...

As I talk to young people across the country, there is an undercurrent of panic in their collective voices. It sounds a lot like pressure and fear.

I’m no neuroscientist, but anecdotally is sure seems negative news accumulates in our brains much faster than positive. Using myself as an example, I’ll remember the one review giving one star and commenting that the “host has a weird voice and delivery. His questions meander and lack any interesting quality.”

That will stick in my brain FOREVER. It comes up in my subconscious as I write questions, it comes up live during interviews, it comes up during the editing process where I wonder if this person isn’t right.

The hundreds of positive reviews lack the power to cut through this dissenting voice.

Now let’s spin this to your existence.

Dot com Headline: Unemployment is High!
Sports Hiring Manager: We get 400 applicants for each job!
Podcast host: If you don’t get the right experience, you won’t get noticed!

The data you have coming at you is discouraging, panic inducing and amounts to pressure. I can hear the message you are giving yourself, “if I don’t choose everything perfect, from internships to majors to skill development to networking to interviewing technique...I’ll be lost and I will fail.”

Wow. That’s heavy. But again, that’s the voice I hear coming from the young people I speak with today.

I did a little analysis with this thought in mind. I went through our podcast guests, who as you know are amazing people in the sports industry...and around 37% of them started their careers elsewhere other than sports. Even more than that, around 47% majored in something completely unrelated to their current career.

All of this is to say, take it easy on yourself. Your career is not a straight line, it is not something you can plan out perfectly, it is organic and takes shape as you live through it.

Have a plan, have goals, have accomplishments in mind like building your network and gaining the experience that matches industry demand...but don’t be rigid.

Today’s guest is a shining example of this pattern. Michelle Andres was a political science major. In fact, she so loved politics she received her Master’s in Political Science – Campaign Management.

But then, she didn’t love the work itself. I’ll let her give you the details...but think about that a second. She didn’t do 7 sports internships. She didn’t have a vast network of sports connections. But she landed a job with the Orlando Magic as the Assistant Director of Interactive Marketing, and her career has grown rapidly ever since, where she is now the SVP f Ravens Media with the Baltimore Ravens.

Why?

She will explain that, and a whole lot more... here’s Michelle Andres.

Answering Tough Job Interview Questions: "Where Do You See Yourself in 5 Years?" May 17, 2021

Question incoming from Brandon in Bellevue, Washington. Brandon, I lived in Bellevue for 10 years, we’re practically neighbors despite the fact I now live 2,882 miles away. Yes, I googled it.

“Hey Brian, I’ve been doing a bunch of mock interviews to prepare and there is a pattern that keep emerging. I’ve had two of my professors and three different family members conduct mock interviews, and they all asked me the same question “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?”

Is this a very common question, and if so how would you answer it because my first instinct is, “I have no idea.”

Help?!”

Let's dig into this!

How the Sports Industry Must Adapt for the Future with Josh Walker, President, Sports Innovation Lab May 12, 2021

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning for WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast.

Recovery starts with innovation.

I read this the other day and thought, this sounds a lot like what my grandmother used to tell me when she’d cobble some new fandangled way of plowing her garden fields with a series of hoes tied on to the back of her 1940’s era tractor.

Never short for an analogy or cliché she’d look at me and repeat, “Necessity is the mother of all invention.”

That saying has always stuck in my mind, when there is need there are creative solutions.

Never before have we faced more need, and never before have innovative minds been more in demand.

As teams and leagues and organizations look to pivot and change their revenue models and adapt to our new world — the innovative people in every organization are the ones leading the way to the future.

That is not hyperbolic or overly dramatic. We need innovation. We need a new way to look at our games, our stadiums, our fans, our revenue streams, our products our marketing — everything needs a fresh set of eyes.

I booked today’s guest, Josh Walker, President of Sports Innovation Lab because multiple people in my sphere of influence pinged me in April and said “did you read this article on how the sports industry will recover, it’s fascinating”

The article was pushed at me from multiple angles from people I respect with excitement and fervor I couldn’t deny, so I read it and immediately thought — who wrote this! I need them for this show!

The crazy thing is… Josh, the scribe responsible for the forward-thinking piece, developed the concept of recovery before there was a need for recovery. See Josh is the kind of futurist we need more of in sports, the ones who can utilize data and research and intuition to see what the industry needs to be, rather than what it is.

Josh is the President of Sports innovation Lab who, along with his co-founders, former NFL linebacker Isaiah Kacyvenski and former Olympian and 4-time gold medal winner Angela Ruggiero developed a fluid fan concept that sees sports in a way that earns the fans loyalty rather than expects it.

You’ll see what I mean.. Here’s Josh — get ready for some incredible, in your face, honest…and some exciting ideas on how to mold our future of sports.

Here’s Josh…

Follow Up Questions for an Internship Interview May 10, 2021

Today’s question, and it’s a good one, from Janell in Missouri.

“Hi Brian, thank you so much for your show and the effort you put into its creation, it’s clear how much you care and want to help others. I have a question for you about interviewing for internships. I’ve heard you talk about asking follow up questions at the end of a job interview, and I wonder, do you ask different questions when it is for an internship versus a full-time job?”

I love this question, now, I know I say that a lot, but I really love this one.

Why?

Because Janell brings up a very valuable distinction between what you want to know when you are in the internship process vs. full-time job process. It is different and we need to discuss it!

Top Level Discussion: Motivation

When you are applying for a full-time job and in the interview cycle, you are trying to discover long-term fit. Will this culture support your growth? Are there career growth opportunities? Does their business have a long-term revenue plan so they will exist in the coming years?

You want to know these things before you commit!

For an internship, your motivation is different, your timeline is different. You need to make sure that your questions revolve back to the theme of, is this the right opportunity for me, right now.

As a college student you may only have the opportunity for 2-3 internships, you can’t waste that time stuffing envelopes for a nothing company. You need to maximize your opportunities, and the best way to know for sure, is to ask questions.

Quick tip:

Sticky notes! Most job and internship interviews right now are utilizing video interviews, for obvious reasons. Here's a low tech strategy to keep yourself on track! Put sticky notes all around you computer screen with prompts for follow up questions, topics you want to bring up, experiences, anything to trigger your memory just enough to push you further in the interview.
Have more questions ready than you think you need. If you only prepare for 2-3 follow up questions, and the interviewer handles them during the interview, what are you going to do, other than sweat profusely? Prepare around 8 follow up questions and you'll always have something to ask at the end, and sweating becomes optional.

Follow up Questions to Ask After an Internship Interview

1: What type of responsibilities and expectations do you have for interns at your organization?

2: Are there cross-training opportunities in multiple departments or are we isolated to a particular group?

3: What does the training and professional development look like for interns?

4: Is there a history of past interns becoming full-time employees?

5: If yes, are there certain traits or qualities that made them stand out?

6: What does a typical week look like for an intern on this team?

Listen in to the Work In Sports podcast episode 368 for more information and details on all of these talking points!

Going Global in the Sports Industry, Alicia Marinelli, President, Living Sport May 05, 2021

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the WorkInSports podcast.

There are two major assumptions that Americans tend to make about sports.

1: The big four – baseball, football, basketball and hockey - are the only sports that matter.

2: Sports happen within our borders, except the rare occasion of the Summer and Winter Olympics.

I get it, American exceptionalism and all, but can we all, at least on this show, agree these are falsehoods?

I love and appreciate the big four sports as much as anyone, but I refuse to submit to the premise that they ARE the sports industry. That’s it, just those four.

If sports represent activities involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment, and the industry comprises any one of thousands of roles surrounding these activities – our industry is much larger than say U.S. based basketball coach.

In sports, there are no boundaries. It’s a meritocracy. Whoever performs the best, while executing within the established rules – plays. Same in the vein of work, whoever performs the best, executes plans, supports initiatives – thrives.

You’ve heard it before and you’ll hear it again today, working is sports is a competitive choice. As a sports job candidate, you must actively think to yourself, “How can I make myself the best of the competition? What else can I do?”

One suggestion – go global.

Imagine for a second you have relevant international experience. Put yourself in the shoes of an employer, trying to hire the best, most talented, staff. Would someone who worked in Barcelona for a bike race, or Milan for a marathon stand out to you?

It’s not the big four sports, and it’s not within the US border – so does it matter? Of course it does, in fact it’s impressive.

But how? How would you achieve this kind of game changing experience?

LivingSport.

7-10 international study abroad trips where it isn’t all just tours and sightseeing, it’s work. The kind of work that will find its way onto your resume, broaden your horizons and alter your perspective for life.

Who better to explain this amazing program that CEO and Founder Alicia Marinelli, this week's high energy, let’s get after it, guest.

Partnership Activation Challenges in the NBA with Melissa Silberman Apr 28, 2021

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning for WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast. There are so many interesting conversations to have right now surrounding the abnormal sports world we are currently immersed in. The other day I was asked during a panel discussion what I thought were the most important skills someone in the industry should be utlilizing right now. Now, in normal conditions I say coachability, competitiveness and curiosity. Those are literally my three favorite terms when it comes to employment in any industry. But right now I’ve had to adjust my thinking some — those three terms are still incredibly viable – but I’m going to throw three more at you. Flexibility, improvisation and innovation. Let’s break these down a bit because they are all aligned, but subtly different. We’ll start with Flexibility – there is a narrative in every industry that we continue doing things because that’s the way we’ve always done things. Routine. History. Legacy decisions. This is not acceptable now. The assumption that we just keep plugging along without change is flawed. We need to entertain ideas and we need to be flexible in their deployment. We need to be flexible in the ways we generate revenue, allocate resources and more. Processes and objectives need to change. Improvisation — this is the act of coming up with ideas on the spot. We all need to open up and engage the parts of our brain that spark creativity and different thinking. We’ve been so long following patterns, that we need to spark the fire of improvisation. We all need to consider the unconventional. Look at high school sports — the NBA can have a bubble, the NFL can test daily, high school athletes are at higher risk of contracting and spreading. This is beyond doubt. That is not a political statement, it is fact. So when people say “have you considered playing in spring, have you considered a condensed schedule…have you considered …have you considered…” We have to turn on the thought provoking sides of our brain and say “we should consider everything” Innovation — chaos breeds opportunity — Where is it? This needs to be the mantra of all businesses and employees — where is the opportunity, how can we shift, re-align, change products, change approaches, INNOVATE. Companies that changed their clothing textiles to mask development, innovated. Sports business that created digital platforms and webinars and podcasts and virtual internships… they innovated! We need that spirit back. Innovate. Improvise. Be flexible. No one embodies that more than today’s guest. Melissa Silberman is the Director of Partnership Activation for the Atlanta Hawks — simply put, she works to make sure team sponsors have impactful campaigns that reach their audience with powerful messaging. Well, a big percentage of that is through in-arena activations — the 21,000 crazy fans coming to State Farm Arena on game night ar seeing and engaging with sponsor activities. So how does Melissa and her team show their sponsor there is great value in associating with the Hawks, with only 3,000 crazy fans coming to game night. Flexibility. Innovation. Improvisation. Here she is, Melissa Silberman! Questions for Melissa Silberman, Atlanta Hawks Director of Partnership Activation 1: There are so many topics I want to get into today about your career and journey to the Atlanta Hawks – but let’s start with this, you got your Bachelors and Masters in Sports Management at the University of Florida and for the last 7 years have been working in Partnership Activation. You clearly had a vision to work in sports – but did you choose Partnership Activation as your path, or did it choose you? 2: I’ll admit, I’ve been in the sports industry for 20 years but I don’t know much about Partnership Activation – so explain it to us all,

How to Handle Taking an “Off-Track” Job Apr 26, 2021

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast... Question today comes from a regular of the show, someone I am personally very fond of, but who will remain anonymous for this conversation. Their question came directly via LinkedIn, which is a great way for any of you listening to get your questions answered on an upcoming show, connect with me and then message your question right on the platform! Alright here’s the question...and I know many of you will relate to it. This is from a recent college graduate: “I recently started in a shipping/inventory role at a local bike and ski shop. It’s not exactly the trajectory I thought I’d be in, but life throws you curveballs sometimes (like pandemics) and you have to work with the batting count you got. Anyways, I started in March and have taken on new responsibilities since then. It’s a small place but I think my movement shows my upward mobility and willingness to work hard. I haven’t updated my resume or LinkedIn yet, partially because I don’t know how long I will be here, partially because it’s such a small org, and partially (and I know this is silly and selfish) because I didn’t think I’d be in this position. Would really appreciate any legendary Brian advice on this situation. You’ve given me so much insight and knowledge over the years, I know you’ll have a great perspective on this." A little bit of background – this is a recent college graduate, who in my estimation has done everything right. They connect and build relationships, they’ve done really incredible internships, they’ve studied the market and know what is in demand, their resume and cover letter look awesome. I commend them, and I am enormously confident something more permanent and career-focused will come through soon. But it does go to show you, we are not in normal times. All this is to say, you sometimes have to throw out normal advice and adjust. Let’s start with this – in everyone I’ve talked to in hiring, they are more understanding than ever about the situations entry level job seekers are in. You all have been thrown into an untenable situation, something none of us could have imagined or prepared for. Now, that is not a "get out of pandemic free card" allowing you to take a year off still get a great job. Employers are willing to adapt and look at potential hires more open-mindedly, but you still have to show accomplishments over the last year. That is the number one question on interviews now, so what did you do during the pandemic? You have to have a story for that other than, I put on 15 pounds. To this specific question – I think you own this with pride. Put it on LinkedIn, show the upward mobility and turn this into a cover letter story. Let’s unpack this a bit. In the past I never would have suggested that you put temporary, non-transferrable jobs on your LinkedIn profile. Sharing that you worked part-time at Taco Bell or the Gap doesn’t really help tell your professional story. But these are different times. I would include that you are working at the local bike and ski shop (with a caveat – which I’ll explain shortly). And in so doing, I would try very hard to identify skills and opportunities you are exploring there that could be transferrable. For example, if you want to get into marketing for your career is there any chance to help with their google PPC campaigns in addition to your other work? Create some of their brochures or flyers? Any excel work you can do for them? Keep pushing yourself toward new skills you can highlight. I also believe this is your new cover letter. I can see it a little in my head – Something like, Two months ago, I accepted a position at a local bike and ski shop, and while it is not quite the career plan, I had for myself, I only know one way to work – fully committed.

The Sports Business Beat with Emily Caron, Sportico Reporter Apr 21, 2021

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged Learning for WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast. No surprise to say I grew up a fanatical sports fan. I have always loved game action. I remember vividly sneaking out of bed to watch Boston Celtics games when they were on the road, hoping my mother wouldn’t catch me. Homme games were on cable TV and we didn’t have it, only the road games. Sundays were jammed with NFL football, if my parents scheduled something that conflicted with games I wanted to watch, I was a pain in the ass. I vividly remember my mom getting us tickets to the ice capades, but in conflicted with a Cowboys – Redskins game, I was a pain the entire time, and got a massive lecture for being unappreciative of all she does for my brother and I. I deserved it, but I was, and still am addicted. I remember in high school watching late night west coast college basketball games, hoping to uncover some unknown but talented player that I could brag about knowing. Cedric Caballos is a perfect example, I saw him play a game for Cal State Fullerton, and then definitely name dropped him in conversations with fellow high schoolers to act as if I was some amateur scout, with more knowledge then they had. What a dork. My grandmother every year got me a subscription to Sports Illustrated and I read it cover to cover. Then I ripped off the cover and put it on my bedroom wall. All the iconic covers of the 80s and 90s were unceremoniously stapled to my walls, reminding me of those moments spent rifling through their pages. But... I could never get into the business side of sports. I tried. My mom would try to push me toward sports business shows or to read sports business content. Sadly, I admit, it bored me. Deals and TV revenue and sponsorships and marketing campaigns – not as exciting as Michael Jordan, John Elway, Wayne Gretzky, and Barry Bonds. Alas, as I have aged, rapidly some would say, my focus has shifted and now those same deals and decisions that bored me, represent the game happening for all of us. Sports business is the game we can all play, a language we can all speak, and forms the decisions that make everything possible. In June 2020, Sportico was formed with the mission of empowering readers with the context and insights needed to understand an evolving sports ecosystem – where teams are incubators and innovation labs, franchise values are soaring, players’ unions are accelerators and athletes will not stick to sports. Good write up there - - they did it, not me. Today's guest Emily Caron is one of the highly accomplished sports business reporters on the team at Sportico – Emily joined the sportico team at their launch after working for such high-profile brands as espnW and Sports Illustrated and she’s here today to share her journey AND insights into some of the biggest sports business focused stories in 2021! Questions for Emily Caron, Sports Business Reporter for Sportico 1: There are many important sports business topics to cover and I’m excited to jump into them with you, but let’s dig into your sports career journey first. From digging into your background and career, it seems clear you had a vision for your future self as a sports reporter from early on...why? What led you down this path? 2: While at University of Virginia, you completed an internship with espnW – that’s a coveted opportunity, how did you get the chance to intern for the worldwide leader and what was this experience like? 3: Most interns don’t write feature stories or find their way on to the set of Outside the Lines - you did both. I just went back and read your story on Penn State kicker Joey Juluis who struggled with binge eating and depression, and it’s wonderful. I was hooked at once. What drew you to the story and how did you pitch it and make it your own? I’ve been in hundreds of creative meetings and youn...

LinkedIn Profile Best Practices for 2021 Apr 19, 2021

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning for WorkInSports.com and this is the WorkInSports podcast... Super pumped for this week's expert interview with Emily Caron, a sports business reporter from Sportico.com. Emily has worked at espnW and Sports Illustrated before joining Sportico and she is awesome. What is fun about this conversation is that most of the time reporters are reporting on other people's opinions or the facts they can discover. But, in this episode, I probe Emily for so many of her opinions on what some of the big #sportsbiz topics mean for the future of our industry. Extremely exciting. Tune in for that episode on Wednesday April 21st. #Sportsbiz Stat Line for April 19th Three quick stats that give you an update on the health of the sports industry from a hiring perspective, and then three cool sports jobs posted in the last week on WorkInSports.com the leading job board for the sports industry and a proud member of the iHire talent community. Stat #1: 23, 581 jobs – increase of 2.3% and our highest total in over a year. Sportsbiz is back. Stat #2: 3,201 jobs added this past week an increase of 7.5% from the previous week Stat #3: which means there were 457 fresh sports jobs posted every day last week on average. Great reason to keep coming back every day to see what’s new. Three sports jobs that are incredibly interesting from the past week: Manager of Influencer Marketing for Brooks Running https://www.workinsports.com/search-jobs/view/brooks-running?id=548538 The Manager, Influencer Marketing is responsible for driving strategy and executing on influencer programming for the brand. You are responsible for creating and driving measurable strategies with clear KPIs to meet defined objectives, inclusive of building brand awareness and product discovery. All programming will be built in partnership with a cross-functional group of peers across marketing, including your colleagues in retail marketing, PR, sports marketing, social, sales and more. The ideal candidate will have proven experience identifying and engaging influencers, managing influencer outreach programs, and creating engaging, brand worthy content. Delaware State is hiring an Athletic Director https://www.workinsports.com/search-jobs/view/delaware-state-university?id=548442 General Description of the Position Under the Chief Operating Officer's supervision with oversight from the President, the Athletic Director (AD) is responsible for planning, developing, managing, coordinating, and supervising a competitive intercollegiate athletics program with 18 programs, 14 head coaches, and more than 400 student-athletes. The Athletic Director (1) provides visionary leadership, strategic planning, and policy development for the athletics program; (2) maintains an athletics program that is committed to the University's mission and strategic priorities; (3) works with the University's development office to raise funds for the Department of Athletics; (4) administers the overall athletic budget; (5) recruits and manages the coaching staff; and (5) ensures compliance with all University, national association and conference policies, rules, and regulations. This position also serves as a member of the President's Administrative Cabinet. Pittsburgh Knights Social Media Coordinator - LATAM https://www.workinsports.com/search-jobs/view/pittsburgh-knights?id=546819 Under the direction of the Social Media Manager, this position is responsible for the overall experience and value of the Knights' LATAM Social platforms. The Social media coordinator will focus on the daily maintenance, management, operation, and optimization of the Knights' LATAM socials and will play a crucial role in content creation. Assist in the creation of original, compelling content - such as static and motion graphics, as well as video - for the Knights' LATAM digital and social pla...

How to Become a Player Personnel Coordinator in the NFL with Ameena Soliman, Philadelphia Eagles Apr 14, 2021

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning for WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast. I started to read a new book the other day and after about 70 pages I had to put it down. This is abnormal for me, I’m the type of personality that once I start something I have to finish it. I have to know how it ended. This is true for novels, movies, hikes to waterfalls you name it. I have to reach the moment of closure. I could be watching the worst Matthew McConaughey romantic comedy, which is slowly rotting my brain away with each passing line of dialogue (hello Failure to Launch), but I still have to see how it ends. This frustrates my wife, who can cut ties in a moment’s notice… but that’s another story. She’s from Philly, she doesn’t suffer fools. Back to the book. I had to put down this book for a very simple reason. And this is a book of great acclaim, an international best seller that was turned into a pretty darn successful movie. I put it down because it followed every generalized cliche you could possibly make about races, cultures, religions and creeds. The Japanese character was good at math and a whiz on computers. The Palenstinian character had been involved in terrorist acts. The Russian character was cold, calculating and emotionless. The Mexican character worked hard in the fields and then drank beer every night. The Jewish character was tight with their money and a shrewd negotiator. Of course, the American character was dashing, intelligent, and fearless — I’ll leave that to your own interpretations. But I didn’t make it much past those characters. This isn’t me being “woke” or pandering to our current culture war, I just really hate generalizations. I hate cliches, I hate lazy, boring storytelling. Spreading this narrative and reinforcing to people where they should fit, is a dangerous weapon, meant to discourage. I’m not having it. I may spark some outrage with this, but I fail to believe we are all pre-determined to fit into categories at birth. We can be whoever we work and are driven to be. Period. Of course, I am oversimplifying, there are systemic obstacles that prevent many of us from becoming exactly who we desire to be, but the over-arching point is simple — none of us fit into a cliche, we are all individuals. Generalizations like the ones exhibited by this trash book slide their way into our sports world often. I just finished reading an article where the EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT/CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER OF THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE, Renie Anderson, posted an opinion piece on NFL.com reminding people that “hey, women work in sports too, and there are lots of us in the NFL!” Let me repeat that – She is an Executive VP and Chief Revenue Officer in the NFL – which immediately qualifies her as a badass – and she had to write an article telling people that women really do work in sports. In 2020. Let’s break down some more walls, let’s get out of this generalized, homogenized world and invite in change, diversity, and something a little unexpected. Ameena Soliman has one of the most interesting jobs in sports. As a player personnel coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles, she is an integral piece of the player personnel department, and I’ll let her explain to you what that means, exactly. I’ll sum it up from my point of view — I’m jealous. She is a Muslim woman working in football personnel, meaning she breaks all the rules of probability and smashes every stupid cliche. Now, let’s be clear about something — I didn’t invite Ameena on just because she is a Muslim woman working in player personnel. I invited her on because her role and experience are incredibly interesting and there are things we can all learn from her. Being a Muslim woman in sports is part of her story and we will talk about it some, we will talk about micro-aggressions and the way she has...

How to Follow Up Effectively After a Job Interview Apr 13, 2021

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast. Big show last week, if you missed it go back and check out Dr. Bill Sutton on the show, if you are unfamiliar with Dr. Sutton, he is the Kevin Bacon of sports. Everyone tracks back to him. Seriously, I’d guess at least 20 of my prior podcast guests count him as a mentor. He’s been training and teaching the movers and shakers in the sports industry for decades. Doc Sutton knows how to help people find their fit in the industry, how to inspire and be an ally for diversity hiring, he consults with professional teams on their sales and marketing, he worked directly under David Stern at the NBA. He’s amazing, and we talked for a long, long time, but it’ll feel like 10 minutes. It goes fast. He is super connected, incredibly smart, and always pushing the industry forward. A lot of times you hear of someone who has been in academia for decades and you may think, subconsciously of course, that they aren’t up to date, that they don’t push modern ideas, that they may be stale. Listen to this show and you will be blown away. He’s talking about video as a sales tool, business intelligence, seeing potential in people beyond their test scores – it's awesome. Let’s get into today’s question from Tony in Missouri Hey Brian, big fan of the show, I only just found out about the Work In Sports podcast after listening to your interview with Zach Maurides from Teamworks. That dude got me fired up, and you asked the exact type of questions I wanted to know about. It was like you were reading my mind! Since then, I’ve gone back and listened to your interviews with Dan Duquette, Leigh Steinberg, Jack Mills, Kara Walker of the Boston Celtics, Celia Bouza from ESPN and more. But my absolute favorite was with John Ferguson VP of People and Culture from Monumental Sports and Entertainment. I’m a victim of covid layoffs. I had my first job after college, things were going well, but then you know the rest. Good news, I have had three interviews in the last few weeks and your advice has been awesome and helpful. In his interview, John said that candidates should follow up with their hiring manager or the person who interviewed them. I think he said “most definitely” when you asked him about follow-up. But he didn’t really say how. Any thoughts here on how I should follow up?” Tony – thrilled to have this question, we’ve been talking a lot about advanced stages of interviewing and the job seekers journey, which is a good sign, a really good sign. I have to say, this is anecdotal evidence, but when I am on LinkedIn lately, I’m seeing a lot of “I just got hired by XXXX”! Which I love to hear. There are really positive signs in the job market, so this is a good time to be reviewing your follow up approach and strategy. Here is the rhythm, you get an interview, you do great things, then you wait. It’s like dating, you have a good time, you meet someone nice, then you wait to see what happens next. This waiting, it’s not for me, I don’t like to wait. I’m what you would call, impatient. So, let’s talk action. Start with a Handwritten Card After your interview, send a handwritten card to every single person you interviewed with. Why is this important, well, the obvious is that it pushes you out there as someone willing to go the extra mile in communication, add a personal touch, connect on a deeper level. BUT the other great part is that it serves as a reminder of your existence about three days after your interview. Think about it, you have the interview, write up the card right then, put it in the mail, and chances are in three days the people that interviewed you will read and think about you. You will be top of mind. Your card is an active reminder to them that basically says, “don't forget about me!”

Where Sports Business is Headed in 2021 and Beyond with Dr. Bill Sutton Apr 07, 2021

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the WorkInSports podcast. My goal today, to write the shortest intro to a podcast interview ever. Dr. Bill Sutton joins me today, and we have an incredible discussion ahead for you. It’s meaty, there is a ton of info in here, life changing kind of stuff, and I’m not one for hyperbole. Dr. Sutton is synonymous with the sports industry. 36 years in sports academia at University of South Florida, Ohio State, UMass, Robert Morris, University of Central Florida – meaning he has taught, trained, mentored and placed, quite literally thousands of the people thriving in the sports industry today. But he’s not just a classroom guy, writing research papers and repeating the same axioms. He’s been a VP in the NBA working directly under David Stern, we’ll talk about that coming up, and he’s consulted with various pro teams ranging from Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia 76ers, Tampa Bay Lightning and the New York Mets. Everyone goes to Doc Sutton for advice and insight. He’s honest, straightforward, knowledgeable and I don’t think I’ve ever met someone so committed to helping the people he believes in. Time for me to shut up – here's Doc Sutton. Watch the Full Work In Sports Podcast Episode with Dr. Bill Sutton https://youtu.be/vltgMjhChQo Questions for Dr. Bill Sutton, Sports Business Expert Outside of your illustrious career in academia, your professional background is in the sales, marketing, business ops side of sports. In 2020, no sector of our industry was more negatively affected than sales. Our job board is always full of sales jobs, but in 2020 those numbers plummeted. You are on the front lines working with many teams, leagues, and organizations as part of your consulting business. Do you think sports sales jobs are rebounding? What is your overall outlook for 2021 concerning sales and marketing opportunities? Dr. Bill Sutton on the Future of Sports Sales Roles in 2021 https://youtu.be/kM90HzBZAQ4 We so often hear the term analytics, and we are pre-conditioned to think player side analysis. Moneyball. Oakland A's. But in today's world, isn't it the business analysts, the revenue optimization specialists, representing one of our industry's real growth sectors? I've often remarked on this podcast the need to continually innovate and adapt – when I first started in the industry, social media, analytics, data-driven decision models, eSports – many didn’t exist, others were not common, now they are massive. While I don't expect you to predict the future, what do you see as the new emerging frontiers of the sports industry? Thirty-six years of experience in higher ed, but you are retired now from the college classroom experience, so you can speak freely and be honest. The program you founded at USF, the Sports and Entertainment Management MBA program, is a little different from most, having a co-op element and focusing on students gaining real-world experience. Laura Wilhelm, a staff member on my team and phenomenal graduate of your program, learned industry best practices and how things should operate while in your program and working for the Tampa Bay Lightning. She was ready to contribute; scratch that, she was prepared to dominate on day 1. Why is this style of education the exception and not the rule in sports academia? Dr. Bill Sutton on Modern Sales Techniques for Today's Sports Industry https://youtu.be/6fIg2Nd-7Z4 Your program at USF has been ridiculously effective at placing people in the industry – what was your approach to finding the right career fit for each student and then getting them set in careers where they could grow and thrive? You are a mentor to many people in the industry -- as you look back through your career, who would you say have been your mentors, and what were some things you learned from them?

Virtual Career Fairs, A Strategy Apr 05, 2021

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast... For those of you who haven’t listened to last week’s podcast with Zach Maurides, go listen to it. Seriously, now. Stop listening and start there first. Zach is the founder and CEO of Teamworks an athlete engagement platform that is currently working with over 100 professional sports teams and 200 full college athletic programs to be their student-athlete hub, managing their schedules, communication, itineraries, academics, nutrition and so much more. They are growing massively, and Zach, as a former student-athlete, an offensive lineman at duke, is so incredibly informative. Not convinced – I'll give you one nugget, one concept of many that Zach shares during this awesome podcast interview. “I want to hire confident people. Confident people put in the work, and know they are going to win because they put in the work. Arrogant people just expect to win. We don’t want arrogant people.” Now picture this coming out of a 6’6” 290 lb. former offensive lineman, trust me when I say this --- you are going to feel fired up and ready to put in the work. Ok, Wednesday – the godfather of sports business, seriously, I think you must kiss his ring before getting into the sports industry, Dr. Bill Sutton. For those of you who don’t know doc Sutton, he is the smartest most connected guy in the #sportsbiz I know. And more importantly, the most passionately supportive of his people. He has trained the best in the industry from GMs to sales directors, and he’s not just an academic, he’s worked for David Stern in the NBA and countless other organizations as part of his side hustle consulting business. One quick story – he and I really hit it off, it’s a great interview, and at the end, he said, "that was a lot of fun, I loved your questions and the way our conversation went, who else can I help you get to be a guest on your show?” Figuring I could aim high since he is offering, I said: “Would you happen to know Scott O’Neil, CEO of the Harris Blitzer Sports and Entertainment, the owners of the Sixers and Devils, I really like his style and would love to interview him?” Within 30 minutes of the completion of our interview, Scott O’Neil emailed me to book a time. Now that is legit power. Sports Career Question from Amy in Boston: Let’s get into today’s question, which comes from Amy in Boston. Fun Fact, if I was a girl, I was going to be named Amy. “Hey Brian, big fan of the podcast and your various articles, I feel like I’ve gone back through your archive so many times to answer my pressing career-focused questions. What I think is great is that your show isn’t just about sports, it’s about culture, and decision-maker and planning and strategy...I find it so informative. Amy – you get me. Continue. “My question is pretty simple: I got pretty good at the career fair circuit in late 2019, I had a good flow, made lots of contacts, felt like I was on the edge of getting hired... and then, you know, stuff. I’ve seen and heard a lot about virtual career fairs but am yet to attend one. Do you think they are worth it, and do you have any strategies surrounding them?” Amy, I’ll be honest, at first, my initial impression of virtual career fairs was that they felt like a pivot for companies that used to rely on in-person career fairs, and they just to keep themselves busy and active. That they weren’t focused on the participant getting value, either as an employer or candidate. But oh, how wrong I was. See I can admit it, I have flawed theories sometimes. Neither Ivan Drago or I am machines. Yes, that was a Rocky IV reference which is about 20 years past its relevancy date...but I love it so. Benefits of Virtual Career Fairs The data is in, more people attend virtual career fairs than in-person career fairs,

Sports Business Leadership with Zach Maurides, CEO and Founder TEAMWORKS Apr 01, 2021

Hey everybody, I am Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast... In the sports world we are all accustomed to being led by a coach. From early tee-ball or youth soccer to more intense high school competitions or club teams and then for some of us college – we are all accustomed to the coach archetype. As I say that, your first thoughts may go to a vision of a stern-faced sideline warrior, fussing and cussing at their horde of athletes. This is the common perception. Bob Knight. Lou Piniella. Mike Ditka. Bear Bryant. Notice something in that list – they are all bygones. Think for a second about the most important coaches of our era – Nick Saban, Bill Belichick, Gregg Popovich, Joe Maddon, Cheryl Reeve -- they are not the fire and brimstone types, sure they get upset and have human emotions, but they are teachers and leaders first. Today’s successful coaches are quite different than traditional bosses you may see in the workplace. This is one place where sports are ahead of other industries. Traditional workplace bosses master a particular skill, then up level to controlling others who are utilizing the skill. For example, a great salesperson will eventually be promoted to Sales manager. A wonderful software engineer gets promoted to managing other programmers. But successfully completing tasks, as they did as an individual contributor themselves, is different than leading. Which is why many traditional bosses can tend to be transactional vs. Transformational. In business your boss may want you to give orders, a list of transactional items to complete, to work harder, to dedicate more time and effort. Successful coaches on the other hand, teach the craft, empower, show how to work smarter not harder, focus on technique and approach to benefit the performance, and lean heavily on the broader team mission of success. Coaches teach. Bosses tell. The Atlantic Magazine highlighted the extrovert bias in corporate culture, concluding that aggressive outspoken business leaders are more highly compensated and promoted. But the science is quite clear on this – empowering your direct reports, in sports or in business, is motivating, builds confidence and enhances performance. Authoritarian demands, being aggressive and loud, may garner attention, but they don’t work. These techniques don’t develop cooperative and competitive teams. I lean towards Gregg Popovich’s view on this. “Competitive character people don’t want to be manipulated. That is what the leader that hoots and hollers is doing – manipulating, not coaching. Empowering athletes provides a psychological boost and a mental edge at the most important moments.” When today’s guest Zach Maurides was playing college ball at Duke as a 6’6” 290 lbs. Offensive Lineman he played for four offensive coordinators, three position coaches and two head coaches. He was exposed to different leaders and leadership styles, and from that, came to his own conclusions of what it meant to be a leader in today’s world. When he started TeamWorks, the athlete engagement platform that is currently used by over 100 professional sports teams, 250 NCAA d1 collegiate programs and over 2,000 D1 teams, he knew to find real success and to grow his company, he needed to lead like a coach, not like a boss. Which includes some fire you up, run-through-a-wall moments, which will emerge momentarily – here is Zach Maurides founder and CEO of TeamWorks... Questions for Zach Maurides, CEO and Founder TeamWorks 1: Zach very excited for this conversation, thanks for joining me. I’m a strong believer that the best innovation comes from those who live with and experience a problem first-hand that needs solving. So… let’s start back at your “problem facing” days. Back in the early 2000’s you were an offensive lineman at Duke,

A Strategy for Managing Multiple Job Offers Mar 29, 2021

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast… Some big news before we get into the stat line and today’s question... As some of you may have read -- WorkInSports has been acquired by iHire. Now, before panic ensues, this was not a hostile takeover like in the movies. We wanted this, we angled for this, we pushed for this! iHire is an awesome company one we have long admired, In fact, our CEO and their CEO are good friends even before this deal. I’ll cut to the chase and oversimplify this whole process -- they have way, way, way more resources than we do, which means we can and will do more to help sports job seekers and sports employers. The tools and advantages of this deal will be explained in the months to come as we work through the integration process. I’ll be adding some quick segments to future shows to introduce you to new iHire/WIS tools aimed to help you land your dream job or hire your next great employee. If your organization wants help with their hiring -- call me. We will be set up to help you dominate more efficiently. If you have questions about stuff like this or for the Monday podcasts -- hit me up. I’m available in all sorts of ways --- there is LinkedIn, connect with me there. We have a private Facebook group for this here podcast -- you can connect with me there. And my email still works and will forever. FYI -- this podcast will grow. Our new team is highly committed to its growth and reach, which fires me up, so don’t worry about that. I’m still here. In fact, I’m already strategizing another career advice related podcast -- so if you have ideas on what you’d like from another career focused podcast. Speak! Time for the Stat Line! This is a massive week. Get excited. 1: 23,018 total jobs on WorkInSports.com--- I saw a competitor in the sports job board space brag all over social about how they bested 2,000 sports jobs. Who hoo pat yourselves on the back. We have 23,000. Reminder: sports jobs aren’t just with teams. Red Bull, Entercom, NBC Sports, Fanatics -- we have them all. 2: 3562 -- I started tracking this data for the stat line back in September of 2020 -- this is the highest number of weekly ads to the job board since I started tracking. 3,562 new opportunities added this week alone. Not every one will be a match for you -- but chances are you can find your match one WorkInSports.com. 3: Little quick math -- that is 509 sports jobs, fresh opportunities, added every day of the week, on average. First time over 500 jobs daily -- that’s awesome. Jobs, jobs, jobs! Here are three cool jobs added this week to the job board Job #1 Head of Corporate DEI - The Athletic The Athletic is searching for a Head of Corporate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to develop and execute on The Athletic's efforts towards diversifying our corporate team. The ideal candidate is a strategic, operations-oriented thinker that can successfully execute on existing strategies, as well as recommend, advocate for, and implement new solutions that support the company's DEI goals. This individual will work alongside the Newsroom DEI Director and will partner closely with the People, Talent, and Finance Teams, as well as liaise with Executive Leadership and employee-led groups to achieve a broad scope of objectives. Job #2 https://www.workinsports.com/search-jobs/view/3step-sports,-llc?id=538289 Marketing Coordinator - 3STEP Sports 3STEP Sports in Wilmington, MA is the largest youth sport event and club operator in the nation. Established in 2001, 3STEP operates more than 1,100 events and dozens of club programs for athletes ages 8-18 spanning 40+ states and across seven sports. We are looking for a Marketing Coordinator with prior sports content creation and marketing experience. A candidate who can have professional communication with clients while workin...

A Human-Centered Approach to Sports Business, Benny Tran, LAFC Mar 24, 2021

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast… What would you do if someone asked you to build a new pro sports brand from the ground up, AND build a new stadium in LA? Your budget is 350 million -- go! Me? I’d probably roll up in the fetal position and cry myself to sleep. This is a massive undertaking. Wrong steps have enormous ramifications. And I am known for my wrong steps, it’s part of my charm. You can’t do over a brand, it is a living breathing thing that gets established then takes on a life of its own through the local community and sports ecosystem. You can’t wing it on a stadium build, there are layers and layers of decisions that will have an impact felt for decades. Benny Tran, EVP of Corporate Strategy and Operations for LAFC is the mind behind these monumentally important aspects I’ve outlined for you. When you hear Benny explain it, as you are about to, it seems like a calm walk in the park. He is so even-keeled -- methodical, pragmatic -- but also gives off this vibe like he has his arms around everything just fine. Me I feel like I’m constantly sticking my fingers in holes, Benny just has a different air about him. Can you tell I admire this guy? Maybe it’s because in his life prior to sports, he worked on global initiatives like HIV/AIDS treatment in Southeast Asia, national health strategies and climate action. When you have your hands in issues of this magnitude, what’s getting a stadium built? There is a lot in this conversation -- from business intelligence, facility management, brand identity, community involvement, the importance oof daily workers and more. Here’s Benny Tran, buckle up. Watch Benny Tran on the Work In Sports Podcast https://youtu.be/JyYpreggcd4 Questions for Benny Tran, EVP Corporate Strategy and Operations LAFC 1: Undergrad at Emory majoring in Middle Eastern Studies and Arabic, MPA in public policy from Princeton, over a decade with the Clinton Foundation working on climate initiatives and Clinton Health Access Initiative – anything was in reach for you at any moment, so why sports? Why was being a part of the LAFC story the right move for you? 2: October 30th 2014, MLS awards a new expansion club to Los Angeles after Chivas USA dissolved. You were hired a month later in December 2014 to be the SVP of Corporate Strategy and Development – early on, with so much to do, does it feel like trying to boil the ocean? How do you even start to prioritize and focus? 3: Much of your background, prior to sports, was in international development. As you set forth to build a cutting-edge stadium in Los Angeles that would not only represent the city and the LAFC brand, but also employ thousands of people and open up the community – which proved harder your work in building public health infrastructure to treat people living with HIV/AIDS in SE Asia or getting a stadium built in LA? 4: I was reading through the stats of Banc of California stadium and I found myself saying “that’s cool” or “what a cool idea!” a lot. Every seat is within 135 ft of the pitch, it is an LEED silver certified stadium, over 1,800 full-time jobs created… As you consider all you and the LAFC team accomplished with this new organization and stadium in LA – what are you proudest of? 5: As you’ve watched this team develop from the beginning to what it is now, how much of an impact has it had on the local community? And is that something that doesn’t get talked about enough in sports, the positive local impact? 6: Peter Guber owner and executive chairman of LAFC told the LA Times a few years back “When you build an organization, you build a culture, culture is your business plan.” What does that mean to you, “culture is your business plan?” 7: The pandemic has affected sports in a myriad of ways, but one issue we don’t talk about enough are the daily...

How to Prepare for a Second Job Interview Mar 22, 2021

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the WorkInSports podcast… Before we get into the stat line and today’s awesome question -- twoo upcoming guests I want to highlight. Last week I interviewed Benny Tran, EVP of Corporate Strategy and Operations at LAFC. Benny came from a world outside of sports, he has a background in public policy getting his Master’s from Princeton. He worked internationally for the Clinton Foundation battling climate change and global health initiatives. The dude is a genius. I don’t think I’ve been more intimidated for an interview, I was so afraid to say something stupid. Benny is an absolute delight my fears were unfounded. When Benny came to LAFC his big role was building the LAFC brand through the community, and what is now known as Banc of California Stadium in LA. Our discussion on the process and priorities of stadium construction and community involvement is fascinating. That will air Wednesday March 24th. And, today I also interviewed Zach Maurides, founder and CEO of Teamworks. If you are a student-athlete you likely know about Teamworks. They work with over 100 professional teams, from the Boston Red Sox to the San Francisco 49ers. And 250 D1 college programs, from Alabama to Stony Brook. Teamworks is the leading ATHLETE ENGAGEMENT platform, built by athletes, for athletes. Their software and app make everything easier for elite athletic teams – from scheduling and communication, to sharing files and managing travel. I am fired up to speak with Zach, who developed Teamworks as an undergrad Offensive Lineman at Duke. He’s an athlete, building products for athletes. And it’s awesome. Check that out...next week. Today’s question is from Neera in Illinois, Hi Brian, good news I had an awesome first interview with a sports company I really want to work for. I used so much of your advice and it really guided me through the process and gave me confidence. I researched, I reviewed my skills and accomplishments, I came up with stories to share that exemplified my soft skills,....basically, I channeled you and it worked, I got asked back for a second interview.So with that in mind, what should I do now?! Is it a totally different experience from the second job interview? Watch The Video! Second Job Interview Tips: https://youtu.be/-LWIrXug6sY Neera great great question! And congratulations Let’s get into it. (For more insights listen to the Work in Sports podcast episode or watch the Youtube video!) 1: Frame your mind that if you were competing with 25 people before, now it’s like 10. That’s a good thing. 2: You’ll meet with more decision-makers, different people, a cross-section of the business. 3: Lean into what worked during interview #1 4: Expect some repeats -- new people but similar questions from a different voice. 5: What did you learn from your interview about them? Company mission, goals, future plans? Lean into those to frame your answers and how you fit strategically. 6: Expect the questions to be aligned with how you will impact the business if you are hired -- the questions will be more forward-thinking vs. investigating who the heck you are. So instead of, tell me about a time when you had to overcome an objection, it’ll be more like, "What would you expect to accomplish in your first few months on the job?" Or, "what do you think makes you a good fit for this role?" They want to see your vision for yourself, how you fit and how aggressive you are. Better to overpromise here and show enthusiasm. Be confident. 7: Expect salary to come up 8: Have lots of questions

Career Advice from the Outside In Mar 17, 2021

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work in Sports Podcast… This episode is about expansion. We in the sports industry so often out on our blinders and only think about sports. We tell ourselves it is so different than everything else out there, we are unique. Truth is, in some places we are, in others we are quite typical. A scout, a coach, an athletic trainer -- sure these are careers you only find in sports, but the vast majority of opportunities out there are bound by the same business and economic restrictions as every other industry. Finance, event management, operations, marketing, human resources, public relations, sales, these are all common roles in sports, and in every other industry in the world. So we’re taking off the blinders today and speaking with someone, clutch your pearls… outside of sports, GASP! Fawn Germer is a 9-time author, including multiple best sellers and Hard Won Wisdom, which Oprah herself recommends, and even if in sports “Oprah recommends…” doesn’t carry as much weight as say “Chris Berman recommends...” it’s still pretty amazing. She’s also been nominated for the Pulitzer Prize in investigative journalism 4 times -- that’s dope. Her latest book is titled Coming Back, How to Win the Job You Want, When You’ve Lost the Job You Need -- is really really good. We’re talking actionable career-focused content… right now with Fawn Germer… Questions for Fawn Germer, Best-Selling Author 1: There is a tactical discussion for us to have, the nuts and bolts of how our audience can thrive in the messed-up environment we call modern day life, but there are also broader strategies and mindsets that everyone can and should employ – let’s start there. Sound good? I, like you, speak to a lot of entrepreneurs and executives, and one thing that always sticks out to me is their wholehearted belief in themselves and their vision. They see why things can and should work and go after them fearlessly, rather than being consumed and stalled by self-doubt. Why don’t more of us embody that attitude? What is it that holds us back? 2: From your myriad of interviews and discussions with industry leaders, presidents, prime ministers – are there certain traits or attributes that stick out to you? And if so, how can the people listening apply these mindsets to their lives? 3: I read in your bio where you said “Life is all about our obstacles. They hold our greatest opportunities for success and growth, but we do have to earn them.” Can you go deeper there – what do you mean by ‘earning your obstacles’ and how does that lead to success and growth? 4: Confidence is not a constant. We all have times where we feel indestructible, ready to take on the world, and then things happen, life happens, and we get damaged. Our psyche isn’t as impenetrable. Right now, this is a reality for so many people. They had a job, they loved their job, now it’s gone. The spiral takes over – they read unemployment numbers, they hear competition is high for jobs, the bills pile up – it’s not enough to tell them “this too shall pass” --- what should they focus on to get through these crises of confidence that can weigh them down? 5: In sports we often define coaches one of two ways, they are the tough as nails, hard driving, tough love, in your face type …or they are the player focused coach, they laugh a little more, treat the players as equals, pat them on the back when they fall down type. You teach, you coach, what is your approach to getting through and motivating people to take action? 6: Congratulations on your latest book, COMING BACK: How to Win the Job You Want When You've Lost the Job You Need it’s a great read no matter where you are in your career journey. I like to share actionable advice on this show, I want listeners to learn and do things, not just hear me preach in abstract manner.

Want a Job in Sports? Here is Your Career-Focused Strategy Mar 15, 2021

Hey Everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast … Daylight savings! A love-hate relationship here -- loved the fact the sun was out at 7:15 last night. Hated the fact my kid’s sleep schedule was a mess. Anyone who is a parent knows this dilemma, it takes a week for your kids to normalize to the change, and it is a painful week. Consider yourself forewarned all you youngsters. Old people problems here. If you missed it, last week’s podcast episode with Allison Bickford is a big hit. The people have spoken and they love the Seattle Kraken and Allison Bickford. Lots of great career insight and so much fun so check that out. I also come asking a favor, subscribe to our YouTube channel. I made it my goal to be super aggressive with video in 2021 and I want more of your to subscribe to our channel so my bosses don’t think my time spent in front of the camera is a waste. I like crafting videos, please make it worth my while. Subscribe! I think I’m supposed to say “smash that subscribe button and don’t forget to hit the bell so you are notified when new videos are posted!” I’m kind of joking here on the YouTuber techniques… but you get the idea, would love to have you watching and listening. Ok let’s get into today’s question… Hi Brian, my name is Joanna and I am a college freshman who was introduced to your podcast this year by one of my professors. I love it. I have learned so much. Funny story, I swear my professor takes your ideas and talks about them in the classroom like they are his...I think he forgets that he told us all to listen to your show.I do have a question though, and I hope you can get to it. As I mentioned I am a freshman, and since I’m paying for my college I want to make sure I get the most out of this experience. If you were going to set a strategy for a freshman in college to make sure they get the most out of the college experience and really, really really make the most of their 4 years - what would you advise I focus on? Joanna - this is a big question. You’re in luck, I love big questions! https://youtu.be/KdNeA8jk3rI I have 6 big concepts, lets get into them. 1: During your freshman year start to narrow down your main focuses and interests. Just saying you want to work in sports isn’t specific enough, and doesn’t set you up for success. You need to start right now, understanding what real options are out there and the demands of those roles. The choices you make to be an athletic trainer vs. a sports marketer will be incredibly different. Unless you know what you want, you won’t be able to make smart choices based on where you want to end up. Ideally, by the end of your sophomore year you’ll be able to say, OK, I want to work in sports marketing or sports operations, or sports technology, or become a sports agent. Right now, start researching and understanding what is out there. See what interests you. But by the time you hit junior year you want to be choosing internships that match your goals, you want to be choosing specific classes that fit the skill profile for who you want to be, you want to start being strategic about what additional skills you learn. Research freshman year. Clarity by end of sophomore year. Actions are taken by junior year. 2: Make a plan for experience. Again this is contingent on knowing what you want to pursue. So start there. But really, Joanna if you look at your resume right now, I imagine as a freshman it’s pretty light. I know my freshman year of college my resume would have said “Golf Caddy” and that would not get me hired anywhere...except to be a golf caddy somewhere else. Your goal is to gain experiences that fill up that resume and match the demands of your chosen path. You should have a mix of internship experiences, skills you have mastered, clubs you are part of, volunteer opportunities, and more.

A Pro Sports Startup in Seattle with Allison Bickford, Seattle Kraken Mar 10, 2021

Hey Everybody I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkinSports.com and this is the WorkInSports podcast… The idea of a sports startup isn’t exactly new, there a fledgling agencies, marketing companies, tech companies all popping up throughout the year. But what about a professional sports team that functions like a startup? The Seattle Kraken -- and yes, I’ll be saying that name as often as possible over the next 45 minutes because I love it -- are the latest darling of the NHL and the entire Pacific Northwest. But let’s digest that for a second. December 2018, the NHL approves a proposal to grant Seattle an expansion NHL franchise In any normal situation, it’s a mad dash to the start of the first season. There are stadium renovations to complete, staffs to hire, teams to draft - and that is barely scratching the surface of all the needs to be done. It is the beginning of a franchise story. A startup business. Brand new, everyone figuring out through some levels of trial and error what will work and what doesn’t. Now, for an NHL franchise like the Kraken, they are gathering the best, most experienced talent from around the world as part of their spunky little startup, so it is a little different than a new tech company like say last week’s guest Eric Stark began with Slate. But, beginning something new is a huge challenge, and now layer in doing that during a pandemic. Today’s guest Allison Bickford, Director of Corporate Partnership Activation has been with the Kraken since August 2019...but has yet to meet many if not most of her fellow co-workers outside of zoom. Is operating in a new city, without the ability to really go look around and see the area. These are the challenges we deal with right now, and, at least in theory, make us stronger. So buckle up -- we’re talking Corporate Partnerships, #Startup mentality, Pacific Northwest excitement, and more with Allison Bickford! Prefer to watch? Here is the full Work In Sports VODCAST episode with Allison Bickford, Seattle Kraken https://youtu.be/zfZr4Qzbm-o Questions for Allison Bickford, Seattle Kraken Director of Corporate Partnership Activation 1: A few weeks back a fan of the show wrote in saying, “you need to have a guest on from the Seattle Kraken” …Allison Bickford, you are that guest! Welcome! I lived in Seattle for 10 years and it was during the time the Sonics left town. Seattle is a great sports town, and the people were heartbroken then. Now, there is a palpable excitement people are thrilled to have hockey coming to the Northwest – what has the energy and excitement been like for you? 2: Let’s talk about your role – Director of Corporate Partnership Activation – sounds fancy, tell us a little more about what it means to be in your role, your primary focuses and what you love… 3: Would you consider Corporate Partnership Activation more of a sales type role? More customer service? Marketing? How do you identify yourself when you explain it to people outside of sports? 4: How did you land here, in this career path? I think so many in our audience struggle to identify their proper fit, or path, so how did you land in this area of focus in the sports industry? 5: You are working with a bevy of corporations as they come on as new partners and make sure they have a successful relationship with the team – how would you weigh the importance of relationship building and communication vs. coming up with new creative ideas, or broader strategies? 6: You are still months away from acquiring players and truly forming a team… at this stage and for your role, how important was it to get the name and brand out there AND have it be as cool as the Kraken? 7: When I first got into the sports broadcast media, I stopped being able to watch TV the same way. All I saw was edits and techniques and cuts and effects everywhere I looked. It drove my wife nuts.

To Apply, or Not to Apply? That is the Job Seekers Question Mar 08, 2021

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast… Thanks for joining me this lovely Monday, that’s not even sarcasm, the sun is out daylight saving is around the corner, I’m feeling lovely. Quick confession before we get into the stat line and today’s question… for those of you watching on our YouTube channel, and it would be great if you all subscribed to our youtube channel at Work In Sports, it makes my bosses proud of me, but if you are watching on our youtube channel, you may notice a very different look to my set. So the confession. I had this weird dream a couple of weeks back that was inundated with a look, a vibe, a feel. And I tried to translate that into a new set design. After I completed it last night, I realized it may have been a nightmare, I’m not sure it’s working. But the idea was this -- when I used to live in the city, Atlanta first and then Seattle, I loved the look of light poles covered with overlapping concert flyers, record releases, announcements. You get this chaotic mass of colors and shapes and disarray that was kind of beautiful. So, I decided to re-paint my walls with black chalkboard paint, buy an assortment of picture frames and about 1,000 stickers. Most are sports-related, but some are superheroes, nature, and other stuff I’m into. And on the frames behind me, you’ll see the result -- it looks pretty graphic and cool -- but I’m not sure about the black walls. Overall, I was feeling like you see the same zoom backdrop about 100 times a day and I just wanted to make something that was really different. So if you don’t mind -- check it out on our youtube channel, and let me know if you think it is cool, ridiculous, or something in between. I’m not a graphic or interior designer -- but I do listen to my dreams and it kind of inspired me. I will add -- my 13-year-old daughter is an amazing artist and is going to do some artwork on the chalkboard, then we’re going to layer the frames over it -- so you get an almost graffiti look behind. So we’ll see if this is insane, or insanely cool. Watch the Work In Sports VODCAST: https://youtu.be/vsQNOZD1X5o A second quick note before the stat line -- big thanks to Ron Robert Jr and Jeff Fellenzer for inviting me to be a part of their Sports Industry Showcase event, 39 speakers over many industry-focused panels, of which I played a small, but vocal, you know me I don’t hold back, part. Really great session -- lots of incredible students, many of which I have already started to speak with and engage -- I’m looking at you Mayan, Johnpaul, Jennifer, Leyla, Sarah, Caroline, Luke, Jonathan, Lynne, and Kennedy -- you guys and gals are rockstars. Ok, let’s get to the stat line…. 1: 22324 2: 3168 3: 453 Three cool jobs posted this week: Summer Camp Soccer or Baseball or Golf Director -- Camp Westmont https://www.workinsports.com/search-jobs/view/camp-westmont?id=504894 Camp Westmont, a co-ed traditional sleep-away camp in the Pocono Mountains of Northeast Pennsylvania, is currently looking for qualified, experienced, energetic individuals to teach and run our Soccer program. Competitive salary, room, board, three meals a day, and laundry service are included. This would no doubt be the best summer of your life! With how crappy the last year has been, can’t we just look forward to summer camp and laundry service? On a serious note, if you want to work with kids, community relations, non-profits -- this is also a great experience. Job #2: Athletic Trainer for the North Texas Bulls Baseball Organization https://www.workinsports.com/search-jobs/view/north-texas-bulls?id=523657 Lots of people in this audience are not sports management majors, they may be kinesiology or exercise science -- and in pursuit of jobs as trainers, etc. I talk a lot about starting out in small college athletic programs to bui...

Maximizing Social Media in Sports with Eric Stark, Slate Co-founder Mar 03, 2021

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the WorkInSports Podcast... “It is one thing to have a good idea, and quite another to turn it into a reality…” This thought kept bouncing around my head last week as I prepared to interview today’s guest Eric Stark, co-founder of Slate, a sports and entertainment social media tool that we’ll be talking a lot about. We’ve all had jobs where we identified issues. A problem with a workflow, an inefficient tech solution, a supply chain issue. This moment of discovery doesn’t make us unique, we all see problems that need solving all around us. Awareness is common. The better question is, what do you do with this information? As I see it there are two distinct paths. Complain or solve. This isn’t me being preachy, and simplifying issues down to a right way and a wrong way, and shaming you all for not picking the right way enough. Let’s be clear, I have done my share of complaining over the years. Loudly, so everyone in the back could hear me. This is a normal part of the human condition. We don’t always know how to fix things, so sometimes we complain to motivate others with the power to fix things to take action. Am I right? Sound familiar? When I was a production assistant, I would complain about our editing system loud enough for the boss to hear, in hopes she would do something. It was like a cry for help. Not exactly mature or professional, but I was young and trying to affect change in the way I knew how. But you know what impresses me? Someone who identifies a problem, and then has the entrepreneurial ambition to solve it… like legit, create a solution. So let’s get into this Eric Stark story -- Eric worked in the NFL for 7 years, digital account coordinator with the league, digital media manager with the Chiefs, digital and social media strategist with the Niners, then back to the league offices to be the Director of International marketing and content strategy. Career path, on the rise. But during this journey in the digital and content space, Eric found many problems with the process. Getting social media moments out to the audience fast, and with proper branding had a lot of friction points. It took too long and involved too many people. All kinds of areas for failure. He didn’t complain, well maybe he did at some point I can’t confirm or deny, but that doesn’t fit my story right now, we’ll stick with he didn’t complain… he set out to fix. He began developing his own solution to sports social media process friction, with 3 co-founders, his squad, which resulted in Slate. Now, as I stated earlier in this intro, it one thing to have an idea, and quite another to execute it well and turn it into a reality. Eric and his team identified a problem, solved it, and now have teams like the Golden State Warriors, Denver Broncos, NYCFC, Premier Lacrosse League, Atlanta Falcons, ole Miss, and many more using their product in their social media efforts. That’s the overview, now let’s jump into the details with Eric Stark, COO and Co-Founder of Slate… (this is the point you listen to the podcast) Prefer to Watch? Here is the Video Episode of Maximizing Social Media in Sports with Eric Stark, Co-Founder of Slate: https://youtu.be/BWQpZfCBZF4 Questions for Eric Stark, Co-Founder & COO, Slate 1: After graduating from UC-Santa Barbara you’ve worked for the Kansas City Chiefs, the San Francisco 49ers and the NFL league offices. You were the Director of International Marketing and Content Strategy for the NFL – a dream job for many -- and you said to yourself, let’s go the entrepreneur route and start a business from scratch. Simple question, are you insane? 2: We’re going to get into Slate a lot, I want to learn about it and explore the process of creating it – but let’s go back to that beginning for a second.

How to Practice for Your Next Job Interview Mar 01, 2021

Hey everybody I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast. A couple of quick shout-outs to my people before we get into things, if you are watching on our YouTube Channel -- and you should -- you can see that I am representing a very cool Bismarck Larks t-shirt sent in by friend of the show Joe Zollo. Joe recently landed a job with the Larks as a fan engagement coordinator - I am now a fan of the Larks, and you have engaged me, Joe, so you are off to a really good start. Since I’m a t-shirt guy -- this will be in heavy rotation -- thank you Joe! And a second shout out to my guy Scott McDonald. I’ve gotten to know Scott through this show over the last couple of years, an incredible dude working with the Atlanta Gladiators of the ECHL, and he sent me this amazing bobblehead. For those of you not watching on our YouTube channel it is a Gladiators goalie, but with a Dia De Los Muertos style skull as the bobblehead. I love this style of artwork, and Scott sent me one which was super cool -- this will live next to Lebron’s bobblehead which is from his first game ever. If NBA top shot highlights are worth something...how about a bobblehead from Lebron’s first career game?! Anyway thank you Scott and Joe -- I don’t like to ask for gifts, but if you want me to rep your team on a show -- I won’t say no to a t-shirt -- men’s large, thanks. Ok let’s hit the stat line… Three stats for this week to get an idea of where we sit as a sport industry #1: 21,269 the total number of jobs on WorkInSports.com -- the leading job board for the sports industry -- up 2.8% from last week and approaching our ALL-TIME high. #2: 2,669 jobs added since last week - that’s up 11% from last week -- #3 and that is an average of 381 jobs added each day of the week on average. I have a theme for this week’s three jobs… In September 2020 when you conducted a search on WorkInSports.com for the keyword sales, you know how many jobs came up? 630. Makes sense based on market conditions, but this is way way way below normal. Guess where we are in March 2021 - 5 months later -- when you enter the keyword sales and conduct a search that way, meaning sales are in the job title or job description the total on WorkInSports.com - the leading job board for the sports industry ---- drum roll ---- 8,762. We’re back baby. Sales jobs are so important to sports. This feels like we have really rounded a huge corner in our industry so let’s focus on three cool jobs...in sports sales: #1: Texas Motor Speedway -- Ticket Sales Account Executive https://www.workinsports.com/search-jobs/view/texas-motor-speedway?id=522363 Texas Motor Speedway is seeking a positive and motivated individual to produce revenue for the company through a variety of inbound and outbound sales efforts. Damn right they are. Knowledge Skills and Abilities: #2 Cincinnatti Bengals Digital Sales and Marketing Coordinator https://www.workinsports.com/search-jobs/view/cincinnati-bengals?id=522975 The primary focus of this position will be to oversee all aspects of the online ticket purchase experience for the Cincinnati Bengals. This individual will be responsible for building and optimizing a customer journey that maximizes page views, clicks and conversions across our website and app. Driving incremental revenue, lead generation and increasing fan engagement are all key metrics to success in this role. #3 TopGolf Sales Account manager https://www.workinsports.com/search-jobs/view/topgolf?id=494233 The sales Account Manager (AM) is responsible for selling the exciting experience of Topgolf primarily through contracted events. The primary event market of focus for AM will be corporate clients which the AM will work directly with to build their perfect event. The AM will also assist with social market bookings as demand dictates in accordance with the company's ...

SportsBiz Hiring Plans for 2021 with Mark Gress Jr. Partner, Prodigy Search Feb 24, 2021

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast. A few years back I was watching a pretty lame movie with Bradley Cooper and Zoe Saldana called The Words. It was predictable, kind of boring, not as interesting as they thought it would be on paper… but there was one moment in it that stuck out to me. You see, I’m that kind of guy that tries to find one piece of value in every moment. One thing you can learn, one thing that changes your perception. Despite this movie receiving, and truly earning, a 24% on Rotten Tomatoes, I still had to find some value in the experience. In this movie, Bradley Cooper is a writer, I won’t get into the details, but in one scene he says “this is my reading day”, meaning, to be a good writer, he needs to read what else is out there. Often. I've kind of adopted his philosophy at that time. I don’t spend an entire day reading, but I do dedicate an hour of every workday to reading what is out there -- long-form pieces relating to the sports industry, data studies, content techniques -- I like being a continuous learner and being open to knowledge. You never know where you’ll find incredible little nuggets of information. For example, I was reading this morning about how Yale is going to offer their most popular online course, titled “Psychology and the Good Life” which presents a scientific explanation of happiness, to 500 low-income high school students for free. A feel-good story, right? Nice way to start the morning. Well, the more you read the more interesting the gets. Near the bottom it says something very relevant to my ears: The course -- which was developed in partnership with the University of Connecticut and the National Education Equity Lab with support from the Arthur M. Blank Foundation -- will "present students with scientifically validated strategies for living a more satisfying life and examine what psychological science shows about how to be happier, how to feel less stressed, and how to flourish more," according to the university. The unexpected nugget -- Arthur Blank Foundation. Arthur Blank, owner of the Atlanta Falcons, making a difference in the lives of people. Maybe that changes my perception of billionaire owners, maybe it changes yours, it’s definitely a little nugget of information wrapped up in a story where I wasn’t expecting it. Good for you Artie! Another unexpected nugget in the past few weeks was an extremely informative survey and data report put out by our friends at Prodigy Search, leaders in sports recruiting -- and published in the Sports Business Journal. The team at Prodigy Search conducted a 23 question survey – comprised of chief people officers, human resources and talent acquisition executives, COOs or chief administrative officers at nearly 200 major league teams, league offices, agencies, venue and event operators to discover their feelings about how their respective organizations had handled staffing during the past year and what some of their plans are for the future. It was fascinating and I’ll link to it in the show notes of this episode. But it also inspired me to book today’s guest, Mark Gress Jr., Partner at Prodigy Search to discuss sports hiring trends in 2021 and their survey results -- here is my friend, Mark Gress Jr. A Few Select Clips from the Work In Sports podcast with Mark Gress Jr., Partner, Prodigy Search: Mark shared a lot of perspective on the recent survey conducted by hand his team at Prodigy, in this clip we discuss one surprising and upsetting response: https://youtu.be/RumjDlTPBI0 Mark Gress Jr. Partner at Prodigy Search shares insight into sports leagues and organizations that are thriving right now despite the pandemic: https://youtu.be/IfbSUa9ILYY Mark Gress Jr. Partner at Prodigy Search shares his thoughts on what it will take for entry-level sports job seekers to get hired in...

Trends for Sports Business in 2021 and Beyond Feb 22, 2021

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast… A couple of quick housekeeping notes before we get into it today - sorry I missed last week’s episode, it was President’s day, which is technically a day off, but I would still usually create a podcast episode. Truth is, I didn’t have any fan questions that were really jiving with me, and it was snowing...so I had an epic snowball fight with my kids instead. Call me selfish -- I call it having balance. With that said our Monday episodes thrive off of your questions - I’m here to answer what you need and want to know about working in the sports industry so please send me your questions -- bclapp at workinsports.com -- that’s my direct email, don’t abuse it. Or you can message me on Linkedin, DM @workinsports on Twitter -- I will get your questions! BTW - a side note if anyone out there is connected to Twitter support, our account was hacked in November, and our 25k followers stolen. Seriously, it still makes me want to cry - 10 years of work down the drain. We’ve filled out countless forms, I’ve reached out to multiple people in the industry, a couple of contacts at Twitter...nothing. No one is helping us. If you know anyone at Twitter who can help or have gone through this before -- this is my beg for help. I want our followers back. And last note before we get into the stat line -- the awesome guests keep coming. Coming up in the next few weeks --- Mark Gress Jr. Partner at Prodigy Search --- an incredible recruiting agency for the sports industry Dr. Bill Sutton -- Doc Sutton is one of the elite thought leaders in our industry and so many of my previous guests count him as a mentor. Alison Bickford - Director of Corporate Partnership Activation for the Seattle Kraken! Eric Stark - Co-founder of Slate, a content creation platform for real-time social media used by the Golden State Warriors, Premier Lacrosse League, Baltimore Ravens, Denver Broncos, NYCFC. The SEC -- amazing company, excited to talk to Eric And Fawn Germer - author of the book Coming Back! How to win the job you want when you’ve lost the job you need. INcredibly interesting lady… So we’ve got a pretty sweet line-up as we transition to Spring -- I say this with 2 ft of snow on the ground right now...Wishful thinking. Prefer to Watch the Work in Sports podcast? Here's this Week's Episode: https://youtu.be/b_9talAS2SE Ok, let’s jump to the Stat Line! Three statistics that’ll help you understand the current state of sports employment -- data provided by WorkInSports.com -- the leading job board for the sports industry… #1: 20680 -- up 3.6% #2: 2388 #3: 341 -- Let’s talk about three cool jobs that are fresh on our job board at WorkInSports.com - since we started doing this segment I’ve had a lot of people email me and say “wow, you talked about a job on the show and I applied for it right afterward, so cool!” To which I tell them, and you, we have 20,000 active sports jobs on workinsports.com -- if you think me picking out three a week is informative, think what you could accomplish with a premium membership! Ok - three jobs I like for this week: Event Manager - Pro Golf Hospitality - Octagon https://www2.workinsports.com/jobs/view/octagon?id=519789 We're looking for an engaging and energetic Event Manager to join our Events & Experiences team to support a brand new professional golf event in Las Vegas, NV. Now, I bring this job up for a few reasons -- sports isn’t a job it’s an industry -- there are jobs in sports that are common in all other industries, accounting, hr, operations, etc. But one of the things that make our industry unique is the events. And so many of you love this part of the sports industry, the energy, and passion that comes through at events. A job like this, with a huge and powerful organization like Octagon,

Global Partnership Activation with Jason Clerkin, Orlando Magic Feb 17, 2021

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast. Look, I hate to do the old…”I remember when I was kid…” start to a story, I hated it when others around me did this when I actually was a kid, and I hate doing it now. But, with all that qualification out of the way...I’m about to do it, so forgive me. Thanks. I think we all have moments where we graduate from being solely sports participants and fans to having a more broad appreciation of the business of sports. The first time I started to realize the entanglements between sports and business was as a little league youngster. No, it was not the sponsored names on the back of our jerseys from Valpak or Sylvester's restaurant. Rather the memory that vividly sticks out for me is the cheesy local ads created by the stars of my then-favorite team...the Boston Red Sox. I remember vividly watching Wade Boggs, before he became a traitor and went to the Yankees, reading an advertisement for Hood Ice Cream. He’s standing on the field, clearly reading from off-camera cue cards and telling everyone how they should eat more Hood ice cream and that if you came to an upcoming game, you’d get a free mini red sox baseball helmet sponsored by Hood. This was a lightbulb moment for me, and I wondered aloud how much extra ice cream was sold because of Wade Boggs telling kids like me to do so. I told my mom we had to buy Hood because Wade Boggs said so. Frankly, she didn’t give a crap about Wade Boggs, so she bought the store brand at Country Fare Star Market in Stow, Mass if you are wondering. I found myself paying more and more attention to this connection, this association, after that point. Dwight Evans endorsing local car dealerships, Jim Rice talking up OceanSpray juice box night. Brands have always sought out sports franchises to build their reputation, move more products and grow awareness of their brand. These mutually beneficial partnerships between brands and sports have done nothing but grow since my halcyon days. The revenue of the North American sports sponsorship market was estimated at approximately 17 billion dollars in 2018 and is expected to grow to over 20 billion U.S. dollars by 2022. This figure, in 2018, accounts for around 70 percent of the total sponsorship market. So that means, sports partnerships comprised the vast majority of the sponsorship market -- far more than entertainment, causes, the arts, festivals, fairs and annual events. Sponsorships are activated today in far more robust ways -- the advertisements have improved, but so have the in-stadium, social media, and digital marketing methodologies. The only limit is creativity. Notice, in the stats I referred to earlier - over 17 billion dollars of revenue was from the North American sports sponsorship market. The growth market, the exciting place to be right now in sports… is the global market. In 2018, global sponsorship spending was 65 billion dollars around 70% of which was spent in sports - so the total market for sports sponsorship across the globe, was around 45 billion dollars. Teams are investing in their global reach more than ever - and it’s a perfect relationship. Here to talk about the growth of global sports sponsorships is my man Jason Clerkin, the Orlando Magic’s Sr Manager Global Partnership Activation -- here’s Jason: Questions for Jason Clerkin, Orlando Magic Sr. Manager, Global Partnership Activation: 1: So excited to speak with you Jason – this has been a long time in the works! Let’s start a bit at the beginning and work our way up – undergrad at UCF in Sports Business Management – I’m pretty sure at that point you weren’t saying to yourself, I’m going to be the Sr. Mgr of Global Partnership Activation for an NBA team – you may not have even known what that was! So take us back a bit – what was the plan then,

Gabby Roe, Maestroe President – Work In Sports podcast Feb 10, 2021

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkinSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast… When I say cornhole, flag football, spikeball and breakdancing -- it probably sounds like the planning stage for an epic fourth of July party, right? Add in some axe throwing, a little karate combat and the party starts to get a little intense. The reality is, these competitive activities that are well-suited for a decked out summer affair, are taking the sports industry by storm. These aren’t fringe activities, they are high growth sports properties popping up around the globe, invested in by major brands, broadcast in prime slots and making their way into the Olympic Games. Yes, you heard that right, Olympic Games. We so often focus on the major sports and normalize them as standard. Hitting a little white ball with a club towards a hole 500 yards away seems normal, but tossing a bean bag toward a hole 24 ft apart is “fringe”. Bouncing a rubber bladder covered in leather, and throwing it into a basket at an arbitrary 10 ft height, is extremely normal... but tossing an axe into a wood block target 15 ft away seems strange. As today’s guest, Gabby Roe, President and Founder of Maestroe says “every sports was a crazy ass idea at one point.” Truer words have never been spoken. Roe himself is a little on the fringe. A highly competitive lacrosse player, he played professionally for the Philadelphia Wings in the National Lacrosse League, spent several years as a chief executive with the AVP professional Beach Volleyball circuit, and helped launch Major League Lacrosse. He’s always gravitated towards sports with upside. Slightly off the beaten path, but with the potential to be great. His company, Maestroe, focuses on these high-growth sports properties and assists them in all the various stages of their growth cycle -- sponsorships, venues, business planning, marketing, broadcast deals -- this is a fascinating discussion into a side of the sports industry we don’t often talk about. Here he is, Gabby Roe, President and founder of Maestroe... Questions for Gabby Roe, President and Founder of Maestroe: 1: I’ve read where you’ve described your company Maestro as a “growth engine for high-growth sports in various stages of their development.” On a podcast you get more time to expand and articulate, so tell us all – what is Maestro? 2: What led you down this path? Where did the intrigue for growing fringe sports come from? 3: Let’s define “growth” a little – are we talking revenue growth, or visibility growth? And even broader, do those require different approaches? 4: You played lacrosse at powerhouse University of Virginia and in the National Lacrosse League for the Philadelphia Wings back in the 80’s– what traits from your playing career have served you well in the business world? 5: For the various sports you work with, you and your team at Maestro have helped them secure sponsors like Uber, Monster Energy Drinks, Chipotle – massive brands. To make these deals, is it more important to know someone on the inside of the business and have a powerful network of connections – or is it about having a good story and connection to their brand? 6: What is it like when you get Chipotle on the phone and say, “I want to pitch you on being involved with the Pro Breakdancing tour?” is there ever a moment of self-doubt? 7: How important is data when you are in a pitch? I’d imagine these huge brands want to be convinced of their reach and impact, not just sold a cool story. 8: Are you able to take the knowledge you have working with one sport, like curling, and apply it to another growth project like ultimate frisbee? Are there techniques and knowledge that cross-over or is it complete different each time? 9: What about the audiences? Are there similarities across fringe sports, or are they completely different animals? 10: OK,

How to Show Off Your Skills on Your Resume – Work In Sports podcast Feb 08, 2021

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…First Super Bowl Monday in a long time that I’m not hungover, so thanks to that. Quick take before we get into the stat line, and today’s fan question. So far 42 emails, texts, and DM’s all asking me how I feel about Brady and Gronk winning a Super Bowl as non-Patriots. For those of you not in the know, I’m from Boston, a big Patriots fan, and a lover of all things Gronk. Well, not the GRONK branded football that doubles as a bluetooth speaker -- that was one of the dumbest inventions I’ve ever seen -- you’re playing music in your football, and then you throw it away from you… not well thought through. Don’t believe me -- search Gronkball on amazon. You’ll see what I’m talking about. It also proves review can be manipulated since it has a 4.4 out of 5. Seriously, a $90 football Bluetooth speaker with Gronk’s name on it. Off track. So how do I feel? Thrilled to be honest. Look, there is always context needed. I wanted the Pats to keep Brady for his entire career, but in a way that was selfish, and no one expected that to happen. From 2014-2019 the Patriots have had terrible draft classes. Terrible. This means their current roster is depleted of talent and depth. They were not built to win, even with Brady. If you go back and look at the 2018 season, there is no way that teams should have won a Super Bowl. They were 3-5 on the road that year, 11-5 overall, lacked any punch, looked old...and then dialed it up in the playoffs. 2019 - lack of talent, 12-4, incredibly weak schedule - lose in the wild card round vs the titans. This roster didn’t make sense to keep Brady. If you sign him to a multi-year deal, it delays the fact you really need to rebuild the roster from scratch… and you still aren’t good enough to really win. Brady makes you way better than Cam Newton, but not Super Bowl good. It made sense for him to move on. Both sides needed this. Forget all the tough love, personalities, and drama -- they were no longer made for each other from a football sense. As for Gronk - the Patriots tried to trade him to the Lions prior to the 2018 season, so they already sent the message they no longer valued him. He helped them win the 2018 super bowl and retires. Took a year off, a different team values him more than the Pats did, he could play in his comfort zone with Tom. Deal. Bottom line, I hold no grudge against either. I wish it would have worked out better -- but if the Pats had developed a better supporting team around Brady over the previous 5 seasons… it may have. If they still valued Gronk, it may have. This is just people making football decisions that make sense all around. In 100 years we’lll talk about Brady like we talk about Babe Ruth… and I got to see a whole hell of a lot of him playing. Pretty cool. Congrats Goat. Ok, the stat line… Three stats to keep you updated and in the know on sports employment -- provided by workinsports.com the leading job board for the sports industry. I’m also laying in pieces of advice and strategy for your job search throughout this segment so don’t you dare skip oover it. #1 -- 19,971 active sports jobs on WorkInSports.com -- now, I promised you last week we’d eclipse 20k, and we did earlier in the week, Right now we are at 19971 which is pretty flat week over week. And that includes a little over 300 active sports jobs in florida right now -- once you are done celebrating. #2 - WorkInSports.com added 2,828 sports jobs over the last week, which is pretty much flat... #3 But means we added 404 sports jobs on average every day of the last week -- that’s a lot of opportunity. OK, now three jobs that stood out for all the right reasons...to me. Job #1 Corporate Communications Coordinator for Harris Blitzer Sports and Entertainment -- if you are wondering who in the heck is Harris Blitze...

Philicia Douglas, New Orleans Saints & Pelicans Manager of Inside Sales Feb 03, 2021

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkinSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast… For the last year you’ve heard me talk about the decline in sales jobs in sports. This is not breaking news, rather an obvious reality based on all of us being in the grips of a global pandemic that restricts public gatherings. No tickets to sell, no suites to sell, no group packages, fewer sponsorships, less in-stadium marketing activations -- this result is clear. Revenue was lost. Lots of it. Jobs were furloughed, lots of them. Sales, as a sector of the industry, a dominant sector of the industry, was hit the hardest by far. But let’s put some numbers on that, rather than just logical conclusions. According to Team Marketing Report, a sports business intelligence firm, The Washington Football Team, it is estimated, lost 124 million dollars in unrealized game-day revenue. To put that in perspective, if you add up the 2020 contracts of Alex SmithLandon CollinsKendall Fuller Morgan MosesChase Young Arguably, their 5 best players, You get 63.8 million. They lost 124 million minimum. That was tops in the NFL, who TMR estimated lost 2.7 billion as a whole. Those calculations, that 124 million in game day revenue losses, does not include the hit to other revenue streams like suites leases, secondary market ticket sales, corporate sponsorships, media rights, non-NFL events, revenue sharing, off-site sales, licensing, or preseason and postseason money. The amount of revenue lost by sports teams is staggering. NBA - $694 million in unrecognized game day revenue MLB - $5.2 billion! 162 games cut down to 60 without fans… big hit. All of this is to say - as I tell my kids - save your money, you don’t know when things are going to turn upside down and you’ll need that buffer. Actually, what this is realy to say, although saving money is a good tip - is that it’s easy to see why sports jobs plummeted. BUT -- as Kali Franklin VP of HR at NYCFC said in last week’s podcast episode, a business that isn’t hiring talented people, isn’t growing. The sports industry is finding its footing and hiring again. We aren’t back to normal, far from it, but we are finding new ways to emerge. What is amazing to me, in the face of all these losses, is that so many of the businesses I have spoken to recently are proud of the fact that they didn't lay off any staff. Clearly many of you lost your jobs, I’ve heard from so many of your personally and I hurt for you, but let this be a marker in the moment -- hiring is coming back, numbers are on the rise, and teams, leagues, sports tech firms, sports websites, athlete marketers and more and hiring people like you. Back in November, I saw a LinkedIn post from today’s guest, Philici Douglas, Manager of Inside Sales for the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans, and it caught my eye. If you are a graduating senior or already graduated from college I want to get to know you! If you are looking to work in sales in sports I am going to begin hosting interviews for our Inside Sales Consultant positions. Book a time on my calendar below. Seeing this, not just the aggressive approach, but the hiring signal as if she was saying -- we’re open for business, was a light at the end of a pretty crappy tunnel. Right then I said -- let’s get her on the show! So here she is Philicia Douglas, Manager of inside Sales for the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans. Questions for Philicia Douglas, New Orleans Saints & Pelicans Manager of Inside Sales - Sports Sales Jobs: Yes, We're Hiring! 1: Let’s get into it! There is so much I want to get into with you on your career and how you got where you are, but let’s start in the now. 2020 was a mess. Sales jobs were a mess. But in December, I saw a glimmer of hope in the form of a linkedin post from you basically saying, “you want to work in sales? We’re hiring!”

Video Interviews: How to Approach the Sports Hiring Trend of 2021 Feb 01, 2021

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast… Welcome to February - it is snowing like mad here in Pennsylvania right now -- about 8 inches so far and another 10 expected today, so as you listen to this, picture me pushing a snowblower and shoveling, since that’s what I’ll likely be doing as you listen. I’ll likely be listening to someone else’s podcast as I do that because it would be weird if I listened to myself. Quick thanks to Grand Canyon University, University or Arkansas, University of Florida and University of Missouri - St Louis who have welcomed me into their classrooms over the past week to share career advice with their sports management students. Always a great thrill for me, seriously, I love speaking directly with the students and being able to answer their questions and provide help. If you are listening and you are a professor, don’t be shy, reach out. If you think I can provide value to your students, I want to help. As for content -- my speciality -- in January we busted out some amazing episodes - with a theme! Looking forward to hiring trends in the sports industry for 2021 -- Kali Franklin VP of HR at NYCFC, John Ferguson VP of People and Culture at Monumental Sports and Entertainment, Matt Resnick sports talent acquisition executive formerly at Madison Square Garden company … and we tossed in Nigel Eccles Co-founder of Fanduel, because, well, he’s Nigel Eccles. It’s a great month of content -- if you are new to the show, start there. Then, start looking for your targeted content. You want to work in sales? We have interviews there. Marketing, Partnership Activation, Scouting, Coaching, General Managers, Agents… you name it. We’ve got it. Alright -- before we get into today’s question, it’s time for the Stat Line - Meredith Johnson’s favorite segment. Ok, three stats, data pulls, information -- that will help you understand where we are as a sports industry, right now. We’re giving you context! Stat #1 - 19,896 active available sports jobs right now. We will pass 20,000 this week. Why is this an important benchmark? Because the last time we were over 20k jobs was in early March of 2020. When Covid first started to become a reality and change the sports world. This is huge progress, we are coming back, and that should get you energized for your search. Just to track january increases so far -- Week 1 - Sports job total jumped 8%Week 2 - Sports job total jumped 6.5%Week 3 - Sports job total jumped 4.7%Week 4 - Sports job total jumped 6.8% Total for the month of January, we at WorkInSports.com the leading job board for the sports industry, went from 15,573 active jobs...to 19,896. That’s what I’m talking about. Stat #2 - Over the lasxt week we added 2,865 new fresh jobs to the job board. Stat #3 - that is an average of over 400 new fresh opportunities every damn day of the week. Your job is out there, we’ll help you find it. Whoa that could be a tagline. Not bad. OK, three jobs that are fresh on the job board and interesting! Yes that is subjective, because I alone determine what is considered interesting. Job #1 -- The Athletic is hiring a Staff Editor for the NFL. TThe candidate will be involved in all the day-to-day operations, including collaborating with writers, planning, editing and publishing of content. Generate thoughtful, smart and relevant story ideas • Line edit stories from start to finish for quality, context, style, and grammarFollow best practices on headline writing and SEO optimizationKnowledge of WordPress and photo editing skills is a plus Job #2 -- Production Coordintor, Content Production -- Adidas The Production Coordinator is responsible for supporting the Content Production Team as an integral part of the in-house creative agency. The role supports the In-House Producers in driving key projects, workflow,

Kali Franklin, NYCFC VP of Human Resources – Work In Sports podcast Jan 27, 2021

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged Learning for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast… One of my favorite parts of my work week is writing the intro to our Work In Sports podcast guest interviews. Gives me a chance to dig into the coming topic, set the stage, throw out some thoughts and opinions -- it’s awesome. Well, this week, I’m going to shut up and hand over the reins to our guest, Kali Franklin VP of Human Resources for NYCFC -- this interview is on the longer side, because Kali is amazing, informative and so, so passionate about her role in Human Resources representing and working with the people inside NYCFC. We’re going to discuss hiring trends for the coming year, diversity and inclusion, their organizational approach to coronavirus and staffing, how you should handle a video interview...and so so much more, so buckle up and get your notepad ready - I took four pages of notes from this conversation… Here’s Kali Franklin, VP of Human Resources at NYCFC. Questions for Kali Franklin, VP of Human Resources at NYCFC 1: I love origination stories, to look back in someone’s past and see their path to who how they’ve become is fascinating to me. Your career arc makes a lot of sense, you were a sociology major at Georgia State, and have worked in HR most of your career – did you always have a pretty clear vision of who you wanted to be? 2: You’ve held high-level roles in HR at Target, Microsoft, and others – then in 2017 you jumped into sports with AMB Sports and Entertainment and now with NYCFC – what drew you to the sports industry? 3: When you first got into the sports industry, were there any “Ah-ha” moments when you thought to yourself, “Ok this is a little different than Microsoft”? 4: I don’t want to spend a ton of time looking backward, we all know 2020 was a mess and I’d rather spend most of our time talking about how we move forward, but I would like at least a little peek into what it was like for you on the HR side during the start of the pandemic. In September 2019 you join NYCFC, On February 29th your first season starts, on March 12 the league suspends play. What were your initial fears from an HR viewpoint, and how do you think NYCFC and the MLS at large weathered those initial fears over the past year? 5: The pandemic hasn’t been the only headline-grabbing event this year, protests, social justice, massive issues surrounding racial inequality, political upheaval – themes that are hugely important for the direction of the sports industry. With athletes using their voice, teams, leagues, and organizations taking a stand and using their voices, how important was 2020 in terms of establishing a clear corporate culture? 6: Roles focused on Diversity and Inclusion are relatively new in the sports industry, sometimes we assume these roles have been prevalent throughout the years, they haven’t. In my view, this is one of the better developments ever in the sports industry. Why did it take us so long to give diversity and inclusion the focus it so desperately needed? 7: D&I isn’t just a feel-good initiative – I’ve read studies that say diverse workforces increase revenue, productivity, retention, morale, and more – why do you think having a diverse workforce makes such a positive impact? 8: What other initiatives would you like to see grab hold in regard to our approaches to staffing and culture? 9: I’ve worked at companies big and small with all kinds of cultures. Some good, some really bad – and you know the difference for sure when you are in it. I know at NYCFC you are working to establish a best-in-class culture…what are the components of a good corporate culture and how do you work to establish them? 9: Aren’t culture wants and demands different for every employee? I’ve had staff members who wanted to work in a quiet corner and others who would shrivel up and die that way.

Common Job Search Mistakes You Need to Avoid – Work In Sports podcast Jan 25, 2021

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast… It’s almost the end of January, one of my favorite months of the podcast season… why, you ask? Well, January is when our download numbers and traffic to our site, WorkInSports.com are always highest. We get a lot of new highly motivated listeners, and subscribers to our job board, so it’s on me to impress the hell out of them with our content. Well, this month so far we’ve delivered -- Matt Resnick, sports talent acquisition executive, Nigel Eccles, co-founder of fanduel, John Ferguson, VP of people and culture at Monumental Sports and Entertainment...and coming up later this week, Kali Franklin VP of Human Resources for NYCFC. See a theme? We are highly focused on executives connected to hiring and understanding the trends for 2021. My goal was to make a month of talent acquisition executives… but when Nigel Eccles people call you and say, hey we want Nigel to be on your show -- the best laid plans go out the window. He gets on the show. BUT, Matt, John and Kali are sharing all the trends in hiring that matter to you. This is the information you need, so if you haven’t listened yet, go back and listen. Set yourself up for success. But first -- the stat line -- and a great question on common job search mistakes. Ok, three data points regarding the overall health of the sports industry through the lens of employment, provided by WorkInSports.com the sports industry’s leading job board for the last 20 years. Data point #1: 18,622 jobs currently active on WorkInSports.com - that is an increase of 5% over last week and a jump of near 18% since the beginning of the month. The trend line is pointing up -- more jobs early in 2021, this is really good news. Data point #2: 2,529 fresh new jobs added over the last week… that’s a down alittle from last week but still pretty amazing. Data point #3 -- that’s an average of 361 new jobs added every day of last week. Think about that a second, our site pulls from over 8,000 sports employers -- there is no way you could replicat that work. That’s why we are a service worth considering, your time is worth it, and you get exposed to opportunities you may not have known about. Ok, let’s get into three cool jobs for this week -- One piece of advice I give a lot when I speak in college classrooms is when you are getting started and trying to find your fit, search utilizing keywords like “coordinator”. Everyone searches for job terms like social media, marketing, operations -- but if you are getting started in yoru career, still trying to figure out who you are aand where you fit, the best way to do that is search for terms like “coordinator” which aligns with entry level roles. Do that and you’ll find things like… marketing coordinator, social media coordinator operations coordinator -- and then you can rad these entry level jobs and see what strikes you as interesting. So let’s do that as the theme this week! Digital Media Coordinator for Comcast Spectacor in Philly -- this job is working with the Philadelphia Flyers - which is awesome. Multi-talented content creator with experience in copywriting, photography, videography, and/or graphic design. Has a finger on the pulse of emerging digital trends, Philadelphia's social audiences, and is dedicated to increasing the connection to our current fans while attracting new fans through engaging content. BTW quick aside -- we have this new feature for our premium members which I love. When you select a job and look at the description, on the right nav, we also show more details that can help you in your search. For example on this job: Jobs near Philadelphia : 1250Jobs in Sports Media: 3213Jobs that Match Your Resume: 135See all jobs: 18622 Click any of these and you’ll be directed to the search results. Love this feature -- simple but oh so effective ...

John Ferguson: VP of People and Culture, Monumental Sports and Entertainment Jan 20, 2021

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast… Do you ever say a word over and over again so that it becomes common in your mind, but if you take a moment to really think about it, it’s arbitrary and weird. Take the word spoon for example. Yes, I know this is a strange start to a podcast intro but you should be used to that about me by now, so stick with me. We all know what a spoon is, but when you say it a bunch of times you start to realize -- that’s a weird word. Who the heck came up with calling that scoopy you eat with a spoon. We normalize things in our brains the more we say them or experience them. We become desensitized over time to their uniqueness and just accept them for what they are. We don’t often challenge what has become normal. Spoon. Not to go too far down this rabbit hole - but spoon is of Germanic origins meaning “chip of wood” which doesn’t help things at all. Alright, I have a point here. Let’s spin this forward to this conversation, and throw another phrase out at you: Human Resources. Think about it for a second -- it’s kind of cold, isn’t it? Objectifying just a little? People are people, not just resources to be managed. Human Resources makes it sounds like “Hi I’m Jane, I manage the Human Assets, John over there manages the Material Resources, and Bill manages the Software Assets” Kind of cold, right? And yet the Human Resources departments of every organization are the people that care most about the employees! These are the living breathing hearts and souls of an organization! But their title, their sector of the industry... I don’t know, kind of sounds menacing when you really think about it with a fresh set of eyes and ears. Smarter people than me, I think, have started to feel this same way. I’ve seen more and more titles break away from straight up Human Resources, and break toward something more akin to -- Chief People Officer or People and Culture. Look there is nothing wrong with Human Resources, I’m not getting upset over it, I’m not staging a walkout, I just like to question some of the things we accept as normal. Watch a movie from the 80’s and you’ll see people smoking at their work desk or on airplanes -- that was really normal for a while, until someone said -- maybe we need to do this a little differently. Again, not conflating human resources with smoking on a plane, but I just find myself enamoured with norms and accepted behavior and terms...that when you really think about them are a bit out of place. This brings me to today’s guest -- John Ferguson, who is the VP of People and Culture at Monumental Sports And Entertainment, one of the biggest ownership groups in sports -- Washington Wizards, Mystic, Capitals - arenas, esports teams, conferences, TV networks -- they dominate the sports scene in the DC region. And John, one of the coolest most down to earth people I have ever spoken with in my life, cares about the people and the culture of his operation. He cares so much about every person that comes into the organization and creates a culture that brings out the best in everyone. Gear up -- this is one of my favorite discussions of all time -- here’s John Ferguson: Clips from Monumental Sports And Entertainment, VP of People and Culture John Ferguson on the Work In Sports podcast John Ferguson, VP of People and Culture at Monumental Sports and Entertainment sharing his thoughts on Video Interviews, why they are beneficial, and how best to prepare: https://youtu.be/YXKDXa3-nvg John Ferguson, VP of People and Culture at Monumental Sports and Entertainment on what you should focus on during a job interview: https://youtu.be/-ExopqDMlSE John Ferguson, VP of People and Culture at Monumental Sports and Entertainment on his favorite question to ask when conducting a job interview: https://youtu.

Handling Behavioral Interview Questions – Work In Sports podcast Jan 18, 2021

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkinSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast… So quick update before we get into the stat line and this week’s fan question. Like so many of you I made a resolution this year. A kick off the new year with a new attitude resolution. Well, I’m here to report, I’ve already broken it. That’s the problem with resolutions, it’s usually something you are very drawn to and therefore difficult to cut cold turkey. Mine, was a reduction in sugar intake...both desserts and alcohol. The desserts part isn’t too hard for me, I’m not a big sweets guy, thankfully, but I do like the wine, the bourbon and the tequila. I lasted 16 days… which actually was better than I thought I’d do. Football is just really hard to watch without something wonderful in the palm of your hand. I made it through wildcard weekend drinking lots and lots of tea. But two glorious football weekends was too much for my resolve, Aaron Rodgers and I had a little bourbon together, then Tom Brady and I had some red wine. I’ve come to the conclusion, resolutions can be kind of silly, especially dramatic ones. Just make incremental positive choices, keep your vices in moderation, and set goals for yourself that are based on accomplishing something positive… and you’ll be better off. Ok, enough about that -- let’s get into the stat line! Alright people -- let’s jump into three stats that will help you see exactly what the sports industry employment situation looks like right now -- Stat #1 17.783 jobs currently active on WorkInSports.com the number one job board for the sports industry. To put that in context -- that’s a 6.5% jump over last week. We are in the upward trend right now, lots of positive activity in the sport industry, lots of opportunity. Stat #2 The first full week of January we added 3,002 new jobs to the job board, and I was pumped -- that is a great sign, January is always a huge month, but I was a little fearful of things being flat. Well, for the second full week of January we beat that number, 3,022 fresh jobs added last week. Now this isn’t just a puff out my chest and brag about our job board and product moment - although I am feeling pretty puffed up -- now for real, these stats are too show you what’s happening in the industry. I’m showing you trends and patterns so you can have a more educated knowledge of what is out there for you. Stat #3 -- Every day of the week last week we added 432 new jobs to the job board. Sports specific jobs all across the country - including 1,518 currently in or near Los Angeles California, and 206 in Miami, Florida. This is the absolute right time to be a workinsports.com premium member -- we work with over 8,000 sports employers, if you think you can search the job postings of 8,000 sports employers yourself -- good luck. We do the work for you, that’s just one of the huge benefits of our site! Ok - - next step -- let’s talk cool jobs and internships! Job #1 -- Have you heard of the O’Fallon Hoots. Nope, neither had I. I was looking on our jobboard and say O’Fallon Hoots and thought, that is a typo. It is not. The O’Fallon Hoots a collegiate summer league baseball team in the United States Prospect League, are hiring a broadcaster and media relations intern. Work in Sports VODCAST: Rather watch the video version? https://youtu.be/hLZ9v2W90v0 If you are wondering where O’Fallon is, because it sound slike the bad guy in an 80’s movie with Patrick Swayze -- O’Fallon runs this town! Or like the bully in BIlly Madison, O’Fallon rules! Yes, I know it was O’Doyle who rules, but you get the drift. Anyway, O’Fallon is in Missouri. The show me state. Ok - why does this opportunity stand out. Well, now is the time to start planning for summer internships, and your internships have to provide real honest to goodness training and opportunity.

Nigel Eccles, Co-Founder of FanDuel, Flick & StarStock – Work In Sports podcast Jan 13, 2021

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and engaged Learning at Work in Sports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast. I’m no psychiatrist, I barely understand why I do what I do, but I can tell you that fear is a pretty insane driving force. Chased by a bear, you’ll run faster than ever before. Have a big test tomorrow that determines the status of your scholarship - you’ll study harder than ever. Fear is a strong motivator. Well, scratch that, fear makes us uncomfortable, and we try our hardest to return to comfort, that is the human condition, get into comfortable spots and build a house there. So yes, fear contributes to the motivation, but really it’s the idea of staying in a fearful state that motivates us to get out of it. OK, let’s not get all nuanced and into the psycho-babble -- suffice it to say, if you are sitting on your couch doing nothing, and a racoon comes in through the window, after screaming, you’ll move, fast. The fact the remote was just out of reach, or you needed water, or the doritos on the countertop didn’t get you to move… but that damn racoon sure did. Fear works. I’ve interviewed many entrepreneurs over my career, and they are a different breed. You think their motivation comes from money - I’m going to make this thing and sell it to Apple for a billion dollars -- that’s not it. It’s not the money. Success is the goal. Legacy. Developing something completely new, disrupting a marketplace, changing the world. That is what entrepreneurs seek. Like an artist, they are consumed by their passion for their vision. And more importantly, to put a fine point on it, they are ruled by fear. What if this isn’t it? What if my idea doesn’t work? What if it doesn’t disrupt? What if i am not special? This fear drives Entrepreneurs to work harder and with more passion and focus than most others can reach. Failure is not an option. Because of this passion and focus many entrepreneurs aren’t willing to pivot. They stick to their vision with steadfast determination, determined to find success where they thoughtit would be. Today’s guest, Nigel Eccles co-founder of FanDuel, Flick and StarStock, is a serial, and successful, entrepreneur, but he’s also a pragmatist. FanDuel, the multi-billion dollar daily fantasy sports company, wasn’t a pure idea created on the cliche cocktail napkin during a discussion amongst friends over adult beverages. FanDuel was HubDub - the original idea was an online political prediction market. It failed because as nigel himself said “HubDub didn’t really have a good business model” I can see where that would be a problem. But Nigel isn’t the type to just pack up and turn off the lights. He looked at what they had created, and how to pivot it into a new and different market. Sports. He and his HubDub team pivoted. I’m guessing, and he may not admit this, because his fear of failure drove him to see other options for his success. https://youtu.be/Qe-LqEodZFQ And FanDuel has been successful. At the time Nigel sold his interest FanDuel had around a 450 million dollar valuation. A few years later, it is now valued at 11.2 billion. His creation has changed the world. And like most entrepreneurs, one genius move isn’t enough. Nigel is now focused on new start-ups, Flick, The Ultimate Chat App for Sports Influencers and Their Fans, and StarStock, the stock market for sports cards. Both incredibly cool ideas -- let’s get into it, here’s Nigel Eccles co-founder of FanDuel, Flick and StarStock… Questions for Nigel Eccles, Co-Founder of FanDuel, Flick & StarStock 1: I’ve read about 20 different articles on you and your background as prep for this interview, and the most common describer for you is “math geek”. I’ve also seen “the most controversial player in the world of sports entertainment.” How would you describe yourself and your journey to where you are now?

Negotiating Like a Boss – Work In Sports Podcast Jan 11, 2021

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged Learning at Work in Sports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast… Well, I could surely get used to back to back NFL triple headers - I kept trying to get out of my house and doing other things, but the games just kept drawing me back in. And then it’s 8:15 on Saturday night and I’ve got Brady and Gronk to watch? And then it’s 8:15 on Sunday night and I’ve got Steelers Brown to watch? I mean the good news is, I could turn off the Steelers-Browns after the first quarter, sorry Steelers fans, and get off my ass. What a weekend. For those of you who haven’t listened to last weeks interview with Matt resnick, I suggest you go back and listen. For 5 years Matt was the People Acquisition Director for Madison Square Garden, [Knicks, Rangers, MSG Network, MSG] and knows his stuff when it coms to getting hired in sports. We shared a ton of tactical advice, plus some strategic thinking and planning that can really make the difference for your career. Go listen Coming up this week - Nigel Eccles. Name sound familiar? Well, it should. Nigel is the co-founder of FanDuel. Yes, that FanDuel. The one he sold for 450 million, and has a current valuation of ...wait for it… 11.2 billion dollars. Spoiler -- I did not ask Nigel why he didn’t wait a few more years to sell FanDuel and make an extra couple billion. I’m figuring that could be a sore spot for him. But we did talk a ton about leadership, creativing, establishing a culture, the growth of tech and his new start up -- Flick, a sports focused chat app which looks super cool. Tune into that on Wednesday. One last note -- Because i want to brag a little. As we start the spring semester for college students across the globe, I am proud to announce our sports career game plan is now bing used in the curriculum of over 30 sports management programs. University of Florida, Grand Canyon, Ball State, Graceland, Dean, Findlay, East Carolina, -- and many more -- sorry if i didn’t mention your school, I’m going off the top of my head here. Our course is on professional development for the sports industry, and if you are a college professor listening and I’ve piqued your interest, email me. If you are a student, talk to your professors and have them email me. If you are just an interested person, we can sell it to you direct. Boom! Ok, enough of me talking -- well, that’s not true, I’ve got a lot more talking to do, enough of me pitching… let’s get to the stat line… [music] Here we go, three stats to give you an update on the overall health of sports employment… Stat #1 16,705 active sports jobs on WorkInSports.com the leading job board for th sports industry -- that is an increase of 8% over last week.,..that’s a big jump, and I told you it was coming. January is always huge for new jobs. Stat #2 We added 3,005 active new jobs in the last week. That is a jump of… wait for it… 215% week over week. Like i said, here come the jobs. First week on January, 915 jobs added, this week, 3,005. Stat #3 That means we added an average of 429 new jobs every day of the week last week. That is worth checking in on. We’re back baby! Ok, second part of the Stat Line… jobs! Job #1 Public Relations Coordinator for the NWSL - The NWSL office is growing to meet the demands of the changing global landscape of professional women's soccer. We are looking for individuals who desire to make an impact on the future of sport in the United States. Coordinator role, looking for 2 years of experience, which can include relevant internships. Great gig to learn and have on your resume. And it’s in Chicago, and I like chicago. Job #2 Lead Writer Consumer Direct Creaative Studio at Nike -- look this isn’t entry level, you are going to need some real experience for this. But imagine for a second, As our Lead Writer for the Global Jordan Brand Consumer Direct Creative S...

Matt Resnick, Sports Talent Acquisition Executive – Work In Sports Podcast Jan 06, 2021

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast… There is a theme already clearly presenting itself in 2021 - get back to work. I didn’t have to spend a lot of time workshopping that theme, there wasn’t a lot of debate or struggle -- it’s clear as day. 2020 wrecked a lot of people. Careers were put on hold, bills became hard to pay,health was in question, it became hard to see a bright future --- everyone, in some way or another was knocked down. I don’t mean this to sound trivial, and I’m not minimizing the pain people are going through -- but it’s time to get back up. I tend to be someone who visualizes a lot. I’m what you call a visual learner, if I drive somewhere once, I’ll never forget how to get there again, because I can see it in my mind. If I am shown how to do something, whether that is fixing the plumbing or running a report in google analytics, it sticks. Because I know myself and what impacts me the most, I conduct a lot of visualization exercises throughout my day. Sometimes certain visuals get stuck in my mind on a loop, and there are two that keep resonating with me, and are indicative of 2020. #1 is from my fav movie of all-time, Good Will Hunting, if you haven’t seen it, go, now, do it. It holds up. Some movies don’t stand the test of time, this one does. There is a scene where Robin Williams who plays a psychologist, is trying to help the troubled boy genius Will Hunting, played by Matt Damon, by looking him in the eyes and saying over and over again each time with more meaning and feeling “it’s not your fault”, which eventually makes the tough skinned Hunting break down and cry. That’s 2020 for you people. It’s not your fault. That’s a realization we all need - but it’s not enough. Just realizing it isn’t your fault is a good start, but it also puts you on the edge of excuse making. It’s not my fault… so let’s go grab another bag of doritos and watch UNC-Greensboro play Wofford on ESPN plus. Nope - that’s not the visualization, or reality, we want. It’s time to channel your inner Herb Brooks. The rousing pre-game speech from the movie Miracle, about the MIracle on Ice when the US defeated the Soviets in the 1980 Olympics. I’ll summarize it thusly -- “This is your time, now go out there and take it” It’s not going to come to you, it’s not going to find you buried in a pile of misery, self-doubt and Cheetos and offer you salvation. It’s on you to take it. https://youtu.be/-FkgrqSFx84 This month, to get you focused on all the steps, strategies, and trends in hiring for 2021 we will feature interviews with three incredible people connected to sports Talent Acquisition. John Ferguson, VP of people and culture from Monumental Sports and Entertainment [Wizards, Capitals, Mystics, TV networks, eSports teams you name it] Kali Franklin, VP of Human Resources for NYCFC of the MLS And today’s guest Matt Resnick, former Director of People Acquisition for the Madison Square Garden company -- Knicks, Rangers. After graduating from Florida State in 2004 Matt has really done it all in sports -- he started out in inside sales, worked in youth sports, transitioned to the agency side, and then for the last seven years has been focused on recruiting and talent acquisition, most recently with the Madison Square Garden company which is about as big as it gets in sports. What is really cool and unique about this interview, is that Matt and MSG decided to part ways in the fall, so he is taking all of his knowledge and applying it right now to his own personal search… and he’s really had to look deep inside into what works and why… and he’s sharingit during this conversation. Here’s Matt Resnick. Questions for Matt Resnick, Sports Talent Acquisition Executive 1: There is a ton I want to ask you about talent acquisition in the sports industry,

Sports Industry Hiring Trends in 2021 – Work In Sports Podcast Jan 04, 2021

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast… Let’s see if I remember how to do this… it feels like I haven’t pushed out a new episode in a while, yes, I took a break, a little vacation, my first and only one of 2020. That means, I totally 100% disconnected...which means, there is a ton of work to do today. You ever notice that? Vacation is awesome, but the work just piles up, and then when you get back… it’s rough. Today so far, rough. But enough about me -- who’s ready to start 2021?! I’m feeling pretty pumped, even if a bit overwhelmed right at this moment. Let’s start this out right with our first stat line of 2021! This is important, this will give us baseline data for the year...so as we continue talking throughout the year we can observe the trends as they relate to right now at this moment. Kind of cool. Let’s get into it. For those of you new to the podcast, welcome! Every Monday I provide a snapshot of the data behind sports employment. We’re WorkInSports.com, the number one job board for the sports industry, and we’ve been doing this for 20 years, so we have tons of current data and historical trends. So let’s get started… Datapoint #1: 15,473 active sports jobs right now on WorkInSports.com -- that number is down about 7% from our last stat line, and don’t worry that is to be expected. Between Christmas and New Year, employers aren’t really posting jobs, so it is no surprise that number is down a little. The rebound, starts now. Data Point #2 - We’ve added 954 jobs in the last week -- that is WAY down, down 58% from the previous week...but again, I’ve already explained why. We need to go one step deeper… This brings us to data point #3… 954 jobs added last week, divided by 7 days would be an average of 136 jobs per day. BUT, let’s add some recency to the trend line. 278 jobs added today, and I’m recording this at around noon eastern time. This is when things pick up, activity starts going through the roof, and it is the most important time for you to be on top of the job action. OK, part 2 of the Stat Line -- for all you new listeners -- I also provide three cool jobs that are fresh on the job board, just to give you a little taste of what’s out there. I guess it is misleading to make this part of the stat line since it’s totally subjective, but this is where I want to put it, so I do. Job #1… Director of Fan Experience At Stanford University -- this position will oversee a team whose ultimate charge is to create a compelling in-venue experience for our student-athletes and fans alike. This team will design, program, and direct events that satisfy the evolving preferences of fans, create long-lasting memories, and persuade the community to continue to attend. I find so many of the people I get to know in sports, love the live-action, the pace, the creativity, the engagement with fans -- this job is ideal if you have that spirit and experience. And, if you have kids, maybe you get a discounted tuition to Stanford! Talk about benefits. Job #2...Marketing Associate at Burton Snowboards -- Ok, so this is a short term temporary remote role...which may not sound ideal, but hear me out. Burton is looking for an individual to assist us in keeping in touch with our community through social media. In this role, you will be primarily focused on social community coordination. This is a chance to prove yourself, gain experience, and get the proverbial foot in the door of an amazing sports connected company. Especially if you have a thing for winter sports. Start to picture a role like this developing into a full-time gig in Vermont, one of my favorite states in the US, and Burlington is a super cool city. I know it’s temp remote to start, but it could turn into something great...and if nothing else is a little cash in the pocket, experience on the resume,

Best of 2020: Tim Duncan, University of New Orleans Athletic Director Dec 16, 2020

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast -- where we are celebrating our best sports industry interviews of 2020. I spend an inordinate amount of time thinking about perspective. We all grow up in different conditions, different families, different stresses, and challenges...and it is this foundational time of our lives, our youth, that gives us our first dose of perspective. Growing up in, I guess I would say, a lower-middle-class home in Massachusetts...pretty rural, parents divorced, predominantly white neighborhood, gives me a totally different experience than some rich kid in Beverly Hills, or some poor kid anywhere in America. Or some kid who grew up with abusive parents, or someone who was a victim of crime early in life. We may see the same things through very different lenses because of our foundational perspectives. What we see and experience alters the way we move forward through life. But perspectives are a fluid thing, they change as we go through life and expose ourselves to different people, cultures and situations. Living in a rough area of Atlanta for a few years changed the rural kid in me. I saw different things, and they challenged me to think differently. They challenged me to open my mind up to the struggle of others. To understand that not all kids played sports on the weekend and ate orange slices on the sidelines. That some kids struggled to get by, period. Working with different types of people in a corporate culture like CNN exposed me to different faiths, backgrounds, upbringings, educations… and overall different perspectives. I wonder, again this is where I probably spend an inordinate amount of time contemplating things like perspective, but I wonder, how much our perspectives alter our career choices, or who we are in the workplace. Your perspective and the upbringing you endured, steers you. I was asked recently how many people who work in sports, played sports in college or high school. I have no data, other than the anecdotal story of my life working in sports for the last 20 some odd years… but I’d say around 15% played in college and 90% played at least in high school. It is that perspective that gave us love. The competition, the teamwork, the grind, the community, the coachability -- you thrive on it all. If I hadn’t grown up playing every sport available… I probably wouldn’t have worked in this industry. Sports gets into your bloodstream. Not just playing, but being around it. The smell of a gym makes me think back to my youthful perspective. Hearing a certain song on the radio, makes me think of the drive to a game, or post-championship celebration. It’s no wonder today’s guest circled back to sports. Tim Duncan was a division 1 basketball player at Memphis State, teammates with Penny Hardaway and a 2-time participant in the NCAA tournament. He was one of the elite competitors in the game, making it beyond those of us with only high school memories. For those of you who are confused… Yes there are at least two people in the world named Tim Duncan who played high-level basketball...but this is not that Tim Duncan. For our Tim Duncan, after graduating and starting a successful career in marketing, the sports world beckoned. And because his perspective was on the court, and in the stands and at the arena… the jump back in was natural. Over the last decade plus he’s made a name for himself in college athletes, and just last year was named Athletic Director of the University of New Orleans. It is my honor to have him on the show this week… here’s Tim Duncan…

Does Anyone Read Your Cover Letter? (And a Bunch on NIL Rights) Dec 14, 2020

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkinSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast… Before we get into the stat line -- I want to whet your appetite for January podcasts. December continues to be the Best of 2020 -- this Wednesday, Tim Duncan Athletic Director for the University of New Orleans… a great guy and a great interview. For January, I’ve lined up multiple talent acquisition executives, a co-founder of one of the biggest sports tech companies ever, a global partnership activation manager in the NBA, a manager of inside sales in the NBA who is hiring staff and gearing up... January will be huge. Also just a heads up - this Wednesday my good friend and former guest Chris Grosse, who is Associate Athletic Director for Marketing at Penn State has asked me to be part of a panel discussion on sports industry resume’s -- if you are interested in checking it out, connect with Chris on LinkedIn and he’ll share info with you. So with that in mind let’s get into the stat line... Alright, we’re taking a bit of a left turn with the stat line today, data as normal, but instead of highlighting three jobs, we’re doing to discuss a major news story that will change the future of the #sportsbiz. First the data…. Three data points helping you understand what’s happening in sports employment right now... #1: 16,508 active sports jobs on WorkinSports.com the leading job board for the sports industry -- that is a decline of 1% from last week, a slight drop, but this is the time of year when orgs are gearing up for the new year, so no surprise here. #2 -- we added 1508 jobs in the last week, that’s a decline of 10% week over week. #3 - which is still an average of 215 fresh new sports jobs every day of the week, which actually seems pretty good considering the time of year. Expect big bumps in January. Ok, as I mentioned, instead of giving you three jobs that caught my eye this week, I want to discuss a major change happening in the world of sports that will fundamentally change our business moving forward and that includes jobs and opportunity. I try really hard not to speak to specific events, or newsy items because it makes the episode content dated and somewhat irrelevant in a month’s time… but this is important and represents a massive sea change in the industry. We’re talking about Names, Images, and Likeness legislation. Quick primer -- throughout my life and longer, student-athletes can’t make money off their name, image, and likenesses. They can’t hire agents and negotiate endorsement deals with sneaker, apparel, merchandise, video games or summer camps. They can’t do social media deals and rake in ad or sponsorship revenue. When it comes to athletes making money and leveraging their brand -- they can’t. BUT - schools can absolutely use a student-athletes name, image, and likeness to make money. So the school’s profit, but the student-athletes don’t. Finally, this is changing. Now, this get’s tricky, and there are details and nuances I am going to leave out for this discussion. If you want to learn more, I suggest you visit sportico.com and check out the great write-up from my legal go-to guy Michael McCann. We’re going to take a high-level stab at it, and really the point here isn’t just to keep you aware of changing trends but to consider what this means for you as far as career opportunities. Ok, so where are we? Well, Senator Roger Wicker from Mississippi is sponsoring the Collegiate Athlete Compensation Rights act. Wicker’s bill would create a federal NIL right - which is important because if this is rolled out state by state, or just by the NCAA, there are going to be problems. For example -- Let’s imagine California and Florida pass state-sponsored NIL legislation that is wide open, and Texas and Alabama pass something more restrictive. That would change the competitive landscape massively.

Best of 2020: Celia Bouza, Director ESPN Next – Work In Sports Podcast Dec 09, 2020

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged Learning with WorkInSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast… Let’s talk about retention. In the business world -- retention is a big deal as it relates to customers and employees. Let’s take our business for a second, WorkinSports.com. We provide a premium service, we have over 17,000 active sports jobs and internships all in one place, we match your skills to job openings, we connect you with sports employers, we have career training -- we do all kind of cool things to help you develop in the industry. Once someone decides to be a member of our site, it makes sense for us to work to retain them, because it way way way easier to keep a current customer than create a new one from scratch. Businesses focus heavily on retention through elite customer service, increased value, exclusive offers, and more. Now think about this concept in terms of a sports team… if you have a premium suite sold to a business in town… which do you think is more beneficial to the organization, getting this business that has already been committed to your experience and knows the process and value, to renew for another year. Or having to go on 20 sales trips to different businesses, make pitches, presentations and negotiate deals to get someone else in that spot? Retention matters. But retention isn’t just for customers - it’s also for the employees. There is nothing worse as a manager of people than having one of your best employees leave for another opportunity. When I started at Fox Sports Northwest back in the day, I was coming cross country from Atlanta and inheriting a staff that the GM had told me during the interview process had very low morale. Most didn’t feel good about working there. When I came in I made it my mission to figure out why, figure out who could be the pillars of the staff, and figure out how to fix the overall problem. After identifying a complete stud in the building and elevating him to a higher role with more authority and leadership in the organization -- 6 months later he left. And it crushed me. James Rafferty I’m still mad at you. His wife Melissa also worked for us on the assignment desk and was amazing, so this was a double gut punch as they both left and went to new jobs in Montana. This is when it became very clear to me, that doing everything you can to keep your best people is an absolutely essential way to operate. You’ll never be at 100%, people leave for reasons you can’t control, James and Melissa left for Montana to go back home… I couldn’t control that. But you can sure as hell try. So how do you influence retention? There are many ways really because everyone on your staff will have different triggers for what is important to them. Culture. Do people enjoy working here? Do they like the environment, do they have a smile on their face at work? Accountability and process -- if you have an efficient system and hold people accountable for their performance, people are more likely to feel satisfied. Training - teach them how to be a stellar performer, show them what you want, and set them up for success. Career Paths - let them see their future, what could be out there for them at your organization. These are all methods to retain staff, and great organizations do all this and more -- because the people are what matter most. One of the organizations doing more than most is ESPN - the ESPN Next program is a big part of ESPN’s retention plan -- it’s the company's premier leadership development program, bringing in the best of the best from around the globe and training them to be even better. The Director of the ESPN Next program is today’s guest Celia Bouza...buckle up, we’re getting into this. Here’s Celia. Outro There is so much I loved in that interview. Seriously, you know in the first minute or two when you hit it off with someone,

Essential Skills that will Differentiate You From the Competition Dec 07, 2020

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning for WorkInSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast… Before we get into the stat line and today’s question -- I have something I want to put into your brains that I’ve been thinking a lot about. A few months back, I had on Josh Walker President of Sports Innovation Lab, and he discussed the fluid fan concept - that essentially sports has to go where the fans are and change the entire experience. It’s not just a buy ticket sit in seat world, it has to be fluid and follow the fans through social communities, immersive experience, and more. This is one of my favorite episodes, I loved talking to Josh. And, this past week, it really got me thinking about the future of sports and how everything will change. Not just because of COVID, this need to develop and change was emerging anyhow, COVID just sped everything up. Look at the news from the world of entertainment this week -- Warner Brothers announces they will concurrently release all of their 2021 movies in the theater, and streaming on HBO Max. This will likely start a wave where you’ll see other studios align with other streaming services -- but let’s apply this to our world, sports. Just like the movie world uses the theater model, sports has a main outlet for its programming -- traditional network and cable TV channels. Sports leagues have long term deals with broadcast partners and it is a major source of their revenue. But, we may start to see a similar model expand to sports -- taking live events and simulcasting them in multiple places - not just CBS and ESPN… but social channels and more. Look to these changes, see what opportunities they present, and how fan engagement changes. Right now, I’m looking to the entertainment world and eSports to set the trends the sports industry will follow. eSports is better at capturing and engaging young viewers, and entertainment is incredible at finding revenue streams -- sports will follow these models, so keep an eye on those fields. Ok - let’s get to the stat line… [music] Three data points that help inform us as to the strength of the sports industry as provided by WorkInSports.com the #1 job board for the sports industry. Stat #1 -- 16,730 active sports jobs on WorkInSports.com -- this is pretty much flat from last week, but that’s a lot of jobs. Stat #2 -- 1,666 new active sports jobs added in the past 7 days, which is a 35% increase from the previous week -- which isn’t all that surprising, a big uptick from Thanksgiving week when most employers aren’t posting jobs. Stat #3 - that is an average of 238 fresh new active sports jobs added each day of the week -- which is pretty awesome. Ok, let’s get to three fresh new jobs that sound awesome and are currently live on WorkInSports.com -- Job #1 -- Production Trainee for the NBA -- I love starting gigs like this. You guys know my affinity for big-name employers, when you get something like this on your resume it stands out for life. You learn the best practices of the industry and are ready to take on the world. This position is part of the NBA Emerging Media group which focuses on identifying, creating, distributing, and publishing content for the NBA's social and digital platforms and its many domestic and international partners throughout the world. Look this is just me, but I wouldn’t care what they are paying, this is the opportunity i would absolutely 100% jump on if I had any interest in content, digital marketing, social, journalism… and loves basketball. I would be so all over this. Job #2 -- Strength and Conditioning Fellow for United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee -- if you wanted to work in strength and conditioning, any kind of athletic training, does it get any better than the USOC? I’ve been to their facility in Colorado Spring and it is chills inducing to know the stars and athletes that have walked that cam...

Best of 2020: Dan Duquette, Player Development Expert Dec 02, 2020

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast… There is a bit of an unfortunate truth in the sports industry… sometimes job titles can mean very different things to different people in different organizations. Take the term marketing for one. People tell me all the time, I want to work in sports marketing! And I say...OK, what specifically in marketing, because that is a very broad term. Marketing could be project managing billboards, or email outreach, tossing t-shirts on game night… or it could be google paid advertising, social media campaigns, sponsorships and activation. So when you see a job listing for a Marketing Manager -- make sure you read the job description and tailor your resume and cover letter for that specific role and the demands of it. Another term that has a pretty wide berth is player development. Taken on its surface, you are in charge of developing the player. Makes sense right? But there are really two different aspects of this -- on the field of play, and off the field of play. You will see player development roles that involve assisting athletes, whether they be in college or in the pros, adjusting to their new life, getting settled, knowing their way around town, where to get food, how to get set up with a financial advisor. These are vitally important roles that colleges and pro organizations take on to make sure they get the most out of their investment. If a player is worried about having a place to live or knowing what classes to take - they are more likely to be distracted and not perform at their best. But there is another type of player development, and that’s what we are going to focus on today. That is the magic that happens in organizations between acquisition and true potential. Let’s use baseball as an example. Player gets drafted, they are 18 years old just graduated high school, and now they are in your system. Unless their name is Mike Trout, it is a long way to a major league city. Player development is everything that happens between acquisition and making the major leagues. How to playHow to eatHow to trainHow to mentally prepareHow to practiceHow to identify and work on your weaknessesHow to understand game strategy and organizational philosophy These development plans are all customized for each individual in the organization. Having a plan, and executing it, is the best way to make your investment in a player reach its true potential. It’s a fascinating process, one that happens behind the scenes of sports organizations at all levels. Because success equates to value...and failure costs time, money, and effort. Over the last 40 years, one of the most respected men in baseball team management and player development has been Dan Duquette, former GM of the Red Sox, Orioles, and Expos. The list of players he has acquired and developed into major league talent is stunning. I won’t list them all here...it’s too long. Dan joined me earlier this year to talk about his career, becoming an executive, his decision-making process, trusting yourself and a breakdown of player development. During the month of December, we’ll be running back some of our most popular episodes from 2020, and we kick it off with 2-time MLB Executive of the Year...Dan Duquette

The Career Advice You Need to Hear – Work In Sports podcast Nov 30, 2020

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast… Hope you all had a really great and safe Thanksgiving - I did. Just our family was here, we kept it safe, no entertaining which meant more pie for me. I was in full-fledged beast mode last week. I destroyed the meal. A guy I knew in high school, kind of a meathead, would always say he was going to eat so much that he puked, and then eat some more. That doesn’t sound healthy to me, but it was a philosophy I kind of embraced this week, sans the puking part. I’m not down with that. Christmas lights were hung this weekend, despite it being 60 degrees in Pennsylvania… which is really weird this time of year. But I’m on track, lots of black Friday and cyber Monday shopping, good times. Alright enough blather from me, lets get to the stat line… Three data points to help you understand the health of the sports industry. #1 16,840 active jobs posted on the #1 job board for the sports industry -- WorkInSports.com -- you think that’s puffery? That I’m just boosting the name of the company I work for -- Ha! The truth is in the numbers -- Our closest competitors: one has 2,048 active jobs and the other has 922 jobs. We have 16,840. Where do you think you should spend your time? #2 1,082 jobs added last week. Now, that is a down week for us -- which stands to reason... It was thanksgiving. Who among us says, now is the right time to publish our job opening? #3 even with that, we still have an average of 155 fresh new sports jobs added each day. Ok -- three really cool jobs that stood out ot me this week Job #1 -- Director of Athletic Multimedia at Marist College in New York - I have to say, there is no better time to be a sports content creator. There are so many opportunities. In this role, you’ll develop and produce video content, digital media, and marketing elements for the athletic department. You’ll go to college games and create awesome content to share through digital channels. Awesome. Need more proof on sports content jobs -- director of content for the premier lacrosse league, social media director for the drone racing league, director of creative strategy for NBC Sports, video content creator for pac12 network, director of social media for university of pittsburgh -- all these jobs posted in the last 12 hours. Job #2 - Partnership Analytics Fellowship at NYCFC -- I had to look at this one because a fellowship sounds fancy and partnership analytics sounds interesting. The Partnerships Analytics Fellowship is a one-year position within the Business Intelligence group at NYCFC. The fellowship will focus on equipping the candidate with all the tools necessary to continue a career within multiple verticals of the sports industry such as Strategy & Analytics, Business Intelligence, and Sponsorship Sales and Service. Ding-Ding! The fellow will research and discover new prospects for the Partnership Sales Team to pursue by identifying and creating individual company profiles, performing category analysis, and tracking industry trends. I keep telling ya’ll business analytics is the wave you should be riding in sports. I’m not smart enough for it but you might be. Job #3: Sales jobs are on the rise again -- they are up 10% week over week and I think the news of a vaccine on the horizon is telling teams, time to add staff for the coming spring when thighs could start to open back up again. Remember, jobs are predictive, they tell you what is happening in the eyes of the marketplace 3-6 months from now, if organizations are posting jobs for sales staff that means they think things will be improving in 3-6 months for tickets, partnerships, and sponsorships. I’ll list a couple of jobs to prove my point: Director of Sales for FC Tucson, Florida Panthers Account Manager, Saints and Pelicans Inside Sales team hiring,

How to Handle Coronavirus on Your Resume and Cover Letter – Work In Sports podcast Nov 23, 2020

Hey everybody - I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast. Show note -- as you likely suspected, there will not be a show on Wednesday. My game plan for this week is to work a full day today, half-day tomorrow, bake pies all day Wednesday, eat pies all day Thursday, and then sleep all day Friday. For those of you wondering -- yes, I am the chef in our house - that is actually one of my other passions. I’m like an onion with multiple layers, in addition to sports fanaticism and podcast hosting, I am also an organic gardener who really really likes to cook. So yes, lots of pies, lots of food, lots of cooking in the next few days… no new episode on Wednesday. Alright - let’s get to the stat line! Three data points to help you understand what’s happening in the sports industry, and three cool active jobs on our job board at WorkInSports.com. #1 -- 17,011 active jobs currently on WorkInSports.com - the leading job board for the sports industry. That’s down about 2% from last week, but that is a minor dip considering it’s the holiday season. Did I mention I’m making pies? #2 -- 1,526 new jobs added this week -- quick scan, seeing a lot of lifestyle brands that are hiring right now, Adidas, Nike, new balance, Skechers -- makes sense right? Big time of year for product companies. I think my favorite pie is Pecan Pie. #3 -- An average of 218 jobs added to our site every damn day of the last week. I’ll also be making a classic pumpkin pie and a chai spiced apple pie with bourbon whipped cream. See if I can get the kids a little tipsy. I’m kidding! Do you have a favorite pie? Before I get into my three favorite jobs of the week -- I just mentioned all the reasons a membership to WorkInSPorts.com makes sense -- 17000 jobs, over 200 added each day etc etc… let me add one more. Our Black Friday deal! You can get a three-week membership for just $5 -- that’s our best discount of the year. 83% off the regular cost. Head to https://www.workinsports.com/promo/blackfriday.asp Ok, three amazing, cool, incredible new sports internships for this week -- aha, you thought I was going to say jobs. No, this week, I’m going to focus on some internships because this is the time of year you should be prepping for your spring internships. Internship #1 - Amateur Scouting intern with the Tampa Bay Rays -- I get asked all the time, how do I become a scout, well, often a lot of scouts are retired players or former lower-level coaches. In lieu of that -- how about an internship in Amateur Scouting with one of the best in Major League Baseball the Rays? Yeah, I thought that might excite you. Internship #2 - TV Broadcast Intern for the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters -- which if you didn’t already know is a collegiate summer league baseball team. Again, I get asked a lot about how to get play-by-play broadcasting experience -- well, in this internship you’ll be the play-by-play voice for 36 home games on the Northwoods league TV network. That is the experience you need if you dream of working in play by play. And internship #3 -- I always talk about your high-/evel strategy for internships should be - complete at least two during your college career, hopefully, more, and make one at a big company with high name recognition, and one at a smaller company where you’ll be forced to do more. Well, here’s one on the big-name side - Turner Sports is hiring an intern who will intern will play a vital role in assisting the HBO show “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel.” Research and develop stories Avid work; logging and screening Assist with local shoots (content, equipment, etc) Complete tasks on a deadline for time-sensitive material Conduct independent research to pitch potential stories Contact reporters, media outlets, and sports teams for information If you have a hankering for sports journalism -- this is the internship for you.

Rashida Gayle, Founder Twenty Six Marketing Agency – Work In Sports podcast Nov 18, 2020

Hey everybody, I'm Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast Back in the early 2000s, which seems like yesterday, but in our fast-moving world was actually, like, 100 years ago, I was the executive producer for a TV show featuring NFL MVP Shaun Alexander. Shaun is an incredible dude, and I loved working with him, but that’s not why I brought this up. I bring this up just to show how much things have changed in the last 15 years. Back then, athletes had very few channels to share their personal stories, their point of view, their personality or perspective. Just a few of the top stars would have their own TV show, like Shaun, others may have weekly segments on sports radio, or maybe work with a local sports reporter for a newspaper feature. Most everything from a personal branding perspective worked through the media. And then it all changed. Social media played a huge role – players could now voice their own stories, share their own vision, create their own videos – and have a channel to distribute them. But even more than social media as a tool – there was also a shift in attitude, utilization of the leverage players have, of the demand THEY create. Many in the media call this the player entitlement era, where they now call the shots. The athletes make the demands and they have shifted the leverage of every negotiation. I find that term kind of insulting, player entitlement. The word entitlement gives it a negative connotation, like how dare they express themselves or want for themselves, or demand for themselves. Entitlement to me has a connotation of being something that isn’t deserved, like a child acting like they should get the toy because they want it. It is their prerogative. In the instance of elite athletes, they are the product, they are the brand, they have every right in the world to express themselves, brand themselves, leverage themselves, for their betterment. And they are doing exactly that. Sites like the Players Tribune give all players a voice to share the world through their eyes. More and more athletes are creating videos, negotiating deals, creating documentaries and building a huge personal brand – even college student-athletes will soon begin to profit off of their names, images, and likeness. Alas, the players don’t all go it alone. They often look for trusted advisors, creative visionaries who can enhance their portfolio and build their reach beyond what they imagined was possible. One such visionary is today’s guest – Rashida Gayle, founder of Twenty Six marketing agency, a boutique full-service marketing agency servicing best in class talent [in sports and entertainment]. They maximize brand opportunities through smart marketing initiatives. Rashida works with stars, like MLS MVP Josef Martinez, NFL Running back Devonta Freeman, N’Keal Harry of the New England Patriots, Justice Hill and Miles Boykin of the Baltimore Ravens, and many others. Time to find out how she got where she is today, and where she sees the world of marketing heading — here’s Rashida Gayle. A quick caveat, when we first recorded this interview, Rashida was the Director of Talent Marketing at GSE Worldwide – she’s only recently started up her own agency and it is really exciting to watch her grow – Here’s Rashida…

Three Important Tips for Your Resume – Work In Sports podcast Nov 16, 2020

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, Vp of Content and Engaged Learning for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast… Quick note before we jump into todays episode -- i get a lot of questions about starting and growing a podcast, questions I love to answer because this is a really fun part of my work life. I don’t answer those questions here, because it doesn’t really fit… but i do have a piece of advice today… Have you heard of Zombie Skittles? Yeah, they are skittles with halloween themed flavors -- pretty tasty -- but the trick is, hidden amongst the joyful little sweet oval candies are scattered some that look like regular flavors but are actually “dead zombie” flavor. My 12 year old son, has a jar of these on the kitchen counter with a sign above it that says “zombie skittles” try if you dare. My big recommendation for all of you interested in podcasting -- don’t tempt fate with a zombie skittle right before recording. I literally have the taste of teenage body odor mixed with rotting flesh and skunks ass swirling around my mouth right now, and apparently water doesn’t help. This is awful. I may need to wash the flavor away with a reese’s peanut butter cup -- or I may have to resist that urge so I don’t put on the COVID 300. So far I am weigh neutral during quarantine which I’m pretty happy about. Ok, enough delay, lets get to the stat line Three data points to help you understand the state of the sports industry and three fresh jobs that are super cool as determined by me. #1 -- currently on WorkInSports.com the leading job board for the sports industry - we have 17,367 active sports jobs -- quick side not on that, big shout out to Shelbei Reicks who runs the blog Her Shot at the Top and shared on twitter this past week comparing the various spots job boards -- I’ll summarize for you, we have 15,000 more active sports jobs than our nearest competitor. #2 - in the last week we added 1,807 new sports jobs an increase of 1% which is essentially flat. #3: Which is an average of 258 new jobs added each day of the last week. Not bad. As i told you all last week, expect numbers to decline slightly as we approach the holidays, don’t panic, this is normal seasonality. Ok, three fresh cool jobs this week…Oh and before i get into that, special thanks to Ed Olson and his class at Arizona State, who welcomed me into their sports marketing classroom last week -- we talked resumes, interviewing, gaining the right skills -- great class, super fun. In about an hour I’ll be speaking in Eric Esterline’s class at the University of Florida -- which is always a good time too. Sun Devils and Gators not a bad week. Three cool jobs -- Sports Betting Senior Content Coordinator at NBC Sports -- look, I don’t know sports betting AT ALL. I’m that guy that hears the Vikings are -175 for tonight’s game and thinks, that sounds bad, only later to have a friend say, no they are favored to win. Anyway, my point is that I won’t be competing with you for this job -- AND that sports betting is a growth sector of the sports industry. There are great opportunities here, even if I am a dolt. Business Strategy Internship for Austin FC -- ok, now this is cool, Austin FC joins MLS officially in 2021, and as I’ve said many times on this here podcast, sports is just a huge business… AND… jobs in business strategy, business analytics, revenue optimization etc etc are on the rise. This is a great way to start building your knowledge and experience on the business side of sports. AND if any of you get this internship, I want a T-shirt, because I really like their logo. Speaking of great logos! The Seattle KRAKEN are hiring a digital specialist -- great entry entry role. You aren’t writing the content, you are managing the flow of the content. So for example, they have writers and video editors and creators -- in this role you take their work and bring it to the world.

Unlocking Mental Performance with the Philadelphia Phillies Hannah Huesman Nov 11, 2020

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast. In January of 2020, which feels like 10 years ago, I had a plan to double up our podcast episodes for the month. January is a big month for WorkInSports.com - so many people coming to our site looking for a new opportunity to gain sports employment and follow their dreams. January is a month so many of us say -- I’m going for it! I want to lose weight, I want a new career, I want to make more time for myself... it is the month of affirmations. The thought was, let’s capitalize on that attention -- let’s get everyone feeling motivated and ready to conquer the sports world with a double dose of top podcast guests. So I built a target list and started aggressively reaching out to guests I thought wouldbe great to kick off the year. My first goal was to book Hannah Huesman, someone I had really grown to admire in the world of sports mental performance training. Hannah is so motivating -- she posts 1-minute clips on her social media channels every Monday called Mental Sweat Monday, where she gives her listeners actionable tips to improve their mental performance, AND she works for the Philadelphia Phillies traveling to all of their minor league teams and helping their players become their best. Perfect guest. She said yes almost immediately. We conducted the interview...and I was so so so excited. Hannah is awesome. She explained how she got into sports mental performance, so it’s interesting from a career standpoint, but she also shared her background as a student-athlete, and gave incredible tips on how we can all improve. I mean come on?! Last week was stressful. Between the election and increasing casualties and sickness from the global pandemic we are still facing, this felt like the right time to bring back some positivity. Hannah has a plan, listen in.

Phone Interviews Masterclass – Work In Sports podcast Nov 09, 2020

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast… Hey everybody -- it was a stressful week last week, so I completely understand if you didn’t yet listen to our Wednesday podcast with Joan Lynch from WorkingNation -- but you have to go back and listen to it. We are highly focused on the future of employment, the trends, the ideas, the analysis -- Joan is incredible, she was a VP and Executive producer at ESPN, instrumental in the 30 for 30 series and over the last few years has been more focused on the data and content behind employment. She is awesome. Make sure you listen. Alright -- before our question this week on phone interviews, let’s get into the stat line… Three data points helping you understand the health of today’s sports employment market #1 Total number of sports jobs on WorkInSports.com the leading job board for the sports industry since 1999…. 17,285. Now, this number has been flat since right around the 12th of October -- meaning we’ve been hovering around 17,100-17,400 active jobs for the last month. #2 We added 1,792 new jobs during the past week.. Again, week over week flat. And #3 -- that is an average of 256 new sports jobs added to our job board every day of the week. Before you let this worry you, the fact numbers are flat, that growth has stopped and we aren’t picking up new jobs, this is all very easily explained by seasonality. In fact, I will warn you, these numbers will likely decrease for the coming weeks, only to rebound in January. Think about it logically -- do you want to be hiring someone new at your organization as you approach thanksgiving break, holiday distractions et all? It’s hard enough to integrate new staff remotely, now do it during the holidays. The bottom line, don’t panic over the active job number. Keep up your job-seeking activities and be prepared for all that might come your way. Ok, three cool jobs I found this week. Shout out to the University of Missouri Saint Louis students I spoke with last week -- I heard from their professor, Dr. Karen Boleska, that they really like this segment, and I hope you do too… Job #1 -- Social and Community Manager for St Louis FC - if you didn’t know, St Louis FC will be the 28th team added to MLS and is majority female-owned, and female-led. Pretty cool. Now, why do I love this job -- first off, the idea of being the one to set and develop the social media and community strategy for a new team and organization, is so, so, so intriguing. Secondarily -- their job description, and I’ll link to it in the show notes, is a perfect example of why I tell you all to make a list of the skills that are in demand, see how you stack up, and then adjust your decision. So, if you are one of the UMSL students I spoke to last week -- take a look at this job, understand what skills they are demanding and make a plan for yourself to acquire these skills.That’s how you stay market relevant. Job #2 - Video Coordinator - Milwaukee Herd the g-league team for the Milwaukee Bucks -- look, I love game video. My wife jokes that she could sit in a room analyzing spreadsheets all day long, and I say, I could do the same with game film. If you are into coaching or scouting, OR even the other direction, content, and analysis -- working in the video room for a team is a great place to start and learn. Job #3 -- Email Marketing Coordinator - Harris Blitzer Sports and Entertainment -- the owners of the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers and the NHL’s New Jersey Devils - I bring up this job for a couple of reasons. 1: People tell me all the time they want to work in sports marketing -- and if you are one of those people, marketing is a very broad term so consider learning some specifics. Email marketing is a specific aspect of sports marketing and has different requirements and knowledge than other roles.

Joan Lynch, WorkingNation on the Future of Work – Work In Sports Podcast Nov 04, 2020

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast… One thing I’ve noticed throughout my career managing people and working through varying situations is that there are two main ways people respond and react to change. There is a massive group of people who get angry at change, blame it, get frustrated, refuse to adapt because they like the way things have been. There is another group who owns the change. They adapt, innovate, adjust their strategies and approaches, and fit in with the change rather than expecting the world to come to them. They recognize, change is inevitable. In 2020 - change isn’t just inevitable, it’s an in your face, punch you in the gut, steal your lunch, and laugh at you while it walks into your future. It’s trite to say, this year has been a roller coaster - it’s been a roller coaster in a tornado, hit by a tsunami and shot into space. BUT, people, businesses, organizations, groups, non-profits -- have adapted. Not all, but many. They’ve taken personal responsibility for their growth. They have not only recognized change is here, they have accepted it, adjusted to it, looked for opportunities, and re-branded themselves. Change is good. It may not feel it at the moment, but looking back through history it is sometimes the worst events that spark the biggest sea change toward our future. I’ll give you one example, In 1965, at the height of the modern civil rights movement, activists in Alabama organized a march for voting rights, from Selma, Alabama, to Montgomery, the state capital. A march. Not an armed protest, not a riot, a march for voting rights. Around 600 people assembled at a downtown church in Selma Alabama, knelt briefly in prayer and began walking silently, two-by-two through the city streets. They crossed the Edmund Pettis Bridge and were forcefully pushed back by police. Beaten, trampled, attacked - for marching. You’ve likely heard of this event, but at some point you should watch it. I did, again recently with my kids, and they were horrified. BUT, and here is the key. Think about this… What if police hadn’t attacked? What if there wasn’t a video? What if there wasn’t outrage? What if the 600 people just peacefully matched to Montgomery? Would we be talking about it today? Would we be considering the civil rights movement and its importance to our history as we do today? Would John Lewis be as impactful a character in US History as he has been? Rest his soul. I don’t know… maybe not. Just to be clear I am not justifying what happened that day, I am not declaring it a good thing -- just pointing out, that we don’t often see the end result in the moment, because the future is unclear and we don’t allow ourselves to comprehend anything but where we are right now in the moment. Bringing it back to today, it is hard to see how 2020 will be a positive -- but what if you learn a new skill that is more applicable to the new workforce? What if you meet people you otherwise wouldn’t have reached out to? You learn social media advertising, or photoshop, or salesforce, or data analytics, or eSports. I don’t know the right answer for you -- all I know for sure is, our world is changing, you need to change with it. No one knows this better than today’s guest - Joan Lynch, Chief Content and Programming Officer for WorkingNation. Long time fans of the show probably remember Joan on the show last year, in one of our most popular episodes ever. Well, buckle up - Joan is dropping some serious knowledge on our changing workforce...right…. Now… Questions for Joan Lynch, WorkingNation 1: Before we get deep into the weeds on hiring trends and the prospect for the job market – give the audience a view into the purpose and mission of WorkIngNation 2: Let’s start off with a big topic – women in sports –

Should You Include Your GPA on Your Resume? Work In Sports podcast Nov 02, 2020

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast… Look this is going to be a stressful week, election week is important in our country and I can’t stress to you enough, young, old, and somewhere in the middle like me, get out and vote. When you vote, you shape not just your world today, and next month and next year -- decisions like these impact your entire future. Democracy works when everyone votes, so get out there. This is not the time to be sitting on the sidelines. Ok, let’s look at the Stat line, get a picture of our sports industry -- OK, three stats to help you better understand the health of the sports industry. On WorkInSports.com the number one job board for the sports industry, we currently feature 17,226 active sports jobs! 1715 new jobs added this week -- down a little bit from last week… But that is still an average of 245 new jobs posted every day... Now trend analysis -- lots of internships posted this past week, which makes sense, this is the time of year you start to see companies post their spring internships. If you are a college student making your plans for spring - check out last week’s podcast, some really good info in there on internship prep. OK -- three fresh jobs on the job board the really caught my eye -- Job #1 -- Associate Manager of Social Marketing for Athleta -- now, this is a great example of a category of job that has been growing -- retail/lifestyle - you’ve heard me talk about this in the past, but brands like Athleta, Puma, Nike, Adidas are doing quite well right now, and are hiring for a lot of roles. If you are into sports marketing or social media, don’t limit yourself to teams -- look to the big brands too! Job #2 -- Sr. Editor, NHL at The Athletic -- senior role contributing to comprehensive editorial oversight of our NHL coverage, using data analytics to optimize performance, and partner with stakeholders across the editorial organization and business teams on a range of initiatives. Interesting that it’s not a strictly journalism role, using data to optimize performance -- keep that in mind all you journalism types, it takes more than just sports knowledge and writing skills to elevate in today’s sports media. And job #3 -- Athletic Director at the College of Saint Benedict -- here’s why this job stood out to me -- The College of Saint Benedict is a women’s college with 11 intercollegiate (varsity) teams and 8 competitive club sport teams. The program seeks to reinforce the college mission of preparing women to think critically, lead courageously, and advocate passionately through sport. I like that mission a lot -- sounds like a great stepping stone role for someone who wants a lead role in college athletics. Alright -- that is the stat line! Ok, before we get into today’s question -- I got called out by a fan last week, and i want to address what they brought up. Just to remind everyone, I like it when you call me out, I have zero problems with it. And I have already spoken with this person directly… BUT if they are thinking it, you may be too, so let’s talk about it. I’m all for transparency, Got an email last week that said “Hey Brian, I’ve heard you rant and rave about how all internships should be paid, and that it is unfair to create a system that requires experience ot get jobs, but the only way to get hired is by gaining experience through internships… but no everyone can work for free. I agree 100% with your sentiment, this fact has bothered me for a long time, I’m glad you’ve given it a platform… BUT, you also work for a site that charges money for people to apply for jobs. How is this any different? I’m not trying to be confrontational, just would like to hear your rationale since generally speaking, I find you to be on the level.” I’m not mentioning this person’s name because I don’t think they expected or wanted m...

Moving Forward Part 4: Breaking Down Barriers to Entry – Work In Sports podcast Oct 28, 2020

June 2014, just 6 years ago, the Atlanta Hawks finished their season 38-44 and were bounced in the first round of the playoffs. Their General Manager, former NBA player Danny Ferry, was in a conference call with team owners and organizational stakeholders outlining his off-season plans and possible targets in free agency. Luol Deng, was a free agent. Ferry, during the call, described Deng as a player who “has a little African in him” and “a guy who would have a nice store out front, and sell you counterfeit stuff out of the back.” The comments became public after being leaked. Ferry claimed he was only reading comments from a scouting report compiled by someone else. The team concluded from their own commissioned investigation that Ferry’s remarks did not include offensive language, and were not “motivated by racial or ethnic animus.” You can judge that for yourself, with or without a commissioned investigation. But that wasn’t the end of the Hawks problems. At the same time, the franchise’s controlling owner Bruce Levenson reported that he sent out a racist e-mail two months earlier criticizing the Hawks predominantly African-American fan base. The e-mail sent to Ferry detailed Levenson’s belief that the Hawks’ fan base was “overwhelmingly black” and the “black people scared away whites” from attending games. Levenson also wrote that the Hawks games were attended by a 70 percent black crowd with predominantly black cheerleaders, hip-hop music, 90 percent black patrons at the arena’s bars, and fewer fathers and sons at the games. He added that concerts at the games were mostly hip-hop or gospel, thus attracting more African-American fans. Levenson sold his interest in the Hawks upon revealing his e-mail to the NBA. October 7th, 2014, just a few months later, Hawks CEO Steve Koonin, seeing a need for change in his organization, posts a job listing for a chief diversity and inclusion officer. We so often think roles in diversity and inclusion are the norm in sports. That there are people and staff dedicated to the process of equality in workplace, culture, hiring practices, benefits, deeper cultural awareness, education, and sensitivity – and they have always been there guiding the ship of cultural equity. But when Steve Koonin and the Atlanta Hawks hired Nzinga Shaw to be their Chief Diversity and Inclusion officer in the fall of 2014, she was the first in the NBA. Amazingly, when Zing Shaw left the Hawks in 2019 to join Starbucks as their Global Chief Inclusion and Diversity Officer, she was also the first to hold that role at Starbucks. 5 years ago, Diversity and Inclusion roles in sports didn’t exist. And while it is important to note that Diversity Officers and D&I executives are now being included in every sports organization's corporate structure, the fact it took this long, and this big of a problem to make it happen, is sad. The Hawks, in case you were wondering, during Shaw’s reign, turned their image in the Atlanta community around. They created all-staff service days with six service projects in the city, accumulating 1,000 combined hours of community service. They had a float in the Atlanta Pride Festival, with current and former players and employees riding on the float and throwing 2,000 basketballs to the crowd with pride and Hawks logos on them. They became an organization focused on fairness, equity and inclusion. I won’t list all the actions they have taken to change their image, but suffice it to say, it is meaningful. This is a great turn-around story. We love stories where characters find a new truth and are reformed and changed – they’ve always been popular in our culture. But what if this happened at a smaller, lesser profile team or league or sports connected organization? If a minor league baseball team’s GM talks about a player in the fashion Danny Ferry did, it doesn’t become national news, it doesn’t spark change,

How to Stand Out When You are Applying for Sports Internships – Work In Sports podcast Oct 26, 2020

The Work in Sports podcast is brought to you by EMPOWRD This is the most important election of our time. Period. It’s is incredibly important for you to see through the noise, the chaos, the misinformation -- and VOTE. Your VOTE matters. I have already returned my early ballot, dropped it off in person at a designated official dropbox...and you know what happened. Rainbows. Immediately. If you want to stay informed, engaged, and ready to vote, check out the EMPOWRD app -- super powerful full of local information, tons of resources to help you. Download the app today at EMPOWRD.com Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast... Before we get into our new favorite segment, the stat line, quick note -- the final part of our four-part series on social justice in sports told through the eyes of our young diverse aspiring sports professional panel...is Wednesday. I hope you have been listening. If not. Do it. Start with part 1. After this series is complete we’ll get right back into our weekly sports industry interviews -- with a returning champion, Joan Lynch. Joan is the Chief Content Officer for WorkingNation, which means she studies the job market and has incredible advice. Her first podcast episode, last year at this time, was one of our most popular of all-time. Like, way more downloads than Leigh Steinberg, but not quite as many as Mailynh Vu. Which puts her in rockstar status. We’ve already recorded this interview and I have to say, I think it’s some of our best work -- Joan knows her stuff, and I get all fired up, and then she brings insightful data, and I rant and rave -- we are like a perfect yin and yang. So plan on tuning in, next Wednesday. Alright… let’s get into The stat line… The total number of jobs on WorkInSports.com -- the number one job board for the sports industry -- 17,286 -- pretty much flat week over week. We added 2,093 new jobs in the last week, an average of 299 fresh sports jobs per day during the last week. That’s a lot of fresh activity. Three cool jobs -- #1 The South Carolina Stingrays are hiring a Marketing Coordinator - great entry-level job -- I’ll wait a few seconds for you all to google search to figure out what sports the South Carolina Stingrays play. If you guessed Minor League Baseball as I did, you’d be wrong, this is an ECHL hockey team - minor league sports are a great career starter, check this one out. Go, Jamie Harrison! #2 The Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs are hiring a Director of Digital Media and Communications -- The Iron Pigs President and GM Kurt Landes was on this show...and the Iron Pigs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies are just 20.8 miles from my house. So if you get this job, let’s hang out. And job #3… Fox Sports in Charlotte is hiring an Associate Producer for Marketing -- so this is the creative side of marketing, the process of developing on-air promotions, in conjunction with the marketing team and creative directors. Very cool Check those three and 17,000 or so more, on WorkinSports.com right now... And that was the stat line… So, rifling through the email, the LinkedIn, the private Facebook group...looking for great questions, and rising to the top this week is Jemele from Florida -- I wish this was Jemele Hill, I’d love to have her on the podcast, but alas, I don’t think this is. “Hi Brian, I’m Jemele and I’ve been listening to your podcast for the last year, the advice you share is so easy to act on, so logical, but at the same time are all things I definitely was not doing, so thank you. I feel like I’m making smarter choices now that will prepare me for my future… on that subject, I’m a college junior and I’m trying to get my internship set up for the spring semester. Obviously, these are weird times, but let’s forget that for a second and just focus on standin...

Moving Forward Part 3: A Voice from Inside the Sports Industry – Work In Sports podcast Oct 21, 2020

The Work in Sports podcast: Moving Forward is brought to you by EMPOWRD This is the most important election of our time. And let’s be honest, voting during a pandemic is a little confusing right now. There is so much misinformation out there aimed toward making you believe your vote doesn’t matter Well, your vote does matter. Voting is the most important responsibility of citizens. Don’t give up that power or that right! Get engaged, informed & ready to vote - all with ONE app. All of these top athletes are out there supporting this great app that will make it easier for you to get all the information you need to vote! Download the app today at EMPOWRD.com Welcome to Part 3 of our 4-part Moving Forward mini-series analyzing social justice through the eyes of ten young, diverse aspiring sports professionals, I’m your host, Brian Clapp from WorkinSports.com. Social justice in sports, the idea of communicating anger and frustration based on racial inequity, took a few decades off. NBA Hall of famer Bill Russell, five-time NBA Most Valuable Player, 12-time All-Star, 11-time NBA championship, Olympic gold medal winner, NCAA Champion -- used his platform to fight against the racism and inequality that plague our country today. Russell believes you should stand up for your beliefs, no matter what the cost - and he has always lived that way. Fans were violent toward him, the FBI surveilled him, fellow pro’s criticized him -- but he persevered. He spoke his truth without fear of reciprocity because his goal was to do more than win basketball games, he wanted to change the world. This was the 60’s - the energy and fervor to fight oppression and inequality slowed down in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s and early 2000. 40 years of silence from our sports stars, the leaders and most powerful voices for change, unfortunately shut up and dribbled. Michael Jordan, Lawrence Taylor, Charles Barkley, Barry Bonds -- they were all outspoken, but rarely is ever about social change and inequality. The voice from within became silent. Glitz, glam and excess became the voice. Love him, hate him, respect him, admonish him - it was Colin Kaepernick who woke up the sports world and brought the athletes back down to the people. Others followed suit with power and passion -- but it became clear, it was no longer a shut up and dribble world. That voice, the one that comes from the inside, has so much power. In 2017, Bill Russell posted a photograph of himself on Twitter, in which he was taking a knee in solidarity with NFL players. Wearing his Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the image was captioned with "Proud to take a knee, and to stand tall against social injustice." In an interview with ESPN, Russell said he wanted the NFL players to know they weren't alone. This conversation, part three of our moving forward series, isn’t about the merits of taking a knee, it’s about using your voice from the inside to affect positive change. Everyone here listening doesn’t have the benefit of a platform like Kyrie Irving or Bill Russell, but change can come from listening, and using the platform you do have inside our industry. To help me through this conversation, join me in welcoming Devin Walker, Miguel Garcia Espinoza and Caitlin Wallen… Thanks to Caitlin, Miguel and Devin for joining me in this important conversation about change and using your voice. I’ll finish up by quoting historian Howard Zinn, author of A People’s History of the United States “We don’t have to engage in grand heroic actions to participate in the process of change. Small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can change the world.” Thanks for listening.

Emphasize These Skills in Your Remote Interviews – Work In Sports podcast Oct 19, 2020

The Work in Sports podcast is brought to you by EMPOWRD This is the most important election of our time. And let’s be honest, voting during a pandemic is a little confusing right now. There is so much misinformation out there aimed toward making you believe your vote doesn’t matter Well, your vote does matter. Voting is the most important responsibility of citizens. Don’t give up that power or that right! Get engaged, informed & ready to vote - all with ONE app. You know who is engaged, informed, and ready to vote with EMPOWRD - Trey Flowers, Detroit Lions Whitney Mercilus, Houston Texans Justin Reid, Houston Texans Anfernee Simons, Portland Trailblazers All of these top athletes are out there supporting this great app that will make it easier for you to get all the information you need to vote! Download the app today at EMPOWRD.com Alright, let’s start the countdown… Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning for WorkInSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast… Happy Monday everyone -- struggling a little getting things rolling this morning… but I’m ready to bring the energy now. Last week we published episode 2 of our four-part Moving Forward series highlighting 10 young, diverse, aspiring sports professionals on their journey to employment and facing the challenges of social justice. I am very proud of our conversations thus far if you haven’t listened yet, please do so, the discussions are eye-opening. This week we publish part 3 - on using your voice from inside an organization. I’m joined by Miguel Garcia Espinoza, Caitlen Wallen, and Devin Walker for a great conversation -- please tune in and download! Alright -- time for the Stat Line What in the world … I must have hit the wrong button. Randy Just our director of customer service just have gotten into my music playlist. Let’s try this again… time for the stat line.. Ah much better… it’s Monday morning, I’m not ready for EDM, dubstep, trap beats yet… man, do I sound old. Ok into the data we go… The total number of jobs on WorkInSports.com the #1 job board for the sports industry… has 17,124 jobs - we’ve crossed 17k, which is awesome. I was just looking at one of our competitors… they have 689 jobs, total. You tell me where the best chance is for you to find a job. In the last week, we’ve added 2,236 jobs to our job board - an average of 319 jobs posted each day of the week. That is opportunity. Ok, our most popular category right now is retail/lifestyle with just over 7,000 job opportunities -- but i want to better explain this category by highlighting a few really cool jobs. “Lifestyle” are all the brands and products that enhance your sports and active life… So let’s check out a few jobs here: Fitbit Environmental Sustainability Program Mgr - now this as just one gig that stood out to me, because I’m way into the environment and sustainability, but fitbit is one of the sports adjacent companies that is in the lifestyle category. They also have a product manager for audience engagement, and program manager for wearables -- pretty cool stuff. Alright, another brand in the lifestyle category -- Patagonia -- one of my personal favs - is hiring an Equity and Performance Lead, you will be responsible for instilling a mindset and culture of equity & inclusion, ongoing learning, and professional development by designing and implementing organizational and culture change efforts, performance management processes, training, and tools across the company. Another big one - have you heard of XOS Digital? When you hear of coaches directly after a game jumping on their iPad and watching cut-ups of game video… or sitting in a dark room watching video and scouting -- they are using XOS digital, they are the leader in sports performance analytics? Amazing company - they are hiring a senior product manager. If you want to work in coaching, scouting,

Moving Forward Part 2: Everyone Has a Role Oct 14, 2020

The Work in Sports podcast is brought to you by EMPOWRD This is the most important election of our time. And let’s be honest, voting during a pandemic is a little confusing right now. There is so much misinformation out there aimed toward making you believe your vote doesn’t matter Well, your vote does matter. Voting is the most important responsibility of citizens. Don’t give up that power or that right! Get engaged, informed & ready to vote - all with ONE app. You know who is engaged, informed, and ready to vote with EMPOWRD - Trey Flowers, Detroit Lions Whitney Mercilus, Houston Texans Justin Reid, Houston Texans Anfernee Simons, Portland Trailblazers All of these top athletes are out there supporting this great app that will make it easier for you to get all the information you need to vote! Download the app today at EMPOWRD.com And the Work InSports Podcast Moving Forward is brought to you by High Point Gamer: High Point Gamer is Central Florida’s premiere Esports consultant for forward-thinking gamers, brands and organizations. They help you add gaming to your marketing strategy. Their custom gaming-centric activations are tailored to support your business goals. Visit High Point Gamer dot com for more information. Welcome to Part 2 of our 4-part Moving Forward mini series analysing social justice through the eyes of ten young, diverse aspiring sports professionals, I’m your host, Brian Clapp from WorkinSports.com. The sports industry has long been our nations main source of entertainment. Look no further than the most popular tv series of 2019-2020. Sunday Night FootballThursday Night FootballMonday Night FootballThe Masked Singer The Last Dance Ahead of the bachelor, survivor, american idol, grey’s anatomy, this is us and a bevy of other highly dicsussed shows. If you look at the most popular individual TV shows - 19 out of the top 25 most watched shows of 2019 were sports. And not just football. The World Series, The NBA finals, The College Football Championship, the NCAA Men’s basketball championships. Sports dominates. With that in mind, you would hope and imagine that the industry itself would be representative of the stars in the games that have become so popular. It is not. For example, more than 45% of college football players are black, but black men only represent 9% of athletic directors and 8% of head coaches. We can play these numbers out down the line in all facets of the sports industry - women’s sports, men’s sports, college, pro, media companies, leagues. The disparity is real, and tangible. Progress only comes when the majority aims to help, support and advocate for the minority. If the majority persists as if the norm they are living in is what they want to see continue, things will never change. But, if a large enough group of allies from the majority are mobilizd and activated for change, they can hold the power and the key to stimulate positive change. As award-winning diversity, equity and inclusion leader Sheree Atcheson wrote in Forbes, Allyship is: a lifelong process of building relationships based on trust, consistency, and accountability with marginalized individuals and/or groups of people.not self-defined—work and efforts must be recognized by those you are seeking to ally with.an opportunity to grow and learn about ourselves, whilst building confidence in others. This is an important step for all listeners, to understand what minority groups, whether it be women, LGBTQ, or People of color - need, and how they need it. To be an ally, requires an ability to listen, support, self-reflect & change. Something all of us can and should do. The Work in Sports podcast Moving Forward is a 4-part discussion with 10 young, diverse, aspiring sports professionals sharing the issues that confront them every day as they attempt to embark on their sports careers and change the world.

Highlighting Your Transferrable Skills – Work In Sports Podcast Oct 12, 2020

The Work in Sports podcast is brought to you by EMPOWRD This is the most important election of our time. And let’s be honest, voting during a pandemic is a little confusing right now. There is so much misinformation out there aimed toward making you believe your vote doesn’t matter Well, your vote does matter. Voting is the most important responsibility of citizens. Don’t give up that power or that right! Get engaged, informed & ready to vote - all with ONE app. You know who is engaged, informed, and ready to vote with EMPOWRD - Trey Flowers, Detroit Lions Whitney Mercilus, Houston Texans Justin Reid, Houston Texans Anfernee Simons, Portland Trailblazers All of these top athletes are out there supporting this great app that will make it easier for you to get all the information you need to vote! Download the app today at EMPOWRD.com Alright, let’s start the countdown... Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…. Before we get into the stat line, last week we published part 1 of our 4 part series titled Moving Forward, and I just want to say thank you for all the really positive responses we’ve received. Equality is an important subject - sports should be the ultimate meritocracy, both on the field and in the offices. The best should rise, no matter what they look like. No matter what their gender. But that isn’t always the case. We need to fix that, and so often that starts with conversations where our eyes are opened. I’d like to consider myself a pretty empathetic person, I put myself in the shoes of others often. BUT, to hear someone else’s experience in their own words is so powerful. When Gerald Taylor explained in episode one just how much it meant for him, a young black man, to have Jason Wright named team president of the Washington Football Team because it helped him see that it is possible-- you could feel it. When Jalen Mitchell, 19-year old Howard student, explained that not everyone has to be on the front lines for the fight for social justice, but everyone does have a role - the maturity, vision, and passion of this 19-year-old man gave me chills. It makes a difference to hear the conversation, hear it in their voices. Go back and listen. I’ll admit, I put a lot of effort into this series, and wanted to see it be successful. But I had an epiphany last week, thanks to some friends, you know who you are, and I don’t really care how many downloads we have. The people who do listen I know will be impacted, and even just one set of ears that are opened and maybe the conversation shifts their perspective a bit, and opens themselves up to their role in progress - that is the marker of success. Part 2 comes up this week with Destiny Jones and Alex Rodriguez. Now its time for the stat line… The Stat Line - Understanding the Week in Sports Careers We’re going to jam through the numbers pretty quick here because I have a very important message to get across… On WorkInSports.com - the number one job board for the sports industry, there are currently 16,493 active jobs, which is up about 1% from last week, so basically flat. We added 1,889 fresh new active jobs this week an average of 270 a day -- which is awesome, lots of reasons to come back to the site daily and see what’s up. Ok - now I have a quick explainer to get into -- for the last few months, I’ve been telling ya’ll about media/creative. I’ve been speaking in college classrooms around the country, and on this here podcast and I get asked all the time, where are the jobs in the sports industry, where is the job growth. My answer -- media/creative, tech/data, and retail/lifestyle. Those are the categories we’ve seen growth. BUT… just this past week you may all have been seeing headlines saying ESPN is on the verge of laying off hundreds of employees.

Moving Forward Part 1: Using the Power of Our Voice Oct 07, 2020

The Work in Sports podcast presents Moving Forward, a 4-part series highlighting the sports industry's role in influencing change for people of color, the LGBTQ community and women. We will discuss representation, allyship, having a voice on the inside, fearless communication and inspiring steps for our future. Join us in this conversation with an open heart and mind. One of the best ways to begin a career in the sports industry is through Minor League Baseball, it is the ultimate platform to do a little bit of everything and gain invaluable experience. In 2016, MiLB launched the FIELD program, which stands for 'Fostering Inclusion through Education and Leadership Development' a landmark program designed to provide an opportunity to sports career-minded individuals from diverse backgrounds. This is a wonderful program - we need more like it. Alumni of the program point to it as the launching point of their career and it has clearly added to the diversity amongst minor league organizations. But, this past June, just days after George Floyd was murdered by police officers in Minnesota, Minor League baseball was noticeably silent. As other leagues, teams, athletes, and organizations condemned the actions and called for change, Minor League Baseball said nothing for days. The silence as they say was deafening and didn’t go unnoticed by those who had been part of the most recent FIELD program cohort. The group banded together and released a joint statement professing their profound disappointment in Minor League Baseball and their belief in the need for progress in social justice and equity while acknowledging the positive role sports can play in changing the world. In the coming weeks, we will be joined by members of that FIELD cohort, young, diverse people, sharing their voice and thoughts as we watch the sports world continue to grapple with its role in social change. In week one we’ll be focusing in on using your voice to force change with Jalen Mitchell and Gerald Taylor. Questions for Moving Forward Part 1 with Jalen Mitchell and Gerald Taylor As young people in the sports industry, how was it that you and your group felt strong enough and empowered enough to speak out in this instance? What was the response like after you and your group posted your statement? What were you expecting, and what actually happened? Was there any fear of repercussion? And frankly, has there been any? When I was coming up in the industry, the biggest personas of the era - Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Mia Hamm - didn’t really speak up about politics, race, gender equality – but now, not only are the athletes using their voice, so are the young people, which is great progress – but where do we go from here? Sports has a unique ability to reach people, and in the last few years many organizations have started using their voice and brand to support social justice efforts and battles for gender quality– is it enough just to use their voice and platform, or should they be doing more? (hiring practices, executive positions, equitable pay etc?) One of the more inspiring stories for me personally, was hearing how Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics drove from Boston down to Atlanta to be part of the peaceful protests in his hometown. It doesn’t always have to be dramatic action, sometimes it’s just being present for the fight and aligned. As you’ve seen this all transpire, what or who has inspired you? What about you, what or who has inspired you and made you feel more powerful in this moment? Recently we saw the Washington Football team hire Jason Wright, to be their team president. How did you feel about this transaction? Nelson Mandela famously said, “Sports has the power to change the world” – do you agree? And if so, how? How will you continue to use your voice and push yourself and others to do more for positive change? Listen in to learn more from these two impressive yo...

Mental Health and Burnout at Work – Work in Sports Podcast Oct 05, 2020

The Work in Sports podcast is brought to you by EMPOWRD This is the most important election of our time. And let’s be honest, voting during a pandemic is a little confusing right now. There is so much misinformation out there aimed toward making you believe your vote doesn’t matter Well, your vote does matter. Voting is the most important responsibility of citizens. Don’t give up that power or that right! Get engaged, informed & ready to vote - all with ONE app. You know who is engaged, informed, and ready to vote with EMPOWRD - Trey Flowers, Detroit Lions Whitney Mercilus, Houston Texans Justin Reid, Houston Texans Anfernee Simons, Portland Trailblazers All of these top athletes are out there supporting this great app that will make it easier for you to get all the information you need to vote! Download the app today at EMPOWRD.com Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast… First things first - it’s Monday, time for the stat line... [stat line] If you need a reminder, the Stat line is when we jump into the data of the past week in sports industry employment -- since WorkInSports.com is the number one job board for the sports industry and the industry leader since 1999 - we have lots of data. And we’re using it! First -- the total number of active jobs in the sports industry -- we’re up to 16,350! That’s a lot of opportunities. Just to put this in perspective, if you lived within 25 miles of Portland, Oregon, you’d discover there are 333 active sports jobs in your area. Pretty cool right? If you lived in Portland Maine, 33 active sports jobs -- not as many, but just proving… WorkInSports is everywhere, and so are sports career opportunities. Side note - I love both Portlands. OK, next data point -- the last 7 days we added 2,755 active sports jobs to our board -- which is an average of ...divide by 7, carry the -- 393 jobs added each and every day. That’s a good reason to come look at our job board every day. The top category of the week is…. media/creative! This area continues to thrive, lots and lots of jobs related to content. Seems like everyone nowadays is starting a podcast...so there is that too. Ok, top three jobs of the week -- my personal favs. Revenue Operations Analyst with New England Sports Network -- this is the business analyst job. Associate Director of Digital Engagement -- San Antonio Spurs - two parts of this job really stood out: Collaborate with a diverse group of internal partners across Content, Marketing, Broadcast, Game Operations, Global Partnerships, Sporting Operations, and Communications to grow our global digital audience and optimize organic digital content performance.Enhance revenue-generating campaigns, and improve data-capture opportunities LuLuLemon -- VP of Diversity, Inclusion and Equity -- And that is the stat line! Which dovetails beautifully into promoting our new series coming up this Wednesday and running through October… It’s called Moving Forward - we’ve brought together 12 young diverse sports career-focused professionals to discuss their experiences and perspectives growing in the sports industry. We’re talking about the sports industry through their eyes -- is it representative? Do they feel included? How important is allyship? Having a voice inside an organization. These are young men and women who either are just breaking into the sports industry or aspire to. You will listen and think to yourself, wow, this is just like my experience, or you will be enlightened and awakened to the knowledge that your sports industry is quitedifferent than theirs. I’ve been awakened in these convrsaations and I’m a pretty eyes wide open guy... So please, listen with an open heart and mind. This is important and valuable content! Alright let’s jump into today’s fan question --

Chasity Melvin: Phoenix Mercury Assistant Coach – Work In Sports Podcast Sep 30, 2020

The Work in Sports podcast is brought to you by EMPOWRD This is the most important election of our time. And let’s be honest, voting during a pandemic is a little confusing right now. There is so much misinformation out there aimed toward making you believe your vote doesn’t matter Well, your vote does matter. Voting is the most important responsibility of citizens. Don’t give up that power or that right! Get engaged, informed & ready to vote - all with ONE app. You know who is engaged, informed and ready to vote with EMPOWRD - Trey Flowers, Detroit Lions Whitney Mercilus, Houston Texans Justin Reid, Houston Texans Anfernee Simons, Portland Trailblazers All of these top athletes are out there supporting this great app that will make it easier for you to get all the information you need to vote! Download the app today at EMPOWRD.com Alright - let’s start the countdown… Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast. There are many attributes and traits that intrigue me about professional athletes. Throughout my career in the sports media I’ve often found myself interviewing pro athletes and thinking to myself, what makes them different? I worked hand in hand with NFL MVP Shaun Alexander for a few years and kept asking him questions, probing at his background his development as an athlete, his experience being the absolute best every phase of his life… I asked so many questions I think he got annoyed with me No that’s not true, Shaun is one of the kindest, most gracious athletes you could ever encounter. You see, I’m one of those people that looks for patterns. Is it where they grew up? how early they started training? Is it a passion that is born within that can’t be controlled only fostered? Is it purely size and speed? Game intelligence and instincts? I’d ask Shaun specific questions like, how did you know to cut that direction on a play -- that didn’t look like it was open at all?! and he’d go into a complex discussion of the blocking scheme, but eventually admit, instincts take over. So is that it? Is it born from within? This would go round and round and round and round. Finally one day, two years into our friendship - he gave me the answer. As he would explain it -- The baseline qualification is that you have the elite athletic combination - fast, strong, size, weight...that gets you to college. It doesn’t get you beyond that. To get to the pro’s and potentially elite level, long, award-winning, triumphant career, requires elite competitiveness. The belief that you need to outwork, outsmart, and out manuever everyone else. That when you line up to play, you raise your ability to an entirely new level. That when your season is done, all you can think about is how you will improve for the next turn. This style of competitiveness cozy’s up, very close, to obsession. Nothing else matters but competing. This is also why so many elite players struggle with mental health issues during their playing days -- not being quite elite enough, not handling the pressure well enough, not having enough outlets for their anguish. Imagine being this hardwired to compete on everything, and then having a day where your body just can’t do it anymore. In 2005 Shaun ran for 1880 yards and 27 touchdowns - he won the league MVP award. In 2008, just three years later he carried that ball 11 times for the Washington Football Team and was released. He was 31 years old. What do you do with all that competitiveness when your body just can’t do it anymore? How do you transition to a different life and world. The world literally sees you different. YOu couldn’t walk down the street without being mobbed before, now you walk down the street and people wonder quietly...is that...nah, can’t be. This mental adjustment, this transition, is just another obstacle in the journey of being ...

Why Bother With Networking? Work In Sports Podcast Sep 28, 2020

The Work in Sports podcast is brought to you by EMPOWRD This is the most important election of our time. And let’s be honest, voting during a pandemic is a little confusing right now. There is so much misinformation out there aimed toward making you believe your vote doesn’t matter - so why bother. Well, your vote does matter. Voting is the most important responsibility of citizens. Don’t give up that power or that right! Get engaged, informed & ready to vote - all with ONE app. You know who is engaged, informed and ready to vote with EMPOWRD - Trey Flowers, Detroit Lions Whitney Mercilus, Houston Texans Justin Reid, Houston Texans Anfernee Simons, Portland Trailblazers All of these top athletes are out there supporting this great app that will make it easier for you to get all the information you need to vote! Download the app today at EMPOWRD.com Alright let’s start the countdown… Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast… New feature -- big hit. Got a lot of positive feedback on our new segment -- so let’s jump right into...The Stat Line Alright quick recap of the week that was in the world of sports employment - through the lens of WorkInSports.com the number one job board for the sports industry… Three main data points and trends to keep you informed … we start with the top line number. There are currently 15,556 active sports jobs posted on WorkinSports.com -- that is a good healthy number. Now, this is down 1.3% week over week. But as is always the case data needs context. In the last week we added 3,302 new active sports jobs - and average of 471 new jobs per day and an increase of 27% week over week. So you may be asking -- how can you add 3,302 jobs this week and have less overall jobs? Well, that’s actually another really good indicator for the state of our industry. What this means is, there was a churn -- many jobs were filled, many new jobs added -- positive activity level. OK, final part of the stat line, three awesome jobs added this week: This part is subjective. Communication and Digital Media Internship with USA Team Handball -- look I don’t know anything about handball, other than I think I would be awesome at it -- but the opportunity to learn this skills for a national governing body is the type of thing that will sand out on your resume. Play-by-Play broadcaster for the San Diego Seals -- who are the San Diego Seals? They are a National Lacrosse League team in San Diego, I like San Diego. The only problem I have is that in San Diego, nothing should be indoors. Seriously, everything from showering to sports should be required to be outdoors in San Diego. And finally -- I have been in the sports industry for 20+ years and I still am introduced to new jobs and companies every damn day. Our final job comes from BallerTV who I heard of for the first time this morning. Based in Miami they are looking for a Live Sports Event Coordinator -- Baller TV according to my research, is a venture-backed startup that is building the world's largest sports network from the ground up. And that was the Stat Line! Do you like that segment? Any other stats you want me to add? Message me on LinkedIN, or join our private facebook group by searching for the Work In Sports podcast on Facebook. And, remember, a Work In Sports membership is just $8 for the first month. You can get access to all of these jobs and way, way, way, way, way, way more. Alright, let’s get to today’s fan question from Wyatt in Pennsylvania... “Hey Brian, I need a little convincing on the power of networking. I’m not a natural networker, I don’t really like it and I’m not fully convinced it matters in the long run. Can you help convince me that it is an effort worth undertaking?”Wyatt in Pennsylvania Good questions Wyatt -- thanks for asking.

Chris Grosse, Penn State Assistant Athletic Director for Marketing – Work In Sports Podcast Sep 23, 2020

The Work In Sports podcast is brought to you by EMPOWRD! NFL superstar Trey Flowers, ESPN anchor Maria Taylor and many others are encouraging you to get registered to vote with EMPOWRD! Empowrd is a technology platform created by former Oracle Tech executive Horace Williams to simplify civic engagement and put democracy in the palm of your hand. With EMPOWRD you can: Confirm your voter registration status, Link to register to vote in your state, Identifying your voting location (plus notification of any last-minute changes to help combat voter suppression), Preview your election ballot before election day and Ability to check-in on Election Day and most importantly, report any voting issues at the poll site. This is the most important election of our time. Get engaged, informed & ready to vote - all with ONE app. Download today at EMPOWRD.com. Alright let’s start the countdown... Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of content and engaged learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast… Big ten football back in October -- look, this is great news all around, as a die-hard sports fan this is what we want to see. If the league commissioner caved to the pressure, thats not good, but if they did their work, consulted with scientists, public health officials and creatd systems to keep the athletes and staff safe and sounds… well, right now. I don’t know about you, but I’ve actually found the NBA and NFL experience without fans, a great experience. The NBA, I don’t even really notice the lack of fans anymore…The NFL is still a little weird, with the huge empty stadiums, but I’m getting used to it. Baseball… ugh, but maybe I’m tainted by my Red Sox being awful. But there is something magical about college sports. I’ll be the first to admit, growing up in the Boston area, there isn’t a huge college sports component, it’s all pro sports. I always thought of college sports as the minor leagues to the pros, and therefore less important. In my world view the pro game was the pinnacle and everything else was just a pathway. But really, this is the wrong lens to look through. This perspective changed for me, when I was in my late 20’s. I travelled to England to watch a few premier league soccer games -- I saw a game at Arsenal, and another at Chelsea - and these were experiences I had never had in sports. The fans were different, the stadium experience was different, the vibe was different. I remembered returning, and going back to work, which was at CNN/Sports Illustrated at the time and telling anyone who would listen.. Oh my gosh, I feel like a different sports fan with different expectations. One of my co-workers said to me… have you ever been to a football game at UGA? Well, no. Another -- have you been to a game at Tennessee? (this is when Peyton was huge) And then my boss, a Michigan grad, said ..dude “what about the Big house?” you been? It wasn’t until I started experiencing these college sports cathedrals that I realized mine was the skewed perspective. That the real passion and enthusiasm and maniacal fandom was in college sports. That booming of 106,000 people on a saturday in the fall chanting so loud your chest felt like it was compressing. And it’s not just football… Most of the athletes in college aren’t on the professional athlete path, they play water polo and volleyball and tennis for the pure love of the game and competition. That’s the magic you want from sports. And as my journey has continued, as I’ve interviewed associate athletic directors from Ohio State, Purdue and Michigan… you realize how much goes into operating a department representing sometimes 30+ teams, not just one. The effort and coordination it takes to maximize the experience of thousands of student athletes across a department...and to draw fans not just to football saturdays, but mid-week soccer games, and track and field and baseball.

A Process for Effective Decision Making – Work In Sports Podcast Sep 21, 2020

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning for WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast… In case you weren’t sure...2020 is still a massive kick to the you know whats. Rest in Power Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a champion of equality for all people, and the rule of law. For everyone dealing with wildfires, hurricanes, and our global pandemic, please stay safe - this is a time for diligence, not complacency. I know we all want to get back to normal, but right now that just isn’t our reality...so be safe and be smart, care for your fellow citizens. Before we get started with today’s question -- we have a new segment -- I like to call it The Stat Line I get asked just about every day about the state of the sports industry --- so we’re going to give you a quick update each week based on our data at WorkInSports.com - in case you didn’t know, we’re the leading job board in the sports industry and have been for a little over 20 years. The Stat Line will consist of at least three valuable data points for you -- How many jobs are currently in our database. Whether that is an increase or decrease over the previous week, and month. Top categories for job postings, and highlight three jobs currently active on our site that I think are interesting. So let’s start with the top line number -- 15,763 active jobs right now on our site. That’s a good number -- lots of opportunities -- but let’s get a little nuanced. It’s important to see the trends… in the last week we have added 2,392 sports jobs...the week prior we added 1,842 --- now that’s a short term trend, but it’s good news. As for categories -- where is the growth? 2,343 jobs in media/creative -- remember eleven without fans, teams leagues and organizations are still creating content for their digital and social platforms. Over 6,000 active opportunities in retail/lifestyle - many of these are far more working the register at Dick’s Sporting Goods -- no offense, Dick’s, we love you, in fact, if you want to sponsor this podcast… call me. Many of the jobs in retail and lifestyle apply to huge brands like Puma, Adidas, Nike, Under Armour, these brands are thriving right now and they are HUGE businesses. As for my three favorite jobs of the week -- Zamboni Operator which is about 30 minutes from my house. Back up plan. Happy Gilmore. Assistant General Manager for a summer collegiate wood bat league which just sounds awesome. And the director of video content for the Tennessee Titans -- I mean I’d be drooling all day making videos of Derrick Henry stiff arms, and I’d get to work with former guest Amie Wells -- so that would be fun, Alright -- that is the stat line! If you have data you want me to share on a regular basis -- let me know… I want to help you all be smarter about your job search! And I’ll get through it a little faster in the future, this was a set the stage episode. Ok onto today’s topic! Sometimes as I prep this show and go through the myriad of questions we receive each week -- rather than handle a specific question, I notice a theme which we can dive into. Again, if you want to submit a question for our Work In Sports podcast Monday episode - you can email me, bclapp@workinsports.com, you can ask me via LinkedIn, you can ask me as part of our private Facebook group - of course, you’d have to join it first… but that’s easy search for the Work in Sports podcast on Facebook and answer a few questions, then I’ll let you in, then you can ask your question. It’s an incredible group for networking with other sports career-minded people, so jump in. So the pattern. Many many questions have come in lately with topics like “I can’t decide what sports career I want… “I can’t decide which role to take…. “I can’t decide what to include on my resume… “I can’t decide what to wear for my interview…”

Kara Walker, Boston Celtics VP of Marketing & Content Strategy – Work in Sports Podcast Sep 16, 2020

Hey everybody I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning for WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast. In 2007 today’s guest, Kara Walker, graduated from Ithaca College. The Massachusetts native began her career in Ticket Operations with the Boston Celtics. Today she is the VP of Marketing and Content Strategy with the Boston Celtics. I’m not just reading her resume, there is a very clear point, or at least it should be. Kara started in sales but today she is a VP in a much different part of the organization. I mention sales jobs and customer service roles to people who want to work in sports and I watch their face change. It’s a reflexive reaction that borders between disgust and annoyance. It’s like they think I’m insulting them by saying they should look into sales roles, rather than be named the GM of their favorite team right out of college. I get it. Everyone has big dreams and those dreams don’t include cold calling people for season tickets, or convincing a church group to buy 30 tickets to the Sacramento Kings game in November. I speak in college classrooms all the time and I’d guess about 25% of the people want to be sports agents. Ask them why and they’ll say they want to be close to the players and it looks like fun. Good luck. You think it’s glamourous, it is not. There are around 830 agents certified by the NFL Players Association and 1,590 active players on 53 man rosters. Not great odds…but now go even further 75% of the players are represented by just 17% of the agents. A half dozen or so super agents handle all the big players and the big deals. The other 824 agents scrap for what is left. When NFL rosters go down to 53 people at the end of training camp as many as 300 agents have no active clients at all. Now, let’s compare that to jobs in sports sales. For the last 20 years of WorkInSports.com -- that’s right, we’re in our second decade of sports industry domination now, sales jobs have made up about 50% of the jobs on our job board. Now, I’ll be transparent -- things are a topsy turvy right now in the sports industry. The whole global pandemic, no fans, no tickets has put a damper on jobs in sales. I’m not being flip, near 200,000 americans have died in this pandemic and we all think about them daily, maybe not specifically, but we think about this terrible situation daily. Sals jobs are lower on our job board than ever before -- but let’s have some perspctivce. Sales equates to revenue. Revenue is the #1 goal of any business. Sales jobs will return in full force. Matter of fact, they’ll return in greater numbers than ever before as sports teams get back to normal and the need to make up for lost revenue is present. In the long game of life -- the number of sales jobs and opportunities will be in your favor. But, I get it – you aren’t convinced – you’ve been told all your life to do what will make you happy, and sales isn’t it. I’m with you, I have never worked in sales, I haven’t even been a waiter at a restaurant trying to sell someone a steak dinner, and I turned out OK. But, I’m not giving up on this. You need to see the truth. Sales isn’t a life sentence, it’s a step inside the building of an organization. Kara Walker started in Ticket Operations with the BOSTON CELTICS, one of the most storied franchises in sports. She gave herself an opportunity to prove herself, learn the business, connect herself with revenue generation, build her reputation and grow from within a premium organization. In two years’ time she was changing departments into content and marketing – she shifted her entire career, but stayed with her top organization where she wanted to be. I can go on and on about following the path of opportunity and least resistance but you need to believe it and buy into it. Now, I have to admit three things before we get into this interview,

The Traits You Need For Sports Industry Success – Work In Sports Podcast Sep 14, 2020

Hey everybody I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning for WorkInSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast… Alright, this is the first time I’m speaking about this publicly, I have some big news about the podcast. Something exciting and important. Over the last decade, we’ve all watched at sports figures have opened up to the world. Whether via Players Tribune, their own social accounts, their voice in press conferences, what they wear, and how they display their world views - we have gotten to know athletes better. As I have said many times prior -- In my era, we never really knew how guys like Joe Montana, Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky, and Rickey Henderson felt about the world. We knew how they played, and how they acted as teammates...and that was about it. Back in June when George Floyd was murdered and peaceful protests took over the streets of our nation... they also took over the arenas. Athletes used their voice, sports became a greater vehicle and platform for social justice and expression. I for one love this. I hate the “shut up and dribble” as if athletes were placed her to sing and dance and run for us… just to entertain. These are human beings with important views and global impact. At the same time as George Floyd, a group of diverse young professionals also stood out from the rest of the crowd. The 2020 cohort of the Minor League Baseball FIELD program, which stands for 'Fostering Inclusion through Education and Leadership Development' spoke up, loud and clear, when Minor League baseball was silent. At the time I was impressed with their unity, fearlessness, and voice. I only wish I had this strength at their age. I began connecting with each and every member of the cohort, offering to help them with their careers and network. And one young woman, Adrienne Brown, took it one step further. She asked is we could do a series of podcasts with the FIELD cohort to discuss being young and diverse while trying to work and make a name for yourself in the sports industry. Enthusiastically I said yes. In the month of October, we will debut our 4-part series titled Moving Forward and featuring young diverse professionals speaking their truth and sharing their experiences. We just conducted our first interview sessions last week, and I couldn’t have been more impressed with our first two guests -- Jalen Mitchell an incredibly impressive student at Howard University and Gerald Taylor, a recent graduate of Virginia State who is trying to stand out in the world of diversity and inclusion. The conversations are eye-opening, and important. Please listen with an open heart and mind. Ok, on to today’s question… Keisha from Chicago… “Hi Brian, I’ve heard you recently in two different zoom sessions and I was captivated by your talks -- you have a very engaging demeanor and speak with so much passion! I have a follow-up question if you don’t mind answering it. You talked about the most important traits you need for the sports industry - being competitive, coachable, and curious. I wrote them down to keep me inspired. But I have a question… is being competitive just another way of saying work hard?” Keisha -- I am so excited by this question. You submitted it via LinkedIn and many times I just respond personally to questions but this one I really really wanted to elevate to the Monday podcast. So here goes…. NO working hard is not the same as being competitive. I’ll explain, but let me run through all the traits first just to get everyone else up to speed, then we’ll dive into the difference between being competitive and working hard. It’s true - I try to get these attributes or traits across in just about every presentation because I believe they are vital. Let’s start with Coachable. I always look for new ways to articulate and back up my theories, and just this weekend I saw “Coachable” in action...so let’s talk about it.

Andres Cantor: Legendary Telemundo Deportes Broadcaster – Work In Sports Podcast Sep 09, 2020

Calling all up-and-coming broadcast talent – here’s your chance to make a name for yourself overnight. Compete against others in SiriusXM’s “MLB Fan Call of the Month” contest. Visit SiriusXM dot com slash MLB Fan Call, and make your voice heard before the contest closes on September 10th at 10AM Eastern. One winner, as judged by the SiriusXM programming team, will have their play-by-play call air on SiriusXM MLB Radio, and advance to compete in the final “Fan Call of the Year” contest for a grand prize that includes a trip for two (2) to attend the 2021 MLB All Star Game at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia, plus the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to call a half-inning of the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game, LIVE on SiriusXM MLB Radio! Go to SiriusXM dot com slash MLB Fan Call for a full set of contest rules, prizing details and more. Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning for WorkInSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast… Buenos Aires, the Paris of the South, known for its architecture, cuisine, shopping, history, entertainment, beaches -- one of the top travel destinations in the world. But in the 1970’s Buenos Aires was in the midst of the Dirty War, a period when Argentina’s military dictatorship turned against its own people. Quick trip down history lane -- it was 1976 when the Argentine military overthrew the government of Isabel Peron, the widow of populist president Juan Peron. It was a political coup called Operation Condor and it was sponsored and supported by the United States. The military took power by force, and turned against Argentina’s citizens, taking away political dissidents and people it suspected of being aligned with leftist, socialist or social justice causes and incarcerating, torturing, and “disappearing” an estimated 30,000 people. Still to this day, every Thursday, the mothers and grandmothers of the 30,000 unaccounted for victims of the Dirty War, gather in one of Argentina’s most famous public squares, the Plaza De Mayo, wearing white scarves and holding signs covered with names. Why am I bringing all fo this up? Why the trip down Argentinian history? Today’s guest is one of the most famous sports broadcasters in the world, Andres Cantor, known around the globe for his legendary play by play call when a goal is scored in soccer. GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLL! I can’t do it, nor will I try. But to really understand a person, you have to know where they came from. When I was given the opportunity to interview Andres, a man I have long admired for his artful, entertaining work in soccer, the Olympics, and as a leader in the Spanish-speaking community - I wanted to understand the man behind the call, not just the call itself. Andres grew up in Argentina, in Buenos Aires, during the Dirty War, when the military took to the streets and people he knew disappeared. His family fled the country, and came to America, where he had to completely restart his life. I strongly believe we are formed by our early years, they become our foundation for what we believe is true, valued and important - our early experiences shape the way we see the world. Not put yourself in Andres shoes. War-torn country, on his doorstep, in his vision every single day. Fleeing the country, starting over, new people, a new language, new culture, new everything. He had ever reason to make excuses, to blame the world for its injustices, to crumble in the face of the challenges ahead of him. But he didn’t. He became a legend. This year Andres celebrated his 20th year at Telemundo, and I had the honor of interviewing him on his illustrious career. One note before we get started -- 5 minutes before we started our interview, Andres’ phone started blowing up because Lionel Messi announced he wanted to leave Barcelona. He has sincere retracted, but in that moment,

Andrew Diamond: SiriusXM Manager, Sports Partnerships and Marketing – Work In Sports Podcast Sep 02, 2020

Calling all up-and-coming broadcast talent – here’s your chance to make a name for yourself overnight. Compete against others in SiriusXM’s “MLB Fan Call of the Month” contest starting on Thursday, September 3rd at 10AM Eastern. Visit SiriusXM dot com slash MLB Fan Call, and make your voice heard before the contest closes on September 10th. One winner, as judged by the SiriusXM programming team, will have their play-by-play call air on SiriusXM MLB Radio, and advance to compete in the final “Fan Call of the Year” contest for a grand prize that includes a trip for two (2) to attend the 2021 MLB All Star Game at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia, plus the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to call a half-inning of the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game, LIVE on SiriusXM MLB Radio! Go to SiriusXM dot com slash MLB Fan Call for a full set of contest rules, prizing details and more. Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning for WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast. I have an ongoing internal dialogue - no I’m not talking to myself, I’m not that old or senile yet - no, I’m constantly asking myself “what else?” This has become a little bit of a joke between my wife and I, she was on a job interview once years ago, and the interviewer started with a broad question about the role, and then for the next 30 minutes just kept repeating “what else?” every time my wife paused. While I think this is a terrible interview technique -- it is a pretty good question to ask yourself about yourself. I do this often and in many ways. With my kids, I wonder - again in my head -- what else can I be doing to help them become good people? What else can I teach them that school may not? Maybe it’s life skills, maybe it’s about the history of racial oppression, maybe it’s about climate change and sustainability? I wonder “what else?” can I do to be a better husband, mentor, friend, volunteer, member of society -- the list goes on. What else? I have an industry friend who always talks about the extra 1% you can do -- similar concept - he’s always telling people it doesn’t have to be huge, it just needs to be 1% better than everyone else...and this is just another way to get into a positive mindframe of doing a little more. I’m not perfect at it, sometimes I ask myself “what else” - come up with a good idea for something more I can do, and then cease to actually do it. Turns out, you make less of an impact when you don’t actually do the stuff you think about doing. Who knew? Anyway, the reason I bring this up is not out of self-importance or even a desire to be transparent… it’s because my mind has been raging lately about the podcast, this here show. What else? I feel like I should be doing more, that the traditional industry expert interview style is good and I enjoy it thoroughly, but maybe we need to break through and push a little more. I don’t know, I don’t have it all figured out yet, but I feel there are some more creative approaches I am yet to unlock but will continue to work on. With that in mind, I am taking a bit of a different approach to today’s show… a little shift that i think is pretty cool. Today’s guest is Andrew Diamond, Manager of Sports Sponsorships and Marketing for SiriusXM - cool job right? Andrew has also worked for Octagon, FanDuel, Topps and more - he’s a pretty interesting dude. If you were listening at the top of the show, SiriusXM is running a really cool contest called “Fan Call of the Month” with a chance to win a trip for 2 to the MLB all-star game and a chance to do play-by-play for a half inning of the sirius xm broadcast of the All-Star futures game! Pretty cool contest right? So what we are going to do today is tell the story of Andrew’s job, through the lens of this particular project -- how the Fan Call of the Month, went from idea, to activated project rolled out narttionwide.

Where is the Sports Industry Headed? – Work In Sports Podcast Aug 31, 2020

Where is the Sports Industry Going?! Calling all up-and-coming broadcast talent – here’s your chance to make a name for yourself overnight. Compete against others in SiriusXM’s “MLB Fan Call of the Month” contest starting on Thursday, September 3rd at 10 AM Eastern. Visit SiriusXM dot com slash MLB Fan Call, and make your voice heard before the contest closes on September 10th. One winner, as judged by the SiriusXM programming team, will have their play-by-play call air on SiriusXM MLB Radio, and advance to compete in the final “Fan Call of the Year” contest for a grand prize that includes a trip for two (2) to attend the 2021 MLB All-Star Game at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia, plus the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to call a half-inning of the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game, LIVE on SiriusXM MLB Radio! Go to SiriusXM dot com slash MLB Fan Call for a full set of contest rules, prizing details, and more. Alright, let’s start the countdown… Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInsports.com and this is the work in sports podcast… Cool note to add to our new sponsor, SiriusXM, coming up on Wednesday we’re going to have on SiriusXM Manager of Sports Partnerships and Marketing Andrew Diamond -- I thought it would be super cool to change our normal format and do a little something different. Andrew is going to take us through his job and his role at SiriusXM in sports partnerships, through the lens of the “Fan Call of the Year” contest -- from concept brainstorming to organizing the teams necessary to make the concept real, to meeting with stakeholders, promoting and activating -- you’ll get an idea of what it’s really like to work in marketing, by seeing how an idea turns into reality. I’m excited about this, because I love the idea of learning about the role through the actual process of creating a sports partnership! Of course I love the idea… it was my idea! Tune in Wednesday for that -- and seriously, if I was even slightly interested in sports broadcasting, or just wanted to have some fun, I would be all over this “fan call of the year” contest -- you could call a half-inning of the futures game on SiriusXM MLB radio and get a trip to the all-star game in Atlanta? Super cool. Alright on to today’s topic. Actually quick recap -- last weeks episode we talked about cancel vs. consequence culture -- and again we used misogyny in the sports industry as the launching point for the discussion… If you haven’t listened to the episode you should, it’s raw and it’s honest, but I also want to follow up on two things: 1: For those of you that requested I stick to sports and stop having conversations about topics like this -- stop it. You are embarrassing yourself. Don’t listen if you don’t want to be challenged, and if you truly think subjects like misogyny and social justice don’t intersect with sports and our day to day existence -- wake up. Every sports league, team, lifestyle brand, agency and organization connected to sports is taking on these issues because they are important, and they affect all of us. 2: I did get called out for one thing, and I’d like to say thank you for it. Kae Dube, rightfully pointed out that not all women have 2 X chromosomes. And she is right, she knows I didn’t say it in a derogatory way so we are cool, but I should not have been as verbally clever as I was being, I should have been more clear. Let that be a warning to all of you, sometimes leave the creative writing at home and just b clear with what you are trying to say. Alright -- now let’s get into today’s subject… Alisha from Pennsylvania writes in -- “Hey Brian, long time listener of the podcast and I’ve heard you speak a few times in different panels -- your enthusiasm and energy for this industry is just awesome, thank you. Question for you -- with the world being turned upside down with coronavirus and the sports industry being dif...

Shahbaz Khan: Minnesota Timberwolves Director of Digital Content – Work In Sports Podcast Aug 26, 2020

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast… I know this may sound trite, but I learn something from every interview I conduct on this show. It’s true - when you keep yourself open to learning and open to your own need for improvement, you start to see the opportunity in everything. I don’t want to let the cat out of the bag, but today’s guest Shahbaz Khan director of digital content for the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx, really woke me up during this interview with his ideas. Now, full disclosure -- if someone asked me what my dream job would be right now, it would be leading a digital content group for a pro sports team -- so Shahbaz had me piqued from the get-go. One thing I always listen for in all of my interviews is HOW someone got the gig they currently occupy, or frankly any of their jobs. Did they find out about the job on our site WorkInSports.com -- like Dan Kaufmann from the New York Jets? Did they get it by referral and networking like Hannah Huesman from the Philadelphia Phillies? How did they get where they are? Well, Shahbaz shares a story, coming up shortly, about how he got his job with the Twolves that I have now cited in multiple speaking engagements that I have been a part of -- it’s a zoom world, and I’ve been doing a lot of career-focused panels. I’ll summarize quickly, and then you can listen to him share the details. But essentially he wanted to work for the Twolves as a social media associate, and he figured out a way to make himself come to life. He started a new twitter account and started doing the job. Seriously. He started doing the job of a social media associate for the Twolves. He was able to then show the Twolves how he would operate in the position -- his tone, his creativity, he created his own proof of concept. This is what we mean by -- what else can you do to stand out? He could have submitted his resume and waited - but he went the extra 10%. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again -- it takes a lot of faith to hire someone, you are banking on their words and the paper they hand you celebrating themselves. You interview them, and you hear theem sell themselves… but you never really know how they will operate until you get them in your building...and that is daunting. I have hired people before that were incredible in the interview process, their references were good, their resume was tight -- and then in the job itself they failed. What Shahbaz did was genius, because it overcame the fear employers have of hiring someone who can’t really perform when the red light goes on. If you can figure out this magic for yourself, if you can figure out how to show proof of concept, and show you can do the job and help quell any fears an employer may have on making you their next hire -- that is magic. And Shahbaz caputed that in his process. I’m telling you -- there is a lot more than just this story coming up, Shahbaz shares great stuff on creating digital content during this interview, so I’ll shut up and let you listen… here he is Shahbaz Khan, Director of Digital Content for the Timberwolves and Lynx. Questions for Shahbaz Khan, Minnesota Timberwolves Director of Digital Content 1: I love getting into my guest’s background and seeing something that jumps out – for you this is clear: you started college studying electronics engineering! Quite the departure from sports social media content. What was your plan early on, and how did you eventually change to a sports focused career? 2: You joined the Timberwolves/Lynx in May 2014 as a social media associate – what do you remember most about that first interview process with the Timberwolves? 3: You jump right into working with an NBA and WNBA team on their social channels – obviously they aren’t going to hand over the strategy and execution on day one – what did your role look like in t...

Cancel vs. Consequence in the Sports Industry – Work In Sports podcast Aug 24, 2020

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkinSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast. So, I want to rant for a little bit - it’s my show, I get the soapbox and I’m deciding to use it. There is so much anger and division on cancel vs. consequence, and I want to try and have a meaningful conversation with you through the lens of Mike Milbury’s recent comments on the NHL on NBC Stanley Cup Playoff coverage. For those of you not in the know, during a recent game Milbury and analyst Brian Boucher were discussing the benefits of the NHL's playoff bubble. Boucher: "If you think about it, it's a terrific environment with regard to -- if you enjoy playing and enjoy being with your teammates for long periods of time, it's a perfect place," Boucher said. And then Milbury added: "Not even any woman here to disrupt your concentration," Since the comment, Milbury has announced that he will not be part of NBC Sports' broadcasts "In light of the attention caused by my recent remark, I have decided to step away from my role at NBC Sports for the remainder of the Stanley Cup Playoffs," the 68-year-old Milbury said in a statement released Saturday. "I do not want my presence to interfere with the athletes as they try to win the greatest trophy in sports.” There was and is outrage on both sides of the subject -- some say it’s an overreaction, and Milbury’s comments were just the truth and this is another example of cancel culture. Others say this is the same tired cliches minimizing women, their impact and value, degrading them to a distraction and fodder for men to ogle at...and that this is an example of there being consequences because words matter, and what you say matters. Let me start by saying this -- analysts have a tough job of trying to speak off the cuff in a fast-paced game and when they try to be irreverent, get off-topic, play for a laugh line, or teeter out of their lane -- things get out of control fast. But, the best at it, don’t seem to run into this problem -- because they have focus and they know their job is to talk about the game in front of them, not seek out high fives from adoring fans who think they are witty and on the edge. Let’s get into the comment itself in the most simple way possible -- is it fair? or is it cliche? Look, I’m a white straight married male, the most privileged class in our society, and I’m so fricking tired of the stupid, old, cliched tropes like this toward women. This is the most banal, boring observation about the human condition -- women are a distraction and men are just prey to their seductiveness. This is the slippery slope of irreverent commentary -- it may look harmless or funny to some when isolated -- “ah, what he said wasn’t so bad, loosen up!” But put it in context, weigh it down with the history of misogyny, put yourself in someone else’s shoes who has battled inequality and hasn’t been fed privilege throughout their life… and maybe you’ll hear things differently. To be honest, I’d be offended if I was on either side of this narrative -- of course, it’s more insulting to women, who surely don’t deserve to be relegated to “distraction”. But if I was a player, in the frickin Stanley Cup finals, and some dude was assuming I couldn’t hold my focus and concentration because a woman, or women, or my wife or my partner or girlfriend was in the bubble -- I’d be like “how simple do you think I am? I can’t prioritize this moment? I don’t value my teammates enough to perform at my best? I can’t willfully decide to focus?” And to put this burden on any woman, that just their mere existence inside the bubble could shift the power axis out of orbit. If I was a woman, and I heard this quote it’s like “rewind and repeat the same old junk about how we aren’t value adds to this equation… just a distraction.” Let’s get real here -- Do you know how many women came to me during my ca...

Carl Manteau: Chicago Blackhawks Senior Director of Group Sales – Work In Sports Podcast Aug 19, 2020

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast. Well, I’m not often one to get into self-aggrandizement -- ok, maybe a little - but I have to say this is a pretty proud day. On September 9th, 2017 we launched this podcast with the intention of helping guide young professionals into sports careers. We aimed to share advice, insider knowledge, seasoned perspectives, and cover the journey of hundreds of careers and organizations. The first-ever guest on the Work in Sports podcast -- and some of your old schoolers who have been here from the beginning -- Scott MacDonald, Jake Kernen, James Ebo, Kelsey Smith, Carlton Robie, Dasmine Evans, Gary Pinson, and others I’m forgetting and sorry -- probably remember it was Carl Manteau then Senior Director of Group Sales for the Milwaukee Bucks. Today is episode 300 of the show. Alright, slight confession it;’s actually 301, my math didn’t line up as I had planned but don’t get lost in the details, I’m on a roll here. Three years ago, Carl and I talked about the journey into sports from inside sales, today we talk about new subjects like mental health through a pandemic, group sales when there are no groups to sell to, and developing culture in a world that is distant and through computer screens. Now, while that sounds depressing -- it is not. Carl is one of the most positive, insightful, and motivating people I know. He paints a picture of light with his words, sharing ideas that can make this time productive, efficient, and set us all up for future success. He highlights the good things, like the positive culture of working in sports, and how we can support one anothers mental health with simple gestures. This is a podcast of positivity, rooted in reality - we aren’t painting unicorns on the ceiling, we’re seeing the silver inside the grey. Here’s my guy, Carl Manteau, who is now the Senior Director of Group Sales for the Chicago Blackhawks.. Questions For Carl Manteau, Chicago Blackhawks Senior Director of Group Sales 1: The returning champion! In February, you left the Milwaukee Bucks, an organization you had been with for almost 7 years, to join the Chicago Blackhawks as Senior Director of Group Sales. What has it been like starting with a new organization and having the entire world turn upside down just a few weeks after starting? 2: For a decade or longer I’ve been telling young people, if you want to work in sports look to sales, that is where the opportunities are. In February we had 25,000 jobs on WorkInSports.com – around 12,000 of those, almost 50%, were in sales. We dropped down to 8k jobs in April, and now we are back up to 16k. But only 622 are in sales. What do we tell all the young professionals who were listening to guys like us say they should work in sales, and now there are either no jobs for them, or they lost the one they had? What advice can we give them now? 3: I know you can’t predict the future – but the NHL is in its playoff bubble right now, and it looks like the next season will start in December versus the normal October start. Has the conversation shifted to “how” to bring fans back into the arena versus “if” you can bring fans back? 4: Things have likely settled down a bit now as we’ve hit the 7th overtime of our global pandemic, but I keep picturing the early scene in Jerry Maguire where Tom Cruise is frantically calling his clients trying to retain them with little luck. I envision this is what it was like for most salespeople in the first few months of COVID, trying to call their big groups and premium clients to settle their fears, or respond to their questions – am I on track, as it pretty crazy? 5: It’s strange, in this time of social distance and isolation I’ve talked to hundreds of professionals in marketing, operations, technology and social media -- and they’ve all told me about bei...

Discover the Energy Source Inside of You – Work In Sports Podcast Aug 17, 2020

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning for WorkInSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast… I’ve been thinking a lot about energy, burnout and mental health lately - so in searching through our database of inbound questions for this here show, I was hunting and pecking for questions on this subject...and I found a lot. This is something many of you are dealing with and want to discuss. These are very personal subjects, but I think it can help to have a larger discussion so that you, the individual at home, can know you are not alone in this battle for mental health and energy and the battle against burnout. I picked this one from jane in Ohio -- but really I could have picked 20 others. Before I get into Jane’s question, know that you can send me your career-focused questions either by connecting with me on LinkedIn and messaging me there or by emailing be at bclapp at workinsports.com -- Here’s Jane’s really good question -- “Hi Brian, I’m a big fan of the podcast and the knowledge you share - you have helped me immensely in my career. I have a topic for you to discuss on your show. In the first few months of quarantine, I framed my mind around the idea that this would be just a few months, and I could get through it. I took a pay cut but kept my job, and I’ve sat in my apartment essentially by myself for 3 months, but I kept telling myself it was temporary. The longer this drags on, the more I feel myself losing hope. I don’t mean suicidal or anything that dramatic, but I would use terms like depressed, confused, frustrated, and kind of burnt out. I’m not looking to you to solve me in a clinical sense, I just want to have the conversation so that others know they aren’t alone if they are feeling the same way” Hey Jane, first off thanks for your email, showing this level of vulnerability and putting yourself out there is impressive, so thank you. First I’ll share a couple of personal anecdotes then we’ll get into a little more robust ideas on how to handle this. I want to stress beforehand, I’m not a doctor or psychiatrist and if you are feeling depressed and having suicidal thoughts, please I beg you talk to someone. Someone you love, someone with expertise - just talk to someone. Another voice matters. As I mentioned earlier, I’ve been thinking a lot about burnout, energy, and mental health lately. Energy is an important topic to me -- and think of energy like spirit, enthusiasm and excitement -- not necessarily the ability to run a marathon. I believe, we all have things in our life that provide us energy. We gain energy from certain experiences, lifestyles, endeavors, challenges -- I know people who gain energy from social experiences, so they needed to have a balance of work and workplace social engagement. I know people that gain energy from completing a complex task, so they always kept a Rubix cube with them, or a book of puzzles, I know others that gain energy from their environment -- so a walk in the woods or a run makes them feel energized. I think learning this about yourself is one of the most important goals you can have in life. What gives you strength, energy, vitality enthusiasm? Pay attention to your body and your energy levels and understand what makes them grow and change and diminish and flourish. When you figure this out, lean into those experiences. I battle some seasonal depression -- maybe depression isn’t the right word, but when the sun goes down early and the weather is cold, I lose my energy focus and “want to”. I am solar-powered, I love the green of the trees, the noises of nature, the sun on my body. That makes me feel energized. So with that in mind, and our current situation I have been worried about my own mental state when things turn grey again. I know that I have to focus on getting outside no matter the weather. I have to make that time each day.

Kevin Brown: Detroit Red Wings Director of Community Relations Aug 12, 2020

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged learning for WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast… Community relations is food for the soul of an organization. Still one of my favorite quotes. It’s from an anonymous CEO, I’d give credit if I could. And it’s a true statement. When most departments of an organization are focused on internally beneficial revenue creation, it is the community relations department that is focused on more outwardly impactful projects. They are literally giving, with no intention to receive anything but joy and fulfillment. But, even though the quote hits the mark on the spirit of community relations, it’s purpose and mission, it doesn’t take into account the actual scope of the job. What we see from the outside are hundreds of events each year utilizing the reach and power of a team brand and its athletes to make a difference in the local community. Support for education, the military, cancer survivors, blood drives, coaching -- that what we see, and are moved by as human beings. But when we talk about the job, when we talk about Community Relations as a career, yes it starts with caring about the people and the causes -- but it also requires elite skills. Event management, marketing, promotions, budgeting, staffing, leadership skills, and more are required to impact and change the local community. It starts with heart, but it requires skill. Today’s guest is a shining example of that mix, a combination of elite skill and unrivaled passion and enthusiasm for making a positive change the world. Kevin Brown is the Director of Community Relations for the Detroit Red Wings and the Director of the Detroit Red Wings Foundation -- it’s my pleasure to have him as our guest Here we go -- let’s dive into the world of community relations with Kevin Brown… Questions for Kevin Brown, Detroit Red Wings Director of Community Relations and Director of the Detroit Red Wings Foundation 1: Let’s start with an easy one – in your opinion why is community relations such an important part of the sports industry? 2: Early in your career you worked with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and like most sports focused people, you filled various early career roles – Game Day Supervisor, Training Camp Assistant, Team Services Assistant – how did you eventually figure out Community Relations was your path? 3: You earned your degree in marketing, and now find yourself in community relations – do you find there to be valuable links between the two fields? 4: Most people understand what community relations is, but I don’t think they full appreciate the depth of the role – how would you describe the main skill sets necessary to thrive in community relations? 5: During your years with the Bucs, you were also the Super Bowl Community Relations rep from 2010- 2016. Every player I’ve interviewed over my career just shakes their head when they talk about the playoffs or super bowl, as if to say “it’s a whole different world” Did you feel the same about your super bowl experience, like this just ramped everything up? 6: What do you remember most about your first Super Bowl event? 7: After 14 years with the Bucs and the NFL you jumped to the NHL in a newly developed Director of Community Relations role with the Detroit Red Wings. Initially were there any ah-ha moments as you became accustomed to how things operated in the NFL vs. NHL? 8: With many jobs we talk about measurable metrics, attempting to quantify impact, how are you able to do that in Community Relations? 9: With the Bucs and Red Wings you have been a team spokesperson, managed huge events, built partnerships in the community, handled huge budgets, developed the long term strategy and more – what did you view as the hardest part to get used to, or master, was there a certain aspect that was out of your natural comfort zone? 10: Management of people is a big jump in someo...

The Keys to Effective Salary Negotiation – Work In Sports Podcast Aug 10, 2020

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged Learning for WorkInSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast! Alright, a quick recap of the past few weeks shows -- they’ve been awesome. If you haven’t listened go back and check out: Raleigh Anne Gray, CEO of Must Love Sports and Senior Director of Athlete Exchange for WassermanMelissa Silberman, Atlanta hawks Director of Partnership Activation Ameena Soliman, Player Personnel Coordinator for the Philadelphia EaglesNeeta Sreekanth COO of INFLCR I just noticed that it’s been ladies’ night on the Work In Sports podcast for the last month-- love that! It wasn’t even intentional! Coming up this week is Kevin Brown, Director of Community Relations for the Detroit Red Wings and Director of the Detroit Red Wings Foundation -- super cool guy, I learned a lot about the power of community relations from our conversation. I know you will like it. We’re also getting all of our fall semester sports curriculums up and running -- for those of you who don’t know, we have an online Sports Career Game Plan program with over 120 pages of content, 30+ videos, downloadable worksheets and audio files and more. Our program is being used by Grand Canyon University, University of Florida, Ball State, University of Findlay, Fontbonne University, Dubuque University, and many more. If you are a professor listening, this program is available to you -- it teaches the strategies and tactics to get hired in sports. Period. From the feedback we’ve received from students, it’s life-changing. If you are interested in learning more or seeing a demo -- email me - b clapp at work in sports dot come. If you are a student -- push your professor to learn more about our program. Your goal is to get a job after college, and we’ll teach you how. Alright on to today. Before we get into today’s question - I have a request for all of you. I need more podcasts to listen to, personally. Now, here are the rules: I don’t need more sports podcasts, I have plenty of those and I know what I like. I need more podcasts for when I’m not listening to sports. I don’t need political podcasts, I have a few I listen to and respect, and I’m well covered there. I really really like well-produced professional podcasts that tell a story over a 6-10 episode arc. Examples: Winds of Change, The Clearing, The Catch and Kill podcast..and the granddaddy Serial.If you have any interview-style shows, like mine but not necessarily related to sports or sports careers, let me know those too...I’m always trying to improve my questioning and techniques. I’m looking for more smart, insightful podcasts so if you have a suggestion that hooked you - please let me know. I’m a content junkie, and I like to learn. Jump over to our private Facebook group, by searching for the Work In Sports podcast on Facebook - answer a few questions so I know you are for real, and let me know what you like and are listening to right now. I’ll start the thread over there and you can all share… OK, now to today’s question from John in Los Angeles… and I’ll be honest, it’s a subject I don’t like very much: “Hi Brian, I’ve recently graduated and while the world is turned upside down a bit right now I am lucky to be in the midst of interviewing with two companies. Your advice over the years has really really helped me, I wouldn’t be where I am right now, feeling like success has arrived, without your help. My question is simple -- I think both companies are going to offer me positions -- how do I negotiate to get the best deal for myself and my future? “ Hey John, thanks for the kind words and I’m thrilled to know I helped. Even if it’s just 1%, I’m glad to be a part of your story. Negotiation is so incredibly important, but it’s also awkward and difficult… for everyone. The first thing to recognize is that you are venturing into an area many many people are afraid to even travel ...

Neeta Sreekanth: INFLCR, Chief Operating Officer – Work In Sports Podcast Aug 05, 2020

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning for WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcasts… So think about this for a second -- remove all your preconceived notions - remove everything you’ve been told over the years - clear your mind. You are a 19-year old elite college athlete. A basketball star, a softball star, a football star - doesn’t matter, you are elite. I love this dream already - I always wanted to be an elite 19-year old athlete, instead of a well, you know, a decent high school athlete who went on to a successful intramural career. Ok, back on track, dream scenario, elite athlete… You, the 19 year old elite athlete, start to appear in marketing materials for your university. You are selling tickets. Your jersey, with your name and number on it, is top selling merchandise, generating massive revenue. A video game company, puts your face, your body, your brand on the cover of their game...and sells millions. You, the product generating everything, the machine that makes it all go, sees nothing. Meanwhile, you post a video of your most recent training session on youtube -- it generates thousands of views, tons of comments… and by a mistake, you had on the option to include ads, on the video, so it generates some revenue for you. It’s your brand, it’s you. But now you are penalized, threatened with losing your eligibility over generating revenue on yourself and for yourself. So everyone else can profit off of you, but you can’t. Just to clarify with some real numbers, the NCAA generates over a billion dollars yearly in just media right deals, to broadcast their events, and thee athletes upon who’s back this is generated receive a good old fashioned opportunity to gain an education - not without value, but not exactly equal either. This scenario doesn’t have to be relegated to the elite 1% Zion Williamsons and Trevor Lawrences who end up on video games -- literally any student-athlete should be able to build a brand and monetize it. They have access, stories, fan bases and if they work to cultivate and grow that reach they should reap the benefits. Period. Full Stop. pont made. Drop the mic. Is there nuance to my dream scenario we are overlooking, sure, but stick with the overarching scenario - the big birds eye view is far from equitable. Now, it took 50 or so years, but we may finally be reaching a point that makes more sense for everyone. Without getting too litigious -- the NCAA has forbade athletes from profiting off their name, image or likeness (NIL) forever. But California, who knows how to party, signed a law last year saying in our state student athletes can profit off of their NIL -- called the fair pay to play act. Basically telling the NCAA - you don’t hold all the power. While many college coaches and administrators started clutching their pearls, decrying the coming downfall of American civilization if athletes are allowed to, you know, make money, 30 other states passed the Fair Pay to play act -- forcing the NCAA hand. The NCAA backed into a corner said “sure sure sure” we love that idea… we universally agree to allow student athletes to profit off their nams images and likeness in 2021. According to research company MediaKix -- influencer marketing is a 5-10 billion dollar enterprise. Now, let's break that down a little further -- FiveThirtyEight did what they do best -- a massive data and projection project, and put actual names and valuations together and came up with potential annual revenue numbers. Here are some highlights -- and this is JUST BASED on a combination of Twitter and Instagram followers - there are many more ways to monetize. Paige Bueckers - UCONN Women's Basketball - $670,000Trevor Lawrence $454,000Haley Cruse - University of Oregon Softball Player $117,000Spencer Lee Iowa Wrestler -- $26,000 5’3” 125 lbs of pure muscle -- with a little over 120,

Mastering Your Entry Level Resume – Work In Sports Podcast Aug 03, 2020

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast… If you haven’t listened to last week's interview with Ameena Soliman, Player Personnel Coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles yet, I suggest you do that… right after you listen to this episode. As a long time fan of the show and Florida State Football Recruiting Assistant Jake Kernen remarked to me in our private Facebook group “the interview with Ameena Soliman is some of your best work yet. “ Now, I’d like to take all the credit, because I’m only humble from time to time, but in all honestly, Ameena made it great because of her answers and approach to the conversation, so go give it a listen. Coming up later this week--- is my interview with Neeta Sreekanth, COO of INFLCR, a sports tech company building the brand and monetizing the impact of athletes. With the NCAA approving Names, Images, and Likeness rules going into effect in 2021, student-athletes will be able to profit off of their brand. Neeta and her team at INFLCR are leading the way in marketing, branding and monetizing this potential… and what is really cool is that they are working collectively with the schools and the athletes to follow best practices and make it a win-win for everyone. I like this a lot, I respect it, because rather than saying “let’s grab all the athletes and go crazy!” they are doing this in a responsible manner that still helps the students get exposure but in a responsible manner. It’s a great interview - Neeta started out by telling me she likes to spit fire on podcasts… and she did. Tune in for that on Wednesday, and in the coming weeks, I have Kevin brown Director of Community Relations for the Detroit Red Wings and The Detroit Red Wings Foundation. Another incredible conversation… and Shahbaz Khan, Director of Digital Content for the TWolves and Lynx. We keep crushing these interviews! If you guys and gas listening have specific types of guests you want me ot have on, or recommend a specific person, hit me up. Connect on LinkedIn and let me know! Also, if you have a specific sports career-focused question - share it with me and I’ll do a deep dive on the podcast! Today’s question comes in from Hannah in Nevada, “Hi Brian, I’m looking to land my first real grown-up job out of college, I know not the greatest time, and I’m struggling with my resume. I have some experience, I have some good grades, I have clubs and stuff -- but I’m having trouble making it show the best version of me! Can you help?” Hannah -- I will gladly do so! Oh my gosh I just channeled the giant crab Tamatoa in Moana, my kids love that movie... and if you haven’t seen it the always funny Jermaine Clement plays the giant crab and ...why am I going down this tangent? Ok, back on track. First things first -- some overarching concepts then we’ll dig in. Coordinator, assistant, associate -- searches like that, When they say 3-5 years’ experience, they don’t really mean it. They really mean 0-3, but for some reason, employers always say their dreams rather than their expectation. Don’t let that discourage you. The expectation is that the entry-level candidates won’t have a ton of experience, but they do want to see some relevant experience, some cultural fit, and personality, some real skills that line up and make sense for the role and some leadership positions. Let’s dig into those concepts for a bit: Relevant experienceCultural fit and personality Real skillsLeadership If you emphasize those things you are in a good spot. But let’s get into the tactics a bit. 1: I am way against and way over the idea of an objective statement, or mission statement to lead off your resume. Here’s why -- no one knows how to do them. They alays focus on what they want -- i want to earn a position at a leading company that will allow me to use my penchant for marketing and my...

Ameena Soliman: Philadelphia Eagles Player Personnel Coordinator – Work In Sports Podcast Jul 29, 2020

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning for WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast… I started to read a new book the other day and after about 70 pages I had to put it down. This is abnormal for me, I’m the type of personality that once I start something I have to finish it. I have to know how it ended. This is true for novels, movies, hikes to waterfalls you name it. I have to reach the moment of closure. I could be watching the worst Matthew McConaughey romantic comedy, which is slowly rotting my brain away with each passing line of dialogue (hello Failure to Launch), but I still have to see how it ends. This frustrates my wife, who can cut ties in a moment's notice… but that’s another story. She’s from Philly, she doesn’t suffer fools. Back to the book. I had to put down this book for a very simple reason. And this is a book of great acclaim, an international best seller that was turned into a pretty darn successful movie. I put it down because it followed every generalized cliche you could possibly make about races, cultures, religions and creeds. The Japanese character was good at math and a whiz on computers. The Palenstinian character had been involved in terrorist acts. The Russian character was cold, calculating and emotionless. The Mexican character worked hard in the fields and then drank beer every night. The Jewish character was tight with their money and a shrewd negotiator. Of course, the American character was dashing, intelligent, and fearless -- I'll leave that to your own interpretations. But I didn’t make it much past those characters. This isn’t me being “woke” or pandering to our current culture war, I just really hate generalizations. I hate cliches, I hate lazy, boring storytelling. Spreading this narrative and reinforcing to people where they should fit, is a dangerous weapon, meant to discourage. I’m not having it. I may spark some outrage with this, but I fail to believe we are all pre-determined to fit into categories at birth. We can be whoever we work and are driven to be. Period. Of course, I am oversimplifying, there are systemic obstacles that prevent many of us from becoming exactly who we desire to be, but the over-arching point is simple -- none of us fit into a cliche, we are all individuals. Generalizations like the ones exhibited by this trash book slide their way into our sports world often. I just finished reading an article where the EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT/CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER OF THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE, Renie Anderson, posted an opinion piece on NFL.com reminding people that “hey, women work in sports too, and there are lots of us in the NFL!” Let me repeat that - She is an Executive VP and Chief Revenue Officer in the NFL - which immediately qualifies her as a badass - and she had to write an article telling people that women really do work in sports. In 2020. Let’s break down some more walls, let's get out of this generalized, homogenized world and invite in change, diversity, and something a little unexpected. Ameena Soliman has one of the most interesting jobs in sports. As a player personnel coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles, she is an integral piece of the player personnel department, and I’ll let her explain to you what that means, exactly. I’ll sum it up from my point of view -- I’m jealous. She is a Muslim woman working in football personnel, meaning she breaks all the rules of probability and smashes every stupid cliche. Now, let’s be clear about something -- I didn’t invite Ameena on just because she is a Muslim woman working in player personnel. I invited her on because her role and experience are incredibly interesting and there are things we can all learn from her. Being a Muslim woman in sports is part of her story and we will talk about it some, we will talk about micro-aggressions and the way she...

How to Be The Best Possible Mentor – Work In Sports Podcast Jul 27, 2020

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning for WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast… I know I probably say this all the time...but I am on a hot streak lately for great guests. Last week Melissa Silberman Director of Partnership Activation for the Atlanta Hawks really brought it. Great info and insight. Later this week, Ameena Soliman Player Personnel Coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles will blow you away. She is so impressive -- focused, measured, direct -- just totally in control, which I loved. Last week I also conducted interviews with Neeta Sreekanth COO of INFLCR - for those of you who follow me on LinkedIn likely saw mee share a photo with Neeta posing with Ken Griffey JR. while being photobombed by Trey Wingo. Here is a professional woman barely across 30 - and she’s already worked in key roles for the Dallas Cowboys and ESPN prior to joining INFLCR -- so cool. And Kevin Brown -- Director of Community Relations for the Detroit Red Wings and Director of the Detroit Red Wings foundation -- Kevin is another one, so insightful, so passionate and so driven to make a difference in the world. He uses sports as a way to make a positive change in the community -- it is so inspiring. Ameena debuts later this week ---then Neeta...then Kevin… so stay tuned and subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss a thing. Alright today’s question comes in from me. Let me explain. The impact of covid hits us all. Feels weird to hear someone you respect in the industry so much can be let go, like wait, that’s a thing? Makes you fear for yourself a bit… if they can be removed, who the hell am I? My dad got laid off when I was a kid and I remember feeling like -- wait, that’s possible? He’s superman. Makes you feel vulnerable. But it’s also a chance to give -- I've been connecting my guy with my contacts for the last few days and that feels good, the ability to pay him back for all he’s done for me, even if just in some small way. BUT. the reason I am saying this week question comes from me is because --- it does. The question is “how do you become a strong mentor to others?” Everyone has a chance to mentor others, even if you are a college student, you can lead high schoolers and underclassmen. Mentoring makes a difference -- so let’s talk about how this works and then I’m going to give you examples from being mentored by my guy, Steve Becker. 1: There is no set it and forget it process to mentoring...everyone you mentor is different, so everyone needs different things from you. Don’t try to fit the experience into your world, be flexible. 2: Understand your mentee - what motivates them? what are their goals? what are their roadblocks? How do these things line up with your skills? 3: Be vulnerable -- admit mistakes, missteps -- etc there is noting that connects you more with people than resisting the urge to be a know it all. No one want to be around people who think they have it all down. 4: Treat your mentee with respect. Your mentor becomes part of your team. 5: Lead by example - model the behavior you want to see. Listen in to this episode of the Work In Sports podcast to hear more detail and actionable advice for becoming the best possible mentor.

Melissa Silberman: Atlanta Hawks Director of Partnership Activation – Work In Sports Podcast Jul 22, 2020

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning for WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast. There are so many interesting conversations to have right now surrounding the abnormal sports world we are currently immersed in. The other day I was asked during a panel discussion what I thought were the most important skills someone in the industry should be utlilizing right now. Now, in normal conditions I say coachability, competitiveness and curiosity. Those are literally my three favorite terms when it comes to employment in any industry. But right now I’ve had to adjust my thinking some -- those three terms are still incredibly viable - but I’m going to throw three more at you. Flexibility, improvisation and innovation. Let’s break these down a bit because they are all aligned, but subtly different. We’ll start with Flexibility - there is a narrative in every industry that we continue doing things because that’s the way we’ve always done things. Routine. History. Legacy decisions. This is not acceptable now. The assumption that we just keep plugging along without change is flawed. We need to entertain ideas and we need to be flexible in their deployment. We need to be flexible in the ways we generate revenue, allocate resources and more. Processes and objectives need to change. Improvisation -- this is the act of coming up with ideas on the spot. We all need to open up and engage the parts of our brain that spark creativity and different thinking. We’ve been so long following patterns, that we need to spark the fire of improvisation. We all need to consider the unconventional. Look at high school sports -- the NBA can have a bubble, the NFL can test daily, high school athletes are at higher risk of contracting and spreading. This is beyond doubt. That is not a political statement, it is fact. So when people say “have you considered playing in spring, have you considered a condensed schedule...have you considered ...have you considered…” We have to turn on the thought provoking sides of our brain and say “we should consider everything” Innovation -- chaos breeds opportunity -- Where is it? This needs to be the mantra of all businesses and employees -- where is the opportunity, how can we shift, re-align, change products, change approaches, INNOVATE. Companies that changed their clothing textiles to mask development, innovated. Sports business that created digital platforms and webinars and podcasts and virtual internships… they innovated! We need that spirit back. Innovate. Improvise. Be flexible. No one embodies that more than today’s guest. Melissa Silberman is the Director of Partnership Activation for the Atlanta Hawks -- simply put, she works to make sure team sponsors have impactful campaigns that reach their audience with powerful messaging. Well, a big percentage of that is through in-arena activations -- the 21,000 crazy fans coming to State Farm Arena on game night ar seeing and engaging with sponsor activities. So how does Melissa and her team show their sponsor there us great value in association with the Hawks, without 21,000 crazy fans coming to game night. Flexibility. Innovation. Improvisation. Here she is, Melissa Silberman! Questions for Melissa Silberman, Atlanta Hawks Director of Partnership Activation 1: There are so many topics I want to get into today about your career and journey to the Atlanta Hawks – but let’s start with this, you got your Bachelors and Masters in Sports Management at the University of Florida and for the last 7 years have been working in Partnership Activation. You clearly had a vision to work in sports – but did you choose Partnership Activation as your path, or did it choose you? 2: I’ll admit, I’ve been in the sports industry for 20 years but I don’t know much about Partnership Activation – so explain it to us all,

Should I Give Virtual Networking a Try? Work In Sports Podcast Jul 20, 2020

Hey everybody, I'm Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning for WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast. I’ve been ending every show sharing the importance of wearing a mask -- but I don’t want to bury this conversation at the end. It’s not a political statement, it’s not controversial, it’s a simple thing we all have to do. Wear a mask. Be safe. I want sports to return, I want fewer people to die, I want my kids to go back to school safely. We can all contribute to that... just start with wearing a mask. Later today I’m really pumped to be interviewing Ameena Soliman, Player Personnel Coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles, Ameena spent multiple years with the Temple University football program, interned with the NFL league offices, and began working for the Eagles three years ago -- we talk player personnel, the combine, learning to evaluate players, being a woman in sports, and even deeper being a Muslim woman in sports who wears a hijab and I’m guessing has been the subject of stereotyping -- we’ll learn more shortly. And then Wednesday this week -- check out my interview with Melissa Silberman, Director of Partnership Activation for the Atlanta Hawks. Very cool business conversation - Melissa is in the business of providing sponsors value with, a lot of the time, in-arena marketing activations. Well -- how do you pivot when there are no fans in the stadium and still create value for sponsors. That’s what we talk about and it’s really fascinating so tune into that on Wednesday. Today - great question coming in from Michael J. Hi Brian! Hope all is going well! I have enjoyed listening to your podcast! I will be attending my first virtual networking event in a couple of weeks. I am a person with a lot of social anxiety and struggle with networking events. Would you be able to provide any advice on how to handle a virtual networking event? Thank you, Michael Johnson Great question Michael. Many points to be made here. Networking isn’t easy for most of us I’d say envision it as a bell curve. There are 10% of people who love and adore the art of networking. 10% of people who are deathly afraid of it, and then 80% of people who are in the middle, don’t love it don’t hate it. I’m in the 80%. Don’t love it, don’t hate it. What this really means though is 90% of people, aren’t really avid fans of networking. But we all realize it’s important. Social anxiety is a real thing. Of course you know this, you don’t need me to validate you -- but anyone out there that deals with social anxiety needs to accept it, not fight it. Don’t try to convince yourself you aren’t or you can fix it. Be who you are, it’s OK. I’m reading a book right now, it’s based on a story from the 1930-50’s so before WWII, during and after. There is a character who was gay but tried for decades to “fix” himself. I found this heartachingly sad. I would hope anyone, anywhere today would be themselves...be who they are, accept it, love who you are, and figure out how to get the best out of yourself. If you are someone who deals with social anxiety, learn your triggers, figure ou those things that really inhibit you. I remember our team of reporters interviewing Ricky Williams back in th day when he left University of Texas to enter the NFL - and he deals with social anxiety, he would conduct interviews with his helmet on. People thought h was weird or aloof... no he was dealing with anxiety and it helped him Don’t be afraid of what helps you. Don’t try to please everyone else, make yourself happy. Let’s get into what you can do Social Media is your friend. A Virtual networking event may not be. Round peg, square hole. There are literally thousands of people I have had intelligent, thoughtful conversations with, without ever hearing their voice. Listen in to the Work In Sports podcast episode to learn more!

Raleigh Anne Gray: Must Love Sports CEO – Work In Sports Podcast Jul 15, 2020

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning for WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast. Not a day can go by without there being some messaging that directly affects the young people of our world. When I was growing up in the 80s and 90s we felt the burden of nuclear war, I remember being fearful every time a plane flew overhead they were carrying a nuclear bomb set to destroy us…. Yes, I was slightly neurotic. But the theme of the decade was War Games. It felt like we were in constant threat of massive military action. Compared to the onslaught young people are facing today - that seems trite. Job prospects are down, industries are failing, people are dying en masse -- you don’t need me to recite the hateful mess that 2020 has become. I feel for all of you, and that is not patronizing, that is truly from the heart. I think of all of you daily who are doing so much right to prepare yourself for professional life and create the best version of yourself… and yet, the opportunity, in many ways, is being taken from you. I read someone yesterday pitching a concept, a marketing plan, with the main thrust being a push for people to “Find Something New” … “Find Something New” Your career and life may be in shambles, your goals may be in disarray, your internships are canceled and your dreams look to be off track, you are collecting unemployment, you don’t have healthcare, you are afraid of a highly contagious virus killing people around you … but hey, just find something new. As if it was that easy. Personally I found this upsetting. Kind of like Marie Antoinette saying to the poor people of France without bread to eat… “Let them eat cake” These words essentially claim the unemployed just aren’t creative enough - they need to just find something new! A mantra like this says - the burden is on you, just shift and do something else. You’re on your own kid, figure something out. Now, I’m all for personal accountability, I think we all need to own our path, make our choices, adjust, learn new skills, adapt…. But these are really, really strange times. This is abnormal. Our current events are something none of us have any experience with, so in my worldview, the burden is on all of us to come together and help each other. Not just pass the buck, not just put the burden back on the individual and say “figure your own shit out”. The time is now to help...and that burden fits firmly on my generation. Those of us with employment, those of us who can help, those of us who can guide and assist and mentor. No one exhibits this spirit more than today’s guest Raleigh Anne Gray. Raliegh has a career in sports as impressive as they come -- ESPN, Twitter, The Players Tribune, Wasserman -- she has the iconic sports brand royal flush on her resume. But that is not where this story stops, it’s barely the beginning. A few years ago Raleigh launched her own LLC, Must Love Sports, and I’ll let her explain the details of that venture. BUT, when coronavirus hit, she immediately identified a problem facing the young college-age professionals and set out to fix it. Internships were being canceled everywhere. College students need experience, but also, many need the specific internships credits to graduate! So now imagine you are a college student, who’s internship has been canceled, but you need to intern to graduate. Well, now, that’s a problem you didn’t see coming. Here comes Raleigh. Must Love Sports pivots their business model, puts together a summer session virtual internship program, and offers it FOR FREE. 355 students sign up. Raleigh is changing lives. This is community action. This is a collective move to work together and force positive change, to help others, to work as a team in the game of life. I couldn’t be more excited to have Raleigh on this show -- here she is,

Should I Take a Job Outside of Sports? Work In Sports Podcast Jul 13, 2020

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning for WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast.Big week this week! Coming up on Wednesday is my interview with Raleigh Anne Gray -- Raleigh is incredibly impressive -- having worked at ESPN, Twitter, The Players Tribune and currently at Wasserman.Get this - at Wasserman, she is the senior director of athlete exchange -- which means, she works directly with the athletes Wasserman represents to help them build their brand and audience. Dream job.And as if that wasn’t enough -- she also launched Must Love Sports a sports company dedicated to helping people in the sports industry connect and learn from one another. During the corona quarantine, she said to herself… how can I help? She identified students aren’t able to complete their internship requirements to graduate, so she created a virtual internship session, utilizing all of her industry contacts to put together a curriculum and program to help students… for free. 355 students enrolled. Can you tell I’m a big fan of Raliegh… stay tuned for that on Wednesday. Also, later today I’m interviewing Mlissa Silberman, Director of Partnership Activation for the Atlanta Hawks, and leter this week I’m bringing back returning champion Joan Lynch from Working nation to discuss how sportsindustry employment will change in the near future.For those of you who are long time listeners, Joan was on the show last year and was one of our most popular guests. She knows employment, and as one of the main people behind the 30 for 30 series on ESPN, she knows sports. I’ve also booked some other really cool guests in the coming weeks so make sure to stay tuned, subscribe, all that good stuff. Also, if you are a professor listening, it’s time for you to check out our sports career game plan -- we have an online curriculum that will knock your socks off. Perfect for the online world we are migrating towards. 120 pages of carer changing content, over 3 hours of videos, downloadable worksheets and checklists, quizzes, assignments and more. It is a living textbook - growing with your students and preparing them to enter the sports world. If I just piqued your interest… email me, bclapp@workinsports.com and I’ll show you the goods.And for the rest of you who aren’t professors… tell your professors about it. And for the rest of you that aren’t in school -- well, tell someone. Alright let’s get into today’s question -- Oh one quick note, every once in a while Apple podcasts will send me all the most recent reviews of the show. Thankfully, we have 194 ratings and a 4.9 average -- so you guys and gals like the content -- thank you.But I found one review quite funny -- Headline: A Not Annoying Podcast “Brian has great information, great guests and a great show. He also speaks at a normal speed which is so much better than those slow-talking podcasters speaking in soft tones. I want good info given to me in a normal conversational tone and speed.” Cheers to fast talking!Alright today’s question comes from Nick S who it looks like just finished getting his MBA at Jacksonville State University -- Congrats Nick:Nick writes in --Hey Brian!Just finished the newest Gap Year episode. I took my gap year before grad school, and just graduated in May with my MBA. Perfect timing right? I obviously want to work in sports, but I feel the need to get a job as soon as possible. Do you think that it would be viable to accept a position in a business, and be able to switch to the sports industry down the road? I have no idea what to do if I were to receive, say, a marketing offer from a business company rather than a sports team. Great question Nick -- let’s get into it. I obviously have feelings on this and I will share them shortly, but no joke immediately after you sent me this, I was on Twitter and I saw friend of the show Dior Ginyard post a response to your question. For those of you that haven’t listened,

Tiara Brown: Charlotte Hornets Sr. Manager of Corporate Social Responsibility Jul 08, 2020

Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged Learning for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast…Corporate Social Responsibility.It’s a big term with a lot of weight, but for a long time Corporate Social Responsibility was a “nice-to-have” part of an organization. A “check the box” procedural decision of large corporations in sports and in business.These massive organizations figured Corporate Social Responsibility, or Community Relations, was a way to feel good about their org, to do good in the community, and grab some positive press here and there.Now, times have changed, Corporate Social Responsibility is no longer a separate piece of the business strategy, it is an integral part.It is no longer a division of the organization kept separate from the larger organization plan, it is part and parcel.It is no longer just a desire to do some good, it is an essential part of a business being successful.Why? Why this fundamental change?If you ask me the reason is two-fold – competition, and current events.Even in sports, there is competition for the almighty fan dollar. This isn’t the 1980’s where if you are a fan of a certain team you have to go to the game to see them play. There are alternatives to spending money at the arena.There are other sports, you can watch on TV, heck you can even bypass your local team and watch out of market teams in a myriad of ways or you can choose completely different things to invest your money in.Competition is huge… if your team isn’t likable if it doesn’t have a soul if it is mired in controversy… people will turn away. Corporate Social Responsibility aims to fix this.. to give a heart and soul to the big business. In addition, current events demand someone keeping an eye on the decision making of the organization and making sure it aligns with the expectations of society. Sexual misconduct, race relations, freedom of speech and countless other issues are at the forefront of our day to day society.Never before has it been more important for sports teams, leagues and organizations to lead in this regard rather than react from behind.This week’s guest, Tiara Brown, Charlotte Hornets Manager of Corporate Social Responsibility sees this all happening first hand. She and her team with the Hornets aim to strengthen the Charlotte community by supporting education, military, hunger and wellness initiatives – and they are doing one heck of a job.Here’s Tiara Brown…

Should you Consider a Gap Year? Work In Sports Podcast Jul 06, 2020

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning for WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast…Obviously, we are in some crazy times right now, and it feels like a bit of a struggle to come up with new ideas that are related to career development when it feels like carers are stuck in neutral… am I right?I was reading a survey this morning asking millennials and college-age students words to describe how they feel about their careers right now, and the number one response was “frustrated”.I think that sums it up. You’ve been in school prepping for this moment to enter the world and start your new direction… and the world is like “Hold up, wait a minute...take a break while I ravage your global society”I have three kids, so I am constantly thinking about how this “pause” will affect their growth, and what I can be doing to help mitigate the lost classroom time… because no matter what anyone tells you, virtual learning is not the same. They are missing out on key social development, emotional intelligence, and straight-up learning. Side note -- we have watched a ton of documentaries though - anything from 13th - which is a documentary on the 13th amendment abolishing slavery - exploring the history of race and the criminal justice system in the United States.To Mission to mars -- which is more self-explanatory. It’s about the Mission to Mars. For a little context -- 13th was produced in 2016, and it is incredible. Hard to watch. We actually watched it over three days so we could stop it, have a discussion, answer questions..and then take a break. It’s some heavy shit, that can be tough but awakening for the kids. It’s made an impact. My 8 year old literally said to me on the 4th of July… shouldn’t Juneteenth be independence day since that was the day everyone in america become free?I wish I had that knowledge and perspective when I was 8. Ok, back on track… My point is, as I think about my kids and their growth, I also think about how tough it must be for high school, college and entry-level staff ages. People just getting started in their career getting things rolling, are being told … sorry go home, we’ll see where this takes us. High school seniors are evaluating what the fall means for them...is it worth it to pay tens of thousands of dollars for a virtual college education? College students are wondering does it make sense to take a year off and come back later? These are all perplexing questions...which brings us to the thrust of today’s conversation. Yeah that was just the preamble. Noah writes in …“Hey Brian, I’m a high school senior and what is supposed to be the best summer of my life full of parties and prepping for college… really sucks. I didn’t plan on spending my summer at home with my parents. Some of my friends are going to the beach still and doing things as normal, but I am not, and I am really missing out. True story - 4 of my friends got coronavirus after bragging about going out without masks and hanging at parties with strangers, so while I am bummed, I’m also fully understanding of my parents choice to keep me in and safe. Ok, my question, I had a plan to go to college in the fall, but I’m wondering if it may be smarter based on the circumstances to do a gap year, and if I did that, what should I do to enhance myself? Thank you, Brian, I love your podcast I really do.”Noah this is a really great question and I’m excited to dig into it. Two notes first -1: If you have questions you’d like me to handle on this here podcast you can email me at bclapp@workinsports.com -- make the subject line Podcast Question - so I can easily identify it from all the other stuff I get. If I read your question on the air, I’ll give you a free month of full access to our WorkInSports job board. At the lowest point of the corona, we went from 25k jobs down to 8! Now we are back up to 13k… which means we are headed in a better direction.#2 before we get into Noah’s question -- I know it sucks....

Stu Grimson Part 2: NHL Enforcer to Corporate Lawyer – Work In Sports Podcast Jul 01, 2020

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast.I very rarely listen back to our podcast episodes after I finish creating them. The neurotic side of me can’t stop analyzing the way I deliver questions -- I’ll be walking around with ear buds yelling at myself to “stop talking already and let them answer!”It’s not a good scene and not all that healthy, so I tend not to listen once the final production is done and published. But I’ll admit, Monday night I listened back to part 1 of Stu Grimson’s interview and despite having already listened to it multiple times during production… I was hooked again. I thought the 30 minutes went by really fast and I wanted to hear more. Stu is a fascinating person to speak with, and I couldn’t wait to publish and listen to, part 2. So I’ll take my own advice and stop talking -- so you can hear Part 2 --here’s Stu Grimson. Questions for Stu Grimson, Cheif Counsel THIRDHOME and former NHL Enforcer10: Were former teammates and opponents surprised that you were becoming a lawyer, or was this the locker room secret – that the brawler who would beat the snot out of you was smarter than you too? 11: In the practice of law you deal with leverage all the time – was leverage something you started learning about as a player as you assessed your own value to a team?12: To become an NHL player puts you in the rarest of categories – it is such a miniscule amount of people that make the pros. Then layer in becoming a lawyer, and again, you break all the rules of probability.Both of these roles require incredible discipline and work ethic - where did your work ethic come from, and is that a skill you can learn, or is it something you are born with?13: Your side gig beyond being chief counsel for ThirdHome is as a senior analyst for NHL network – this role as an analyst is a logical step for a lot of ex-players, was this part of your post-playing days plan?14: Is it hard to be critical of players, when you know how difficult it is to be an NHL player?15: Do you have a favorite player you like to watch right now?16: Ok, I have this weird curiosity with friendships and relationships – like I watch a movie and wonder if the two main stars are still friends because they seemed to have so much chemistry in the movie.I know, I’m weird.But it makes me wonder – are the majority of your friends from hockey former teammates, or the guys you got into brawls with? I picture you hanging out with Marty McSorley or Dale Hunter and it amuses me.17: We’ll finish up with this – we have a lot of student-athletes in our audience, people who dream of being a pro – looking back at your 20-25-year-old self, what advice would you give that guy that could be helpful to someone in those shoes today…

Stu Grimson Part 1: NHL Enforcer Turned Lawyer – Work In Sports Podcast Jun 29, 2020

Stu Grimson was one of the most feared men in the NHL and now he's a fixture in the boardroom. Learn more about his transition from brawler to lawyer on the Work In Sports podcast.Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged Learning for WorkInSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast.I love contrast. Contradictions. The unexpected. It can be as simple as a flower in the desert, a kid quietly reading a book when all of their friends are on their phones, or Tom Brady going to the Buccaneers. Alright, maybe I didn’t love that last one so much. But on a grand scale, I tend to seek these things out, always on the hunt for contrasting elements - I don’t know why - just one of the quirks of individuality I guess. These moments of contrast bring me great joy. I guess they remind me that the journey is not predictable, that patterns and assumptions aren’t finite - nature and people are always able to change and throw you a curveball when you are looking dead red. And isn’t that an incredible lesson -- doesn’t it harken you back to the idea your mother drilled into your head not to “judge a book by its cover”? That we as people are all the sum of our actions, and actions themselves are individual and unpredictable?Ok, maybe I’m going to abstract here and I need to reign it in, I get it. But if you haven’t noticed lately, our society is largely based on the superficial judgment of others. We see looks, and judge, we see patterns and assume. Ugh. It’s so maddening. I can’t say we’ve lost touch with compassion, empathy, and understanding for each other, because I’m not sure we ever had it. Well, I’m here to admit that I made the same mistake just last week and it was really enlightening. I assumed I knew someone based on my superficial knowledge of their past. Stu Grimson played 13 seasons in the NHL as one of the most feared enforcers in the game. 211 career fights, of which he estimates he won about 80% of them, and watch the videos, he’s right. His nickname is the greatest in sports -- the Grim Reaper. I mean come on, you are a fighter with the name Grimson, and you earn the nickname Grim Reaper. It doesn’t get any better. When I worked in the media during his playing days I would celebrate this man as the baddest MF’er in hockey -- and cheer on his vicious battles. I assumed he was a lug nut on skates. I born brawler with what little he had between the ears beaten out of him over years of repeated head trauma. I assumed that he may be addicted to painkillers somewhere. I assumed that he followed the predictable storyline of former player fallen on tough times. You know what I didn’t assume -- that he’d be a successful lawyer. Never entered my mind. We all do this. We try to fit life into predictable channels. We try to put our own conclusions on people based on our limited information. This is wrong at its core.What follows next is one of the most enjoyable and insightful conversations I’ve ever had on this podcast. Stu is amazing, and I’m not just saying that because I fear for my health after assuming he was a lug nut on skates - I’m saying that because over the last few weeks I’ve gotten a little glimpse into the man and I respect the hell out of him. Our conversation was long… so I’m going to break this into two parts -- I’m not editing out a simple word, part 2 will air on Wednesday! Here’s Stu GrimsonQuestions for Part 1 Stu Grimson, Chief Counsel ThirdHome and Former NHL Enforcer1: There are so many topics I want to speak with you about, so I’m glad we have some time to truly dive into your whole journey and story.Let’s start with your playing days in the NHL - 13 seasons with 7 NHL franchises, we often talk about the glory of professional sports – the money, the fans, the winning – but as you look back what was the hardest part of being a professional athlete?2: With a nickname like “The Grim Reaper” there is no denying how you made your name in the game – you were an enforcer.

Tripp Keister: Washington Nationals Player Development – Work in Sports Podcast Jun 24, 2020

Hi everybody I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…In honor of baseball returning, finally, I hope, I wanted to bring back one of my favorite episodes over the last few years with Tripp Keister from the Washington Nationals organization. I also want to state for the record, as Bill Simmons from the Ringer gets rightfully dragged this week on social media. Not all people from Boston are racist idiots. I’ve never liked Bill Simmons, always found him snarky, smug and elitist - and I see lots of people saying things like “he’s from Boston, what do you expect?”. Well, I judge people by their actions, not where they are from or what they look like, so don’t lump me in with that clown because we share an area code. But let’s get into something a little more positive. Tripp Keister is the winningest manager in Potomac Nationals history, but he doesn’t care about that, what he cares about is player development.Since the day we started this podcast I have had fans ask repeatedly – please get someone in player development.This has been one of my big failures to date – I’ve struck out a ton. I’ve likely requested interviews with 30 different people in player development, which resulted in 29 very polite no thank you’s.Dior Ginyard, Senior Player Manager for the NFLPA was my one success, and if you ask me one of our best interviews to date, primarily because player development is a very interesting subject. Helping elite athletes develop as people, serving them so they can be the best version of themselves on campus, or in the minors, or in the big time.As you likely have noticed I’m a little obsessed with the development side of people in general. That path from student to professional is fascinating to me – the steps people take to find their true calling and to master their art form. The influencers who have guided them, the tough love that drove them, the micro-decisions that have resulted in massive change.All of this fascinates me, which is why I, like you, wanted to have more guests in player development.This week's guest, Tripp Keister, is the single-A manager of the Potomac Nationals. He’s the winningest manager in Potomac Nationals history…but you know what it says on his LinkedIn account: that he works in player development.Not that he’s a master of double switches and pitch counts, but that he’s in the development of the young men that come through his dugout.And they all do.As the manager of the Washington National High A team, most if not all of their top draft picks and prospects start with Tripp.This again fascinates me.Think about this for a second, Tripp is managing a bunch of 18-year-olds embarking on their future, not just on the field but often in their first times away from home, their first time having to manage their own lives!This makes me wonder – how is that any different than Mike Judge managing the inside sales staff of the Cleveland Browns?Is it the same? Is management, management? Is motivation and technique and evaluation and discipline the same whether you are developing high powered athletes or entry-level employees?I found my conversation with Tripp fascinating, and his overall approach to developing young men into really good, productive people. Success is different for everyone, some will reach the majors, some won’t, but I think they’ll all look back and remember the influence of Tripp Keister.Let’s get into it – here’s Tripp Keister... (listen in to the Work In Sports podcast!)

Time to be Your Own Cheerleader – Work In Sports Podcast Jun 22, 2020

Show outline:It’s time to be your own cheerleaderOld school -- work hard people will notice you and you’ll get promoted. I lived this way, I hustled, I worked the grind -- late-night shift, extra work, volunteer for more. Yes yes and yes. But I never leveraged any of it. I just hoped and prayed my bosses would notice and good things would happen.Not until I started to be more self-promotional did good things happen. I mean this honestly, businesses have a different objective than you do. Your objective is likely some combination of feel fulfilled making good many, enough to do things outside of work that I enjoy. Businesses have the inverse goal -- get as much positive production as they can out of each employee to generate revenue...and shareholder satisfaction.I’m not on some capitalism is awful rant, I’m just trying to show you, businesses don’t necessarily want to see you as more than a productive pice in their machine. It is upon you to be your biggest cheerleader, it is upon you to show you are deserving of more, it is upon you to know yourself, your accomplishments and your value ...better than anyone. All of you sit back and think for a second of people in your industry, co-workers, fellow interns -- who received more accolades despite doing lesser work. Likely it is because they are better at self-promotion and personal advocacy. I know there are people in my space, podcasters in the career development conversation, who do far lesser work than I do, but they are way way better at personal promotion. They post videos of themselves, quote graphics of their wonderful thoughts, that are mostly cliche, pictures of them yucking it up with celebrities… and they have huge audiences. I am not slamming them, they have built a brand I haven’t. I am recognizing that this applies to all of us. It’s not just you, it’s me too! This concept of factual bragging applies to internships, jobs, opportunities, speaking engagements, etc. You have to be your cheerleader. Ok, so how?First, start with your goals. If you want to be a national audience guest speaker, that is a much different approach than if you want a promotion, or an entry-level job or an internship.Let’s stay focused on the jobs and internships part for this conversation. Imagine you need to be noticed more, and someone in charge of decision making needs to be able to see and understand your worth quickly. You must be an expert in you, no one else will be.Key components:Don’t be afraid to say what you are proud of. Don’t be afraid to tell people what you have accomplishedDon’t be afraid to tell people what you have done to improve yourself. Subtle -- I read this book recently and was struck by the ideaIn your face - in my two years with organization X my social media strategy helped us increase twitter followers by 47% Get your own website and domainProfessional looking social media pictures that are all aligned.LinkedIn - bulk it up, treat it like your personal domain, share accomplishments, videos, blogs, metrics, contact info. People, including recruiters, will look here!Resume metricsEmployment or internship journal - keep track of your wins.Remote interviews -- be quick to explain why you are a positive hire. How you not only understand their organizational goals, but will help them deliver on them, Be excited about you If you have a job right now and are working remotely, make sure you take the time to escalate your wins and your value to the org. You want them to feel like they have made the right decision keeping you on. Businesses have cover right now, they can lay off or furlough employees and no one thinks they are heartless, they think it’s just the times we are in. Well, if they've kept you on, that means they believe in you, make sure you validate that belief and are selling all of your wins. Final point -- being your own cheerleader also means being thee cheerleader for others you believe in.

Lauren Sisler: ESPN & SEC Network Reporter – Work In Sports Podcast Jun 17, 2020

Hi everyone, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged Learning with WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…We all have a public persona, the one we let the world see.Our work personality, our behavior at parties, our disposition in challenging moments, our temperament when dealing with others.These are all part of how we are seen by others.But we are all much more than that. Every one of us is composed of formative experiences that build our character…but aren’t as apparent or evident to the people around us.While you may think your friends are an open book – sharing with you their dreams, loves and fears – chances are there is more to their story that they are unable or unwilling to share. They may not even realize how formative certain experiences have been.We are all much more than our public persona.We are all forged through our unique experiences and even deeper, our individual interpretation of those experiences As John Milton in Paradise Lost wrote:“The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven.”Perspective matters.To one person an experience makes them stronger and more resolute, to another going through the same thing…it may break them.I just watched A Star In Born with my almost teenage daughter, and for those of you who have seen it, it’s a sad sad movie, I won’t ruin the ending for you. But I asked her afterward what she thought, and she said “you don’t always know someone by what you see on the outside”She made me cry just a little. Today’s guest Lauren Sisler is an award-winning sports reporter for the SEC Network. 2-time Alabama Sportscaster of the Year. Emmy award winner. 2-time Alabama Associated press Best sports anchor.She is a Rockstar in the sports media.But she, like you, is much more than that. She is an amalgamation of events and experience and interpretation.Remember earlier when I said the same experience can break one person, and make another stronger? Lauren Sisler is the embodiment of that. She dealt with unspeakable tragedy early in life that could have, and maybe should have, broken her. But it didn’t.She found a way through it all…and not just through it, beyond it, to a heralded life on the other side.This story is about much more than just being a high-profile sports reporter… yes, we will talk about that, and yes, Lauren will share incredible career advice…but it’s also about the person inside all of us. The unification of events that creates us… and then, what we do choose to do with the experience. We aren’t just the standardized results of our experiences, we have a choice in all of it.At some moment, maybe she can pinpoint it, or maybe not, Lauren Sisler decided that she wasn’t going to be defeated by her experiences. She would persevere, and she would thrive. Let’s let her tell it… here’s Lauren Sisler…

Where Do You Fit in the Sports Industry? Work In Sports Podcast Jun 15, 2020

Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged Learning for WorkInSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast.A couple of housekeeping notes before we get into today’s sports career-focused question -- want to welcome the newest member of the Work In Sports team, Laura Wilhelm! Laura just recently joined us as an account executive, and she’ll be working directly with me to help sell some of our products focused on helping others advance in their career. We have our sports career game plan, focused on the strategies and tactics necessary to get hired in the sports industry. We also have our student game plan, which is similarly focused on career and professional development, but for any industry. And we’ve also developed an entire suite of new tools to help sports employers hire the right staff more efficiently. As I know from going through the hiring process with Laura -- hiring is tough -- talent acquisition managers tell me all the time, we get tons of applicants, but most are not qualified. Well, we took that advice to heart and thought, how can we help sports employers find the most qualified candidates more efficiently. And we’ve done it. Laura will be reaching out to sports employers and helping introduce them to these new tools that can really help them hire more efficiently and effectively -- so welcome Laura, and if any of these products sound interesting to you, your organization, or for your school or university -- reach out and I’ll connect you with laura! Or you can talk to me - it’s not like I won’t talk to you -- I’m a talker, that won’t change. I just need help and laura is a boss. Ok, today’s topic -- Lots of people with time on their hands have been asking me -- how do I find out where I fit in the industry?Here’s a specific version of this question from Bart in Minnesota --“Hey Brian, big fan of the podcast thanks for your continued help and guidance. I’m a college sophomore and I love sports, but I have no idea what to do for my career path. Can you help me understand the future of the sports world, and where I may fit in it?”Jeez, Bart, that’s a heavy responsibility. First off, you don’t meet many Barts nowadays -- I had a great friend in high school named Bart, but I don’t think I know too many others. Bart Scott? I don’t know him, but that’s the only other Bart I can think of. Ok, back on topic -- Finding your fit in the industry is an important topic -- I started a few months back trying to make one of those cool diagrams, not an infographic, more of a choose your own adventure - based on sports careers.Like one of those -- do you like to talk to people -- yes or no -- follow that path, then different questions from there, with the idea it would land you in a category or bucks that could help you explore this area. It got too hard. I may resurface that idea later...but really when you start to break down all the possibilities, it’s like an ice cream headache waiting to happen.This is the advice I believe in wholeheartedly -- this is a personal decision, that is ultimately up to you, BUT I’ll help guide some. The first idea -- go to our site WorkInSports.com and enter in keyword searches for terms. NOT job terms, rather entry-level terms. Search for the word “associate” -- this will return a myriad of potential opportunities that are entry-level or close to it. I just did the search and came back with 1,852 sports jobs out of nearly 12k on our site.As I look through the openings I see:Associate Product ManagerAssociate ArtistAdvertising Operations AssociateProduction AssociateHR associatePro Tennis Operations AssociateSocial Media AssociateThe list goes on… read these job descriptions, and see what stands out to you. When I was coming up I knew I wanted to work in Sports TV, so I could lean that direction in my job search. For you, if you are unsure, you need to get where I was, and the best way to do that is by exposing yourself to the opportunities that are out there.

Sean Halbmaier: PGA Tour Director of Advanced Advertising – Work In Sports Podcast Jun 11, 2020

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning for WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast…I find there is a certain spirit that I look for in my guests. Not everyone wants to, or is comfortable coming on a show like this and sharing their journey, with tidbits of wisdom and advice thrown in -- but that’s exactly what we need! We need guests willing to share more than what we can read on their resume or LinkedIn profile, we need guests who are willing to go there. People that will share their bigger thoughts, advice, nuggets of change through their journey and dig into more than just their career moves...but rather their how and why.Every once in a while I ask our private Facebook group -- which if you haven’t joined yet, you should - just search for the Work In Sports podcast on Facebook and join the fun. Anyway, every once in awhile I will post a question, asking our audience who their favorite guest was of all time. While there is a wide range of responses, there are also about 10 episodes that I could tell you beforehand would be the most popular. They aren’t the biggest names, they are the ones willing to go there and share their deepest insights, motivations, change moments and share...really really share. These are the moments that inspire me, those are the episodes that drive me deeper and further, for all of you listening. But how do you find more of these people? How do you find those willing and able to share real insight? I used to send out 20 invites a week -- randomly selected, barely researched, and my success rate was about 10%. For 2020 I changed my process and the results have been incredible. Twitter.I’m being totally serious. Over the last 3 months, I’ve seen about 10 new podcasts launch which are focused on sports career advice -- so maybe I shouldn't share my secret formula - but what the hell. I start on LinkedIn, I research companies, people, and roles -- because in my mind, it often starts with some experience and credibility. I read I research, and then I go to twitter and look at their personal accounts.You see on twitter, I think you tend to find out a little more about someone’s spirit, passion, and enthusiasm. Sometimes you also find out they are a horrible person, and you are glad you didn’t ask them to be a guest -- that has happened. So I’ll give you an example of what I mean, using today’s guest Sean Halbmaier from the PGA Tour. I was searching for people at the PGA Tour - I like to make sure I cover different sports teams and leagues - it’s spring-summer, a good time for golf talk. I see Sean, with a pretty cool title -- director of advanced advertising. If I asked myself, self, what does a director of advanced advertising do? I would have no answer! That makes it interesting! I want to dig into new areas!So, then I head over to twitter and look for sean. His pinned tweet is an article he wrote breaking down his first 10 years in the sports industry -- ok good start, someone willing to share and give back!Then I see: 3 skills to acquire to be valuable to your employer… Always be learning. Be Curious Be vocal. Have an opinion.Ok, now we got someone with a willingness to share guidance and advice.Next:This is why walled gardens are so insanely effective for marketers. They have your identity via login (the license), but they also have the full “wallet” of essentials based on your activity on their platforms.Ok, I have no idea what that means -- but I see a willingness to get into the weeds of his role, and a passion for explaining what he does.This is the ultimate mix!After all that, I make the invite and cross my fingers. Thankfully, Sean, and about 90% of the people I reach out to when I do this level of research and intentional booking -- said yes, and we are all lucky for it. Here is Sean Halbmaier - Director of Advanced Advertising for the PGA Tour! Let’s talk about revenue optimization!!Questions for Sean Halbmaier,

What To Do if Your Organization is Staying Silent Through Protests – Work In Sports Podcast Jun 08, 2020

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast.I have some pretty big news before we get into today’s sports industry question -- We have completely overhauled our site WorkInSports.com!Background -- since 1999 we’ve been the leader for jobs in the sports industry, but as times change we have to be agile and adjust our approach. That’s one of the benefits of being a small, family-run, company - we can make decisions and act on them quickly, not a lot of red tape. You may not know this - but WorkInSports is 10 people. That’s right, we’re not some huge media conglomerate, we are 10 scrappy people trying to change sports employment.Another cool stat about our business -- we added Jesus Guzman last year at this time to our staff as a front end developer, Jesus is awesome and has been instrumental in this relaunch, but my point for bringing this up… of the ten people on staff, Jesus is the rookie with 1 year on the WIS team. I am the next newest employee and I’ve been here for seven years. The rest of the staff has been with Work In Sports for 14 years plus. That is unheard of! But again, good people, good environment, good products… people stick around.Ok, so what is the big news -- I’ll get off my tangent and get back to the news -- we set out with a mission to be less of a list of jobs and more of an interaction hub between sports employers and sports job seekers - more connectivity, more interaction. And we are there. For a while, free members will still see the old site. All paid members and employers will see the new product. Couple of highlights to feature:Our matching technology is way ramped up - upload resume. When we post new jobs, active search through the databaseWhen you see a job you like, give it a thumbs up Sports selectFor employers, we have a ton of new tools -- all geared toward helping you find the right candidates efficiently. No more pushing through 1,000 resumes of unqualified people. We have THE sports resumes, and when you post a job with us, we will actively match your needed skills against our database of candidates.There are many other tools for employers we have developed I won’t get into them all here. But if you are an employer and want a new way to find the most talented people for your roles -- reach out to me, and we’ll schedule a demo of the new products -- bclappworkinsports.com.We’re excited -- and we are in active beta right now, so if you play around and have feedback - share it with us so s we can continually improve. And remember a premium membership with WorkInSports.com is more valuable than ever… and it keeps me employed! So check it out!Ok, on to today’s sports career-focused question… “Hey Brian, this is William from Chicago, I know yours is not a political podcast but I respect your opinion and wanted to talk about what is currently happening in the world today. The company I work for in the sports industry, who I love to work for, has been completely silent about the George Floyd murder, the protests and the support of the black community -- this really, really bothers me. But I don’t know what to do about it. Any ideas how I can speak up respectfully, and not lose my job?”William - this is an intense question and I want to give it the respect it deserves. First I’d like to start with a story about voice. Last year in January interviewed Vincent Pierson who at the time was the Director of Diversity and Inclusion for Minor League Baseball. It is one of my favorite podcasts to date, and Vincent and I have remained in touch afterward. He’s incredible. The FIELD program was an initiative that Vincent was highly involved in, and showed great progress toward diversity and inclusion for Minor League Baseball. I’ll read directly from their site to explain what the FIELD program is: Minor League Baseball's 'Fostering Inclusion through Education and Leadership Development' (FIELD) Program was created under the...

Josh Walker: President, Sports Innovation Lab – Work In Sports Podcast Jun 03, 2020

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning for WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast.Recovery starts with innovation. I read this the other day and thought, this sounds a lot like what my grandmother used to tell me when she’d cobble some new fandangled way of plowing her garden fields with a series of hoes tied on to the back of her 1940’s era tractor. Never short for an analogy or cliche she’d look at me and repeat “necessity is the mother of all invention”That saying has always stuck in my mind, when there is need there are creative solutions. Never before have we faced more need, and never before have innovative minds been more in demand. As teams and leagues and organizations look to pivot and change their revenue models and adapt to our new world -- the innovative people in every organization are the ones leading the way to the future. That is not hyperbolic or overly dramatic. We need innovation. We need a new way to look at our games, our stadiums, our fans, our revenue streams, our products our marketing -- everything needs a fresh set of eyes. I booked today's guest, Josh Walker, President of Sports Innovation Lab because multiple people in my sphere of influence pinged me in April and said “did you read this article on how the sports industry will recover, it’s fascinating”The article was pushed at me from multiple angles from people I respect with excitement and fervor I couldn’t deny, so I read it and immediately thought -- who wrote this! I need them for this show!The crazy thing is… Josh, the scribe responsible for the forward-thinking piece, developed the concept of recovery before there was a need for recovery. See Josh is the kind of futurist we need more of in sports, the ones who can utilize data and research and intuition to see what the industry needs to be, rather than what it is. Josh is the President of Sports innovation Lab who, along with his co-founders, former NFL linebacker Isaiah Kacyvenski and former olympian and 4-time gold medal winner Angela Ruggiero developed a fluid fan concept that sees sports in a way that earns the fans loyalty rather than expects it. You’ll see what I mean.. Here’s Josh -- get ready for some incredible, in your face, honest...and some exciting ideas on how to mold our future of sports.Here’s Josh…Questions for Josh Walker, President, Sports Innovation Lab1: There is so much I want to get into regarding your background and sports innovation lab, but let’s start with some of the big stuff. You wrote an article on LinkedIn back in April about what recovery may look like for the sports industry – and it is fascinating.There is a lot to unpack so let’s take it slow.You state early in the article that “This crisis will fundamentally reshape how the sports industry operates and generates revenue.” In a broad way I think we can all see that things will change – but specifically, how do you see this current situation reshaping the way the sports industry operates?2: We often think of sports as having two main experiential avenues: in person at the event in a stadium, or at home through the broadcast media. This runs relatively parallel to the revenue streams… you’ve got your media deals and you’ve got your tickets, sponsorships etc.But you and your team are embracing a new concept of the “fluid fan” – can you explain what that is?3: Did you have this fluid fan concept hypothesized and researched prior to COVID, or was this an example of where the situation met opportunity?Follow: So in a way, you saw the changing landscape of the sports industry prior to this current pandemic – why was this shift to a fluid fan necessary with or without COVID?4: You’ve established what the fluid fan is and why they represent the future –but how does an organization begin to understand their fluid fan behavior, because, by its very definition, everyone is different, and needs to be approached differently, right?

Job Recovery in the Sports Industry – Work In Sports Podcast Jun 01, 2020

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning for WorkInSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast. After a few decades of living in cities, I now live out in the country a bit. I have 4 acres of land, the grass is green, I have woods and a stream for my kids to play in. It can be a bubble. We can tune out the world - the hate, the racism, the unrest, the divisiveness - should we choose. But we can’t. I can’t. We all play a role, and we can’t just opt-out. Silence is being complicit. I know you didn’t come here for this discussion, there are other reasons you are here. But I want all of the people in our audience, our return listeners, our subscribers, who have gotten to know me over time - to know that I support and love them.I have cried over and over again watching the videos that have become all too common in our society. It isn’t just George Floyd or Eric Garner or Philado Castile, it’s the multitude of other horrific examples of police brutality against Black Americans that have happened without cameras rolling. There are systemic issues that allow for heavily armed white men to enter a state building in Michigan, protesting the fact they have to wear a mask while carrying automatic weapons - and being treated civilly and with calm respect, while an unarmed, handcuffed black man gets murdered on the street over an alleged counterfeit $20 bill. How does this happen? This is a problem. We can’t ignore it, and as a middle-aged white man I can’t sit here in my bubble pretending this environment is fair and just. It is not. I have many friends who are honorable, respectful, caring police officers, who got into police work to make a positive difference. We can’t make sweeping generalizations against all police, that does not help. That is the exact same problem that got us here -- racial profiling is generalizing a group of people… doing the same to all police isn’t the proper response. But we can be angry. We should be angry. And the best thing we can, from this perspective, is to listen, love, and vote. That’s how we change things. Vote. I hope everyone out there with anger and disgust and fear and dismay -- will take this energy to the polls in November. Everyone needs to vote. That is your power. And everyone needs to love and listen.JusticeForGeorge hell yes justiceforgeorge … but in concert with that -- let’s change the system to be more equitable and fair. It’s past the time for those of us on the outside to just empathize - we need to understand, we need to help the change become reality. One last thing -- as someone who has worked in the media for a long time, you will see the worst worst worst images, because they get eyeballs. I guarantee you 90% of the protests across the country are peaceful, but all you’ll see is burning buildings OR on the flip side people hugging police officers. Those are the edges of the story -- look for the middle. There is no easy transition here so I’ll just make it. Coming up on Wednesday is a conversation I am very excited about, I interviewed Josh Walker president of sports innovation lab, a market research company, about how we recover as a sports industry from our global pandemic -- oh right, amongst all of this chaos we are also still in a global pandemic. Yeah for 2020!Anyway, the interview with Josh is so insightful -- he and his team at sports innovation lab are changing the way we see, feel and experience sports. And teams are catching on to this new way of understanding fan needs. You are going to be way into this conversation, I know I was.As for today’s topic -- here is James from Nevada“He Brian, when coronavirus first became a thing you talked about revenue-generating roles being super important in the near future -- is that still the case? Is that what you see being the leader in the sports industry over the short-term, or the longer this goes have things changed in your mind?”I’m glad you brought this up James because we have to continual...

Jack Mills: NFL Agent for Cleveland Browns QB Baker Mayfield – Work In Sports Podcast May 27, 2020

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast…With the NFL draft in the rearview mirror I’ve been spending an inordinate amount of time researching and understanding the fit of the players my team, the New England Patriots, selected.And before you get all bandwagoney on me -- I’m from Boston and been a Patriots fan long before the annual trips to the Super Bowl.But back on track, I’m researching these players, even down to the undrafted free agents and how much guaranteed money they signed for, yes I am a dork, and I’m realizing a theme. I think a lot of prospects get bad info. Here’s what I mean -- I hear a lot of this “well, my agent told me he thought I’d go in the 3-4th round, so I was a little disappointed going in the 6th and now i have a chip on my shoulder to prove everyone wrong.”Now this isn’t limited to the Patriots, and it isn’t limited to this year. I’ve been listening to these same quotes for the 25 years I’ve worked in the sports industry. Every year it’s the same routine, a lot of overpromising to hype their player, and then underdelivering and blaming it on the process. It’s maddening to be honest. And kind of a theme for our world right now, over-promise and pat yourself on the back, stretch the truth or flat out lie to get someone to like you, and when it doesn’t go as you predicted -- look to blame someone else and avoid responsibility.Sound like anyone you know? We all know people like this. But let’s relate this to player agency -- there should be power in honesty. There should be situations where the most honest, researched, competent, and thorough agents get the clients. Maybe that happens, but I fear more often than not, the agents that over-promised and over-hype land the deals.In a sad way it makes sense -- picture yourself as a 20-year-old headed to the NFL draft deciding who should represent you. One agent hypes you up big time, you are a 2nd round draft pick, teams love you and I’m going to help you get sponsorships and fast cars!Then the next agent says - based on my research, teams will start showing interest in you in the 5th round, but the 6th-7th round is likely. Here are the teams you fit best with, here’s what your contract could look like in those rounds, here’s what these teams fear about you, and here’s what you need to tell them, let’s get prepped for the combine with my team and see if we can’t get you in that 5th round or higher.”You, the prospect, may think -- person B doesn’t believe in me...and therefore pick the human hype machine.This is frustrating, but an understandable cycle. Telling people what they want to hear, is more effective than telling them the truth. Every once in awhile, athletes see through the facade. I’m sure there are hundreds of these examples, but one that comes to mind is Baker Mayfield. Leading up to the 2018 draft Mayfield had a decision to make on an agent.His family was approached by every major agency in the country and many of those agents promising that they could get him drafted No. 1 overall. And according to published reports at the time, this puffery didn’t go over well with the Mayfields.I like this. Their BS meer was on high, knowing what agents can and can’t accomplish. Don’t over commit on things you can’t control, tell me what you really can do for me. Mayfield ended up choosing today’s guest - Jack Mills - an OG of the agency game. Over 50 years in the business, Jack Mills doesn’t have to pump up anyone. He’s represented #1 draft picks before -- Irving Fryar in 1984 and George Rogers in 1981. Heck in 1984 he represented the #1 and #2 pick ...and in 1983 he represented the #2 pick in the draft, a guy you may have heard of Eric Dickerson. The best thing Jack and his son Tom were able to do for Baker, was to be honest...and help him with an overall strategy to the process. As former Dallas Cowboys personnel executive and Hall of Famer Gil Brandt said about Mills,...

Jake Lyon: “The Perfect Poster Boy for Esports” – Work In Sports Podcast May 20, 2020

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast…Prepping for this week’s interview was unlike many of my other weeks. Most of the time I have a pretty good vibe for the person I am going to speak with, their role, their struggles, their big goals - and can lean into that in my question development. But sometimes when you reach outside your comfort zone, it can be quite exhilarating. I’ve made it clear on this show multiple times prior that I am not a gamer. I don’t know the lingo, the leagues, the competitors -- but I am fascinated by the eSports ecosystem and subculture. Not in a - I want to give that a go way - more of a, this thing is huge, fans are dedicated, brands are flocking to it...I want to know why and better understand it. I’ll admit, and my wife will concede, that sometimes I avoid doing things I am afraid to fail at. The challenge of rebuilding our staircase I put off for quite some time because I was afraid to put tons of time and effort into it, and have it look like crap in the end.The challenge of researching and understanding eSports, and booking more guests connected to it, is something I’ve put off because what if at the end of it all, despite all the research and attempts, I come off sounding like an out of touch moron.Our internal monologues protect us from failure, but also sometimes prevent us from trying. Well, thanks to our awesome graphic designer Chris Culp who designs all of the podcast episode artwork for us, he broke me out of my shell without me even knowing it. He basically booked today’s guest and said - “hey I think you should do this” -- panic panic panic. Truth is, I went through my normal routine -- reading articles on the person, videos, background, social profiles and become quickly inspired to ask the questions you’ll hear shortly. What I found stupefying through my research, was the patronizing manner most people of my generation and older, speak to the youthful gaming audience. It’s like this stunned question repeated over and over again “so you can make money playing video games… ha!” or “Did you ever think wasting your youth on video games could work out for you like this?”The implied nature of the questions is that even though you are my guest and I am interviewing you because you are important, I want you to know, i think you are not important. Kind of made me mad. Offended. Ashamed. Funny thing is, I asked today’s guest about it and he couldn’t have been more mature and gracious. Jake Lyon is a 23-year-old retired gamer who played for the Houston Outlaws of the Overwatch League, and is now part of the Overwatch broadcast team as a caster. Financial Review called him "the perfect poster-boy for the sport as it tries to dispel the prejudice that computer-gaming is a lonely pursuit of wastrels and slobs" and in July 2018, Lyons was selected as one of two Overwatch League players to attend a summit between the International Olympic Committee and the esports community. He is an ambassador for eSports, a charismatic, mature, well-spoken passionate young man -- who is also our guest this week. Here’s Jake …Questions for Jake Lyon, Overwatch League Caster1: There is so much I want to get into regarding your background and how you got where you are – but before we jump into your story, I’d like to start out by discussing eSports in the current landscape.We keep sharing the quote around our office that “there is opportunity in chaos” – and when I say this out loud, I think this exemplifies eSports.Is esports ‘having a moment’ because it is perfectly suited to thrive in this current environment?2: I saw that the annual competition for the game Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. – I won’t even try to pronounce the name for fear of showing my age – set a new viewership record in March making it the most-watched non-major esports tournament of all time.Live crowds are a part of the esports experience,

My Sports Internship Got Canceled, Now What? – Work In Sports podcast May 18, 2020

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged Learning for WorkInSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcastOver the last few weeks I’ve been part of a handful of great webinars sponsored by various schools -- Northwestern, Neumann, IE just to name a few - thanks to all of them for having me and thanks for a great discussion.One pattern that kept coming up was this -- My summer internship has been canceled, and that was a major part of my plan to gain experience, what should I do?This is a really great question and I want to dig into it with some ideas. In these webinar settings, I have to be pretty quick with my points, but in this setting, which I control, I can expand. First, let’s get specific about an Internship and what it represents. Internships provide a lot of value -- you learn some things, you meet some people, you get exposed to company culture, you start to learn what you like and don’t like career-wise - all important stuff. So first off, let’s see what we can replicate from what you are missing in the internship.1: What experience were you expecting to get? We can’t recreate what it’s like to be working in the box office on game day, but we can recreate sales techniques, we can learn graphic design, we can learn specific skills.Reach out to your intern contact, tell them you are disappointed but understand and ask f there are specific software or tools, or techniques they use at the organization that you may continue to learn even if not on site. It’s not a 1:1 replacement, but in these times you need to adjust. 2: Meeting people -- well, you don’t get to meet the people face to face at the organization, but you have an in to network with them via social -- we always talk about how you need an angle to network, a reason that connects you to them -- well, it’s pretty clear what this would be. Reach out to people in the organization you were going to intern with via LinkedIn, add a note -- hey I’m Brian I’m a college junior and was going to be interning with your org this summer -- that’s not happening but I still want to get to know and learn from people like you. Once you connect, ask for an informational interview. Employers and sports workers are sympathetic to what you are going through right now and will help you. -- So we can replicate some of the experience, and the networking. Replicating culture or learning more about what you like and don’t like -- we’ll we can’t really replicate that, but information interviews with people you would have been working with can help. Ask some questions in those areas -- how did you figure out this is what you wanted to do? What is the culture like at the organization, and how does that differ from other places you’ve worked. You can learn a lot from asking questions of the right people. Now let’s talk about preparing in the now and some other strategies you can utilize1: If your college has a career center -- lean into it, see if you can set up a virtual meeting with a counselor, and talk through some ways you can make up for the internship experience. They have tools and research available to you!2: Be ready to act quickly -- Usually setting up a summer internship happens in late winter, early spring -- well, things may start to happen fast and opportunities may come up quickly, looking to fill roles. No guarantees here, but if we start to see more sports come back in some ways, and socially distanced workplaces come back to life… they may very well be a quick supply and demand issue for interns. Be ready to move on opportunities quickly. On WorkinSports.com we keep all the sports internship data and opportunities up to date - it’s a great resource for you to stay in the loop on opportunities. You must stay flexible and adapt to these times -- if you see something pop that interests you, go for it, even if it wasn't your original long term plan.3: Consider shorter-term experiences -- I’ve been reading more about micro-internships through a company ...

Chelsea Zahn: Pittsburgh Steelers Partnership Activation Manager – Work In Sports Podcast May 13, 2020

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…Popularity is a slippery beast.As a podcast host, I am always looking for interesting guests, with recognizable names, fancy job titles and experience to share. My goal is always to provide actionable advice for all of you, and share it through either my voice and experience or by my guests. But I get back to the original premise - popularity, virality, shareability - totally unpredictable. You hear people in marketing always saying - I want viral content! As if it is that easy. That’s not a strategy, it’s a dream. My belief has always been you make a lot of quality content, and try to learn from each piece that resonates with your audience. You constantly refine and adjust - not always in a major way, not always a complete shift, just subtle movements in your approach, tone, and content. Now let’s be clear, going viral, or having something spike in popularity, doesn’t always connect to your business. The concept of just going viral is flawed. I wrote an article years back when I had my own site - it was a funny article comparing injuries in hockey to injuries in baseball. It went nuts. Hundreds of thousands of views, hundreds of thousands of Facebook likes, thousands of shares -- the thing went crazy. It did zero for my bottom line. Literally zero. Sure we can talk about brand exposure, and the potential to grab new audiences, but for all the virality it made little impact on my business. So viral in and of itself doesn’t always change the calculus of your business. It has to all be connected - content to business strategy. Now let’s get this back to this here podcast. I don’t reach for popularity anymore. I try to let it happen naturally by delivering the information the audience can grow from.I book guests based on the impact I believe they can have, and then sit back and watch to see what happens with downloads. Sometimes I have a vibe, like when I book big names like Leigh Steinberg, or Dan Duquette, that they will be popular. But what has been truly eye-opening is that guests like Colleen Scoles, Mailynh Vu and Mark Coscarello, talent acquisition managers with the Philadelphia Eagles, Cleveland Indians and USGA respectively have doubled up Leigh Steinberg in downloads. It comes down to knowing your audience and what they want. Chelsea Zahn was a guest I booked last year, a young woman on the rise in the sports industry working in Partnership Activation for the Pittsburgh Steelers -- to me, she met the criteria for a great gust, charismatic, interesting career, not many people know about Partnership Activation, and willing to share great advice. I interviewed her, was proud of the content...and then was completely amazed when her episode became the second most downloaded of 2019 behind only Mailynh Vu who, I mean come on was the rockstar of 2019 and if you haven’t listened to that episode you are crazy. I’m guessing many of you new to the show also haven’t listened to Chelsea, so today is your day -- here is Chelsea Zahn, partnership activation manager for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Remote Hiring is Here to Stay – Let’s Prepare! Work In Sports Podcast May 11, 2020

Tips and Advice to Help you Master the Remote Hiring ProcessHey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of content and engaged learning at WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…Hiring will remain virtual for the near future, and quite possibly beyond, so let's get you prepared: Virtual interviewsPhone interviewsVideo interviewsWe are missing the in-person interaction -- which stinks, but it’s justa problem wer all have to deal with. If you are someone who relied on your charisma in the moment to get you through -- make sure your skills are on point, and you figure out how to translate your charisma to the small screen and the phone.Again - your skills become more of the focus if you can’t get by being just the smoothest operator.Tone: Right now there are a lot of deparate people out there, I don’t mean this to be discouraging or a dig on those who are suffering, I just mean from the ermployers viewpoint, there are a lot of people applying for their jobs that may not have in normal times.“Be ready to talk about why you want to work for the company you’re interviewing with and why you feel like the job makes sense as your next career move.” You need to be able to make sure the employer knows you are interested, you want this gig, and why you feel like this job makes s4ense for you in your career.You don’t want them thinking you are just looking for work -- you want them to know this is a logical career move for you and something that excites you.Normally… I tell you to make sure there are no distractions. No dogs barking, no roomates barging in. The good news is, everyone is a little more quarantine supportive and knows the world isn’t perfect right now. Try to keep distractions low, but don’t lose your groove if something happens.Acknowledge it, and get back on track. Or plow through without letting iot affect you at all, that shows a lot of focus.2: Expect more rounds of interviewsEmployers love the final face to face phase because that’s where they make sure they know the person and feel they are a cultural fit. Without that, they are extending the process in other ways. More rounds of phone or video interviews, with more people in the building. They are trying to get multiple viewpoints to be sure that they have the right match.Don’t get discouraged if the process takes longer than normal, or expected. There is no normal anymore, throw out everything you used to know. 3: What skills are more important now that ever?Establishing trustCommunicationCollaborationAdaptablity4: Expect more questions on how you handle challengesHave a story related to how you handled an unexpected challenge in your repertoire. 5: You can still be selectiveYou are learning here too, about their culture their workforce etc. Don’t rush to choose the wrong job, try try try to be patient and listen to your instinct.

Averee Dovsek: The Challenges Facing Student Athletes – Work In Sports Podcast May 06, 2020

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning for WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast…I saw someone post today, quite longingly, that they miss sports. I know it’s a feeling we all empathize with, but it was the manner they shared it. It just seemed so raw and honest. Not like a complaint, rather just a plea. Like it had a deep sign in the middle. I miss sports.We all feel that way, but I can only imagine what it’s like for college athletes right now who would be in the midst of their spring seasons. Athletes are used to routines, almost all that I have interviewed, have their days organized to the extreme. Wake up, train, study, practice, gym, practice, class, train, bed. Scheduled down to the minute. Preparing their mind and body for competition. Now, take that away.I know many athletes when they finish their career, they lose a piece of their identity, they’ve always been a competitor, and athlete - that is their brand - and they struggle to reidentify themselves with the world, and within themselves. They don’t know who they are. Now imagine in our current world, having that taken from you unexpectedly. There was no soft landing you can see coming in the future -- just one day, poof, it’s gone. The Hofstra men’s basketball team hasn’t made the NCAA tourney since 2001. They’ve only made it four times total, losing all four times. They qualify, they are pumped, and then it’s over. Baseball players, golfers, track and field stars… it all just ended. Their routine was broken, but also the chance to make incredible, lasting memories. Which is one of the main reasons I wanted to have Averee Dovsek, Hofstra women’s golfer on the show this week. Through the despair of her season being canceled, she is still making the absolute best out of things and keeping a positive attitude. AND before this world turned upside down- she was already a model for how student-athlete can manage their time and still gain career-focused experience… Here she is, the next big star in sports broadcasting, you heard it here first, Averee Dovsek…Questions for Averee Dovsek, Hofstra Women's Golfer and Aspiring Sports Reporter1: There is so much I want to talk about in regard to your career development in the sports industry, some of the sports broadcasting internships you’ve done, and more… but I want to start out with being a student-athlete in this crazy time.You compete on the golf team at Hofstra, Division 1, what is it like right now being a student AND an athlete in this unique time?2: This should be a time of year you are training, practicing, competing, but with that not being an option, how are you maintaining your edge?3: A big part of playing sports is the community that comes from being on a team – how are you staying connected with your teammates and trying to keep that bond strong?4: I get questions from student-athletes all the time, saying “I don’t have the time to intern, how can I get a job in sports without experience”. I’m empathetic to this, but you’ve done some very high-level internships, how have you done it and how would you advise other student-athletes?5: Let’s talk about those internships, you’ve leaned into who you are, and I think that is really smart. Your edge is your knowledge and experience in golf and you want to go into broadcast journalism so getting an internship last summer at the Golf Channel made a lot of sense.These roles are competitive, what was the hiring process like for you, and why do you think they selected you for the role?6: What did the role consist of, and how did you make the most out of it?7: You seem like a naturally outgoing person, what was your approach to networking and getting to know people at Golf Channel while you were interning?8: January 2020 you land another great internship at PGA Tour Radio – for someone that wants to be in broadcasting this is a dream role – before the world was shut down, what was this opportunity like?

Showing Leadership and Adapting to Change – Work In Sports Podcast May 04, 2020

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast…Three straight days of sunny weather and I’m feeling good. We’ve been mid-70s and bright sun the last three days, which is perfect. And weather definitely affects my mood, so expect some positivity today!If you haven’t listened to last week’s podcast with Ari Kaplan, you need to. Seriously, it’s a long episode, but it didn’t feel it. Ari is one of the OG’s of baseball analytics and has some great, great stories. Plus, he shares how to break into the world of sports analytics, and much more. As I said, long episode but worth it -- there are some episodes, just being honest, that feel like they drag or take a long time to get to grandma’s house. Ari, man, loved this interview.Coming up on Wednesday is Averee Dovsek -- Averee is on the women’s golf team at Hofstra, so we talk a good deal about being a student-athlete at this time. AND we discuss interning and gaining experience as a student-athlete- it’s unique being an athlete, your time is allocated to training traveling competing… so many struggle to gain career experience. Averee is the exception - she’s done internships at the Golf Channel and PGA Tour Radio - and we talk about what she's learned, how she’s focusing on her career, and managing her time. Really great stuff coming up later this week. As for today…The sports career-focused question comes in from Josh in Indiana - “Hey Brian, I’ve heard a lot of people on your podcast say they look to hire people who are leaders or have leadership potential. Two-part question -- how do I develop leadership skills, and how do I show them off in the applicant process?”Josh -- good stuff. It’s true, for a long time I’ve been saying the main attributes people need to be successful in any industry is to be coachable, curious and competitive. They are all pretty self-explanatory, but being coachable means you listen well, take to teaching, can be molded, being competitive means you will work hard work extra, want to be the best, learn new skills, look for an edge and being curious means you are a constant learrner, always curious and always strviing for more.But we really need to add to that list. In these times, and in the development of the new normal, we need to stress adaptability and leadership. Let’s talk a minute about adaptability before we get into leadership. I have spoken to hundreds of people over this quarantine, and I’d say they can be broken into two groups. 1: Those who freak out. The sky is falling, I will lose my job, I’m going to get the virus, the economy will crash, we’ll be in a depression, I’m in a depression. Everything is panic and overwhelming. 2: Those who are seeing the problem, analyzing it, and figuring out how to adjust and adapt. They are looking for opportunities, taking some of this in stride, adjusting to virtual meetings, learning, and saying to themselves, I may get this thing… but I’ll beat it if I do. Now, I’m not being naive here -- there are people at massive risk for this virus and I am not advocating taking it on face first -- I’m just pointing out that there are some who adapt, and there are others who get overwhelmed. I know someone who is an at-risk case, she has every reason to fear coronavirus, but she’s not letting it overwhelm her. She’s quarantining, she’s adjusting to zoom life, she’s working remote and she’s hell-bent on proving her continued value to her company. She’s not wallowing, she’s adapting. That adaptability is important now, and forever moving forward. It always has been but will be even more so now. Now let's get to leadership. Why do we want leaders in the workforce? Well, there are executors and there are leaders -- we need both. There are those that are really strong at a specific skill, and that has great value. A top of the line Avid editor, or graphic designer, or salesforce expert -- these are incredible skills that will always be in ...

Ari Kaplan: Baseball Analytics Pioneer – Work In Sports Podcast Apr 29, 2020

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged Learning for WorkInSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…Managing and leading people requires a unique blend of patience and expertise. Patience is paramount to success as a manager because you are inherently managing and leading people who are less experienced in this expertise than you are. If someday you become the director of group sales for a sports organization, you will be influencing the day to day actions of people new to the business, and junior in their experience. This means you must be patient in executing your plans, taking their growth with the logical steps forward, and steps backward. It’s like having a kid - you work on their reading, and as soon as you make progress...the next day they look at you like they’ve never seen the word AND before. You want to scream, like, we did this 25 times yesterday...and then you realize they are 6 yeard old and child protective services have already told you to stop yelling so much. I’m kidding of course - child protective services have never yelled at me, even if that story was slightly autobiographical. But this is patience in action. No one learns in a straight line, they go up and down. They grasp some concepts quickly and others take longer. They need repetition and acceptance of their shortcomings. This is a major part of being a thought leader at a company. You can’t write people off as hopeless, you have to work with them, find their learning style, figure out ways to translate your information into their language. Nowhere is this trickier than in the world of sports analytics. Analytics is one of the roles in the highest demand for the sports industry, and yet it is a very very different language than most people speak. The best in this business have learned how to adjust their style to their stakeholders, whether that’s a GM, a coach or a player. Some are visual learners, and need heat maps, others like massive amounts of data and want it all, while others need to be told a singular thing at a time that can help them advance in their skill set. Everyone learns differently, and as long as they have the passion, the learning will come. I was watching TV with my wife the other night, and she was watching some competition fashion show and they are talking through designers and styles and sewing techniques -- and I said to her...how in the world can anyone keep up with all these designers and techniques.She looked at me deadpan and said: “so who did the Patriots draft in the 3rd round of the 2007 draft?”And I said “trick question, they didn’t have a 3rd round pick”It took me a minute until I realized she set the trap and I jumped in it. The point is, everyone has the capacity to learn what they are interested in and is placed in front of them within the right format.That is the challenge for those in analytics -- taking complex data, that their audiences want to understand, and making it understandable. The passion is there, it’s on the analyst to make it more than just numbers. It takes patience. Today’s guest Ari Kaplan understands this more than most - over the last three decades he’s been finding ways to give pro sports teams an edge through data AND having the patience to share the information in the right manner so that it can make a difference. This interview is fascinating - I learned so much because I have the passion, and Ari has the patience… so where do you fit in?Let’s find out -- here’s Ari Kaplan…Questions for Ari Kaplan, Baseball Analytics Pioneer1: Before we dig deep into the world of statistical analysis in sports, let’s go back to your beginning. As a student at CalTech most would assume you’d end up at NASA, some seismological laboratory or astronomical observatory – but for you, sports was the path – why?2: I read where you presented your CalTech thesis titled “How do you spell relief? An Analysis of Baseball Pitching 1876 to present” to the Caltech board of trustees,

The Secret Weapon You Aren’t Utilizing Enough – Work In Sports Podcast Apr 27, 2020

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged learning for WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast…I apologize for not having a Friday podcast last week. I have to say, Friday was the first day of this quarantine that my kids were really struggling. They’ve been incredible this whole time, but they are young, this is really weird, and it felt like Friday it all caught up to them at once. It was rainy and cold, the sky was grey all day...and all three just looked miserable. So I skipped the podcast, bailed on a few meetings I was supposed to have, including a podcast interview with Averee Dovsek from PGA Tour Radio which we are going to do this Friday instead. Averee is a cool story -- she’s in college, a D1 golfer on the women’s team at Hofstra, and has also done some very high profile internships with golf channel and PGA tour radio...and during the pandemic, rather than sit around blaming the world for her season coming to an end, and her internship with PGA Tour radio...she started a podcast. She reminds me of some of my previous guests like Carlton Robie, Dasmine Evans and Jake Kernan -- driven, focused, and willing. Those are great attributes when you are trying to get into this business.Anyway, Averee’s interview will be live in two weeks, this week on Wednesday is Ari Kaplan, one of the pioneers of baseball analytics. I don’t say that lightly, he is a pioneer in baseball analytics and data science. He’s worked or consulted for every major league team - and he shares a bunch of really fun stories, great career advice, and insight into what is happening now in the world of data science and analytics. I know many of you in our audience will get pretty geeked up about this one, I know I did. Just one more note, Ari speaks on these intricate subjects in such a deliberate manner, he makes it easy to understand complex information. As he puts it, you can’t talk to a manager or GM in spreadsheets, you have to translate and explain… which he does so so well in this interview. This whole tangent started with me explaining why I missed the podcast on Friday. And it’s to make this point. We all make choices every day, don’t forget to make choices for yourself or those who rely on you most. Sometimes, you need to be you the person, more than you the worker. OK, let’s move along…The question today comes in from Jonny in Los Angeles… Jonny writes“Hey Brian, I feel like you are my trusted advisor even though you don’t know me personally. I listen intently to what you share, and since your advice has so often been proven true in my life, I trust you implicitly. My question - the advice you hear all around the internet is that during this time you should be doing more informational interviews with people in the industry. While this advice seems legit, I ask you, how? Like, how do you set them up, what do you ask, what are the goals, and how should I set this up for success? I’m just not quite sure I understand why they are valuable.”Jonny, your question basically wrote my outline for me… how do you do it, why do you do it, what questions do you ask and what does success look like. Like seriously, that’s how I outline just about every talk. How, why, what and what does it look like when it works. Thanks for doing my work for me :)Ok, so let's talk about informational interviews. Right now for most of you, the sports world seems like an incredibly large space. Tons of people, different jobs, lots of teams leagues and organizations that support the industry and it’s athletes. But here’s the deal, those of us that have been in the industry for a long time feel like it’s a small world, everyone is interconnected, and the overlap in roles and responsibilities is ever-present.We’ve shrunken this daunting world by getting to know the people. I tell this all the time, I worked with 250 other people at CNN/Sports Illustrated when I got started -- and then when these people ventured out into other roles I had connecti...

Leah Clayton: Lenoir-Rhyne Athletics Director of Marketing – Work In Sports Podcast Apr 22, 2020

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning for WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast…I’ve been spending a lot of time lately considering the plights of different types of people during this global pandemic. Obviously this is tragic, people are losing their jobs, and many are losing their lives. I thank, from the bottom of my heart, all of those people on the front lines of this pandemic, from the healthcare workers to the grocery clerks, who risk their own health to help others -- admirable traits, and I wish you nothing but health. But I’ve also been thinking about those of us locked down and isolated at our homes. I live in an area with some land, we have about 4 acres, I have my kids home with me, my wife -- I’m surrounded by my people. We have computers, TV, internet, food, phones, a ping pong table, stable jobs (for now) a huge garden. We have nothing to complain about. Others aren’t so lucky. This for them is far more challenging. They live in small apartments, they don’t have access to the internet, they are all alone. This to them can be torture. Empathy, putting yourself in someone else’s shoes and understanding their plight, is really important right now. I got my first job in Atlanta at 21, had never been there before, didn’t know anyone, and had a crappy apartment. Like, really crappy. I couldn’t imagine being locked in place at that time. I would have gone nuts.Even later in my 20’s moved in with my future wife, just the two of us in another crappy apartment in Seattle -- Fremont to be specific. All these super cool things just outside our door within walking distance, but instead we could have been trapped inside. I’m not sure we’d be married now if that happened. I look at my situation now and say, not so bad. But I can also realize that so many of you are in a situation that makes this hard and uncomfortable and your motivating thoughts of “I’m going to learn new things and catch up on good books” may have drifted off by week 6 of this situation.I’ve also been thinking about personality differences and how they can influence how someone is handling this situation. An extrovert is likely really having a hard time right now, trying to have game night on zoom, or facetime with friends… the quiet moments are likely crushing their spirit. Introverts, on the other hand, largely get their energy from inside themselves and selected interactions with people are likely handling this with grace. Some people may not have even realized who they were until these moments. You might not have realized just how much of an extrovert you were until it was taken away! If you are feeling right now this deep desire to be around other people...maybe you are more extroverted -- for you this is hell. But if you are Ok with this scenario, and surprised at how well you are handling this unexpected change, maybe you are more introverted than you realized prior. This is good, this is a positive for everyone because the more you understand yourself and how you tick, the more you can set yourself up for success. Today’s guest is a self-identified extrovert, she loves large passionate, screaming groups of sports fans… and that love serves her well in her role as Director of Marketing for Lenoir Rhyne Athletics. Just a few years removed from her undergrad, Leah Clayton has carved out quite a path for herself and she’s here to tell us all about it… and get some of that extrovert energy out!Here’s Leah Clayton!Questions for Lenoir-Rhyne Director of Marketing Leah Clayton1: Before we get into sports marketing in athletics, and your life and role at Lenoir-Rhyne – let's go back to your beginning a bit -- why college sports and why marketing? How did you discover this career fit for yourself?2: You earned your undergrad degree at Appalachian State in communication and PR and were a 4-year member of the cheerleading squad -- what is the biggest misconception people have about being a cheerleader?

Terrible Career Advice Being Shared on Social Media – Work In Sports Podcast Apr 20, 2020

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkinSports.com and this is the Work In Sports Podcast…I think I’m in the anger phase of quarantine. Just to be clear, I am not some whack-job thinking I should protest the quarantine, or claim it’s all some conspiracy to bring me down, or scream that I need a haircut so open up the stores again. Quite the opposite, I’m a pretty firm believer that there are people dying out there from a highly transmissible virus and we all have to do our part to stop the spread, this is about all of US, not me. No, my anger is just a phase of this process… like I’ve hit the moment that I’m a little edgy and don’t necessarily have the patience for my child asking for me to stop typing so much and focus on them. Or to make them a sandwich, or to pick up their toys all over the floor. Alas, my anger isn’t just reserved for the kids - in fact, I do a pretty good job of holding that down - my anger has migrated to other areas I don’t usually let it. Like people saying stupid stuff on twitter.Now, I don’t do the twitter beef thing. If people have their opinions, that is their right, and no amount of me arguing with them in 200 and whatever characters is going to resolve their deep-seeded issues. BUT - sometimes I see reckless things being shared...and it just pisses me off. Today, I have to let that anger shine. Normally, I hold it in. Like how presidents aren’t supposed to talk shit about other presidents, even if they despise them, or you aren’t supposed to bunt during a no-hitter… I have professional respect for others in this realm of career development in the sports industry. I won’t name names, that’s not my style, But I read something on Friday that just really pissed me the hell off. A question was asked by a young person -- “what advice would you give someone during job searching during this pandemic” And the advice given back was “Apply for everything that interests you whether you are qualified or not”I wanted to explode. This is quite possibly the worst advice I have ever read. So, I’m sorry but I have to go off on this, for many many reasons.Let me tell you why this is terrible advice. 1: This statement is rooted in hope, not fact. When you say, apply for anything whether you are qualified or not, you are basically saying “magic may happen”… the employer may magically decide “hey, you can’t do this job, but we’re going to hire you anyway because you are awesome”This is laziness. When you think to yourself, rather than put in the work to make myself qualified for the jobs I love, rather than understanding the marketplace knowing what skills are in demand and developing myself, rather than doing internships, volunteering, informational interviews, networking … I’ll just apply for jobs and hope something wonderful happens. You know what that does - it disrespects all of you who have worked for something - you’ve focused your strategy, you’ve put in the effort -- and some other fool is going to come in, not be qualified, apply for the job and get it? How dare you insult me this way?This is like reading that Aston Kucher was discovered by modeling agents walking around the mall in Iowa, and thinking I need to walk around the mall in Iowa looking fabulous each day because magic may happen to me. Someone at some time may have been hired despite not having qualifications, but it’s magical thinking, hanging on to one story, and projecting it into a pattern that will help you. We tell ourselves things we want to believe can be true - because they are easier. It is easier to be discovered or to get a job we aren’t qualified for just by applying. That path is easy, doing the actual work is hard. Saying coronavirus will disappear “like a miracle” at some point is easier than putting in the work to get testing done. But easy, the path of least resistance, is not a strategy, it is not something that works repeatably, in fact, it can hurt you and I’ll explain why.

Dan Kaufmann, New York Jets Director of Corporate Partnerships Apr 15, 2020

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast…There is a moment that sticks out to me from today’s interview with Dan Kaufmann, New York Jets Director of Corporate Partnerships...well, there are actually a couple, Dan is really great and shares a ton of insider advice, but one, in particular, was Dan talking about his early career and how he failed a lot. You’ll hear him discuss it first hand in just a bit, but I think it is really valuable to highlight. Dan comes right out and says, I tried a lot, I failed a lot and I learned a lot. This is an attitude that most people don’t have. Dan says it very normally like this is just a pattern everyone goes through, but in reality, most of us are afraid to try because we are afraid to fail...and that holds us backWhen I say most of us, I definitely mean me. When I was starting in my career, I was so afraid to be judged by my peers as inferior that I didn’t ask questions, I didn’t take any risks, I didn’t try anything in the grey areas- and in turn, I didn’t really push myself into uncomfortable areas. I thought if I did my tasks, and hustled around that would be enough. And it was just fine. But looking back, my own fears of judgment, stunted my growth. I see it now with my kids first hand -- they learn best by trying and failing and I let them! My daughter was trying to make a pizza the other day, and she said hey dad can I try to make something else with the extra dough. Yeah, go for it!She made this calzoney type thing, stuffed it with too much sauce, it burst in the oven...and she said to me after, if I was going to do that again, I’d make these three changes to my approach. She’s 12.I was 22 years old at CNN Sports Illustrated trying to play it safe all the time, OR being faced with something I didn’t know how to do… and faking it, instead of just asking someone else a question on how. This is EGO. And I’m not the only one that suffers from this affliction.Failing is OK, in fact, it’s better than OK, it’s the best way to learn. Just to be clear, I mean failing by trying things that maybe don’t work out… not failing because you are lazy and miss deadlines, or do sloppy work. Dan Kaufmann joined the New York Jets a little over 5 years ago and as you’ll hear in this interview, really loves his job in corporate sponsorships and is excited by his day to day involvement. Before we jump in -- this interview was conducted a few weeks ago, prior to the coronavirus outbreak, so there is no reference to our ongoing struggle, the NFL season, how the Jets are operating as a business. Just a good old fashioned pre-corona perspective on getting going in the sports industry -- Here he is -- Dan Kaufmann, Director of Corporate Partnerships with the New York Jets.Questions for Dan Kaufmann, New York Jets Director of Corporate Partnerships 1: Before we get into your world of corporate partnerships in the NFL and all the steps you took to get there – lets go back to your beginning --- did you always dream of working in sports?Follow: how did you discover your fit in sales and marketing?2: Over your career, you’ve worked for a multitude of different organizations of varying sizes.Minor league hockey with the Pensacola Ice Pilots, mid-major college at the University of Toledo, Major college at the University of Wisconsin and now in the NFL with the Jets.Other than the obvious bigger budgets and larger staffs – what are the main differences you experienced in the varying work environments?3: Your first role after undergrad was with the aforementioned Pensacola Ice Pilots selling minor league hockey in the south. That can’t be easy, but you led the org in revenue that year. What did you learn about sales and marketing early on and what it meant to be successful?4: It’s funny I talk with college-age students throughout the year and if you talk about sports sales careers, they roll their eyes at you,

Staying in Touch With Hiring Managers – Work In Sports Podcast Apr 13, 2020

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast…Just a reminder for everyone, we have this incredibly robust online learning platform called The Work In Sports Academy -- 4 modules full of articles, videos, worksheets, podcast episodes and more. The course teaches you hor to be an expert at getting hired in sports.YOu can find all the details at workinsports.com/adademyBUT the reason I am bringing this up is that during this crazy pandemic where we are all locked at home, I wanted to offer up something special to all of you. I created an abridged version of the Academy courses, called Academy Essentials… and it’s 100% free. Register as a user at WorkInSports.com with either a free account, or a premium membership, and you will get the Academy Essentials course for FREE.Pretty cool right?Alright so let’s talk about the sports industry!If you missed it I posted an episode on Friday on how the sports industry will function during high unemployment -- we are headed towards a period of high unemployment, many of you have never lived through that, so I brought up some strategies and expectations you should all have for this new scenario we’ll all be facing.I suggest you listen, and be prepared for what is to come. Coming up on Wednesday is my interview with Dan Kaufmann, Director of Corporate Partnerships with the New York Jets - it’s a great interview, and the LAST of my pre-corona interviews!I interviewed Dan prior to the breakout, he’s an incredible interview, but we speak nothing of corona, so you’ll need to take a break from corona talk for 40 minutes on Wednesday, I think you can hack it. Dan and I did talk last week, and for the NFL, business is still moving forward, he is still meeting with clients virtually and talking on the phone -- he, like Greg Hylton a few weeks back, said many teams in the NFL are still hiring staff...so that is a place to look if you are in the market. Of course, it can all be found on our site, WorkInSports.com the #1 job board for the sports industry. Just being completely transparent… prior to the corona outbreak, we had about 25,000 active sports jobs on our site. Now, we’re down to 10,776 -- it is a smaller pool, but that’s still a lot of opportunities. Our friends at Open Sponsorship -- former podcast guest Ishveen Anand’s company - they are hiring. I’m seeing jobs from Red Bull, Turner Sports, NBC Sports, CAA, Bismarck Larks baseball team -- and a bunch of other orgs, some of which you have heard of, others you may not have known existed. That’s what WorkInSports is here for -- we find all the jobs, thousands you may never have even heard of, and put them in one convenient spot for you. ASM global, Sommer Sports, Hurrah, Altitude sports… there are so many sports employers out there and these are just some of the employers on the first page of our site, posted fresh!Alright, today’s question comes from Jasmine T…Jasmine is a member of our private Facebook group where she posed this question. YOu can join the group too, search Facebook for Work In Sports podcast, then answers a few quick questions and I let you in. Don’t answer the questions, I don’t let you in. It’s pretty simple. Ok, Jasmine’s questions: “For those of us that were in the interview process before all of this happened and the company is now under a hiring freeze, what would you recommend doing? What is the best way to keep in touch with the hiring manager? I'm trying to stay relevant so that I'm remembered when the hiring freeze is over!”Jasmine great question and I’m going to try and take it in multiple directions to help various people out in a similar scenario.This is a very real scenario, many people were in the process, and then the lights got turned off in areas around the globe, and people were told to stay inside, and we all adjusted to a new reality...with a hiring freeze. The most important part of hiring,

How to Get a Job When Unemployment Rates Are High – Work In Sports Podcast Apr 10, 2020

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged Learning at Workinsports.com and this is another special edition of the Work In Sports podcast…For the last month and a half, we’ve gone to 3 episodes a week so that we could keep supplying you with the most up-to-date industry-relevant information and guidance. We’ve added a ton of new listeners so thanks to all of you for either tuning in for the first time, or continually listening.If you are a new listener, I want you to know that all of our content is evergreen. Meaning, it is still just as relevant as the day we posted it. So if you go back through our archives, and see that I interviewed super agents like Nicole Lynn, Leigh Steinberg or Jack Mills… or James Kimball from the UFC, or Kara Walker from the Boston Celtics...or any of our other incredible guests… know this...we don’t talk about last night’s game or specific plays or events tied to that moment in time. We talk about their career, how they got where they are and what guidance they have for you, in our audience. So go back, listen to any of our episodes, and you’ll get incredible sports career advice.Alright, last note before I get into today’s episode… On Wednesday I interviewed Leah Clayton, who is the Director of Marketing for the athletic department at Lenoir Rhyne. Many, many, many of you have asked me to interview people in smaller athletic departments, or to get people earlier in their career -- well, Leah is both, she’s just a few ears into her sports career, and she’s really making a mark at Lenoir-Rhyne.She is also wildly charismatic, and I had a really really good time interviewing her. Smart and funny….plus she called me out for mispronouncing her alma mater, which I loved. I absolutely love it when someone is confident enough to call me out.OK, so what do we want to talk about today?This question from Ben in Washington stood out to me…“Hey Brian, love the podcast, I’m a pretty new listener but I’ve gone back and listened to 5 of your previous episodes and really enjoyed the content. My favorite so far was Celia Bouza from ESPN Next - you and her had a really strong rapport, and I loved that chemistry.I’m a college senior, so my world has been turned a bit upside down. For the last decade we’ve had pretty low unemployment numbers, people were getting jobs. Now, unemployment is going to go through the roof. You’ve lived through this more than most of us… what is it really like when unemployment is high?”Ben -- welcome to the community, and thanks for listening. Celia is one of my favorites too -- glad you enjoyed that one and YES, I am old enough to remember when unemployment was high. I’m old enough to remember how scary it was with the financial crash of 2007-2008. And I’m old enough to remember 9/11 and the fears that came after that. I was working at CNN during 9/11 and that was a scary, scary time. But rather than focus on what it was like to live through those moments, let’s focus on the job market during high unemployment. 1: Employers get really, really frustrated. They have roles to fill, but because unemployment is high, they get more and more unqualified people applying for their jobs, hoping that they’ll get lucky.2: Finding the right match gets harderEmployers deal with lots of noise… and they look for ways to cut through it. Which means they rely on two things...sites like ours, and applicant tracking systems.At WorkinSports.com we have tools for employers to filter through our database of resumes, find matches for their openings, invite them to apply, and more. This allows the employer to actively find the right matches for their jobs, rather than relying on blind submissions.It is a huge benefit to you to post your resume on our site. Also, they rely on applicant tracking systems to manage their hiring process. They always use these anyway, but in these times they really rely on them to cut through the noise.3: Which means you HAVE TO make your resume fantastic.

Bryan Srabian: A GIANT in Sports Social Media – Work In Sports Podcast Apr 08, 2020

Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast.Over the last decade or so there has been a greater emphasis on culture and environment in the workplace, especially in business but more recently in sports.Not to get all “when I was a young whippersnapper” on you…but when I started my sports career back in 1996, everything was task-oriented. Get the job done. Period. My boss didn’t really care about my feelings or how I fit in or whether I felt comfortable taking chances in my role. And I didn’t expect her to. If you messed up that was bad… if you messed up multiple times you’d be labeled as unreliable and never given the fun games to cover, or the next opportunity. That was sports and that was the media… we couldn’t really afford to be wrong.Failure wasn’t seen as a pathway to creativity, it was seen as a pathway to a different career.Around the early 2000s, my wife, then-girlfriend, was in the dot com industry where they played ping pong in the office and totally changed the concept of failure…this new wave believed failure was a necessary part of true growth and creativity.This idea of failing to be acceptable always confused me. She played Half-Life around her office and I sprinted around the newsroom trying to get a story on the air and not miss a deadline.We lived in very different work worlds.But…despite 90% of them going out of business, the dot coms may have been on to something.The sports world has come in this direction as well – there is more concern than ever for happiness, inclusion, cultural fits and more.In fact, the same concept the dot com industry embraced in the early 2000s of failure being a necessary indicator of pushing yourself, finds its way into the sports world modus operandi too as we constantly try to push new boundaries in social media, content creation, branding, advertising, and marketing.We can’t just recycle – we need to push new boundaries, we need to try new things, we need to be free to fail in the spirit of refining and developing.It’s not the same as “do crappy work and it’ll all be ok” – it’s the concept that to be unique means you have to try things and you won’t always hit. I heard someone say the other day – “if you want to see something new, better go to a different planet” implying it’s all been done before. I don’t buy this. I see new often. I see teams and brands and leagues pushing past normalcy daily.And I see failure.I think back and wonder if these things are inextricably linked – was I afraid to fail back in my early career and therefore less impactful? So I now feel more emboldened to fail and am more creative?Hell if I know.But one thing I know about myself is I do like an environment where I’m not self-censoring every move fearful it will result in my downfall. I do like running a group of people and trying to get them to work fearlessly.Not carelessly, we still have to be accurate, we still have to do things the right way and be careful what we say and who we say it about… but the idea of trying without fear makes sense to me.That is the philosophy of today’s guest.I believe wholeheartedly that for a creative person, you could have no better leader and role model than Bryan Srabian San Francisco Giants VP of Digital Media and Brand Development. For 18 years he’s been a fixture with the Giants, and get this he started his career well before the internet, well before social media… and now in my view, he is the kingpin, the OG of the sports social media.He adapted to a changing world, became an expert in a growing field, pushed the Giants to new levels and formulated a highly functioning team that wasn’t afraid to fail…and because of that, they’ve succeeded an awful lot.But I’ll let him tell it – here’s Bryan Srabian, San Francisco Giants VP of Digital Media and Brand Development…Listen to the Work In Sports Podcast to hear more! Here are a few video clips:

Figuring Out Your Passion in the Sports Industry – Work In Sports Podcast Apr 06, 2020

It's the most frequent question we receive -- "I love sports, what should I do for my career?" listen to this episode of the Work In Sports podcast for some ideasHey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkinSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast…A couple of quick notes before we jump into today’s fan question:Note #1: Quarantine kind of stinks. It is essential, I’m glad we are all taking it seriously, but this stinks. Note #2: So many of you that I know from our audience are posting that they’ve been laid off, or your job has been furloughed -- and this hurts me to my core. This feels like something I’m seeing every time I log in to LinkedIn - another person posting they’ve lost their job. I feel for all of you. We are all feeling a tightening of our belt. Reach out to me via LinkedIn, or our Private Facebook group and I’ll see what I can do to help. Our private Facebook group is a great spot to network, and fund support from your peers. Others like you, facing these times and looking for support and guidance. Search for the Work In Sports podcast on Facebook, answer a few questions and you are in!Note #3: In the same spirit, we have created an abridged version of our Work In Sports Academy courses -- we call it Academy Essentials. It is now FREE for all users to access, so if you are looking to increase your knowledge, learn some strategies and tactics that will help when it comes to getting hired in the sports industry, Academy Essentials is a great start and again, completely free.Alright, today’s fan question comes from Wyatt in Colorado -- “Hey Brian, I’m a junior in college, pretty early in my sports career and I’m trying to figure out my fit for the industry. I notice on your site WorkInSports.com that your tagline says “make your passion your career” I like that saying… I know my passion in sports...but what part of sports should I make my career in, that’s where I struggle. Any ideas that can help me.Also, I have to say your site actually has a lot of jobs right now, and I didn’t expect that, thanks for your continued hard work during these times.”Wyatt -- thanks for the kind words and good questions. I think the final side note is kind of funny -- “your site actually has a lot of jobs right now” that word actually always cracks me up, it’s like the ultimate backhanded compliment.You actually look nice today. Wow, that paper you wrote is actually pretty good! Your site is actually pretty good at this! I appreciate the positive response Wyatt, we are working really hard as a team right now, and always, to find all the potential opportunities out there. We know many of you are hurting, and finding your next opportunity can be a way to bring light to the end of this tunnel.As I mentioned last week on our special Friday edition, in normal times we add about 75 new sports jobs a day, which is a LOT of opportunities, and that number HAS slowed down, but it hasn’t stopped. We added 183 fresh sports jobs last week...and trust me, there is going to be a huge boom once quarantine lets up. There are opportunities now, and there will be more soon. Our site, WorkInSports.com is absolutely your best place to get the latest on opportunities. So let’s get into your question about passion, and then refine things further. This comes with the caveat of, I can’t answer this question for you, you have to discover it. Has anyone seen the movie Inside Out? It’s a Pixar movie, really really really well done. I have young kids, so I see all of these types of movies. Trust me, I have a point in here, just stick with me. The movie is, on a macro level, about your emotions and how your experiences to help frame them. One of the concepts they use to explain this concept to younger minds is that all of your experiences are marbles, and then you have a small group of “core memories” that are the most instrumental building blocks of your personality. So apply this to your own life… there are definitely ...

Finding Motivation and Focus During This Messed Up Time – Work In Sports Podcast Apr 03, 2020

Hey everyone, before we get into today’s special Friday edition of the Work in Sports podcast a couple of notes:1: We developed this really robust curriculum focused on the strategies and tactics everyone should learn and utilize to get hired in sports. We’ll over the last month, I made an abridged version, and we’re giving it away for free on WorkInSports.com -- that’s right, Academy Essentials is 100% free to all users. 2: You also may be wondering -- why should I visit WorkInSports.com right now -- wit no games, there must be no jobs. That would be false. In the last week, we’ve added 183 sports active jobs -- now that’s way off our average, we’re normally closer to 75 fresh sports jobs a day. But there are jobs and opportunities out there, so if you need work, we have the opportunities.3: Which brings me to my third point -- starting next week, we’re going to make all part-time jobs free to access for all users. We know many of you working game day events have been furloughed or laid off, so we’re making access to all the seasonal and part-time roles free on our site.4: And finally -- look for an email from us early next week. We are dramatically dropping the price of a WorkInSports membership to serve you better. Yes, we are a service site, we provide a value of fiding all the sports jobs and putting them in one place for you...and we charge a fee for the service...but we are dramatically dropping the price to help as best we can.Ok, let’s start the countdown... ---Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is a special Friday edition of the Work In Sports podcast.So...I want to be really honest with all of you right now. I’m not one of those guys that always tries to act like they have all the answers and that their model for doing things is perfect. I get annoyed when I see “motivational speakers” always having all the answers, never sad, never conflicted…the world appears very black and white to them, and they are the only ones who know where the right color is. When you know in reality, backstage they are popping pills to get them ramped up. Or they have a failed marriage for cheating on their spouse, or they are miserable in their day-to-day. Not all, but many. All that is inauthentic to me. To come out and preach a system acting as if the sun is always shining in your world. It’s not. So, I try to be honest. There are things I am very confident in, and I speak on them as often as I can, with all the authority that I can. BUT, I am far from really having anything figured out. This week was tough. I’m struggling with motivation and focus, so trust me this is not at all an “I’ve got this figured out, come follow me!” It’s more of, I know I am struggling with this, which means you likely are too -- so let’s see if we can figure some things out together.I mean… my wife texted me a picture of an emoji yawn from upstairs in her office, and it made me yawn downstairs at the kitchen table. I’m so unmotivated right now. The weather isn’t helping, it’s been Seattle here for the last week. Light rain, grey, low clouds, cold, raw. I love Seattle, lived there for 10 years… but I moved for this reason. The weather is not happy. I’ve definitely realized that about myself, my own little self-audit, I am affected by weather. Sunny and cold, I’m fine. Grey and cloudy… not good.I watched a video of James Harrison crushing an egg in his biceps -- damn thing popped like a zit. And I thought to myself... I should try that, that looks like fun. That’s what our days have been reduced to!Now, I get it to all those people saying Anne Frank spent 761 days in a secret annex and I’ve spent 2 weeks in my nice home so suck it up...and I get that I should have some perspective, but I’m sorry some days it’s hard.I’m looking at things I am supposed to do and I’m like …”meh”. I could upload more videos to our youtube channel… blah. I could put together a more complex social media strategy for on...

Ryan Crelin, ECHL Commissioner – Work In Sports Podcast Apr 01, 2020

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast.If you’ve ever heard me talk before about networking, you know that I believe there are 5 types of people you need in your network. One of those people I call the connector. They are the person who knows everyone and loves to connect the dots between who they know. This is a special attribute within some people. They are naturals at getting to know people and then figuring out ways their connections should get to know each other. For me, connectors are an extremely valuable part of my network. I need them. When i have my sights set on a guest for this show, the first thing I seek is… which of my connector friends may know them. A little over a month ago, I read a story on Ryan Creelin, commissioner of the ECHL. The story explained how he was an intern at the ECHL, and over 17 years worked himself up to eventually become the commissioner. That kind of story gives me tingles. Seriously -- isn’t that all of our dream? Get an internship at a great organization, then get hired, then advance, then become the boss. It sounds like something out of a cheesy movie on Lifetime, but this is real life. I had to land Ryan as a guest. My first guess was… Bill Guertin. Bill is a former guest on the podcast, he’s a sales trainer, one of the best in the business...and he is the very definition of a connector.I knew Bill did a lot of sales training with minor league hockey teams and leagues… so the chance he would know Ryan was solid. So I reached out. Within 30 minutes, Bill was connecting Ryan and I for today’s interview.Networking is more than just knowing the right people to help you get a job. It’s having advisors who can help you through tough decisions, connectors who can introduce you to the right people, insiders who know what’s happening in the industry at all times, idealists who see the potential in everything, and realists who keep you grounded when you need to be.Today's guest Ryan Crelin as I mentioned is the commissioner of the ECHL, a minor league hockey league with 26 teams spread across the US and Canada -- the teams roughly equate to a Double-A baseball team. A minor league feeder system for the NHL. As a reminder -- this interview was conducted before Coronavirus became a thing when their league was in operation and games were being played… so there is no mention of their suspended season or how it will affect them moving forward… but there is a ton of knowledge personally about Ryan advancing through the organization to become commissioner, and on how a minor league can survive on the sports scene…Questions for Ryan Crelin, ECHL Commissioner1: There something I really love about your resume. You graduated from Seton Hall in 2006, been working at the ECHL since 2005. There something really endearing about that.I talk to people who jump all over the place during their career- heck I’m one of those people – why has it been important for you to get into the ECHL and stay there?2: To start as an intern and develop into the league commissioner almost sounds like a lifetime movie script, a feel-good story, that seems somewhat farcical – but you are very real.What was your mentality and approach when you first started out in the ECHL – did you envision this?3: Give us a little bit of insight into your path – we know you were an intern, and we know you are now commissioner – but what specific skills did you refine, and roles did you take on, during your ascension?4: When you look around now, at the teams in your league, at your league offices – are you looking for people, like you, that have that extra drive and focus?5: I know of at least one member of our audience who currently works for an ECHL team, Scott McDonald with the Atlanta Gladiators – he’s in ticket sales now – how important is it for a young person getting going to show they can generate revenue for an organization?

The Time is Now! For a Self-Audit – Work In Sports Podcast Mar 30, 2020

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast…It was March 11th that the NBA suspended their season and today is March 30th -- that’s 19 days without sports, the longest I’ve ever gone in my life. It is for the greater good, but man this stinks. I hope you have all been doing the best you can with social distancing and quarantine. It is the right choice, and I hope you are all following the guidelines set out by the experts.I’m not making any political commentaries here when I say -- trust the experts. Ignore the fluff, and pageantry, focus on the medical experts and scientists. Moving right along -- we’re trying to stay focused on the things you can be doing to advance yourself during this time of chaos.We are ramping up our content -- on Mondays, we’ll do our standard answer a fan question. ON Wednesday’s expert interview...and then we’re adding a Friday edition, which will either be a piece of advice relevant to our current world and situation or will be a timely guest. So far we’ve had special guests Kenneth Shropshire, CEO of the Global Sports Institute, I’ve done an episode on networking during the global pandemic, and just this past Friday I had on Greg Hylton, VP of Premium Seating with the NFL.I have to tell you, Greg’s one of my new favorite interviews and I hope you all have listened or will go back and listen to it today.Why this episode?Well, Greg works in the NFL, the one league with a season ahead - so his perspective is unique right now.He also really knows the importance of revenue-generating roles, and how they will be in great demand when we come out of thisWe talk about the smaller leagues can survive this, the strategy teams may use to make up the revenue shortfall, how attending games may have to change… and more. It was an awesome conversation, please check it out. Today, we’re going to handle what has become a very very common question. I’ve received this question in various formats about 1,000 times now -- “Hey brian, what can I be doing right now to advance my career prospects?”I’ve talked about networking during this time, I’ve talked about learning a skill that you don’t have, I’ve talked about online courses and training, especially in sales because that is where the demand will be.Today I want to talk about conducting a self-audit. I know, this sounds awful. Aa self-audit sounds like a root canal. I need to come up with some better branding. All it really is, is getting a deeper understanding of yourself, and how you match up with the needs of the marketplace. Step 1: The Heat Check Step 2: The resume review Step 3: Cover letterStep 4: Informational interviews

Greg Hylton, Indianapolis Colts VP of Premium Seating: Selling Sports in a Post-Corona World Mar 27, 2020

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast…As promised we’re going to continue adding an extra podcast a week as we deal with social isolation and distancing. Our Friday podcasts will aim to inform and educate you specifically on how our current situation is affecting the future of the industry or techniques and strategies you can utilize right now in this unique time.I don’t know about you but time seems to be drifting into itself right now, I don’t know what day it is since they all seem the same. But, I am marking time personally based on podcast publish dates and I remember our last three Fridays pretty clearly -- The first Friday episode was an interview with Kenneth Shropshire CEO of the Global Sports Institute - he had deep insight into what this pandemic will mean for the sports industry moving forward. Last Friday we discussed ways to maximize your networking during this time ...and today, I have another special guest, Greg Hylton VP of Premium Seating for the Indianapolis Colts.Couple of major reasons I wanted to have Greg on.1: The NFL season is still in play, which means Greg is living a new reality right now and he can explain it.2: He can also explain what is going on inside of the teams and leagues that aren’t playing right now and what their strategies may be moving forward when we get back to work.3: I believe revenue-generating roles will be in high demand once normalcy returns, and that all of you should strongly consider sales training courses right now… and Greg teaches a sales training course with our friends at Sports Management Worldwide.So without further ado, let’s get to Greg..here he is Indianapolis Colts VP of Premium Seating, Greg Hylton...Questions for Greg Hylton, Indianapolis Colts VP of Premium Seating1: Wednesday, March 11 the NBA suspended their season, and since that time most other leagues have followed suit, it would take us too long to name all the events or seasons that have been affected.Your league, the NFL, hasn’t had to suspend the season as of yet – what has the last 2-3 weeks been like for you personally and professionally?2: This time of year, with free agency and the draft coming up there is a natural excitement that I’m sure would play a role in your ability to sell the upcoming season – in a normal year Phillip Rivers signing would be something you’d market and get behind – has the approach changed this off-season?3: While there is minimal disruption to the revenue streams of the NFL as of yet, put yourself in the shoes of the VP of Premium Seating for the Pacers, or the Cleveland Indians… what would you imagine their situation is like right now?4: When we get back to sports, if you were in one of the leagues that had to cancel their season, and lost a lot of revenue – what would be your strategy and approach?5: Prior to joining the Colts 28 years ago, you worked for the Indianapolis Ice of the International Hockey League – I’m guessing that the NBA, NHL and other major leagues will survive this epidemic -- but what about the minor leagues, independent leagues, emerging sports – do you think they can rebound from the loss of revenue?6: I’m old enough to remember sports after 9/11 – there was a feeling in the initial aftermath that nothing will be the same, we won’t be safe at games, fans won’t come back etc, etc. but we got back to reality, sports continued to thrive – people came to the games.Do you see a steady return to normalcy once the worst of this has passed – or do you think it’ll take some convincing to get fans back to the stadium?6: What can teams do to ease any concerns and make it really worthwhile to attend games in person?7: I’ve been being asked all week by people who have lost their job or been laid off, what they should do now? And I’m of the belief revenue-creating sales jobs will be in even higher demand than normal coming out of this and that people should get sales traine...

Lisa Woodward: Anheuser Busch Director of Sports Sponsorships – Work In Sports Podcast Mar 25, 2020

Hey, It’s Brian -- we are in some crazy times right now. No one predicted a sports shutdown, or the education system being closed for business. But here we are. I have three kids at home right now, who should be in middle and elementary school! But you know what we are doing -- we’re continuing to keep them on a learning schedule...and you should do that too. Now is the chance to update your resume, work on your network, make sure you are ready for video interviews and more. And one way you can do that is through our Work In Sports Academy courses. We are 100% online, which is the appropriate distance - and you’ll learn incredible strategies tactics and techniques that will get you hired in sports -- once the world gets back to normal.Check out WorkInSports.com/academy for more details. Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast…Quick note: We’re airing three episodes a week, 1 out of the three will be corona free. That is today. Wednesdays will be our industry interviews and they will be a break from corona coverage. That is not to minimize the impact of the virus, it is not to downplay all who are affected, it is for two reasons -- one we all can improve in ways that are not corona related, which is the purpose of our industry interviews. And two, this interview was conducted before none of us could leave our houses. And if you are listening to this podcast -- please, isolate yourself. Don’t be foolish. I remember a few decades spent thinking I was invincible, and you know what, you may be… but the difference is you may infect someone who isn’t. Don’t be selfish. Stay home. Ok, so lets transition here. We all so often think of the sports industry in terms of leagues, games, and events. Makes sense in a lot of ways since that is what pretty much everything feeds off of.But there are worlds of jobs and opportunities that don’t directly involve the score of the big game. Mark Cuban wrote an article years ago about how sports management degrees were a complete waste and people shouldn’t strive to work in sports, they should get a business degree and work in sales. His theory was essentially, with only 100ish professional teams hiring about 200 staffers each, there are only 20,000 sports industry jobs period and yet we graduate 20,000 new sports management grads each year. Well, I couldn’t take this sitting down so I confronted the shark tank dude explaining his math was rudimentary at best and his analysis quite superficial. This was about a decade ago, we’ve both moved on from the debate, I won of course because I was looking at the complete picture and he was just trying to be clickbaity and bombastic. Look at our job board. Jobs with NBC Sports -- not a team. Red Bull, Blizzard, Kansas State, Arizona Sports Foundation, Discovery Communications, Twitch… none of these are teams, and yet they are listed on the first page of our industry sports job board right now. Yes, places are still hiring. The jobs in sports reach further than team. This isn’t an argument for sports management degrees, your degree is a personal decision, this is more of a discussion about how wide the sports industry cuts. The opportunities are out there in various ways… you have to be creative in finding them...or you can just get a membership to our job board and we do the work for you.Nonetheless! Today’s guest Lisa Woodward is a perfect example. She started out her career with the then St. Louis Rams and for 8 years was a major part of their marketing team.But her job now, as Director of Sports Sponsorships for Anheuser Busch, isn’t with a team… but it is deeply connected to sports. She works with her team to find the right spots and negotiate the right deals, to expose her brand to the right audience in the right way. These are the type of opportunities Mark Cuban didn’t calculate in his theorem. Lisa works for Budweiser’s sports sponsorship team… and she’s incredibly ...

Ramp Up Your Networking Efforts – Work in Sports Podcast Mar 23, 2020

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast.A little housekeeping before we head into this episode… at WorkInSports we had multiple leadership meetings last week to say “what can we do that helps”...well here it is, you are the first to hear our plan.#1 We are ramping up our content, because I think right now, in social isolation, we all need it. We’re going to do three podcasts a week -- Mondays and Fridays will be focused on surviving and thriving in these nutty times as it relates to your career. So for example, I’ve done episodes on how to properly work from home, interviewed Kenneth Shropshire CEO of the Global Sports Institute, advice for conducting video interviews and more. If you haven’t listened to those yet, you should, it’s all very timely information.On Wednesdays we will stick with our expert interviews -- for right now they are not going to be coronavirus related -- these will be more of the normal career-focused expertise. ~ I’ll also be very active on our private Facebook group -- which you can join by searching for the WorkInSports podcast group on facebook...answer a few questions, and I’ll grant you access to this wonderful network of former guests, and aspiring sports professionals who are all trying to help each other get ahead and survive.~ And if you reach out to me on LinkedIn, I’m going to try and do an even better job of being responsive and helpful during this time. #2: You are hearing everywhere, and I couldn’t agree more, to be honest, that now isn’t a time to sit on the couch, wallowing in self-pity, or watching Stephen A Smith -- times are not that desperate. Everyone on the advice side of the industry is telling you -- learn a new skill, master your craft, use your time wisely...and that is good advice.To that point -- One way you can do that is through our Work In Sports Academy courses. We are 100% online, which is the appropriate distance - and you’ll learn incredible strategies tactics and techniques that will get you hired in sports -- once the world gets back to normal.In fact, over the last week, I built out an abridged version of this curriculum which in the next few days we are going to be giving away for FREE to all of our current members with either free or paid accounts. All you have to do is upload your resume.We did this to help. We are in this together. The full coursework is available at WorkInSports.com/academyand like I said, we’ll be making a essentials version available for free coming this week.#3 We also recognize that many of you who had part-time or gig type jobs at events are now out of work. So, starting later this week we will be making all gig and part-time jobs free to access for anyone on our job board. We’ll send out more info on this as it comes live… but if you are struggling right now due to this outbreak and isolation, check out the free PT and gig jobs...and you can contact our customer service at 1-855-220-JOBS#4 We are also doing our best to keep up with the status of all jobs. We’re double-checking openings to make sure they are still being filled. Now, with that said, things are changing very rapidly, so cut us some slack if you hit a job on our site, follow the link to apply and find out it’s no longer available.We’re doing our best, to keep up.Alright - we’ll keep coming up with new ways to help in the coming weeks, for now, let’s get into today’s subject.“What can I be doing during social isolation?” -- You can be networking. This is a GREAT time to be relationship building and doing informational interviews. Right now, countless sports industry workers are sitting at home unable to perform their normal tasks… I keep seeing pictures of various friends of the podcast, like Chris Grosse, Assistant Athletic Director for Marketing at Penn State, making marble races with his kids and putting twitter polls out there asking which will win? His track of his sons?

Working From Home Like a Boss – Work In Sports Podcast Mar 20, 2020

I let my homebound 11-year-old name this episode, and I think he nailed it. That's what we're talking about in the special edition of the Work In Sports podcast, working from home like a boss! Hey It’s Brian -- we are in some crazy times right now. No one predicted a sports shutdown, or the education system being closed for business. But here we are. I have three kids at home right now, who should be in middle and elementary school! But you know what we are doing -- we’re continuing to keep them on a learning schedule...and you should do that too.Now is the chance to update your resume, work on your network, make sure you are ready for video interviews and more. And one way you can do that is through our Work In Sports Academy courses. We are 100% online, which is the appropriate distance - and you’ll learn incredible strategies tactics and techniques that will get you hired in sports -- once the world gets back to normal.Check out WorkInSports.com/academy for more details. ---Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is a special edition of the Work In Sports podcast.Our goal during the coronavirus outbreak and isolation is to provide additional content that will help you through this time. I, like you, am dying for content! I want fresh things to watch and listen to, that don’t involve Tom Brady leaving my beloved Patriots. I mean seriously, could this be a worse week?Anyway, the point is, we’re going to add a Friday podcast for the time being -- it may be a timely interview, like last week with Kenneth Shropshire CEO of the Global Sports Institute, or it may be insightful advice that is very specific to the times today. Today we’re going to share some tips on working from home. As many of you know, and many of you don’t, I’ve been working from home for the last 6 years. WorkInSports.com is based in Phoenix, I live in Philadelphia. It took me a long time to get comfortable with the change in normalcy, but you don’t have time… you have to get good at it now, so I’m going to share some things I have learned to make your transition easier. 1: You are saving time on your commute -- don’t just add that to your workday. The biggest mistake I see people make when they work from home is to add the time they saved in commuting onto their workday. They think to themselves -- I get an hour back each day, I’ll finally be able to get more done!Trust me, this is not how it works. Take the time you saved by not having to commute and sprinkle it into outside time. Here’s why -- when you work from home, especially during the transition to this new style, you go from being around people, noise, interaction, laughter, yelling... to being completely by yourself. It can feel lonely in a way, and the solution is NOT locking yourself in and working longer. This makes you a robot, you are not a robot. In fact, you need to remind yourself you are not a robot, by sprinkling that saved time back into your day. If you normally commute 30 minutes each way, you have an hour to sprinkle throughout your day to activate your mind in a different way. Every hour or two, take 15 minutes and walk around. Get out of your space, get off your computer screen. In a normal workday in the office, you don’t sit in front of your computer the whole time. Don’t start thinking you have to now. Trust me there is a negative return after a while… I think they call that the point of diminishing returns?2: Going deeper there -- Make yourself a schedule.I spend the first 30 minutes of each day building out my day. I prioritize what I want to get done and schedule it out amongst the video meetings and breaks I want to take. Every day is different, it’s not routine, there are different challenges and tasks… but by giving myself some structure helps me stay on task. When you are home there are easy distractions -- other parts of life you can get done -- laundry, cleaning, cooking -- First Take. OK, that’s a lie,

Gordon Barfield: AMB Sports and Entertainment Director of Business Strategy – Work In Sports Podcast Mar 18, 2020

Hey, It’s Brian -- we are in some crazy times right now. No one predicted a sports shutdown, or the education system being closed for business. But here we are. I have three kids at home right now, who should be in middle and elementary school! But you know what we are doing -- we’re continuing to keep them on a learning schedule...and you should do that too. Now is the chance to update your resume, work on your network, make sure you are ready for video interviews and more. And one way you can do that is through our Work In Sports Academy courses. We are 100% online, which is the appropriate distance - and you’ll learn incredible strategies tactics and techniques that will get you hired in sports -- once the world gets back to normal.Check out WorkInSports.com/academy for more details. ---Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content for WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast…Right now I’m about to lead into this incredible podcast interview with Gordon Barfield, Director of Business Strategy for AMB Sports And Entertainment -- that’s the ownership group for the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United FC. Gordon is incredible. He’s a West Point grad, got his MBA at Wharton and has been crushing it with AMB. We’re going to talk about how the Falcons look to the future of their business, the strategy behind cashless transactions inside the stadium and how they build their fan base and community. All extremely valuable conversations. We will not be talking about Coronavirus, because when I recorded this interview three weeks ago ...it hadn’t really happened yet. So take this as a break from all the chaos. Learn more about sports business, find out if this is a side of the industry that interests you...because we will get back to normal, hopefully sooner rather than later, and you want to be prepared.Here’s Gordon BarfieldQuestions for Gordon Barfield, AMB Sports and Entertainment Director of Business Strategy1: Before we get into your world in business strategy and all the steps you took to get there – I want to talk about your military background and the synergy you find between the military and sports.You are a West Point grad and active duty in the Army until 2014 – we have many, many people with a military background who transition into the sports world – why do you think that is, and why was it that way for you?2: Your background was in Mechanical Engineering, and then after the Army, you got your MBA from Wharton – why this step? Problem-solving traits3: At this time had you figured out who you wanted to be when you grew up, or were you still searching for your long-term fit?4: You joined AMB Sports and Entertainment just about two years ago, which is the parent company for the Falcons, Atlanta United, Mercedes Benz stadium and some of Arthur Blanks other ventures, you joined them as Director of Business Strategy.This was your first true gig in sports – were there any eye-opening moments when you first got started with AMB?5: What would you say is the main thrust of your role with the organization? What does it mean to be the Director of Business Strategy, seems like a pretty broad title…6: I interviewed the talent acquisition lead for a Major League baseball team and she said the role that was in highest demand for their organization was business strategy and analysis. Since you are in this side of the industry – tell us, what traits or skills make someone successful in business analysis and strategy?7: I’ve worked with people throughout my career who are great at ideas, but not as strong in execution, and then others who were the opposite, no ideas, great at execution --- how important is it in your eyes to be able to balance both sides? To be able to come up with ideas that can help the organization and be able to execute on them?8: You led the transition at Mercedes-Benz stadium to a cashless transaction model, which is truly groundbreaking. Why was this important for the long-term goals of the operatio...

Preparing for the New Reality: Video Interviews – Work In Sports Podcast Mar 16, 2020

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of content and engaged learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast.Well, we all have a lot of questions… and a lot of time to listen to podcasts!I’ve been trying to think about my tone in the next few weeks of podcasts -- to be honest, I don’t want to be all dour and dramatic. I don’t want any fake enthusiasm either -- so I’m just going to do my best to be myself. The goal over the next few weeks -- give you all lots of content, and make it especially relevant right now. With that said, I conducted about 8 expert interviews with incredible guests… BEFORE the coronavirus outbreak. So, when I publish my interviews with Ryan Crelin Commissioner of the ECHL, or Lisa Woodward the manager of sports sponsorships at Anheuser Busch, you may think to yourself… how did he not ask about how this will affect the ECHL or Budweiser?! Well, it didn’t exist when I did the interview!I still think they are incredibly valuable so we will still air them on Wednesdays. I’m going to attempt to sprinkle in some extra fresh episodes on Fridays that are timely. For instance, on Friday I interviewed Kenneth Shropshire CEO of the Global Sports institute to discuss the economic ramifications on the sports industry - we talked about layoffs and changes in the hiring process moving forward. It’s a great interview and you should go back and listen -- I’ll try to do more of these in the coming weeks so we can stay on top of how this will affect all of us into the future. Obviously revenue is being impacted, and there will be some contraction… how much, we don’t know, but I’ll be staying on top of our job listings, talking to employers and relaying whatever I find out back to you. Now is a good time to subscribe to the podcast and tell your sports interested friends the same. OK, so what about right now. I this episode I’m going to do a brief overview of things we can expect, and also hone in on tips for video interviews since that is the direction we are headed for the time being. Let’s start with a broad overview.In the major sports leagues, a vast majority of their revenue comes from long-term media rights deals and sponsorships. These have insurance built into them, so they will continue to generate revenue. Yes, they will be affected by the loss of ticket sales, concessions and merchandise, but they’ll survive this. The big hit will come to the smaller leagues and organizations. Those with razor-thin margins, who exist barely as it is. I worry about those leagues. I’m not being flippant at all when I say this -- but just prior to the AIDS epidemic in the 1980’s there was a company that launched an appetite suppressing candy bar, meant to help people on their diet, called AYDS. They couldn’t have had worse luck. You kind of feel that way for the XFL -- they launch, they’re off to a pretty good start - and then this. All momentum lost. That is some awful luck. You also worry about the Professional Lacrosse League, minor league hockey, YMCA’s fitness clubs…Now, to put it all in perspective -- this hurts right now, especially for those of you working directly for teams and not having a job now. That is awful and I hurt for you. I mean thatBut let’s have a forward-looking perspective because sports will return. Sales jobs.Revenue generating rolesIf I were you, college seniors, or recent graduates, I would take a class on sports sales -- SMWW, ISBI 360 The demand is going to be huge, and the appetite for fans to return will be huge. There is a great opportunity… eventually... so get ready now. As for hiring right now, I think you’ll see timelines pushed back. If someone was expecting to hire in the next 30 days, expect it to be 60-90 days. Thisng will slow down for a bit, but then it will likely spring back. We’ll be exploring other opportunities in the coming weeks -- like how to stay organized when you work at home, resources for online learning and more. Today though,

Understanding the Economic Impact of Coronavirus on the Sports Industry Mar 13, 2020

Hey everybody, I'm Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged learning for WorkInSports.com and this is a special edition of the Work in Sports podcast.We're in a very unique situation right now with the Coronavirus outbreak changing the landscape of the sports industry minute by minute. Multiple sports leagues and long-standing events are being suspended if not outright canceled in an effort to isolate and calm the spread of this deadly outbreak. Star players we know and root for, Hollywood actors, heads of state are coming out as infected by this virus responsible for the COVID-19 disease. I want to be clear, we are not panicked, we are looking to the future. These cancellations and suspensions will have an impact on the business of sports and it's time to discuss and prepare for the ramifications.---Joining me today to discuss the short and long term effects of the coronavirus outbreak is professor Kenneth Shropshire. Mr. Shropshire is the CEO of the Global Sports Institue at Arizona State, and has held consultative roles with the NCAA, Major League Baseball, NFL, NFLPA and the United States Olympic Committee -- Dr. Shropshire thank you for joining me. --This conversation can break into two different categories – we aren’t doctors so we won’t speculate on the virus itself – but we can discuss what this means for the now, and what this means for the future.Let’s start with the now.Questions for Dr. Kenneth Shropshire, CEO of the Global Sports Institute on the Economic Impact of Coronavirus on the Sports Industry1: Is the decision to suspend the seasons of the NHL, NBA, MLB, March Madness and other major events like the Masters and the EPL the very definition of discretion being the better part of valor? Is this the right move?2: When leagues do the prudent thing and suspend play, there is an affected class of daily workers. Do the leagues and ownership bear any responsibilities to these workers who depend on these roles for their survival?3: In the short term, outside of game day staff, will this lead to further-reaching layoffs across sports?4: Outside of the teams and leagues themselves, who do you see being most affected economically by the suspension of play?5: Major leagues will survive this, but what about smaller leagues with razor-thin margins for success – like the XFL? the Professional Lacrosse League? Lower-division soccer leagues throughout Europe?6: I wonder also about the mental health of the athletes themselves – especially college athletes. Men and women competing for championships one day and then the next it is over, or players set to start their spring season, and then poof, that part of their identity is gone – how damaging can this be to them?7: Looking forward to when teams and leagues return to play because eventually, they will. Do you think they’ll try to make up the lost revenue, or will they have to go the other way and incentivize people to come back?8: When will we start to see the broader economic impact? Obviously, the stock market is affected immediately, but what about employment? When will the decrease in revenue start to affect jobs and opportunities moving forward?9: The NCAA tournament brings in over 900 million in revenue to the NCAA – take $900 million of revenue out of the pocket of NCAA athletics – who will this affect most in the long run?10: I’ve seen it written that Corona is more likely to have a worse economic impact in the US than China – primarily because of our societies propensity to spend their discretionary dollars on social gathering spots like sports, fitness centers, concerts, restaurants --If this consumer spending stops for a long period of time, will the US potentially face greater challenges in recovery than other countries?11: After 9/11 there was a massive change in security at arenas – do you foresee any major changes in the way arenas and stadiums are operated after Coronavirus?12: During the last recession The Economist stated that “Sports in particular are,

Mary Pink: Iowa State Associate Athletic Director for Marketing – Work In Sports Podcast Mar 11, 2020

Mary Pink, Iowa State Associate Atheltic Director joins Brian Clapp on the Work In Sports PodcastHey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning for WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast.I’m going to date myself a bit here. In 1996 I graduated from college, got offered a job at CNN/Sports Illustrated in Atlanta, told I was going to start in 2 weeks...and moved to a city I had never seen before outside of a map. Heck, I had only been south of Virginia on a weekend trip to Disney World.7 years later, I moved to Seattle. A city I had never seen, a state I had never visited. I had a phone interview or two, flew out for an in face interview and was asked to start in 2 weeks. I gave my CNN peeps two weeks' notice, stopped working on a Friday, traveled that weekend to Seattle and started on Monday. Looking back this was ludicrous. 10 years after that I moved to Denver. 3 years after that I moved to Philadelphia. And multiple times I have spoken on this podcast telling all of you to prepare yourself for the inevitable. If you want to work in sports you will relocate. You will go where the jobs are. You will move on in order to move up. The theory is sound, the jobs in sports are in high demand, there isn’t a lot of turnover ahead of you on the career path, so if you start out with the Washington Nationals, you will likely have to move to the Pittsburgh Pirates to advance...or the New Jersey Devils or the LA Chargers… you get the drift. Even if you aren’t working for a team, the challenge is the same. If you start our at GSE Worldwide in Atlanta, you may need to jump to Octagon to grow. The examples are endless. This past fall I interviewed Chris Grosse, Assistant Athletic Director for Marketing at Penn State. Prior to Penn State, he worked at Florida State, the Naval Academy, Georgetown and New Mexico State.Just last month I interviewed Tim Duncan, Athletic Director for the University of New Orleans -- his prior stops -- Memphis, UNC-Wilmington, Paine College, Clayton State, Northeastern and now... the University of New Orleans. So it’s settled then, right?Nope. Enter exhibit A, today’s guest Mary Pink -- one of the most respected names in college athletics. Mary is the Associate AD for marketing at Iowa State, and has been rocking it in Ames Iowa for 24 years.So it is not a mandate that you have to move around -- it may be likely - but it is not written rule. It is not a fact. For mary -- she’s been a part of 24 years of athletic, attendance, revenue and branding growth -- and going to explain it all. Here’s Mary Pink…Questions for Mary Pink, Iowa State Associate Athletic Director for Marketing1: Before we get into sports marketing in college athletics and life at a major university like Iowa State – I want to go back to your beginning… did you always dream of working in sports?Follow: how did you discover your fit in marketing college athletics?2: I’ve interviewed many people in college athletics and often they’ve worked at a multitude of schools, jumping around in order to grow their career.This always seemed like a necessity, a pattern you’d see everywhere, and yet you’ve been at Iowa State for 24 years and grown into a top role in the athletic department – why was it important to you to stay and develop within Iowa State?3: Your job description is vast and the expectations enormous. You seem to have your hands in everything --marketing, branding, ticket sales, communications, sponsorship, special events, budgeting, negotiations, fundraising, coach and employee supervision, strategic planning and event management.Clearly you can’t do it all yourself and you have a team of people helping you execute on your vision – so I ask, what are the most important traits you look for when assembling your team?4: How would you describe your leadership style?5: Looking for your guidance here – should young people who want to work in sports marketing try to become a jack-of-all-trades learning all of th...

Four Keys for Getting a Promotion at Work — Work In Sports Podcast Mar 09, 2020

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged Learning with WorkinSports.com and this is the WorkInSports podcast…A couple of quick updates before we get into today's podcast -- I want to welcome sports management students from Farmingdale State, you’re incredible leadership team led by Sab Singh, just signed one to be a part of our Sports Career Game Plan curriculum and in the next month we’ll be rolling out your program. Farmingdale joins the University of Dubuque, University of Florida, University of Findlay, Wilmington College, Middle Georgia State, Ball State, East Carolina and a handful of other colleges and universities around the country.If you are listening and you are a college professor, or know a college professor, or are a student who would like your college program to implement our program -- which is awesome, and teaches you how to become a Master at Getting Hired in Sports, and includes a screaming deal for WorkInSports.com premium memberships -- reach out to me. bclapp at workinsports.com -- that’s two p’s.If you are an individual who wants to learn how to become a master at getting hired in sports - check out workinsports.com/academyAlright, welcome Farmingdale State -- let’s get into today’s show.The question comes in today and it kind of calls me out. Which I love. I seriously love it when people call me on my sh!t. Well, when they do it productively. For example -- emailing me and saying “you are the biggest moron I’ve ever listened to” I don’t love that. But if someone says ...hey, you talk a lot about this, but not enough about that”I love it because you are telling me what you want to know. I want that, I want to hear from you all. I don’t want to make up what I think is relevant, I want you all to ask!So hit me up on LinkedIN, ask questions, email me, bclapp@workinsports.com -- that’s my legit email. I want to hear from you all.OK, let’s get to the question from Ben in Alabama “Hey Brian, I love the podcast but I am a little bored with the Monday podcasts lately. I feel like you are spending so much time preparing people to work in sports, but not helping those of us in the industry advance.I started in the business a year ago, and I’m anxious to grow. I don’t want to hear as much about internships or resume building, I want to hear about other topics that will push me forward.”Ben thank you. I’ll be honest, I read this at first and felt defensive… like wait, are you for real? My immediate gut reaction was to send you a list of podcast episodes you should listen to, and to explain to you the expert interviews that are all about advancement… but really,. When I took a deep breath, waited a second and thought about it… there is some good learning in here for me too.I guess that is your first tip for today. Take a breath before responding. I used to be the most emotional person in the newsroom. Someone challenged my work, I’d be ready to rumble. Someone asked a question about why I made a certain decision, I’d be on the cusp of war. I look back at how I performed in my earlier years and wonder how I survived. I had talent, I worked hard...but I was so confrontational and defensive. I was probably impossible to work with. Take a deep breath before responding, don't immediately feel like your honor is on the line. Don’t assume people are out to get you. Be willing to constructively improve. Alright, that's a freebie -- didn’t even expect to talk about that.Ok, let’s get into some year one things you can be doing to improve your chances of being promoted and growing.1: Improve your Communication skills - this is not the old man saying “twitter has ruined grammar!”Quite the opposite. In some ways young people today communicate with more confidence that in my time. I would attribute that to social media. YOu arent afraid to say and share what you feel -- and that is good. BUT - there has to be an emphasis on quality. I receive emails almost daily from students and young professionals asking care...

Dan Duquette, Former MLB General Manager Talks Player Development – Work In Sports Podcast Mar 04, 2020

Dan Duquette, former 2-time MLB Executive of the Year and General Manager for the Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles joins host Brian Clapp on the Work In Sports podcast!Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast…There is a bit of an unfortunate truth in the sports industry… sometimes job titles can mean very different things to different people in different organizations.Take the term marketing for one. People tell me all the time, I want to work in sports marketing! And I say...OK, what specifically in marketing, because that is a very broad term. Marketing could be project managing billboards, or email outreach, tossing t-shirts on game night… or it could be google paid advertising, sponsorships, and activation. So when you see a job listing for a marketing Manager -- make sure you read the job description and tailor your resume and cover letter for that specific role and the demands of it.Another term that has a pretty wide berth is player development. Taken on its surface, you are in charge of developing the player. Makes sense right? But there are really two different aspects of this -- on the field of play, and off the field of play. You will see player development roles that involve assisting athletes, whether they be in college or in the pros, adjusting to their new life, getting settled, knowing their way around town, where to get food, how to get set up with a financial advisor. These are vitally important roles that colleges and pro organizations take on to make sure they get the most out of their investment. If a player is worried about having a place to live or knowing what classes to take - they are more likely to be distracted and not perform at their best.But there is another type of player development, and that’s what we are going to focus on today. That is the magic that happens in organizations between acquisition and true potential. Let’s use baseball as an example. Player gets drafted, they are 18 years old just graduated high school, and now they are in your system. Unless their name is Mike Trout, it is a long way to a major league city. Player development is everything that happens between acquisition and making the major leagues.How to playHow to eatHow to trainHow to mentally prepareHow to practiceHow to identify and work on your weaknessesHow to understand game strategy and organizational philosophyThese development plans are all customized for each individual in the organization. Having a plan, and executing it, is the best way to make your investment in a player reach its true potential.It’s a fascinating process, one that happens behind the scenes of sports organizations at all levels. Because success equates to value...and failure costs time, money and effort. Over the last 40 years one of the most respected men in baseball team management, and player development has been Dan Duquette, former GM of the Red Sox, Orioles, and Expos. The list of players he has acquired and developed into major league talent is stunning. I won’t list them all here...it’s too long. But what is really exciting, is that Dan is teaming up with our friends at Sports Management Worldwide to share his knowledge and teach an 8-week online course in baseball player development. He joined me earlier this week to talk about his career, becoming an executive, decision making, trusting yourself and a breakdown of what he’ll teach in his upcoming class... Here is 2-time MLB executive of the year...Dan Duquette...Questions for Dan Duquette, former General Manager for the Red Sox, Orioles and Expos 1: There is so much we have to talk about and discuss – but let’s start out with this. You’ve reached the highest heights of the sports industry and… you were an English major in college.I ask you, in today’s sports industry can you still become a 2-time executive of the year as an English major…or are we living in a completely different world with di...

Shaking Hands and Changing Roles – Work In Sports Podcast Mar 02, 2020

Is it OK to respectfully decline a handshake prior to a job interview? That and more on the Work In Sports podcast!Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast…I feel like we have a lot to talk about today. Big picture stuff. So we’re just going to jump into things. Great question today coming up from Giovanna P, Giovanna is a member of our private facebook group and posted a really great question yesterday that we’re going to dig into soon.But first -- a question from a friend of mine, someone who wishes to remain anonymous, but presented a very, very timely and important question.This friend asked:“Hey Brian, I have an interview coming up this week I am very excited about, I’ve heard you talk about first impressions a lot on your show, and I value it’s importance as well. Handshakes, eye contact, smiles -- all important stuff.But I have to admit - normally, I hate handshakes, I’m a bit of a germaphobe by nature, but I struggle through it in these instances. But now, with coronavirus and the instances of community transmission...is it fair for me to avoid a handshake completely?” Friend who slipped into my DMs… yes. 100%.I won’t deny there is a part of me that thinks, ugh, I hate this catch 22, because that awkward first moment could be damaging and we should all just suck it upBut that is crappy advice. Let’s be real people -- if someone is offended right now, by someone not wanting skin to skin contact - that person is an a-hole. I think there is a way to do it respectfully, and proactively that helps avoid any awkwardness. You have to think ahead and start your motion before someone else moves to shake. At this time you raise your hand higher, shoulder height, and start to wave courteously.Hey John nice to meet you, waving at them. If anyone says – “oh we’re not doing handshakes” because some people can’t help themselves, they have to be a meathead, its lodged in their DNA. Just be respectful and say something while smiling like, “it feels like an appropriate choice”If they push any further – this is a red flag, and likely not someone you’d want to be around in a work role anyway. Put this in your data file and remember you are choosing them as much as they are choosing you. Alas, I don’t think this will happen – a polite wave, with eye contact, sends the signal quote clearly – we’re not doing that…and in this time in our history, quite understandable.Again, you have to make your move early -- and take charge with a wave. So, there is no awkward hand out-stretched and you start retching, like they are handing you tetanus.You who listen to this show know I am not a big quotes guy -- not a big fan of the posters with quotes. BUT, I have a few movie type moments that bounce around in my head a lot. One, is from the movie “the girl with the dragon tattoo” great book series, decent movie, which is very applicable here.I won’t get into the full scene, but the bad guy says to the good guy: “Sometimes the fear of offending can be stronger than the fear of pain” Let’s break that down into everyday life. Would you shake someone’s hand, knowing it *could* harm you, because you are afraid to offend them?Really think about that.Would you shake someone’s hand knowing it could hurt you, just because you are afraid to offend them?Think about this in your daily life – have you ever made a choice that you really really questioned, just because you were afraid to offend the other person?I’ve known women, who went out on dates with guys they hated because they were afraid to offend them.I’ve known guys, who went base jumping, or some other risky move because they didn’t want to offend the friend who booked the surprise trip.Are these smart choices? Don’t make decisions, important decisions, based on your fear of offending. Make them based on what you truly believe is right, or safe.My wife and I deal with this all the time with our kids -- we’ll get an of...

Dennis Adamovich, CEO College Football Hall of Fame – Work In Sports Podcast Feb 26, 2020

Dennis Adamovich, CEO of the College Football Hall of Fame joins host Brian Clapp to discuss leaders that inspire him, the steps to becoming a CEO, negotiating techniques and much more. Hey everybody, I'm Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged Learning for WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast.We all have big dreams for the sports industry right? I mean none of us grew up thinking I dream someday of being a mid-level manager, working nights, weekends and holidays with the hopes of eventually moving out of my parent's house. No of course not, we all dream bigger than that. We dream of being a sports agent, leading an organization, anchoring sports center, coaching LeBron's kid, being a CEO, running an NFL draft.These are big goals, big dreams. But, you have to leave them in the background for a bit. Don’t ignore them, don’t forget that they are what guide you -- they have a huge role in your life and success - but for right now, you have to focus on the steps. You see no one starts out at the big goal, they build, systematically to reach the dream. Anchors on SportsCenter start out as a sideline reporter for the rodeo in Pocatello Idaho. They learn their craft, they make mistakes, they build their style and point of view, the refine their writing and communication skills, they understand the entire production and staffing and budgets.And then they graduate to Champaign Illinois. Maybe 5 years later ESPN notices them, and they end up doing sideline for a Wednesday night Toledo vs. Akron college football game. It’s a build. I’ll task every one of you listening with this chore -- take your big dream, and break it down into steps. If you want to be a sports agent -- what are the steps you need to get there? Focus on the steps. Take today’s guest - Dennis Adamovich, CEO of the College Football Hall of Fame. He didn’t graduate college and become CEO of the College Football Hall of fame. He spent 8 years at a major brand, Coca Cola, he worked up within this global brand, to a point where he had 110 staff members he was responsible for. He oversaw the sports marketing and sponsorship efforts for the brand, he managed over $150 million in brand funds. And that was just the first 8 years of his career. Over the next 15 years, he was SVP of Turner Broadcasting. He took the steps, he mastered the business of sports, he managed people and budgets, he landed sponsorship deals and much much more. These were his steps. Now, after making all these moves, and proving himself, becoming a CEO was a natural extension of all he had done to that point in his career.Dennis Adamovich has helped turn the College Football Hall of Fame into a jewel of downtown Atlanta -- I’ve been twice now, and it’s one of the must-see stops when you visit Atlanta. And he joins us this week to share a little more insight into his role and how he’s grown in the industry… here’s Dennis Adamovich CEO of the College Football Hall of FameQuestions for Dennis Adamovich, CEO College Football Hall of Fame1: We’ve had guests of varying experience in the sports industry on this show to help provide the entire picture of what it’s like working in the sports industry – but we’ve had very few with as much experience as you, so thank you for lending your expertise.Let’s start with this – at what point did you decide on sports for a career path, and why?2: I want to get into the details of your various leadership positions - you’ve been an executive at Coca-Cola, Turner Broadcasting and now CEO of the CFB Hall of Fame - but I’m curious about your mentality as much as I am about the day-to-day roles. What would you consider the most important traits or skills you developed which have allowed you to thrive in executive leadership?3: Would you consider yourself a competitive person?4: I had a boss once that told me the most important part of my job wasn’t the day to day journalism, it was hiring a strong staff around me. What has been your approach to hiring and develo...

Getting Noticed in an Applicant Tracking System World – Work in Sports Podcast Feb 24, 2020

Don't try and defeat Applicant Tracking Systems, learn how to work with them! We explain in this edition of the Work In Sports Podcast with Brian ClappHey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning with WorkInSports.com and this is the WorkInSports podcast.I have to tell you all, later this afternoon I am interviewing Dan Duquette for this podcast and I’m a little more than fired up. Dan Duquette was the GM of the Expos, the Red Sox and the Baltimore Orioles. He’s a 2-time MLB executive of the year. He traded for Pedro Martinez!He signed Manny Ramirez!He traded Heathcliff Slocumb for Derek Lowe and Jason Varitek!As a die-hard Red Sox fan….I’m in mind-blowing don’t mess this up, mode right now. I usually prep about 10 questions for each interview subject… with Dan, I wrote 25 questions down in like 10 minutes. And for all you Orioles fans out there, your team may be terrible now, but I’d like to remind you it was he who led them to the playoffs in 2012 for the first time since 1997, and won the American League East in 2014. The guy is a baseball genius. He’s going to be talking about his career. But also about a new online course in Baseball Player Development that he’s launching with our friends over at Sports Management Worldwide. Can you tell I’m excited?Alright,m tune into that next Wednesday -- this Wednesday is another great interview with Dennis Adamovich, the CEO of the College Football Hall of Fame. We talk a lot about leadership, event management and who he admires in the game today. Really fun stuff, that’s on Wednesday so tune in. Alright, so what is on tap for today… fan question!Well, before we get into that...a little perspective and inspiration. I don’t appreciate cheesy sayings people put on their wall to motivate themselves. BUT, I absolutely love when someone LIVES in a way that represents truth and perspective.Maybe you’ve heard this story, maybe not. Sadio Mane, The Liverpool Star from Senegal who earns approximately 10.2 million dollars annually, was spotted by fans carrying a cracked Iphone, and somehow it became a story. People asked him why… why do you a man of great means, suffer through a cracked iPhone, oh the horror.His response is legendary. "Why would I want ten Ferraris, 20 diamond watches and two jet planes? What would that do for the world? I starved, I worked in the fields, I played barefoot, and I didn't go to school. Now I can help people. I prefer to build schools and give poor people food or clothing. I have built schools [and] a stadium; we provide clothes, shoes, and food for people in extreme poverty. In addition, I give 70 euros per month to all people from a very poor Senegalese region in order to contribute to their family economy. I do not need to display luxury cars, luxury homes, trips, and even planes. I prefer that my people receive a little of what life has given me," I love this man.Floyd Mayweather...are you listening? Hat tip to Alina Menuhkin for sharing this on LinkedIn earlier today. Alright...now today’s question.It is from Nick in Salisbury, Maryland. “Hi Brian, I’ve heard you talk tangentially about how to optimize your resume to defeat the Applicant Tracking Systems -- but I haven’t heard you specifically address how. So...how do you do it?”Nick, I am going to read and answer your question primarily because you used the word tangentially in it. I found that impressive. I think that is a fair critique, I may have mentioned the importance of defeating the Applicant Tracking systems in passing...but never got into the nuts and bolts of it all. So let’s do that!Quick explainer on how ATS systems work.They scan you, and if you don’t hit the mark, I never see you.1: Apply only for jobs you are qualified for!2: Don’t try any tricks you see on the interwebs that seem like they are bypassing your lack of qualifications. Either you are qualified for the job or not. 3: Do not apply for multiple jobs at the same company 4: Include the right keywords5: Co...

Bryan Van Den Bosch, Minnesota Twins New Business Development Manager Feb 19, 2020

Minnesota Twins New Business Development Manager Bryan Van Den Bosch joins Work in Sports podcast host Brian Clapp to discuss sports sales jobs, leadership and building a strong teamHey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast.As I have admitted many times on this podcast, I am not a natural networker. It is not my comfort zone, I am not the type that will walk up to someone and engage in conversation with ease. I wish I was. Oftentimes getting out of your comfort zone is essential to growth. And I like growth. I am a curious person who likes to learn and challenge myself, so last week’s National Sports Forum, with 1,000 people deeply connected to the sports industry, was somewhere I needed to be. But I was feeling both anxious and cowardly leading up to the event. You see we all tell ourselves a story in our head that is loud. It echoes. It has power and weight. We tell ourselves, “these people won’t want to talk with me” or “they’ll find me uninteresting or I’ll struggle with relevant things to say”Even deeper we tell ourselves “I’ll never get that job” or “I’ll never lose that weight” or “I’ll never be able to speak in a crowd”Boy, do we have a lot of voices in our head. So ask yourself the next time you feel this happening -- ask yourself -- is this self-doubt helping me? I broke out of my comfort zone last week. In fact, today’s guest was one of the people who helped me do it. Minnesota Twins New Business Development Manager Bryan Van Den Bosch said hi to me in the line for food the first night of the conference… we struck up a conversation, he’s an awesome guy with tons of sports career experience so we shared a few sliders at Mercedes Benz Stadium and booked a podcast interview. So let’s get to it - Bryan is an expert at building relationships in the sports industry, and he’s here to share his world in baseball with the Minnesota Twins…Questions for Bryan Van Den Bosch, Minnesotas Twins New Business Development Manager 1: For the last 10 years since graduating from Valparaiso you’ve worked for a multitude of teams in various leagues – and we’ll get into all of those details – but I’m curious first, your roles have been all connected to revenue generation – account executive, inside sales, premium hospitality, new business – what led you in this direction, how did you figure out this was your fit?2: Let’s talk about your first two roles – we’ve often talked about how jobs in the minor league or in your case independent league baseball are great training grounds – what was your experience like with the Gary SouthShore RailCats & Lake County Fielders?3: After the independent league, you join the Chicago Sky of the WNBA as an Account Executive -- what was the biggest eye-opening moment for you as you grew from independent league baseball to a big city pro sports team?4: Account executive is a pretty broad term, explain to us what your role was like there and what you enjoyed most about it?5: You were prolific with the Sky.Multiple sales awards, beating your yearly sales goals with months to spare, in fact in one month you led the entire WNBA in new ticket revenue – so at this time what were you learning about sales and how to connect with potential buyers? What was it that was working so well for you?6: In addition to your role with the Sky, you also became part of the Premium Hospitality team with the Chicago Bears -- you’re a Chicago guy, was it hard working for your various hometown teams, or was it a dream come true?7: Would you consider yourself a competitive person? And if so is that a valuable attribute for working in sales?8: Chicago Sky bumps you up to Manager of New Business Development, now your managing a team of account executives…what were some of the big things you learned jumping into managing people?9: Now you are evaluating and motivating staff, setting goals, holding people accountable and more -- so after all that,

Finding a Sports Job as a Student-Athlete – Work In Sports Podcast Feb 17, 2020

Hey, everybody, it’s Brian...I have to admit, I never really considered getting my Masters because I thought it would be restrictive on my career. I know it sounds counter-intuitive, but really, I didn’t want to stop my job to get my Masters.But the world has changed, Master’s programs are more flexible than ever, and they can really vault your career forward. Check out Georgetown for example. It used to be if you wanted a Master’s from Georgetown you were relocating to Washington DC… but now, Georgetown offers a part-time Master's in Sports Industry Management that is ideal for working professionals, offering flexible options to take classes online, on-campus, or through a combination of both—so you don't have to interrupt your career to earn your degree. The program prepares you to excel in the global sports industry by learning the communication, business, and leadership strategies that will position you for success.To learn more about the program, visit scs.georgetown.edu/workinsportsAlright, let’s start the countdown…Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast. I have to apologize for no episodes last week -- I failed all of you! I was at the National Sports Forum in Atlanta last week and wow what an event. I’m not a huge conference-goer -- but this was pretty cool. Lots of learning opportunities, I booked a ton of new podcast guests and got out of my comfort zone and networked. I know right, kind of crazy, I actually went up and talked to people. A lot. And I didn’t die. Who knew!One other note I thought of and wanted to share before we get into this week's fan question -- there were about 1,000 people at this conference. That’s a big number, right? There was a huge hall with all 1,000 people packed in to hear Arthur Blank owner of the Falcons and Atlanta United, speak. I looked around and thought -- wow, this is a lot of people hanging on his every word! And then it dawned on me. Every week, twice a week, we get about 2,000 of you listening to every episode. Two of those conference halls, packed with all of you, our listeners. And it made me feel extremely grateful. So thank you. Thank you for listening, and sharing and trying to learn and improve yourselves. I’ll tell you what, I guarantee I’ve learned as much from all of you, and all of our guests, as you have from me. Alright, enough sappy stuff, on to today’s question which comes in from Spencer:Hi Brian -- I will be graduating in May with a degree in marketing. I have also been a 4-year student-athlete which has consumed most of my time meaning I do not have much internship experience (8 months). Some of the positions I have applied to respond saying the lack of experience is an issue. Is there anything you recommend for a student-athlete with a 3.7 cumulative GPA in their job search in collegiate/professional sports? Thank you!This is a question I get a lot - and it is a good one - so let’s dig into it because I have a lot of thoughts on the subject and even if you aren’t a student-athlete they will help you. Student-athletes lack the time to complete internships. But so do people that have to support themselves through college, so this scenario isn’t limited to those who play. Let's dig into it.. (for a more detailed explanation listen in to the podcast episode!)1: Your job search starts with Networking2: lean into your special skills -- tell your storyLeadershipTime managementCoachabilityCompetitivenessTeamworkAbility to handle pressureMaturityDependabilityTime management3: Play the 8mile game in your cover letter. The cover letter is your weapon of choice. 4: Consider starting in sales.5: Find the right culture. I hope that helps Spencer -- remember to lean into your unique skills and attributes rather than trying to walk down the same path as everyone else. Blind resumes and applications won’t work as well for you because you won’t pass the skills filter.

John Mellor: CEO & Co-Founder WorkInSports.com – Work In Sports Podcast Feb 05, 2020

Sports entrepreneur and Co-Founder of WorkInSports.com, John Mellor, joins host Brian Clapp on the Work In Sports podcastHey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast…I guess it’s time for a little history talk... But not too far back, we’re not talking Roman gladiators or Mesopotamia. We’re talking about 22 years ago, when the internet was the most fertile ground in the world. 1998 ish -- everyone was on the hunt for their dot com get rich quick idea. Internet companies were formulating daily, popping up all over the place and establishing a new culture and expectation for workers. My wife worked for a few different dot com startups in this time and their culture was much different than the buttoned-up, role defined, performance review world I lived in at CNN/Sports Illustrated. They had the stereotypical ping pong table in the lobby - a slide going from the 2nd floor down to the first, they had pods of working desks and at random times someone would play the theme song to the family feud and they’d all drop whatever they were working on and rush to compete against each other in an online version of the game. They’d play half-life throughout the day and have food catered in. The culture and work environment was awesome -- unfortunately, the product of most of these companies was speculative at best. INvestors wanted to throw money at these companies, despite their lack of financial fundamentals or even a product worth getting behind. BUt again. The investor flocked because they all told themselves this is a new world, we have to adjust our way of evaluating these companies… and the money is really green coming out of these wins. The venture capitalists wanted their lottery ticket, they all wanted to get in on the action and get in early on the next big thing. So now you have these really young companies, led by young visionaries without much business experience being handed tons and tons of money to make their idea grow.In this era, this concept of money and growth translated into advertising and branding. So many dot com companies went crazy trying to get their name out there. One of my wives companies...true story...hired a guy who was considered a bit of a viral youtuber back then, to hand out company-branded velvet pouches with $5 in coins in them at Times Square. Just randomly giving out $5 to people and thinking - oh yeah, this will have a return on investment. Sure sure sure.21 different dot-com ads were run in Super Bowl 34 in January 2000. These ads amounted to nearly 20 percent of the 61 spots available,[1] and $44 million in advertising.Let’s run through some of those companies and see how things played out for them…E1040.comEpidemic.comLastminutetravel.comLifeminders.comOnMoney.comNetpliance.comOurbeginning.comWe could go on. Perspective -- OurBeginning.com's revenue jumped 350% in Q1 of 2000, but its $5 million in advertising costs were still ten times what its customers spent.[8] Short-term gains were not enough to recoup advertising losses, and Pets.com, Computer.com, and Epidemic.com, among many others, would fold before the end of the year.Why is this important? -- well, a couple of reasons. 1 don’t forget the fundamentals - in everything you do it’s important not to get swept up in the hype and wishing, it’s important to stay focused and rely on what is proven and works. And 2 -- during this bomb cyclone of negative activity, CEO and Co-founder of WorkInSports.com John Mellor decided to launch a dot com business. January 2000 -- WorkInsports.com was incorporated… May 2000 first paying customer!January 2020 -- still in business, leading the sports employment industry and helping XXXXXXX users find information on sports jobs.Now, I want to be really clear about something as we venture into this interview and conversation with the guy who pays my check… this is not a prolonged advertisement for our site,

Setting Your Sports Internship Strategy – Work In Sports Podcast Feb 03, 2020

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast.Before we get into today’s episode - one quick announcement for all of you sports connected folks out there. This weekend, starting Sunday and running through Tuesday, I will be at the Nationa Sports Forum in Atlanta, which is a pretty huge sportsbiz event.This is my first time. My boss the CEO of WorkInSports.com will be with me, and he fully expects me to be yucking it up with everyone. Now, let me be really honest… I love talking to people. I do. But I don’t like to initiate conversation.Someone comes up and talks to me, I’ll chat them up as long as they want. But I am terrible, literally terrible at going up and starting a conversation with anyone.I bring this up for two reasons. 1: If you or your company are going to be at National Sports Forum, please come talk to me. Come hang out. 2: I bring up my own flaws all the time to be as transparent as possible and let you know, when I host this show, nothing comes from a high perch. I may be the one talking the most, and I may have a lot of perspectives to share, but i am not without massive weaknesses and things I need to work on too. Please don’t ever think, when I give advice, that it comes from a place of superiority. It comes from a place of love. Ok, that felt a little weird to say, but there is truth in it, I wouldn’t be putting so much effort into this podcast if I didn’t care about all of you listening. I have made friends through this show I wouldn’t have known otherwise, and that has great meaning. So please know we are in this together.Last thing on National Sports Forum -- I’m going to be conducting mini-interviews with people at the event… I’m going to grab people, ask them 2-3 questions about their career and how they got started... and sprinkle these into episodes throughout the year. So again, if you are there, or if you know someone going, tell them to stop by out booth and say Hi. Make me look good in front of the CEO.Ok, on to the content you are here for!Today’s question comes from Ben in Chicago.“Hey Brian, are the Kansas City Chiefs in Missouri or Kansas? I heard there is some confusion amongst high-ranking US Officials”I can confirm Ben, the Kansas City Chiefs are most definitely in Missouri. I have personally alerted the proper authorities.Question #2 comes from Jennifer“Hey Brian, you spoke in my college class last week and I really appreciate the energy and enthusiasm you brought to the classroom. I was too shy to ask any questions but I wanted to see if you could elaborate on a point you made about how someone can stand out during an internship?”Of course Jennifer -- thank you for asking and thanks to your professor for inviting me into your classroom -- I spoke in 5 different college classes last week and it was a blast. I have to tell you I have massive respect for college professors after doing a lot of these sessions. I got for about an hour, 45 minutes of me, then 15 minutes of question time from the audience… and it is exhausting. I don’t know how the professors do it day after day. Much respect!Ok, onto your internship strategy. It’s early spring semester so many of you are gearing up for spring internships and possibly summer ones so this is the chance to get your head on straight. The three things to remember for your internship:Be curiousBe competitiveBe coachableToday's Sponsor:Temple University’s School of Sport, Tourism, and Hospitality Management.

Stacy Kelleher: Philadelphia Eagles Director of Production – Work In Sports Podcast Jan 29, 2020

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning with WorkinSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast…It’s funny, I’ve spent my entire career creating sports content. When you create, someone else is the focus… the athlete, the interview subject, the school, the team -- your focus is away from you. That’s the way it's supposed to be, and that is the way I was taught. Coming up at CNN all of our reporters and anchors were true journalists who knew the story was never about them, it was always about their subject. You’ll see this difference when you watch your local network sports -- they so often inject themselves into the stories. Watch me play a game of horse with Chris Paul, coming up at 11. Check me out trying to throw a discus with gold medal winner Christoph Harding coming up at 6!This always drove me nuts. The story is never about you. That’s my personal belief and the one I’ve held near and dear as I was News Director at Fox Sports Northwest. When my anchor asked one night, can we do a live poll on tonights show asking what the fans think of my new haircut -- and yes, this did happen -- I had to initiate emergency deep breathing techniques before calmly saying, “I don’t think that is in the best interest of the audience.”The reason I bring this up is because I ask so many of my guests to step out of their comfort zone and become the focus when they are so often trained to think otherwise. When I speak to agents like Leigh Steinberg… he’s polished, he’s used to being in front of the microphone and talking about himself. But when I grab Celia Bouza from ESPN, or Brian Killingsworth CMO of the Vegas Golden Knights, or Tiara Brown Manager of Social Responsibility for the Charlotte Hornets… they aren’t used to this questioning and this focus...which is why I appreciate their honesty and insight so much.Today’s guest is much like me. Stacy Keleher is the Director of Production for the Philadelphia Eagles -- she’s paid to create, analyze and critique content…it is literally her job to think “not good enough...not up to our standards...we need to do better” so when the spotlight is on her, it’s a little different.But, Stacy is a pro’s pro...so she nailed it. Prior to coming to the Eagles, she spent 6 years with Ohio State Athletics as the Big Ten production Manager -- meaning she hired a ton of student interns and volunteers to help run their event production. She knows a lot about resumes, cover letters, interviewing… and the incredible life of working in sports television production. Here she is … Philadelphia Eagles Director of Production -- Stacy Kelleher Questions for Stacy Kelleher, Philadelphia Eagles Director of Production1: Before we get into all of your background in sports production, your role at Ohio State and now with the Eagles… I stumbled upon an article you wrote on cover letters a few years ago, and found myself saying “Yes!...Yes!..Yes!” A whole lot… so let's start with that, you’ve reviewed a lot of resumes over your career …why is the cover letter so important, and why do so many young inexperienced people mess this up?2: I loved one line you had in there about hiring being exciting, but also grueling… when I was the news director at Fox Sports Northwest, I had the same experience. You’d start out so pumped to get someone new in your building…but by the 25th resume, or phone call it would be rewind repeat over and over again.I’ve always felt people need to inject a little more personality into their cover letter, tell me a story about them outside the resume, a time they overcame an issue or handled an objection…something to excite me – do you agree or do you like it a little more buttoned-up and professional?3: Alright I’m sure the subject of cover letters and resumes will come up again… but let’s get into you a bit – you went to a really small school Wheeling Jesuit University… but you’ve also worked at a very large school in Ohio State…what do you see as the plusses and mi...

Improve Your Public Speaking Skills (Everyone Needs This!) – Work In Sports Podcast Jan 27, 2020

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports Podcast…We’ve had a pretty crazy month, doubling up our podcast guest and really trying to crush January - but we’re going to start getting back into our regular routine this week. Monday’s will be a fan question, a shorter episode in the 1-15 minute range and Wednesday’s will be our longer-form interview with an industry expert. This week is going to be Philadelphia Eagles Director of Production Stacy Kelleher -- Stacy worked for a long time at Ohio State, and just came to the Eagles a year ago -- really great interview, make sure to check that out Wednesday -- Stacy has some really great insight into cover letters and what she likes to see in them.Before we get into our Monday fan question -- Real Talk for a second. Kobe Bryant, his 13-year old daughter and 7 others died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California yesterday. And if you are listening to this episode 6 months from now, you’ll likely remember where you were when you heard this news. We all know it’s tragic. We all hope the family can find peace in this awful time, and we all have memories of Kobe from afar. But I would ask all of you, to listen more than you speak in times like these. Listen to those who knew him, competed against him, knew his family, spent time with his daughter. That is how you can respect his legacy, by listening to those who knew the real man off-screen. This is not the time for your hot take. Or to go live and discuss the hashtag mamba mentality. Or to share the 7 tips you learned from watching Kobe play ball. The thousands of people that are doing this right now will tell you it’s a tribute, a way to honor those who have passed, but it’s not. It’s people leveraging a tragedy to help build their brand… and to me, that is gross. I did this once, so I’m speaking not from a view of perfection, but rather one of reflection. I wrote a story after ESPN anchor Stuart Scott passed from cancer, giving a behind the scenes on how the sports media handles death. It was a really good article, lots of insight, a viewpoint not many see...and I kind of hated myself after I published it. Just listen. This sort of thing doesn’t have to be about you.Alright, let’s transition have a different conversation, one that will help you advance in your sports career. Because that is the point of all this. Johnathan from California -- “Hi Brian -- you recently spoke in my college classroom and I have to tell you when we have guest speakers, most of the time everyone tunes out. But, after the class, we were all talking about the info you shared. My question is a simple one -- as part of our college curriculum we have to do a lot of presentations in front of the class - I was wondering if you may be able to give some tips to those of us who are in this situation and public speaking isn’t our norm.”Hey Johnathan -- I picked your question for many reasons -- one, it is a topic we haven’t talked about before, and two, you said such nice things about me!In all seriousness, public speaking and presenting, is a huge part of the sports industry, not just in your college classroom. If you work in sales, you’ll present concepts and ideas to businesses and groups. If you work in marketing you’ll present to athletes, executive staff and other shareholders. Even if you work in scouting, you’ll present to the director of scouting advocating for a player. No matter your role you will present in front of the group during your career - and the more confident and charismatic you can be in these environments the better.#1 Tip -- Identify your audience. What is their reason for being here? When I am speaking to a college class, I know that they are forced to be here. I know that they would probably rather be looking at their phone, or flirting with the guy or girl the next row over. In this instance, I know I have to be entertaining, not just informative.

Celia Bouza: Director, ESPN Next – Work In Sports Podcast Jan 22, 2020

What training and career development look like when done correctly. Celia Bouza, Director, ESPN Next joins host Brian Clapp on the Work in Sports podcast. Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged Learning with WorkInSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…Let’s talk about retention. In the business world -- retention is a big deal as it relates to customers and employees.Let’s take our business for a second, WorkinSports.com. We provide a premium service, we have over 24,000 active sports jobs and internships all in one place, we match your skills to job openings, we connect you with sports employers, we have career training -- we do all kinds of cool things to help you develop in the industry.Once someone decides to be a member of our site, it makes sense for us to work to retain them. It is easier to keep a current customer than create a new one from scratch.Businesses focus heavily on retention through elite customer service, increased value, exclusive offers and more. Think about it in terms of a sports team… if you have a premium suite sold to a business in town… which do you think is more beneficial to the business, getting them to renew for another year...or having to go n 20 sales trips to different businesses, make pitches, presentations and negotiate deals to get someone else in there?Retention matters. But retention isn’t just for customers - it’s also for the employees. There is nothing worse as a manager of people than having one of your best employees leave for another opportunity. When I started at Fox Sports Northwest back in the day, I was coming cross country from Atlanta, inheriting a staff, that the GM had told me during the interview process that had very low morale. Most didn’t feel good about working there. When I came in I made it my mission to figure out why, figure out who could be the pillars of the staff, and figure out how to fix the overall problem.After identifying a complete stud in the building and elevating him to a higher role -- 6 months later he left. And it crushed me. James Rafferty, I’m still mad at you.This is when it became very clear to me, that doing everything you can to keep your best people is the absolute best way to operate. You’ll never be at 100%, people leave for reasons you can’t control, James and his wife who was also an incredible performer in our newsroom, left for Montana to go back home… I couldn’t control that. But you can sure as hell try. So how do you influence retention? There are many ways because everyone has a different trigger for what is important to them. Culture - Do people enjoy working here? Do they like the environment, do they have a smile on their face at work?Accountability and process -- if you have an efficient system and hold people accountable to their performance, people are more likely to feel satisfied. Training - teach them how to be a stellar performer, show them what you want and set them up for success.Career Paths - let them see their future, what could be out there for them at your organization.These are all methods to retain staff, and great organizations do all this and more -- because the people are what matter most. One of the organizations doing more than most is ESPN - the worldwide leader in debate shows. I kid, I kid. I love ESPN - however… that was my Stephen A Smith impression - solid work, right?Back on track - the ESPN Next program is a big part of ESPN’s retention plan -- it’s the company's premier leadership development program, bringing in the best of the best for around the globe and training them to be even better.The Director of the ESPN Next program is today’s guest Celia Bouza...buckle up, we’re getting into this. Watch the Work In Sports Podcast with Celia Bouza, Director,ESPN Next:. Questions for ESPN Next Director, Celia Bouza1: A someone who broke into the sports media as a production assistant way back in 1996, I’ve been reading about the ESPN Next program and thinking over an...

Sam Ray: San Diego Padres Manager of Amateur Scouting – Work In Sports Podcast Jan 20, 2020

Wondering how to become a scout in professional sports? Listen in as Sam Ray, San Diego Padres Manager of Amateur Scouting shares his insight on the Work In Sports podcast!Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged Learning with WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast…Why does everyone love the draft? The NBA draft and NFL draft are must-see events -- even the NHL and MLB drafts have grown in popularity.We spend weeks reading mock drafts, player profiles, analysis segments...we break down 40 times, standing long jumps, and vertical leaps. We watch combine skills on display, hunt back through game tape, create our own theories for why player y is better than player x.Why? Hope. Hope is the wellspring from which all other positive emotions emerge. Hope is potential for a brighter future, a path out you can see and aspire to. Think about your life and the role hope plays. If done correctly, hope is tied into a plan. Hope by itself is just a wish… saying I hope to win the lottery, is kind of a wish and a dream… but if you hope for a promotion and you put in the work, you strengthen your weaknesses, you improve your attitude, you produce great results, now that is hope with a plan attached to it...that’s powerful.So why is the draft so interesting? Because we as fans have hope for our team’s improvement, and we believe they have a plan to execute it. Trying to align ourselves with their vision is the fun part. So let’s take a step back here -- if your team is terrible, and you don’t trust the front office decision-makers, and you don’t believe in the team direction...are you that into the draft? Likely not, because you know it’ll just lead to despair. But if you like the team direction and you have some excitement around them - there is nothing like studying up, learning all the players, hypothesizing what decision they’ll make and then watching it all unfold. Take the Miami Dolphins as an example in the NFL -- showed some promise at the end fo the season, lots of draft picks, new front office decision-makers -- if I’m a Dolphins fan I’m reading mock drafts studying players… this is fun!Ok, so we get the hope thing as a fan. We understand why everyday people like you and I love the draft.Now let’s flip this around to the decision-makers. They live in a perpetual cycle of hope as well. An MLB area scout will watch high school game after high school game, hoping to find a gem. Hoping to see something that stands out to them, Hoping to have a report they can bring back to their superior to point out a player that could turn into something great.They labor all year long watching and watching -- training their eyes and ears to notice things others can’t. They put in this effort because of the potential payout for the team… this extra trip, this tournament, this event...could be the one with that guy.That’s an exciting life! Especially for those who played! While it isn’t a requirement for a scout to be a former high-level player -- imagine the draw if you were? You grew up playing and loving a game, and now you can put that knowledge to work helping develop the next wave of the team.The life of a scout is fascinating - it’s much more than you see in the movies - which is why I’ve been so excited to have on today’s guest San Diego Padres Manager of Amateur Scouting Sam Ray …Here’s Sam…Questions for Sam Ray, San Diego Padres Manager of Amateur Scouting1: Finally! A Scout has agreed to come on the show – I have spoken with team executives, top agents, athletic directors… but you are my first scout! So thank you, Sam, for coming on and sharing a little of your world with us…I want to get into everything that goes into scouting and how you got to this point in your career with the Padres… but I have to ask first… economics major? How does this fit into the plan of working in baseball?2: Ok, so after you get that economics degree from UCLA, you start interning with my hometown Boston Red Sox in February 200...

Tim Duncan, University of New Orleans Athletic Director – Work In Sports Podcast Jan 15, 2020

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast…I spend an inordinate amount of time thinking about perspective. We all grow up in different conditions, different families, different stresses, and challenges...and it is this foundational time of our lives, our youth, that gives us our first dose of perspective. Growing up in, I guess I would say, lower-middle-class home in Massachusetts...pretty rural, parents divorced, predominantly white neighborhood, gives me a totally different experience than some rich kid in Beverly Hills, or some poor kid anywhere in America. Or some kid who grew up with abusive parents, or someone who was a victim of crime early in life. We may see the same things through very different lenses because of our foundational perspectives. What we see and experience alters the way we move forward through life.But perspectives are a fluid thing, they change as we go through life and expose ourselves to different people, cultures and situations. Living in a rough area of Atlanta for a few years changed the rural kid in me. I saw different things, and they challenged me to think differently. They challenged me to open my mind up to the struggle of others. To understand that not all kids played sports on the weekend and ate orange slices on the sidelines. That some kids struggled to get by, period. Working with different types of people in a corporate culture like CNN exposed me to different faiths, backgrounds, upbringings, educations… and overall different perspectives. I wonder, again this is where I probably spend an inordinate amount of time contemplating things like perspective… but I wonder, how much our perspectives alter our career choices, or who we are in the workplace. Your perspective and the upbringing you endured, steers you. I was asked recently how many people who work in sports, played sports in college or high school. I have no data, other than the anecdotal story of my life working in sports for the last 20 some odd years… but I’d say around 15% played in college and 90% played at least in high school. It is that perspective, that gave us love. The competition, the teamwork, the grind, the community, the coachability -- you thrive on it all. If I hadn’t grown up playing every sport available… I probably wouldn’t have worked in this industry. Sports gets into your bloodstream. Not just playing, but being around it. The smell of a gym makes me think back to my youthful perspective. Hearing a certain song on the radio, makes me think of the drive to a game, or post-championship celebration.It’s no wonder today’s guest circled back to sports. Tim Duncan was a division 1 basketball player at Memphis State, teammates with Penny Hardaway and a 2-time participant in the NCAA tournament. He was one of the elite competitors in the game, making it beyond those of us with only high school memories. For those of you who are confused… Yes, there are at least two people in the world named Tim Duncan who played high-level basketball...but this is not that Tim Duncan. For our Tim Duncan, after graduating and starting a successful career in marketing, the sports world beckoned. And because his perspective was on the court, and in the stands and at the arena… the jump back in was natural.Over the last decade-plus he’s made a name for himself in college athletes, and just last year was named Athletic Director of the University of New Orleans. It is my honor to have him on the show this week… here’s Tim Duncan…Questions for Tim Duncan, University of New Orleans Athletic Director 1: You have had many stops in your career in college athletics to get to this point of being Athletic Director at the University of New Orleans…but before we get into your role at UNO and your journey to it… I want to go back to the beginning a bit.You played college ball at Memphis State during the Penny Hardaway era, you played in 64 games,

Sloane Kelley, USTA Managing Director of Content and Creative Services Jan 13, 2020

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of content and engaged learning with workinsports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast…August 16th 1954Sports Illustrated the magazine launches. In their first issue their most high profile article is titled “The Golden Age is Now”“FOR WORLD-WIDE INTEREST, FOR WIDESPREAD PARTICIPATION, FOR SHATTERED RECORDS, FOR THRILLING TRIUMPHS OF THE HUMAN SPIRIT, THIS IS THE GREATEST SPORTS ERA IN HISTORY”The imagery with the article is of a golfer, head down putting, but the photography isn’t strong enough to tell if it is someone famous. There is a gallery, maybe 30 people, and there is a man in a pink suit is standing just off the green but separate from the crowd...likely the Jim Nantz of the time. I’m not a huge nostalgia guy, but I found myself drawn to the article. I needed to know why they claimed this was the golden era -- what stood out to them in this time to say “the time for sports is now!”Reading further there were some interesting data points shared -- not exactly Wins Above Replacement type data...but interesting for perspective sake. Get this… in their argument for it being the golden era of sports they cite:Tens of thousands of pin boys are kept leaping by 20 million bowlers and, quite properly, the 60,000 bowling alleys around the country include one in the basement of the White House. The favorite outdoor sport is fishing. Last year 17,652,478 citizens took out fishing licenses and eight million more fished where licenses either were not needed (along the coasts) or were not likely to be asked for. Hunting licenses totaled 14,832,779.Three million Americans go skiing every winter, A half-million own sailboats, There are five million golfers There is softball to be played (the Amateur Softball Association of America claims a million players) and basketball is a year-round sport and topic No. 1 in thousands of U.S. towns. There are horseshoes to be pitched in a million back yards and croquet balls to be tapped by belligerent believers who insist that it is the only worth-while game in the world.Isn’t this amazing?70 years ago the sports world was afire with horseshoes and bowling! No wonder your grandparents are scared to death of twitter, their golden era was spent fishing. It’s not exactly groundbreaking to share that the world has changed. It’s not exactly revolutionary to say social media, streaming, a dedicated sports channel for just about everything, famous athletes being accessible and sharing their own story -- has changed our relationship with sports. But the job of keeping up with all of this sure has changed. Bob Ryan the quintessential sports writer, formerly of the Boston Globe and one of my personal idols, tells how when he covered the Celtics in the 1970’s he was embedded with the team, went out for drinks with them, knew their wives...and had to maybe write 3-5 stories a week. Now, content is different, the audience’s appetite is insatiable. There is social, there are broadcast hits, there is constant analysis and debate, there are writing demands… and then, there is everything around the corner... Are we developing virtual reality? Do we need to make content specific for Alexa? Should we launch a podcast? Everything needs a strategy and vision - or in this content world - there is chaos. There is no reactionary process -- everything has to be proactive. Which makes the job done by today’s guest all the more impressive. Sloane Kelley is the United States Tennis Associations Managing Director of Content and Creative Services … and prior to that she was the VP of Content with the PGA Tour. She knows how to stand out in today’s golden era of sports, which is a little different than the one in the 50’s. Here’s Sloane Kelley… Questions for Sloane Kelley, USTA Managing Director of Content and Creative Services1: Let’s get into your background a bit before we get into your career in sports content creation and management.

Ishveen Anand: CEO and Founder OpenSponsorship – Work In Sports Podcast Jan 08, 2020

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast.When I was growing up in the Boston area, I used to get a kick out of the regional ads with the local sports stars.Dwight Evans would be reading an ad for the local Chevy dealer and it would be hilariously terrible. You can picture these guys showing up, never reading the script, and then trying to read a cue card being held by some poor intern above the camera.The local sports star would have their eyes clearly above the camera, they’d be reading at a very poor level and there would be some terrible dad joke at the end."Hello everyone… I am… Red Sox right fielder...Dwight Evans, and you should head down to Bob’s chevrolet in Chicopee and check on the deals they’ve got for a brand new 1985 Chevy ...Blazer. We’ve got all different shades of Red...like my sox."And then they’d smile some toothy grin and still not be looking at the camera. You knew this was like the 20th take and finally, the producer just said “Oh F it, that’s good enough, it’s a wrap”These cracked me up… and I wish they still happened as often as they used to when I was 10. We’d literally imitate them in gym class, a bunch of 5th-grade kids making fun of our local idols for reading with less aptitude and personality than we did.This was a big deal for the athletes back in the day… they made really good money back then, but nothing like what they do today. Salaries have far outpaced inflation, so the borderline Hall of Fame players don’t need to peddle the local furniture store for a free couch and 5k. It was a lot of work, which more often than not resulted in a crappy advertisement that likely didn’t help the business or the player’s brand.Things have changed. Thankfully for the better, although I really miss those old ads. So how have things changed -- well, social is a huge part of it. Today’s athletes grew up with it, are comfortable on the platforms, have their own brands, and can share their own voice directly to their followers.Plus, we have more and more brands telling themselves -- wait, I make a vegan snack bar, and I’m sure there is an athlete out there who is vegan… maybe we should partner up?This idea of hyper-targeting in alignment with a specific athlete makes all the sense in the world because they’ll speak to the product with more enthusiasm and expertise, than just some rando talking about a chevy blazer in red, when they drive a Porsche.This extra targeting, this emphasis on social, this idea to connect brands and athletes -- sparked something deep within today’s guest.Ishveen Anand is the founder and CEO of OpenSponsorship, a platform that has created a smarter, simpler approach to sponsorship marketing. Allowing brands to connect with 5000+ athletes, engage with their target audience, increase ROI and generate great content.She was also named Forbes 30 under 30 in 2015, and to INC top 100 female founders list in 2019 -- she’s as impressive as they come, so without further ado… here’s Ishveen Anand, straight from her office in New York City...you’ll understand why I mentioned that in a few minutes when you hear fire alarms and police sirens in the background…Questions for Ishveen Anand, CEO and Founder OpenSponsorship1: I’m really excited to speak with you about your organization OpenSponsorship…but first I want to understand you and your motivation a little better.You attended Oxford, graduate with a degree in economics and management, and your career skyrockets, in fact, you’re a CEO within about 5 years of graduating.And then, you launch OpenSponsorship.What was your mindset during this time -- did you always have this goal of “someday I’m going to start my own thing…” or did it happen more organically where you saw an opportunity and just went for it?2: I’m seeing more and more high-level sports executives who come from an Economics background, which seems somewhat unconventional in the sports world.

Hannah Huesman, Philadelphia Phillies Mental Skills Coach – Work In Sports Podcast Jan 06, 2020

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged Learning for WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast…Watching the Super Bowl one year I looked down at my hands and noticed I was shaking a bit. Here I was on my couch, watching someone else perform...and I was nervous? Anxious? Stress hormones we’re flooding my body, speeding up my heart rate and breathing, while increasing my blood pressure. Again, from my couch. I stopped and laughed for a second thinking, how in the hell do these athletes do it?How does Tom Brady, or Lebron James, or Daniel Hudson perform to their best with everyone watching and everything on the line? History. Fame. Teammates. Fans. All in one moment. Again, I remind you, my hands were shaking on my couch with none of this at stake. You may think elite athletes are a special breed, but that isn’t it. They may have special skills, but that doesn’t necessarily correlate to a special mentality. Take Ernie Els for example. 4-time major winner on the PGA tour was three feet away from making par on the first hole of the masters in 2016. 3-feet. He missed. And then proceeded to miss 5 more times. A quintuple bogey on the first hole from three feet away. Anna Kournikova - remember her? Photogenic Russian tennis star. Lost the ability to serve. 17 double faults in one set during a match. Look up Steve Sax, Rick Ankiel, Mackey Sasser, Chuck Knoblauch and you’ll find more elite athletes with incredible physical skills, who were unable to master the mental side of performance.Physical skills are just one part of the equation - what separates the good from the great and the greatest ...is the mental component.But these athletes don’t go it alone. They don’t will themselves to be mentally tougher or stronger or more resilient. They have help. Mental Skills coaches are changing the way organizations consider their athletes. For a long time, it was a focus on physical strength, nutrition and repeated game-conditions practice to reach maximum output. But over the last decade, a greater emphasis has been placed on the mental side, conditioning the athletes with how to think, prepare, execute and frame their mind. Mental skills training now works in conjunction with strength and conditioning to make the athletes unlock their full potential. This to me is absolutely fascinating, unlocking the power of the mind to help the elite skills come through more consistently. This is why I couldn’t be more excited to have Hannah Huesman, Philadelphia Phillies Mental Skills Coach and incredible social media follow, on the show… here’s Hannah:Questions for Hannah Huesman, Philadelphia Phillies Mental Skills Coach1: I’m so excited about this conversation because it is a totally new direction for our podcast – I’ve wanted to delve into the mindset as it applies to athletes, but also for job seekers, for a long time so I’m thankful to you for coming on.But before we get into you work with the Phillies organization, let’s go back a bit so we can understand how you got here. You were a division 1 athlete – playing both basketball and softball at UT-Chattanooga – so clearly you had a love of sports. Why did you decide you wanted sports to be more than just a hobby and you wanted it to be your career?2: I’ve always felt being a student-athlete is a huge advantage because of the life skills you get exposed to – time management, leadership, responsibility, teamwork – how did being a student-athlete help you in your life at large, but in your career especially?3: You studied kinesiology and exercise science as an undergrad, then kinesiology with an emphasis in sports psychology and motor behavior as a grad student at the University of Tennessee – it sounds like you had career focus pretty early on, what pushed you in this direction?4: Let’s talk about your field of mental training on a high level then we’ll dig in there a bit. It seems interesting to me that this isn’t new science by any stretch… but now it is outside ...

Championship Level Decision Making – Work In Sports Podcast Jan 02, 2020

Hey, everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning for WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast…Welcome to 2020 people!!December has been an awesome month, but I’ve missed all of you. Letting you behind the curtain a bit, December is one of the slowest months for the podcast, and for our business at large… but January is the biggest month of the year for us as a company.Makes sense right? People setting new goals for themselves, striving for something better in their life, so they go to our job board looking to find that job they’ve always dreamed of and start anew. They gravitate towards our podcast to set the stage for all they want out of themselves in the coming year...I love this time of year!But before we get to 2020 -- I love December from a family perspective, my kids have been home from school for the last 2 weeks and we all hung out together which was awesome. I have a 7th, 6th and 2nd grader, so you can imagine Christmas and the holiday season is a pretty big deal.From a business perspective, December is huge for us -- we spend the month planning and organizing our approach to the coming year. We set company goals, discuss new features and brainstorm concepts for the podcast and more. This is always an exciting time because I’m someone that likes to push forward, I’m never really content. I don’t have any major announcements today since our ideas to better our product aren’t completed yet… but let me tell you, it’s going to be awesome. As for the podcast. Yes, there are new ideas in the works thatI’m excited about… but one thing I can tell you is that I have a goal to double up in January. Normally I do about 4 interviews a month and release them every Monday. Well, I want to kick off January like a boss… so I’m going 8 this month, starting with Philadelphia Phillies Mental Skills Coach Hannah Huesman on Monday. I can’t even tell you how pumped I am about this interview. Hannah is awesome. Like straight up, blow me away awesome. I think she may be one of our best and I hope to have her on more in the future. Also coming up this month -- Sloane Kelley USTA Managing Director of Content and Creative ServicesCelia Bousa Director of ESPN Next which is their leadership development programIshveen Anand, CEO of Open Sponsorship, a tech platform bringing athletes and brands togetherSam Ray, San Diego Padres Manager of Amateur ScoutingTimothy Duncan, University of New Orleans Athletic DirectorAnd then two more that aren’t fully confirmed yet so I can’t say… but are fingers crossed, awesome. But all that excitement is for another day..today on a rare Friday episode of the Work In Sports podcast, I have a topic I’d like to cover. I saw Frozen 2 with my kids over the break, which strangely enough has inspired this conversation… Let it goYes I know that’s from the first Frozen movie, but seeing frozen 2 reminded me of it, and Frozen 2 was kind of OK, so less inspiring to say the least. What I mean is, I want to talk about the things you can’t control (i.e. let it go) That is my last reference to the movie. In my 20s I was a control freak, but it was all a mirage. In my 30s I became disillusioned with the people around me, and I let it control me. In my 40s I realized the only thing I can control is myself and my reactions to the things around me. I choose how to feel and how to respond, but I don’t choose how others behave. I’ll explain this through the comments of one of our posters on the Work In Sports podcast private group on Facebook. They will remain nameless, and I am surely not here to shame them, rather I hope to enlighten a bit. They are frustrated, they’ve been on the full-time job search for a while and in the meantime they’ve been working part-time and seasonal jobs. Everytime this person posts, they voice their frustration with all the co-workers around them.They are always on their phones, they mislabel the work, they leave early, they perform poorly. It eats this person up.

Vincent Pierson: MiLB Director of Diversity and Inclusion – Work In Sports Podcast Dec 18, 2019

It’s one of the hottest topics in all of sports; Diversity and Inclusion. In this episode of the Work in Sports podcast host Brian Clapp welcomes Vincent Pierson, Minor League Baseball Director of Diversity and Inclusion for an insightful conversation on equality in our industry. Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…People tune into sports as an escape. Their day to day lives hold stress – bills to pay, meetings to attend, promotions to fight for, sickness, relationships – all stressful endeavors.Sports, either playing or watching, in theory, is a release, a chance to tune out the external stressors and enjoy an art form not on canvas with oils and acrylics, but on the turf with muscles and mind power.My career has embodied this to a tee. I thought about working in hard news, but the constant stress of politics and death and fires and traffic and tragedy and peril – was too much for me. Sports was light. A passion play that I could engage my mind into the strategy, but stay loose and separate from the constant constriction of life.But this is a naïve viewpoint because sports isn’t separate from society, quite the opposite. Sports is a microcosm for society, mirroring the way it operates and often dealing with large-scale issues before they become large scale. Call sports a precursor to global events, almost a trial society where issues are played out int real-time, then graduated to the society at large.The sports world is complete with societies conflicts, assets, and defects.Our escape world is not bereft of greed, corruption, inequality or entitlement. Our personal utopia isn’t all upside, it’s flawed and broken just like the rest of the world.In sports, we deal with real-life issues like Ray Rice and Kareem Hunt’s issues with abuse, Tonya Harding conspiring to assault a competitor, Pete Rose gambling. We deal with people ruined by drugs or alcohol like Roy Tarpley, Josh Gordon, Mickey Mantle, and Lance ArmstrongWe talk about social justice issues in the context of Colin Kaepernick, but the use of sports as a platform for social justice started decades ago.Why does sports act as a microcosm of our world? Because it is the ultimate meritocracy.Elite athletes are put into the position to thrive based purely on their skills and ability, not their color or gender. If they stink they get cut, if they thrive and achieve and lead they get signed to massive contracts.When you have a meritocracy it almost forces diversity, because different people in different sports succeed in different ways. There is *some* balance.Alas, not all is rosy. The workplace in sports is just like the workplace in every other business in the world – there are struggles to enforce diversity and inclusion. Teams have had massive problems with these tenets. Google stories on the Dallas Mavericks and Atlanta Hawks and your jaw could drop – they are far from the only two.This issue is hot. It’s important, and it deserves constant conversation and more importantly action. There are leaders in the field of Diversity and Inclusion as it relates to sports, none more impressive than today’s guest – Vincent Pierson, Director of Diversity and Inclusion for all of Minor League Baseball. Let’s get to it – here’s Vincent Pierson.Questions for Vincent Pierson, Minor League Baseball Director of Diversity of Inclusion1: Before we get into the larger and extremely important issue of diversity and inclusion in sports, let’s talk a little about you. For undergrad you attended Virginia State, graduating in 2011 – at this point did you have the intention to work in sports or was that something that developed over your college experience?2: You have a Masters from Central Florida – how much did getting that extra layer of education help open doors for you in your career?3: While getting your Masters you were a graduate assistant in the Institute for Diversity and Ethics at UCF – what was that experi...

Four Tips for Goal Setting in 2020 – Work In Sports Podcast Dec 16, 2019

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast. Last week I was in Phoenix for or business summit. The whole team at Work In Sports gets together -- we talk business, set strategy for the coming year, brainstorm ideas and features, crack a few beers eat some bad food -- it’s a great time. Oh, and I almost forgot -- we set goals. I’ve never been a big goal setter. Guess I never chose to look too far into the future, I always liked to be where I am and stay present in the moment. Which now that it say it out loud sure sounds like I’m a tree-hugging hippie...which in some ways I guess I am. But as I age… and since I have a birthday this week, this whole aging thing is smacking me right in the face… as i age, I do tend to look to the future more, I do tend to set goals and have expectations… and you know what? It feels pretty darn good each year when you hit them, or surpass them.Two years ago, I had a goal to launch a podcast for our brand. Check that box. I also had a goal for 1 million downloads. Haven’t checked that box.Last year I had a goal to create an online curriculum sharing the knowledge no one teaches you in college about getting hired in sports. Check that box. Welcome to the Work In Sports Academy. So I’m a goals guy now. And I kind of like it. I can still be where I am, still, feel present in the moment, but now I try to see where I’m going to be standing and how cool it looks -- just a little bit more.It’s incredibly motivating not just to have a goal, but to visualize what it will look and feel like when you hit it. I don’t know about you, but the visualization I have of what I will look like and feel like when I hit my goals is pretty awesome -- I’m super handsome, have a great tan, the sun is shining but I’m not sweating, my bosses are patting me on the back, my wife is laughing at my jokes… and my kids just look at me with such admiration.And.. daydream complete. Any way this dovetails brilliantly into today’s question from Kevin in Washington state. Kevin Asks… Hey Brian -- I’ve never heard you talk much about goal setting and its importance in advancing in your career and life. Can you provide any tips for setting goals that help drive you forward in your career?”Yes, Kevin. I can. My goal is to answer this question for you. But, with a caveat. There are hundreds of goal setting articles out there that will tell you how to set goals, SMART goals that are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-based. I could sit here and go through that kind of stuff… but someone else has spent decades writing this acronym and all the details of every term… you’d be better off listening to their podcast. What I’d rather do is give you tips that can help you make your goals as logical as possible. 1. Write goals that align with your values.You’ll have bosses in life that want your goals to be all about the business and how you are driving it forward… but that’s uninspiring. And at the same time, if you only set goals that are personal in nature than a huge percentage of your life, which is spent at work, is a rudderless disarray of moments with no true directionYou need to make goals that fit your personal and professional life, that would give you joy and a sense of accomplishment in each...and the best way to do that is staying true to your values and what motivates you. Your goals need to be about you -- but remember a big part of you is your work life, so don’t forget to incorporate what motivates you there as well.2: Set Goals You Can Control.Saying you are going to get a job you love this year is not a goal you can control. You can’t control someone else deciding to hire you. You might as well be setting a goal saying “I’m going to get a girlfriend this year!” to which I would ask… does she have a choice in the matter because you sound a little desperate. Make goals for things like grades, internships, volunteering,

Mailynh Vu: Cleveland Indians Director of Talent Acquisition – Work In Sports Podcast Dec 04, 2019

Mailynh Vu, Cleveland Indians Director of Talent Acquisition shares incredible insight into getting hired in the sports industry during this episode of the Work In Sports podcastAlright -- let’s start the countdown…Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged Learning for WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast…It’s that time of year.I don’t know about you but there is a rhythm to my work and life year. There are certain things, events or opportunities I try to focus on during different months or seasons. January is, without sounding too cheesy or cliche, it is a month of rebirth. Setting the stage for the new year and starting to accomplish the goals I have set for myself. But you can’t start accomplishing goals if you don’t set them -- so for me, December is for planning and strategizing.Yes, it is also the month for over-indulgence and lots of parties, but primarily it is a month I focus on planning.Planning takes different forms for different people -- I’m building out our content strategy, developing new ideas, resources, and budgets, deciding if I want an intern or two this year and a whole bunch of other things.But for you -- planning for the coming year make take on a completely different format, in fact, I suggest that it should. Most of you should be focused on how to make yourself the best possible candidate for jobs in the sports industry in 2020. Period. And to start off this season of planning, I’m going to do you a real solid. In 2019, we had a bevy of incredible guests, but one rose above the rest when it came to planning for your sports career. Mailynh Vu, Cleveland Indians Director of Talent Acquisition opened up her world to us - sharing insight into phone interviews, resume building, interviewing tips, hiring trends, mistakes people make that drive her crazy and so much more. If you listened to this episode last January when it debuted -- I don’t care - listen again. And if you are new to this episode, get out your pen and pencil… this is Master’s level stuff and you should be taking notes and building out your action plan for 2020. Here’s my good friend Mailynh Vu -- Download this episode of the Work In Sports podcast to learn more about how to get hired in the sports industry from Mailynh Vu, Cleveland Indians Director of Talent AcquisitionToday's Sponsors:If you’ve ever thought about a career in sports, check out the masters in SPORTS ADMINISTRATION program at NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY. You’ll learn essential skills from EXPERIENCED faculty with connections to COLLEGE, PROFESSIONAL, and AMATEUR athletics. You can choose a specialization in sports analytics and get in on a growing field. Earn your NORTHWESTERN master’s degree online or in convenient evening classes.Find out more at SPS.NORTHWESTERN.EDU/SPORTSAnd the Work In Sports podcast is brought to you by the Work In Sports academy -- our suite of four online courses designed to get you hired in sports. Let’s say you are about to enter your job search -- well our online course on interviewing would be great for you. In need of help refining your resume, cover letter, and personal brand - yeah we have a course for that too.Frustrated that you don't know anyone in the industry and your connections are limited -- well we can help you there.Our courses cover all the main tools the sports job seeker needs. Experience, networking, resume cover letters, social media branding, interviewing skills. And you can bundle them all into one super-discounted price -- check out our WorkInSports academy courses at Workinsports.com/academy

How to Compete for Top Sports Internships – Work In Sports Podcast Dec 02, 2019

How do you gain enough experience so that you can land competitive internships? We have a bunch of great ideas on this episode of the Work In Sports podcast that will help you stand out from the crowd.Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast…I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving break since as you know I didn’t release a podcast last week you can assume I had a very nice relaxing time of it. In all seriousness, the first year of the podcast I had a theory that Thanksgiving week would be the absolute best week to publish an episode because people are traveling, flying, driving all across the nation… and what better time to have a great podcast episode. Well, that was a fallacy. First-year, we had a super slow week for downloads and I felt like I wasted a great guest. The next year I was like -- you know let’s give this a go again -- I’m going to trust my instincts and try really hard to get a great guest and promote the heck out of this thing… and crickets. Now, I’ve learned that my instincts in this were wrong, so I kind of take the week off from publishing and recharge a bit. Let that be a lesson to you -- don’t be stubborn in your decision making, check the data to back up your instincts and be open to being wrong. I am wrong often, and I am 100% OK with it. While I’m not a motivational “sayings” guy, I do believe it is better to make mistakes by trying new things, than to get stuck in repeating mediocrity. Ok, well..over this break… my kids got way into Avengers movies… so yeah, we watched a ton of Avengers movies. Obviously, they loved Endgame and infinity War… but boy did they fall hard for Black Panther and Captain Marvel. I think my daughter has new goals in life. Forget being a famous author and artist - now she wants to be captain marvel. I, of course, love Thor. It’s more of admiration than a man-crush. Oh who am I kidding, it’s a full-on man-crush. That’s the best part of Thanksgiving if you ask me -- forgetting all the things you need to do in the future and just being present in the moment with family. Some hot chocolate and a comfy couch make it all the better.But enough superhero talk -- let’s get into our Q &A session!Question comes from Anita in Michigan --“Hey Brian -- I LOVE your podcast. (she capitalized the LOVE, so I tried to give it the right emphasis) You are fun to listen to, plus, your information and advice is so easy to digest and put to action. I can’t believe I’ve never been taught anything like this during my first two years of college!I’m writing today because I have a bit of a problem I’m hoping you can help with. I know how much you stress the importance of internships and gaining experience...but as I look at internships I’m amazed how competitive they are, and how much experience they expect. I thought that was the whole point - to gain experience on their internship!What can I do to make myself more marketable to internship opportunities so I can gain the experience I so desperately need!”Anita - this is so great. I know you are frustrated, I can hear it in your writing, but trust me the fact you are asking this question shows your head is in the right place. I would much rather you ask this question in your sophomore year...than others who come to me in their senior year, or during grad school, or even after graduating… saying something like “um, so I have no experience, didn’t do any internships, but I love sports, and have a high GPA - can you get me a job?”You laugh -- but this probably happens twice a week. So Anita -- let’s talk strategies!1: Volunteering is your first move. 2: Start a blog and attempt to interview people who are in the niche you want to pursue. 3: Join industry groups4: Job Shadow 5: Seek out Leadership opportunities in campus - connected to sportsListen in to this great episode of the Work In Sports podcast to learn specifics about gaining experience for internships.

Kevin He: Instructor, Esports Project Management, UC-Irvine – Work In Sports Podcast Nov 20, 2019

Esports is more the just an opportunity for programmers and gamers, the business is broad and growing as Kevin He explains on today's edition of the Work In Sports podcast.Hey Everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged Learning for WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports Podcast…Back in 2003 when the book Moneyball was published by Michael Lewis, everyone I knew in the industry grabbed a copy and read it. Most of us were a bunch of knuckleheads who couldn’t tell you the Pulitzer Prize-winning books of the era but had all read Friday Night Lights, The Natural, Ball Four and the Boys of Winter. At this time though, Moneyball was all any of us could talk about. This was pre-Brad Pitt movie release - this was just a book that had been whispered about and we were all excited to get a copy of. What we read, changed our knowledge of baseball, but also formulated new methods of decision making. Ever since that day, I knew two things -- 1: analytics was going to be a thing 2: I always wanted to stay ahead of what is next.I hammered it into my head - you have to keep seeking what is next because the world and the industry will not be static. The next big wave that was obvious and plain to see, it didn’t take a soothsayer, was social media. The growth, reach and the opportunity was obvious -- but in some parts, the sports world was still really slow to adapt to this change.I left a really great prestigious job in part because I thought they were way too slow to see social and digital media as a necessity, not a luxury.Well… I bring all this up to say -- I didn’t see Esports coming. Not only that...but I didn’t see the sports world adjusting to the phenomenon so quickly.../ and then not only that but I sure as heck didn’t see institutions of higher learning adjusting to the demand this quickly. Esports is a special case. And what may have seemed like a playground for computer programmers, animators, and gamers - is actually a huge business with multiple levels of employment opportunities far beyond programming. This is why we have on today’s guest Kevin He, Instructor for Esports Project Management t UC-Irvine…Questions for Kevin He, instructor Esports Project Management UC-Irvine1: In my experience – advanced education is often slow to respond to newly emerging trends. They tend to wait and see rather than set the trend in motion.You’ve been in the Esports industry for around 5 years, and we’ll get into the details of all of that soon, but I’m curious how this opportunity came up for you to become an instructor in Esports Project Management at UC-Irvine – that’s a pretty forward-thinking decision by the university to see this need and do something about it – how did it come about for you?2: Let’s go back a bit before we move forward… what is your personal history with Esports, was this something you always had an eye for? Something that developed over time? How did you find your niche on this side of the industry?3: Your first big move into this industry after you graduated was in Community development. Explain this a little – I think this is an area where Esports really stands out in almost a grassroots way, building their audience in a very personal way, can you explain the role and importance of community in Esports?4: Community is common ground amongst people, and I think the Esports world does a better job than most in the sports industry of building this sense of community.As I looked through your bio, I kept seeing the word Tespa come up over and over…so being a good researcher that I am I looked it up on Google. I want you to explain it to all of us… but before that, I want to read the vision statement at Tespa to set the context -- “We believe in a world where gaming is celebrated by people of all ages, recognized as a force for good, and a catalyst for bringing people together.”This should be the tagline for all of us in life!So tell us specifically, what is Tespa, and what is your role in it?

How to Build Industry Relevant Relationships – Work In Sports Podcast Nov 18, 2019

The bond and connection you form with people you come in contact with is far more important than the number of connections you have. We explain in this edition of the Work In Sports podcast.Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged Learning for WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast…So quick story before we get into today's podcast - it will make sense to you as it all comes together but you have to go along for the ride with me for a bit. When I first started in the industry, yes you have all heard me mention it 10,000 times, I was working in the sports broadcast media at CNN/Sports Illustrated. One of the first things I noticed on the job was that there was a division amongst the staff. There was the editorial staff -- producers, anchors, reporters, editors, production assistants And there was the operations staff - camera operators, graphics, directors, audio ops, master control, sub-control etc. These were like two different operations in the same small area. It’s not to say the two groups didn’t get along, but there was a bit of a ...I’m searching for the right word here… disconnect. I was on the editorial side, and I’ll admit, our group had more ego and a feeling of self-importance. We were creators...and you are just executors. Again, it wasn’t a spoken thing, it was just a feeling in the newsroom. It kind of bothered me, but I was so young I had no idea what to do with that ...disconnect. So I started really subtly, maybe even subconsciously, trying to be a bit over the top with my connection to the operations side. I’d spend my day creating the show ...and then as I'd enter the control room to make it all come to life, every day no matter how stressed I was or if there was breaking news or whatever...I’d enter the control room and boisterously exclaim “hey everybody”And everyone would kind of laugh a bit. It becomes a bit of a joke… where I would be grabbing lunch in the food court and hear someone on the operations staff yell across the room -- “Hey everybody!”I’d hear it everywhere… and we’d all laugh a bit.We are on our 228th episode of this show, and every single one I have started with a simple “Hey everybody” and it’s my subtle reminder to myself, to remember, this whole thing, everything we do in life, is about forging relationships, connections, and bonds with others. Last week I spoke in a class at Arizona State University, and it was a really great session. I have a rough idea of points I want to make in these sessions, but I am so afraid of being and sounding rehearsed, that I always try to let it flow and see where the conversation goes. Well, we got into a subject and discussion on networking and I couldn’t stop thinking about it all weekend. We’ve got this whole thing backward. So many people view networking as a gamified version of their career, where whoever connects with the most amount of people wins the virtual trophy.And, once they make a connection, they view it as a one-way street, or an obligation for that connection to help them. I literally can’t tell you how many people connect with me and immediately ask me to do something for them. And not only do they ask, but they go through chapter and verse about their life, challenges and missteps to I don’t know to provide me context for the advice I’m required to give them?Now, I do it, because that’s my game… I respond and try to give value. BUT, I think this is also a teaching moment to say -- you’re doing it wrong.I want to give you an example, and in fact, I’m going to give my example a name. It’s Gregory Goodman, and I hope I don't embarrass him here by sharing this. January 10th of this year Gregory messaged me on LinkedIn:Thank you so muchYour podcast tonight was so wonderful! I couldn't have asked for any better adviceThank you, Gregory!Absolutely! I'll be there Thursday night and I'm re-energized to go even that much harder now after tonight. Thanks again for all you are doing.

Joan Lynch: The Future of Sports Employment – Work In Sports Podcast Nov 13, 2019

Joan Lynch, Chief Content and Programming Officer at WorkingNation joins Work In Sports podcast host Brian Clapp in a probing interview into the future of sports employmentHey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast…Something struck me the other day as I was writing the outline for one of our episodes. When I was in college, I wouldn’t have been my target market. Flashback to 1995, I’m a college junior at the University of Delaware, I’m a solid B+ student, involved in some clubs, done some interviews… knew that I loved sports. But I would not have listened to this podcast if it had existed, which it didn’t, because we barely had cell phones and email then. I wouldn’t have listened because I was always all about the sports events, the sports talk, the sports debate, the highlights, the dunks the grand slams… blah blah blah. I thought the sports business shows on Saturday mornings on ESPN were just the most boring thing in the world.I thought I had it made no matter what. We weren’t being hammered over the head with how hard it was to get a job, or how competitive it was… I was just having a good time cruising through life.Bottom line - I would have sucked in today’s work environment.Times have changed, and while I still feel like a 20-year-old kid, I know what worked when I actually was 20, wouldn’t work now. Which brings up a really interesting question -- what about what works now? How will it change in the future? How will it change even 5 years from now?!Our world is changing exponentially. Allow me to riff for a second -- I went to Europe about 10 years ago. We visited Charlemagne’s castle in Germany, which they began construction on in 792. Beautiful structure.Then we went to Edinburgh - and of course, visited Edinburgh Castle...and bought a kilt. Well, that castle was built in 1130 nearly 350 years later. You know what is remarkable -- the castles weren’t all that different. Sure there were different styles, but really they were both remarkable stone-built structures that stood the test of time. Over 350 years technology in construction hadn’t changed all that much. Now just think of the last 10 years of your life. Think about how many drastically different inventions have come about. Think about how different global existence is today. We’re not talking hundreds of years, we’re talking exponential change over a decade.\I’m not here to tell you that is good or bad, I’m just telling you it is happening, sop we all have to be on top of what is next and what is coming. You have to be flexible and adaptable…and you have to listen. Some people have a knack for knowing what’s on the horizon, like today’s guest Joan Lynch, Chief Content and Programming Officer at WorkIng Nation...and prior to her becoming a top dog at WorkingNation, she was a VP of Content Development at ESPN...so you know I’m going to ask some questions about that too…Here’s Joan Lynch…Questions for Joan Lynch, WorkingNation Chief Content and Programming Officer1: Before we get into the future of employment in the sports industry, which is a massive conversation, lets dig into you a bit – ABC News, Yahoo, ESPN – all on the content side of the news and sports industry – what led you to content and why was that your personal career fit?2: You spent 7 years total at ESPN – first 2 and a half you’re an Executive Producer creating and developing many of the networks non-scripted programming – poker, reality, game shows. As EP You’re overseeing the entire process, both the creative side and the business - things like budgets and staffing – what were some of the biggest challenges in this role?3: How would you describe your approach to managing staff and did your leadership style change at all as you progressed from ABC to ESPN?4: After being an EP you jumped up to VP of Content Development - as one of, if not the highest-ranking women in the sports media,

Experience Matters in the Sports Industry – Work In Sports Podcast Nov 11, 2019

Fact: Those who don't get real experience while in college, feel ill-prepared to enter the workforce. Let's examine. I’m feeling pretty fired up this morning –ready to dive into today’s show… but before we do… Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning for WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast…We’re going to veer of course a bit today, but I think you’ll like it. No fan question, rather, I’m going to share some recent data and give a bit of analysis on it, from my own perspective.Now, a major part of this discussion is to validate your moves. Those of you listening to this podcast regularly know my theories on employment, standing out from the crowd and getting yourself IN the consideration set for jobs.To define that, when I say consideration set, that means in the top 5-10% of applicants for any job. Why is this number important? Because, and this is rough data of course s changes from job to job, but the top 10ish % are the ones who get the initial phone screening.So if I post a job for a marketing coordinator, and we get 200 applicants, my first step as the hiring manager is to whittle that list down to those worthy of a callback. So in this instance, I’d be looking at 20-30 people who would get a phone interview.This is the consideration set. You are in consideration for the role.Now, how do you get in this set? Well you’ll have to listen to all of my podcasts and take our online courses in the Work In Sports academy – just $39 each and available 24/7/365 at workinsports.com/academy… but a quick extremely superficial summary would be:Gain the experience the marketplace needsIntern, intern intern and then intern some moreBuild industry-relevant relationshipsCustomize your materials, resume cover letter et all to each job applicationMaster the art of selling yourself during the interview process.Now again, that is way way, way rough and superficial… but that’s the start of the conversation to get into the consideration set for sports jobs.Notice what isn’t in there. High GPA.Now that is not an argument against taking your college courses seriously… of course, you have to and need to. But that is so you have the brainpower to do the job… it is not what gets you hired!So just to spell this out again – taking macroeconomics is great! You will learn concepts and skills that will apply to your sports business life…so take it seriously! That will help you be good at your job… but it isn’t the thing that will get you noticed and hired.So let’s get into this data a bit.I was doing a ton of research for my upcoming interview with Joan Lynch Chief Content Officer for Working Nation. Quick aside on Joan, whose interview comes up on Wednesday. Prior to becoming the big cheese covering the future of employment in America, she was a big-time executive at ESPN, and one of the main creatives behind 30 for 30 amongst other projects.She tells some really cool stories about her ESPN days during our interview.Anyway, that’s Wednesday tune in them for that. But in researching for that interview I came across some data released late last year from McGraw Hill’s Education’s Future Workforce Survey which detailed statistics about recent college graduates. #1 – this is a really big survey, I’m just going to distill it down to a few major pointsCollege graduates don't feel well-equipped to face the real worldOnly 4 in 10 college students feel very or extremely prepared for their future careers.While low, the percentage is a significant increase from 2017, when only 29 percent of students reported feeling as prepared.Many reported feeling like their college experience did not provide the critical skills they need to transition into the workforce, such as solving complex problems (43%), resume writing (37%), interviewing (34%) and job searching (31%)Ok so let’s talk about this first. For one, and this is the superficial gut reaction – holy crap. Could you imagine paying 100’s of thousands of dollars for s...

Kurt Landes: Lehigh Valley IronPigs President and General Manager – Work In Sports Podcast Nov 06, 2019

What is it really like working in Minor League Baseball? Kurt Landes, Lehigh Valley IronPigs President and General Manager joins the Work In Sports podcast to share his experience in MiLB.Hey, everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…ESPN had it right when they named their network in 1979. While most of us hear ESPN and immediately associate it as a sports brand, the actual name stands for Entertainment and Sports Programming Network.Sports is entertainment - the overarching theme of attending a movie or going to a sports event is the same -- you want to be entertained. Nowhere is this concept of sports as entertainment taken more seriously than in Minor League Baseball. 176 teams, often in smaller cities like Eugene, Biloxi and Lake Elsinore, unifying under a perspective that to get people to buy tickets, merchandise and concessions means they need to be entertained by more than the game itself. This is the platform every night in Minor League baseball -- what can we do tonight that will make people see value in the money they spent, a sense of community and just have a good time?!How do we create an environment where fans say, man, I had so much fun at the game last night. It’s the perfect calculus between affordable tickets, food and concessions, creative marketing and entertainment… and sponsorships. In minor league baseball, everything has to be seen as a sales opportunity. And that is where the role of President and General Manager in minor league baseball differs from the majors. In major league baseball GM’s are in charge of player development, the roster, coaches and more -- in minor league baseball it’s all about the business of entertainment, and turning a good time into revenue for the operation. In my mind, there is no better training ground to work in the business of sports than minor league baseball -- the opportunities to learn all angles of the business, how decisions relate to revenue creation and gain experience are without parallel. But even more, to understand the importance of entertainment and keeping the fans happy, because without fans there is no product. No one knows this better than today’s guest Kurt Landes, President and GM of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, winners of the 2019 Larry MacPhail award given to the top promotional team in minor league baseball…Questions for Kurt Landes, Lehigh Valley IronPigs President and General Manager1: I have so many questions to ask about minor league baseball and your role as president-general manager of the IronPigs – but before we get into all of that, let’s get into your background a little.You’ve been in minor league baseball since 1995, starting out in community relations for the Toledo Mud Hens and never looking back. Of all the sports, all the leagues and all the roles available in the sports industry – why baseball, and why the minors?2: So many people I’ve interviewed for this show have jumped sports, or changed from team to media, or team to an agency – but you’ve been rather consistent. What benefit has it provided you to focus solely on the business of baseball?3: There is no denying the baseball season is a grind. Long seasons, long road trips, games every night – after 25 years in baseball you are an expert on surviving the grind, what advice would you give people starting out in baseball to survive the day-in and day-out?4: The role of a general manager in the minors is much different from that of an MLB general manager – you’ve been GM and Team President of the IronPigs since the team inception -- can you explain a little of your role and expectations as President and GM of the team and how that differs from an MLB GM?5: Let’s talk about branding and overall creativity – minor league baseball as a whole is incredibly gifted at branding. The IronPigs have incredible merchandise, gear, bacon-themed nights, giveaways and so much more.

The Foundation of Networking – Work In Sports Podcast Nov 04, 2019

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp V of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…Just a quick personal vent -- not a big fan of changing the clocks. I think it is purely mental, but I get the worst night's sleep for about a week after the clocks change. My 12-year-old daughter was up at like 5:30 this morning, so clearly I passed this trait down to her as well. Not a fan. What makes it even worse is staying up to watch your team stink on Sunday night Football… but I digress, as fully recognize that no one feels sympathy for Patriots fans like me. I would just like to again state for the record, I am from Boston and therefore my fandom is legit and earned through decades of sucking… Alright now that we’ve cleared up the massive problems with daylight savings and sucking on Sunday night football.. Let’s get to a question, shall we?I get all types of questions -- but this one from Teague in Oregon stuck out to me this week:“Hey Brian, I suck at networking, can you help?”You know I respect the brevity of this request. There is no flattery, no sugar coating, just straight to it. And while I love it when people say “hey brian, you are awesome!” sometimes a good old “I suck can you help, really cuts through the BS.OK, so this is a big subject, this networking things here, and I don’t want to go on for hours and hours, so I’m going to focus this a bit. If you want more I have an entire course on networking as part of the Work In sports Academy… but for now, I’m going to go at this like I approach most things, I flip the conversation on its head. Let’s reverse engineer the heck out of this thing...and ask the question -- what makes someone become your friend?Does that seem to be a weird question to ask in regards to networking? Well, let’s think about this -- as I analyze my network of contacts, the only ones I would rely upon, disclose things about myself too, give deep time and effort to helping when asked… are those people I would consider more than just a connection, I’d call them a friend. So how do you build more industry friends? That is the key to networking - it is the depth of the relationship, not the number. So I’ve moved around a bit in my life, and I’ve figured out that it can be pretty hard to make friends when you get older. You have shared experiences. Shared schedules. We’re all on the same career status entry-level. Less responsibility. You can go out all night and not have to worry about things. It makes it pretty easy to connect with people. But as you get older, it gets harder to break in with people. I left my cushy world in Atlanta to move to Seattle knowing no one. I’m 28, the new boss, and everyone you meet already has a circle of friends they’ve been hanging with for years. We don’t have shared experiences. We all have different job levels, more responsibilities, life is changing...and this tends to make people lean into the group they already have. Networking is the same damn thing as making new friends. Just connecting with someone. Or just engaging them in small talk at a conference. Or just liking their posts. Isn’t going to cut it. The person you do that with, isn’t going to stick their neck out for you next time you need a job, or need advice, or need a hand. Building a network is the creation of multiple mini friendships. Maybe not your tell them everything and complain about your spouse best friend, but it follows the same rhythm. In life, we aren’t trying to make 5,000 friends, we’re trying to make the right 20 friends.Networking is the same thing. I have 6,536 connections on LinkedIn, I know very few of them. These people are opportunities to network, but they are not a network. They are lumps of relationship clay that I have done little to nothing with yet. Many people compare their network to the expectations they have in their heads. I don’t know the VP of the Red Sox so my network stinks! I need more high profile people in my network!

Adam Fraser: Laureus Sport for Good, Chief Executive – Work In Sports Podcast Oct 30, 2019

Ever considered working for a purpose-driven organization? Adam Fraser, Chief Executive of Laureus Sport for Good joins host Brian Clapp on the Work In Sports podcast.Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast…If I say the New York Yankees - you know who that is right? Of course you do…Big Ten Network -- you know them, familiar with their work recognizable brand…Adidas, Under Armour, Puma - sureUS Soccer Federation -- of course. Have you heard of Laureus? Likely not. And yet, Laureus has made a larger impact on the world through sport, than any of the aforementioned brands we are all so familiar with.Sports is a simple industry. Athletes and events - everything in sports branches off these two pillars. Ticket sales, trainers, coaches, scouts, operations, travel, equipment, apparel -- it all branches off of athletes and/or events. Laureus is a little different. They use sports as a means to change the world. You hear that phrase “change the world” and it sounds like an ad campaign from a brand trying to make you think, they are more altruistic than they are. They are trying to sell you a message rather than an action.Laureus lives that action. Change the World isn’t a banner ad for them, it’s a repeatable mission statement, put into action by their everyday. Founded under the Patronage of Nelson Mandela, Laureus Sport for Good uses sport as a powerful and cost-effective tool to help children and young people overcome violence, discrimination, and disadvantage in their lives. Over the past two decades, they have developed a worldwide charitable infrastructure to use the power of sports to end violence, discrimination and disadvantage. It was Nelson Mandela who said, “Sports has the power to change the world.”And while most of us hear those words and agree, but do nothing about it. Laureus is actively working to make it happen. It is my honor to introduce you to this purpose-driven sports organization, who is changing the world through sport. Here is Laureus Sport for Good Chief Executive, Adam Fraser.Questions for Adam Fraser, Laureus Sport for Good Chief Executive1: There is so much I want to talk about in regard to Laureus and all the organization does to improve the lives of people through sports – but I want to dig a little into your background and personal story first.You’ve gone on quite the journey in your career – the first 5 years of your career after graduating from the University of Leeds, was in journalism. What led you to sports and why was working as a journalist your first career choice?2: It’s quite the transition going from reporting on the World Cup and Formula One to the foundation/advocacy/fundraising side of the industry. Where were you and what was happening that led you to this dramatic shift not only in career but overall purpose?3: You became the executive director for Sports Industry Group and Communication Director for Benchmark – their tagline is “creating and investing in purpose-driven businesses” so this was your transition move in a way, starting you down this path of sport for good.What was that initial feeling like being involved with a company with a different set of goals than others you had worked for prior?4: Going from journalism to the Public Relations/Communication Director side seems like a pretty natural transition, what were the biggest challenges transitioning to this role?5: After Benchmark you transitioned to your current organization – Laureus Sport for Good. I want to dig into your roles within the organization, but first, let’s look through a broader lens.Nelson Mandela, famously said “sport has the power to change the world” – I’ve read this quote a thousand times. I had never listened to him actually say it until yesterday, and it gave me a whole different feeling.What does it mean for someone in your position, as Chief Executive of this organization,

Step One for your Job Search – Work In Sports Podcast Oct 28, 2019

Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and engaged Learning for WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast.We just recently passed a quarter of a million downloads. That is far beyond what I thought we would be able to do on this show, so I owe all of you a huge thank you. When we launched this concept, I had major concerns, even though it was my idea. I worried about being able to come up with enough content -- well, it turns out there is never a shortage of questions from you the fans, or just about career advice in general. And I worried about getting guests -- again, so many experts out there willing to share I am blown away by the level of guests we have had on the show. From super agent Leigh Steinberg to Vegas Golden Knights CMO Brian Killingsworth, to Boston Celtics VP Kara Walker -- we’ve had guests come in from everywhere and share their knowledge. 2 years on the air -- and we have a long way to go. So, on Mondays, I handle a fan question, and I’ll do that shortly. But I also want to have some fan feedback time…Where do you want me to go in year three?To hell - is not an applicable answer. No I mean - are there subjects you want me to hit harder? Types of guests? Should I change the format of the show? Do you want me to have more roundtable discussions? Do more video components? Do more live sessions? I want your feedback because I sincerely value your advice.Here is my personal email. Bclapp at workinsports.com - you can send me anything. I want to hear feedback from all of you. You are my market research, and you are the people I want to please. Seriously, say anything. There are no bad ideas.Ok, on to today’s question -- and I’m warning you, it may get a little sentimental. This question comes from Alan L in Colorado “Hi Brian, thank you so much for the podcast, I’ve learned more impactful things from you through this medium, than I have in my four years of college. I write today because I want to expand upon a subject you brought up lately regarding finding your fit in the sports industry. Outside of researching companies, what can I do to prepare myself to be successful in my career choices?”Alan, I like how you kept this question vague -- I think that was intentional so that I’d take it in whatever direction struck me. I like that. I like to have thought exercises that aren’t too constrained by the question -- so thank you, and thank you for the kind words. One thing I’d like to stress for everyone listening, or considering sharing with a friend… of course, I am consumed by the niche of sports, it is a love of mine, and where my personal experience lies. But I’d also like to state that so much of my advice isn’t just relevant to sports, it’s about life and about career...and those things fit anyone, not just sports fans.I bring this up because the way I’m going to answer Alan’s question - likely isn’t sporty at all. What can you do to prepare yourself for success? Know yourself first.I’ve spent episodes talking through techniques, approaches, strategies, tactics… I love all of that stuff. But if you don’t start with internal knowledge, you are destined for failure. Let me repeat that -- if you don’t start your career with internal knowledge, you are destined for failure.No one can give you insight into yourself like you can, and until you know what makes you work at your best you won’t be happy in your career, life or relationships. Ok, so enough of the broad talk - let’s get into specifics. Well, let’s start with a story first. This concept of knowing yourself was something I struggled with for decades. For a very long time, I behaved in manners I was expected to, or I thought would garner me positive attention. But that action was not in concert with my true self, so I struggled through it. It wasn’t until I started managing others that I recognized this.I began to see productivity change in my staff, as individuals, based on things like environment, pressure, social engagement,

Dr. Lea Thomann: US Soccer Federation Senior Manager of Sports Medicine Oct 23, 2019

Dr. Lea Thomann from the US Soccer Federation joins the show to discuss sports careers connected to STEM (science, technology, engineering and math).Hey, it’s Brian - when you are looking for a sports management masters program, most of you tell me you want flexibility and credibility. Makes sense - you want your efforts to be worth it!Well, with Georgetown’s part-time Masters in Sports Industry Management you get the best of both worlds! The program is ideal for working professionals, offering flexible options to take classes online, on-campus, or through a combination of both—so you don't have to interrupt your career to earn your degree. Plus it’s Georgetown, one of the best schools in the nation, I just looked this up 5 minutes ago they are ranked in the top 25 of national universities via US News and World report - so you can get your masters from a top university, in a manner that fits your schedule. Win-win.I just told you a lot...but to learn more they are hosting a webinar on Tuesday, October 29th at noon eastern time. Learn more - ask questions - figure out your life plan... that’s a lot. How about you just start out by RSVP-ing. Visit scs.georgetown.edu/sportswebinar to RSVP.And the Work in Sports podcast is brought to you by the Work in Sports Academy - If you are looking to get ahead in the sports world, you need an advantage over the competition. Yes, your degree, your clubs, your sparkling personality all help… but we’re going to go a lot deeper than that. Check out the WorkInSports Academy -- 4 online courses designed to increase your chances of being hifred in the sports industry. All of my best advice, culled from not only my 20 years of experience… but from the hundfeds of people I’ve interviewed over my career.Check it out today -- WorkInSports.com/AcademyAlright, let’s start the countdown…Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast.As I search for guests to pique your interest I’m always looking for fields I haven’t covered. Yes, there are more perspectives to learn and share on sales, marketing, and operations…and we will continue to do so... but there are also many fields out there that deserve attention and discussion that we haven’t ventured into yet.Over the last couple of months, I’ve been meeting with college professors all over the nation, discussing our Sports Career Game Plan online materials, and one thing became abundantly clear to meThere are a ton of people in Kinesiology programs. A fancy world for the study of how the body moves. Athletic trainers, physical therapists, sports scientists, medical doctors - they all start with kinesiology. Now I hate to sound naive, this is just me being transparent, I always think of the business of sports, because that is my personal background. But there is a gigantic swath of the sports industry that is less connected to the dollar signs behind the marquis events, and more connected to athlete performance and recovery. Sports are very connected to STEM, science technology, engineering and mathematics, careers. Kinesiology is a perfect example of this - sports through the lens of science. But, in this section of the sports industry, women are poorly represented. Women constitute about half of the college-educated workforce in the United States, but just a quarter of STEM professionals are female. This STEM gender gap has impacted perceptions of women in STEM and trickles down to younger generations.The US soccer federation is looking to help change those results by joining forces with IF/THEN a leading group supporting women in STEM careers.I bring guests on this show to act as a blueprint for all of you -- a map of sorts, presenting you options, introducing you to potential paths, guiding you through the journey and showing you what is possible.Today’s guest is the perfect role model for all of our listeners attracted to the potential of STEM careers in sports - Dr.

Researching a Company To See If You Fit – Work In Sports Podcast Oct 21, 2019

What Kind of Research Should You Do to Determine if you are a Match for a Job? Hey it's Brian before we get into todays podcast ...The University of San Francisco’s Sport Management Master’s program has been educating industry professionals for 30 years!! Take the fast track to the career you’ve always wanted. ○ Earn your Sport Management master’s degree at USF in 23 months○ Learn from industry-experienced faculty○ Gain over 1,000 hours of internship experience○ Join a network of 2,500 alumni who are leaders in the industry — and mentors to you For more information go to the University of San Francisco’s Sport Management Master’s program WEBSITE at usfca.edu/smAnd the WorkInSports podcast is brought to you by the Work In Sports Academy -- Look I get it, the last thing you want to do is take more classes, and read another dry textbook teaching you something you may never use in the real world. This is not that. I have created 4 different online courses that are not a dry textbook full of useless information. This is the stuff that will make getting hired in sports easier. Everyone tells you how hard it is to work in sports… but you want to anyway… well, if you’re going to do it, do it right. Our courses are designed to teach you how to get hired. Networking, Interviewing, Building your personal brand, gaining the right experience -- and I’m much more fun to learn from than some BS textbook that puts you to sleep. I am interesting!So come check it out -- workinsports.com/academyAlright, let’s start the countdown…Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast...A few weeks back… or maybe a few months, I don’t know, Time is a relative thing. A few weeks back I brought up the concept of searching for jobs based on the company you want to work for... A company first pattern. I’ll recap quickly -- rather than looking for jobs, looks for companies you want to work for and figure out a path from within. Most people say I want to work in sports marketing and then look for jobs in marketing. Nothing wrong with that, that’s how I did it, and that’s how millions of others have too. BUT, I propose that it is an alternative approach, that could work out better, in the long run, to start with the company that fits you and work your way into the role. So for example, if you say NIKE is my spirit animal, I love everything about them. Still, learn your passion in school...still focus on marketing and everything that goes into it… but start studying NIKE specifically, learn where their entry-level positions are, learn what qualifications they need and want, learn about their internship programs. And focus deep into what it will take to get hired there.Your first gig may not be in marketing… but that’s OK, because you are where you want to be, and you can work your way into the role you ultimately desire. That is the skin-deep version of a company-first approach, there is more detail out there in a previous podcast… but I bring that up because it was the spark for today’s question and you all listening needed some context!So the question from Monique in Ohio… “Hey, Brian I loved your prior podcast on having a company focused approach to your job search. I love all of your podcasts, but that one really resonated with me. Anyway, just a follow-up, what things do you look for in a company?”I love this question because it applies to the new version of me. When I was in your shoes… all of you wonderful folks out there...I was just happy to get any job anywhere. I didn’t pick CNN Sports Illustrated… I was thrilled to get a callback, interview, and job. Even my next role at Fox Sports Northwest… I didn’t really set out to work there. I got a call from a recruiter, regarding the Best Damn Sports Show Period… and ended up in Seattle. Long story for another day.BUT, I chose my next venture. I chose to work at WorkInSports.com for many reasons.

Chris Grosse: Penn State Assistant Athletic Director for Marketing – Work In Sports Podcast Oct 16, 2019

Chris Grosse, Penn State Assistant Athletic Director for Marketing joins host Brian Clapp on the Work In Sports podcastHey everybody it’s Brian -- are you considering getting your Master's degree? Georgetown offers a part-time Master's in Sports Industry Management that prepares you to excel in the global sports industry. Ideal for working professionals, the program offers flexible options to take classes online, on campus, or through a combination of both—so you don't have to interrupt your career to earn your degree. You'll leave the program with the communication, business, and leadership strategies that position you for success.To learn more about the program, you’re invited to attend an upcoming webinar on Tuesday, October 29, at noon Eastern Time. Visit scs.georgetown.edu/sportswebinar to RSVP.And the Work In Sports podcast is brought to you by the Work in Sports academy -- our four online courses teach you the skills you won’t learn in the classroom - but will make the difference on whether you get hired for jobs in the sports industry or not. Learn how to network, build your personal brand, interview for jobs and internships, and create a strategy for gaining the experience the industry needs. Make yourself more employable -- check out the Work in Sports academy classes today! They are taught by me -- so get in there. WorkinSports.com/academyAlright let’s start the countdown…Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of content and engaged learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast…There is something magical about college sports. I’ll be the first to admit, growing up in the Boston area, there isn’t a huge college sports component, it’s all pro sports. I always thought of college sports as the minor leagues to the pros, and therefore less important. In my world view the pro game was the pinnacle and everything else was just a pathway. But really, this is the wrong lens to look through. This perspective changed for me, when I was in my late 20’s. I travelled to England to watch a few premier league soccer games -- I saw a game at Arsenal, and another at Chelsea - and these were experience I had never had in sports.The fans were different, the stadium experience was different, the vibe was different. I remembered returning, and going back to work, which was at CNN/Sports Illustrated at the time and telling anyone who would listen.. Oh my gosh, I feel like a different sports fan with different expectations. One of my co-workers said to me… have you ever been to a game at UGA? Well, no. Another -- have you been to a game at Tennessee? (this is when Peyton was huge) And then my boss a Michigan grad said ..dude “what about the Big house?” you been?It wasn’t until I started experiencing these sports cathedrals that I realized mine was the skewed perspective. That the real passion and enthusiasm and maniacal fandom was in college sports. That booming of 106,000 people chanting so loud your chest felt like it was compressing. That’s the magic you want from sports. And as my journey has continued, as I’ve interviewed associate athletic directors from Ohio State, Purdue and Michigan… you realize how much goes into operating a department representing sometimes 30+ teams, not just one. The effort and coordination it takes to maximize the experience of thousands of student athletes across a department...and to draw fans not just to football saturdays, but mid-week soccer games, and water polo and baseball. The challenge is real, and it’s exciting.I’m in awe, and for that reason I watch, listen and learn from those friends I have created in college athletics to better understand their world. A new friend in the mix, this weeks guest Chris Grosse -- Penn State Assistant Athletic Director for Marketing.Here’s Chris…Questions for Chris Grosse, Penn State Assistant Athletics Director for Marketing 1: Before we get into sports marketing in athletics, and life at a major university like Penn State – I want to go back to...

Does a Competency Based Resume Technique Work for the Sports Industry? Oct 14, 2019

Hey, everybody, it’s Brian -- Georgetown offers a part-time Master's in Sports Industry Management that prepares you to excel in the global sports industry. Ideal for working professionals, the program offers flexible options to take classes online, on campus, or through a combination of both—so you don't have to interrupt your career to earn your degree. You'll leave the program with the communication, business, and leadership strategies that position you for success.To learn more about the program, you’re invited to attend an upcoming webinar on Tuesday, October 29, at noon Eastern Time. Visit scs.georgetown.edu/sportswebinar to RSVP.And the Work In Sports podcast is brought to you by the Work in Sports academy -- our four online courses teach you the skills you won’t learn in the classroom - but will make the difference on whether you get hired for jobs in the sports industry or not. Learn how to network, build your personal brand, interview for jobs and internships, and create a strategy for gaining the experience the industry needs. Make yourself more employable -- check out the Work in Sports academy classes today! They are taught by me -- so get in there. WorkinSports.com/academyAlright -- let’s start the countdown…Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of content and engaged learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast…From Kae in New Hampshire -- Kae is a member of our private facebook group - you should really check it out, incredible conversations are happening over there and you get a myriad of perspectives...and great opportunities to network. Let me make this point really quick -- networking isn’t just vertical - it’s also horizontal. What I mean by that is, if you are a student, you don’t just try to build your network with directors, VP’s and CEO’s. That’s networking vertically -- up -- and it is important, but it’s not the only direction you go. You also network horizontally, with your peers, or people right around your level. The people in our private facebook group are the motivated core -- they are pushig themselves to break into the industry, they are interviewing for jobs, networking, going to conferences, building their expertise -- it is powewrful to know these people. So, I’ll just throw out a few names here -- name dropping -- when Kelsey Smith gets a job with the Lansing Lugnuts or Harrison packer gets hired by the LA Rams, or Jake Kernen gets hired by Florida State athletics, or Scott MacDonald gets hired by the Atlanta Gladiators, or Dasmine Evans gets hired by GSE worldwide… these are just a few examples of the people who are in our group, who have broken into the industry in the last year or so. Let me give you a real life scenario before we get into today's question. Harrison Packer, just mentioned that he’s been hired by the LA Rams in their marketing department... He’s been a fan of the show and active in the podcast group for the last two years. Well, now that he’s in a position to hire staff, you know where he went first… our group. Join the group and connect with harrison if you want to learn more… but my point is even bigger. Networking horizontally can often be even more beneficial that networking vertically. Make friends with your peers. Alright -- that was a tangent I didn’t expect to go on…but it was good, I liked it, a good solid learning point.Ok, so now we can get to Kae’s question from New Hampshire… BTW, I met Kae and others while speaking at their University of New Hampshire sports management club-- always cool to not only speak with people virtually, but to see them in their native element.OK, the question-- I’ll get to it.Kae wrote a pretty long question, so I’m going to paraphrase a bit -- Does anyone have experience writing a competency-based resume? OK, that’s paraphrasing a lot - she had about three more paragraphs of details, but suffice it to say it all led back to the core question on competency based resumes as they relate to the sports industry.

Katie Gillen: Atlanta United FC Manager of Social Media and Analytics Oct 09, 2019

Katie Gillen, Atlanta United FC Manager of Social Media and Analytics joins host Brian Clapp on the Work In Sports podcast!Hey, It’s Brian -- what if I told you you could get your Masters from one of the best schools in the nation, part-time and with the option of online. Would you be interested? I would!Georgetown offers a part-time Master's in Sports Industry Management that prepares you to excel in the global sports industry. Ideal for working professionals, the program offers flexible options to take classes online, on-campus, or through a combination of both—so you don't have to interrupt your career to earn your degree. You'll leave the program with the communication, business, and leadership strategies that position you for success.To learn more about the program, you’re invited to attend an upcoming webinar on Tuesday, October 29, at noon Eastern Time. Visit scs.georgetown.edu/sportswebinar to RSVP.And the Work in Sports podcast is brought to you by the Work in Sports academy -- 4 online courses built by yours truly to give you the insight and knowledge into getting hired in the sports industry. It is competitive! It is hard to get in! But trust me, when you do, you are going to love it...and getting into a career you love is worth the effort. Check out our online courses that will give you a leg up - visit WorkinSports.com/academy today!Alright, let’s start the countdown….Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast.On our job board at WorkInSports.com, we currently feature 21,183 active sports jobs and internships in the sports industry. That’s a lot. That is literally the highest number of job openings we have ever featured in our 20 years of existence. The opportunities are out there. But that’s not why I brought it up, I brought it up because I was doing a little research this morning. In 2004 USA Track and Field was the very first business or organization to post a job related to social media on our site. It was a ‘Website and Social Media Intern’, and man what I wouldn’t do to find out who that person was and see where they are now. But that’s not the point, so I’ll keep going.USA Track and Field were way ahead of their time… LinkedIn was under a year old, having launched in May 2003Facebook had just launched in February of 2004Twitter was still two years away from existingThere was no Instagram or SnapChatAnd yet, they were hiring a social media intern. Pretty cool. What is really amazing is that in 2005 there were zero jobs posted on our site with social media either in the job title or description. In 2006 there were two. 2007 there were 5, 2008 just 18.From 2004-2008 in the early blast of the social media world phenomenon -- no one in sports was hiring people to be experts, solely focused on social media messaging and impact. Well, not no one… more like 26 people were hired into sports social media over 4 years.Then the jump came. Sports organizations thought to themselves -- hey lookey there, this twitter thing looks popular. And that facebook, wow, maybe we can get our messages out there too?In 2012 - 1,297 jobs related to social media were posted on WorkInSports.com.Not bad. This world was being taken seriously. Back then, and I remember this well, people were speaking of social media like it had reached its apex… no need to focus on these roles, no more growth from here, it’ll die off, they were a passing fad, we’ll just lump them in with marketing and call it good. People coming up in the industry were asking me, should I even bother learning the business of social media? Understanding their ad platforms? How to track impressions and data? How to understand the impact and reach? Should I bother?And I was screaming yes, yes, yes! And that proof has born out. Right now, at this very moment, there are 1,767 jobs active on our site related to social media.Again to give context -- in ALL of 2012, 1,

The Best Way to Show Off Your Soft Skills – Work In Sports Podcast Oct 08, 2019

Hey It’s Brian -- Typical sports guy, I grew up in the 80s and 90s loving Georgetown Basketball -- watching Alonzo Mourning, Dikembe Mutombo, and even Patrick Ewing play games against Syracuse was like a dream Saturday afternoon for me in the winters of my youth.Funny thing is as a sports fan you don't think of schools as institutions of higher learning, you value them by the stregnth of their teams. You know what I never realized back in that time - Georgetown is one of the best schools in the nation. I know that now, that’s for sure. And the good news is, you can get a Master’s from Georgetown and open up doors in your sports career. Georgetown offers a part-time Master's in Sports Industry Management that prepares you to excel in the global sports industry. Ideal for working professionals, the program offers flexible options to take classes online, on campus, or through a combination of both—so you don't have to interrupt your career to earn your degree. You'll leave the program with the communication, business, and leadership strategies that position you for success.To learn more about the program, you’re invited to attend an upcoming webinar on Tuesday, October 29, at noon Eastern Time. Visit scs.georgetown.edu/sportswebinar to RSVP.And the Work in Sports podcast is brought to you by the Work in Sports Academy -- 4 online courses built by yours truly to give you the insight and knowledge into getting hired in the sports industry. It is competitive! It is hard to get in! But trust me, when you do, you are going to love it...and getting into a career you love is worth the effort. Check out our online courses that will give you a leg up - visit WorkinSports.com/academy today!Alright, let’s start the countdown….Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of content and Engaged Learning for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…Sorry for being a day late everyone -- my apologies -- trust me my intent is to always do a Monday and Wednesday episode… but you know, life and work and stuff. A lot of questions have come in recently about the validity of using a competency based resume rather than a traditional style. I have some thoughts on this technique, but before i get into the subject I reached out to 5-6 of my friends in the industry directly connected to talent acquisition -- these are the people on the front lines of hiring, who look at resumes and evaluate candidates all day long. I want their thoughts and feedback before I start telling you my thoughts -- because in all honesty, the thoughts of Mailynh Vu with the Cleveland Indians and Colleen Scoles with the Philadelphia Eagles and Mark Cosacarello with the USGA are far far more valuable than my thoughts. So hold on for that...expect it soon. I’ve also been working really hard on guest booking the last few weeks -- long time listeniners of the podcast have noticed I’ve rerun a couple of our all-time best the last two weeks, Leigh Steinberg and Mike Judge -- this is happening as I ramp up a new wave of guests on the show. We’ve got some really cool guests coming down the line which have me really really excited.But -- that leaves us to today and a great question that came in from Justin in Ohio -- Justin writes in:“Hey Brian huge fan of the show, I’ve listened to every episode, in fact when I have long drives I often go back and pick a few episodes to listen to again. I like your style and it’s easy to engage with your content and learn important techniques that help my career.One question I wonder if you could expand upon is the importance of soft skills and how you can sell them on a resume, cover letter and in the interview process. I find it hard to show how great of a team player I am, but I know it is incredible important."Great question Justin!There are two major parts to the hiring process -- competency and cultural fit. Or you could call them hard skills and soft skills… but i kind of like competency and cultural fit...sounds better to me.

Mike Judge: Cleveland Browns Manager of Ticket Sales – Work In Sports Podcast Oct 02, 2019

Mike Judge, Cleveland Browns Manager of Ticket Sales Joins the Work in Sports Podcast.This episode is a rebroadcast from March 28, 2018 - one of our fan-favorite episodes. The University of San Francisco’s Sport Management Master’s program has been educating industry professionals for 30 years!! Take the fast track to the career you’ve always wanted. ○ Earn your Sport Management master’s degree at USF in 23 months○ Learn from industry-experienced faculty○ Gain over 1,000 hours of internship experience○ Join a network of 2,500 alumni who are leaders in the industry — and mentors to youFor more information go to the University of San Francisco’s Sport Management Master’s program WEBSITE at usfca.edu/smAnd the Work in Sports podcast is brought to you by the Work In Sports Academy -- four different online courses designed to make you the best possible candidate for sports jobs. Just going to class and getting good grades is not enough to work in the sports industry! We’re going to teach you all the extra strategies and tactics you need to start implementing now if you want to really work in the sports industry.Check it out -- workinsports.com/academyHi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of content and engaged learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast…For 20 years the Cleveland Browns have been a miserable franchise. Sorry, that is harsh, but I think you’ll find it difficult to argue with me. Throughout the last 19 seasons, the Cleveland Browns have amassed 88 wins. Total. That is an average of 4.6 per season. 29 quarterbacks have come and gone. Last winning season... 2007. What is remarkable is how stalwart the fans are, through it all. Hue Jackson won one game over two years as head coach of the Browns but the fans still came. They still cheered. They still believed and hoped.Sure some of that goes to the overall power of the NFL and rules of scarcity -- there are only so many games on the calendar, it’s not like baseball or other sports with a plethora of opportunity to attend. But most of it goes to a really really good fan base. But now, even despite a rocky start to the 2019 season -- the Browns are the team everyone wants to talk about. Baker Mayfield, Odell Beckham, Myles Garrett -- they have stars to market, potential to reap and hope to sell.But that doesn’t mean the job of today’s guest, Mike Judge Manager of Ticket Sales for the Cleveland Browns any easier. There is still much work to do to sell the experience of game day to a fan base that may still have some doubts.Here’s Mike Judge…Listen in to the episode to hear from Mike Judge, Cleveland Browns Manager of Ticket Sales!

NFL Agent Leigh Steinberg on the Work in Sports Podcast Sep 25, 2019

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning for WorkInSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast.Two years into this podcast and over a quarter-million downloads, I still get nervous before every single interview. The process of interviewing is daunting, I love it, it gives me great joy, but there is this overwhelming concern for sounding like an idiot or asking a dumb question.Often, due to technology, there is a bit of a lag before you hear the other person responding. Those few seconds can feel like a lifetime! I ask a question...and then it’s silent for a moment, and in that brief window you can convince yourself, “Oh my gosh, did I just not make any sense and they are thinking right now, how do I answer this garble?”Your heart races, and then they start to answer. Phew. Crisis averted. I spend so much time crafting my questions and researching, primarily because I am so afraid of sounding ridiculous and losing the respect of my guest. And then I get into the actual interview and don’t want to sound rehearsed so I start adlibbing… and I babble on and on.Does any of this sound familiar? Hit a little close to home?While this is all very true for me, I pretty much guarantee it is true for you as well during your interview process. You are smart, so you research and prepare. You are savvy, so you don’t want to sound rehearsed.But you are also afraid to miss out on this opportunity, so nerves can take over. You want this to work out - it matters to you - so you put pressure on yourself to do well. Pressure is a tricky thing, it affects everyone differently - Tom Brady handles pressure better than Matt Ryan. Reggie Miller is better under pressure than Nick Anderson. Is that too old of a reference?1995 Nick Anderson of the Orlando Magic missed 4 free throws in the final seconds of Game 1 of the NBA finals against the Rockets which opened the door for the Rockets to win and then sweep the young Shaq led Magic -- that was so painful to watch. Does anybody remember Rick Ankiel? Top pitching prospect of the St. Louis Cardinals… electric stuff. I had him on my fantasy team back in the day. The kid had all the talent in the world, comes in second in the 1999 rookie of the year voting, lighting it up in 2000… then game 1 of the playoffs comes around, cruising through 2 innings against the Braves and Greg Maddux...and all of a sudden he can’t find the plate. He’s throwing it behind guys, 10 feet off the plate, wild pitches walks...he was a mess. Never the same as a pitcher. Pressure affected him. So how do you deal with this? How do you get yourself ready for an interview so that you can be your best and not succumb to these thoughts of “what if?”For me, I’ve learned that having perspective makes all the difference. I think back to high school and college, how many tests I took or papers I wrote that stressed me out, I thought they were the lynchpin to my success. But today, I couldn’t tell you about a single one of them. Those moments I thought were life-changing… weren’t. All the stress, anxiety and nervousness ended up being wasted emotions in the grand scheme of things. Then I remember, this moment is what defines me. Michael Jordan didn’t make the varsity team in high school. At the time, he may have doubted he was good enough or thought this was a life-defining moment. It wasn’t. JK Rowling was rejected by 30 publishers who thought Harry Potter wasn’t marketable. Oprah was fired as a Baltimore news anchor. You will have multiple chances at everything in your life -- jobs, relationships, interviews -- don’t build pressure into the equation on each one. Breathe. Be the best version of you.Now, with all that said, I interviewed Leigh Steinberg for this here podcast and was nervous as could be. Nobody is perfect...but as you’ll hear in this podcast interview, I don’t think my nerves affected my performance. Even Leigh said to me afterward...that was really good.

How to Deal With Frustration in Your Job Search – Work in Sports Podcast Sep 23, 2019

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning for WorkinSPorts.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast.It is always my goal to avoid extremely topical discussions -- the reason being, if I talk about the Browns - Rams game last night, or the impact of Tean USA failing at the World Cup -- these things become out of date and are no longer relevant in short time. The thing about this podcast is all the information in the first episode 2 years ago is just as relevant today as it was then. So if you are a new listener, know that every episode is still worth listening to, becasue the content has meaningful and relevant ideas about working in the sports industry.Now I give that preamble because before I get into today’s question I am going to talk about something topical… something happening right now, but also something we all deal with as fans. Antonio Brown. As most of you know I’m from Boston. Been a Patriots, Celtics, Bruins and Red Sox fan for life. Not because of success, rather because of failure. I sat through miserable seasons, and I relish in all that is great right now….but I’ve had a major problem with the Antonio Brown saga as it relates to my fandom.Here’s the thing -- I believe very much in the spirit and sanctity of the locker room. It’s a special place. A family. A unique bond between men and women which should be the safest emotional place in the world for athletes. When Antonio Brown went live on facebook from the Steelers locker room, against the team rules, I was off that guy forever. I love elite athletes and I’ll apologize for some misbehavior, but this broke every rule of being a good teammate and to me that was enough to say -- don’t like this guy. Watching from afar as he had his issues continue with the Steelers and then on to the Raiders -- I thought many times, I wouldn’t want this guy on my team. And then they did it, they signed him, and I listened to fans and media types alike twist themselves into pretzels to say it’s OK now becausse he’s on our team. I hate this attitude. If he had signed with the Chiefs we’d be mad, but since he signed with our team we forgive? That’s crap. And then it got worse. Sexual assault and rape allegations, not paying people who had workd for him, general disrespect of his fellow man. I literally, for the first time in my 44 years didn’t want to support my team. I kind of felt over it. Other things seemed more appealing to me than cheering on this guy. My team had a chance to say -- we’re not going to play you as we investigate what happened here -- hell they could have even covered for him more and faked an injury, or said he wasn’t ready to participate in the offense yet. But they didn’t - they trotted him out there in their jersey out to practice every day then played him against the Dolphins. It all just felt icky. Of course everyone deserves the right to be innocent until proven otherwise, and of course nothing has been proven about him… but again, I didn’t like his comportment as a teammate before the alleged sexual assaults, rape and other crimes. And let’s not forget this is the same a hole who tossed furniture from the balcony of his 14-story apartment building last April, nearly killing a 22-month-old toddler. These are not the actions of a good person. You become conflicted as a fan… do I forgive and forget because they give my team a better chance of winning? I’m sorry, I can’t do that anymore. For the first time ever, this scenario made me question being a sports fan… where we perceive winning is mor important than being good. Yes, I am naive, yes this has been happening quite literally since the dawn of sports time… these aren’t boy scouts, they are flawed humans. I get it. Something felt different this time around… maybe it’s the tyreek hill situation here too. Hurting his kid...allegedly...and then getting a contract extension. To give some context here, I love love love the Josh Gordon story - couldn’t cheer for that guy to turn ...

Carlton Robie: Getting Started in the Sports Industry – Work In Sports Podcast Sep 18, 2019

Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…Oftentimes you learn the most from the mistakes you’ve made.As the host of this program, I’m in a very unique position, learning the ins and outs of various peoples career choices, how they built themselves up to be the person they are, the steps they took the tactics they employed. I find it all fascinating. So many different stories, so many different people from various backgrounds and influences. And often, an ‘in-my-face’ reminder of all I’ve done wrong. This isn’t some ‘woe-is-me’ tale, quite the opposite, this is a deep appreciation of what others have done to reach their goals. That’s the unique thing about goals and aspirations - just having them isn’t enough. I knew by my junior year of college I wanted to be in sports television. Something like ESPN. Didn’t know exactly what, I just wanted to be in there. It is one thing to know it, and quite another to do something about it. I prioritized A LOT of other things ahead of reaching this goal. I’d talk about what I wanted, voice it aloud in my classes, but when tough choices came around like, should I go to Wilburfest this weekend, which was a big party on campus, or volunteer for the ESPN college football broadcast…. I chose the party every damn time. Funny thing is that didn’t change all that much when I got my first job at CNN/Sports Illustrated. There were co-workers I started out with who were immediately looking ahead to bigger roles and training themselves to be bigger. I was pretty content with mastering my responsibilities, working hard in my role...and then going out at night. I’m not about to tell you you should be 100% dedicated to your career, you shouldn’t. I think you need life and social experiences, I think you need balance and you won’t be happy without it.BUT. I hear guests on this show describe the effort they went to in order to get into the industry and think… wow. It is tough out there. Despite low unemployment numbers, the number of talented people who want to work in sports out supply the demand. We have over 18,000 jobs active on our site WorkInSports.com right now..which sounds like A LOT… until you go to Monster.com and type in accounting, and realize there are 526,000. You have chosen a competitive path - and that’s awesome - because if you are into sports you are likely competitive by nature. Just remember there is no time to waste, there are things you need to be doing right now, there are experiences and skills and opportunities you need to be pursuing. You can be at the top of the list for jobs, but it isn’t just going to happen because you say it out loud. There is work to be done. Today’s guest knows this better than most. Carlton Robie is a college senior at the University of New Hampshire… he wants to work in sports just like you. And he is taking advantage of every opportunity out there. Why is Carlton on? Because he is your benchmark. He represents your competition. Maybe not literally, maybe he won’t be the person applying for the job you want… but others like him will be. So ask yourself as you listen… does this inspire me to do more? Worry me? Scare me? Or set you at ease? Whatever emotion you feel, own it, and take action from it. Here’s Carlton Robie. (Listen in to the Work in Sports podcast to really hear Carlton)Final Thought on Carlton Robie:I didn’t bring this up during the interview but there is one other thing I’d like to mention about Carlton -- I didn’t bring it up because I didn’t want to embarrass him, but I think it is important. Carlton asked me to speak to his college club a year or two ago. When I did, he sent me a personal card thanking and a Mookie Betts bobblehead and a t-shirt from the UNH football team. He built the relationship.When he asked me about interning in Seattle, a place he knew I had lived before, I wrote him up three pages of ideas and places he should visit,

Should You Include an Objective Statement on your Resume? Work In Sports Podcast Sep 16, 2019

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast…Hope everyone had a nice weekend -- We’re going to do a two-parter today. Two questions I really like, but neither should take me super long to explain… so let’s turn two!First one comes via our Private Facebook group.Katrina Hunt from the Work in Sports podcast group - (reminder on podcast group):Looking for some resume advice and I have looked through previous posts as well as listened to podcasts and wanted to confirm some information! Is it necessary to have a summary at the beginning of the resume? Should you list relevant skills in bullet points and if so where at in the resume?Thank you in advance for any and all help! Katrina -- the summary and the bullet points. Look I won’t deny that I had versions of my resume with summaries and bullet points, but I learned over time these are not the right way to go. The fact you are asking these questions early in your career and I didn’t figure it out until my 30s means you are way ahead of me, so congrats on that!Let’s explain why. The summary. The mission statement. The objective. Whatever you want to call it, it is the paragraph of wasted space, filler, that sites right below you contact information on a resume99% of the time it says something like: “Accomplished, diligent, recent graduate interested in pursuing a career in the sports industry”Or“Motivated student who demonstrates a strong work ethic and creative ability. Seeking to apply my marketing and sales skills as an intern this summer at your organization.”These are a waste of space. And they are telling me things I should already know about you.I know you want to work in the sports industry...or else you wouldn’t be applying for my job in the sports industry. I know you want an internship this summer or you wouldn’t be applying.I know you think you are creative and diligent or you wouldn’t be applying for a job that requires you to be creative and diligent.I need you to show me these things -- not tell me.Objective statements are a waste of space. Gimme a minute and I’ll tell you what you should do instead… but first.Now, if you are going to do one, and I really suggest you don’t, but if you are going to do one, do it right. Some of you are listening and thinking...my professor told me I have to have one! Fine. if you are going to do it despite my advice … listen up so you can do something to attract the right attention, not the wrong first impression.Listen up...are you ready… make it customized to that position you are applying for, AND make it about what the company needs. Not whaat you want and need, what they need.My friend Carl Manteau, Senior Director of Group Sales for the Milwaukee Bucks gave a great example he said:For example, if you are applying for a sales position with the Milwaukee Bucks, then your objective should be "To become the top revenue generator for the Milwaukee Bucks sales department. To help the sales team reach its' goals and to help the entire organization fulfill its mission of being the most successful and respected sports and entertainment company in the world."Now that required some work on your part -- you had to research the mission of the company you are applying with and cater your response to their mission. This shows you have done your homework and makes a great first impression.Anything less than this style, and you need to just forget the objective/summary section.Now, what do you do instead? Rather than you telling me, you are diligent, figure out how to incorporate that into the body of your cover letter and your resume.Rather than telling me you want a job in the sports industry, spend more time detailing your experience in the sports industry.The body of your resume is what counts. What have you done! What change agent metrics can you include? How have you impacted former businesses? That’s what I want to see!

Kara Walker: Boston Celtics, VP of Content Strategy and Marketing Sep 11, 2019

Building out a content strategy for a pro sports team...sign me up! Learn more about careers inside an iconic sports brand from Kara Walker, Boston Celtics VP of Content Strategy and Marketing.Hey everybody I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning for WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast.In 2007 today’s guest, Kara Walker, graduated from Ithaca College. The Massachusetts native began her career in Ticket Operations with the Boston Celtics. Today she is the VP of Content Strategy and Marketing with the Boston Celtics.I’m not just reading her resume, there is a very clear point, or at least it should be. Kara started in sales but today she is a VP in a much diiferent part of the org. I mention sales jobs and customer service roles to people who want to work in sports and I watch their face change. It’s a reflexive reaction that borders between disgust and annoyance. It’s like they think I’m insulting them by saying they should look into sales roles, rather than be named the GM of their favorite team right out of college. I get it everyone has big dreams and those dreams don’t include cold calling people for season tickets, or convincing a church group to buy 30 tickets to the Sacramento Kings game in November sounds like fun. I speak in college classrooms all the time and I’d guess about 25% of the people want to be sports agents. Ask them why and they’ll say they want to be close to the players and it looks like fun. Good luck. You think it’s glamourous, it is not. There are around 830 agents certified by the NFL Players Association and 1,590 active players on 53 man rosters. Not great odds...but now go even further 75% of the players are represented by just 17% of the agents. A half dozen or so super agents handle all the big players and the big deals. The other 824 agents scrap for what is left. When NFL rosters go down to 53 people at the end of training camp as many as 300 agents have no active clients at all. Now, let’s compare that to jobs in sports sales. The opportunties are out there. Of the 17,864 jobs currently posted on WorkInSports.com - the industries leading job board -- 7,353 are connected to sales. Those numbers are in your favor. I get it - you aren’t convinced - you’ve been told all your life to do what will make you happy, and sales isn’t it. I’m with you, I have never worked in sales, I haven’t even been a waiter at a restaurant trying to sell someone a steak dinner, and I turned out OK.But, I’m not giving up on this. You need to see the truth. Sales isn’t a life sentence, it’s a step inside the building of an organization.Kara Walker started in Ticket Operations with the BOSTON CELTICS, one of the most storied franchises in sports. She gave herself an opportunity to prove herself, learn the business, connect herself with revenue generation, build her reputation and grow from within a premium organization. In two years time she was changing departments in to content and marketing - she shifted her entire career, but stayed with her top organization where she wanted to be.I can go on and on about following the path of opportunity and least resistance but you need to believe it and buy into it. Now, I have to admit, before we get into this interview, I am a die hard Boston Celtics fan, and I am a content marketing geek -- so I was pretty fired up for this interview and my giddiness may come through a bit. Let’s get to it -- here is Kara Walker, VP of Content Strategy and marketing for the 17-time world champion Boston Celtics. Questions for Kara Walker, Boston Celtics VP of Content Strategy and Marketing1: You’ve been with the Boston Celtics for 12 years since graduating from Ithaca College in 2007 -- it’s pretty impressive to start your career with a pro team like the Celtics – what do you remember most about the hiring process?2: You started out in ticket operations – a role many who work in the industry start out in – looking back,

Discovering Your Fit in the Sports Industry – Work in Sports Podcast Sep 09, 2019

This is the struggle! "I love sports, what should I do for my career?" Well, good news, we have a plan to help you with that. Hey It’s Brian --Want to know a growing field in sports -- mental health. The sports industry increasingly utilizes mental health professionals to help athletes achieve their maximum potential.Are you ready to Take the Lead and help the athletes you work with become the best they can be? If so, an advanced degree in sport and performance psychology from University of Western States may be for you.Learn how to teach the process of setting and attaining high-level achievements, creating and leading a highly effective team, and positive motivation and effective communication skills. UWS offers affordable master’s and doctoral degrees that can be completed online and on your own time. Take the Lead in helping athletes and teams bring home their next championship. A degree in Sports and Performance Psychology is the next step in your athletic leadership career. Visit www.uws.edu/takethelead for more information.Now let’s start the countdown...Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast -- Big thanks to the University of Florida and Grand Canyon University for having me speak to their classes last week. I’ll tell you it is absolutely one of my favorite things to do. I learn as much as, I hope, the students do, because I get to know what is on their mind. I do about a 30-40 minute set, and then open it up for questions...and thankfully these groups have had a lot to ask. It keeps me on my toes, not knowing what is coming, and just having to react and answer from my experience and knowledge. It really keeps me sharp. It also gives me a window into what students are gravitating toward for careers, what fears they have, what lingering questions or unsure decisions they have to make. I love it. If you’re a professor listening, feel free to invite me into your classroom - I’d be honored. So let’s get into one of these common themes that always emerges. From no one in particular but honestly just about everyone --“Hi Brian, you are awesome, I love sports, can you help me figure out what career in sports I should pursue”I added the “Brian you are awesome part” but suffice it to say, this is a question I get 20 times a week through LinkedIn, through our private facebook group, through email, through sessions like these in classrooms.This is the question.I’ll be honest - it used to make me mad. Well, not mad, but kind of frustrated. I can’t answer this question for someone, I can’t tell you what to do for your career and I can’t spend an hour looking at your resume and trying to figure out where you fit. That also happens. I used to have this quick response I’d provide, where I’d say something like “while I fully appreciate the struggle to figure out your life’s goals, I’m not armed with enough info to help you determine your career direction - I don’t know enough about you and what makes you tick!’To which people would respond with their resume, or 10 paragraphs about themselves and say here you go -- now you know me, so what should I do for my career. I want to help, but come on, not to sound callous but I have a full-time job and a family, I shouldn’t be spending my free moments in life doing a free deep dive on your and creating your life plan.I’m not that nice. In truth, I was avoiding this conversation about “fit in the sports industry” because I knew it was reckless to answer this for someone. I try really hard not to peddle bad advice -- and while that may not sound like a groundbreaking approach - you’d be surprised when you see or hear some of the terrible advice that is peddled in the career guidance realm.But after a year or so of dodging and diving away from this question - I knew I had to come up with a solution. Not an answer mind you, I’m still not going to tell someone who they should be when they grow up,

Dr. Joey Gawrysiak: An Education in the Business of eSports – Work In Sports Podcast Sep 04, 2019

Shenandoah University's Dr. Joey Gawrysiak joins the Work In Sports podcast to discuss the first-of-its-kind, newly launched, multi-track eSports major and minors! Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged leanring for WorkInSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…We’re going to go into the wayback machine for a bit, but I’ll make it quick and it’ll have a point.Back in 1997 I was in my first year at CNN/Sports Illustrated and my cousin said to me, you know what we should do, we should make a website where all of the sports people you come in contact with can write their sports opinions and share them on the internet.Now that doesn’t sound like much, but this was 1997, the internet was a relatively new place, it wasnt the source of everything like it is now. The internet was like Las Vegas in the 1940s before Sinatra and the Rat Pack made it a destination. It existed...but it was basically a desert with a little bit of make-up.My cousins idea was essentially what would have been the beginning of sports blogging. We had all this major talent, from reputable sports anchors like Nick Charles, Fred Hickman, Vince Cellini and Bob Lorenz - to up and comers like Laura Okmin, Chris Rose and Steve Berthiaume. We had analysts from all the major sports -- guys like James Lofton, Trev Alberts, Bob Golic...who by the way has the largest hands I have ever shaken… dude had articulated cast iron pans for hands. But you know what I did -- I told my cousin, no way, no one would ever read that, I don’t think it would work. You know how you have those moments you look back on in life and cringe… yeah, that’s one of mine. I didn’t see it. Not one bit. In about 2-3 years time everything sports related was on the internet. BUT, this moment has shaped me. I never forgot my lack of vision...so since that date I’;ve taken this and turned it into a positive. I listen more to ideas, I try to see the forest through the trees, I don’t summarily dismiss anything. I try to see how things can work, rather than how they can’t.Analytics, social media all things I had a much more open mind for. eSports...well, that snuck up on me. I’m not a gamer, I think it looks like fun, don’t think I’m being highbrow because I’m not, I’ve just never committed the time to it. But I didn’t see it as the gigantic business it’s become. The business of eSports is huge and there is money and careers in it, not just for the gamers themselves for all the people that make these huge global events a reality without controllers in their hands. And with this demand, comes need. A need for educated students tailoring themselves to the business of eSports. New this semester, Shenandoah University is offering esports management major and minor, an esports media and communication major and an esports performance minor. This program is the brainchild of todays guest -- Dr. Joey Gawrysiak -- who is going to share mor about the growing world of eSports and how students today can become a perfect match for this growing field. Questions for Dr. Joey Gawrysiak, Shenandoah University's eSports Program Director1: In my experience – and please to all my professor friends listening out there don’t take this personally – but in my experience, advanced education is slow to respond to newly emerging trends. For example, analytics was all the rage for a decade before schools started incorporating this into their curriculum.You and your team at Shenandoah are challenging this perception – explain how this concept of adding an academic esports major came about.Follow up - You have this radical idea, something no one else is doing - you come up with a plan/strategy etc. and you have to present that concept to your bosses – did you have a moment of doubt where you thought – this is insane! Or did you feel pretty confident throughout?2: You’ve been a professor at Shenandoah since 2012, but let’s got back before this – what is your personal history with esports?

Joe Cuomo, Brooklyn Nets Equipment Manager – Work In Sports podcast Aug 28, 2019

Joe Cuomo, Brooklyn Nets Equipment Manager joins the Work In Sports podcast! Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast.There is a theme for today, and it is persistence. I’m not one of those “Rise and Grind” disciples. You see and hear people all the time talking about the grind, gotta love the grind, gotta throw yourself in, gottas give it your all...etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. I read people on twitter and other social media outlets with their little quips and sayings… and I get it, that is motivation for many people - go for it if that is you. It is 100% not me.I hear “rise and grind” and I immediately think -- that person is lacking efficient systems to perform their job, and has a lack of balance. Maybe that makes me the weird one. Well, let me rephrase, that likely makes me the weird one. Don’t get confused, I work hard. Work is important to me. Achieving is important to me. Helping is important to me. But this idea of being a slave to the job isn’t. There is this new trend in being healthy -- intermittent fasting - it could be a fad, but it is an interesting premise. For those who are unaware, it is limiting your food consumption to an 8-hour window each day. So you set yourself a schedule, from 10 am to 6 pm I am allowed to eat, then for 16 hours, I am not. I feel the same way about work. I don’t want to grind all day. No interest in that. I want to do my job to my absolute best, metaphorically eat everything in sight, and then shut it down and get into other things. Of course there will be days that more is required - but if you aren't generally able to do your job in the allotted time, it's likely not about how hard you work, it's about how efficiently you work. Now mind you, this is a very personal evolution. I was a grinder. Matter of fact I was the very definition of the word. I always saw myself as less talented than everyone around me, so I would only get ahead by out-hustling and out-working everyone.This is a good short term plan, but it is not sustainable. I became obsessed with systems and processes in my 30s- I wanted to focus not on outworking, but by operating in a smarter fashion than others, so that I could go for a walk with my wife, or coach my daughters soccer team, and be present in that moment without concern for missing the grind.What does this all have to do with persistence? Well, part of being smarter is setting up systems that allow you to work without thinking. Late 2018 I reached out to today’s guest and asked him to come on the show. He said sounds great let’s do it! Over the next couple of weeks, we struggled to connect and it kind of fell off his radar. No worries, this happens, he’s in season, scheduling is tough.But rather than stress or forget about it, I set myself a simple reminder. In 6 months contact him again. I didn’t have to think about it, I would get the reminder later. 6 months pass, I reach out, he remembers me, we get team approval and here we are… I’m interviewing Joe Cuomo Brooklyn Nets Equipment Manager. It’s not always the grind, it's persistence, and it’s the systems you put in place that help you get where you want to go.But enough about me, let’s learn more about Joe Cuomo, Brooklyn Nets Equipment managerQuestion for Brooklyn Nets Equipment Manager, Joe Cuomo1: Let’s start out at your beginning – you attended the University of Central Florida and earned a management degree with a focus in sports management – why sports? What inspired you to pursue a career in this industry?2: One of your first internships while in college was in baseball – you worked for the Washington Nationals as an operations assistant and in the spring training box office. As your first introduction to big time sports – what do you remember most about that experience?3: After graduating from UCF, you jumped right back in and started pursuing your masters in sports management at Seton Hall – why?

Choosing the Right Sports Job – Work in Sports Podcast Aug 26, 2019

Hey it’s Brian - got a great question we’re diving into on this here podcast, but first -- You are all here because you want to grow and develop in your sports career, why else would you be listening… it’s not my sultry voice or sense of humor. No, you are here to get ahead, and if you are truly serious about this, and you want to jump way ahead in your sports career - check out our Work in Sports academy courses. So far I’ve created four courses -- Gaining the right experienceNetworking and building personal relationshipsYour resume cover letter and personal brandAnd how to nail your interviews for jobs and internships.Maybe you need just one course… you’re about to head into some serious interviews and want some deep dive tips and techniques. Or you really need a strategy and tactics to build your network. Pick your course -- $39 bucks. DEAL!Or maybe you need all four courses -- if you are pretty new, that is likely. Well you can bundle them all together for just $99 -- that’s 38% savings over buying them individually. DEAL!Check out workinsports.com/gameplanAnd if you are a professor or High School teacher and think to yourself, whoa, this would be awesome to incorporate throughout our sports management program. I can work you a screaming deal so contact me today. bclapp@workinsports.com -- or just hit me up on linkedin… we’ll make this work.Alright, let’s start the countdown…Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com, and this is the Work in Sports podcast.Let’s jump right into things...actually, I want to make one point first before I get into today’s question - which is a really good one. We just reached 17,000 active sports jobs on WorkinSports.com - 17,281 to be exact. I keep hearing people talk about how competitive it is in the industry right now, and they aren’t wrong… but the jobs are out there. We have them all.And before you think to yourself, I don’t need to pay for a premium membership to WorkinSports.com - I have google! You are going to waste so much time doing google searches and you are never going to find thousands of the jobs we have because you don’t even know the employers exist.We work with over 8,000 sports employers --- we have all the jobs. So make it easy on yourself and start with us, save time, be more efficient. AND for all of you students -- go to workinsports.com/students… the deal on there is crazy. $30 for a 6-month membership. That’s just $5 a month. Save time, find the best sports jobs...and match your resume against the job openings on our website. Oh yeah, it’s true. You don’t have to search through all 17,000 we’ll do th work for you -- upload your resume and we make the computers do the work for us. They look at you, and our 17,000 jobs, badda boom badda bing, you get matches.It’s awesome.Ok, today’s question from Joshua in Indiana, Hey Brian, everyone always starts out by kissing your you know what, and I guess I’m no different. Just a sincere thanks from this guy, you’ve taught me a ton.In the last year, I’ve built my network up and been doing your heat checks every 6 months or so…it really works. If people listening don’t know what I’m talking about… you need to take Brian’s gaining the right experience course.My question -- I have two job offers and I’d love your advice.One is at my dream company but isn’t in my ideal role or department.The other is a role I want, but the company is just OK. What would you do?Josh -- thanks for all the kind words and nice job phrasing the question. If you had said “What should I do, I would have gone into a rant about how I can’t make decisions for you, I can only advise… but since you asked what would I do, you gave me cover to answer this in full.First things first -- thanks for the kind words about our Work In Sports Academy courses, and I’m glad they are really working for you.Now, what would I do… drum roll please… as long as the job being offered isn’t something way out of the realm,

Rashida Gayle, Director of Talent Marketing, GSE Worldwide – Work In Sports Podcast Aug 21, 2019

Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast.Back in the early 2000s, which seems like yesterday, but in our fast-moving world was actually, like, 100 years ago, I was the executive producer for a TV show featuring NFL MVP Shaun Alexander. Shaun is an incredible dude, and I loved working with him, but that’s not why I brought this up. I bring this up just to show how much things have changed in the last 15 years.Back then, athletes had very few channels to share their personal stories, their point of view, their personality or perspective. Just a few of the top stars would have their own TV show, like Shaun, others may have weekly segments on sports radio, or maybe work with a local sports reporter for a newspaper feature.Most everything from a personal branding perspective worked through the media. And then it all changed.Social media played a huge role - players could now voice their own stories, share their own vision, create their own videos - and have a channel to distribute them. But even more than social media as a tool - there was also a shift in attitude, utilization of the leverage players have, of the demand THEY create. Many in the media call this the player entitlement era, where they now call the shots. The athletes make the demands and they have shifted the leverage of every negotiation.I find that term kind of insulting, player entitlement. The word entitlement gives it a negative connotation, like how dare they express themselves or want for themselves, or demand for themselves. Entitlement to me has a connotation of being something that isn’t deserved, like a child acting like they should get the toy because they want it. It is their prerogative. In the instance of elite athletes, they are the product, they are the brand, they have every right in the world to express themselves, brand themselves, leverage themselves, for their betterment.And they are doing exactly that. Sites like the Players Tribune give all players a voice to share the world through their eyes. More and more athletes are creating videos, negotiating deals, creating documentaries and building a huge personal brand. Alas, the players don’t all go it alone. They often look for trusted advisors, creative visionaries who can enhance their portfolio and build their reach beyond what they imagined was possible.One such visionary is today’s guest - Rashida Gayle, Director of Talent Marketing with GSE Worldwide, a fully integrated talent representation, and sports marketing agency. Rashida works with stars, like MLS MVP Josef Martinez, Atlanta Falcons Running back Devonta Freeman and rookies Justice Hill of the Baltimore Ravens and 49ers WR Deebo Samuel. Time to find out how she got where she is today, and where she sees the world of marketing heading -- here’s Rashida Gayle. Questions for Rashida Gayle, Director of Talent Marketing GSE Worldwide1: I read an article where you were asked about breaking into the sports industry and if it’s been a smooth road for you – you responded “Absolutely not” – lets dig into that, because it is extremely hard and there are a ton of people that love sports and want to work with athletes – so take us back to the beginning, how did you break-in?2: I saw one background piece on you that said “Gayle credits her upbringing for enabling her to see the bigger picture in life” – can you explain?3: Your background and experience aren’t just in marketing - it’s public relations, community relations, event production, negotiation, finance – how important is versatility in the sports industry, and how did you learn all of these disparate skills?4: Your work is in a relationship side of the industry, the athletes you approach and recruit have to trust you to work with you. How do you build that trust and get them to sign on?5: What is your approach to developing a marketing strategy for the athletes you work with - I imagine each case is uniqu...

Impressing Your Way to an Entry Level Sports Job – Work In Sports Podcast Aug 19, 2019

Learn how to present yourself in a favorable light to your internship coordinator and how it may help you land that entry level sports job you dream of. Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkinSports.com and this is the work in sports podcast.If I sound a little extra peppy today there are a few reasons for it:Reason #1: A friend asked me if I’ve been feeling down lately because my tone on the podcast has been very serious. Well, no, I feel great, but sometimes I worry I’m a little too excited, and then I tone things down a bit and try to sound like professional guy… but in my heart of hearts I’m like a giddy kid all the time.In fact, at Work in Sports they recently recorded my “giggle” during one of my interviews, turned it into a loop and play it often on our internal system -- we use basecamp - it’s pretty cool.Reason #2: We are unleashing our online course this fall semester in many schools and it has me really excited. I’ve worked really hard building out our Sports Career Game Plan courses, and so far the reception has been great. Now if your school isn’t implementing our course as past of their curriculum - you have two choices. Tell your professors about it, and have them reach out to me bclapp@workinsports.com. OR you can purchase it as an individual - visit workinsports.com/gameplan for more info. Or you can just hit me up and we can chat about it.Reason #3 - it is summer and I love summer. I don’t care that it is hot, I don’t care that it is sweaty. I love it and summer makes me really happy. So if I’m in a particularly good mood today those are some of the reasons why. Oh right, also, my interview with james kimbal VP of Operations for UFC Performance Institute was awesome if you haven’t listened to that you should. And tomorrow I’m interviewing Reshida Gayle, who is the Director of Talent Marketing for GSE Worldwide - she works with top athletes like Devonta Freeman on their personal marketing. Super psyched about that - she’ll be the interview this Wednesday.Alright, enough preamble - let’s get to todays question.Jimmy from Massachusetts. Says here Jimmy is from Worcester, which is about 20 minutes from where I grew up in Bolton, Mass. Head right down 290 and boom you’re in Worcester. Ok, Jimmy asks -- Hey Brian, thanks for all you do with the podcast, I’m amazed at all I’ve learned and how it is so much more targeted than what I learn in school. I spent my summer interning with a local team, and it has been a great experience. I took your advice and really focused on building relationships throughout my internship. I’ll tell you I feel like I got more out of this internship experience than any prior because I had a plan, strategy and focus going in. One very interesting thing happened, I went to my internship coordinator and asked her about full-time positions with the team and how I can make myself the best possible candidate. She responded with a smile and said “come back to me next week and pitch me on why I should be interested in you full-time?”So I have a meeting set with her later this week and was wondering if you could help me pitch myself -- I’ve been struggling.Ok let’s start with this. I love your internship coordinator. Don’t tell her I said that. But I love this idea.You tell me why I should hire you. Awesome.What is she looking for?What you’ve learnedConfidenceUnderstanding of the big pictureOrganizational ImpactDesire levelI’ll summarize this for you, she’s trying to see your heart. She wants to know how much this means to you, how seriously you will take this assignment, and how you’ve grown since you started the internship.Now, let's dive into this a little deeper I’m not going to do the assignment for you, hut I am going to help you frame your mind so you can present yourself in the best possible way.This knowledge is important to anyone who has had an internship and wants a full-time job, which is likely about 90% of you, so listen up.

James Kimball, UFC Performance Institute VP of Operations – Work In Sports Podcast Aug 14, 2019

James Kimball, VP of Operations for the UFC Performance Institute joins the Work In Sports podcast to discuss getting hired at UFC, being part of the development team behind UFC's 30,000 square foot Performance Institute and what it's like to have a leader like UFC President Dana White.Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…Every time I see a list from Forbes or some other magazine, touting the most valuable sports franchises in the world, I’m blown away. Dallas Cowboys worth 5 billionReal Madrid worth 4.2 billionEven the damn New York Knicks who haven’t won a game in 5 years and have a nutbag owner are worth 4 billion. Of course, that is hyperbole - the Knicks have won a few games. So often when these numbers are posted, the fans revolt. You see snide comments all over the place about greedy, money-grubbing owners, high ticket prices...you hear labor complaints about guaranteed contracts and health issues of former athletes.The organizations and leagues are painted as cold, manipulative monsters only out for the bottom line - dragging their athletes along, using them like cattle and then getting rid of them when they provide less value. But that is never the whole story - it’s kind of the easy story to tell. Dig a little deeper and you find that the soul of these organizations is a little more subtle than some revenue sheet. There are efforts that aren’t in the public eye organized by teams and leagues to help and support their athletes. Take the UFC for example. President Dana White recently stated that UFC was worth 7 billion dollars. That’s a jaw-dropping number. And you wonder -- how much of that goes to the athletes in one form or another, how much is done to support them?The short answer -- a lot. They have support programs for retired fighters, athlete development programs to assist the fighters outside the octagon, and recently unveiled the UFC Performance Institute - a $14 million, 30,000-square foot facility that serves as the world's first Mixed Martial Arts multi-disciplinary research, innovation, and performance center. This center, with its altitude chambers, nap pods, nutrition center, therapy rooms, underwater treadmills and more -- is 100% free to athletes on the UFC roster. Free.Completely focused on helping the athletes cut weight the right way, to build a solid plan for their fight needs and for their recovery. The man running this facility, and who played a major role its overall design, is James Kimball, VP of Operations for the UFC Performance Institute...and today’s guest:Questions for James Kimball, UFC Performance Institute VP of Operations1: Everyone I speak with seems to have a moment they can pinpoint where it became clear they didn’t just love sports; they knew they wanted it to be their career. What was that moment for you?2: Your first job out of college is in the NBA with the Washington Wizards in sales. We tell people all the time, the vast majority of the jobs in sports are in sales. Some love it, some hate it… where did you fit on that sales spectrum?3: You jumped around a bit after that, tennis, college recruiting for baseball, SB Nation on the content side – was this just part of the journey, or were you feeling a little lost and a little confused about what you really wanted?4: Boom. UFC in 2010 in fan experience. I’d imagine working in UFC is a little different than your other stops – how did it differ from those other environments, and were you hooked right away? 5: You’re a VP now, but back then you were an entry-level fan engagement coordinator – what was that specific experience like and what did you like most about it?6: Fan engagement, Community relations, Athlete development, now operations – how important was it for you to get in with an organization you wanted to be a part of and just growing from within? 7: I’m speaking as a fan of the UFC, but also someone lacking some knowledge – explai...

Samantha Wood: Philadelphia Eagles Director of Digital and Social Media Aug 07, 2019

Samantha Wood Philadelphia Eagles Director of Digital and Social Media joins host Brian Clapp on the Work in Sports Podcast.Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…Everyone wants to work in sports social media. Ok, that’s hyperbolic, it isn’t everyone, but it seems pretty darn close. No one, or at least very few people, remark that they want to work in sports sales, despite it having a really high career ceiling, and money making potential. Very few share their love and desire to work in facility management, or consumer goods, despite the enormous opportunities at sports facilities around the globe and massive consumer brands churing out shoes apparal and equipment and monumental clips.Nope, it seems most of you have sold your soul to Twitter. I’ll admit, I’ll see a tweet from friend of the show Katie Gillen from Atlanta FC when she shares a cool graphic, or behind the scenes video, or incredible photo, or funny comment related to the team… and think to myself, she’s got a pretty awesome job.Or I notice today's guest Samantha Wood, Director of Digital and Social Media with the Philadelphia Eagles do the same, and there may be a tinge of creative jealousy. As a creator myself, you see people put in positions to be creative and thrive… and sure, I can absolutely see the excitement behind working in social media for a team or organization.BUT - I don’t want to dampen the dream, but I want to be very clear with all of you. I believe wholeheartedly in settingreasonbale expectations. Telling people the truth about the industry and it’s roles…Social Media in sports is not just a content party.I lifted this directly from a job posting for a social media coordinator from our site WorkinSports.com - where if you hadn’t noticed, there ar 14,482 active jobs right now on our site… so for all you people struggling to get started in the industry… we have the jobs!Anyway, I lifted these details from one of jobs currently active on our site for a social media coordinator. Track & analyze social media insights, trends and new platforms.Execute paid social media campaigns and budgets.Assist with website content via the content management system including but not limited to events, weekly promotions, photo galleries, general info (contact info, hours, FAQ, inquiry forms), news articles, etc.Help with database collection through contests, promotions, campaigns and events.Ability to learn and create visually appealing graphic designs using Canva. Assist with coordination and management of photography and videography assets.Plan, design and manage the outbound emails including database management and content.Work with sponsors on activations and implementation of their contracts.Work with operations to execute Game Day promotions, sponsorship implementation and in game program elementsLet’s pull out some key skills there -- Tracking and analysing data. Budgeting. Executing paid campaigns. Database management. Creating graphics on Canva. Managing content assets. Activation. Contracts. Game Day promotions. Now a coordinator is an entry level role, imagine how this ramps up as you become a director! As I said, Sports social media isn’t just a content playground, it’s a function of the business operations of the team or organization, and you need to have more than just the ability to tweet to get these jobs.No one better to teach you that, than todays guest Samantha Wood - Director of Digital and Social platforms with the Philadelphia Eagles!Listen in to this great episode of the Work in Sports podcast to hear Samantha Wood discuss her role and challenges.

Jump Starting Your Job Search – Work in Sports Podcast Aug 05, 2019

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…Before we get into today’s topic, I’m still a little stunned about something that happened this weekend. Longtime NFL reporter Don Banks died in his sleep at just 56 years old and the world is a worse place because of it. I didn’t know Don well, but I knew him a little. During my tenure at CNN/Sports Illustrated we would often reach out to the various Sports Illustrated reporters for more details on some of their reporting, or to get a quote from them, or have them jump on our shows live to answer a QA session.Most of these conversations were civil, well mannered and to the point. For a young producer, I was often intimidated a little, making requests of Peter King or Tom Verducci or Leigh Montville. They were all incredibly gracious with their time, but as busy people just wanted to get it done.Don was a little different. He wasn’t loquacious, not overly talkative, but he just had a different warmth to him. I remember having some technical issues once and was apologizing to him madly, and he just kept saying, it’s OK, not a big deal, don’t worry about me, just do what you need to do. He would ask you questions about your favorite team, make a comment from his reporting like -- oh they could be in for a really big year. He would make you feel like you were more important than your rank. He didn't judge you on your value to the corporate entity, he just valued that you were the person on the phone with him, and why not make it pleasant. You never felt like a means to an end with Don, just another cog in the machine, he always made you feel like you were reuniting with an old friend after you hadn’t spoken in a while. Don will be missed. Let’s get to today’s question from Ashley in California. Hey Brian -- I’m embarrassed to admit this, but after graduating in May, I’ve kind of slacked off the last two months. The summer has been great, I’ve enjoyed the beach, done some hiking in national parks and just enjoyed a life a little. August is my month to get back on track can you help me build an August game plan?YES, I CAN!First things first experiences are great and super important - now that I am in my 40’s I kind of wish I had done more exploring in my 20s. So do not apologize and do not regret enjoying your life. These experiences will last you forever. Not to get off track, but we have three pretty young kids, and we’ve made it our family mission to give them experiences they won’t forget. We go to national parks, we stay in log cabins in the woods, we go on road trips, we visit osprey nesting spots in Maine. That’s what we love to do as a family -- find out what you love, and do it. Not just in your career but in your life. That is really important stuff. You need balance. Don’t make it all about the rise and grind...because you’ll look back someday and wish.Ok, but since you are through your summer of fun...Listen in to the podcast episode for more details:1: LinkedIn Connections2: Refresh your LinkedIn profile, pictures and status - upate your resume while you ar at it.3: Clean up your social media accounts4: Organize your references5: Research your ideal companies to work for,6: Research your ideal roles and where your gaps are.7: practice your elevator pitch -- what you want. 8: Get active networking either through email or social media or events - maybe hit a conference9: Make a targeted outreach -- not a blast - to let the right people know that you are out there. 10: Interview prep -- once you start applying you could get a phone interview, or a video interview at any time, better be ready for it.That’s it for today, thanks for listening -- I have some really cool interviews coming up on the show from the NBA, UFC and MLS so subscribe and stay tuned.If you have guests you think would be great -- let me know via LinkedIn -- Dasmine Evans did that, she recommended that I look into Nicole Lynn an...

Sports Agent Nicole Lynn, Young Money APAA – Work in Sports Podcast Jul 31, 2019

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp Vice President of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…I was cruising on twitter a few weeks ago and saw an update on the ongoing contract negotiations between the New York Jets and 1stround draft pick Quinnen Williams. Something from Schefter I’m sure, remarking how the holdup was due to offset language in the contract or some other technical detail.And in response to this little factual nugget...a responder says “The reason he hasn’t signed yet is because his agent is a woman”Another piles on, "A qualified man would have had this done by now"A third “she’s probably too busy doing her nails” There should be a special place in hell for twitter trolls. I don’t know why but I took personal offense to all of this chatter. I felt enraged, questioning society, wondering what the hell are we doing here in this world thinking this behavior is OK.Quinnen Williams agent is Nicole Lynn, the first and only black female sports agent to represent a first-round draft pick, one of our favorites around this office, and an immensely talented agent.But again, the twitter champs don’t pay attention to facts, they rush to pass judgment on others far smarter and more talented than they are. The pick before Quinnen Williams in the NFL draft was Joey Bosa. Joey Bosa is represented by Agent Brian Ayrault of CAA ..who is ….hold on for it… a man!Guess who wasn’t signed to a contract yet? Joey Bosa.So was he doing his nails? Shouldn't a qualified man have had Joey Bosa’s contract negotiated by now? Is the reason he hadn’t signed yet because his agent was a man?I find social media tough guys to be some of the lowest, spineless scum there is. And I beg you all, I know you are smart enough not to listen to trolls, but I beg you all to take comfort in FACTS. Strive for truth, look through the bs and find the real. Now, this is my favorite part of the story. While I act like an offended old man stomping my feet and wanting to take on the social media trolls. Nicole Lynn - she just keeps being the best version of her. She dances with her clients. She connects with them. She uses social media to ask questions - like “What should I wear to the NFL draft?” And that is a huge part of why her clients love her.I laughed last week when I saw she posted this tweet:Dear @OgboOkoronkwo,I hope you’re killing training camp.Signed,Your agent that you haven’t texted back.(no one worse with the phone than my guy OBO).She has a unique ability to connect with her players in a relationship but also brings the heat with her intellect. She graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 2011 with a degree in Business Administration, Business Management. She then graduated with honors from the Oklahoma College of Law in 2015 and has worked on Wall Street and as a litigation attorney for Norton Rose Fulbright in Houston.She’s legit. And anyone who questions her ability because of her gender is a fool.Here’s Nicole Lynn - one of my favorite guests from last year

Finding Your Most Confident Self – Work in Sports Podcast Jul 29, 2019

Hey, everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning at Work in Sports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…I had a moment last week that really helped refocus me. As you all know I am highly transparent, and I think I am pretty self-aware. I can tell when I’m not feeling as inspired, or a question the impact I am making or wondering if I’m hitting the mark with all of you.Yes, I am a worrier, and I don’t think for a second that I have it all figured out. I am flawed and learning. And that isn’t some statement hoping for compliments, it’s just to show we are all the same in many ways. As you have doubts, guess what, so does everyone else. If you worry and have anxiety and think you are all alone..well guess what, you aren’t and I hope it gives you some solace to know you aren’t alone. Anyway, my point is, I go through ruts for sure. I go through times where I struggle to book guests and I wonder, why is this still so hard, haven’t I established an audience yet, don’t people know the good we are doing?Or I go through a rut where I’m worried my message isn’t getting through, I’m not growing the audience like I should, or I’m not hearing from the audiences very much… and I wonder and stress over what is wrong.Again. I share this because you need to know it is totally normal and rationale. People like Gary Vaynerchuk may not admit it, but I’m pretty sure they go through moments of vulnerability and doubt too. I’m just willing to admit it. Well, this week Nathan Brown really helped me out, whether he knows it or not -- so I want to share this story. Nathan is a relatively new fan of the show, and is a student at the University of Dayton - he messaged me this week on LinkedIn:Brian, I got a funny story for you... So I recently took a shot and applied for a gameday position with the marketing department for the Cincinnati Bengals. I had no expectation I would hear back from them, but they liked my resume and invited me for an interview (woo hoo!). However, I am currently interning in NH so I asked if we would be able to conduct an interview over Skype. It took them awhile to get back to me, and what happened was I basically had less than 12 hours to prepare. I did my best to do some of the tips and tricks you talk about in your podcast, but then I remembered something, I am staying in a pretty rough, not attractive, dorm room/student housing thing right now and this is not the place for an interview. I then went searching around town at local libraries and what not trying to find a place to conduct this interview and I struck out (not being very familiar with the area did not help and how do these libraries not have study rooms?). I come back to my dorm room and was like, "were gonna make the best of this," but as I come into my room and turn on the lights, you guessed it, the light bulbs blow out. Long story short, I get a call about an hour later and did my best to own the fact that I was conducting this interview with nothing more than a desk lamp and my bed in the background. I could have been much more embarrassed and stressed by the situation, but I was able to make everyone laugh about it and own it. The rest of the interview went on to be very genuine and fun since the ice had been broken very early on in the conversation. I wanted to share with you that I was offered the job this morning. I thank you for your knowledge and advice. I was able to use the things you have mentioned, stay calm, be myself, and make the best of a tough situation. Thanks again to you and what you do.Great story from Nathan, and to be honest I couldn’t be prouder. This is a great life lesson for all of us - Nathan had a choice -- panic, and let that come through in the interview...or own the situation, make a bit of a joke out of it, loosen the mood, laugh at yourself a little and then nail the interview.Not only does the latter show you have a personality...it also shows real confidence.

Don Jackson, Sports Attorney “The Sports Group” – Work in Sports Podcast Jul 24, 2019

Sports Attorney Don Jackson helps break down some of the major ongoing legal issues in sports and adds perspective for anyone who wants to pursue a career in sports law. Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast... The summer months can provide quite a lull in the sports calendar - now before all you seamheads get on me, I know baseball is alive and kicking, but it’s a long season and these middle months can be a little… draining.As I’ve admitted before I have sports ADD -- I want college bowl season, NFL playoffs, March Madness, spring training and a full slate of NBA and NHL games every night of the year...but my dream is yet to become a reality. Lucky us, this summer we had another event on the schedule that could draw our attention...the US Women's National Team competing in the World Cup. Huge global events like these bring out casual fans who likely wouldn’t watch a Tuesday night friendly against Norway, but will pack bars, sing songs, and wear the good old red white and blue with pride as our national team competes. I was glued. I have a young soccer-playing daughter, so to watch those games with her and see how she admired these gals and their compete level was awesome. A proud parenting moment, to see how she understood the calculus behind hard work, training and discipline leading to success and glory. Nothing is given. She also asked questions. Not just about formations and attack methodology - but about equal pay, and why the men get paid more than the women.Uh oh -- some of you just got angry - some of you just thought to yourself, here we go, another lecture about equal pay! Well, I’ll spare you, no lecture involved. But I would like to add some perspective that I fear many people are missing. I see the same exact response from every person who has an issue with the equal pay debate. It’s some iteration of:‘This is a business first and foremost. In the context of business, salaries of players are based on "viewership" numbers and attendance at the stadium. Nothing to do with gender. If and when the women can draw attendance numbers and viewership at par with the men, sponsorship and salaries would automatically follow. Supply and demand. if you draw large numbers, the paycheck gets bigger for both the owners and players regardless of gender.”I lifted this from one of about 600 like it on a recent article. Like most people, this person made a lot of guesses and assumptions in their argument. What if I told you, according to NIKE the Womens’ national team home jersey is now the #1 soccer jersey, men’s or womens’s ever sold on Nike in one season.What if I told you the women’s team contributed more than half of the revenue from games since fiscal 2016 -- and between 2016 to 2018 the women's games generated about $900,000 more revenue than the men’s games. Going back even earlier -- in the year following their 2015 World Cup win, women’s games generated $1.9 million more than the men’s games. Now, gross revenue — especially for games — isn’t everything. Matches are expensive to produce and players have to be paid, so games don’t always turn a profit for the federation. That said, in fiscal 2016 and 2017, the women’s team generated more cash than expenses, bringing in net revenue of $8 million and $1 million, respectively. The men’s team in fiscal 2015 and 2016 posted net revenue of $350,000 and $2.7 million, respectively.This isn’t a lecture -- this is a lesson in facts. Sure, there is more nuance to be explored, there are subtleties in revenue reporting, that’s why we have a legal process deciding what is fair and what is not.And that is true for just about every situation in sports. As much as I hate to even mention it, deflategate was a legal case. Colin Kaepernick became a legal case, Zion Williamson being sued for 100 million is a legal case, college athletes amateur status, sports gambling … all legal cases.

David Plati: Hall of Fame Sports Information Director, University of Colorado Jul 17, 2019

Hey it’s Brian -- coming up today on the Work in Sports podcast, David Plati University of Colorado Associate Athletic Director and Sports Information Director - we’re talking all about the business behind the scenes in college athletics and how he identifies traits in people that lead to sports career success.But first, talking about success -- we want you to be successful in your sports career, and one way we help you become successful is through our new online courses, the Work in Sports academy! We’ve created 4 online courses - videos, articles, downloadable worksheets, cheatsheets, checklists and more, to help you become an expert at getting hired.Everyone needs to get better at building their network of contacts right? We have a course for that. What about interviewing skills? We have a course for that. Resume, cover letter, personal brand. Yes we’ve got that covered. Gaining the right skills and experience -- yep that too.Our courses have my best stuff. My best advice and information - so come check it out. WorkinSports.com/gameplan ...one more time, WorkinSports.com/gameplan.Alright - time to start the countdown…Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp Vice-President of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast.Getting a new boss can be one of the scariest moments of your career. Whether you like your boss or not, you’ve come to know them, their actions are predictable, you know how they will rewact to certain stimuls, what they expect, how they operate. You may not always agree, you may not see eye to eye, but you at least know what’s coming.A new boss is the unknown. They could be great! But they could be awful. There is a feeling out process, you have ot prove yourself all over again. And in truth… most new bosses like to bring in their own people, people they know, that they have a level of familiarity with...and that means their people might be coming in to replace you.When I first left CNN and headed to Fox Sports in Seattle my first two months I kept thinking, I wish I had someone here I knew and trusted. I wish I had one of my people around me to rely on and help me teach and train my new staff the way I expected things. At that time I didn’t consider the fear going through my new staff… they were probably feeling as challenged as I was, wondering how best to work with me, wondering if I was going to start firing people, or replacing them with “my people.” There is anxiety in the building when major change happens.My GM at the time told me “the routine when a new person comes in is you fire an anchor or two anchors and bring in new people to freshen things up, you fire a few producers and bring in your people you trust, and then you bring in a few nw lower level people and give them a chance to grow.”And then he paused...and said “Let’s not do that this time.”My GM liked and trusted the staff in place, he wanted me to help them grow not just remove and replace them, which I appreciated.But this is the norm. New people come in, and the bring their old people with them. Change is a certainty. That is why today’s guest David Plati is even more impressive than his resume. He’s worked under 5 different athletic directors. At no time did an AD come in and say - let’s replace this guy.He’s worked under 9 different head football coaches - at no time did they say “I want to bring in my own person and replace David"Sure, we can list the accomplishments - He’s worked or covered over 2,200 CU sports eventsHas worked 5 BCS National Championship games, all 5 college football playoff title games, 8 Rose Bowls and 2 Fiesta Bowls.In the pro's he has worked 398 Denver Broncos games and has been the Rockies official scorer for 320 games.But at the end of the day, he made himself irreplaceable everyday. People wanted him to stay, demanded that he stay. This is the kind of loyalty and commitment we should all strive for. Here’s the Hall of Famer David Plati…Questions for David Plati,

Networking on Twitter – is it possible? Work in Sports Podcast Jul 15, 2019

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, Vice-President of Content and Engaged learning for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…Before we get into today’s question - which I love -- but I’m a simple man, and love mostly all questions I get.Quick pitch for Wednesday’s episode -- coming up later this week is David Plati, Associate Athletic Director and Sports Information Director at the University of Colorado. That right there is an impressive title and a good reason to listen if you are considering a career in college athletics, but let me give you a little additional perspective on the legend David Plati.Worked with the Buffs for 42 years.Inducted into the CoSIDA Hall of Fame (College Sports Information Directors Association)Has helped hundreds of students become employed full-time in sports information, Media Relations and Public Relations staff in pro and college.Has worked 5 BCS National Championship games, all 5 college football playoff title games, 8 Rose Bowls and 2 Fiesta Bowls.In the pro's he has worked 398 Denver Broncos games and has been the Rockies official scorer for 320 games.This guy knows what it’s like to be in D1 college program… and the Pros! He’s like a walking encyclopedia of knowledge! So excited to have him on, make sure you tune in on Wednesday to that.Now, let’s get to today’s question from Tyler in Missouri. “Hi Brian, I love the new Work in Sports Academy -- I just recently purchased all 4 modules as part of the bundle and I’m just blown away by the information and resources you provide for such a reasonable price. My favorite section so far is the coursework on networking. I am not a natural networker, but your advice is making the process easier for me. One question - you talk a lot about networking on social media, but you primarily focus on LinkedIn...what about Twitter, is it possible to network on Twitter? Thanks for all you do -- Tyler in Missouri.”Thank you, Tyler! For all of you who haven’t heard, what Tyler is mentioning is our new online courses. I’ve created four different online courses as part of our new Work in Sports Academy, which are all geared towards making the participant an expert in getting hired for sports jobs.You can purchase individual courses - or bundle them together for huge savings. Tyler likes the course on Building and Maintaining your Network, and I have to say, I really like that one too. I had to put a lot of deep thought and introspection into it because I am not a natural networker either. I teach the course from the perspective of, everyone needs to network, so how can we make this as painless and productive experience as possible. Oh and if you are interested in the Work in Sports online courses -- check out WorkinSports.com/gameplanTyler makes a good point, I talk about LinkedIn a ton for networking efforts but didn’t put as much emphasis in other social networks. Here's the cool thing about the Work in Sports Academy courses -- once you purchase you have lifetime access, and that includes all updates. So if I decide to add a section on Twitter networking next week, but you bought it last week… no worries you get it too! For life!So let’s talk about this issue. Twitter networking. I’ll admit, I’ve sat back and watched and waited for many of you to show me how you network on twitter. I’ve waited and watched to see some great ideas on how to leverage Twitter… but to date, I haven’t seen it. I’m not scolding you -- but I’ll tell you what - no one has taken the ideas I talk about on LinkedIn, and tried to use tweak and manipulate them a little to fit other platforms. For example - I always talk about networking being based upon finding a common thread, an ice breaker, some common ground, and utilizing that to start building a relationship. That can be a really strong thread, like, we attended the same school, or it can be a more abstract threadlike, I heard you on the Work in Sports podcast. I know from my guests you guys and gals are great about co...

Steve Delsohn: Investigating Sports Careers in PR and Journalism Jul 10, 2019

Steve Delsohn, Founder and President of Delsohn Strategies Public Relations firm and former Investigative Reporter for ESPN's Outside the Lines joins us on the Work in Sports Podcast!Hey It’s Brian --- today on the WorkinSports podcast Steve Delsohn former investigative reporter for ESPN’s Outside the Lines and current owner operator of a sports PR firm representing clients all across the sports landscape… but before Steve, let’s talk about the Work in Sports Academy.Everyone listening to this show is trying to learn things that will help them in their sports career, right? Maybe you’re looking for that first job, maybe you dream of getting hired by ESPN like Steve, or maybe you’re in college trying to find your way through the sports career options. Well, we’ve created a series of online courses that will teach you the strategies and tactics necessary to get hired in sports. You don’t want to just blend in with a bunch of other resumes applying for jobs, you want to stand out, and our courses are there to help. Extremely affordable, each course is just $39 or you can buy all four courses for a massive cost savings. Check it out today - WorkinSports.com/gameplan Alright let’s start the countdown... Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp Vice President of Content and Engaged learning at WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…When I first started in the sports industry back in 1996 as a production assistant at CNN/Sports Illustrated, I was a sports fan. I loved watching games, debating players, arguing strategies and playing as often as I could in my spare time.Sure, I had some skills for the job or else I wouldn’t have been hired, I could edit video and audio, operate a camera and things of that nature. But I lived for the events.I grew up with a subscription to Sports Illustrated, and while my grandmother, who got me the yearly subscription, thought I was really engaging with all the longform storytelling, truth is I was lazy. I’d read the opening 20 pages of short stories based on what happened with the teams I know and loved… and then when it came to the langer articles with meaning, from Frank Deford, Leigh Montville, Tim Layden and Sally Jenkins… I’d skip through and look at the pictures.It wasn’t until March 14th, 2000 -- four years into my career at CNN Sports Illustrated that I truly grasped the power of journalism, reporting and storytelling.Our investigative reporting team toiled for months and month on a story about Bob Knight, the bombastic coach of Indiana University. A man feared for his temper tantrums, but admired for his winning. He was a God to many in Indiana, but not everyone. I won’t rehash the story - I can link to some old articles if you arte interested in reading more - but suffice it to say our reporters blew open a monumental story into events that happened behind the scenes of his empire that would have made your head spin. I’ll tell you, as someone who had nothing to do with the story, but had access to the reporting, there were dozens of horrifying stories that didn’t make the final cut….and that final cut was still a full 30 minute story that left people with their jaw dropped.Bobby Knight was fired shortly after our programming aired.I remember talking to one of the people who worked on it closely, he was being pressed on what it meant to be part of a story that got the great bobby knight fired… and he consistently said - the job of the journalist is to present the story as reported, not to strive or reach for any result, he wasn’t trying to get Bobby Knight fired, he was trying to present the truth. I admired this approach -- this idea that now people know what happens there. You can still decide to go to Indiana, or later Texas Tech and play for knight, but if he strangles you on the sidelines, or does some other horrific thing, you have to accept it because the truth has been presented to you. This was when I first became obsessed with the art and craft of story telling.

Going from Internship to Full-Time Role – Work in Sports Podcast Jul 08, 2019

Going from internship to full-time role, that's the goal! We explain some techniques and strategies to get you there in this weeks episode of the Work In Sports podcast.Hi It’s Brian - before we get into todays’ episode - I want you all to check out our new Work in Sports Academy courses - you all reach out to me daily with questions about your sports career - and I love it, but it also showed me there is a huge demand for sports career advice. You all want to know about subjects like gaining the right experience to impress employers, building your network, mastering your resume, learning how to interview… so we built some incredible online courses full of videos articles, worksheets, cheat sheets and more.Check out workinsports.com/gameplan for more information on all four of our available courses. You can purchase them individually, or as a price chopping bundle of all four.If you like this podcast, know these courses are the best of what I have to offer, deeper and more impactful than anything I’ve created prior. And when you buy, you’ll have lifetime access to them including all new content and concepts I add! Check it out -- workinsports.com/gameplanAlright, let’s start the countdown…Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged Learning for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…I just got back from a weeks vacation, and I have to tell you, please don’t take this the wrong way, but I didn’t think about anything related to my job. I didn’t consider the podcast, my coming guests, questions I should ask, angles I should delve into or anything really. I completely unplugged and it was glorious. Yes, I still peeked at my phone and checked in on sports news, but that’s because this is the industry I love, I want to keep up, I don’t feel obligated to do that. So yes, I checked in on Kawhi and Kemba - and then I went back to being outdoors and out of reach. I was never good at this when I was younger, I never unplugged and it damaged my relationships. I was never present, I was always somewhere else thinking my mental presence was necessary at all moments. That not the subject for today’s podcast, but I just wanted to let you all know, in the future, you won’t remember the extra phone call or the micromanaging of a project, but you will remember the experiences you are fully present for. Years from now my kids will remember sliding down a 60 foot rock into a 55 degree river in the Pisgah National Forest...and so will I. Don’t starve yourself of experiences in the name of grinding out a work life.Alright, preach complete. Today’s questions comes in from Marnie from Mississippi -- “Hi Brian, I love the Work in Sports podcast. I have learned so much. I signed up for the online courses and I am already blown away. The depth and step by step advice you share is just so helpful. I have so much more confidence now I am making the decisions that will change my career![Ok some of you may be thinking - that is self-indulgent of Brian to read a rousing review of his new online courses and you know what I’d say to that… you are 100% right, it is self-indulgent. And I want more of you to purchase the course, so of course I’m going to share when people like it!]Ok back on track -- Marnie’s question - i just landed and internship at an organization i have always wanted to work for. I am so hopeful this turns into a full-time role. I know I am supposed to focus on doing my absolute best in the role first, but how else can i try to turn this experience into a full time role?”Marnie - great question and thanks again for joining on for our online course, and for being such a fan of the podcast. I’m glad you find the courses to be unique and powerful, but just a repeat or overlap.But let’s get to the basics of your question...and then the details:You have targeted this company for a reason and it makes sense you want to work there. That’s part of the strategy of choosing an internship.

Vince Gennaro: NYU Tisch Institute for Global Sport – Work in Sports Podcast Jul 01, 2019

Vince Gennaro, Associate Dean of the NYU Tisch Institute for Global Sport, dishes on baseball, analytics, cool ranch Doritos and the new Masters in Global Sport at NYU on this edition of the Work in Sports podcast!Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, Vice President of Content and Engaged learning at WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…A few months back I interviewed Lewie Pollis, Philadelphia Phillies Lead Quantitative Analyst for Amateur Scouting… and something he shared during that interview has really stuck with me. While in college, he took it upon himself to conduct a research study into evaluating players impact on the collegiate level, and pitched it to various college teams, leagues and conferences in hopes of landing a position.This was his proof of concept, his calling card to the teams to not just say he was a worthy addition, to prove it with action. It is also a leap of faith in himself - he put in a lot of time and effort to do a thorough investigation, but there was no promise of return. He could have invested time and effort creating the doc, and then sending it out to teams, following up with leads, digging for action… and had nothing come of it. But it did. One college program had their interest piqued by what he sent, talked with him and eventually offered him a job… which eventually led to an even better job with the Phillies. All because he went an extra step, a risk.He's not alone, Brian Killingsworth, CMO of the Vegas Golden Knights came right out on our show and said - when you apply for a job include something that makes me take notice. He cited doing research into the value and impact of eSports or pitching a new social media concept. Crafting a research document -- anything extra to help you stand out.This concept sticks with me because we’re always looking for ways to help you differentiate yourself. I was reminded of this again in my research for today’s guest on the podcast, Vince Gennaro, associate dean of NYU’s Tisch School for Global Sport.Back in 1974, Vince was 27 years old - an economic consultant to various industries in addition to working as an economic analyst at the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia. He had his MBA and a passion for baseball. Inspired by veteran right-handed pitcher Catfish Hunter signing a then-lucrative free agent deal with the Yankees - Gennaro decided to analyze if the contract was a real value to the Yankees. He reached far beyond performance metrics, he applied statistics, mathematics, and technology to dig into the overall impact of the player, not just performance, but economics as well -- how many additional tickets would he sell? After this extensive research, Gennaro concluded that Hunter's value to the Yankees that first season was $680,000. This was the beginning of his Player Valuation System, which, in addition to analyzing the value of specific players, shows how winning percentage, promotional days, ticket prices, attendance, and other factors interact and affect the bottom line in the operation of a major league club.Teams took notice of this new methodology of evaluating a player's true value. Since that time Gennaro has consulted with various baseball teams, owned a women’s professional basketball team, written endless columns for outlets like Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, Yahoo Sports, is the president of SABR society for American baseball research, hosts a baseball show on SiriusXM and is the Associate Dean for NYU’s Tisch School for global sport. Not a bad resume. He’s one of the wisest people I’ve ever had the pleasure of interviewing -- he’s Vince Gennaro.Listen in to the Work in Sports podcast with Vince Gennaro to learn more!

Mark Coscarello: Talent Acquisition Manager at the USGA – Work in Sports Podcast Jun 26, 2019

Mark Coscarello, Talent Acquisition Manager for the USGA joins the Work in Sports podcast to discuss how he finds the best talent for the job.Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp Vice President of Content and Engaged Learning for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…There is nothing quote like Sundays in the summer with golf on the TV. I’ll admit I don’t have the time to sit down and watch 4 hours of a tournament every weekend, or for that matter to get out and play, but there is something special about the US open and father’s day. The United States Golf Association’s biggest event of the year, it’s the perfect marriage of fatherly celebration, perfect weather, and the relaxing comfort of a day perfectly tailored for golf fans. But the USGA isn’t just a one trick pony, focused on a singular championship event. They are the governing body of golf in the US and Mexico - in charge of establishing the rules, creating the national handicap system, testing golf equipment for compliance, and conducting 14 championship events and two international team competitions each year.To accomplish these types of yearly goals takes staff, lots of staff, ranging from Data scientists and Senior Directors of Championship Administration to museum librarians and interns. The opportunities are vast at the USGA and they all channel through a talent acquisition team headed by this weeks guest Mark Coscarello. Mark knows better than anyone, an organization thrives based on the strength of their employees. He knows it’s his over-arching goal to attract the best talent to come work for the USGA and then help to establish a culture and environment that will make them want to stay. But I guess I should let him tell you all about that... Here’s Mark Coscarello, Talent Acquisition Manager at the USGAQuestions for Mark Coscarello, Talent Acquisition Manager at the USGA1: You’ve been in talent acquisition for over 20 years and have experience at major institutions like Google, Johnson and Johnson and Pfizer - as you compare those huge operations to your current role in Talent Acquisition for the USGA, what makes sports different from an employment standpoint?2: So many people play golf and are fans of golf -- but we both know that doesn’t necessarily qualify them to work in golf. What is your process for finding people that have the right skills to work in your operation3: You’ve been at the USGA for almost 3 years now, have you observed any patterns of demand? Are there certain roles or positions that are growing in need? 4: Let’s talk about the hiring process in a little more detail, you represent a premiere brand, one that hundreds, likely thousands of people, would love to work for. When you have an opening, what is your process for narrowing the field to a manageable number5: Every student I talk to has an innate fear of being just another resume in a stack of applicants. How does someone catch your eye in the process?** Follow: What about standing out for the wrong reasons? Are there any pet peeves you see on resumes, cover letters or other materials? Things that make you cringe?6: When you are going through the process with a candidate - whether it’s a phone interview or face-to-face - you’ve been doing this a long time, do you work off gut feeling, or a more data-centered process?7: Obviously every situation and every role is different - but as you look back over the people who have been hired during your time in sports, is there a certain trait, skill or aptitude that is consistent across those who become successful?8: what is your take on the right way for someone to follow up with you or someone on your team? This is likely the most common question I get – “I interviewed for a job but haven’t heard anything, what should I do!”…well, Mark, what should they do?9: On your LinkedIn profile you mention one of your tasks is to “create talent ambassadors across the organization” can you explain what that means and how it positively influenc...

Demand Authentic Communication! Work in Sports Podcast Jun 24, 2019

Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp…. Wait for it… Vice President of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast.Not sure that rolls off the tongue yet, I need to work on the new title. I was in such a routine saying director of content for WorkinSports.com ...I could say it in my sleep. We have a lot to talk about today. First what the heck does it mean that engaged learning is on my title now?Well, outside of my work on the podcast I’ve been working in developing online courses as part of our plans to educate our audience on WorkinSports.com. I’ve been developing content for 6 years now, with over 500 blog posts and approaching 200 podcast episodes...but we wanted to ramp things up a bit, and online learning is the way.We’ve just launched our first four courses under our Work in Sports Academy courses are perfectly targeted for college-age students, or people trying to change careers into the sports industry. In these courses I’m not teaching you how to sell tickets, or scout a prospect - I am teaching you the tactics and strategies behind getting hired. Course 1: Gaining the RIGHT experienceCourse 2: Building and Maintaining your NetworkCourse 3: Your Resume, Cover Letter, and Personal brandCourse 4: Interviewing for Jobs and Internships.You can purchase them individually based on your needs… or bundle them as a package and buy all four for a discounted price. I’m pretty pumped about this -- and it is why my title now includes Engaged Learning.Now, on to today’s subject.We need to discuss Authentic Communication -- because I fear I have failed all of you and it’s been bothering me all weekend. So I get this promotion and I update my LinkedIn profile. I’m a LinkedIn addict, this is very normal behavior for an addict. As you all know LinkedIn makes your change in title a news item on your connections notifications pages. So, I have 5,600 ish connection and the onslaught of messages begins.Now, before I get into my rant I want to make something really clear - I appreciate all the well wishes, I really do and I am not scolding people for saying “Congrats on your promotion!”BUT, we need to really think about our actions. Ok, so dialing back a second, after the promotion gets posted on LinkedIn I’ve had 1084 reactions -- that’s messages, likes etc. 1084 people did something related to this notice. There were 4 types of responses:1: An open-ended response2: A customized response3: An autoresponder response4: A simple like of the status update.Let’s break these down a bit and get at the root of their purpose, thoughtfulness, and impact - starting with the open-ended response.This is the best of the best. Someone responded something like “Whoa, this is great news congratulations… so what kind of new responsibilities will you have?”Why is this the best? Because it actually engages your subject in real, authentic communication. Asking a question is the best way to get a thoughtful response, show you actually care about the person and prove you aren’t just blitzing through the networking steps. If you want to build relationships with people, that have depth and meaning, you need to ask more questions about the other person. Get them talking and sharing and explaining. They just got promoted, they are excited! Take advantage of their opportunity to deepen their relationship with you. Out of 1084 people do you know how many people did this? How many people asked me a customized open-ended question? One. Jess Dewell, you are the big winner. Jess asked “Congrats on the promotion! What is the most exciting part of this new role?”This led to an actual real-life conversation between the two of us. That is the goal! Right? Isn’t it? If it isn’t the goal, I’d like someone to explain to me what their goal is.Now, Before I get all bonkers on autoresponders -- I want to say, just barely a step below that is what most of you that listen to this podcast did. Most of you are really kind, smart people,

Greg Amiel: Ottawa Sports And Entertainment Group – Work In Sports Podcast Jun 19, 2019

We're headed north of the border for today's podcast episode with Greg Amiel Community Engagement Coordinator for Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group. Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…I was speaking yesterday to a friend of mine from the University of Florida, sorry all you Florida State fans...cough Jake Kernen…, anyway we were discussing some of the trends he sees in his students. I like to keep up with what’s happening at the student level, the trends the pain points the problems and fears, and the best way for me to do that is to speak with students, and with professors, administrators at the college level. One of the things we discussed was online learning, something that we didn’t have as I came up in the industry. And what’s really cool about online learning, from my friends perspective, is that it opens up possibilities for so many more people to be part of the educational experience. I love that. I felt inspired after hearing that. I think about my college experience, and for me, it was never a doubt, I was going to college. That’s not to say we were rich, we weren’t at all, we were firmly middle class, but college was happening for my brother and I. I was going to pick a school, relocate and live there and be in charge of my own existence and dedication.This is not a reality for the majority of the world. College isn’t a foregone conclusion, it’s a dream, a fantasy, a concept that can’t be taken for granted. Over the multiple years since I graduated, college has become even more cost-prohibitive, which means the education gap, and in turn, the wealth gap, has increased.This is scary. We shouldn’t be a world of have’s and have nots. I’m not going to politicize this, but I do believe opportunity should be more readily available. And before some people get on me, I’m speaking of opportunity, a chance to thrive and grow. Online programs, their growth, and importance, can’t be underscored. These programs when done right, especially at some of the top level institutions who are now investing, open up doors to so many people. Those who need jobs to survive the day to day, those with physical ailments that may make a traditional campus experience difficult, those with complex lives who have uphill climbs but want to better themselves for their future. I choose people for our podcast interviews in executive roles, mid-level managers, and entry-level staff. You know the common thread for all of them -- they have a college education, many in fact have their Masters. They had the opportunity to thrive. Without getting too preachy, and I’m trying really hard to just speak honestly without trying to sermonizing, I realize more than ever I had an opportunity. I never questioned whether or not I’d go to college, I never doubted I’d get a high-level education, and play sports, and have the equipment and new cleats, and someone to drive me to and from practice. I never doubted these things. I was lucky. Not everyone is. Keep that perspective as you walk through your journey, take advantage of the opportunities you get, don’t feel any guilt about them, but you sure as hell better make the most of them. And look around, outside your comfort zone, notice not everyone has it the same way you do, pick someone else up. Help someone else out. Train someone, mentor someone, hire someone. That’s how you change the world. Today’s podcast guest is Greg Amiel, Community Engagement Coordinator for Ottawa Sports and Entertainment group -- owner of the Ottawa REDBLACKS (CFL), Ottawa 67’s (OHL)& Ottawa FURY FC (USL)...which means even just 2 years into his postgraduate sports career, Greg has a ton of experience… Let’s get into it with Greg Amiel…Questions with Greg Amiel, Ottawa Sports and Entertainment GroupFirst off I’d like to say congratulations, you are my first Canadian guest -- which is odd since our CEO and CMO are both Candian,

Your Most Difficult Job Interview Questions and Why They Were Asked Jun 17, 2019

You can figure out how to answer interview questions when you consider why they were asked in the first place. Let's run through some examples on this episode of the Work in Sports podcast!Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp director of content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast.As you hopefully know by now, we have a private Facebook group for this podcast. It has a very inventive name -- we call it - the Work in Sports podcast private group. I know right? Lots of branding meetings and focus groups went into the creation of the name. Quick side story -- this is a new record, I've barely even started and I’m already into a side story -- anyway, I was at the NASSM conference a week or two ago and met with many sports management professors. One was Dr. Karen Boleska, from Husson University, I’ve spoken in her class before and it was nice to meet her first hand. Well, she told me about another podcast she listens to called “How to Be Awesome at Your Job” and she kept discussing what made it great, and all I could think of the whole time was… damn, that’s a much better name for a podcast. I mean outs is brand relevant since we are WorkinSports.com, and it’s clear we’re going to talk about working in sports… but “how to be awesome at your job” podcast is a pretty good hook.Ok back on track -- maybe mine should be called the tangent inside a diversion wrapped in an aside podcast -- anyway the reason I brought up the facebook group for the 10,000 time is because I’m going to do something kind of fun and related to it this beautiful Monday morning - I’m going to use it as the launching point for our discussion.Group member Erin Preuter posted last week:As I prepare for an interview tomorrow I wanted to ask everyone what was the hardest or most unique question you’ve ever been asked during an interview?Well, the group responded and I’m going to highlight some of those responses here and then explain a little about why they may be asking them, and how I may answer them.1: Scott MacDonald -- I was once asked who was my hero and why, and I got kind of emotional talking about my late father, but I feel like it helped humanize me a bit in the interview.2: Jeff Gillis: I was asked who I was.3: Ashley Potts: I prepared for a lot of logistical job questions and then got asked which Game of Thrones character I would be and was totally caught off guard haha.4: William Edward: I was asked what movie or character represented my sales career so far. Caught me off guard!5: Ramon Sanchez How would you organize weekly tasks?6: Kevin Wilson: My question was to describe how you would change the culture, without negatively impacting morale? 7: Before the last filter at my last hiring process, I set my mind telling myself “this job is mine.” The interviewer was an extravagant guy who asked me what I saw first in his office as I crossed the door, then he made me tell him a real story and a false story, and, finally, he said: “imagine I’m an oracle that will answer any question you may have, what would you ask me?” I said: “how far will I go?” He thought for a second and said: “you’ll break into the top.” They hired me over a year ago and now he says he “relies on me blindly.” Today's Sponsors!Hey everyone it’s Brian, we’ve got a really fun podcast episode coming up today, but first let’s talk about the Masters in Global Sport from NYU -- the associate dean of the program is an industry leader, Vince Gennaro, he’s consulted with major league baseball teams, been one of the originals in the world of analytics, and is totally dedicated to the globalization of sport and all that goes into it. I just conducted an interview with Vince for the podcast, and I’ll be honest i was ready to run through a wall… well, metaphorically speaking. He got me fired up, his passion and his intellect for the business was inspiring. I can only imagine what class is like!The MS in Global sport is a 36-credit, 16-month master’s degree.

Andrew Sidney: Houston Rockets Director of Group and Inside Sales Jun 12, 2019

Sometimes finding your fit in the sports industry requires you to figure out what you don't like before you figure out what you do like. Andrew Sidney of the Houston Rockets explains in this weeks Work in Sports podcast.Hi, everybody, I’m Brian Clapp Director of content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast.A few weeks back on our little program I mentioned the idea of having a company first attitude towards job seeking. We all so often look for roles that fit our skill set, which makes sense, and is still a logical way to search, but I also espouse the benefits of looking at the companies that fit you, your personality and your career goals -- even better, when they have a reputation for training and developing staff.Think of it this way -- your fit, early in your career, matters for your overall ceiling. Would David Carr, #1 draft pick of the expansion Houston Texans in the 2002 draft been a more successful player if he hadn’t gone to an expansion team and get 249 times over his first 4 years in the league?Would Tom Brady have been as successful if he hadn’t landed under Bill Belichick and played in one system his entire career?Would Devin Booker be a household name if he wasn’t putting up huge numbers for a terrible team in Phoenix? Your fit matters. Athletes don’t have a choice, you do. I know it’s idealistic when you are first starting out to think you can demand anything, or be selective in your roles. We are all guided by fear and when you are job searching you tend to go wherever someone is interested in you.But, consider for a second, how important culture and role and development and training really are to your future. I started out at CNN/Sports Illustrated and I look at that like I was getting my Masters from the experts in journalism. That was a perfect fit for me and set me up for every success I have had.If I took another offer, at a small station in the midwest, I may have toiled there and never really took off in my career. I may never have developed a profile, or really enhanced my skills.I remember starting at CNN and we had a few weeks of training before we did a damn thing. That was the best possible thing that could have happened to me. It made me comfortable, and it set me up to succeed.I was watching Bar Rescue the other day, yeah I watch some bad TV I’m sure you do too, but anyway, they were talking about national food chains, your Chili’s and Applebee’s and the training they put all of their servers through. The steps of service I think they called it.They take the effort to train their employees so their customers get an expected level of service and come back again and again. What does this have to do with sports jobs?Well, it’s simple, when you begin to isolate organizations you really want to work for, part of your research should be into their training and their culture. How much effort do they put into making their employees the best they can be?Today’s guest Andrew Sidney, Houston Rockets Director of Group and Inside Sales, spent 5 years with the Frisco RoughRiders, double-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers. And as Andrew will tell you, they were dedicated to training staff, teaching them best practices, how to operate, and how to succeed. They set their staff up with apartments in the area, and clearly cared about their development. That is what you are looking for in your first jobs and internships. An organization that sees you as more than a means to an end, an opportunity to solve their problems -- you want to be part of an organization that will help you develop and learn. Take a note out of John Elway's playbook -- the top-rated player in the 1983 draft, Elway was going to be drafted by the woebegone Colts and basically say “no” Forcing a trade to the Broncos.Had he not invested in himself and his future, spurning the Colts for the more established Broncos, who knows if we ever would have known and seen the superstar he became. Value yourself,

Tips for Your Sports Industry Resume – Work in Sports Podcast Jun 10, 2019

How do you craft a resume to stand out in the sports industry? That's easy, listen to this podcast episode.Hey, everybody, I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkInSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast.Coming up later this week on the Pod, Andrew Sidney Houston Rockets Director of Group and Inside Sales… just conducted this interview late last week and it was awesome. Andrew has a cool background, interned with 3 different minor league teams while in college - dabbled in PR, operations, coaching...ended up getting a sales job with the Frisco RoughRiders and loved it, has never looked back and now just 10 years into his career he’s an executive with an NBA team. More on his story coming up on Wednesday...tune in for that. But today...it’s a fan question! I love Mondays, maybe it’s my ego because in these episodes I get to talk a lot more, on the Wednesday's I have to consciously tell myself to shut up and let them talk...but on Monday it's all me, baby!So let’s check the question for today -- it comes in from Bradley in San Diego… Bradley what would you like to know?Hi, Brian, this is Bradley -- I’ve been really focused on your tips for creating great resume lately since I’m not sure mine is up to quality yet. You mentioned the importance of metrics having data in your resume to prove you are capable of making a tangible difference, but what else can you share...any new ideas or concepts that can help us stand out for the right reasons?Bradley, it’s a good question - I admit I don’t do a ton of resume advice for a couple of reasons. 1: It's such a subjective thing -- every person reading your resume is going to have a different style they are looking for, or content they seek, or format. So for me to provide advice that may or may not be right for that scenario freaks me out. I like to give advice that works, and I’m never sure resume advice is all that black and white. That said, there are best practices to follow, standards of operation, that we can lean into and follow. 2: The other reason I don’t do a ton of resume advice is because I get tons of agitated feedback every time I talk resumes. When I talk about including metrics in your resume like “increased twitter followers by 23%” or “implemented a social media campaign that resulted in a 17% increase in revenue” or “created a mentorship program that resulted in 80% less turnover in 1st-year staff”...When I talk about this stuff, which is super powerful, and you should do immediately, I invariably get 100’s of emails saying -- YEAH BUT, how do I do that for my career! My career doesn’t have metrics. And then I spend the next 32 hours writing back to people telling them, yes it is, here's 3 examples...now you do the rest. See I’m a bit crazy and I respond to everyone, and next thing you know I’m in this black hole of responding to people’s resume inquiries and proving them wrong that they can create metrics to measure performance, then I pull what’s left of my hair out. And it’s a viscious cycle. So, Bradley, for you, and for the sake of this podcast, I will venture into the resume waters again. Just don’t hate mail me, people. I would also like to add that in the upcoming release of our online course, The Sports Career Game Plan, brought to you by yours truly and WorkinSports.com - for purchase soon on our site -- I have a whole course module on resumes, cover letters and personal branding. The course is bonkers, if you like this podcast you are in for a treat, and we’re making it super cheap so everyone can get involved. Ok, back on track - let’s talk new resume ideas. And new is relative. Let’s say it’s ideas that make sense and work.1: Start with your purpose. We’re going squishy to start. Nothing black and white here, we’re starting with tone and feeling! If you are somewhat lost and scrambled in your career goals and aspirations -- that will come through in your resume. I’ve read resumes before and thought afterward -- I don’t get this person.

Emily Jaenson: Reno Aces General Manager – Work in Sports Podcast Jun 05, 2019

Listen in to the podcast interview with Emily Jaenson, Reno Aces General Manager to learn more about MiLB, leadership, gender equality and much more!Hey, it’s Brian, coming up today on the show Emily Jaenson General Manager of the Reno Aces Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks but before all that greatness -- let’s talk about the University of Dubuque and their Masters in Sports Management program.I was just at the NASSM conference and got to met one of the sports management professors at the University of Dubuque, Kevin Cattani, very impressive dude. Ok, back to the program details -- 30 credit hour program, that can be completed in one year - they have face-to-face and online options, love that flexibility, and they focus in on, amongst other things, leadership training. This stood out to me their emphasis on leadership because as you know I have a thing for leadership. But seriously, this is how you reach high in your career -- everyone you compete with for jobs will have skills, but not many are leaders. People with only skills may reach Director level roles in their career - those with skills and leadership become SVP’s and CEO’s. The other great part about the University of Dubuque program - lots of opportunities to gain experience - integrated field experience and professional development opportunities.This education can change your career ceiling -- check out dbq.edu/MMSM for more informationNow let’s start the countdown…Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the WorkinSports podcast.Finding the best guests is often about reading and staying up on what’s happening. I scour trade magazines looking for people who are quoted in articles. I look at conferences and search through their speaker lists. I read feature articles to see who is out there changing the industry.I approach it this way for a few reasons -- if they are speaking at a conference that means they have a point of view and are comfortable sharing it. That’s important on a podcast.If they are quoted in articles, again, they are a respected thought leader with a point of view. And if they are featured in articles, well, that speaks for itself… they are interesting and they have a story to share.This week’s guest hits on all three. Emily Jaenson is everywhere and it’s well-deserved. As the highest ranking female in Minor League baseball, she’s garnered much national attention...but you know what I learned, she’s way more than just a novelty title. As the GM of the Reno Aces, the Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, she’s a smart, creative leader who is motivated to make positive changes in her organization. But you know one trait that really stood out to me during this interview we conducted last year. She’s a listener. And that is the first sign of a leader.She ascended to the GM role in May 2018 - mid-season - and instead of saying “we’re going to change how we operate and do things in my vision!” She spent the first season going forward with the previously established plans, listening and learning from her staff. That takes self-confidence. Most new managers in any role, think they HAVE to change things or else they aren’t bringing value. This is misguided. Change for change’s sake isn’t inspiring to a team. Coming in guns blazing trying to shake up the apple cart isn’t leadership, it’s chaos.The best leaders enter with calm confidence, listen, ask questions, learn, observe...and then, make changes when they are sure those changes fit this organization. Not all ideas work in all markets, you can bring cookie cutter ideas into a new location.I personally learned this the hard way. When I was at CNN we had top of the line equipment, we established industry best practices, we ran like a machine (most of the time). When I eventually left CNN and headed to Fox Sports, i had notebooks and notebooks of notes and ideas I wanted to implement immediately.Do you know what that did?

Let’s Talk About Leadership in the Workplace – Work in Sports Podcast Jun 03, 2019

Most people who think they are leaders in the workplace are doing it all wrong. In today's podcast, we're going to break down four important traits of real leaders! (Psst, anyone can be a leader, not just senior executives)Hey, it’s Brian before we get into today’s QA session on leadership - a topic I am very excited about, we want to welcome NYU to the Work in Sports family! The NYU School of Professional Studies Preston Robert Tisch Institute for Global Sport announces the NEW MS in Global Sport, a 36-credit, 16-month master’s degree. The increase in global events and sports development in countries like China, Brazil, and India, the growth of soccer and rugby in the US, the expansion of US sports globally like basketball and baseball -- these are the events changing the landscape of sports. The sports industry is more global than ever, and NYU recognizes that fact with their new Masters in Global Sport.I’ll be honest - looking back I really wish I had done some international study - I’m fascinated by different approaches and techniques in accomplishing goals, and this program will introduce you to so much of that. Designed for busy professionals from around the world, the program is predominantly online and includes four one-week residencies—two in New York City and one each in Tokyo and Madrid. Ooh, Madrid is on my short list of places I really want to go - wonder if they are hiring any adjunct professors. I should probably wonder that in my head rather than on the ad. Gain a comprehensive knowledge of sports business on a global scale.Learn more and Apply TODAY at S-P-S dot N-Y-U dot E-D-U slash Global Sport 1Thanks, NYU -- Now, let’s start the countdownHi, everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…I spent the last few days in New Orleans, Louisiana at the NASSM conference - that’s the North American Society for Sports Management conference, lots of sports management professors from around the globe sharing their research and having little breakout sessions to discuss their findings and open themselves up to questions from their peers. Some really cool stuff - and it was great meeting Kevin Cattani from the University of Dubuque, Karen Boleska from Husson, Sam Todd from the University of South Carolina, who we partnered with on some research into sports job seeker mentality, and a bunch of other professors I had the pleasure of meeting.I was there in part to pitch our new online course focusing on the strategies and tactics of getting hired in the sports industry. And I have to say I’m pretty proud, all of the professors pretty much said ‘this is exactly what we need’You see professors and deans recognize that they are experts in their specific section of the sports industry -- maybe it’s finance, HR, public relations, event management - but they don’t really spend enough time talking about how to get a job once you graduate, and the strategies you need to employ to get hired.That’s what our course teaches. In fact, many colleges are going to start using our course as part of their curriculum moving forward - because we focus on actionable advice in the four pillars of getting hired:Gaining the right experienceBuilding and maintaining your networkMastering your resume cover letter and personal brandAnd Interviewing for jobs and internshipsThis is the stuff no one teaches you-- but is so important!Now, if your school is going to use our course - awesome you are in luck! If not, you individual person dedicated to your craft of working in the sports industry - can buy it direct on our site starting soon. Or -- tell your professors to contact me bclapp@workinsports.com - and I can do a demo with them. If the school signs up you get a highly discounted group rate!If you have questions -- ask, I love talking about what we have created and I’m very excited about it.Ok, let’s get into today’s question on leadership from Alisha in North Carolina:“Hi Brian,

Kenneth Shropshire: A Deeper Understanding of the Sports Industry May 29, 2019

Kenneth Shropshire, CEO of the Global Sports Institute at Arizona State University joins the Work in Sports podcast to discuss the future of our industryHey it’s Brian before we start today's podcast episode with Kenneth Shropshire CEO of the Global Sport Institute … let’s talk about, the master's program at the University of Dubuque!If you’ve been considering getting a masters with a foundation in business, but an emphasis in sports, the Masters in Management - Sports Management at the University of Dubuque could be your perfect mix.I’ve long state my personal preference is for Masters in Sports Management to be rooted in business, since that is the language of our world. Sports is just another big business, but in a much cooler package if you ask me. The University of Dubuque program offers face-to-face or online options and is just a 30-credit hour program, so it can be completed in 1 year! The curriculum is focused on building leaders in the sports world and includes integrated field experience and professional development opportunities. Check out the University of Dubuque's program - visit dbq.edu/mmsm Now let’s start the countdown…Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, Director of Content for WorkInSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcastSometimes we act like sports is settled science. Athletes play games, fans buy tickets and t-shirts, coaches coach, trainers nurture, businesses buy suites and entertain clients -- it’s the circle of sports.But in reality, there is much more than that going on in the business of sports. Sure we all still care about the box score of last nights game, we want to know why Kawhi Leonard is able to do what he does, how Tom Brady seems to defy the laws of aging and understand the rise of the Minnesota Twins… but in all honesty, sometimes that’s the superficial part of the industry. Yes, it’s the most important, without games and achievements and stars there wouldn’t be anything else. But, we should be proud that there is much more to contemplate. The sports product is more than beefcakes running fast and jumping high, there are intricacies and impacts that need to be studied and better understood.But sports is much more than the elite, it’s also the everyday. The athletes that aren’t on TV, still have questions that need answering - like should your child play football with a concussion? What are the chances your child can become a pro athlete? Should you drink Gatorade instead of water?The communities who support teams have questions - like should the public fund a new stadium in their city? And why aren’t more Latina girls participating in sports?These are the types of questions the Global Sport Institute at Arizona State University sets out to solve through research. But this isn’t the type of research that gets passed around from scholar to scholar never making a real impact, it’s the type that is filtered down into the communities and to the people that need them most. One of the massive advantages of the Global Sports Institue is that it works cross-functionally with other departments within Arizona State, from engineering to sociology, to the athletic department and beyond. That’s how they achieve the real depth of knowledge and game-changing research abilities.At the head of this program is Global Sport Institute CEO and this week's guest, Kenneth Shropshire. It’s funny, I’m 44 years old, so I don’t generally refer to people as Mr. or Mrs. that often -- I usually go first name and am comfortable with that. But Kenneth Shropshire is a Mr. Shropshire… he is a commanding presence with a global impact over his 40 years in the sports industry. We’ll get into his impressive background during the interview, but know this… if you hear me call him Kenneth, it was because he asked me to… I kept wanting to call him Mr. Shropshire, out of respect for his worldly accomplishments as they relate to race, college sports, sports agency and so much more… Here he is, Mr. Kenneth Shropshire,

Andrew Howard, NFL Communication Manager – Work In Sports Podcast May 22, 2019

Listen in as Andrew Howard, NFL Communication Manager, joins host Brian Clapp on the Work in Sports podcast to discuss his career and role with the NFL!Hey it’s Brian, today’s Work in Sports podcast episode with Andrew Howard NFL Communication Manager is brought to you by the online master’s degree in sport management at the University of FloridaThe University of Florida program has three in-demand specializations - I love this because you can choose a program that fits you and you know what you are going to get, no surprises, no generic education - at University of Florida you’re going to specialize in Athlete Development, High-Performance Coaching, or Sport Law An optional Graduate Certificate in Sport Event Management focusing on the challenges and opportunities involved in organizing Olympic-level competitions as well as regional events.Also, don’t go thinking that an online program lacks the personal touch, the UF program, GO Gators, offers personalized one on one career coaching services - so you get the benefits of an online coursework and the personal touch of a career coach. For more info on this awesome program and to download a free brochure visit ufsport.orgNow let’s start the countdown...Tune in for Brian's interview with Andrew Howard, NFL Communication Manager!

A Company First Approach to your Sports Job Search – Work in Sports podcast May 20, 2019

Is a company first approach to your job search a better strategy for you? We investigate!Hey it’s Brian, welcome to a Monday edition of the Work in Sports podcast, brought to you this week by the online master’s degree in sport management at the University of FloridaThe University of Florida program has three in-demand specializations - I love this because you can choose a program that fits you and you know what you are going to get, no surprises, no generic education - at University of Florida you’re going to specialize in Athlete Development, High-Performance Coaching, or Sport Law An optional Graduate Certificate in Sport Event Management focusing on the challenges and opportunities involved in organizing Olympic-level competitions as well as regional events.That sounds cool I would definitely get the graduate certificate. See that’s how I approach these programs if you read what they offer and find yourself thinking “that sounds cool” you are on the right track.Also, don't go thinking that an online program lacks the personal touch, the UF program, GO Gators, offers personalized one on one career coaching services - so you get the benefits of online coursework and the personal touch of a career coach. For more info on this awesome program and to download a free brochure visit ufsport.orgNow let’s start the countdown... Hi, everybody, I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the WorkinSports Podcast…Before we get into this week’s question, a quick update on a few things. I am getting very very close to offering up our online course directed to all of you aspiring sports people. I’ve shared a ton of career-focused advice in this podcast platform and our blog, our private Facebook page, and more over the years, but this is incredibly unique.I’ve put all my best stuff together in one online course - there are written articles, downloadable worksheets and checklists, exclusive video segments, audio files, and quizzes and assignments to keep you on track. This course is insane and I’ve put my all into it. The cool thing too -- once you purchase you have lifetime access.Think about that for a second, you take the course you learn so much you get yourself primed and ready for the industry. Let’s say you get your first internship and you review all of my content on nailing your internship...then a year later you are updating your resume and you go back to the course to refresh, 10 years from now you are back in the market for a job and you want to review interviewing techniques and you review that. This course isn’t going to be static, I will constantly update it, and you will have lifetime access to all the information. You’ll be part of a special community dedicated to mastering the art of working in the sports industry.And if you are listening and you are a professor, we have group rates so you could sign up your entire class each semester, like a cooler more important textbook, and they’ll have access for life. Heck, your entire department could use different segments of the course in their curriculum. As one professor told me after I spoke in one of their classes -- this information is life-changing for my students. And in the coming weeks...it’ll be available to all of you. There are 4 modules, *gaining the right experience*building and maintaining your network*Mastering your resume, cover letter, and personal brand*Interviewing for jobs and internshipsHere’s the deal - you’ll be able to buy individual modules for just $39 -- or you can buy all four for $99.And like I said if you are a professor - group rates for your students, it gets even cheaper so let’s talk. And if you are going to be at NASSM the North American Society for Sports Management conference later this month in New Orleans… so will I, so let’s chat face to face!Alright, you can tell I’m pretty fired up about this but let’s transition into today’s question…Hi Brian, this is Madeline from Tennessee - I love all of your advice,

Chris Wojcik: NHL Director of Event Communication and Player Relations May 15, 2019

Learn more about the business of hockey from Chris Wojcik, NHL Director of Event Communication and Player Relations.Hi everyone it’s Brian before we jump into today’s interview with Chris Wojcik, NHL Director of Event Communication and Player Relations let’s talk about today’s sponsor, the University of Florida – Go Gators!The University of Florida offers an online master’s in sports management, and I’ll tell you I have met many people connected to the program, students, alumni, professors – and it’s a top-notch masters program.Their online master’s degree in sport management is flexible and comprehensive. The program is a perfect fit for those looking to have an impact “behind-the-scenes” in sport, exploring critical aspects such as sports analytics, facility operations, and guest relations.And the program is 100% online… and can be completed part-time or full-time – perfect for busy, working people who want to advance in their career with in-depth knowledge and expertise.For more information and to download a free brochure, check out http://ufsport.org/ ---And the Work in Sports podcast is brought to you by WorkinSports.com, the number one job board for the sports industry!We currently have 12,501 active jobs in the sports industry highlighted on our job board. Think about that for a second, I have people telling me every day, it’s so competitive, it’s so hard, I’m not getting noticed.Look, I get all that, but on our site, you are going to get the formula you need for success – career advice and guidance from me, Brian Clapp, 20 year veteran of the sports industry… and every single darn sports job there is in the marketplace. All in one spot!12,500 active jobs right now – that’s crazy.I’m scanning right now in this moment... I see a marketing and Community relations coordinator opening, sports marketing associate for a major university athletic program, an NFL team hiring an associate producer for digital content, assistant athletic director – we have it all.Sign up today and get your sports career going in a direction that will make you happy!If you are a student, we have an incredible deal, just visit workinsports.com/studentsAnd if you are not a student… well, we have a deal for you too check workinsports.com/playoffs – we’re running a crazy 75% promotion right now in the heat of the NBA and Stanley cup playoffs…get in on it!!Alright… let’s start the countdown…----Hey, everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…It seems like forever we have put the big four sports on a pedestal, dominating the US sports market. But let’s be honest, the four have drifted apart. The NFL and NBA have clearly separated from the pack, and major league baseball and the NHL have been struggling to keep up with the top level growth.Not only that, they’ve had a bevy of sports attacking them from behind. Soccer has grown in the US, with the MLS entering it’s 23rd year and adding successful expansion teams each year. Lacrosse and Rugby continue to grow domestically.But the NHL still holds seat #4 in US-based team sports.The ratings for this years Stanley Cup playoffs are the highest they’ve been since 1994, despite the lack of many major market teams. Rangers and Islanders gone… that means no new York market. Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia…gone gone gone.But in Carolina, Colorado, Columbus, Dallas, St. Louis and San Jose each market set local ratings records.The reason for the spike in ratings – drama. We all love drama, and while the first two rounds of the NBA playoffs saw chalk results with best teams sweeping lesser teams. The Stanley Cup playoffs were just the opposite.The first two rounds included 34 one-goal games, 15 overtime contests, and five Game 7s.The Columbus Blue Jackets swept the Eastern Conference #1 seed Tampa Bay Lightning out of the playoffs in the first round. Tampa tied the NHL record for regular season wins and failed to win a single game in the postseason.

It’s Time To Talk About Group Interviews – Work in Sports Podcast May 13, 2019

Group interviews are becoming more and more common in the sports industry. Here's our advice on how to be the stand-out candidate during a group interview.Hey, everyone, it’s Brian before we get into today’s episode on group interviews and how to handle them, let’s talk a little about the Masters in Management focused on Sport Management at the University of Dubuque!Their 30 credit hour program can be completed in just one year, with an option to take classes online or face-to-face – flexibility really matters when pursuing your masters since many of you are working, and want to push to the next level. Having an online option really helps.Another thing that helps is the programs focus on key areas of finance, human resources, operations and strategy as they relate to the global sports marketplace.These are the skills that will serve you well in the business of sports! I always look through the curriculum of masters programs, and look for classes that make me think, “oh that’s valuable”In the University of Dubuque's Master's program, you have the option of taking a course titled Analytics for the Business Environment. Longtime fans of this show will remember that Mailynh Vu Assistant Director of Talent Acquisition for the Cleveland Indians said the greatest growth in the industry as she sees it, is in business analytics.There you have it, people! Get on it…If you are considering your Masters visit www.dbq.edu/MMSMNow, let’s start the countdown…Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…And Kawhi Leonard’s shot is still bouncing on the rim. Dude that was amazing, buzzer beaters are usually that straight in flush moment, to have this one just dance up there on the rim… sorry Philly fans, that was gut-wrenching.As most of you know I live outside of Philly, but am from Boston, so my sports roots are further northeast. All morning driving around town, sports radio is in a crazy funk. They are just all wrecked. I feel ya Philly fans… that is a tough way to go out.I was so locked into that game I didn’t even watch Game of Thrones yet… that’s for tonight, so no spoilers, please!Alright, let’s move on to today’s question… it comes in via our private facebook group from Megan B – if you aren’t a member of the group, join in, search for the Work in Sports Podcast on Facebook, find our group, request to join, answer a question or two just so I know you are legit…and I’ll let you in.Megan asked this question and it’s a good one:Hi Work in Sports Podcast listeners! My name's Megan and I'm a current Sport Management Master's student at Long Beach State and will be finishing my degree this July.I wanted to reach out and ask for tips regarding Group Interviews. I'm in the interview process for an Account Executive position at a PAC 12 University and I have a group interview scheduled this Thursday. This is one of the final stages in the hiring process.Any advice on what to do or not do would be greatly appreciated! This will be my first interview for a full-time position (and first ever group interview) and I really want to knock it out of the park. Thanks in advance for any help!Group interviews!Think about this for a second, you get the opportunity to interview for a job you are all excited – you make sure you are on time your suit looks good, or your dress is perfect. You’ve researched, you’ve prepped yourself to handle one on one situations – you are feeling your best.Then you get led to a conference room and there are 5 other people in there interviewing for the same job at the same time.You are part of a group interview… and it’s awkward.Many times you’ll know in advance, as Megan did as part of her question. But I know employers who spring this on people, and it is the unexpected moment.Let’s get to the why first. You know me that’s my style, I like to explain why something is happening and then get into what you should do about it.So,

Lisa Bregman: Sports Marketing in the NFL – Work in Sports Podcast May 08, 2019

Lisa Bregman, Seattle Seahawks Director of Marketing joins me on the Work in Sports podcast!Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for Workinsports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…Seattle sits in a corner of the country all by itself when it comes to the NFL.The next closest team, the Oakland Raiders, are 812 miles to the south… and they are leaving for Las Vegas soon. Head due east and the next team you hit is in Minnesota…1,674 miles away, head southeast and you’ll eventually hit the Broncos after driving 1,307 miles.To put that in perspective, the Washington Redskins have 16 other NFL franchises within 800 miles.This creates a completely different approach to marketing for the Seahawks. There are no rival fan bases, no competing markets… the Seahawks own the northwest in pro football. They don’t have a situation like the NY Jets having to compete with the NY Giants, or the Redskins having to compete with the Baltimore Ravens for fan bases.But that doesn’t mean it’s easy – being the only game in the region, means it’s also hard to convince people the team is worthy of their time and money. In the ’70s ’80s and '90s the Seahawks were the Jeff Fisher of teams, hovering around 8-8 for three decades.In 1995, in the midst of another, you guessed it 8-8 season a local newspaper ran the headline: In Search Of An Audience Seahawks’ Ticket Sales Hit All-Time Low; One Longtime Fan Couldn’t Give Seats Away.It’s not enough to be the only game in town – you have to create an environment, culture, connection to the community and experience worth taking part in. The Seahawks learned this in the 2000s.I lived in Seattle for 10 years, the fan base is passionate, captive, starved, dedicated to their cause and come out in droves…IF they are nurtured. If they are treated well. If they feel respected and wanted and important.That is the key – the community of sports fans in Seattle is robust and as passionate as any, but as a marketing team in Seattle, you can’t take them for granted just because you are the only team within a thousand miles.You have to work at keeping them!No one knows this better than this week’s guest, Lisa Bregman Director of Marketing for the Seahawks – Lisa has worked in the MLS with the LA Galaxy and the Chicago Fire, she’s worked on the agency side with Wasserman, and she joined the Seahawks a little over a year ago.Her challenge now is to keep the fan base engaged, build that community, make them realize how important they are and to draw their energy into every event throughout the NFL calendar… and it sure doesn’t hurt to have guys like Russell Wilson and Pete Carroll forming a culture of excitement and passion.Here she is, my friend Lisa Bregman with the Seattle Seahawks…Questions for Lisa Bregman, Seattle Seahawks Director of Marketing1: Before we get into your background and role with the Seahawks – we just finished up the NFL draft, and since you and I had been talking about this interview for a while, I kept thinking…man for a marketer with an NFL team the draft has to be a very unique experience where you’re creative juices must be flowing – what was that event like for you?It’s not like you drafted a no-name offensive guard either – you drafted Zeus. I mean DK Metcalf is a beast – there has to be some excitement around that and other players coming to the team?1a: Sports Marketing is one of the more popular fields in the industry – over 25% of the available sports jobs we have on our website are related to marketing -- but it’s an extremely broad term, marketing covers a lot – we’ll get into your high-level experience soon, but to start I want to understand what someone graduating college and trying to break into the industry should expect – if you were hiring marketing staff with the Seahawks what are the entry-level jobs and what kind of role and responsibilities do these roles entail?2: It always feels to me like there is a disconnect between what students learn in college and what ...

Does A Masters Make Me Overqualified for Sports Jobs? Work in Sports Podcast May 06, 2019

Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…Coming up this week – very excited to have Lisa Bregman, Seattle Seahawks Director of Marketing on the show coming up Wednesday. We are set to conduct our interview later this afternoon, and if all goes according to plan, and it should, Lisa will be Wednesday’s guest.Just to show you all I practice what I preach – I met Lisa at the Sports Industry Networking Conference, SINC, about 5 years ago. At that time she was the LA Galaxy’s Manager of Digital and Social Media, and we struck up a conversation. I didn’t have the podcast at the time, so I wasn’t working the angles for guests, it was just a chance to meet someone in the industry who was interesting. We’ve stayed in touch over the years, and just last month I thought – Lisa, of course, she’d be a great guest!I don’t like the word networking… I prefer relationship building, but whatever you call it, it matters and it works. She needed to get the Seahawks approval for the interview, and I’m telling you, if we hadn’t met before and built up a contact, I doubt she would have bothered having to run through the steps of getting PR approval. Busy people in high-pressure roles don’t tend to look for ways to add more to their plate unless it’s worth it.So Lisa on Wednesday… it’ll be awesome, she’s great.Now, a little behind the scenes of the podcast. I never know what I’m going to talk about Monday morning. I really try to shut off work over the weekend, so I’m not brainstorming ideas. I’m not thinking about relevant sports industry questions while I’m at my kid's soccer game… I’m thinking about my kid's soccer game.Not to sound preachy but, be present in your moments people.I start my day Monday morning and look for inspiration – what am I feeling, what are people asking, where is the conversation going.I checked our private facebook group – again if you are not a member of that group what is wrong with you? 1,251 people all focused in on networking and asking sports career focused questions and helping each other out..plus many of our past guests are active in the group, like Chris Valente Director of Sales for Fenway Sports Management, he literally posted something this weekend when group member Shawn Stewart posted a question asking if anyone had heard of SponsorUnited a company he was interviewing with.Think about that a second – you ask “Just had a phone interview for a Virtual Sponsorship Intern position for the LA Chargers with SponsorUnited. Has anyone heard anything about this company? Wish me luck!”And the Director of Sales for Fenway Sports Management responds:“They are revolutionizing the way teams get data on sponsorships. We (The Red Sox) bought their product. Great company”Um, hello! Where the hell else does that happen! So join the group already – search for the Work in Sports podcast in Facebook, answer a few easy questions, and I’ll let you in.If you say something nice about me, I’ll let you in even faster. Flattery works people, don’t think it doesn’t.Anyway, I bring this up, because checking our private facebook group I see this incredible question from Marlon Vigan,“Do you think an advanced degree works against you in getting a job in sports? I already work for teams on a part-time/game day basis, but looking for advancement within. Any suggestions/advice???”This question had 26 comments and clearly sparked some important conversation – so it seems like a great place to start today’s podcast, right?Marlon! My man let’s talk advance degrees.First I want to start with a message for everyone – you have to pursue a master’s with a specific intention. A Master’s, especially in sports, is not a delay tactic. I hear this all the time, “I’m about to graduate, don’t know what I want to do, so I’m going to go get my master’s while I figure it out”BUZZERWrong answer, this does not work in sports.In the business world,

Chelsea Zahn: Tackling Partnership Activation in Sports – Work in Sports Podcast May 01, 2019

What is partnership activation as it applies to the sports industry? Chelsea Zahn, Pittsburgh Steelers Partnership Activation Specialist joins the show to discuss that and much more!Hi, everybody, I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…There is a hunt for fit in the sports industry. Thousands of people each year say to themselves…I want to work in sports. I love sports, I have a passion for sports, I need to make it my career. But they aren’t exactly where or how.That’s where we so often come in, helping to bridge that gap between a job seekers want and a employers need.But let’s take a deeper look on that job seeker side – it isn’t always a smooth process figuring out how to turn a passion, something that really energizes you, into a day-to-day career with earning potential, high ceiling and a dose of reality.I was one of those lost souls through the vast majority of my college career – loved sports – had no idea what to do about that fact. I thought physical therapy for a while… I dabbled in some other ideas… and kept getting back to the big question “What should I do in sports?”I didn’t have anyone to ask back then for advice, there was no Work in Sports podcast, there were no industry experts getting interviewed weekly, there was no LinkedIn where I could reach out and connect with experts in the field. You felt pretty alone in your journey. The vast majority of my professors cared more about how you did in their class, and their own research projects, than the bigger and more important question of “what’s next for you and how do we get you there?”Quick side story, when I first started to consider the idea of working in the media, I had an informational interview with the News Director of a Philadelphia TV station. Couldn’t connect with him on LinkedIn, so I literally reached out with a phone call…and it worked.I was very excited, practiced my questions, and really wanted to make a good impression for hopes it may lead to a job or internship.I remember one of my questions was about the standards he set for their station's news coverage, were there certain things he drew the line on and wouldn’t show, or was everything fair game.He said in no uncertain terms they won’t show body bags on the broadcast, he felt that was unethical and salacious.No joke…that night, feeling like a convert to their station, I watched their news to see this guy and his advice in action! Their first story was a massive car accident… and had at least three body bags in it.I felt rudderless and disheartened at this time. I really felt like nothing was pointing me in the right direction.Obviously, I persevered, and this isn’t all about me, so I’ll wrap up my little story time soapbox with this.I know what it’s like to feel lost, which is why I’m always trying to share my time and effort to help others find their way… in fact, I think I spend an inordinate amount of time trying to find new ways into the industry.One thing our podcast has proven is that there is no one way into the industry, for every Leigh Steinberg sports agency trailblazer, there is a Jennifer Keene, VP of Athlete and Property Marketing for Octagon…a psychology major at Cornell who started out her career at People Magazine in the sales department, or Mike Judge Cleveland Browns Director of Ticket Sales, who started out his career managing a shoe store.Careers are never a straight line, so get that expectation out of your head.BUT, it can be a much easier path if you get some focus and clarity early and can put your attention towards certain goals. Which again, is why we try to introduce you to options.This weeks guest Chelsea Zahn is a part of Steelers Nation. Having worked for her hometown Pittsburgh Steelers since 2014…in…wait for it… Partnership Activation.Some of you may have heard of this role, others not so much. Count me in the latter, I knew the role, had heard it a bunch in conversations with others,

To Apply, or Not to Apply, That is the Sports Career Question – Work in Sports Podcast Apr 29, 2019

Big question today, what does it mean to be qualified for a job and is it appropriate to apply when you aren't a 100% match? Let's dig in!Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…A couple of quick updates before we get into this week's sports career focused question, which is a good one that just came in this morning from Bill Wang. I had a direction I was going to go this morning, then I woke up, checked my inbox, had a great question in there…and called an audible.But before we get to that… coming up on Wednesday is an interview I’m pretty excited about. Chelsea Zahn from the Pittsburgh Steelers. Chelsea works in a side of the industry I knew very little about, and what I found out after interviewing her is that her role is a great side of the business for people to enter and thrive in.She’s in partnership activation – which essentially means, once sponsorship sales team signs on a new corporate sponsor, it is her job to work with them in both a customer service style role and a strategic execution role. She's working with local businesses to keep them happy and fulfilled as part of the Steelers community of sponsors.Very cool role – she explains it better than I can… and a worth listen especially for those still trying to figure out their fit in the industry and learn about options.Last note, then we’ll get to the question…For the last 2 years, multiple times per week, I have been asked to personally consult with people about their sports career. To date I have told people, listen to the podcast and if you have specific questions reach out to me and I’ll help. I love helping, it’s what I do, and that’s why I have this and other forums available to all of you.That said, I’ve had hundreds of people ask for more. So we’re going to deliver more.The team at Work in Sports and I have created an online course – a work at your own speed and pace learning center – where you can learn the strategies and tactics behind all of my best sports career advice. How to gain the RIGHT experience and make sure it matches employer needs, Building and maintaining your network, mastering your resume, cover letter, and personal brand, making sure you nail the interview process…and much more.These are the pillars of getting hired in the industry, but it’s the stuff you never get taught!No one focuses in on this part in their college education, and then people come to me and say “Hey I’m a college graduate… how do I get hired?”This has long frustrated me – people graduate will industry-relevant knowledge, but have no idea how to get a job! So we created this course to help bridge the gap between what colleges and universities teach, and what employers want and need.It’s not about GPA – it is much more than that.No matter where you are in your career, this course will help you…and trust me we’re making it way more affordable than I wanted to.Just being honest – I had a certain price point in mind, and my boss said “hey, let’s make this a little easier for people to afford” and then I said “But boss, this is all my best stuff we can’t just give it away” and then he said “we aren’t going to give it away literally, but kind of.”And then I gave up and said…” you’re the boss”Now it isn’t 100% done yet and ready for market – I’m still putting the paint job on it… but soon. And I wanted you all to hear it from me first.Ok, now let’s get to today’s question from Bill Wang:I am reaching out because I have a question that I think applies to a lot of people when job hunting. Should I still apply to a job if I don't meet all the requirements for it? There are a lot of openings that I think my experience/skills fit most of the requirements, but there are always 1 or 2 that I don't fit and it will deter me from applying because I don't think I am going to land an interview.Bill – great question, and you are right, this question is important to everyone in the job market – what constitutes a m...

Colbe Herr, IMG Academy Baseball Business and Program Manager Apr 24, 2019

IMG Academy is changing the way we consider education in America, training athletes in the classroom and the field at a highly concentrated level. This weeks guest explains how schools like IMG Academy are on the rise. Hi, everybody, I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…For centuries European soccer academies have scouted and hand selected youth players to come to their facility and begin training at an elevated level. This isn’t dad’s coaching their sons and daughters through weekend youth leagues, this is the big time, where unique skill sets are identified and honed at just 7- and 8 years old.These programs aren’t a lottery ticket, where success and patient development is guaranteed, quite the opposite. Players come in every year and if they don’t make the proper advancements, show the right mental toughness, or provide a strong enough glimpse of their athletic ceiling, they are bounced from the program without fanfare. The youth academy of the famed Dutch club Ajax is aptly called De Togkst which means – The Future.The Ajax youth academy is not a boarding school, their players all live within a 35-mile radius of Amsterdam and the academy sends out buses to pick up the youth players halfway through their school day and then tutors them for half the day in academics before hitting the training pitch.Other youth academies in Europe, like IFX Valencia International Soccer Academy in Spain, are boarding schools, a full-time commitment to the players athletic and academic development.This concept of youth identification and then a deep focus on building the athlete within is common in Europe but relatively new in America.IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida is the most successful brand of youth athletic and academic development in the United States. Operating camps and boarding school programs in Football, Tennis, Soccer, Baseball, Basketball, Golf, Lacrosse and Track and Field Cross County.Elite athletes seeking the opportunity to develop under the watchful eye of professional coaches, flock to the gulf coast in hopes of reaching their true potential. Traditional high school settings no longer provide the necessary training and focus, while the IMG Academy model is full of success stories.The baseball program at IMG Academy has been extremely productive, with185 D1 commitments since 200612 National Tournaments won34 Student-athletes earned All-American honors29 Student-athletes selected in MLB First-Year Players Draft30 Alumni have made MLB appearancesNow that is proof of concept.Today’s guest is Colbe Herr Program and Business Manager for the baseball academy at IMG, doing everything to managing the budget and team travel, to event coordination and management – but let’s let him tell you more about it… here is Colbe Herr, Program and Business Manager for baseball at IMG Academy.Questions for Colbe Herr, IMG Academy Baseball Business and Program Manager 1: Before we get into the background and development of young baseball players… let’s start with your background and development. You played baseball at York College in Pennsylvania – when did you figure out you wanted to make baseball your career?2: You graduated 5 years ago, played a little pro ball, did a little coaching, a little scouting…then joined the staff at IMG Academy – how much has being a former student-athlete helped you in your transition to the sports business world?3: IMG Academy is a one-of-a-kind experience in the United States – a full-time boarding school focused on academics and advanced year-round athletic training – personally, what drew you to this particular opportunity?4: Your title is Business and Program Manager for Baseball – what does your day-to-day role consist of?5: From content creation and operation budgets to team travel… you have a lot on your plate – it’s almost like you are an Athletic Director – what part of the role has proven to be the most challenging?

Can You Apply for Multiple Jobs at the Same Organization? Work in Sports Podcast Apr 22, 2019

The Big Question today, can you apply for multiple jobs at the same organization at the same time? Let's dig in.Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…For all of the professors in the audience – and I know you are out there - I’m going to be at NASSM conference in New Orleans for a few days this year. First time at NASSM, so connect with me if you’d like to connect.For those of you that have no idea what I’m talking about – NASSM is the North American Society for Sports Management – which sounds so official. The Society for Sports Management. Well, they have a yearly conference and I’m going.Why am I going – a couple of reasons:1: I speak in a lot of college classrooms about getting hired in the sports industry, and I’d like to meet some of the professors face-to-face.2: Our product WorkinSports.com is an incredible tool for students, not just to find sports jobs, although we are the absolute best at that, but also as a research tool into the industry, so again talking to professors on that.And finally #3: We are creating an online curriculum on the strategies and tactics students and aspiring sports workers need to employ to getting hired in the sports industry. Colleges often do a great job of teaching you the theories and skills… but they don’t focus on 'the how to get hired' stuff. That is where we come in, and I’m telling you, after spending months and months on this… it’s balling.Videos, written word, assignments, podcasts, downloadable worksheets, and checklists… it is so ridiculously thorough and is your key to getting hired.We’ll be doing group sales direct with colleges, and individual sales for anyone via WorkinSports.com… as you can tell I’m super excited about it and if I’ve piqued your interest…connect with me and we can talk more.As for today's sports career focused question… it comes in from Kavolshia Howse – I met Kavolshia at our Sports Career Accelerator event in Atlanta back in September… and she had a question about her job hunt, now she mentions some specific companies in this email, and I’m taking them out but you’ll still get the gist of her questionHi Brian,I hope you are well. I'm reaching out because I need some job-hunting advice. I have an interview coming up for an associate producer role with [a certain network]. However, another network under the same umbrella of companies recently posted an associate producer opening as well. I would like to be considered for both positions but I don't want to jeopardize a potential relationship with the larger company.Do you have any advice for me? Kavo – good question and I’m going to go two angles with this.1: Your example is with a huge organization with many separate business units/branches/bureaus --But 2: Another similar question I get all the time is can I apply to two jobs at the same company at the same time.Let’s start with #2… No, you can’t. If it is the same organization, same building, same HR department, same, same… applying to multiple jobs is a red flag.Applying to two different jobs at the same company at the same time sends the wrong message. It tells the employer, I want any job with your organization, not this particular job, just any job.That is not the message employers want to hear.For example, if the Savannah Bananas have an opening for a Director of Fan Engagement and a Director of Ticket Sales – pick the job you want and are the best fit for, and apply.If during the process it becomes clear you aren’t going to get the job you originally intended – then you can pivot - but only after the message that you aren’t getting this job is clear.Let’s say you are on an interview for the job in Fan Engagement, and after a few rounds they say – hey you’ve done a wonderful job here, but we’re going to move forward with another candidate.Don’t lose that moment!Most people in hiring, unless you’ve been kind of a jerk to them, feel a little guilty and hate the process of tel...

Dr. Amy Giddings: The Evolution of Coaching – Work in Sports podcast Apr 17, 2019

Being a coach means you are always in the public eye, but rarely understood. Dr. Amy Giddings from Temple University joins the Work in Sports podcast this week to discuss the unknown world of being a coach.Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…There is something magical about coaching. From dad’s coaching their daughter’s soccer team (ahem that may be me) to Bill Belichick leading the charge to multiple super bowls… we can all watch, judge, admire or hate the coaches we are surrounded by in our daily sports life.It makes this career unique. No one watches and judges an accountant on their work. The public at large doesn't question the decision making of a mid-level manager at the local insurance company. Coaching at every level is an inherently vulnerable position where you will be umpired by parents, fans and media members on the daily. The first couple of years I started working in the sports industry, in a way, I hated to talk to regular people, in regular industries about sports. It was frustrating. Everyone has an opinion on sports, everyone thinks they are an expert, everyone who watches SportsCenter or listens to some overdramatized debate show has an attitude about their sports knowledge.When people found out I worked in the sports industry, they’d always try to quiz me or throw out some random fact that they knew and I didn’t. It was frustrating as hell.It exasperated me because early in my career I definitely looked down on people, just being honest here. I looked at them and thought…you think you know stuff? I have access to the greatest reporters in the land, I speak with coaches, I hang out with players, NFL MVP Shaun Alexander is on my speed dial! How dare you!But that’s the thing about sports in general, the information is so public, that everyone can be an expert on some level. As I got older, I cared less and less about who is the smartest in the land, but you get my vibe here.Always being tested, questioned, and prodded by armchair experts can be irritating.Coaching is even worse.There are more subtleties and dynamics to coaching than just X’s and O’s and substitution patterns, game plans and rotations – but everyone thinks they are an expert. When I used to sit and chat with coaches who were analysts with our network, you’d be amazed at the depth of knowledge they have and how they seem like savants in their sport.And yet - we all sit in a bar stools judging every move as is we have a vision into the future that they don’t.This isn't to say fans and parents and media can't have opinions or judge the coaches they watch perform - that's part of the gig and every coach knows it - but it does mean sometimes we should all listen more than we judge. Coaching is an art form, a fascinating one at that, which is why I wanted to have Dr. Amy Giddings from Temple University on the show. Her research into the dynamics of coaching is fascinating and represents a chance for us all to listen and learn...Questions for Dr. Amy Giddings, Temple University1: I’m really excited for this conversation because your research and background goes deep into aspects of coaching, not only as a career but as it relates to gender and the needs of today’s athletes… but before we get into that, let’s dive into your background a bit.You went from undergrad at the University of Dayton, right into your Masters at Temple and then your Ph.D. at Temple and now you teach at Temple – did you always know your future was in higher education and why this path?2: I’ve always believed student-athletes make great employees – they are disciplined, competitive, have strong time management – you competed as a student-athlete at the Div 1 level, do you think it helped prepare you for the real world ahead?3: You also had a lot of firsthand experience with coaches, you became a coach yourself, and much of your research in academia is in this direction as well – why the fascinating with...

Zachary Galia: Pittsburgh Steelers Social Media Manager – Work in Sports Podcast Apr 10, 2019

An insiders viewpoint on sports social media with Zachary Galia Pittsburgh Steelers social media managerHi, everybody, I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…More and more in today’s sports world, teams have become their own media outlets.For years those of us in the traditional broadcast media feared a couple of things… the immediacy of information and teams taking things in house.The immediacy of information was a big one. At the sports networks I worked for we could rely on people tuning in at noon, 6 pm and 11 pm to get their in-depth sports information.But that changed so dramatically at the turn of the century. Everyone could get information immediately – news, videos, stats, data – it was all available. Many traditional broadcast networks are still struggling to figure out how they are relevant in this new world order…that has been around for a decade plus, but some of us are slower to adapt than others.The other big fear was teams utilizing their access and turning into their own media provider. Think about it, as a former news director I’d be working angles with the teams to allow us access to players. Everything ran through PR, and half the time they’d say no.We couldn’t get in the locker room, we couldn’t get into the workouts behind the scenes, we couldn’t see players in their natural environment.When we’d do a yearly threat assessment, this was always a big one for me… what if the teams decide to do what we can’t? What if they become their own media source?This is our reality now, and it is incredible for the audience. Information in the moment. Connectivity to the athletes. Behind the scenes looks at the world of the elite athlete. Visuals and moments shared instantaneously.But this doesn’t happen on its own – this new reality is backed by creative people knowing and deciphering what is interesting about what is happening.They are the new agenda setters for our world. They tell us what is important with their team – they inspire us to share, life and engage with their content.They are the gatekeeper to our knowledge - letting us in on a story or holding back on it, deciding this isn’t the right time to explore this angle.The new power operators in the sports information game are the team social media members – like today’s guest Zachary social media manager for the Pittsburgh Steelers…Questions for Zachary Galia Pittsburgh Steelers Social Media Manager1: Before we dig into your role in social media with the Steelers, let’s go back a bit to your beginning.So many people assume you must go to a big, well-known school to make it in major professional sports. You went to Adrian College in Michigan, a small school with just over 1600 students, which is probably smaller than some high schools in the Pittsburgh area – fast forward a few years and you’re the Social Media Manager with one of the biggest brands in sports.Broad question but… how did this happen?2: Before the Steelers you were the Digital Content Coordinator for Michigan International Speedway, managing their social media presence…but you also wrote, produced, shot and edited all videos for YouTube and other social channels.How important is it to have the technical skills to create, not just the creative skills…and how did you learn these techniques?3: In your first race weekend your social media channels reached over 10million users and 121.8 million impressions. That’s some crazy exposure – and a heck of an impression made on your bosses. I can picture the person who hired you giving themselves a high five. Those numbers were second only to the Daytona 500 that NASCAR season.Explain that to me – what was different about your approach than every other race that season…what was it that cut through the noise and reached so many people?4: How much time do you spend, either with the Steelers or when you were with Michigan International Speedway, studying the fans and understanding how to communicate w...

How To Exude Confidence in Your Next Job Interview – Work in Sports Podcast Apr 08, 2019

When you exude confidence in your job interviews, it gives the employer confidence in hiring you. Here's how to do it!Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…The last few weeks we’ve had some incredible guests on the show, if you haven’t listened yet I suggest you go back and give the episodes with Lauren Sisler, SEC Network reporter, and Gloria Nevarez, West Coast Conference commissioner a listen.Great information, and inspirational stories. Coming up this week – Zachary Galia Pittsburgh Steelers Social Media Manager – Zach and I have a very cool conversation on what goes into his day to day experience with the Steelers!For those of you new to this show – welcome! – I love new listeners! On Mondays, I publish an episode going deep on a fan question about their sports career. If you want to submit a question, you can hit me up on LinkedIn, message me on our private facebook group which you can join by searching for the Work in Sports podcast on Facebook and answering a few questions – or you can email me bclapp at Work in Sports dot com.Plenty of options! If your question is read on the show, I’ll give you a free month to our site which is way worth it.ON Wednesdays are our expert interviews – and the cool thing about those, especially if you are a new listener, all of them are just a relevant today as they were the day I published them. I don’t ask questions that are in the moment or directly connected to that day's sports news.We focus on career advice, their journey, how they go their first job, the challenges of their role, what they look for when hiring. So again, if you want to go back and listen to my interview with Leigh Steinberg, or Mailynh Vu talent acquisition manager for the Cleveland Indians, or Mike Judge Inside Sales Manager with the Cleveland Browns, or Shaun Richard Associate Athletic Director for Ohio State – go for it, the information is still on point I promise.One last pitch before the question – we also have a Facebook LIVE session every Thursday at 7:30 pm est from the Work in Sports Facebook page where I answer all of your sports career focused questions LIVE – super fun, I love the interaction, so come join me on Thursdays.Ok, let’s get to today’s question – it comes in from Jack in Nebraska.Hi Brian – love the show, I have learned so much from your programming! I find the Monday editions to be so incredibly informative and I hope this question is good enough to make the cut. Congratulations Jack it is!I feel like my confidence is low going into interviews, I have so many things running through my head that I don’t think I project the best version of myself. In the past, you’ve talked about being self-reflective after an interview and trying to figure out what went wrong – well, for me, I’ve concluded it’s my confidence. Any chance you can help? Jack – first off I am so impressed that you are being self-reflective after an interview, this is so important. Every interview should be a learning experience, but only if you put the work in.After an interview, I’ll ask someone how it went and they’ll say “fine”. I probe, and they have very little to give back. Then they don’t get the job and wonder,” What went wrong?” to which I respond…I don’t know, I wasn’t there.It is on you, the individual, to write things down after an interview… was there a certain question I didn’t handle well, did I mess up the handshake, did I forget to make eye contact, was my energy level low, did I forget to smile and show some enthusiasm?These are all questions you need to ask yourself after an interview – this is self-reflection and no one else can do it for you…that’s why it’s call SELF-reflection.Nice job Jack – just getting to this point where you can self0-reflect and narrow down what’s going wrong for you is awesome – I’m impressed.So now let’s talk confidence.As regular old human beings walking the planet we are drawn to confident people.

Lauren Sisler: SEC Network Sports Reporter – Work in Sports Podcast Apr 03, 2019

Lauren Sisler, sports reporter for the SEC Network, hasn't had an easy road to her award-winning career on camera. She's battled, persevered and thrived through tragedy. This is a story you won't forget. Hi everyone, I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…We all have a public persona, the one we let the world see.Our work personality, our behavior at parties, our disposition in challenging moments, our temperament when dealing with others.These are all part of how we are seen by others.But we are all much more than that. Every one of us is comprised of formative experiences that build our character…but aren’t as apparent or evident to the people around us.While you may think your friends are an open book - sharing with you their dreams, loves and fears – chances are there is more to their story that they are unable or unwilling to share. They may not even realize how formative certain experiences have been.We are all much more than our public persona.We are all forged through our unique experiences and even deeper, our individual interpretation of those experiences I read this quote this morning and was moved by it… it’s from John Milton in Paradise Lost:“The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven.”Perspective matters.To one person an experience makes them stronger and more resolute, to another going through the same thing…it may break them.Today’s guest Lauren Sisler is an award-winning sports reporter for the SEC Network. 2-time Alabama Sportscaster of the Year. Emmy award winner. 2-time Alabama Associated press Best sports anchor.She is a Rockstar in the sports media.But she, like you, is much more than that. She is an amalgamation of events and experience and interpretation.Remember earlier when I said the same experience can break one person, and make another stronger? Lauren Sisler is the embodiment of that. She dealt with unspeakable tragedy early in life that could have, and maybe should have, broken her. But it didn’t.She found a way through it all…and not just through it, beyond it, to a heralded life on the other side.This story is about much more than just being a high-profile sports reporter… yes, we will talk about that, and yes, Lauren will share incredible career advice…but it’s also about the person inside all of us. The unification of events that creates us… and then, what we do choose to do with the experience. We aren’t just the standardized results of our experiences, we have a choice in all of it.At some moment, maybe she can pinpoint it or maybe not, Lauren Sisler decided that she wasn’t going to be defeated by her experiences. She would persevere, and she would thrive. Let’s let her tell it… here’s Lauren Sisler…Questions for Lauren Sisler, SEC Network Reporter1: Before we get into your role now with SEC Network and what that’s like covering such major college events – let’s go back to your beginning and your reasoning for getting into this side of the sports industry – you were a highly recruited gymnastics athlete in High School, with a plethora of options for your college experience. To make it in division 1 sports takes a great deal of discipline, looking back, what did you learn about yourself as you pushed toward college?2: You chose Rutgers and eventually earned a role team captain of the gymnastics team – when during your school experience did you figure out you wanted to make sports a career choice?3: It’s hard being a student-athlete, heck it’s hard being a college student and being far away from home for the first time, but you dealt with something unimaginable your freshman year, the death of both of your parents to prescription drug overdoses within hours of each other.Two years ago you wrote a gut-wrenching first-person view of that day and all that transpired. It’s a hard, but beautiful, read. I know this is a difficult question, but how did you conjure up the strength as a 17-year ...

The Importance of a “Walk On” Attitude For Sports Careers – Work in Sports Podcast Apr 01, 2019

Attitude matters! In this episode, we're explaining the attributes of a "Walk On" attitude - listen in!Hi, everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…Quick March Madness bracket update ---- I still stink at brackets.Now back to the show.I’ve been thinking a lot about attitude lately and its role in our collective definition of success.My daughter just had this 6th-grade field trip to the Pocono’s for a stayover at the Poconos Environmental Education Center… the entire 6th grade and I was one of the chaperones. For those of you without kids, 11-12 years old is a really interesting age. They are starting to develop independence, feeling out their own confidence levels, how they fit in the bigger picture, where their true interests and passions lie, and they aren’t as complacent as they once were – they will challenge you.At this age, you can observe so much, especially when they are all together away from home and under outnumbered supervision. It’s like a petri dish of Group Dynamics. You see the factions, the separation of types, the mean kids, the attitudes, the kids who are lost and still finding their people.You see the formation and foundation of attitude.Attitude matters a ton in life. It forms your perspective and approach to all things in your life. Even at a young age, you can see the kids who have developed with an attitude of entitlement. They should get things because they want things.You can see kids who are gracious, community-focused, natural teambuilders.You can see others who believe they are leaders because they yell the loudest or tell someone else their idea is stupid and take over the dialogue.There are others who work really hard and are curious, embrace others and are welcoming.These are all attitudes. They aren’t cast in stone, these aren’t permanent features of their personality…but they are forming a solid foundation and start to define who this person will be.We all carry that attitude with us every day and in every interaction we have. What do we emit? What is the vibe we give people when we meet them, what is the energy we radiate as we walk through life?Negative, entitled, grumpy attitudes are easy to identify in people and do not speak well to their future.But there are other more subtle attitudes that can be just a negative to someone career arch: those who make assumptions, are self-defeating, always compare themselves to others, who linger in the past, feel like a victim, blame others, and are paralyzed by a fear of failure – these aren’t the mean kids, but they will struggle with attitude through life, just in a different way.This all fits into our question this week from Amanda in Brooklyn:“Hi Brian, love the podcast, you have some incredible guests but I really feel myself draw to the Monday episodes where you get real and raw. Thank you so much for what you do!My question is pretty simple, I’ve had two internships and it’s been an incredible experience for me, in my next internship I want to make sure that I make it an incredible experience for them, and they hopefully want to hire me. Anything you advise to help me stand out for the right reasons?”Amanda, I love the way you put this. It sounds like your first two internships helped you gain experience and likely find some direction for your sports career – that is incredible. And for you to have the perspective that your next one, you need to earn the respect of the employers and focus on impressing them and providing value… is really great.I’ve talked in the past about building your skills and relationships and following up and who to connect with on an internship… so let’s go a different direction. I want to go deeper into the idea of attitude.College athletes really impress me.A vast majority of them have no prospects of playing professional sports for money. They don’t play for that reason, they play because they love the game, the team, the competition,

Gloria Nevarez: Going Beyond Labels – Work in Sports podcast Mar 27, 2019

West Coast Conference commissioner Gloria Nevarez is the first Latina commissioner of a Division 1 conference - but she's much more than that. In this episode of the Work in Sports podcast, we go beyond the labels.Today's Sponsors:To learn more about the Georgetown Master's program, you’re invited to attend an upcoming webinar on Wednesday, April 3, at noon Eastern Time. Visit scs.georgetown.edu/sportswebinar to RSVP.WorkinSports.com! Check out our latest promo connected to March Madness, we call it #JOBMADNESSHi, everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…I’ve never really had a big goal. I know it sounds weird for a guy that shares career advice all the time to share that…but it’s real.I went through college day by day. I had an inkling of what I wanted to do in the sports industry, but I never had some lofty aspiration.I started working at CNN/Sports Illustrated and all my goals were short term. Get this game edited on time, I have a press conference coming up, the show starts in 20 minutes.Maybe every once in a while I’d start to think about being a producer someday…but more often than not, I was living exactly where my feet were on the ground.Looking back, I don’t have a perspective on whether this was good or bad… it just was. I eventually became a producer, and then a news director. But I still never had these high aspirations to own a network, or become a CEO… I always felt I had so much to learn right where I was.Most people will tell you to set goals, write them down, read them, aim high – all the clichés – and they are right. You should. I’m not telling you, you shouldn’t.But you’d be amazed at how many people, how many successful people, don’t really think that way. Most people I speak with in the industry speak of flexibility, being liquid and following opportunity, being versatile and fitting into the roles that need fitting.Most of the people I talk to share their stories of doing whatever needs doing, of emptying trashcans that needed emptying, of changing lightbulbs, of picking up the slack around the office.Most people don’t say – I knew when I was in college that I wanted to be the Chief Marketing Officer of an NHL team.I don’t think people process information that way…no matter how many books, and other podcasts, tell them they should. I believe most people think at most 6 months ahead, not 6-10 years.And you know what, I think that is smart.Getting locked into a career concept can be limiting. Convincing yourself there is only one way to achieve, can make you look the other way when opportunities arise.Today’s guest Gloria Nevarez, Commissioner of the West Coast Conference didn’t set out saying, someday I’ll run this league you’ll see!She took her steps. Undergrad in sports management. Law degree. Compliance officer. Assistant Athletic Director. Associate Commissioner.She worked to gain experience and figure things out along the way. She learned sponsorship, fundraising, negotiating, relationship building and so much more. And you know what, these were all qualifying experiences to become commissioner.At some point along the way, maybe when she was Sr. Associate Athletic Director at the University of Oklahoma or Senior Associate Commissioner at the Pac12 - I’m sure she started to think… maybe I can be a commissioner. But she discovered her path while she was on the path.The point is, stay open, stay flexible, learn a multitude of skills and enjoy the journey… like Gloria Nevarez has… well, I guess I should let her tell you…Questions for Gloria Nevarez, West Coast Conference Commissioner:1: When an event like March Madness comes around and one of your teams is a #1 seed and another qualifies and faces the reigning champion – do you get to sit back like a fan and enjoy…or is it a totally different experience for you?2: Let’s dig a little into your background. You grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area but traveled across the country to atten...

Transitioning from an Internship to a Full-Time Role – Work in Sports Podcast Mar 25, 2019

How do you earn a full-time role after an internship or a seasonal role finishes up? Great topic! Listen in.Hi, everybody, I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…Before we get into today’s topic a few notes…We’re running a March Madness bracket on ESPN.com and anyone who plays in the bracket and beats me gets a free month at WorkinSports.com.Well…right now I’m in 219th place. Seriously…my bosses are unhappy with my decisions. The good news for me is I have 12 remaining teams. I did not have Virginia Tech, Oregon, Florida State or Texas Tech – so the rest of my bracket looks pretty OK.Last year I finished 49th out of 400 plus…so I’m gearing up for a late charge.If you are in the Bracket Challenge, we don’t have a way to contact you directly – so if you end up beating me you can email us at bracket@workinsports.com with the subject I beat Brian.Now, if you are not in the bracket challenge, or just don’t want to wait, you can get a 2-week membership to WorkinSports.com for just $5 right now…this instant.Go to WorkinSports.com/promo/jobmadness to sign up – 2 weeks $5 a great deal.I have to admit, I’m a little sad today. Rob Gronkowski is by far my favorite player in the NFL. I loved watching him play the game. He’s like a superhero out there, bodies bouncing off of him, incredible hands, agility, and ability…and he just had so much fun. You hear him in press conferences and he’s trying to be serious, but kind of snickering through the jokes he has in his head…that are eerily reminiscent of 13 year old boys saying poop and laughing that they got away with it.The guy is like the living embodiment of a yellow lab.Always happy and smiling, he bounds around breaking shit in the house like a big ball of uncontrollable energy…but you can stay mad at him, you just want to hug him and roll around on the ground with him.Sometimes he’s awkward and clunky – but he’s always good hearted and just wants to have some fun.Guy made me laugh, made me cheer, made me envious… I mean who wouldn’t want to be a 6’6” 270 lbs wrecking machine who is also the life of the party.Here’s the thing about joy. That dude had it in spades – and I’m not sure the rest of us are that good at it. I don’t want to go too deep down this tangent today… but he enjoyed his moments. He celebrated his success.I get that it’s harder when you are working paycheck to paycheck – trust me, I get that more than you know – but we, as a working class, don’t stop to celebrate victories enough. We don’t enjoy our success.I ask almost every single one of my industry experts – how do you define success and what does it feel like? Do you celebrate it? Do you enjoy it? Or do you just move on to the next assignment?I tell you, no one has really handled that question all that well. It’s like success is a bad word, like admitting it is akin to complacency.That’s bull. Celebrate your moments. Laugh more. Enjoy the people around you more. Cherish your hard work, and the steps you are taking to get to your next level.Have a little Gronk in you.Alright – today’s question comes in from Joseph McGrath –Joseph asks…“I just completed Week 3 as a merchandise assistant with the Wilmington Blue Rocks. Our home opener is April 4. It is a seasonal role and my position runs through September. When is it appropriate to start asking about a full-time role with the team, and if they don’t have opportunities, when can I start asking for a referral to other teams?”Joseph this is a very good question, one that many people deal with as seasonal and temporary roles are popular in the sports industry, especially in the minor leagues as teams try to preserve budget by hiring under seasonal roles which allows them to be more flexible in paying out benefits etc.Not only that, but every one of you who is working an internship or will work an internship, will face the same issue… when can I start asking about next steps?

Bryan Srabian: A Giant in Sports Digital Media – Work in Sports Podcast Mar 20, 2019

Bryan Srabian is the guy behind the San Francisco Giants digital media and content success story, and he joins us this week on the Work in Sports podcast!Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast.Today's Sponsors:Temple University - Master's in Sports Business!WorkinSports.com #JobMadness promoWorkinSports.com Bracket Challenge -- Beat my bracket, get a free month at WorkinSports.comOver the last decade or so there has been a greater emphasis on culture and environment in the workplace, especially in business but more recently in sports.Not to get all “when I was a young whippersnapper” on you…but when I started my sports career back in 1996, everything was task oriented. Get the job done. Period. My boss didn’t really care about my feelings or how I fit in or whether I felt comfortable taking chances in my role.And I didn’t expect her to. If you messed up that was bad… if you messed up multiple times you’d be labeled as unreliable and never given the fun games to cover, or the next opportunity. That was sports and that was the media… we couldn’t really afford to be wrong.Failure wasn’t seen as a pathway to creativity, it was seen as a pathway to a different career.Around the early 2000s, my wife, then girlfriend, was in the dot com industry where they played ping pong in the office and totally changed the concept of failure…this new wave believed failure was a necessary part of true growth and creativity.This idea of failing as an acceptable result always confused me. She played Half-Life around her office and I sprinted around the newsroom trying to get a story on the air and not miss a deadline.We lived in very different work worlds.But…despite 90% of them going out of business, the dot coms may have been on to something.The sports world has come in this direction as well – there is more concern than ever for happiness, inclusion, cultural fits and more.In fact, the same concept the dot com industry embraced in the early 2000s of failure being a necessary indicator of pushing yourself, finds its way into the sports world modus operandi too as we constantly try to push new boundaries in social media, content creation, branding, advertising, and marketing.We can’t just recycle – we need to push new boundaries, we need to try new things, we need to be free to fail in the spirit of refining and developing.It’s not the same as “do crappy work and it’ll all be ok” – it’s the concept that to be unique means you have to try things and you won’t always hit. I heard someone say the other day – “if you want to see something new, better go to a different planet” implying it’s all been done before. I don’t buy this. I see new often. I see teams and brands and leagues pushing past normalcy daily.And I see failure.I think back and wonder if these things are inextricably linked – was I afraid to fail back in my early career and therefore less impactful? So I now feel more emboldened to fail and am more creative?Hell if I know.But one thing I know about myself is I do like an environment where I’m not self-censoring every move fearful it will result in my downfall. I do like running a group of people and trying to get them to work fearlessly.Not carelessly, we still have to be accurate, we still have to do things the right way and be careful what we say and who we say it about… but the idea of trying without fear makes sense to me.That is the philosophy of today’s guest.I believe wholeheartedly that for a creative person, you could have no better leader and role model than Bryan Srabian San Francisco Giants VP of Digital Media and Brand Development. For 18 years he’s been a fixture with the Giants, and get this he started his career well before the internet, well before social media… and now in my view, he is the kingpin, the OG of the sports social media.He adapted to a changing world, became an expert in a growing field, pushed the Giants to new levels and formulated...

#JOBMADNESS and When You Should Start Applying for Sports Jobs – Work in Sports Podcast Mar 18, 2019

When is the right time to start applying for sports jobs? Good question - let's handle it on this Work in Sports Podcast episode.Hi, everybody, I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…I’d be crazy not to talk tournament this morning. The Monday after Selection Sunday is a very special day in the sports world and should be a national holiday.In the spirit of such a joyous occasion, well that is unless you go to NC State or Clemson and are feeling a little left out, sorry about that, we have two really cool promos going on.Work in Sports Bracket Challenge on ESPN.comWork in Sports #JOBMADNESS Promo - 2 weeks, just $5The first one you have to earn.We’ve created a Bracket Challenge on ESPN – the group name is WorkinSports #JobMadness there are no spaces in WorkinSports, so it’s WorkInSports #JobMadness – I will link to the group in the show notes for this episode, I’ll post it in our private Facebook group and on Twitter…if you still can’t find it…the internet is pretty tricky after all…you can hit me up on LinkedIn.Here’s the deal, I’m going to create a bracket this morning. Zion. And at the end of the tournament. Zion. If you beat my bracket. Zion. You’ll get a free month at WorkinSports.com. Zion.What does that mean for you? – it means full access to 10,264 active sports jobs from thousands and thousands of different sports employers and the ability to apply with ease. Upload your resume and we’ll match you to jobs your skill profile fits. Pretty magical right?Now about beating me in the bracket challenge.Two years ago we did this… and I came in tied for 370th.Last year… oh my, I think it was worse.So you don’t have much to fear. The last time I won a bracket was in 1993 during my freshman year of college. Seriously. I remember it well, I had picked Jason Kidd’s California Golden Bears to upset Grant Hill’s Duke Blue Devils in the 2nd round… and had picked UNC to ultimately defeat Michigan in the Championship.That year I was a baller. This also shows how old I am, since both Jason Kidd and Grant Hill are now well into retirement. This also began my theory that ball dominant guards control the NCAA tournament and top big men can be controlled easier than a top-notch guard. Which has led me to bank on Chris Paul’s Wake Forest Deamon Deacons, Lonzo Balls UCLA Bruins, Penny Hardaway’s Memphis Tigers, Damon Stoudamire’s Arizona Wildcats…hell even Steve Nash’s Santa Clara Broncos I had pegged for upsets…which actually worked out pretty well if you go back through the history books.My point is, my brackets always skew this direction… and it almost always fails me. I’m learning from this that I am hella stubborn. I think it’s time to give up on this theory of ball dominant guards and head to the wing. Hello Zion! Then again…it; also means I probably have overvalued Murray State and their stud in the backcourt Ja Morant.Alright, enough about the bracket --- if you don’t want to wait for the tournament or risk your chances at beating me one on one… We also have a more straightforward approach – get 2 weeks of access to WorkinSports.com for just $5. Now that’s easy.Head over to WorkinSports.com/promo/jobmadness to sign up. 2 weeks. $5 duckets.Alright so let’s continue with the theme.Today’s question comes in from Adriana in New Jersey – I saw this and immediately thought Sopranos…Adriana from New Jersey? I’m guessing there are many Adriana’s in New Jersey about 15-20 years old right now.Anyway – the question from Adriana:Brian, Love the podcast I listen to every episode and take notes, your insight into the industry is a gold mine for me and has given me such confidence and guidance! (Thank you Adriana!)Since we’re in college basketball mode, I wanted to ask about jobs in college sports. I rowed crew while in college and would love to continue working on college athletics. I believe there is nothing quite like it, so many of the athletes play for the love of the game knowin...

Josh Rawitch: Arizona Diamondbacks Sr. VP of Content and Communication Mar 13, 2019

Josh Rawitch, Arizona Diamondbacks Senior VP of Content and Communication joins the Work in Sports podcast!Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…When I have a guest on the show I spend an inordinate amount of time studying them. I’ll be honest, fear drives this obsession…I am so worried I’ll ask a bad question, or miss something important, or not dig deep enough into a subject that I pour over articles, research, social media feeds and more.We all have this, an internal voice that says… do more, dig deeper. I believe this is a voice you have to listen to.I guarantee you feel this as you apply for jobs.You’ll have decision making moments… should I recraft my resume? come up with a new angle for my cover letter? Research who the hiring manager is and connect with them on LinkedIn… or…it’s a really nice day outside, and my friends are playing beach volleyball on the quad…or there is this really cool music festival going on.Then the voice comes in… you know you should go the extra mile right?That’s what happens to me through this process. I can write questions all day long… but if I just sit down and write them from the inner workings of my brain…they’re good, but I know they could be better with more research…so I go back to the lab.It may surprise you to know that I go back and listen to each episode multiple times and critique my interview technique. I try to figure out patterns for what evokes a good answer, how my phrasing could have improved, whether I dig deep enough in the follow-up, or stepped on their words.I listen to other interview style podcasts and see how others perform their tasks… Bill Simmons, Adrian Wojnorowski, Adam Schefter, Peter King – sometimes I like their techniques and pick up a little something, other times I wonder how they made it to the top.But it is all learning, it’s all self-scouting with a goal of improvement.Are you doing this? Are you competing at this level?Please tell me you study your performance after a job interview. I don’t mean clutch your pearls and freak out over the thing you said wrong. I mean really think about what they asked? why did they ask it? what were they driving towards? did you hit the mark with your answer? Will you be better prepared the next time?Maybe if you don’t get a call back on your application – instead you get the dreaded "after careful consideration...we will not be moving forward with your application..." – maybe after receiving that response you should go back and look at the job description again, figure out if your resume hit the mark on what they needed. Determine if your cover letter told them a story of how you can help drive their organization forward.If you weren’t a match – ask yourself WHY!All of this takes work and is humbling. Trust me when I go back and listen to myself on the show, I cringe A LOT. I beat myself up over my questions, I wonder why my voice got so high, I pinch myself for interrupting right when someone was about to go deeper.BUT – I also listen to myself back when I started, and listen to myself now…and see improvement. Not perfection, improvement.This is what you need – to have an attitude of improvement, and that only comes from self-analysis. No one else will do this for you. No one else will take a deeper look into your WHY – the employer or interviewer isn’t going to give you a grade after they are done, and no matter how badly you want them to, they aren’t going to give you a reason why they chose someone else. That’s on you to figure out.Put yourself in the shoes of the employer. Change your perspective and evaluate …YOU.Part of what launched this thought process for me this week was my desire to bring back an old episode…and after listening to it again, the guest was incredible…and I had some major flaws. But that’s OK, that part of growth, and I’m willing to expose that wound because the content from the guest was so top notch.

Does Your Choice of College Determine Your Success? Work in Sports Podcast Mar 11, 2019

Where you choose to go to school is extremely important, but does it determine your career success? We investigate. Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast.I’ll admit March Madness kind of snuck up on me this year. I was trying to book a guest for the show and her publicist said: “She’s at the conference tournament all next week and then on the March madness – can we wait until after that?”Of course, I played it off, sure sure sure, but in my head, I was thinking…wait we’re in March already?Then we sprung forward our clocks last night, so when I got up with my daughter this morning to take her to school it was pitch black… I’m all out of whack.Tangent.I’m a weirdo, so I decided to read a bunch of articles on this history purpose and intention of the daylight savings shift.I’ve always thought that it was related to farming, more daylight hours for the farmers, which if you think about it makes no sense because farmers can regulate their schedule based on available sunlight, not what the clocks say… it’s not like they punch in and punch out, and furthermore, it’s not like changing the time on the clock provides more sunlight… it just hits at a different time of day.Anyway – I’m enjoying this tangent so I’m going to continue. Fact: people are more active in the daylight, which means they spend more money. Adding the hour of daylight to the evening, versus the morning, dramatically increases consumer spending.To tie this into sports – way back in 1986, when even I was only in 6th grade - the golf industry argued that an extra month of daylight savings would increase their revenue by 200-400 million per year – just one month! Adjusted for today’s economy that’s 450 to 900 million for one month of daylight savings!You’ll hear people share that it was a move to reduce energy consumption – the theory being people awake during the time of most daylight would result in fewer lights being turned on etc. …but over time that has been debunked.A Yale economist found that there was actually a 1% increase in energy consumption when Indiana switched to daylight savings time statewide in 2006 - estimating a cost of $9 millionI guess Ben Franklin forgot to include air conditioning in his economic forecasts.How’s that for a tangent this Monday morning! Nothing wrong with being curious about things that aren’t just sports.Alright on to today’s question ---Daniel from New Hampshire –“Hi Brian – big fan of your podcast, I’m a high school junior and our entire athletic department and all of my friends listen as often as we can. I’m starting to narrow the field for my coming college decisions, I want to major in sports management, and pursue a career in Major League Baseball. What suggestions do you have for this process and how I should go about it?”Daniel, great question, in fact, I get this one about once or twice a week, so it feels like a good time to have this conversation again.For all of you who are already in college, or grad school, or out of school – there are parts of this conversation that will be extremely relevant to you as well, so don’t tune out. For those of you with education decisions still ahead of you… buckle up and listen.A little history lesson to start. When I want to college in the early ’90s there was really no such thing as a Sports Management degree. There were business and management courses, but nothing with a focus on sports.In fact, between 1980-2010, the number of undergraduate sports management programs grew from just three in the U.S…. to over 300.I just did some quick research on our sister site DegreesinSports.com and they have over 600 sports-related bachelors and graduate programs.Why the growth?Because these programs are exciting, fun and drew in lots and lots of applicants. More applicants, more revenue.Remember this in life --- follow the money. That is generally going to lead you to the answer you seek whether it’s daylight savings ...

Dior Ginyard: Senior Player Manager, NFLPA – Work in Sports podcast Mar 06, 2019

Dior Ginyard, NFLPA Senior Player Manager joins the Work in Sports podcast! Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast.Imagine for a second you had complete clarity in your life at let’s say 12 years old.You knew what you wanted, you wanted to be a veterinarian. You studied, took classes, interned – worked and worked and worked to refine your craft.It became a big part of you, it defined you.While in high school your friends knew you wanted to be a veterinarian, your teachers knew and helped push you further into your goals.Guidance counselors helped steer you toward the best veterinary schools and you were accepted – because you were focused, dedicated, knew what you wanted and were driven to succeed.You could see how your future was going to play out.But then in a blink things changed. You were in a car accident and lost the use of your right hand, your dominant hand.You wouldn’t be able to perform surgical procedures, examine animals, diagnose issues. It was gone. Your dream of being a veterinarian – poof - all gone.What would you do? Everything you had pushed for, the dominant focus of your life was now physically unachievable.Would you wallow? Get depressed? Question your future?Probably all of those things – I know I would. Recalibrating would be hard. You’d be forced to change in an instant, after spending nearly a decade working toward something that felt like your purpose.How unfair – right? Easy to blame, get angry, lose focus and fall into a trap. Very easy.This week’s guest Dior Ginyard didn’t want to be a veterinarian, he had a very different dream and it was taken from him tragically.He had to change his focus, figure out a new purpose and drive forward with the same intensity he had reserved for his now unattainable dream.Now years later, Dior Ginyard is a Player Manager for the NFLPA and a 2018 Forbes Magazine 30 under 30 award recipient. He took tragedy and turned it into a new, unexpected chapter… but let’s hear the rest from the man himself – here’s Dior Ginyard Player Manager for the NFLPA –

It’s About Relationships People! Work in Sports podcast e161 Mar 04, 2019

Relationships are the gear that turns the engine in everything you do...but not enough people are focused on them, and the repercussions are immense.Hi everybody I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content of WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…Wow, what a week. We’ll get more into the details of what was a crazy last week in a little bit. But first, the normal flow of the Monday shows is pretty simple, I read through the myriad of fan questions that come in either through my LinkedIn, our private facebook group, direct email – however you want to get your questions to me, I listen and I read them all.I pick one out to focus in on that I think will appeal to the greatest number of listeners. So if I don’t read your question that is super specific to your situation, it’s generally because I’m trying to create content that helps everyone. Most of these question I answer personally, just maybe not on the show.The people who send in questions and have them read on the show get a free month at our site WorkinSports.com the number 1 job board for the sports industry for the last two decades.Right now we have near 11,000 active sports jobs – just checking some of the most recent postings –I see a video producer for a regional sports network…Communications coordinator for an NFL team…senior analysts for a popular online sports site…a baseball marketing intern for a sporting goods company who I never realized was based in Chicago… huh, learned something new.Anyway, I wanted to set the stage for what our Monday shows are… because I’m not doing that today.I make an effort to read a lot. Not just sports stuff and not just headlines, politics, news, science, Pulitzer prize winning books about three generations of a Greek-American family in Detroit with a deep family secret…it’s called Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides and it’s incredible storytelling.I think reading makes me a better writer and communicator and introduces me to thoughts and point of views that need considering. So often when I scan through my favorite sports sites, I’m the guy who passes by the UNC-Duke analysis and reads the long-form SI story on Indians pitcher Trevor Bauer.This isn’t come attempt to give myself a pat on the back or sound more important, it’s just trying to give you context for this conversation we’re about to have.I stumbled across a headline this weekend from the Sloan Sports Analytics conference at MIT from the interview Bill Simmons conducted with NBA commissioner Adam Silver – the headline: At Sloan, NBA commissioner Adam Silver talks candidly about players’ mental healthThe subhead is a quote “I think it’s a generational issue”In the last few years you’ve heard Kevin Love and Demar DeRozan speak about their mental health issues and I wonder – what the heck is going on here?Silver shares:“When I meet with them, what surprises me is that they’re truly unhappy, A lot of these young men are generally unhappy.’’ What is at the root of these issues, what are we doing wrong here and what is it about the NBA in particular that is seeing this issue?Is it that they are just more vocal and these problems exist everywhere in sports, or is there something bubbling under the surface of the NBA experience?I’m not naïve, I know people are unhappy, I know depression number are n the rise – one study last year informed that depression is on the rise among Americans from all age groups but is rising fastest among teens and young adults.But maybe I am naïve, because I always thought…sports helped with issues of depression. I had friends growing up and through college who used sports as their escape from the ravages of real life, as their safe haven, their happy place. But now, I’m reading more than ever about sports being a catalyst, not a cure.I got into sports for two main reasons – competition and team. And by team I mean a sense of belonging, of community, of unity. Sure I was driven by my desires to beat the person across from me,

Zac Logsdon: Old Hat Creative Sports Marketing Agency Feb 27, 2019

When you own a sports marketing agency you have to stay up with the changing demographics of your target audience. In this weeks podcast, Zac Logsdon, founder of Old Hat Creative sports marketing agency, and I dig deep into today's sports audience, how to attract them to games, engage and grow with them. This is sports marketing. Thanks to our sponsors for this episode... Temple University's Master's Program!Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…Could you imagine being five years out of college and starting your own sports marketing agency? Forget even being that specific – could you imagine being five years out of college and trying to run anything completely by yourself?I’ll admit, I was totally co-dependent in my 20's. I needed someone else, thank you Sandy Malcolm if you are listening, to steer me, guide me through my career decisions, help me focus and understand the larger business around me.Not Zac Logsdon.This guy – that’s my Jon Gruden impression, how was it? This guy, graduates from University of Oklahoma with a degree in advertising and starts working for a big advertising firm. I’m guessing he missed sports, so he left his big firm after two years and starts heading up the graphic design team for his Alma Maters athletic program.Three years later – eh, I think I can do this myself – let’s start an agency from scratch.Are you insane?I’ve always thought I was a pretty motivated and confident dude, but I would not have had the ability to do what Zac Logsdon has. But then again, starting an agency isn’t the same as owning a successful agency. Many go under in a short time frame… but not Zac’s.Fast forward 17 years and not only is Old Hat Creative still thriving in the sports industry, working with college athletic programs across the country, but he’s also written two books, hosts a podcast and every once in a while…sleeps.Here’s the fun part – in this interview, we aren’t just going down memory lane discussing how he got where he is, sure we’ll do some of that, but primarily we’re talking about the now. Understanding fan behavior, marketing to today’s generation of sports fans, the direction of the sports industry and more…After this podcast is over, if you are anything like me, you’ll probably subscribe to Zac’s podcast Winning is not a strategy, and buy one of his books… I did, and I’m not great at endorsing competing podcasts…it takes a lot for me to tell all of you to listen to someone else so you know I mean it!Here’s Zac Logsdon…Questions for Zac Logsdon, Old Hat Creative Sports Marketing Agency1: Before we get into the finer details of sports marketing, fan behavior and your career, we’ll start with a little more of your personal story – the when and why.When did you figure out you wanted to get into the marketing side of sports… and why did this become your passion and goal?2: You were an advertising major and after graduating from University of Oklahoma started working at one of the largest advertising firms in the region – Ackerman McQueen – how much did this experience at a major firm help form you and your personality in marketing and advertising?3: Pretty quickly you turned that big firm experience into a role with the Oklahoma athletic department as Director of Graphic Design...and then wham, just 5 years after graduating college started your own marketing agency, Old Hat.How often did you cry yourself to sleep in the early days of starting your own agency?4: Getting clients I’d imagine has to be the hard part – what was your approach to getting and growing your client base? And did your Oklahoma connection kick things off?5: Marketing is such a broad term – there’s the creative, the activation, the tracking and conversion, the communication and copy writing side – the list keeps going! In your experience, do you think it’s better for someone to have a specialized focus and talent, or is it smarter to be a jack of all trades?

Do You Have The Discipline to Follow Your Passion? Feb 25, 2019

Passion is great, but it isn't enough. It's time to get your discipline up to speed with your passion.HI everybody I’m Brian Clapp, Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…As you’ve probably guessed by now, I’m a sports junkie as I imagine many of you are. But last night, is a night off from sports and a chance to watch the Oscars.I’ll admit, and this is totally cliché, but my interest in the Oscars was piqued when I found out the Best Supporting Actor nominee Mahershala Ali was a division 1 basketball player at Saint Mary’s. Yes I watched his career highlights, and yes it made me want to see him win, and win he did.I’m not making light of his acting chops, I loved him in Moonlight, like really loved him in that. But I haven’t seen any of the adult movies for this year’s run of Oscar movies. I have three children, 11, 10 and 7, which means I have seen the Incredibles 2 and Ralph Break the Internet…but not Green Book or Bohemian Rhapsody. Quick synopsis of those movies – Incredibles 2 – cute had some funny moments, a little chaotic, but endearing.Ralph Breaks the Internet – Terrible. Seriously Terrible. I’ve never seen a movie work harder in product placement than this. It was basically an advertisement for every internet entity and an inside joke for kids that sit around and play video games all day. The indoor generation – my kids didn’t like it, but maybe that’s because, well, they go outside and they read books – I know, what an elitist snob I am.Anyway, back on track – Mahershala Ali – played college ball at St. Mary’s which is a pretty amazing tie in to what I have going on later today. St. Mary’s plays in the West Coast Conference, and in just a few hours I am interviewing West Coast Conference Commissioner Gloria Nevarez for the podcast.Nevarez is the first Latina commissioner in division 1, first ever. I read a profile on her in the LA Times, reached out to a LinkedIn contact I saw was connected to her, and within about a week had her scheduled for an interview. Thank you Lisa Rodriguez.Obviously I’m selling the fact we have this great interview coming up – and that it’s connected to the Oscars, which is timely – but really lets make a point here. I talk about LinkedIn as an asset to each and every one of you, and I hope by now you are leveraging this tool for your betterment.This is how you build your network and increase your reach in the industry, you find a thread of connection between you and another person of interest and you connect. Lisa Rodriguez and I connected because she once worked with my CEO at the Phoenix Coyotes, she listened to the podcast, liked it and thought – huh, I should connect with this dude.In that time frame her and I have had many conversation – we talked strategy for landing Theo Epstein on the podcast (he’s my white whale, I may close down the show if I ever get him on) we’ve talked industry comings and goings. And then I asked her about Gloria Nevarez and she made it happen.I owe Lisa one. But the bigger point here is, without that tool, LinkedIn, none of this would have happened. There would be no platform for us to converse in a business sense, we would not have seen the interconnectivity in our networks, we would not have been able to discuss challenges we faced, or help each other out or connect with others.I’m not just saying this stuff for something to say, I really believe it, and I use it…and I don’t get paid a dime by Linkedin just to be clear… but if you are listening, I’m open to it.Use the tools you have to build your career in sports.Now let’s get back to the Oscars – that’s the theme of today's show.I’m one of those people that seeks out inspiration – I’ll watch Rocky III for the 70th time to enjoy the training scenes with Rocky and Apollo, I’ll watch Remember the Titans to be reminded of our recent history of bigotry and intolerance, Saving Private Ryan to inspire courage but also the cruelty of war.

Lewie Pollis: The Power of Sports Analytics – Work in Sports podcast e158 Feb 20, 2019

Sports Analytics is all the rage in the sports industry - but what does it really look like to be in research and development? Lewie Pollis, Lead Quantitative Analyst, Amateur Scouting for the Philadelphia Phillies gives us an inside look at the world of sports analytics.Today's sponsors:Temple University Masters in Sports BusinessGeorgetown University Masters in Sports Industry Management Questions for Lewie Pollis, Philadelphia Phillies Lead Quantitative Analyst, Amateur Scouting1: So excited to have a chance to speak with you lewie – research and analytics are all the rage in the sports industry and it’s great to share with our audience details on your role and background – let’s start there, your background – you’re an ivy league guy earning your degree in economics and political science from Brown University -- was a sports career in your focus at this point, or were you headed down a different path?2: I wrote an article a few years back studying the background of all the GM’s in Major League Baseball and it was really interesting to see the trend – more and more top-level executives were being hired with an economics background rather than a guy who spent his entire career sitting in minor league bleachers with a radar gun.Did this come into your thinking as you pursued a less than typical degree for the sports industry?3: Let’s get into the internship you did with the Cleveland Indians while in school – the Indians are a very forward thinking organization, in fact Keith Woolner their principal data scientist is a bit of a legend in the baseball analytics side of the industry. What was this experience like for you to be with a major league team, with a developed and valued staff in analytics… and for your home town team no less?4: During your college years you interned with the Indians and the Reds – it’s hard to get major league internships, and you got two different ones. What was your key to getting these roles – how did they come to fruition?5: You’re at a top university studying some heavy subjects in economics and political science – and then you go intern with two different professional teams – I imagine you’ve been crunching numbers your entire life, but was it different to see how it all works within the context of a major league organization?6: For the last 4 years you’ve been with the Philadelphia Phillies as part of the baseball research and development staff, so you’ve had experience with three different MLB teams. Without naming specifics, does the organizational impact of the analytics department come from the top down and therefore vary from team to team? I’d imagine some teams embrace it more than others and that would affect your impact, right?7: How have the analytical capacities of your department, and the influence your group has, changed or developed over your 4 years with the Phillies?8: You were recently promoted from Analyst, Baseball Research and Development to Lead Quantitative Analyst, Amateur Scouting – let’s start with your former role, break it down for us, what were the major parts of your role in Baseball Research and Development?9: Ok let’s flip to now, sounds like you’re focused in the amateur scouting side – is this role primarily focused on the player evaluation and acquisition via the draft? 10: How much of your role requires you to present the data and make your case to others in the organization? I think many people believe analytics is an introvert’s job, but in my experience talking with people in the industry, you have to able to defend your position and articulate your research…right?11: Our audience is comprised of many people who want to be where you are – what advice would you give someone who has an eye for a career on the analytics section of the industry?For all of Lewie Pollis's answers to these questions about careers in sports analytics, make sure to listen in to the Work in Sports podcast e158!

A Plan to Build Real, Lasting Connections – Work in Sports Podcast e157 Feb 18, 2019

Everyone needs a follow up plan to build relationships. Lucky you, we're sharing ours.Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast.We are brought to you this week by WorkinSports.com – the leading job board for the sports industry. We currently have 10,145 active sports jobs on our website and another 649 internships – that is a lot of opportunity.Let’s play a quick game – I’m going to pick out a keyword – let’s say, communication, I was a communication major in college, so let’s plug that in to the keyword search tool.1,024 results – not bad, I see a VP of marketing for an NBA team, Communications Director for a running shoe company, Publicist for a major sports network.But 1,024 that’s a lot of jobs to sort through… let’s add another filter – I’m going to add just in the Northeast – since I live outside of Philadelphia, this is my area.311 sports jobs with the term communications in them located on the Northeast. Now that’s a manageable list. I see sports radio stations, major sports leagues, teams, colleges, online sites like fanduel, basketball training facilities like Zero gravity – that’s the beauty of our product – we get them all.Not just teams and leagues - smaller agencies, sports radio stations, training facilities, online sites, start-ups. You get the whole sports marketplace on our site. If you are a student – visit workinsports.com/students – and sign up for a 6 month membership for just $30. $5 a month – totally worth it.Let’s get to today’s question…This question comes from Alisha in Texas – Alisha contacted me through LinkedIn, which is a great way to send in your questions. Or you can join our private facebook group by searching the Work in Sports podcast on facebook, answering a few easy questions to prove you are human, and the joining in the conversation. You can post questions there for sure!We also have a podcast@workinsports.com email inbox…but I lost the password, so wait a minute on that one.If you have your questions answered on the show… boom you get a free month at WorkinSports.com – which is an awesome site, but I’ve already made that case.Hi Brian – this is Alisha from Texas and I love your podcast! I’m going to try out your Facebook Live sessions on Thursday night as well – thanks for all you do.Alisha thanks for the reminder – for all of you listening, every Thursday at 7:30pm EST we go LIVE from the Work in Sports facebook page – I discuss a topic on the sports industry, like networking or internships or interviewing… and then opening it up to LIVE audience questions. Lots of fun, come join me.Back to Alisha’s question –I am an extrovert – I am very good at meeting people, and frankly am fearless talking to anyone. But, I am not good at the next steps of following up and building on the relationship. Can you help me create a plan that makes all my efforts to meet people more effective?I am a checklist guy – I use my calendar to schedule out activities, build myself lists, and execute on a consistent, but humanized plan. No communication is automated or formulaic, but the system I create to remind myself to take action is automated.Does that make sense? Because it’s a core principle – every time you speak to someone it has to sound like you and represent you. It can’t be cut and paste, it can’t be a formula you follow. It has to be your voice.BUT, creating an automated system to remind you to do the steps is 100% ok and I recommend it. So here it is, your easily executable networking follow up plan that will help you build and maintain relationships with the people you meet in the sports industry!Within 24 hours of meeting someone you have 3 things you have to do. Listen in to the episode for all the specific tips and tricks!

Social Responsibility in a Changing Sports World – Work in Sports Podcast e156 Feb 13, 2019

The role of corporate social responsibility in sports has taken on a larger profile in the industry, now representing a bigger, more impactful role in sports organizations of all sizes.Learn more about these sports roles from Tiara Brown, Charlotte Hornets Manager of Corporate Social Responsibility.For more information on the Master in Sports Business Leadership program at Seattle University, email their team at MSBL@seattleu.edu or call 206-398-4610 to learn more about how we can help you work in sport. Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for Work in Sports.com and this is the WorkinSports podcast…Corporate Social Responsibility.It’s a big term with a lot of weight, but for a long time Corporate Social Responsibility was a “nice-to-have” part of an organization. A “check the box” procedural decision of large corporations in sports and in business.These massive organizations figured Corporate Social Responsibility, or Community Relations, was a way to feel good about their org, to do good in the community and grab some positive press here and there.Now, times have changed, Corporate Social Responsibility is no longer a separate piece of the business strategy, it is an integral part.It is no longer a division of the organization kept separate from the larger organization plan, it is part and parcel.It is no longer just a desire to do some good, it is an essential part of a business being successful.Why? Why this fundamental change?If you ask me the reason is two-fold – competition, and current events.Even in sports there is competition for the almighty fan dollar. This isn’t the 1980’s where if you are a fan of a certain team you have to go to the game to see them play. There are alternatives to spending money at the arena.There are other sports, you can watch on TV, heck you can even bypass your local team and watch out of market teams in a myriad of ways or you can choose completely different things to invest your money in.Competition is huge… if your team isn’t likable, if it doesn’t have a soul, if it is mired in controversy… people will turn away. Corporate Social Responsibility aims to fix this.. to give a heart and soul to the big business. In addition, current events demand someone keeping an eye on the decision making of the organization and making sure it aligns with the expectations of society. Sexual misconduct, race relations, freedom of speech and countless other issues are in the forefront of our day to day society.Never before has it been more important for sports teams, leagues and organizations to lead in this regard rather than react from behind.This weeks guest, Tiara Brown, Charlotte Hornets Manager of Corporate Social Responsibility sees this all happening first hand. She and her team with the Hornets aim to strengthen the Charlotte community by supporting education, military, hunger and wellness initiatives – and they are doing one heck of a job.Here’s Tiara Brown…Questions for Tiara Brown, Charlotte Hornets Manager of Corporate Social Responsibility1: You attended the University of Louisville and graduated with a degree in Sports Administration – clearly it was your focus to work in the sports industry – where did that love come from?2: You interned in the Louisville athletic department while you were a student – do you think it was helpful to go to a large school with a large athletic department… do you believe this afforded you different opportunities that could help you reach your career goals?3: While in school you also interned with the Charlotte Hornets in Community Relations -- internships with pro teams are very competitive, how did you get the role?4: Was Community Relations something you fell into via the opportunity, or was this always a part of your plan?5: You transitioned from intern to full-time employee, a result I guarantee every single person listening wants to follow – so take yourself back, did you have a certain strategy or approach to your internship that helped ...

Take this Sports Job or Shove It? Work in Sports Podcast e155 Feb 11, 2019

What if you get a job offer but aren't sure it's the right fit? Here are some scenarios to consider when accepting a sports job.If you’re determined to advance your sports career, the Master’s in Sports Industry Management from Georgetown is the answer you’ve been looking for.Georgetown offers a part-time Master's in Sports Industry Management that prepares you to excel in the global sports industry.Ideal for working professionals, the program offers flexible options to take classes online, on campus, or through a combination of both—so you don't have to interrupt your career to earn your degree.This is huge – you can literally keep earning while you learn. Keep your day job while advancing your skill set.You'll leave the program with the communication, business, and leadership strategies that position you for success.To learn more about the program, visit scs.georgetown.edu/workinsports. Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…I have to admit I was kind of bummed yesterday that there was no football. That’s the thing about sports, you go for months keeping up with your team, reading articles, scouring transaction wires, listening to podcasts…and then it’s done.My team won the Super Bowl this year, but the celebration doesn’t last for the fans really… I miss being in season and getting excited or panicked over every moment. I miss the drama of the game.It’s almost like cooking a great meal – you spend 2 hours getting it ready, and then everyone eats in 10-15 minutes. Then you clean up for an hour. The joyous part was so small in perspective.I’m not trying to sound like a selfish, spoiled fan… I’m actually remarking how much fun the season is, and then how sad it can be when it’s over.This will wear off – I’ll transition to NBA and NHL…maybe check some college hoops and get ready for baseball. But I always get a little out of sorts after the end of the football season. Maybe it’s the weather too – it’s nasty here in philly. I’m ready for spring.Before I get into today’s question – did anyone watch the AAF? I know I’m talking about the end of football, and I could have chosen to watch the AAF…but I just couldn’t do it. What about you?Did you try out the new league? Any thoughts?I’d love to hear your take – if you are a member of our private facebook group head over there and let me know if you watched any of the AAF games and what you thought. If you aren’t a member, JOIN! Head over to facebook, type in the Work in Sports podcast in the search bar, answer a few quick questions and join in the group.Not only are there great discussions on sports careers, but there are also tons of people looking to network and learn from each other – including many of our expert guests!Speaking of which, Wednesdays Work in Sports podcast will feature Tiara Brown, Charlotte Hornets Manager of Corporate Social Responsibility – such a growing and important sector of the sports industry, Tiara shares a ton of her experience in working with the community in Charlotte.Alright let’s get into today’s question --- this is a subject I want to expand upon after it was brought up during our Facebook Live session on Thursday at 7:30pm EST. For those of you that haven’t joined the LIVE yet you really should.I pick a teachable theme each week – so we’ve covered topics like how to network on social media, mastering your cover letter, and leveraging LinkedIn… I talk about that subject in a very actionable way for the first 20-30 minutes… then I open up the floor to everyone in attendance – the questions fly in and I try to handle them all. They can expand on the theme, or they can be in a totally different direction. They can be general advice on something like interning, or they could be very specific to you and your needs.It is all fair game --- and it is a lot of fun. Again, it happens every single Thursday at 7:30pm EST on the Work in Sports facebook page – not the podcast group – that’s...

Tripp Keister: Player Development in Professional Sports Feb 06, 2019

Tripp Keister is the winningest manager in Potomac Nationals history, but he doesn't care about that, what he cares about is player development.Hi everybody I’m Brian Clapp, Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…Since the day we started this podcast I have had fans ask repeatedly – please get someone in player development.This has been one of my big failures to date – I’ve struck out a ton. I’ve likely requested interviews with 30 different people in player development, which resulted in 29 very polite no thank you’s.Dior Ginyard, Senior Player Manager for the NFLPA was my one success, and if you ask me one of our best interviews to date, primarily because player development is a very interesting subject. Helping elite athletes develop as people, serving them so they can be the best version of themselves on campus, or in the minors, or in the big time.As you likely have noticed I’m a little obsessed with the development side of people in general. That path from student to professional is fascinating to me – the steps people take to find their true calling, and to master their art form. The influencers who have guided them, the tough love that drove them, the micro decisions that have resulted in massive change.All of this fascinates me, which is why I, like you, wanted to have more guests in player development.This weeks guest, Tripp Keister, is the single A manager of the Potomac Nationals. He’s the winningest manager in Potomac Nationals history…but you know what it says on his LinkedIn account: that he works in player development.Not that he’s a master of double switches and pitch counts, but that he’s in the development of the young men that come through his dugout.And they all do.As the manager of the Washington National High A team, most of not all their top draft picks and prospects start with Tripp.This again fascinates me.Think about this for a second, Tripp is managing a bunch of 18 year olds embarking on their future, not just on the field but often in their first times away from home, their first time having to manage their own lives!This makes me wonder – how is that any different than Mike Judge managing the inside sales staff of the Cleveland Browns?Is it the same? Is management, management? Is motivation and technique and evaluation and discipline the same whether you are developing high powered athletes or entry level employees?I found my conversation with Tripp fascinating, and his overall approach to developing young men into really good, productive people. Success is different for everyone, some will reach the majors, some won’t, but I think they’ll all look back and remember the influence of Tripp Keister.Let’s get into it – here’s Tripp KeisterQuestions for Tripp Keister, Potomac Nationals Manager and Player Development1: Before we get into your role in player development and managing in the Nationals farm system – let’s talk a little about you and your background – you played college ball at the University of Delaware, you were a standout player, but I’m curious the mindset of a college athlete – while in school were you focused on being a player in the majors, or did you start to consider your post-playing days career?2: You get drafted by the Mets in the 1992 amateur draft – the vast majority of us will never know that feeling – what was that like being chosen to continue your career as a pro?3: You played in the 341 games in the minors – what kind of life lessons did you pull from this experience?4: I have to imagine the moment you realize you aren’t going to go any further in your playing career is tough mentally – how did you deal with this change and pivot to a new focus and career?5: You jumped into coaching at University of South Carolina after your final season with the Binghampton Mets – and then became an amateur scout with the Padres. We have many people in our audience who dream about becoming a scout – so tell us,

Going Beyond the Basics of Sports Internships – Work in Sports podcast e153 Feb 04, 2019

Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…Apparently I am one of the few people in the world actually quite satisfied with last night’s Super Bowl – yes I am from Boston, life long Patriots fan, and yes I enjoyed last nights game.I don’t feel bad about this – people want me to feel bad – heck my wife was miserable that the Patriots were winning again. But I remember as a kid struggling though 2-14 seasons, going to games only to be cold and miserable for no benefit… but still cheering on the squad.I know no one wants to hear this today, but I was thinking last night when the Yankees have had their dominant runs, and yes I hated that, it was different because they could just outspend people. My hometown Red Sox have done the same… baseball is different, have money can win.In basketball, 12 man rosters – one superstar can change your entire team. Football is different 53 dudes. Injuries. Free agency. Salary caps. Draft position.This run is incredible – developing a team without the benefit of top 10 picks. And there is the most important word – team. Somehow, someway, they work and perform better as a team than I’ve ever seen in my lifetime.Tell me before the game that the Pats get held to 13 points and Brady looks “meh” – I would have said Rams win 30-13. But the team survived, the team performed, the team was more important. There is something very inspiring in that even if you don’t like the Pats.Alright – before we get to today’s question – this Wednesday on our podcast – Tripp Keister – Single A manager of the Potomac Nationals – he’s the winningest manager in Potomac Nationals history, but you know what is really cool – he considers himself in player development.What blew me away from this interview, and I’ll get into this in more detail on Wednesday, was how you assume things work differently in professional team sports. They are managing elite athletes, and that has to be a different approach or process than managing recent college graduates, right?Well, you’d be amazed at how similar they are. As I spoke with Tripp and peppered him with questions, it became clear that the principles of managing people and getting the best out of them and setting them up for success – is very similar whether it’s an inside sales staff or a bunch of baseball prospects.Pretty amazing stuff – make sure to tune in for that on Wednesday.Also, I’ll be back with Facebook Live on Thursday night at 7:30pm EST from the Work in Sports facebook page. I lost my voice and had to cancel last Thursdays event, but I’m back this week. I promise. So if you have questions about your sports career, come on and hang out for our live session and get tons of great advice.Alright – today’s question comes from Linette in Georgia – hello Linette!Hi Brian – I’m a college junior who has been following the advice you share on your podcast religiously. [thank you linette!]I’m in the midst of another internship cycle, and I’ve followed your advice to date. I’ve done an internship with a larger organization, which taught me so much about how things should be done, and I did an internship with a smaller organization, which allowed me to do so much. I feel very confident right now and excited about joining the industry when I graduate.But I still have another year and a half of school – and I want to get even more experience on my resume, what do you suggest?!Linette – this is fun, because when you finish the baseline expectations, the foundational elements of your plan, then you can get creative and look for new ways to enhance yourself. I have 45 ideas I want to share here on how you can push yourself to really pack in your resume before you graduate.1: Self-auditFirst things first – you need to do a self-audit. It is fantastic that you are getting experiences, bulking up your resume and following our internship strategy - but now you need to make sure you have the right skills in your tool belt.

Lee De Leon: The Business of College Sports – Work in Sports Podcast e152 Jan 30, 2019

Lee De Leon, Purdue University Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director and Assistant Vice President of Development joins the Work in Sports to discuss working in the big business of college sports!For more information on the the Master in Sport Business Leadership program at Seattle University email them to receive more information at MSBL@seattleu.edu or call 206-398-4610 to learn more about how they can help you work in sport and follow your passion. Now on with the show...Hi everybody I’m Brian Clapp, Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…Big thanks to Seattle University – our first sponsor for the work in sports podcast and a really great program.But let’s jump into today.So who do you want to be?Some of you listening may have that figured out, you have a vision for yourself and can see how your future in the sports industry will develop. Others the picture may be a little foggy you have some rough ideas and are working toward clarity, or maybe you have no clue, you just know your future is connected to sports.And then after all that work figuring our your goal – you still have to figure out how to get there!Sounds daunting right? Well, it doesn’t have to be.You have tools at your disposal, free tools, that you probably aren’t using to their fullest.Let’s run through an example – let’s say I had it in my head that I wanted to be a sports reporter on TV. Awesome, I have my goal – that’s often the hardest part.Now, I can, with ease, go through the LinkedIn profiles of 20 sports anchors. I can see where they went to school, what they studied, where they found their first job, how long they took before their next job, where the went next, what awards they’ve won and how they grew.I can go on YouTube and watch videos of them doing their job, maybe even find their demo reel.I can do a simple google search on their name and read their professional bio and learn even more.From this FREE information, I can create a step by step plan for myself to achieve my goal.And this isn’t just for sports reporters. If you wanted to work in analytics, or player development, or public relations, or become an athletic director – the information is out there, if you are curious and creative in the way you search and discover.This isn’t just theory – this is something highly successful people do every single day.This week’s guest is living proof. Lee De Leon is Purdue University – hold tight this is a long title – Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director and Assistant Vice President of Development.Lee decided long ago that he wanted to be a big 5 athletic director, so he studied the path of those who came before him.He looked right at the career arc of the big 5 athletic directors and identified the steps he needed to take to reach his end goal…and it’s worked. Lee has earned his masters, and worked within the athletic department at LSU, University of Houston, University of Arizona, University of New Mexico, Abilene Christion and now, Purdue. He’s closer now that ever to reaching his goal, and after this conversation I’m convinced we’ll be reading a press release announcing him as a major college AD soon.There is a lot to take away from this interview, so let’s get to it – here’s Lee De Leon, Purdue Universities Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director and Assistant Vice President of Development phew I did it.Questions for Lee De Leon, Purdue University1: Before we get into your roles in major college athletics, let’s go back to your days in college -- you completed your undergrad in business with an emphasis in marketing at Notre Dame and went right into you masters in sports management at Texas A&M. When and why did you figure out you wanted to focus on a career in sports, rather than a straight business role elsewhere?2: What about the decision to get your Masters, it seems like in college athletics it is more of an expectation to have your masters than maybe other fields in sports,

Stuck in a Rut? Not Sure What Career Choices to Make? Listen in. Jan 28, 2019

Hi everybody I’m Brian Clapp, Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast..I want to say a quick thank you to all of the people who have been coming to our Facebook LIVE sessions every Thursday night at 7:30 EST from the Work in Sports facebook page. The sessions have been so much fun, I start out with a theme something I want to teach, and then open it up for audience questions.Last week the subject was the 5 people you need in your professional network – which sparked a lot of great conversation. If you missed the live you can check out the replay, either on the Work in Sports Facebook page, or on our blog WorkinSports.com/blog. If you have questions about your career, our facebook live sessions are just another way we are trying to help you!At WorkinSports.com we have over 10,000 available sports jobs all across the nation…but we also provide so many free tools to help you be the best you. Our Facebook Live sessions, this podcast, tons of articles and videos… we’re working hard for you.Friendly reminder that if you are a student, we have a pretty incredible deal for you. 6 month membership, full access to all of our sports jobs, for just $30. That’s pretty amazing $5 month for access to thousands of jobs across the country from employers big and small.Visit WorkinSports.com/students to sign up!Now let’s get into today’s fan question…I’m actually stealing this from a classroom session I did last week at Lindenwood University. Thanks to Dr. Daniel Sweeney for inviting me into their classroom for a live QA session.This was the hardest question I got all day. I’m paraphrasing since I didn’t write it down in the moment.“I’m a junior and for the last three years I’ve been trying to find out what interests me and what I want to do. I took this Intro to sports management course hoping this could be it, but I don’t think it is. I feel lost. Do you have any advice for me?”I’d like to add in, I was at my local coffee shop on Saturday morning and since I frequent the place I know most of the staff. One of the women working, said almost the exact same thing to me as the student above. I feel lost, I don’t know what I want to do with my life… and she looked to the heavens as if someone in the attic was going to scream down – “you should be an accountant!”The point of all this is simple – so many people feel lost when trying to define their career and give it a label. Even if you’ve deduced you want to work in sports, which I fully endorse, you might have no clue what you want to do inside of the vast sports industry.Just to set reasonable expectations here, I will not be able to tell you exactly what you should do with your life. BUT, I think in this conversation I can help give you some steps to take, and take some of the pressure off of you. So let’s talk about it, and all this applies to anyone, not just sports people.1: Your career is not a trap.I find the biggest problem facing people in the career decision making process is not excitement or anticipation of making a great choice, but rather fear of making the wrong choice.The people that struggle to commit have it their head that a wrong decision will doom them to an unhappy and unfulfilled life.Take a deep breath people. This pressure you are putting on yourself is NOT helping you.Here are the facts, that person next to you who says they know exactly what they want to do with their life… will likely change careers 5-7 times over their lifetime. That’s the data. People change careers between 5-7 times over their lifetime.This is not a one-time, set it and forget it, decision.You are judging yourself against other people, thinking they have it all figured out, and that mounts the pressure within. The truth is, they don’t have it figured out anymore than you do. They think they do, but they will likely go down one path, and then change to another..and another.Take the pressure off yourself! Your career is not something you start as soon as you f...

Vincent Pierson: Minor League Baseball, Director of Diversity and Inclusion Jan 23, 2019

It's one of the hottest topics in all of sports; Diversity and Inclusion. In this episode of the Work in Sports podcast host Brian Clapp welcomes Vincent Pierson, Minor League Baseball Director of Diversity and Inclusion for an insightful conversation on equality in our industry. Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…People tune into sports as an escape. Their day to day lives hold stress – bills to pay, meetings to attend, promotions to fight for, sickness, relationships – all stressful endeavors.Sports, either playing or watching, in theory, is a release, a chance to tune out the external stressors and enjoy an art form not on canvas with oils and acrylics, but on turf with muscles and mind power.My career has embodied this to a tee. I thought about working in hard news, but the constant stress of politics and death and fires and traffic and tragedy and peril – was too much for me. Sports was light. A passion play that I could engage my mind into the strategy, but stay loose and separate from the constant constriction of life.But this is a naïve viewpoint, because sports isn’t separate from society, quite the opposite. Sports is a microcosm for society, mirroring the way it operates and often dealing with large-scale issues before they become large scale. Call sports a precursor to global events, almost a trial society where issues are played out int real time, then graduated to the society at large.The sports world is complete with societies conflicts, assets and defects.Our escape world is not bereft of greed, corruption, inequality or entitlement. Our personal utopia isn’t all upside, it’s flawed and broken just like the rest of the world.In sports we deal with real life issues like Ray Rice and Kareem Hunt’s issues with abuse, Tonya Harding conspiring to assaulting a competitor, Pete Rose gambling. We deal with people ruined by drugs or alcohol like Roy Tarpley, Josh Gordon, Mickey Mantle and Lance ArmstrongWe talk about social justice issues in the context of Colin Kaepernick, but the use of sports as a platform for social justice started decades ago.Why does sports act as a microcosm of our world? Because it is the ultimate meritocracy.Elite athletes are put into position to thrive based purely on their skills and ability, not their color or gender. If they stink they get cut, if they thrive and achieve and lead they get signed to massive contracts.When you have a meritocracy it almost forces diversity, because different people in different sports succeed in different ways. There is *some* balance.Alas, not all is rosy. The workplace in sports is just like the workplace in every other business in the world – there are struggles to enforce diversity and inclusion. Teams have had massive problems with these tenets. Google stories on the Dallas Mavericks and Atlanta Hawks and your jaw could drop – they are far from the only two.This issue is hot. It’s important, and it deserves constant conversation and more importantly action. There are leaders in the field of Diversity and Inclusion as it relates to sports, none more impressive that today’s guest – Vincent Pierson, Director of Diversity and Inclusion for all of Minor League Baseball. Let’s get to it – here’s Vincent Pierson.Questions for Vincent Pierson, Minor League Baseball Director of Diversity of Inclusion1: Before we get into the larger and extremely important issue of diversity and inclusion in sports, let’s talk a little about you. For undergrad you attended Virginia State, graduating in 2011 – at this point did you have intention to work in sports or was that something that developed over your college experience?2: You have a Masters from Central Florida – how much did getting that extra layer of education help open doors for you in your career?3: While getting your Masters you were a graduate assistant in the Institute for Diversity and Ethics at UCF – what was that experience lik...

The Research You Should Conduct for Each Job Interview – Work in Sports Podcast e149 Jan 21, 2019

Wondering what kind of research you should conduct leading up to a job interview? In this Work in Sports podcast episode host Brian Clapp shares seven types of research you should complete for every job interview. Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast.Before I get into today’s fan question – and it’s a good one – I want to talk about our expert interview coming up this Wednesday. Please allow me to get on my soapbox for a moment and whet your appetite for what comes later this week.Vincent Pierson is the Director of Diversity and Inclusion for Minor League Baseball and a guest I was really excited to have on the show. Diversity and Inclusion are really important topics in the world, not just sports, and to have on someone with Vincent’s background and passion was really exciting to me.But I was also kind of nervous. I admitted to all of you before that I get a little nervous before each interview and sometimes it ramps up a little depending on the guest. For example, Leigh Steinberg – yep, pretty nervous. You don’t want to sound like a dolt…and you also don’t want to throw out cliché questions and just have a superficial conversation.With Vincent, I was really nervous because of the importance of the conversation. It was less about Vincent per se, and more of a fear my questions wouldn’t take us deep enough. That I’d finish up and think, “damn, that was a missed opportunity, we could have done so much more in this conversation”Well, the good news is. We went there. We had the difficult conversations, we talked about the important things in life, and how our collective sports world allows for social impact on such a grand scale.When we published my interview with Mailynh Vu Cleveland Indians Assistant Director of Talent Acquisition, I told you all how excited I was…because she shared really actionable career advice that I knew you could all put to use.Well, I’m even more excited about this one, but for different reasons. This is so meaningful, so powerful, and so significant…I just cant wait for you all to listen. So stay tuned for that on Wednesday.As for today – is QA time!This weeks question comes in from Dave in Tallahassee – Dave writes in:Hi Brian, big fan of the podcasts and I can’t wait to tune into your Facebook live sessions, what a cool idea to interact with your audience.[Yes! For those of you that don’t know I run a Facebook Live session from the Work in Sports facebook page – not the podcast group – our company page every Thursday at 7:30pm EST – you should really tune in]Just curious – you have mentioned many times about researching a company before you have an interview, can you give us some examples on the type of research you should do and how this will help in the process?Why yes David, I can.Lets break this down – the idea behind doing research, the over-arching principle, is to feel like you understand the company before you go in the door. The more you can layer in your knowledge and your sense of preparation in the interview process, the more impressive you will be.So let’s break down some actual research angles and then provide some ways you can naturally work this info into the conversation:1: How do they make money? Sometimes it’s simple – they sell tickets to a game.Other times it’s more complex – They manage business to business sponsorships deals and help negotiate long term leases at arenas. I don’t know I’m spitballing here. But it is essential for your to understanding their products, their likely clients or audience, and their motivation – i.e. how they make money.Why because that’s the root of every business and it will tell you how the company divisions are weighted. Quick example, when I worked in the sports media I was on the content/editorial side … but I didn’t work any deals, I didn’t bring in any revenue, I covered the teams. Even if I was great at my job I was very replaceable.

Melanie Newman: Major League Talent – Work in Sports Podcast E148 Jan 16, 2019

Melanie Newman is just one of just five women calling play-by-play in professional baseball. Learn more about how she beat the odds and keeps pushing for more on the Work in Sports podcast!Hi everybody I’m Brian Clapp, Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…I was struck this week by a response I received on our private facebook group for fans of this podcast. If you aren’t a member of the podcast group, you should be, search for the work in sports podcast on facebook and join in.I posted in there that I wanted the serious people in the group to post their 2019 plans – all the steps they were going to take this year to reach their goals of working in the sports industry. I wanted them to post these plans, and then allow the rest of us to hold them accountable.Personally, I thought this was a great idea. Because I want everyone to take real steps, real action… not just a bunch of cheap talk. What are you going to do!If you are a student – what is your plan? What internships are you going to aim for, what events are you going to volunteer at, what courses are you going to take, what clubs are you going to get involved in, what people are you going to network with what information interviews are you going to set up – and how will they all help you toward your goal. This is a plan. This is something you can execute and push you toward you ultimate goal. Every step has meaning and purpose.So I post this call to action and I get a response – now this is just one response, most of the responses were positive – a person says “At this point, I don’t need a plan, as much as I want a foot in the door.”Look I get it, people feel desperate, people are scared, people want their career to appear before them and when it doesn’t happen that way they get frustrated. A plan takes time, a job is now.I can hear the frustration bubbling up inside this person. But here’s the honest truth.Things like leadership, and love, and fitness…and your career – don’t just happen, they are a consistent process. They take time and they take many little tiny micro decisions, or micro actions, that eventually lead up to the point where you get the result you want.You don’t go to the gym one day and become fit. You don’t just want a job and get a job.It takes steps. It’s takes consistent positive action. How do you know what those actions are?Well, think about this for a second. Before you started listening to this podcast did you know the steps Brian Killingsworth took to become CMO of the Vegas Golden Knights? Or how Nicole Lynn became a sports agent? Or how Mike Judge became the manager of ticket sales for the Cleveland Browns?No you probably didn’t, but now by listening and learning from these experts you have blueprints. By conducting your own informational interviews you have the steps, by networking, and interning and following the QA sessions and facebook live sessions and all the other great content we share at Work in Sports.com you have the game plan.What are you going to do with it?Today’s guest Melanie Newman, Broadcaster for the Frisco RoughRiders is one of just 5 female play by play broadcasters in professional baseball, and she is amazing. Do you really think she’s achieved what she has by “hoping” or “wanting” – no, she worked at it. She set her goals, she made her choices, she went after it…Well, I’ll let her tell you – here she is, Melanie Newman, Broadcaster for the Frisco RoughRiders!Questions for Melanie Newman, Frisco RoughRiders Broadcaster1: Baseball isn’t a sport where you can just wing it – I’ve known people who can fake it through a basketball game, but baseball is really hard work, the games are long, there are a ton of long pauses, lots of strategy that demands some explaining… when did your love of this game start and why?2: What about the media broadcasting side – when did you figure out your love wasn’t just baseball, it was on this storytelling, reporting, broadcasting side of things?

Is There a Hiring Season for Sports Jobs? – Work in Sports Podcast e147 Jan 14, 2019

Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…As you listen to this episode I’ll be in sunny Phoenix on a business trip with the rest of the Work in Sports crew coming up with new ideas, features and business objectives for our site – the leading job board for the sports industry. Quick check – yep we still have over 10,000 sports jobs available on our site – 10,148 jobs to be exact so the odds are in your favor since you only need one of them.I may do a Facebook live from the Phoenix office so keep a look out for that in the coming days.Coming up on Wednesday – Melanie Newman, Broadcaster for the double A Frisco RoughRiders – one of only 5 women doing play by play in professional baseball, it was an honor talking to her, real pleasure, it’s a great interview.As for today! It’s a QA session day which means I’m answering a fan question… from peter in Chicago.Hi Brian, love the podcast. After Cody Parkey double doinked the game winning field goal, losing to the eagles in the playoffs, I literally closed myself in a room and listen to your podcast. It took my mind off what just happened and helped me transition back to real life goals. It also got me thinking about a question – when is the best time of year to get hired? Is there a seasonality effect to hiring that you’ve noticed in your career?What a cool question Peter…and I have to say I’m honored that I occupied your ear holes in such a time of misery. As you likely know I live outside of Philly, BUT and from Boston, so last year’s super bowl was particularly tough on me. I feel you Peter.Let’s talk hiring seasons!There are really two answers for this – for internships and for full-time work. And there is some variance based on sport so let’s start there.The overarching theme here is that if you want to work in professional sports, a vast majority of hiring takes place in that teams off-season. Usually after the season ends people take some time off…it’s a long season, they need to recharge. Then then spend a few weeks around the office planning for what is next – what do we need for next season, what are our budgets, where are the holes on staff etc.I notice that hiring usually ramps up about 1 month to a month and a half after the season ends for teams.Now during the season teams fill holes, of course, if someone leaves the sales department they’ll hired their replacements. BUT, the larger numbers of openings become public in that 1-2 month period after the season ends.Now that’s on the team side but if we’re just talking about regular old sports jobs at networks, at conferences, at athletic departments, at agencies – Mid-January (i.e. right now) is actually a big hiring period.Why? Well, most companies don’t like to hire much between November and December. It is hard to integrate a new hire when people are on vacations, and there is a general lull around the office as we jump from holiday to holiday and throw in some parties. It’s just different, so most in HR will wait on their hires unless it’s needed immediately.Also, most businesses have an idea on their budget allocations come the first of the year so they may have capital ready for a new hire. There are new sales forecast and new company goals and initiatives – and this can lead to openings in the new year.The first week of January is a blur -people are getting caught up on all the things they neglected at the end of the December, so don’t send in your app, or try to get up an informational interview, or really try to do much that first week. Come back hard in week 2!Now, there is also more competition in January – since there are tons of people making new years resolutions to get new jobs…so the battle for attention ensues!My general recommendation is to have a consistent approach to your job search – do a self-audit so you know where your skills stack up and where you have gaps, find jobs on our site that interest you,

Mailynh Vu Cleveland Indians Assistant Director of Talent Acquisition Jan 09, 2019

Looking to get a job in sports? Mailynh Vu, Cleveland Indians Assistant Director of Talent Acquisition joins the Work in Sports podcast and shares incredible career advice!Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…There is a mystery that surrounds the hiring practices of professional sports teams, like your grandmother’s secret meatball recipe, no one really knows what goes into the process.This is frustrating.The people in our audience ask daily – how do I stand out from the crowd? Do I need more experience? How do I nail a phone interview? What should be on my resume? How and when do I follow up after an interview?There is really no where to get these answers. Well… until today.Honest and important topics like this aren’t posted around the internet, there isn’t a legit place to research these questions. Sure you’ll find theories, you’ll hear from people like me who share their experience…but if you want the real inside story of how to get hired in pro sports right now, get out your pen and paper, and get ready to take some notes because Mailynh Vu Cleveland Indians Assistant Director of Talent Acquisition is letting you in on the process.Mailynh has been with the Indians for 8 years, and in this far reaching interview we go really deep into the process of hiring at the pro team level.The trends she sees emerging from a hiring stand point –Her process of narrowing the field.What type of things make her notice a resumeThe things people do wrong on their resumeNailing the phone interviewMastering the in person interviewFollowing up after the interviewAnd so much more. After this interview you are going to have yourself one heck of an action plan for you future. Let’s get to work – here’s Mailynh Vu.Questions for Mailynh Vu, Cleveland Indians Assistant Director of Talent Acquisition1: In our audience we have people looking to work in the sports industry, but we also have people who specifically want to work in human resources and talent acquisition – so let’s start with that side, what led you to your career in talent acquisition and why sports?2: I read a recommendation written for you on LinkedIn by a former co-worker and they said “Mailynh was a large part of my success while with the major league franchise's marketing team. She is a supportive colleague who listens and has a knack for helping. She is a compassionate and caring team player, who offers advice and guidance to new employees.”That’s pretty amazing!How important is that style and personality to be successful in Human Resources? Your connection to the employees and desire for them to succeed doesn’t stop on their first day of work, right?3: Let’s talk about the hiring process in a little more detail, in your 8 years what are the trends you see emerging from a hiring stand point – are there more requisitions in certain aspects of the business? Is it constantly changing or pretty standard from year to year?4: So you have a requisition open up – what is your process for narrowing the field? Do you look through mounds of resumes? Use some computer tools to refine things?4a: I know the demands of each job and requirements are different – but what stands out to you? What type of things make you notice of a resume?4b: What about for the wrong reasons – are there certain things you see in resumes or cover letters that are a pet peeve? 5: Lets get back to process, after you narrow down the field to candidates who meet the job requirements, I imagine it’s a phone interview first? What recommendations do you have for people on the phone interview, that can be an awkward experience for many – what makes you hang up that call and think… ”alright, that person stood out for the right reasons!”6: You keep narrowing down the field and then eventually you are at the in person interview – I imagine you’ve sat in on hundreds of these, or conducted them yourself. How does someone really master this part of the proc...

Motivation Doesn’t Work. You Need This Instead. Work in Sports podcast E145 Jan 07, 2019

Life isn't like the movies. Motivation is temporary. Instead of waiting for inspiration to come from someone else, try this instead. Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast.It’s the first Monday episode of the year 2019 – which means I am obligated to set the tone in this episode for what you can expect from me and the rest of the crew at WorkinSports.com in the coming year.Here goes – I’m going to be more raw and honest than ever. Why? It’s not to become some shock jock, quite to opposite, it’s because I’m really sick and tired of the crappy superficial advice that floats around the internet, and I believe with all of my heart, we need our content to go deeper and even more honest and real..You guys and gals listening are, in my eyes, the elite future of this industry, because you a driven to learn and advance. You should be proud of that fact, but the work hasn’t stopped yet, there is still much to do and much to accomplish.I know my pattern is that on Mondays I answer a fan question, and I love these sessions, but today I want to go a slightly different direction. I want to cut to the bone a little bit and explore something that has been really frustrating me lately.It’s the concept of external motivation.I go on my linkedin page and I see post after post from people who call themselves keynote speakers, and motivational speakers and they are all sharing and serving up bite sized nuggets of motivation. Cute quips and modified cliches that are supposed to set you on your path to joy today.I’m sorry – it just doesn’t work that way.Stick with me for a second – I am the biggest Rocky fan you’ll find. I watch every movie, I cry, I get inspired, I do push ups, I vow to get myself into rock star shape every movie. And then, my kid comes over and says “Dad, Nathan pushed me!” and the moment is gone. I’m on to real life. Or my boss calls and says “hey I need you to work on this project” and that sense of desire, that fire within is pushed back deeper and deeper.The idea that someone else can spark true lasting change in you is a wish and a prayer, it is not a plan. You need your motivation to come internally, and you need an actual executable plan to achieve your goals.If I sat down after every Rocky movie and drew myself up a work out plan, and carved out a time in my schedule each day, and I downloaded all the rocky music and I committed to doing something with my motivation – well that can work. But that is the plan working, not the momentary burst of energy that comes from a speech or a movie or a quote.So what is your plan?That’s what you need to set your mind on right now – what is your plan? HOW are you going to reach your goal?Not just that you are motivated to reach it, not just that you are inspired to go far… HOW are you going to do it? What steps are your going to take, what micro decisions are you going to make?For example, let’s say I read an article about a podcast host who grew his audience from 100,000 to 1 million listeners yearly – and for a moment I felt motivated and inspired by that possibility.That’s great, but now I need to form a plan.Which could look like this:Connect with more sports industry thought leaders on LinkedIn – 5 per week.Learn more graphic design skills to promote our content – by FebruaryGrow our email list 25% to help with promotion – by MarchDevelop a media kit for the podcastCreate a podcast hype video – by FebruaryLearn more social media marketing techniques by taking a class and listening to webinars – by JuneThese are just a few steps of a plan that I can put in place to reach my goal – it isn’t enough to feel motivated. It isn’t enough to make a new years resolution. You have to create the steps to get you there. Motivation in temporary. Form a plan.Don’t get me wrong, motivation can be the spark to set things in motion. And, the quips and quotes can be very effective reminders to get you back on track… but you n...

Kurt Svoboda, University of Michigan: Working in Big Time College Athletics Jan 02, 2019

Learn more about the challenges and opportunities of working in big time college athletics from University of Michigan Associate Athletic Director Kurt Svoboda!Hi everybody I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast –Welcome to January 2019 everybody!This is a pretty crazy time of year in the sports world, everything but baseball is in full swing, and even baseball just wrapped up their winter meetings, teams are signing free agents, plans are being made for spring training and hiring is taking place to get ready for next season.Basically, our sports world is at full tilt – and nowhere is that more apparent than in college football.Bowl games seemingly every night, which I don’t know about you, makes me think of all the individual staffers hard at work, in college athletics. Everything from travel, to coaches to trainers, to athletic directors, to PR staff -- everyone is at their heightened best.Sometimes in sports we make things seem more complex than they really are. We look top down at the world of college athletics and see a huge business, big deals, sponsorships, suspensions, hires, injuries, marketing campaigns, fundraising… and it can all seem overwhelming.I sit back sometimes and see the expectations of major college athletic director and think – holy crap, who could possibly do all that? I don’t think I would sleep very well.But then, like with most careers, when you boil it down to the essentials and you observe the best in action – you see things that make the picture clearer.Take Boston College Athletic Director Martin Jarmond.BC earns the right to play in the First Responders Bowl against Boise State in Dallas. They go through weeks of planning, parents, students and fans book flights, hotels, tickets and rental cars to travel down to Dallas for the game.And then, truly the unthinkable happens. The game is cancelled due to weather with 5:08 remaining in the 1st quarter. I don’t know about you, but I don’t recall ever seeing a bowl game cancelled.Now, take a moment and think of yourself at a Walmart and then person in front of you is trying to return the sled they purchased because… well, it hasn’t snowed. They are belligerent, rude, obnoxious and full of blame… as if it is the stores fault it didn’t snow. I want my money back!If I was Martin Jarmond, this would be the visual I’d be having as the weather turned bad…thinking to myself, uh oh this is going to get ugly. People are going to be upset, anger will follow.Jarmond has three options as I see it.1: Just start handling the incoming onslaught and trying to make people happy through apologizing.2: Wait and see what Boise State does and follow suit.3: Take action. Immediately.Jarmond opened door #3 – he took action.Announcing that fans who purchased tickets through the school to the First Responder Bowl will receive a full refund by Jan. 2. AND fans will receive free tickets for the number of bowl tickets they purchased to any BC athletic event through December 2019.Quick decisive simple action. No committee meetings, no revenue impact spreadsheets, no hand wringing or clutching pearls.Instinct. Do what is right by the people. Get ahead of this. Work positively.The reaction was immediate – Twitter lit up with thousands of comments akin to “classy move by Boston College” and what could have been a communication nightmare, turned into a case study for how massive athletic programs should still operate with a soul.Our guest this week knows this better than anyone, Kurt Svoboda is the Associate Athletic Director for External Communication at the University of Michigan, the voice of the athletic department and a true pro in the industry. Prior to UM he worked in similar roles at Stanford and Harvard, managing the flow of communication within the athletic department, and boy does he have some stories to share.In case you have forgotten… that whole “Call Me Maybe” phenomenon from a few years back started with a vi...

Jeff Altstadter: USGA Director, Open Championships, Public Relations Dec 26, 2018

Jeff Altstadter USGA Director, Open Championships Public Relations joins the Work in Sports podcast!Hi everybody I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast.You were probably wondering this morning, it’s the day after Christmas will Brian publish a podcast?Alright you probably weren’t wondering that.But I figure many of you will be travelling to visit family, maybe meeting your significant others parents for the first time, maybe you are stuck in a car with your racist grandmother for a few hours… and what better way to spend the time than by calming your nerves and centering yourself with the peaceful sounds of my voice.Yes I am overvaluing my impact on your life… but it’s Christmas, I’m having fun.As you listen to this, I am likely putting together one of the myriad gifts for my kids. Very excited that we got a family ping pong table and if I am not putting together gifts right now, I am likely crushing my 7-year old with some overhand smashes. Take that!More importantly the learning never stops. We’re on episode one hundred and forty something and I don’t know about you but I keep learning more and more from each interview I conduct. There is so much knowledge to gain, and I promise you the more and more you listen, the more confident and qualified you will become.You’ll have a plan for your future and ways to make it a reality and I think that is so important.For those of you who have also been joining is on the Facebook live sessions – game on! I’m falling in love with these things so we will be keeping it up. Bring your questions each Thursday at 7:30pm EST on our Work in Sports facebook page for an engaged and enthusiastic live session!As you’ve probably recognized December has been a month of greatest hits, some of the best episodes of 2018 brought back to life for all of you new to the show who maybe haven’t dug that deep into the archives.In January we’ll be hitting it hard with some incredible interviews I have lined up:Kurt Svoboda University of Michigan Associate Athletic DirectorMailynh Vu Cleveland Indians Assistant Director of Talent AcquisitionMelanie Newman – broadcaster with the Frisco RoughRiders and one of five women in the country professionally calling play-by-play in professional baseball Tiara Brown – Charlotte Hornets manager of Corporate Social ResponsibilityIan Graham, San Diego Padres Human ResourcesVincent Pierson, Minor League Baseball Director of Diversity and InclusionLewie Pollis, Philadelphia Phillies Director of Research and AnalyticsLee De Leon – Purdue Executive Sr Associate Athletic DirectorI mean that’s a bang up list! As we finish out 2018 – I’m bringing back my interview with Jeff Altstadter, USGA Director, Open Championships, Public Relations. Jeff has worked in PR for the Phoenix Coyotes and New Jersey Devils…and since 2012 he’s been the lead guy with the USGA.Great interview, very informative – listen in.Happy holidays everyone – see you in 2019!

Gina Miller: Sports Media and Communication – Work in Sports podcast e142 Dec 19, 2018

Gina Miller, FC Dallas VP of Media and Communication joins the Work in Sports podcastHi everybody I’m Brian Clapp, Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast.As we approach the holiday season, let me remind you working in sports is a different animal. While all off your friends who are accountants at a Big 4 firm are getting ready for their extended holiday break, people in the sports industry are preparing for business as usual. There are NBA games, college bowl games, Premier League games and men's and women's college basketball surrounding Christmas, and 21 NHL games between the 23rd and 27th.There is no break. There is no holiday. During these times there are team executives, advance scouts, sales teams, operations people, event management staff, coaches, trainers, sports TV reporters and producer and editors, camera operators, TV directors… you name it, they are all working.While some people sit on their coach with a beer in hand watching Lebron an Steph go at it… hundreds, even thousands of people connected to that game will be working.Why do I bring this up? – because it’s essential you know and understand the reality of this fact before you really embark on a sports career. This is life. This is part of the gig. So while in your superficial analysis you may be thinking I love sports why not work in sports… well, this podcast is about honesty, and if you can’t handle a crazy schedule where holidays aren’t really a thing… choose a different career, right now.Today’s guest knows this better than anyone. Gina Miller is the VP of Media and Communication for FC Dallas, and prior to that spent many years as a sports anchor and reporter in Dallas. On the 4th of July I guarantee she worked covering the Rangers, or the Cowboys or the Stars, or the Mavericks or SMU or something else… because the job goes on.In this wide ranging interview, Gina gives it to you straight on sports careers and what it takes to get ahead, her role with FC Dallas and how there is no off-season when it comes to promoting and building a team’s brand.Here’s Gina Miller.Listen in to the Work in Sports podcast with Gina Miller to hear all of her great sports career advice!

Begin Your Sports Career with the End in Mind – Work in Sports podcast e141 Dec 17, 2018

If you can master this simple concept of reverse engineering your career from the end, backwards, you will find great success in your sports career. Hi everybody I’m Brian Clapp, Director of Content for Work in Sports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast!Gina Miller on Wednesday – which is also my birthday which I share with Reggie White, Kevin McHale, Warren Sapp and Jake “the Snake” Plummer – fun fact Jake and I are actually the same exact age.Growing up in Boston, I had one of those sports facts a day calendar, which would also list the birthdays on it, and it used to make me so excited that Kevin McHale and I had the same birthday.Alright, I am officially off topic, so I’ll get us back on.Today’s question comes from a myriad of people actually.John in Duluth says “I’d like to become an athletic director at a major university, how do I do it?”Melanie in Colorado says “I’d like to become a sports reporter, how do I do it?”Keith in San Francisco says “I’d like to become a baseball GM, how do I do it?”I can keep going and going, it’s literally a daily occurrence when someone says “I want to be X, tell me how”Today I’m going to give you what might be the most important advice of your entire career. But before I get to that.In recent years I’ve had it in my mind that I wanted to write a book. But I realize I have this one weakness, well, likely many weaknesses but this one comes to mind. Almost all self-help, business motivation, advice style prose – is quippy. Full of unique sayings where people jumble around the words to make an alternative meaning like:It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog. OrThere’s no traffic on the extra mile.I just don’t think this way – I tend to be much more straightforward in my advice, saying things like stop being afraid and go for it, rather that “opportunity only knocks once.” And that doesn’t always play in a marketing sense. You need quippy quotable statements…and that’s just not me. I don’t do quippy.The reason I bring this up is because some of these statements, while they aren’t my style, they really really resonate with me. And the one I want to focus in on today, that I honestly believe is some of the best advice you will ever get…is:Begin with the end in mind.Ok, so now that Yoda is done talking, lets break down what this means.Whether you want to be an Athletic Director or a Director of operations, or a VP of sales, or a scout or a reporter…or a whatever. You’ve already done the most important part, you’ve identified your end.You’ve identified where you want to go, you’ve set your goal, you’ve put your stake in the ground. You get it?You aren’t saying “I really love sports and would like to work in sports.” That is not enough. Stop doing that people. No one can decide what you should do in sports but you. You need to figure out what you want and declare it. Shout it from the mountaintops. Ok, not really, but you need to figure that out.Yes, things will change over time, and you’ll switch around a bit… but get yourself an idea of who you want to be. That is your end. Start here.Let’s use the example of an Athletic Director. Hi I’m Brian Clapp, and I want to be an athletic director at a power 5 university.There it is, that’s my end goal. Pretty powerful to write it down and see it before you. BTW, this is a made up scenario I don’t want to be a power 5 athletic director so just play along.Now that I know that and have written it down, two things happen.1: you are 1.5 times more likely to accomplish your goal if you write it down. Fact. Just the power of articulating it does wonders for your focus. You remember something better if you have it displayed as a visual cue you see daily. And according to neuroscientist Mark Murphy, writing down a goal actually encodes it in your brain, helping to turning it into a long-term memory.2: You can create a strategy to get there. You see once you acknowledge where you want to end,

Jesse Cole: Sports Business Done (Very) Differently – Work in Sports e140 Dec 12, 2018

Jesse Cole, owner of the Savannah Bananas baseball team does things differently, but not just for the sake of being different, he's pushing for new. Listen in to this episode and get ready for a different perspective on sports business. Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast.I think over my years in the sports industry and in business in general, I have a pretty good BS detector. I can usually tell when someone is less than they project themselves to be. Or they are all flash and no substance.These people exist everywhere. They live by the fake it til you make it mantra, they try to blind you with their smile or their louder than life personality, or their command of the room…but deep inside when push comes to shove they don’t have the ability to get the job done.As someone who has interviewed hundreds of job applicants over the years, this is one of my big fears…that someone will sell me on their image rather than their substance and ability. I’m always very leery of people like this, and the cynical side of me comes through, fully expecting it to be nothing more than an act.I always envision the clown at the kids party who is all energy and excited and engaged and funny…and then you see him in the backroom smoking a cigarette and looking at porn on his phone. It’s all just an act.You can’t afford to be fooled by these people. You have to have a good BS detector and question things. Which is what I did leading into my interview with Jesse Cole founder of Fans First Entertainment and the owner of the Savannah Bananas collegiate bummer league baseball team.Just speaking honestly here – I saw Jesse, at first, as a gimmick. The yellow Tux and the over the top personality….it can’t be real, it can’t be authentic and genuine….and he can’t really know what he’s doing. I saw all this glitz and glamour and dancing grannies and thought to myself, his 15 minutes of ESPN fame will run out and the Bananas will be out of business in 5 years.I know that makes me sound like a bad person… but I’m just not that trusting with flashy people, I’ve seen it, and been let down by it, too many times.I was wrong. And here’s why – Jesse mixes the enthusiasm and spirit with underlying business principles that work. Sure he does things differently, and never saw a camera or microphone he didn’t love, but in a lot of ways the over-the-top promotional elements and the uniquely yellow wardrobe is just the cover of the book…and we all know not to judge a book by it’s cover.Jesse’s book, and I mean it in the figurative sense, not literally his Amazon best selling book “Find Your Yellow Tux”, is chock full of substance and vision and eagerness and fire.So here he is, Jesse Cole owner of the Savannah Bananas baseball team… I can’t tell you enough, listen to the details of what he has accomplished Listen in to the podcast to learn more about Jesse Cole and his unique approach to sports business

Networking at a Large Sports Event – Work in Sports Podcast e139 Dec 10, 2018

Each year there are hundreds of sports conferences around the globe which make for great learning and networking opportunities. How do you make the most out of these large scale sports events? We explain on this podcast!Hi everybody I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for Workinsports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast.Last week we had our first Facebook live broadcast and it was pretty incredible, lots of engagement, great questions, and some fun interaction with all of you. If you were in there… thank you, I had a ton of fun, if you weren’t… well guess what, we are doing it again this Thursday!To start I’m going to go once a week on Thursday nights at 7:30 EST. In the future we may go every other Thursday, but I’m kind of into the idea of going full bore at the start, work the kinks out and improve on the delivery.We can always scale back if it’s too much… but knowing myself, I’m chomping at the bit to improve…right after I finished the first one, I wanted to go live again the next day and improve on some things I thought I could have done better.So long story short – we will be live this Thursday 7:30 PM eastern, from our main facebook page. Not the Work in Sports podcast group, the main Work in Sports facebook page!Here’s why, I found out our tools that help me interact with all of you during the live only work on facebook pages, not groups. So please, if you are a member of our work in sports podcast private group…make sure to come over to our facebook page for the live. Cool?One of the topics that came up during the live event was networking at a major event like the Baseballl Winter Meetings. For those of you that don’t know, the baseball winter meetings are a huge event and hundreds of baseball teams in Minors and Majors hire staff for the upcoming season. But with any huge event, you can’t afford to sit in the background and wait for thing to come to you… you need to go after it.Now, I’m a transparent dude, I’m not the type to fake things or provide fake advice. I’m not great at this. I know what you are supposed to do, I know what works…but I am not a natural networker. I have to work at it.It’s like my kids – one is like a math savant, can do anything math related, but he has to work harder at his writing skills. My daughter on the other hand can write like no tomorrow…but has to work harder at math.We all have weaknesses, and it’s important to acknowledge them and work towards improving them. Other things come naturally so I don’t have to work as hard at them, networking is less comfortable. But we can’t avoid what is hard, you can’t ignore it, you have to work at it.What I have learned personally is the more uncomfortable I am in a situation, the more I need a well laid out plan and strategy. I need an executable structure.So here goes – here’s my approach to networking at larger events.1: Research – I do as much research as I can into the people, teams and organizations that will be at the event. From this I create my target list. Rather than trying to approach 1,000 sports businesses and go the speed dating route, I try to narrow down the field. Who is in an area I might want to be? Who has a product I am genuinely interested in? Who has made it pretty clear they are hiring?Narrow the funnel. You can’t possibly see and talk with everyone well, so make your target list and do some research. Find out about their structure –who is in chargewho runs the businesswhat were their attendance numberswhat were some of their big marketing campaignsIf it’s a product, who are their investorsOnce you have some of these pieces in line, you can gain confidence in your upcoming conversations. I don’t know about you, but when I feel smart, I exude confidence. When I an unprepared, I know I am winging it and it’s obvious. So do your research and make a target list.2: Now you are at the event. I like to get myself comfortable first… some people will tell you to rush to people you want to speak with first so you’ll be mem...

Carl Manteau: Selling in the Sports Industry – Work in Sports E138 Dec 05, 2018

Milwaukee Bucks senior group sales director Carl Manteau joins the podcast to talk the real nuts and bolts of the sports sales side of the industry. Hi everybody I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…We’re going to take a trip down memory lane today and bring back one of my favorite episodes that the vast majority of you have probably never heard.Last September after a few years of haggling, we launched this podcast. I spent a couple of weeks getting prepped, learning the tech, getting our workflow down… and then it was time to start getting guests.I knew I needed a strong guest out of the gate, but I also knew with a new show, and my name not being Bill Simmons, it may be a struggle to convince someone to come on. I have hundreds of friends in the sports media and was tempted to go to one of my high profile buddies…but that felt like I was chickening out and taking the easy way…plus I was afraid I’d be too casual in the interview and it would sound like an inside joke or a buddy talk, and I didn’t want that.So I reached out to someone I knew a little, Carl Manteau Senior Group Sales Director for the Milwaukee Bucks. I had never met Carl, but I had interviewed him once for a written article on sales careers and knew that he had a desire to help others.He felt like the perfect start…and he said yes.Now here’s the deal… we’re a brand new podcast, we have no audience, we have no promotional budget, we just have a good attitude and are ready to provide actionable career advice. I’ve spent 20 years in the sports industry so I’m qualified, and I’m going to get guests who can really add to the conversation… BUT, very few people listened to that first episode.Most of you didn’t even know we existed.To put it in perspective, we get more downloads in one day now than we have all time for that episode.Now, I want to set some expectations here. Carl is awesome. Me…not so much. It was my first episode, I was a little nervous on the tech and my questions. So just ignore my parts and listen to how great of information Carl was serving up.Here he is, one of the best guys in the sports industry and someone you should definitely connect with on LinkedIn – Carl Manteau, senior group sales director for the Milwaukee Bucks!Listen in to the podcast episode to learn more about sports sales careers!

Tough Interview Questions: “Tell Me About Yourself” – Work in Sports Podcast e137 Dec 03, 2018

Every interviewer starts with "So tell me a little something about yourself" -- why do they ask this and how should I answer it? We've got you covered on this weeks episode!Hi everybody I’m Brian Clapp, Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast.Fred Hoiberg of the Bulls just got fired, Mike McCarthy of the Packers just got fired, and last night Bill Belichick told Adam Theilen to shut the F- up.I love sports. I mean the firing part always stinks, but the soap opera, dramatic effect of sports…it’s just awesome. You never know what’s next.I’ll remind you, if you are serious about this life, about working in this industry and making it your career not just a hobby you enjoy on weekends or during your lunch break – at WorkinSports.com we have…let’s see… currently 10,487 active sports jobs on our site. Including 772 in Broadcasting, Digital and content creation. That’s my world, which is why I cite that data point.And if you are listening and you are a student, we have a ridiculous deal for you… go to workinsports.com/students and you can get a 6 month membership for just $30 – which is 87% savings, because I love gronk. Let’s get into today’s question – it comes in from Corie A – A few weeks ago I joined the Facebook group for the Work In Sports podcast and was moved by all the great feedback I received after sharing that I was feeling a little defeated in looking for a job in the sports industry. Since then I have been applying to internships and jobs for the MiLB, MLB and other organizations. I have heard back from a few teams and have scheduled phone calls with them. In the past I always feel very anxious in interviews when asked the simple question of "tell me a little about yourself". My question to you is how do you answer that?Corie – this is a really great question. Before I get into it – Corie references our private facebook group for this here podcast. It’s a great group of over 1,000 people and growing who share advice, answer questions and network with each other, I moderate…and am in there all the time. In fact, I’m going to do a Facebook Live session Thursday Dec 6th at 7:30 pm in that group – so join in! Search for the Work in Sports podcast on facebook, jump into the conversation and join me on facebook live on Thursday!Back to the question…With all the advice I give I try to go really in depth and high level…I try to push myself to give you new ideas to chew on… but you know what, sometimes it’s very important to go back to the basics.And this question you ask is the start of just about every single interview you will ever be a part of.So let’s dig into this!“Tell me a little about yourself”There are two main reasons interviewers ask this question.1: It’s a bit of a stall technique for the interviewer.Maybe they weren’t 100% ready to get started and they wanted a moment to get their thoughts together. They just got out of another meeting, they had some other thing come up, they had an issue, or a project that they were behind on and worked right up until your interview started. Maybe they want to review your resume a bit and refresh their memory on you before they really dig in.So they ask this layup question, just to buy themselves a little time. Managers are not perfect beings, they aren’t on schedule every moment, they don’t plan for every contingency or situation…sometimes they stall or improvise. They dance! So this question can be just a moment to put you on the spot so they can get organized.2: And this is the really important one – it’s a confidence/personality test.The easiest way for a interview to discover who you are is to listen to you talk about yourself. There is no trickery, it’s not a complex question, it’s not confusing…it’s your story, and no one can tell it but you.They ask this question to see what you have. Are you charismatic, passionate, articulate, well-spoken, confident, engaged, enthusiastic… there is so much you can pick up from this simple qu...

Kristina Wedseltoft: Building Strong Communities Through Sports Nov 28, 2018

Sports community relations jobs leverage the reach and power of the industry to make a positive influence in the local area. Sports jobs don't get much better than that!Listen in to this weeks episode with Kristina Wedseltoft, Indiana Pacers community relations coordinator to learn more about this exciting career.Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the work in sports podcast.There is a balance I strive for in booking guests on this show. I go for the big names… the Leigh Steinberg’s, the Brian Killingsworth’s, the Jennifer Keene’s… these are the executives, the true thought leaders in the industry who have lived it all, hired hundreds of people and set that stage for what the sports industry is.But I also like to bring on guests new or newer to the industry.Dasmine Evans, Kelsey Smith, Evan Feinstein, Betsy Lauritzen… because there is a relatability to their story. They are you. People recently in the industry or fighting to get in. They are also the people setting the stage for what the industry will be. And they just recently got hired… so they have an experience to share!Their challenges, pitfalls and successes may be exactly what you are dealing with right now, and that is so important.Here’s the amazing part.I never know how a guest will connect with all of you… I guess and speculate but never really know how much you will connect with the subject. It turns out you are just as interested in Kelsey Smith as you are Leigh Steinberg… so while I’ll always strive for Theo Epstein, I’m kind of proud that you all learn and engage just as much with your near peers.Today’s guest Kristina Wedseltoft has been in the industry for a few years now, in the midst of her second season with the Indiana Pacers as part of their community relations team. She worked previously with the San Diego Padres in Fan Engagement and with the Indianapolis Indians in Community relations.She’s a real up and comer in the industry, and there is a lot to learn during this interview… we actually taped this conversation on Pacers opening night, a crazy night that Kristina was so kind to carve out some time to chat with all of us. Here’s Kristina Wedseltoft!Questions for Indiana Pacers Community Relations Coordinator, Kristina Wedseltoft:1: I love the various origination stories I learn from people on this show and I think you have a pretty interesting story too – you graduated college with a degree in communication from UC-San Diego but started out in the fashion industry working in PR for Viktor Luna designs … and I am totally comfortable admitting I remember Viktor from Project Runway. Anyway, how did you get from that start…to working in sports?2: After the fashion move, and then joining the San Diego Padres as a Fan Experience representative – you decided to go back and get your Masters. Was this out of frustration with your career growth, like, I need something to kick start this process… or was getting your Masters your strategy all along?3: So how did getting your Masters change things for you? Did it help you gain career focus and zero in on community relations as your career path?4: September 2017 you get hired by the Indiana Pacers as a Community Relations Coordinator – take us through the interview process… I’m sure it was a very competitive role, what kind of things were expected of you, what were some of the challenging things you were asked?5: Why community relations?6: Let’s talk about your specific role as the Community Relations Coordinator for the Pacers what does your day-to-day look like and what are your major responsibilities? Do you have favorite parts of the job?7: The Pacers community relations team focuses on education, service and health – how does your team impact the local community in those realms and how rewarding are the experiences?8: What are some of the biggest challenges you encounter putting on a great community event that you can be proud of?

Can Soft Skills, Like Charisma, Be Learned? Work in Sports Podcast e135 Nov 26, 2018

Soft skills are so important for getting jobs in the sports industry... but can they be learned? Can you develop attributes like confidence and charisma? Listen in, because we're going to talk about it!Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast.Quick housekeeping note – I didn’t publish an expert interview last week for the first time in over a year! It was Thanksgiving and when I published an episode on the day before Thanksgiving last year…it bombed, and it was kind of a wasted effort.So you know what… I didn’t publish one this year, and I’m totally OK with that. I also ate a lot of stuffing… but as a vegetarian there was no turkey. Actually, I take that back, my brother in law came over and brought a 20 lb turkey all for himself.No he didn’t eat the whole thing… I’m guessing he still has leftovers a week later.Anyway, before I get any further off track – since there was no expert last week, this week is Indiana Pacers Community Relations Coordinator Kristina Wedseltoft – it’s a great interview I think you will all like very much!As for today – I had a question come in that really challenged me, which I love. Here goes:From Nathaniel in Michigan,Hi Brian, thank you for the podcast, your effort is greatly appreciated. I have a question I’d love for you to dig into for the podcast. You’ve talked many times before about getting the interview means you’ve already passed the “skills test” and that during the interview is about your soft skills, like charisma and cultural fit. Well, I am the living proof you are correct in your assessment.I have the skills needed for the industry, and I keep getting interviews, but I can’t close the deal. I am an introvert, and so much of it stems from my lack of charisma. I just don’t have that swagger that I see exuding from others. I know I don’t have this element, so I retreat mentally into my corner.My question is two-fold – Is charisma something you can develop and learn. And how can an introvert get a job in the sports industry? Wow. This is a big one Nathaniel, and I really thank you for asking it. It takes a lot of courage to admit and acknowledge your weaknesses, but it’s also the first step in fixing the problem.Let’s talk about charisma first – it is really just a person with compelling attractiveness. Everyone is naturally drawn into this person. But I think the idea gets overused. There just aren’t that many people who are truly charismatic. Many people think they are – you know that guy right, the one who thinks he’s ruling the conversation and wooing the crowd, all his jokes are hitting, but in reality everyone is thinking to themselves, “Oh my god will someone shut this guy up”.To be truly charismatic, I believe, starts with intentional listening and engaging where appropriate -- anyone can do that.Charisma isn’t about trying to be the loudest voice or get the most laughs… it’s about making the other people around you feel special. We’ve been around people who talk about themselves a lot, their experience, they accomplishments, their successes – this is not being charismatic.We’ve also been around people who listen with eye contact, ask smart follow up questions, are present in the moment, share their own experiences where relevant. That’s being likeable, that’s being connected to the moment --- that’s being charismaticIt’s about presence. Presence is all about being truly engaged with others, showing the other person that they have your complete attention. Ok ,so how do you take action with this concept of presence – since I’m all about actionable advice - How do you develop presence:Pay attention to every word that comes out of someone else's mouth.I read this suggestion once and it stuck with me - Imagine you're watching a movie or reading a book and you're slowly learning about the main character. Invest your attention and your focus on them.Do not sit there and think about what you're going to say while th...

Six Steps To Prepare for Your Sports Job Search – Work in Sports podcast e134 Nov 19, 2018

So you are ready to find a job? Here are 6 things you should be doing right now to prepare for your sports job search. Do these things first!Hi everybody I’m Brian Clapp, Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the WorkinSports podcast.Before I get into today’s podcast question – which is a good one by the way – something I forget to mention often enough is our student pricing deal at WorkinSports.comJust checking the site…we currently have 10,685 active sports jobs on our site and another 696 internships… that’s an insane amount of opportunity! And for those of you who are students, we’ve recently introduced deeply discounted student pricing.Get this – a 6 month membership, for only $30. That is 87% savings!You get all the features and benefits of membership, but at a deeply discounted rate. Our little shout out to the students out there trying to make it in the sports industry.Go to workinsports.com/students and fill out your membership details. You need to have and use your .edu email address. That’s how we know you are a student. This is student pricing!Now, real quick – if you’re a student you may be thinking…I’m not ready for a job yet, don’t need the service. Wrong answer![Bonus tip of finding the right skills for your ideal sports job]That’s a little bonus tip for you today. Let’s get into today’s question from Harrison in New HampshireHey Brian – thanks so much for the podcast, I have really learned a ton. Just wondering, should I pause my job search over the Holidays? Seems like it is hard to make any progress this time of year.The simple answer is No, you should not pause your job search over the holidays.There are many reasons for this, namely, many employers are still active and are impressed by those people who don’t take the time off this time of year.That is especially important in the sports industry… sorry, there is no break. Football, Basketball, Hockey, soccer and Baseball’s off-season adventure are all in full force. There is no break.Also, from my own experience, holidays are blurry lines for people in sports. Everyone else knows the holidays have an exact date, but when you work in sports and you have odd hours and off-days…the holidays are sometimes where you can squeeze them in.The train doesn’t stop. Period.Sometimes people don’t like to hire right before the Holidays, but they get the framework in place so that they can eventually hire in January.Many organizations are holding out for January to do their actual hiring, it’s when their budgets for the new year kick in and often can result in a frenzy of hiring. Plus, new staff can get off on the right foot, rather than trying to start in the crazy period between Thanksgiving and New Years.So here’s my suggestion – keep going…and do some house-keeping:1: Contact all of Your References and update their contact information 2: Update all of your Social Media Profiles (i.e. Get Rid of You Being Dumb) 3: Prepare for THE Question 4: Stimulate your Network 5: Know Who You Are Online 6: Explore Your WeaknessesListen in to the episodes to get more details on all of these concepts for preparing for your sports job search!

Bill Guertin: The Sports Sales Trainer the Pro’s Use – Work in Sports Podcast E133 Nov 14, 2018

Want to Work in Sports? Of course you do! Bottom line: If you have sales skills, you'll go far. Bill Guertin is the guy who trains the sales staffs of pro teams around the nation, he knows what teams need and want on staff, and he joins us on this weeks podcast!Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast.As many of you know, we hosted a Sports Career Accelerator event a few months back in Atlanta. 2 days of intensive learning and exposure to top flight sports teams and orgs in the Atlanta region.But let me give you a little behind the scenes. Trust me, it relates to this week’s episode, this isn’t just a trip down memory lane.Day 1. Our first event like this, and to be honest, not exactly my comfort zone – I’m not always a small talk guy.But I was pretty relaxed because we had a guy on the ground in Atlanta doing all of our logistics and would be essentially shepherding all the guest speakers in place, navigating where we go at what time, Sign ins, swag bags… he had things covered.So I wake up morning of the event, get a good breakfast at my hotel, get changed up and walk to the event. It’s about 7:30am…things don’t start til 8:30. I’m relaxed and calm because the pressure is not on me.Then I get a text message. Our guy is not just sick… he’s out. Down and out. Like heading to a clinic because he hasn’t stopped vomiting for a few hours.I’ve been in a few pressure situations over my career, so I don’t exactly panic…but I also don’t feel I have everything I need to succeed which means I’m not exactly comfortable. And then an attendee shows up… early, very early.Hello Sean Grassi if you are listening.I’m now scrambling to get people checked in, hand out swag, give out badges… and it’s not the best start in the world.People are filing in, they are in the room we rented, but it’s deathly quiet in there. I’ scrambling in the front of the lobby….and the vibe is…shall I say, poor.Then I see Bill Guertin come around the corner, one of our guest speakers. He takes one look at me and says…here, I got this, and he walks into the room with our guests.Next thing I know I hear chatter, and laughing, and cavorting and cajoling. Bill came in and just started to own the room.I had a mentor once who said – leaders change the temperature of the room when they enter. Think about that for a second – the idea is, everyone can feel a leader when they enter. It’s a changing presence, an attention grabber.Bill has that, and more. Right then I thought, OK, this guy is good, he can control a room with ease…which isn’t easy. Then I started to listen in, then I started to check his resume, then I started to admire.Bill has worked with over 100 professional sports teams to help train their sales staff… from the Boston Celtics, to the Myrtle Beach Pelicans. Football teams, basketball, baseball, NASCAR, hockey – if you have a sports event and a sales staff, Bill is the guy to train them.And, lucky us, he’s our guest this week as we dig deeper into the role that comprises a huge percentage of sports employees.Here’s Bill Guertin – and stay tuned at the end of the show for a special offer from Bill’s company ISBIQuestions for Sales Trainer Bill Guertin:Listen to the episode for the answers!1: You’ve been in the sales game since 1992 – specifically in sports sales since 2004 – you are truly the expert in the field having worked with over 100 professional sports teams. I’ll make the first questions really simple…or complex in it’s simplicity, you decide… why sales? Why has sales been your calling?2: What I think I’m most impressed with about you, and there are many things, but I know how difficult it can be to get in with pro teams as an outside resource. How did you go from being a sales manager of a local radio station in Kankakee, Illinois to the trusted sales trainer of pro sports?3: Go back to the beginning – what was the first team you worked with, and what was that experience like?

How to Start Building Your Personal Brand – Work in Sports Podcast e132 Nov 12, 2018

There are opportunities out there to build your personal brand, and I'm sorry to say, most of you aren't taking advantage of them. Time to get to work. Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast.There is no fan question today. Instead, there is a bit of a rant from me. Buckle up.No, I’m kidding, it’ll be a friendly rant. Let me set the scene for you – I don’t do much for our social channels on Instagram…but I should, and I realize that.I do a lot on LinkedIn – makes sense, that’s where people go when they want to look for jobs, network and have business related conversations. That’s our market, so it makes sense that I become an expert in this realm.I spend time on Twitter – heck it’s fun, and I share a good amount of content and keep up with all of our guests on the podcast.And of course I spend a lot of time in our private facebook group for this podcast which is now over 1,000 strong and amazes me every day with the level of engagement and advice that is shared. So thank you for that.But Instagram… I hadn’t really been there much because our business isn’t always visual, and frankly I hate seeing pictures of people at conferences. It’s like they are just showing off… look where I am! And that doesn’t provide any value.I always try to focus on value – what can I add to the discussion, how can I help someone learn, how can I change their approach even just a little, that’ll make a difference for them.I hadn’t been convinced that Instagram or Snapchat was the avenue for that… so I avoided it. BUT, I like to push myself, so I want to grow in these areas.As I’ve advised many of you countless times, one of the best areas to learn new skills is via Youtube. You can differentiate yourself by learning skills like Photoshop, Final Cut Pro, Premiere Pro, Pro Tools… all skills you can literally master on Youtube. Just last week I was trying to learn how to burn captions into a video… boom youtube video – three minutes later I’m doing it.So, I go to Youtube… I type in Instagram for businesses, thinking I’ll get some ideas that could spark some creativity.Now, I’m not trying to be ageist, I’m not trying to be judgmental. Heck I just did an entire podcast intro on not being judgmental. But there is a huge problem when I search youtube for Instagram techniques and videos and all of the advice is coming from 40-50 somethings.I’m 43 years old, mentioned this many times, not afraid of talking about it one bit… but if I want to learn something in social, I want to hear from the young people who grew up with it, use it communicate with it, have expectations for it, know what they like, what they don’t know what their friends share and the tone and the tenor of what they speak.Why aren’t any of you taking charge?I mean this as seriously as possible. And it’s not just about Instagram… it’s about building your brand, building your expertise, building your stature in the marketplace.I see people who are considered “influencers” by the way, hate that word, and while I think their content usually sucks, they have an audience and they leverage it. They have a brand, they have an audience.How powerful do you think it would be to create videos on mastering Instagram…you could create hundreds of tutorials from they eyes and mind of a millennial, and develop a huge brand for yourself.How do you think that would play out when you go to apply for a digital marketing job with Atlanta united?Hi Katie Gillen, I’m here to apply for the Digital marketing coordinator job – I have this YouTube channel with over 30 videos on tips tricks and hacks for Instagram. I knew it would be important to build my brand and share my voice, so I began creating these a year ago and now I have over 1,000 subscribers…but what I’d really like to do is take that knowledge and share it with the world through the lens of Atlanta United. I guarantee you Katie’s jaw would drop (mentally not literally) she’s play i...

Nicole Lynn: The Path to Becoming a Top Flight Sports Agent Nov 07, 2018

Sports agent Nicole Lynn goes through her daily adventure of representing NFL players on this weeks episode of the Work in Sports podcast. From recruiting and signing athletes, to setting up their future and being discounted as a woman in a predominantly male field, she shares it all. Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast.Today’s guest graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a bachelor’s in business management. They then went on to earn their Doctor of Law with honors. They then went on to work on Wall Street as a Financial Analyst and obtained both their Series 7 and Series 63 certifications through FINRA.Sounds like a boss, right? Literally and figuratively, like this person could be your boss…and they are a boss. But there is something that happens to most people between their brain and their eyes. There is often a disconnect. You brain observes this person based on qualifications. Data. Details. It tells you this person is smart, motivated, qualified…But sadly, most, if not all people, make decisions with their eyes. They judge what they see -- based on external appearances, based on pre-conceived notions, based on superfluous data points.This happens to everyone, not just today’s guest. People judge you, every one of you, day in and day out, without knowing a thing about you. They assume, they guess, they predict.You’re too young.You’re a woman.You have blond hair.You wear braces.You’re short.You’re dressed different.You have darker skin.You have different eyes.You have different beliefs.We are all guilty of judgement. I can’t change that today, there is no way I can impact that on a scale that will make any difference, there is no way any of us can. It is our sad reality.Don’t blame it on social media, don’t blame it on video games, or helicopter parents or millennials – because this has been around forever.When I was a kid I remember there was a girl that came to our school, I’d guess it was around 6th or 7th grade and she was always dirty coming to school. Her clothes were a mess, her hair was in knots, she had an odor about her.We all assumed she was gross.What we didn’t know, was all of things she was going through on a daily basis in her life that would have rocked our safe, little suburban bubbles. She was smart, athletic and scared to death every day… yet all we saw was a dirty girl and we judged her. We made her days even worse.This is the sad reality of our world and it doesn’t stop in middle school, or after high school, or after college. There are cliques, there are groups, there are bands of people who will find comfort in their community of judgement. And at some point, it will likely be aimed at you.So what do you do?I wish I knew… I wish I had some great advice, some bumpersticker, meme, shareable quote logic. But I don’t really think that way. I draw inspiration and perspective from the people I talk to each week on this podcast. I learn about myself through every conversation, and I’m self-aware enough to realize I’m still a work in progress too.Today’s guest, the one with the incredible resume, is Nicole Lynn a young black woman, who faces this judgement every day as an up and coming sports agent…in, let’s speak frankly, a white man’s world.68 % of the athletes in the NFL are African American and that number jumps to 75% in the NBA and yet, of the top 50 sports agents in the world for 2018 published by Forbes, there were only 5 African-Americans….and zero women.When Nicole Lynn walks into a workout, or a pro day or a negotiation, the other people in the room figure she’s one of the players girlfriends. This bad ass negotiator, who has earned every bit of knowledge and power she has, is unfairly judged every day…because a smart, talented, attractive, well dressed confident woman can only be a girlfriend to the stars right?Shameful. Shame on us.But here’s the thing…I mentioned earlier that I don’t have any great advice h...

The Five Types of Mentors You Need in your Sports Career Nov 05, 2018

You don't need just one mentor in your life, you need multiple mentors that fill various roles in your work and life. Check out this podcast to learn more about the different types of mentors you should seek out.Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast.A few months ago I answered a fan question on networking, essentially they asked what type of people they needed in their network, and I went into great detail explaining the 5 different types of personalities and people everyone should have in their network.It’s a really good episode ---episode #65 if you want to go back and listen. I thought of that episode this morning when I received this question from Mark in San Francisco –Hi Brian - Love the podcast – I’m a junior in college majoring in Sports Administration, all of my courses talk about the nuts and bolts of this career path, but you are the only person out there helping all of us with ideas in internships and networking and strategies for our resumes and cover letters. Plus introducing us to all of these experts in the field… I mean come on it’s awesome.(Thanks mark)My question today for you is about mentoring… I know you’ve talked about the importance of finding a mentor before on the show… but I still feel lost in this area. How do you get one? What should they be like? How do I know if they really want to be a mentor? I really need some guidance here.Mark – I’m happy to provide guidance here! It’s a great question and per usual I have a lot of thoughts on it.Finding a mentor is important, as we’ve all stated, but it isn’t a just add water exercise. Meaning it isn’t just something on your to do list you decide to complete today.It has to happen more organically than that. Which sounds so squishy… but it’s true, it’s not something you can force.You know how you buy a new shirt and you really think it’s cool and unique…then you go out on the street or around campus and it seems like everyone has the same shirt, or something close to it? It’s not that there is a change, you are just more aware of the shirt now, your awareness is heightened, so you notice it everywhere around you.When my wife first got pregnant, it was like everywhere I looked was pregnant ladies… the number of pregnant ladies likely wasn’t any different, but because I was so hyper aware to it now, I just noticed it more.The same thing goes for the mentor conversation… we talk about it, so that you have awareness, and when a relationship starts to form that makes sense… you identify and value it’s importance.You aren’t actively going out and saying – you want me be my mentor? I think you’d be great!It has to happen more naturally than that…but you also have ot put yourself in position for it to happen…which means getting out there. Talking to leaders during your internship, trying to form relationships with professors, going to conferences and speaking up…get yourself out there and put yourself in a position to notice the opportunity.Now, here’s why I references my earlier podcast episode about the types of people you need in your network. I’ve gone back and thought about this in my own career…and I realized something. I don’t have just one mentor. I have multiple mentors.So when people say “How do I find A mentor” what they should be asking is “what type of people are good mentors to have?”Let’s answer that question too! BONUS BABY!I went back and thought about my career and the guidance I’ve had and I’d say I’ve had at least 5 different mentors who all served different purposes and they all played a vital role in helping frame my perspective on work and life.Let’s break them down a bit – with the caveat - there is no time limit on this. You don’t have to find 5 mentors by the end of the semester, this takes time and will occur over time, be open to it, be aware of it, and it will happen.Listen in to the podcast episode to learn the 5 types of mentors you need in your sports career

Dan Rossetti: Standing out for Sports Jobs – Work in Sports Podcast Episode 129 Oct 31, 2018

Dan Rossetti is the President of Prodigy Sports Recruiting, and an expert in what it takes to get hired in the sports industry. Check out this episode and learn what it takes to stand out to employers for sports jobs.Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast.When I was younger I had this idea about being discovered.You read these clickbait stories of famous people being discovered just walking around town. Ashton Kutcher was ambling through the mall in Iowa when a talent scout discovered him.Jennifer Lawrence was walking with her family in Union square while vacationing in New York and a talent scout discovered her.When I was young I thought of these moments a lot… like my time was coming, I’d be discovered soon.Truth is I was kind of chubby, kind of short and had a lot of freckles and braces.I mean, back then I was… now I’m tall and strapping…back then I was chubby.The point is, I was consumed by this idea of something great happening TO me, just by being somewhere.The lottery ticket of life was going to be bestowed upon me as I walked through Chess King at the Leominster Mall, picking out some horrendous outfit, or at least looking significantly intrigued as if I was playing a role to some camera that didn’t exist.You day dream and think someone may be watching… right now… time for Blue Steel!You laugh, because you did, or still do the same thing. We all do.People do this with their careers too. I’ll be discovered after college, by someone great doing something I deserve to do and they’ll pay me, LOTS!In the early months of this podcast I had on sports recruiter Dan Rosetti, Dan is incredible, he is the President of Prodigy Sports Recruiting and one of the true greats in this industry along with his co-workers Mark Gress and Scott Carmichael.But here’s what happened when I released that episode – I was flooded, and I imagine Dan was too – with requests of people who wanted Dan to find them a job. It didn’t matter what the job was, or what their skills were…they just wanted Dan to discover them.Sorry people, that’s not how the world works.You need a plan. You need a skill set. You need to build your brand. You need experience. Then someone like Dan can take you to another level.He can’t make you desirable to employers, that’s on you…only you can do that.Here’s the other thing that happened during that interview – Dan dropped some incredible knowledge and insight about what makes people successful in their sports careers and he would know better than anyone.So let’s go back in time and listen to Dan Rossetti, president of Prodigy sports and one of the most insightful people in the industry.

Katie Gillen, Atlanta United FC: The Competitive World of Sports Social Media Oct 29, 2018

Careers in sports social media require skills outside of content creation, it takes strategic thinking, research, planning and more. Katie Gillen, Atlanta United FC's Manager of Social Media and Analytics joins us on the podcast to explain. Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast.There tends to be very blurry lines in the sports industry.In some industries jobs are like silo’s – you work in a very specific function doing a very specific thing… do not venture over here, that is not your world. Stay in your lane, enjoy your silo. You push the paper from point A to point B…don’t even make eye contact with point C.Of course I’m being a little dramatic but, I know people who have this existence…it usually requires a cubicle, just to remind you that you have to stay in your space, and not play elsewhere.In sports, the lines are a little blurrier.Sports sales is a whole lot of marketing. Marketing involves a lot of social media. Social Media involves a lot of content creation. Content creation includes a lot of graphic design.We can play this game all day long.One of my early career bosses, Sandy Malcolm, used to tell me all the time, you have to be versatile. You can’t just be a good writer, you have to know how to run a camera, edit video, ask good questions and more and more and more.This formula is constantly changing.To be a scout, well now you have to know analytics… that wasn’t the case 10 years ago.To be a storyteller you have to know Instagram, also not the case a decade ago.As they say, the goal posts keep moving.Careers in sports are blended….and often require both right and left brain.Take sports social media for example. You think it’s a right brain career choice, all creative and abstract, spontaneous and artistic. Sure, that’s part of it. But not all of it.A huge component of successful social media is in the left brain activities… like setting strategy, planning, data mining, analytics and projections.This weeks guest, Katie Gillen from Atlanta United FC – she’s the manager of social media AND analytics…which to many of you may sound like an impossible combination of left and right brain, but for her, is the perfect mix of both.And Katie's daily reality points out a truth you should write on your wall or inscribe in your notebook – don’t pigeonhole yourself.You can’t be just one thing, you can’t be just a creative type…you have to be tactical and able to get things done. You can’t be just a data person, you have to be able to translate that into action and into a format your audience, whether that’s a fan base or a sponsor or a group sales target…is ready and excited to consume.This interview ahead isn’t just a “let’s talk about how fun it is to work in social media!” Sure that’s part of it, but there are challenges ahead, challenges that you need to face if you want to work with a major professional sports team in any role.In social media you must be able to complete the cycle -- from over-arching strategy, to concept, to planning, to execution, to evaluation, to adjustments, to data collection, to learning and applying, to next challenge.Any part of this cycle that you avoid, or can’t complete, means you have a weakness that can be or must be filled by someone else. Wouldn’t you rather be able to contribute to the whole process?Today’s guest Katie Gillen sure can. As the Manager of Social Media and Analytics for Atlanta United FC, the University of Florida grad has been up to the challenge of the whole cycle, and that’s one of the many reasons she’s a rock star…listen in, and you’ll find out the rest of the reasons real soon.Sports Social Media Questions for Katie Gillen, Atlanta United FC Manager of Social Media and Analytics1: Going through your background, before you became the social media maven with Atlanta FC, your previous roles were all connected to content and storytelling in sports… when did it become clear to you that your career...

Sports Marketing is Bigger in Las Vegas! Vegas Golden Knights CMO Brian Killingsworth Oct 24, 2018

Brian Killingsworth CMO of the Vegas Golden Knights joins the Work in Sports podcast to discuss the success and overall brand approach of the young NHL organizationHi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast.Vegas Baby! I’ve said these words many many times prior to boarding a flight for the oasis in the desert.Visiting with friends, visiting family, heck I even got married there. No not a drive through elvis chapel, the real deal top floor of the Mandalay Bay looking down the strip.I love Vegas.But I never, ever, thought any sport outside of boxing and MMA would thrive there. Those are events people go to to be seen, and that is Vegas in a nutshell.Mike Tyson fight – heck yeah bring it to Vegas and roll out the red carpets…or as Iron Mike would do, cut a hole through the middle of a hotel towel and drape it over himself.Seriously, for all of you who only think of Mike Tyson as the guy from the Hangover… come on, he was the baddest man on the planet for real.Ok, I’m getting off track.My point is this – I never believed Vegas could support a day in day out team. An 82 games in a season, practice daily, win some lose some team. I just didn’t see it.There are communities in Vegas, full of families and schools and kids and water parks… but they tend to avoid the strip.When the Vegas Golden Knights announced their existence, my first thought was… this is going to be awful. Hockey in the desert hasn’t done well, the locals don’t go to the strip and there just isn’t enough interest from tourists to go see a hockey game…when they can go do other things.Think about it, if you are a tourist from Minnesota going to Vegas in the Winter to get some sun… are you going to go see a hockey game? No I don’t think so, you’re going to be poolside at the Hard Rock for a few days getting your pasty white arse a little sun.To me the equation of season ticket holders + local interest just wasn’t adding up.But so far, I have been miserably wrong. Now before you say “success changes everything, wait until they lose” you need to remember that before they even dropped a puck, they had sold 13,000 season tickets for an arena that holds 17,500. That’s 74% capacity for the season, guaranteed and before they even made any calls for group sales, individual game sales, premium seating…They were netting a hat trick before the ice got cold.Why? A fan base that was starved for a team and an aggressive marketing strategy that former guest on the show Leigh Steinberg called “a miracle on and off the ice.”Who better to learn about this successful strategy from, than Vegas Golden Knights Chief Marketing Officer, Brian Killlingsworth, who after 10 years with the Tampa Bay Rays, and then multiple years in the NFL with the Rams and Buccaneers… took his talents to Vegas!Questions for Brian Killingsworth, CMO Vegas Golden Knights1: You’ve worked in various marketing roles in Major League Baseball, the NFL and now in the NHL. How much does the approach to marketing change in different sports with different target audiences?2: Not only are we talking different sports, we’re also talking about a first of its kind location. You spent many years in Tampa Bay with the Rays and the Buccaneers… how much have you been blown away by the Vegas experience?Does it allow you some freedom from a marketing perspective to say ‘this is Las Vegas, we can do anything!’3: In a way, having an expansion team is like working for a start-up… I’d imagine there are so many granular details you have to focus on to structure a good foundation so you can grow. How challenging was it to really build a marketing strategy, approach and team from scratch?4: Talk about head spinning, I don’t think anyone predicted the Golden Knights would be in the Stanley Cup playoffs last year, no less the finals. Your marketing team and overall fan experience took things to a different level all season… did it energize you to know in the finals your ef...

Tips to Make Sure You Don’t Mess Up Your Next Phone Interview Oct 22, 2018

Phone interviews are the pre-screening of choice for most sports employers, so we will all have to face them at some point. How do you nail the phone interview so you can get the face-to-face one? That's the subject of this weeks Q&A!Hi everybody I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast.Last week on our private facebook group I asked everyone to post a GIF that exemplifies the status of their sports job search.43 people responded… and they were pretty darn hilarious, but at the same time kind of depressing. 81% of the respondents had negative themes to their current job search.The cat running up a slide and getting nowhere… kid crying during a TV interview… a justin timberlake or two…I mean I laughed a lot…but it was sad, man.I want better things for all of you, that’s why I do this damn show. I’m not here for the sponsors… psst, there aren’t any.Unemployment is low thanks to Obama, and we have over 10,000 sports jobs available on our site right now, so what is going wrong? Where is the disconnect between your skills and their openings?Before we get into today’s question, which is related to this subject, you’ll see…I want you to go through a little checklist:As yourself:Am I being too specific? – Sometimes you need to broaden your search and change what you are willing to accept as an entry level position to get things started.Am I being too rigid on where? I’ve said it many times before, you often need to relocate for sports careers – go where the opportunities are, take some chances, sports isn’t a passive industry, you can’t wait for something to come to your door. Also, make this clear in your cover letter. Finish off by saying something like – “While I am not currently local to the Pittsburgh area, I am willing and anxious to relocate for an opportunity like yours.” Phrase it better, but let it be known relocating is not an issue.Are you lacking primary skills? You need the tangibles! What do you have that they need – if you can’t answer that question, you have work to do.Have you done a personal audit? Check yourself and your skill set against job descriptions. Where are the gaps?Are you networking? If you aren’t connecting with all of the gueests on this show – if you are active on LinkedIn sharing, commenting and liking, if you aren’t going to your career center and finding out about alumni in your area of expertise – you are not working hard enough at getting a job. It’s work – put in the time.Alright let’s get on to today’s question – this one comes from Morgan in South Bend – I have known Morgans who are men, and Morgan’s who are women, so I will not specify gender and I will not judge. Morgan asks –I’ve been binge listening to your podcast and I have to say I love it, I can’t believe how much advice you give that motivates and inspires me to take action.[thanks morgan]You’ve talked a lot about interview techniques including video interviews… but I have a phone interview next week that I am very nervous about. Do you have any tips?YES! I’ll tell you this, I hate phone interviews. They always feel off-rhythm to me. I know for me personally I feed off of body language and reading the room… without that I feel like I’m trying to play basketball with both my hands tied behind my back.Which means I dribble with my face. Which is awkward.That said, phone interviews are a reality of our world and the most common pre-screening used before bringing someone in for an in person interview… so we all must deal.Here are a few tips to help smooth out this phone conversation:Let’s start with a couple easy logistical issues that are pre-interview – remember someone has to call you first to set up the interview:1: Check your voicemail outgoing message. I did mine about 5 years ago and never thought of it again, I called myself one day to find my phone and heard my message… it was awful. I sounded depressed or like I had a really bad headache.

Christopher Flynn: Inside the CORE of the Oakland A’s – Work in Sports Podcast e125 Oct 17, 2018

Most professional sports teams have sales academies where they train their entry level sales staff. The Oakland A's have gone way beyond the traditional sales training, creating a Sports Business Development Academy they call The CORE.Christopher Flynn, sales manager for the CORE, joins the podcast to share more about this unique program Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast.It’s kind of rare that you come across a completely unique process in the sports industry. Sure there are advancements in the business of sports, things like dynamic ticket pricing, analytics, even social media is an advancement on the method of communication and marketing.But truly unique doesn’t come around all that often, when it does, you take note.Want to work with a pro team? What’s the advice you hear all the time – look into sales. Right? I mean I’ve never worked in sales myself, but I’ve done enough of these interviews to see a pattern when it becomes obvious.Sales is the lifeblood of every sports organization because without sales there is no event. I remember going to a Major indoor Soccer League game as a kid – it was the Dallas Sidekicks vs. the Cleveland Crunch… now I lived in Boston, but it was a touring exhibition to try and get more fans nationally.The game featured Tatu, who was one of the greatest indoor soccer players in the world… and no one was there. I mean no one.It was pretty clear this league and this team wasn’t going to last… no tickets sold, no revenue, no operation.It makes sense why teams focus so much of their energy on sales and sales training.More than half of the entry level jobs in sports are in sales, and all teams both high and low, have sales academies for their entry level inside sales crew. This is where they get the hardcore training in how to become an elite salesperson in sports… or they find out it isn’t for them and they bail.But what about everyone else? What about someone who wants to work in a different department? Where do they get the training necessary to thrive in the industry?Teams have more than just sales people on staff, so what are they doing to train those people, and keep that talent in house?Well, the Oakland A’s identified this problem. They changed the typical pro team sales academy, deciding to take a holistic approach to training.The focus of their elite training program, called the CORE, wouldn’t be just on sales…it would be Communications, Corporate Partnerships, Marketing, Strategy, or Community Engagement. Why? Because they wanted to create an incredible staff, and keep them with the A’s. The best way to do that is by finding their perfect spot, not just spoon feeding sales.The CORE stands for Culture, Opportunity, Results and Education – and it is led by the Eddie Eixenberger and Christopher Flynn. Chris joins us on the podcast this week, to explain more about this incredible program:Questions for Christopher Flynn, Oakland A's Sales Manager, The CORE1: I’m a big fan of branding - giving product or group a name, purpose and tag line… at the Oakland A’s you’ve really done that, branding your sports business development academy “The CORE”… can you explain a little more about the program and how it was created?2: Almost every team has a sales academy where they train their inside sales staff to sell tickets…but you guys are going one step further than just sales, you’re also training these new academy members in Communications, Corporate Partnerships, Marketing, Strategy, and Community Engagement – why was it so important to have a more holistic and complete version of training outside of just sales?3: CORE stands for Culture, Opportunity, Results, and Education –All great terms, but I love in particular the two middle terms: Opportunity and Results – can you explain why these two in particular are such an important part of the A’s sports business development?4: I’ve watched your LinkedIn feed and one of the things...

Should I Focus on Just One Sport for My Career? Work in Sports Podcast e124 Oct 15, 2018

Does it make sense to focus on one sport and become an "expert" or to branch out and work in any sport? That is today's question that we're tackling on the Work in Sports podcastHi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast.It’s Monday, it’s grey and rainy here in Pennsylvania… and I am super pumped for this week. I know, I’m not the type to say things like super pumped, because it sounds forced and inauthentic… but I am so I will.Here’s why. I love booking great guests for our show. I love it. There is this sense of validation that comes from someone saying yes. And better yet, as our show grows and more and more people become connected to it, there is a huge ego boost that comes from someone saying, I love your podcast of course I will come on.You aren’t supposed to admit things like ego boosts, you are supposed to have more chill than that… but come on, I’m human like all of you, I get excited and geeked up when important people in the industry know and respect what we are doing here!You get excited right? Me too. I’m no different than you are.So, why am I excited… Let me count the ways.1: I just had an awesome, and I mean awesome interview with Christopher Flynn Oakland A’s Sales manager for the CORE. The CORE is their Sports Business Development Academy and it is cutting edge and super cool. I love it when an interview flows and is very natural… we crushed it.2: This week I’m interviewing –Katie Gillen, Atlanta FC’s Manager of Social Media and Analytics – Atlanta FC is crushing it in fan engagement and social, but there is so much more to social than just tweeting behind the scenes photos -we’re going to get into that with Katie.Kristina Wedseltoft – Indiana Pacers Community Relations coordinator – so many of you have expressed interest in community relations, so pumped to have Kristina on right as the NBA season is getting underway.Bill Guertin from Inspiration Sports Business Institute – Bill is the guy who teams hire to train their sales staff. He’s worked with over 40 professional teams, he knows the skills you need, what teams want and how to break in to sports.And finally – Brian Killingsworth the Chief Marketing Officer of the Vegas Golden Knights. The Golden Knights are crushing it in Vegas, and Brian is behind so many of their great ideas. So excited for that interview.So yeah, I’m pumped up. If you have any question you want me to ask any of those guests, post them in our private facebook group! Go to the Work in Sports podcast on facebook, join the group and post your question as a new thread. I will pick the best questions, incorporate them in the interview and give you a shout out for asking it.Pretty cool right?Justin Collier:Just wanted to connect and say thank you for the work you do. I just recently found your podcast and when I did I was wondering if I needed to relocate to succeed in the sports industry. I randomly scrolled down through the episodes, and amazingly the one I stopped on was “Do I really need to relocate for a sports career?” This was a sign to me that the podcast was what I needed in my sports career. (Thanks Justin!)I am currently a seasonal Account Executive with the Tennessee Titans and as my time with the Titans comes to an end, my job search is kicking back into gear. So the one main question I have: Is it a good idea to stay in one sport so that you can master that specific industry, or is it a good idea to branch out and try multiple sports so that you can be well versed in every industry? Thanks again Brian! Justin it’s a good question and I’m going to be very very assertive with my answer.Branch out.With one exception that I’ll get to later.Why branch out? First lets just work through some examples. You know how I mentioned I’m interviewing Brian Killingsworth CMO of the Vegas Golden Knights later this week?Check his resume:10 years with the Tampa Bay Rays – that’s baseball.3 years with the LA (then St.

Dr. Cara Wright: Running the Business Operation of a Sports Team Oct 10, 2018

Dr. Cara Wright, the Director of Business Operations for the LA Clippers G-League team, joins the show and discusses everything from buying a bus, to the changing roles for women in sports. Dig into this episode!Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast.I was listening to some other podcasts the other day, you know a little opposition research, and I was trying to figure out if I needed to change anything. Not because I wanted to, but just because I wanted to learn what people were gravitating towards.You know what struck me, most people who have guests on their show, the guests are there to sell something. Their course, their book, their speaking engagements, their conferences.Now of course, someone will point out, I work for a subscription sports job board, so my very presence is trying to sell memberships… fair enough, and we are the top sports jobs board in the sports industry so what’s not to love, but what I’m really talking about here is our guests.They are here for one reason, and one reason only – they want to help you. Not me, they aren’t doing me a solid, they are here because the like the idea of giving back to you. Of helping guide and mentor.When I listen to other podcasts you notice a different tone from guests who’s end goal is different. When their goal is to move product, they have an anxiousness in their voice, and a near over-exuberance that borders on being inauthentic.I listen to our guests and they don’t sound rehearsed, they sound raw and honest. They don’t sound scripted, they seem like they take pauses to get their thoughts together before speaking. They don’t sound slick, they sound vulnerable and open.That’s what I love about this show.Everyone gives a piece of themselves. Sure I’ve tried to sell tickets to our sports accelerator event, and I’ve mentioned the benefits of our membership a few times… but if you don’t think I’m giving back, I don’t think you’ve been listening well enough. And if you don’t recognize how dedicated and authentic our expert guests are, well, you don’t truly have an appreciation of how cold it can be out there, and how warm it is in here.This week’s guest is Dr. Cara Wright, Director of Business Operations for the Agua Caliente Clippers – the LA Clippers G-League team… she’s on the cusp of her season and she took 40 minutes to chat with me about her section of the industry, competing in a market so close to LA, and the growing role of women in sports. Why? Because she cares about helping… so do her the courtesy of listening and sharing!Here’s Dr. Cara Wright:Questions for Dr. Cara Wright, Director of Business Operations for the Agua Caliente Clippers1: Looking back at your beginning, you played D1 basketball at the University of Dayton – how much did being a student athlete prepare you for the sports industry?2: Many student athletes will say they don’t have time to intern and gain experience that is so vital to getting hired in sports, how did you overcome this challenge, and do you have any advice to the 460,000 student athletes out there?3: You made the choice to go further than most in your college education, getting your Masters and eventually your Phd. Only 8% of US citizens over age 25 have their Masters, and only 1.68% have their doctorate… why was this the right path for you, and has it helped differentiate you in your career?4: It’s pretty clear tracking your career that you are a big basketball fan – from coach, to camp administrator for Basketball without Borders in South Africa, to the Indiana Pacers and Fever, to the Clippers …with a few stops in between – how important was it for you to know what your passion is, and lean into those opportunities?5: As the Director of Business operations for the Clippers G-League team you handle the daily operations of the business – that’s a huge role – can you tell us a little more of the specific expectations of the role?

Time Management for the Sports Industry – Work in Sports Podcast e122 Oct 08, 2018

We all struggle with managing our to do list and prioritizing our day. In this episode Brian shares some tips to make life more efficient! Isn't that the goal?!Hi everybody I’m Brian Clapp, Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast.I just got back from Phoenix we had our quarterly business summit with our team at Work in Sports, and a couple of notes. We have some big things coming, which I am very, very excited about. There is still a ton of work to be done, but we have the framework in place for some dynamic changes that will serve all of you better.We’re a customer focused company, and when we have these quarterly business meetings all we ask ourselves is, “what can we be doing to serve our members and our partners better?”Last year, we focused hard on upping the quantity and quality of our jobs – we used to hover around 6-7,000 jobs, and in the last year we’ve added so many new employers to our site that we are now up to 10,000+ jobs.Think about that for a second – we focus in on many of the small to mid-sized employers in the sports industry, so when you come to our site you will find 10,000 available sports jobs from all kind of employers, many of which you may never have even known existed.I mean I had never heard of True North Sports and Entertainment, but when I go on our site I see they are hiring for a Manager of corporate partnerships. And right next to it I see a job with the Boston Celtics for a Sr, Coordinator of Community Engagement.Point is, we have them all. Big and small. And that was our big push last year, this podcast and upping our job totals. I’d say both have been a success. This year we have a new focus and it's going to be really cool.The second note I had from our business summit was this. 4 times a year I go to Phoenix, and it’s a total change from my norm. It’s dry, it’s hot, it’s sunny… no humidity, no rain, clear skies, bright sun.You know what happened this last trip. Rained the whole damn time. I’m inside most of the time anyway working… but come on. Can’t a guy get dried out a little bit?Alright let’s move on to this weeks question from John in Missouri – John’s going to get a free month on WorkinSports for asking a question and having his question answered… you can too!Email me, podcast@workinsports.com or hit me up on LinkedIn, or through our private facebook group. Many options.Sports Career Question from John in Missouri!Question from John in Missouri:Hey Brian, big fan of the podcast, thanks so much for what you do. I’m currently a senior in college and I’m probably trying to do too much. I’m interning for a local team, volunteering at the school paper and in the athletic department, I’m president of a few clubs on campus, have a full class load and …to be honest, some days I am way overloaded. I’m doing this all so I have notable experiences on my resume, but it brings up two questions:1: I feel like my time management is poor – do you have any advice?2: Is all of this necessary or am I just doing a lot of running around like a crazed man for nothing?John – I like both of these questions.For the first part on time management – I stress to people all the time that they need to focus on time management when they are in the early stages of your career (I view college as the start of your career – because time is your own to manage). The reason you need to focus on time management early on is because the workload and demands of your career and life will get harder from here, and if your processes aren’t well structured you’ll struggle to manage your own growth.Here’s what goes wrong when you don’t have time management processes in place:You limit your potential –being inefficient limits your ability to accomplish what you should, and reflects poorly on youYou scramble your priorities, if you don’t weigh out what is most important, you tend to go toward the things you like to do, or can accomplish faster. So you put the wrong things first.

Jennifer Keene: Strategic Marketing for Professional Athletes – Work in Sports Podcast e121 Oct 03, 2018

Ever wonder what it would be like to create the marketing plans for professional athletes and help develop connections to build their brand? Wonder no more, Jennifer Keene Octagon, VP of Athlete and Property Marketing joins the show. Questions for Jennifer Keene, VP of Athlete and Property Marketing at Octagon:Listen to the podcast episode for the answers to all of these questions and more!1: You majored in psychology at Cornell – which at first glance seems like an odd way to enter the world of marketing…but I wonder if it isn’t quite an asset being able to get into the minds of the audience, but also to connect with your athletes – am I giving this too much thought, or does that educational background help you still to this day?2: You are another in a long line of top level sports executives I’ve interviewed who started their career in sales – what would you say was your approach to your early career, and what stands out from your “getting started days” in sales?3: Next move NBA entertainment in licensing and then on to a major Washington DC law firm Williams and Connelly. Williams and Connelly is well known for representing clients on the business side of sports – leases, arbitration, litigation – but you were on the creative side in marketing…how did that role function and operate?4: Then, Octagon. I don’t think most people getting started in the industry realize how big and powerful of an organization Octagon is – take a moment and tell everyone about the breadth and reach of the Octagon empire. You guys are in everything sports!5: Your official title is Vice President of Athlete and Property Marketing – which I’m not going to lie sounds like a lot of fun – take us through your role and responsibilities.6: You’ve worked with numerous top athletes and celebrities on their marketing opportunities – Emmitt Smith, Steph Curry, David Robinson, Hannah Storm – what’s the process of onboarding a new client like? You sign a deal with a guy like Emmitt Smith…where does the road go from there?7: Forgetting the nuts and bolts of the job for a second – let’s get back to the basics, how do you gain trust with these top athletes who have probably been pitched all of their lives? How do you connect and build a strong foundation?hhh8: I hear many people talk about wanting to work in Sales…or wanting to work in Marketing…as if they were different silos. But isn’t the line between each pretty blurry? Aren’t most sales jobs also involved in marketing and vice versa?9: As VP you have a much different set of responsibilities than when you were a sales associate at People Magazine in the late 1990’s. Looking back what were the major challenges you faced going from bright eyed new employee embarking on a career, to being a VP and having to manage so much more?10: Which part do you enjoy the most – the creative process of coming up with an idea or concept? Or the actual activation of the ideas? Why?11: So many people in our audience are interested in sports marketing careers – what parting advice would you give someone with a deep desire to someday end up near your shoes?

The Reality of “Embracing the Grind” and Standing Out in a Big Crowd Oct 01, 2018

Many people in the sports industry will tell you that you must embrace the grind (code word: work long hours and always be available) but is that real? Also we dig into a fan question on standing out in a guest relations role with a pro team. Show notes coming soon....

Getting Hired in Professional Sports – Work in Sports Podcast e119 Sep 19, 2018

Philadelphia Eagles Talent Acquisition manager Colleen Scoles joined the podcast just over a year ago, but her advice on getting a job in professional sports needs to be heard. We're updating and rebroadcasting this episode because it was that good. Hi everybody I’m Brian Clapp, Director of Content for Work in Sports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast.I have this personal mission statement – I tell myself all the time “Fix the Problem” and that is a constant reminder to me that it serves no purpose to blame, or make excuses, or whine about problems as they arise.My job is to fix the problem. Identify the problem, understand the root of it, and get to solving it. That’s life. Work life and Life life – things don’t usually go as planned.So who are you, are you the type that when problems arise you panic in blame… or do you go into solutions mode?I’ll give you two examples from just the last week for me. We had our Sports Career Accelerator event last week in Atlanta. Our first Work in Sports branded event like this, along with our good friends at Tremont Sports.Scott Gray from Tremont had worked for months on booking guests, facilities, transportation, lunches… we worked hand in hand in getting this event off the ground. I had planned to moderate a panel or two, but generally be in the background shaking hands kissing babies and taking some videos for our marketing efforts.Day of the event – Scott got sick, like really sick. The kind where you don’t leave your bedroom for a few days see you at the clinic sick. I found this out about 20 minutes before we were opening for registration.It was about 100% humidity, and I could feel my body going into heavy sweats, which is not a good first impression. I had a choice to make, panic or produce. So Michael Brown, the CEO of Tremont, John Mellor the CEO of WorkinSports and myself all just said – we have a job to do, lets figure this out.The event was awesome – sure we were uncomfortable at times behind the scenes but no one in attendance knew it. Fix the problem. We lost a main player – so what, time to go to work.Second example is this here podcast episode. I had a plan to record a few sessions from the accelerator event and package it up all pretty for an episode. Well, no one spoke close enough to their microphones, the audio was intelligible and no matter how I tried to edit and effect and enhance it… it just wasn’t happening.Fix the problem. Go to plan B.Yesterday I was supposed to interview Dr. Cara Wright, Director of Business operations for the Clippers. Great, I’ll turn that one around quickly and publish this week instead.5 minutes before our interview, my daughters school calls – accident out front of the school busses can’t get in, please come get your kids through the back access. Uh oh. Have to postpone with Cara.Fix the Problem -- Plan C.We’ve had over 100,000 downloads of this show... but so many of you listening today are 100% new to the show in the last few months or even weeks. One of the absolute best interviews to date was in the first month of our existence. Colleen Scoles Talent Acquisition manager for the Philadelphia Eagles…not enough of you have heard this interview. Not enough of you have learned the secrets of drawing the attention of a major professional teams hiring department.So we’re bringing back one of our greatest hits this week. Get your pen and pencil ready – because here comes Colleen Scoles Talent Acquisition Manager for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Top Advice from our Sports Career Accelerator Event in Atlanta – Work in Sports Podcast e118 Sep 17, 2018

Our Atlanta Sports Career Accelerator is in the history books - in this episode of the Work in Sports podcast I'm sharing the top advice from our incredible speakers. Show notes coming soon!

Jumbo Sports Career QA Session from the University of Florida Sep 12, 2018

Last week I was invited to speak to a Sports Information Management class at the University of Florida, the class peppered me with questions, great questions, about their sports career. Listen in to what happened.Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…We are totally mixing things up this week.Last week I was invited into the classroom of Professor Eric Esterline’s Sports Information Management class at the University of Florida …and it was a blast.His class had a bunch of questions ready to ask, and I intentionally said – I don’t want to know what they are in advance, I want this to be totally organic and raw, honest and in the moment.So here it is – my time at the University of Florida. Subject discussed include:Sports job interview preparationThe most important thing you should do while in collegeA strategy for internshipsHow to organize your networking effortsHow long you should wait to follow up after a job interviewGetting feedback from a job interviewGaining experience while a student athleteAnd much more. This is a really robust episode with many different topics discussed -- enjoy!

Making the Jump to Management – Work in Sports Podcast e116 Sep 10, 2018

The skills that got your hired to do an entry level job are different than the ones which will get your promoted to manager - here's what you need to develop.Hi everybody I’m Brian Clapp, Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast!I got called out this week.It’s OK, really it is, I loved the feedback and honest opinion of one of our longtime listeners.It went like this - He wrote in to me on LinkedIn and said, I’ve been listening to your podcast from the start, but since I have a job in sports now, it seems like a lot of your advice is geared toward people trying to get in to the industry, rather than growing once they get in it. How do I still get value out of your show?Now, without trying to sound defensive, I explained a few things:The advice on the show is more global and career spanning than you think.That if I talk about how to make a great impression, or how to perform on an internship – these still apply to your world now because you are making impressions every day…and while not on an internship, the tips and ideas of how you should act and show spirit are very applicable.And most importantly, the expert interviews should be up your alley... these are the pro's sharing their journey, lots of nuggets in there that you should be focusing on as your grow in your career.But all that said, maybe he’s right. Maybe I should focus a little more on once you get in, how do you go up?So let’s talk about that exact subject. How do you go from entry level employee – to mid-level management? What skills do you need?Because the skills that got your hired to do an entry level job, are different than the ones which will get your promoted. Get your pen and paper out because here comes your game plan.Supervision – When I’m promoting someone to a mid-level manager, I have to identify in them the maturity to work with and lead other staff. Are they mature enough to handle controversy, questions, attacks on them and other things that come up as a manager. Can they supervise others and hold them accountable in a respectful manner.Communication and Intellect - A manager is seen as a resource for employees to get answers – can this person spread and share proper information and be in line with company messaging?Can they Control the Room – I look at a mid-level manager as someone who has to represent me when I’m not available or on. Can this person control the room? Get everyone moving in the right direction? And stand tall on their own?Budget Management – if you are a mid-level manager that means you have control over a small team…and that takes budget management to understand financials, operating costs and more. Plus you need to value costs as a metric in your decision making as well. Can this person do that?Organized – Can this person manage multiple workflows, needs and demands of multiple employees and keep a proper paper trail of everyting from communications to financials?Collaborative – Can this person work well with others in different departments? So can a sales person integrate well with marketing or pr or community relations staffs? If not, not aThink long-term – the biggest jump for managers, outside of managing people, is in thinking long-term and strategically. Not just to get through and execute on today’s goals, but to set the goals for the future and hold people accountable.People person – I don’t promote people who aren’t relatable and good listeners – managers listen, managers help, managers see what needs doing and do it. If you aren’t a people person, get back in your spreadsheet, you aren’t a manager.See the broader business – as a new employee you see your silo, you become the master of your segment. But at some point, to be promotable, you have to see the business as a bigger entity. When I was a sports producer, I was only worried about my show that night and all the components of it. When I was a News Director, I had to see affiliate deals, public relations initiatives,

Emily Jaenson: Forging a Path in Minor League Baseball – WorkinSports podcast e115 Sep 05, 2018

Emily Jaenson, General Manager of the Reno Aces, Triple A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks and highest ranking female in Minor League Baseball, joins the podcast!Spoiler: We talk about a lot more than just being a woman in sports, we go deep into her role, accomplishments, traits she looks for in people and the art of being intensely curious. Hi everybody I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast ---I want to keep this intro from being too self-aggrandizing – but this is a pretty cool day. One year ago today we launched the Work in Sports podcast.My good friend Carl Manteau, senior director of group sales for the Milwaukee Bucks was our first guest…and he was great. I was a little dicey, but Carl was great.On one year we’ve had over 100,000 downloads, about 1,000 people in our private facebook group for fans of the show to discuss sports career issues and network, guests like super agents Leigh Steinberg and Jack Mills. Sports recruiters like Dan Rossetti from Prodigy sports and Colleen Scoles Philadelphia Eagles Talent Acquisition Manager, Sales Managers like Mike Judge from the Cleveland Browns and Chris Valente from the Boston Red Sox, marketing experts, branding experts, pr experts… you name it.In the next year we really want to push the envelope – so please send me your guest suggestions, who do you want to learn from, because that’s the goal, getting these experts to teach and share their knowledge. You can email me at podcast@workinsports.com – but also, join our private facebook group, if you haven’t already you are missing out – search for the Work in Sports podcast on facebook, answer a few quick question to prove you are in fact a real human… and you are in!One thing I have really learned over the 1st year of this show is that there are two different types of people out there – there are learners and there are tellers.They are pretty easy to distinguish – and before you think this is a good vs evil comparison it is not. One is not better than the other, they are just different characteristics and personalities.Learners are really curious, always seeking out new information, new mentors, new challenges…and never really feeling comfortable in their professional status because they always feel like they need to know more. They are likely surrounded by shelves full of business books and can quote Malcolm Gladwell with ease. They are also the ones who stay on the line and chat with me after the interview, ask questions, talk shop… good times.The tellers have a little more confidence, they feel like they’ve accomplished things that are worthy of sharing. They learned by doing - and have a little more of a stubborn streak for how things should be. They probably look around at popular business books and think – duh, who doesn’t know this stuff already?Learners sometimes can lack confidence and don’t exude a presence. I had a mentor once that used to say, a leader changes the temperature in the room when they enter it. Learners can sometimes be uncomfortable in that role, of personality dominance.Tellers can sometimes lack listening skills, or an openness and flexibility when change comes knocking.Is any of this feeling like I’m hitting a nerve?I think it’s clear we should all strive for a balance of both – confidence and openness – but that’s a rare breed indeed. I’ll admit, I’m a teller. Hell I preach on this show twice a week – I guess that one is obvious. I’m stubborn, a little set in my thoughts, and I’d like to think I exude some presence. But every day I try to improve as a listener, and work at my shortcomings to come closer to the balance of learner and teller.Today’s guest Emily Jaenson General manager of the Reno Aces, Triple A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, is the rare breed. Inquisitive and probing with an intense curiosity, she has a thirst for knowledge and improvement…but she’s also tough, believable and galvanizing.

Brilliant Sports Career Advice from Super Agent Leigh Steinberg – Work in Sports Podcast e114 Aug 29, 2018

Super agent Leigh Steinberg joins the podcast to talk about leadership, what motivates him, climbing back up the hill after crashing, the patterns of success and a whole lot more.We also discuss his new online course -- The Leigh Steinberg Sports Business Certificate - follow the link for more information on this robust course that will take you deep inside the world of sports business! It's the most cutting edge education program on the business of sports to ever be produced. This course will teach you the ins and outs of the sports industry, how to land the job you want, and how to create a successful legacy working in sports.Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast!My wife has this saying – she probably stole it from someone else, I’m not trying to say she’s Socrates or anything – but it’s always in my head.She says “there is power in vulnerability”Think about that for a second. We are all so preconditioned to toughness, both physically and mentally, that we don’t often allow ourselves to be really honest with ourselves and others.But you know what happens when we face up to our true feelings and express them? You find out the world is actually more accepting and welcoming than you had ever imagined.By facing up to and admitting your fears, needs, wants and pains… you actually gain strength. Because burying emotions doesn’t make them go away, it just lets them fester.Gimme a second… I want to figure out who said that quote because I’m giving my wife too much credit… “there is power in vulnerability”…ok, google has the answer it is noted author Brene Brown.She’s a boss.She also adds – “vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity and change”Which fits into why this particular topic is so relevant today.You all know me for my public persona, rock star podcast host and helpful fella on social media. But I’m as nervous and often neurotic as they come, I’m fragile, sometimes broken and easily emotionally intimidated. In some ways I’m a fraud, since in the early days of my career I acted like a know it all because I was afraid to admit I didn’t know anything.The old fake it til you make it BS. I took that catchphrase pretty literally.This isn’t meant to martyr myself. This is meant to show honesty, so that you can open up the same in your own life.Never before has this fear and nervousness been more evident than this past week. I found out Leigh Steinberg was coming on our podcast. His people had ignored my request for months, but then one day it happened they said yes and here we are.The truth is, I started to panic. I wasn’t consumed with joy and a sense of accomplishment. I was paralyzed…like when you are sitting in the waiting room for a job interview and all you can think of is what will go wrong in the near future.You picture nothing but failure.What if he hates my questions? what if he is bored with me? What if he doesn’t answer his phone? What if I stumble, or forget, or stutter, or blather on?I’m 43 years old. Over my years I’ve learned how to harness this fear into focus, but the earlier version of me couldn’t. I failed. A Lot. I made an ass of myself A LOT because the nervousness and fear consumed me. A unwavering need to be liked and respected prevented me from being honest and doing simple things like asking for help.But now, good things happen when I talk about fear instead of burying it. Good things happen when I talk about and admit to myself and others I’m nervous.I went on to our private facebook group and said as much – I told the community 2 hours til my interview with leigh Steinberg and I’m not gonna lie I’m a little nervous.You know what happened? Outpouring of support. And you know what comes from support…strength.I knew I had worked hard on my questions, I knew I could drag unique conversations and angles out of him…and the support of my peers, and of my friends in our community… pushed all doubts to the side,

7 Things You Need to do in College to Prepare for your Sports Career Aug 27, 2018

In this episode we dig into the deeper purpose of college. How to really leverage the college experience into a sports job.Hi everybody I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…The purpose of this show, our mission statement you could say, is pretty simple – we’re trying to help people like you start or grow their career in the multi-billion dollar global sports industry.For all the similarities that the sports industry have to any other business, there are also many subtle and not so subtle specifics that can help you become the person sports employers want.Why sports? Why should you pursue a career in something like sports? I’ll break it down to you like this:From an economic standpoint – the sports industry is consistent, in good times and bad economically, sports still thrives. In fact during the last major US recession… The Economist said “the sports industry by and large is holding up to the recession better than most industries.”Why, because people still pay to see their heroes perform, to entertain, to escape the troubles of life or to add to them. Sports do well in various market conditions.But on a more emotional standpoint – why work in sports? Because it’s something you feel passionate about. It’s something you choose to do. When you pick up your phone in the morning, you check ESPN.com, when you flip through channels you go to FS1 – sports doesn’t feel like work, because it’s something you are genuinely interested in.But it is, it is work. It is a huge global industry – it does take specific skills and methods to achieve greatness – which is why we are here.If you aren’t familiar with our site – WorkinSports.com – let me learn you a little something. We work with over 8,000 sports employers to promote their job openings. We put all the active jobs in one spot, so you can easily find and apply for your next dream position. We’re a service, saving you time and money, by helping you find sports jobs you wouldn’t otherwise know about. We’ve been doing this for almost 20 years… we can really help you.As for this podcast – Mondays are question and answer day – you ask the questions, I answer them. Who am I? Well, I’m Brian, I’ve been in the sports industry for 20 years primarily in the sports media, at CNN/Sports Illustrated and Fox Sports. I’ve been in charge of staffing, budgets, producing content, managing workflows, interviewing and a whole lot more. Plus I’ve interviewed 200+ sports executives on what they look for in employees… so I’m a source of information for you.On Wednesdays I interview industry experts – for example this Wednesday – Leigh Steinberg, super agent. If you haven’t heard of him…you don’t know sports. (Jerry Maguire was based on him).So that’s the rundown – I don’t do this everytime, but we are getting tons and tons of new listeners each week and sometimes I like to set the table for everyone.Now let’s get into today’s question –“Hey Brian, this is Aaliyah from Alabama – I’m going into my freshman year of college and I really want to make my college career productive and efficient. You’ve talked a great deal about how someone should prepare for their job search while in college…but I’m curious, are there other things we should be doing while in college to make ourselves really attractive to employers and marketable?”This is a fun question Aaliyah and as always…I have a few ideas that can help:1: Frame your mind around this – your GPA doesn’t mean squat2: Avoid as much debt as you can3: Play a sport…on the real team, club team, intramural team – whatever4: Use your Career Center5: Become really good friends with LinkedIn6: Work on your listening and conversational skills7: Define your ideal companies early… study themListen to the whole episode for all the details on these points!

Evan Feinstein: Marketing College Athletics in the ACC – Work in Sports Podcast e112 Aug 22, 2018

Sports marketing takes on many forms, in this episode we delve into the marketing efforts behind big time college athletics, from'dorm storms' to data mining, with Evan Feinstein Wake Forest Assistant Director of Marketing. Hi everybody I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the work in sports podcast!I have to deal with a pet peeve off the top of this episode, and I know I’m not alone in my hatred of this cliché…When people say ‘it’s not what you know, but who you know’ it makes me want to throw up.This to me is the classic old school thinking, that if you network and schmooze and have the brightest smile in the room you’re the one that’ll get the jobs.I think this is crap.Back in the 90’s when I first broke into the sports industry… yes, that long ago … this saying way kind of true. I worked with at least 10-15 people who were related to famous people in the industry. Former players kids, sports columnist kids, sports executive kids.You know what… they all stunk at their job. They didn’t last – they stunk and they flamed out. Their parents worked hard to get where they were, and earned their success, but not the kids. Just knowing someone back then, got them in the door… but they failed. All of us nobodies were the ones who worked hard, scrapped and clawed for everything we got, worked long hours and proved ourselves day in and day out.We survived, but more than that we thrived.Maybe I’m giving too much credit to employers, but I think they began to openly question at some point… why are we treating hiring as a favor? We need staff that can achieve, we need staff that will work, we need staff that has talent.I saw this change take place first hand. No longer were people being hired based on who they knew…they had to prove they could do the job or else.So again – this theory of who you know superseding what you know is complete bunk – shared endlessly by old school thinkers.The truth, as it is with most things lies in the middle. The saying should be “learn the right skills and meet the people – that’s the formula for success” but that doesn’t fit as nicely on someone’s seascape meme in airy cursive print.I didn’t know anyone coming out of college, and I was hired by CNN. Why? Because I had the skills they needed.Every employer I talk to says they are looking for people with “it” – and when they say that, what they mean is the intersection of skills and passion.That is the formula.I can’t deny that networking is important and getting to know people in the industry is invaluable… but unless you combine that with the right skill and experience, it just doesn’t matter anymore.Just networking isn’t enough.Just having a parent in the industry isn’t enoughJust knowing a guy in the sales department at team X…isn’t enough.You need all of it.So to say it’s not what you know it’s who you know just makes me angry. Because it is what you know. And it is who you know. And in most cases neither survives very long without the other.This weeks guest Evan Feinstein Assistant Director of Marketing at Wake Forest University knows this better than most – he was fearful he’d struggle to get a job in college athletics because he didn’t have the contacts… but you know what he did have? Internship experience, passion and a willingness to put in the work.I’ll let him tell you the rest of his story…But first!Registration is open for our Sports Career Accelerator 2-day event! For just $398 you will experience a 2-day immersive learning and networking event with the Atlanta Hawks, Braves, Falcons, United, College Football Hall of Fame and more.Get behind the scenes access to team operations and facilitiesLearn from and ask questions of top executives from the major sports teamsWe will submit a personal portfolio for you to all of the teamsThis is the type of event that will give you the network, to go with your skills! (Like what I was just talking about!)We are limiting this to the first 40 qualified people,

Improving your Likability Factor with Employers – Work in Sports Podcast episode 111 Aug 20, 2018

Want to know the secret to improving your likability with potential employers? We have it on this episode of the Work in Sports podcast.Hi everybody I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…Before we get into this weeks question I want to give you all a really really good update.We opened up registration for our Sports Career Accelerator event last week… and the response was excitement, coupled with some anguish. Many of you said, I love this event, I want to come… but it’s a little expensive, I’m not sure I can afford it.Well, we heard you so we got to work over the last week trying to figure out how to reduce costs and pass savings on to all of you.I can’t get into all the details yet, but suffice it to say we got really creative, and we did it.We are dropping the price by $200!So now you can register for our Sports Career Accelerator event, spend two days with me in Atlanta…plus executives with the Braves, Falcons, United, Hawks, College Football Hall of Fame and more, learning and networking…for just $399.Many of you also asked for a payment plan… so guess what, we did that too! You can pay in two installments of $199 and spread out the costs.We want you to be at our event, it’s going to be special, so we’re doing all we can to make it work for all of you. So please visit workinsports.com / Tremont / atlanta and get this thing rolling!Now onto today’s question – from Tony in St.Louis – Tony before we get into your question.. a round trip flight from St. Louis to Atlanta… $200 on Expedia. Not too bad!“Hi Brian – I’m a big fan of your podcast, thanks so much for all the help you provide all of us listeners and aspiring sports workers! My question is related to soft skills, so many of your guests talk about the importance of things like attitude and charisma and work ethic… which makes sense. But I find some people light up a room naturally, and I envy that from them. I’m not that guy, I’m a little shy, a little reserved, a little less gregarious than others…but I am no less smart and no less talented than they are. So how do I get across my soft skills so that people can see how talented I am and deserving of a job?”Damn Tony – I love your open and honest vulnerability here. on the podcast episode we discuss:Two words - Be Curious. When to ask questionsHow to ask thoughtful questionsOpen ended questionsAvoiding the sports talk radio conundrumBeing a good listenerStart with whyListen in and you'll get some great advice from Brian on increasing your likability and soft skills with potential employers.You want to stand out from the crowd, be likable and emotionally intelligent? You want to master the soft skills? Practice these techniques and ask thoughtful questions – that’s how you will warm yourself up to people.

Betsy Lauritzen: New Media in College Athletics – Work in Sports podcast e110 Aug 15, 2018

We're exploring new media in college athletics with Betsy Lauritzen, Assistant Director of New Media for Fresno State Athletics!Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast.One of my favorite stories to date happened on the podcast interview you are about to hear with Betsy Lauritzen, Assistant Director of New Media for Fresno State Athletics.But before I get into that first a little backstory on how the sausage is made.I reach out to people all the time about being on the podcast, some are just starting their career and have a great story to tell on breaking in, some are in management and more established, some are executives and can really share about the hiring and firing process… and then I go for the big swingers too.Most of the time… hello Theo Epstein… they don’t respond. But sometimes they do. Jack Mills, agent for Baker Mayfield, that was a pretty big one. And coming up in a few weeks Leigh Steinberg, agent for a record 8 1st overall picks.With guys like Leigh, I can come up with hundreds of questions because there is so much information out there about them and their career. I try to come up with unique angles, but again, the big swingers make for easy question development.But with some of the newer, younger, high rising people in the industry like todays guest… I have to go on gut instinct a lot. I write up questions in advance, and I have a framework for what I want to ask… but I have no idea what will work and what will lead us to an interesting conversation.So you can imagine my excitement when I asked Betsy a question from my rough outline and she responded “this is one of my absolute favorite stories that I have about the sports industry.”For me, excited guests who are anxious to share an impactful story from their career is like being handed a heaping dessert prepared by some fancy chef and then being told, magically, that this will not add any inches to my gut.It’s pure satisfaction.So betsy went on to explain how she got her first internship with the Dallas Mavericks – an internship and opportunity that she should have had to fight tooth and nail to get. But, as you’ll hear shortly, what she really had to do was care, have a moment of sacrifice and take advantage of an opportunity.That’s a big lesson in this interview – caring about your career, pushing towards your goals…all of it really matters.But before we talk to Betsy I want to remind everyone that registration is now open for our Sports Career Accelerator event September 13-14th in Atlanta.You know by now that by registering you will get to learn the business of sports hands on from executives and staff of the Hawks, Falcons, Braves, College Football Hall fo Fame, United and more.But here’s the big thing – everyone you talk to in the sports industry will tell you getting into this industry is about who you know. Well, this is your chance to get to know these high-level people within these huge organizations.We will have a special networking event on the first night, and all these team execs and more from other agencies, smaller teams, local businesses…will be there networking and sharing with all of you. This is the opportunity you’ve been waiting for…and even if you don’t live in Atlanta, we picked that location because it is a very easy direct flight from many locations.And if you want to work in sports, as I’ve said about 100 times on this podcast, you need to be ready to relocate. I started my career in Atlanta, and I’m a Boston guy… it’s a great city and the teams and opportunities are awesome… so register already!Visit Work in Sports.com / Tremont / atlantaTremont Sports are our partner in this so again, to register visit WorkinSports.com / Tremont / AtlantaNow here’s Betsy!Questions for Betsy Lauritzen Assistant Director of New Media, Fresno State Athletics1: New Media is one of those broad job titles where it can mean so many things,

The Very Honest Networking Tips You Need to Hear – Work in Sports Podcast e109 Aug 13, 2018

People are clumsy and awkward at networking, myself included. These honest, raw tips will help you form a networking game plan that will work.Hi everybody I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…For those of you new to the podcast, every Monday I answer a fan question regarding their sports career… if you have a question you want answered on the show, email me at podcast@workinsports.com – or you can connect with me on Linkedin and ask there…or better yet, join our private facebook group by searching for the Work in Sports podcast on facebook.Now here’s the deal about that – real quick note – when you ask to join there are three questions you need to answer. This is how I know you are legit, and not a Kenyan overload who just needs my social security number to send me 5 million in Kenyan Schillings.It’s pretty simple – what is your favorite episode of the show, who would you like me to get as a guest, and have you given the show a review.Just say something to prove to me you are actually interested in being part of a group that is talking about sports careers. If you don’t answer the questions, I assume you don’t have a real interest in networking with like minded individuals pursuing their sports career. So answer the questions!Also, if you submit a good question and I answer it here on Mondays… you get a free month at Work in Sports.com the leading job board for the sports industry. Seriously, we’ve been doing this for 20 years, we are the number one job board for the sports industry, with over 7,000 available jobs right now, and last I checked you only need one…sounds like pretty good odds!So that covers Mondays… on Wednesday’s I interview sports industry experts about their career, how they got started, what they look for when hiring, challenges they face… all the good stuff.We’ve had on people from every major sports league in just about every possible role you can imagine. The good news is, all of the past episodes are just as relevant today as they were the day they published…so go back and listen, lots of great guests and information!Alright, let’s get to today’s question --Great question this week from Wes in Indiana,“Hi Brian, this is Wes in Indiana (thanks Wes but I think we already established that) I’ve been reading about your sports career accelerator event coming up in September and I’m strongly considering going. You mentioned there will be an big networking event the first night with executives from the major sports teams, local minor league teams, agencies, and other sports organizations. That in and of itself sounds like an incredible opportunity.But here’s my question. I’m never sure how to behave or engage with people at these kinds of events. Do you have any tips to maximize the experience?”Wes, great question.I am not a natural born networker. I admire the people who can just step out there and are so comfortable in their own skin. Listen in to the podcast episode for more details on how to network with sports executives1: Change your frame of mind. – they’ve been asked to attend, they are there, they knew when they agreed to coming what it would be like. Embrace that fact.2: Have a game plan – no life stories, quick intro, get into a specific question. Duringt he conversation try to slip in things you have done.Let’s role play shall we:You introduce yourself – eye contact and handshake. Hi I’m Brian, I’m a senior at the University of Delaware, studying sports management – how are you?Great/wonderful/excellentYou: "One thing I’m really trying to get a better understanding of is what employers are looking for when hiring, so for you what is the most important skill you look for when hiring new staff”Your target says “well, I want someone who has revenue generating experience, the ability to sell product and affect the bottom line is a skill every business needs”You: "That makes a lot of sense, during my internship last year with the Baltimore Orio...

James “JB” Bryant: Taking The Next Step to Management Aug 08, 2018

The more you can prepare for an eventual role in management, the better off you will be. In this episode Colorado Rapids Manager of Inside Sales James Bryant talks about the management skills you need to develop starting now!Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…Of the 107 episodes so far on the Work in Sports podcast I’d say about 80% of the content is steered towards advice to achieve that first entry level job in the sports industry.Of course, we talk with experts in the field about their careers, but even then I tend to ask question like, what are you looking for when you hire new staff…or how did you get your first job in sports.I’m always leaning into the concept of “getting started”.Makes sense, so many of you are in school, recently graduated, or changing careers into sports.But this episode we’re taking a completely different approach. We’re talking about management skills.Now, before you turn this off, thinking management?! I need an entry level job before I can start thinking management!Well, you’re thinking too short term.Management skills like leadership, mentoring, training, setting strategy, building culture – these are all things that the earlier you become familiar with and start building your own personal approach to these subjects, the faster you will grow.Imagine this for a second – you’re an entry level employee, and you show yourself as a leader, you ask questions about strategy, you help out other team members with their training… these will show your bosses you are management material. That you aren’t just clocking in a clocking out, finishing your daily to do list and then hiding in the corner somewhere not to be noticed.When I was at CNN Sports Illustrated, there were probably about 20-30 production assistants hired all at once, we were all on a level playing field. But in a short time we started to differentiate ourselves for various reasons. Some of us took on bigger roles by being ambitious and always saying yes, some of us displayed natural leadership skills, some were better than others at time management.All of these people stood out.Then there were others…they would get their daily assignments, goof off for hours, and then hustle to get their lists done right before we went to air. Or they would do all of their assignments, then hide out away from seeking eyes, preferring to remain anonymous than take on a new challenge.These people didn’t grow.The point is, even if you are in a situation where your only focus is getting an internship or a first job… it is still the time to learn more about management, because that is where you are headed, and the more you can prepare for that eventual day, the faster that day will come.So let’s talk about today’s guest a little, James Bryant - who from this moment forward will be referred to as JB because that’s what he prefers – is the Manager of Inside Sales for the Colorado Rapids. He broke into the industry with Sporting KC as a Sales Associate and after two years moved to the New York Yankees for four years in premium sales and season ticket retention.And then the opportunity came… the Colorado Rapids came calling, recruiting JB to become a Manager of the Inside Sales staff. JB jumped at the chance and now two years later is sharing with all of us some of the incredible things he has learned in his management role.But before we get to JB -- a reminder! Registration is open for our Sports Career Accelerator event September 13-14th in Atlanta! Executive staff with the Hawks, Falcons, Braves, United, College football hall of fame and more will walk you through their jobs, answer questions, network and engage… plus if that isn’t enough… I’ll be there too!I’ll be hanging out with all of you, and conducting some live podcasts… interviewing some of our guest speakers, and many of the attendants too to give a first hand vibe on all that is happening.This is going to be a blast,

What’s the Deal When Entry Level Jobs Say They Want Experience? Aug 06, 2018

Why do some entry level jobs want 2 years experience? What do they mean by experience and should I bother applying? Good Question! Let's get into it:Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…Let’s talk about the Sports Career Accelerator event September 13-14th in Atlanta -- we are super excited about this event, and I have to admit so much of our excitement is based on your enthusiasm. It’s infectious! As so many of you have asked for more information, or told us you are really excited, that has helped push us forward, and motivated us to make this the best event you have ever been a part of.For fans of this podcast we are opening registration tomorrow! Tuesday August 7th. I will be sharing a registration link on our Private Facebook Group page – and I will be emailing personally all the people who have entered their name on our early interest list.You will get the first crack at registration for this one of a kind event.Then we will open registration to the public on Wednesday…my hope is all of you fill it up first, so we don’t even have to bother with the non-listeners. How cool would it be for this event to be filled up with all for you ambitious fans?!I will be at the event personally, so this will be a meetup of sorts too. And I’m telling you, the guests speakers and networking opportunities wil blow your socks off.Now, many of you are probably wondering… Hey Brian, didn’t you say last week that registration would open for us on Monday?Yes I did. But we had some tech glitches this weekend, so we are spending today testing everything to make sure it works correctly before we open to up registration to you. We want registration to be smooth and seamless, and I’d rather wait a day, than have tech mistakes we can avoid.That’s life…sometimes you need to adjust!Anyway look for the registration info tomorrow and let’s get this done!On to today’s QA session question, this one comes from Ethan in Minnesota –Ethan writes in –“Hi Brian, love the podcast thank you so much for the content you share. I’m graduating from college in the spring and as you suggest I’m reading job descriptions now so that I can figure out the gaps I should fill in during my senior year. (SO SMART!).One thing I am noticing is that many jobs that claim to be entry level are asking for two years experience – which seems to contradict the words entry level! Are these jobs I should ignore? Or apply to anyway…what’s the deal here?!” Ethan what a great question – frustrating isn’t it? Entry level jobs want so much experience… how does that work?Let’s separate the fact from fiction and dig into the reality of the job market.1: What do job requirements really mean?2: What does experience really mean?3: Customize your resume and cover letter 4: Shot gun vs. targeted5: Gap AnalysisListen to the episode to find out more details on this entry level jobs discussion!

Megan Ebeck: Getting Inside the Event Marketing Game – Work in Sports Podcast e106 Aug 01, 2018

Arena Marketing Manager Megan Ebeck is the queen of multi-tasking, marketing over 150 events each year including San Jose Sharks home games, US Figure Skating Championships, Nitro Circus and a bevy of concerts. How does she do it? Listen in and learn. Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…I have this incredible fear of details. Sound weird right, so many people fear sharks and heights and I fear details.But let me explain – I have this recurring nightmare that I tell people to show up somewhere important, somewhere I need them to be…but I give them the wrong date and time to be there. This also happens to me in the day, I have panic moments of getting and sharing information wrong.Sick right?Someone in our audience will probably interpret that dream and tell me I’m crazy, or I have daddy issues…we’ll see.But I think a lot of that comes from my journalism background where you are always so concerned with inadvertently providing false information and losing credibility.So that is one of my many issues – fear of details. One thing I’ve realized lately is that it isn’t just media roles who are obsessed with the details, it’s marketing. There is no room for error!Imagine for a second you are promoting an event and give a wrong date…or spell the name wrong of someone you are helping brand, or mischaracterize a products use and function.Sports marketing jobs take extreme attention to detail. Just think of the daily challenges this weeks guest Megan Ebeck, Arena Marketing Manager for the SAP Center, Home of the San Jose Sharks takes on…Megan conducts marketing efforts for 41 Sharks home games, 34 San jose barracuda games (their minor league affiliate) and then US figure skating championships, Nitro Circus and other sports events like the Harlem Globetrotters …and then the entertainment focus of her job… Nicki Minaj? Fleetwood Mac? Panic! At the disco – yep she’’s marketing that too.Details matter for Megan every single day. Keeping straight multiple clients needs, event details and marketing tone and voice through a blur of events… it’s a crazy pile of details she needs to keep straight.Enough me talking… let’s hear more about Megan’s job as Arena Marketing Manager for the SAP center, Home of the San Jose Sharks… from herBut first… the Work in Sports podcast is brought to you by WorkinSports.com not only are we the #1 job board for the sports industry, we are also hosting our first Sports Career Accelerator 2-day event September 13th-14th in Atlanta. We’re constantly looking for ways to serve our fan base better, and after much research and focus groups we determined what you wanted was more hands-on career focused events. But we didn’t want some basic career fair, we wanted to turn the volume up.This two day event will put you behind the scenes and networking with executives and staff form the Atlanta Hawks, Braves, Falcons, United, College Football Hall of Fame, Mercedes Benz Stadium Phillips arena and more.Learn, network and engage with experts in the sports industry!We are limiting this event to the first 40 people because we want to keep this intimate and give you one on one exclusive time with our incredible guests.For more information and to be added to our interest list – visit workinsports.com/atlantaThis event will crush any career event you’ve ever participated in before. Trust me.And now… it’s time for Megan Ebeck, Arena Marketing Manager for the SAP Center, Home of the San Jose Sharks!Questions for Megan Ebeck, Arena Marketing Manager SAP Center, Home of the San Jose Sharks1: You manage the marketing for the SAP center, which is home of the San Jose Sharks, technically you work for Sharks Sports and Entertainment, but the Sharks are just the main tenant – you have over 150 events each year you are in charge of marketing for – take us through the scope and overall breadth of your role--2: How does the approach to marketing change from something ...

Mastering the Art of the Job Interview – Work in Sports podcast e105 Jul 30, 2018

Three great questions came in this week on job interviewing, so why not handle all three?!Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast –Before we get into this week’s qa session I want to remind you all about our upcoming Sports Career Accelerator event coming up September 13-14th in Atlanta.Before you say – darn! I don’t live it Atlanta – I’d like to point out that right around 2,600 direct flights come into Atlanta per day. So this event is in reach.But why should you care? I’ll tell you why –This 2-day event will feature learning and networking opportunities with leaders inside the Atlanta Hawks, Braves, Falcons, the darlings of the MLS the United, the College Football Hall of fame and more.You will get exclusive facility tours and see behind the scenes of the operations of all these major franchisesYou will have one on one personal time with all the executive hosts, where you can ask questions and networkWe will submit a professional portfolio on your behalf to all of the teams.We are limiting the event to 40 people so that we can keep this small, intimate and impactful!We will be opening registration early for podcast fans and people who submit their email via our early interest page …which is at workinsports.com/atlanta.Questions – you can ask me via our private facebook group – search the work in sports podcast on facebook, join the group, or via LinkedIn, or via our podcast@workinsports.com email account.So go ahead, ask me anything.Now onto today’s question:I’m actually combining 3 similar questions into one theme – This week I received three good questions about job interviewing, so let’s handle them all.1: This question comes in from Alanna in Wheaton, Illinois –Hi Brian, love the podcast thank you so much for your time and effort, Can’t wait til the Career Accelerator event, a flight from Chicago to Atlanta is only 1 hour 32 minutes and $110 round trip. Ok I added that part. Alanna didn’t say that, but it does give me a chance to show how cheap it is to fly to atlanta!OK Ok her question – How much research into the company should I do before hand…I mean they want to know more about me, so isn’t it more important to really nail my story, rather than theirs?Alanna – it’s a good question but you are coming at it the complete wrong way.I like to start at the end goal and work my way back in every situation.In an interview the goal is to get hired, right? To win them over, impress them with your talents and make them feel like you are the right fit for the job.Ok so that’s the end goal. How do we get there?Think of a venn diagram, where you are one circle and the company is another circle. You are thinking of this as if the two circles don’t overlap. This is about you, and they are them.But in reality, the overlap between you and the company is the sweet spot, it is about you together as one, and the only way to show how you two meld is by doing research into the company – tons of it.You need to be able to tell your story through the lens of the hiring company, -- how your skills align, how their projects line up with your ambitions, how their areas of growth are the direction you want to head.And the only way you know these things is through research.You want to know their culture – their brand tone and voice – their clients – their projects – what staff says about working there – the background of the person who would be your boss.I could keep going but those were just off the top of my head… you can see how each of these things relates to how you may handle a question during the interview.If their brand voice is dry and technical, maybe that’s the vibe you need to throw in your interview. If they are fun and mercurial, that is your vibe.If they are working with a minor league baseball team on a branding initiative and you have experience one summer working at a minor league team – you can say something really smart like “ I noticed you are working wi...

LA Clippers Joe Legaz: Straight Talk About Jobs in Sports Marketing Jul 25, 2018

Do you want to work in sports marketing? Joe Legaz Director of marketing for the LA Clippers joins the show to discuss openly and honestly what you need to make it in sports marketing.Hi everybody I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports Podcast…In pro sports we’ve entered a world of exacting specialization.Take the NBA for example – three and D players. I want you to hit open threes and play tough defense. That’s it, that is your exact role. Don’t worry about the other stuff, just focus on being the best at this piece in the game. a guy like Trevor Ariza, you won’t see his name on any top 20 lists, or even top 75, but he’s carved out a specific role that is in high demand…and he’s turned it into about 84 million in lifetime earnings.Not too shabby.Same thing in baseball – guys who can get on base are still all the rage. Or how often have you heard about guys with the right launch angle?Football --- guys who can set the edge in the run, or clog up the middle, or receiving backs. Coaches and general managers have figured out they need to lower their expectations and focus intently on the things they do well. Putting players in a position to thrive, now that is the art of leadership.BUT, the true superstars… the Kawhi Leonards, the Kevin Durants, the Mike Trouts, the JJ Watt’s – they do it all. Put them in any role and they will destroy the competition.Harder to find, but pure gold when you do.The same holds true for the sports industry.Say someone wants to work in marketing, well there are a whole list of skills they could lean in to --Digital. Branding. Social Media. Promotions. Sponsorship. Design. SEO.Most people nowadays are specializing – and there is nothing wrong with that – but someone who works in promotions may have no idea what it means to work in branding. And someone who wants to work in content strategy may not know anything about design or working with media buyers.But, the true superstars are dangerous everywhere. Versatility rules. Being the person your boss knows can do just about anything has power and puts you in line for growth and promotion.So while there is nothing wrong with being specialized, oftentimes the quality you want to aim for is resourceful.Today’s guest knows this better than most – Joe Legaz is the Director of Marketing for the LA Clippers, and has also worked in sports marketing for the San Francisco Giants, adidas, the San Francisco 49ers and the Seattle Mariners. He knows what it takes to make it in this business, and how to stand out from the crowd – listen in and learn from this leader of the sports industry…But first… the Work in Sports podcast is brought to you by.. well, workinsports.com – I’m promoting our own event! We have a Sports Career Accelerator 2-day event coming up September 13th-14th in Atlanta. This two day event will put you behind the scenes and networking with executives and staff form the Atlanta Hawks, Braves, Falcons, United, College Football Hall of Fame, Mercedes Benz Stadium Phillips arena and more.We are limiting this event to the first 40 people because we want to keep this intimate and give you one on one exclusive time with the leaders of the sports industry.For more information and to be added to our interest list – visit workinsports.com/atlantaThis event will crush any career event you’ve ever participated in before. Trust me.Now here’s LA Clippers Director of Marketing Joe Legaz…Questions for LA Clippers Director of Marketing, Joe Legaz1: Sports Marketing is one of the more popular fields in the industry – over 25% of the available sports jobs we have on our website are related to marketing -- but it’s an extremely broad term, marketing covers a lot – we’ll get into your high-level experience soon, but to start I want to understand what someone graduating college and trying to break into the industry should expect – if you were hiring marketing staff with the Clippers what are the entry level jobs and what...

Your Sports Internship Final Checklist and a Special Announcement Jul 23, 2018

Hi everybody I’m Brian Clapp, Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…Before we get into today’s question – I am so fired up about our Sports Career Accelerator event coming up in September.If you are an avid listener to the podcast or a member of our private facebook group, you know that the team at WorkinSports.com along with our friends at Tremont Global Education are working together to create Sports Career Accelerator events …and our first one is in Atlanta, September 13th and 14th!So what is this event?First a little background – we’ve all been to career fairs, whether sports related or not, and the event doesn’t usually live up to the hype and excitement. You go into it and think – this could be my moment! Then you get there and realize there aren’t any real opportunities, the teams represented aren’t engaged, or there are so many people you just don’t get any time to talk with anyone in a meaningful way.Well, we set out to do something different – very different.Our 2-day event will be intense and immersive – you will go inside the operations of the Atlanta Hawks, Falcons, Braves, United, Mercedes Benz stadium, Phillips arena, the college football hall of fame and more.You will meet and speak with high ranking officials within the teams, hiring staff, mid-level managers, and the important decision makers.We will submit a professional portfolio book, including your resume and detailed information to all executive speakers and guest hosts…Many of the team leaders will conduct micro interviews on the spotAnd here’s the big one – we are capping the event to the first 40 people who register. We want this to be the most impactful 2-days of your sports life and we can’t do that with hundreds of people – we want you to get one on one meaning impact with pro team executives, while learning and networking with them.Alright you probably have questions – here’s what I would ask:How much is it – I don’t have a final price yet, but I can tell you it’s much cheaper than I would have guessed originally. I should know later this week an exact number – and I will post it on our private facebook group.How do I register? – We are opening registration to the public on August 1st. BUT, listeners of this podcast who go to workinsports.com/atlanta and submit their email address will get advance access to pre-register before the public on July 31st.What about hotels? – The cost of a hotel or airfare will not be included in your registration, but we will have suggestions for you on where to book – once you submit your email to the page I just mentioned, we will start sharing more and more info with you.What about food? – Yes, you will be fed. Specifics on that to come… but trust me you will eat.What about transportation between all of the facilities? That is all included! I’ll tell you this too – we will be running some contests during the event for some really cool prizes so again, this is something you are not going to want to missI live on the West Coast – will you have any other events? Yes, we will. We’re mapping out our event calendar, and it will be exciting for all of you. BUT, if you can make this one… make it. I think every event will have similar structures, but with different teams and execs a totally different vibe. You may want to go to multiple events, but you have to start with your first!So final reminder – go to WorkinSports.com/atlanta for more details and to put your name on our interest list for advance knowledge and early registration!Alright now on to the meat of today’s program –The question –Hi Brian, I am John from North Carolina. This summer I’ve been honored to have an internship with a local minor league baseball team and it has been a blast. I’m entering the final month of my internship and I want to make sure I don’t miss any opportunities…can you give me a checklist of things I should do before saying goodbye for now?Hey John – thanks for your question,

Kelsey Smith: Your Ticket into the Sports Industry – Work in Sports Podcast e102 Jul 18, 2018

Getting into the sports industry by learning the revenue creation side of the business - that's our topic today with Kelsey Smith, Tampa Bay Lightning Account Executive.Hi everybody I’m Brian Clapp, Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…When do you get started? How do you figure out what you want to do?These are some of the most common questions I get each and every week from fans – what is surprising to most is that they are intertwined.You figure out what you want in your sports career by getting started doing something.So ask yourself what is available? Is there an athletic department at your college or university? Likely there is, so get involved – try media relations, communication, sales, sports information, ticket sales, operations, recruiting, fundraising.What about a minor league baseball team, or basketball team – is there a golf event nearby? Road race?By getting involved as early and often as you can, you figure out what you like and what you don’t like.Say you worked in sports information at your college and figured out…nope not for me! That doesn’t mean it was a waste of time, quite the opposite, it means it was time well spent.. because what if you spent your entire college career planning for ajob in sports information, then got a job and hated it.Now what? You’re out of school not like you can change course with ease!The earlier you get started the better suited you are to figure out your logical path. Don’t get crazy about exactly what, where or how --- just get in there and start doing!I’ve known too many people that waited and waited and waited…and then the moment passed them by.To further clarify this point – this week I’m bringing on friend of the podcast Kelsey Smith – Kelsey is in her second year as a Master’s student at University of South Florida and already has 10 legitmate experiences on her resume, including the New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Lightning.And you know what… she’s changed career objectives over that time, because by doing the job she learned what she didn’t like which is just as valuable as what she did.Listen in and learn from this high riser in the sports industry – here’s Kelsey Smith!Questions for Aspiring MiLB General Manager Kelsey Smith1: The first thing I notice about you Kelsey, is that you have a clear vision for who you want to be – the very first words on your LinkedIn profile say “Future Minor League Baseball General Manager” – how important has it been for you to have clarity in your goals?A: When and how did you figure out who you wanted to be?B: Since you know where you want to end up, has it made your decisions on subjects like – where to intern, what courses to take – has it made those choices easier?2: You completed your undergrad at Miami Ohio from 2013-2017 – and right away in 2013 you began interning in the Athletic Department – what was that experience like as a freshman new to college but thrusting yourself into your career.3: After that you worked for the Hamilton Joes collegiate summer league baseball team in their communication department, then as a sports information director for the Miami of Ohio swimming and diving team, then for Penn FC in media relations – all during your undergrad – you were hella focused.These are varied roles, how important was it for you to get exposure to many different things in the industry in order to figure out what you really wanted?4: All this on your resume by the time you finished your undergrad – but instead of joining the workforce, you went for your Master’s – why?5: You and I have spoken before about Master’s programs and I feel many programs don’t do a good job preparing people for the real world – they don’t provide real experience, or hands on application of the classroom experience – but you’ve staunchly defended the University of South Florida program, why is that program different in your eyes and why did you choose it?6: OK,

A Different Look At Your Sports Career Journey – Work in Sports podcast e101 Jul 16, 2018

Fan of the show Jordan asks "If you could go back and give your 22 year old self some advice, or things you would do differently in your career, what would they be?" I like this question, so I'm diving in. Come along and listen. Hi everybody I’m Brian Clapp, Director of Content for Work in Sports.com and this is the WorkinSports podcast.Before I get into today’s question I want to answer a sub-question I get a lot – why does WorkinSports charge a subscription to access your sports jobs? This is a great question and here’s the straight truth – you know me, I’m painfully honest and I’m going to do that here.As a business we have two basic options:Charge employers to post their jobsHave a subscription membershipOn a surface level you probably think – yeah charge the employers! But think a little deeper. Many small to medium employers will say – no thanks, we don’t want to pay, or we can’t pay to post our jobs. Many big employers will say nah, we don’t have an interest in that.So what does that mean for you?A job board that only posts jobs from employers willing to pay them, is only presenting you a fraction of the total market. There are thousands of opportunities you’ll never see on their job board because they haven’t struck a deal with that particular employer.We’ve gone about it differently.Yes we charge our members, but it allows us to get all of the available jobs and bring them to you. Small medium and large size companies are all represented with us. You don’t miss a thing.Plus, sports employers love our members, because you aren’t just blindly applying to a free sports job that sounds cool….but you aren’t qualified. Our members are willing to pay for access which is a method of pre-screening and makes our employment friends very happy.So that’s it in a nutshell – we charge, but for good reason, and it benefits you in the long run and the short run. Alright enough of that – here’s this weeks question from Jordan in North Carolina, just a friendly reminder to our new listeners – email your question in to podcast@workinsports.com and ifyou have your question answered on the show – BOOM – you get a free month of access.Here’s Jordan’s question:Hey Brian, I’m a 22 year old grad student - over the last few months I’ve been following your advice on the podcast and it’s made a huge difference for me. I’ve been more confident in interviews, both on video and in person, my cover letters are better, my goals are clearer, I know where my weak spots are an I’m working to fix them…I can’t thank you enough, I’ve learned more from your podcast that I have in 6 years of college and grad school. I heard you mention on a show once that you have been in the industry for 20 years, so I guess you are around 40 year old. Which makes me wonder… if you could go back and talk to your 22 year old version, what would you tell them or what would you do differently?I love how forward Jordan is, YES Jordan I am 43 years old, which means I’ve been in the sports industry for 22 years. Yikes.I like this question.As a parent I think this way a great deal – what do I want them to know that I didn’t? or what can I teach them to do better than I did? or how can I inspire them to achieve more than I have?Same thing here – what can I look back and share with all of you that could change your career trajectory. Wow, that’s a big challenge…but here goes, here are 5 things I would have done differently.1: I would have asked more questions.2: I would have been more aggressive in college3: I would have worked for a team4: I would have taken more continuing ed courses5: I would have looked to the future moreListen in for more detail and explanation

Dasmine Evans: Handling The Stress of Getting Hired in Sports – Work in Sports Podcast e100 Jul 11, 2018

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast.I’ll admit, over the 9 months and 99 episodes of this podcast I’ve been a hound for titles. I’ve wanted all of my guests to be people from the big leagues, the big brands and holders of big titles – VP of an MLB team, Director of an NFL team, Agent to Baker Mayfield --- I wanted to grab the movers and shakers in the industry to share big knowledge and big experience.I have loved it. I’m a sucker for these conversations and peeling back the layers of each individual journey. There is so much you can learn from someone once you start talking, stuff that isn’t on their resume or social media profile. The truth about them and their experience.What I haven’t done enough of, is talk to the people on the beginning of their industry curve. A view of the climb up the ladder, rather than from the perch atop it.So this week we are having a very different conversation, sharing a very different perspective.Dasmine Evans is a recent graduate of Florida State University where she earned her degree in sports management. She conducted internships with major sports leagues and brands, volunteered, built her personal brand…but getting hired in sports hasn’t been easy.As she put it in her recent article on LinkedIn titled 10 things to know about working in sports before you graduate, “Let me tell you, grab a bottle of wine because the stress is real.”The line made me laugh, but the article as a whole was a raw, honest, interpretation of the struggle to find work in the sports industry. It’s not as easy as “get degree, get dream job” it’s a journey of peaks and valleys, and to be honest at the start it’s often more valleys than peaks. The thing I have always promised to you on this show is that I will speak honestly about the industry I love and have worked in for over 20 years. I will not sugar coat the story. I will not say every day is a dream with kettle corn and rainbows.We will talk about the industry in a real, unfiltered manner, and that’s what we’re doing today with Dasmine Evans, so let’s get to it:Questions for Dasmine Evans:1: You wrote a very timely article this week that you published on LinkedIn – it’s graduation season and thousands of young adults are entering the workforce, or at least trying. Your article, titled 10 things to know about working in sports before you graduate is a raw honest informative piece about your journey after graduating with a sports management degree from Florida State.So let’s start at the beginning – when you were in your senior year of school, approaching graduation and the impending doom of real life – what did you think it was going to be like?2: Ok, so what was the reality of your experience?3: It sounds like you had a pretty great resume too – lots of internships, volunteer work, a great degree from a great school. Looking back what do you think was going wrong?4: Let’s work through some of the points you make in your article – the first one is “you don’t have to major in sports management to work in sports” – if you had to go back and do it again would you have gone a different direction with you major, and if so why?–spoiler alert, I didn’t not major in sports management. Now, that could be because I’m old and they didn’t have sports management programs back in the 90’s… 5: Your next point is a big one, and one I try to drill into people’s heads all the time – Professional Teams aren’t the only place to work in sports! – I actually got into an argument with Mark Cuban a few years ago, because he said there are only so many jobs with pro teams and people who get sports management degrees are setting themselves up for failure… my argument with him was… there are tons of careers in sports that have nothing to do with the pro teams!6: You talk a lot about the importance of finding a mentor – how did having a mentor make a difference for you? 7: What about your actual job search process?

The Most Efficient Way to Start Building Your Network – Work in Sports podcast e099 Jul 09, 2018

People are struggling to build their network of contacts and relationships in the sports industry, but you know what I see? Missed opportunities. Learn the easy tricks to network the right way. This weeks QA session comes from Jones in Milwaukee –“Hey Brian, I’m a pretty new listener so forgive me if you’ve covered this subject before, but I’m not a natural at networking and every time someone tells me breaking into this industry is about “who you know” I feel like I’m going to break out in hives. Can you give me some rookie level advice on building a network?”Good question Jones, for more details listen in to the podcast where we cover these concepts:Networking is all about having a reason to connectLinkedIn is your best friendQuality over quantityFollow up is paramountImplement a gradual build up of the relationship and the questions you ask plus things you provideListen in to the episode to learn more about networking in the sports industry!

Dior Ginyard: Player Manager at the NFLPA – Work in Sports Podcast e098 Jul 03, 2018

From traumatic brain injury to Forbes 30 under 30, NFLPA Player Manager Dior Ginyard shares his story of finding his true sports passion: serving others Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast.Imagine for a second you had complete clarity in your life at let’s say 12 years old.You knew what you wanted, you wanted to be a veterinarian. You studied, took classes, interned – worked and worked and worked to refine your craft.It became a big part of you, it defined you.While in high school your friends knew you wanted to be a veterinarian, your teachers knew and helped push you further into your goals.Guidance counselors helped steer you toward the best veterinary schools and you were accepted – because you were focused, dedicated, knew what you wanted and were driven to succeed.You could see how your future was going to play out.But then in a blink things changed. You were in a car accident and lost the use of your right hand, your dominant hand.You wouldn’t be able to perform surgical procedures, examine animals, diagnose issues. It was gone. Your dream of being a veterinarian – poof - all gone.What would you do? Everything you had pushed for, the dominant focus of your life was now physically unachievable.Would you wallow? Get depressed? Question your future?Probably all of those things – I know I would. Recalibrating would be hard. You’d be forced to change in an instant, after spending nearly a decade working toward something that felt like your purpose.How unfair – right? Easy to blame, get angry, lose focus and fall into a trap. Very easy.This week’s guest Dior Ginyard didn’t want to be a veterinarian, he had a very different dream and it was taken from him tragically.He had to change his focus, figure out a new purpose and drive forward with the same intensity he had reserved for his now unattainable dream.Now years later, Dior Ginyard is a Player Manager for the NFLPA and a 2018 Forbes Magazine 30 under 30 award recipient. He took tragedy and turned it into a new, unexpected chapter… but let’s hear the rest from the man himself – here’s Dior Ginyard Player Manager for the NFLPA –Connect with Dior Ginyard, Player Manager for the NFLPATwitter: @DiorNFLPALinkedIn: Dior GinyardInstagram: @diornflpaQuestions for Dior Ginyard, Player Manager for the NFLPA1: Before we get into the nuts and bolts of your role with the NFLPA – I think it’s vitally important to give our audience some background into the man behind the job. Before you got into player development with the NFL, you were a high-level football player yourself at Frostburg State in Maryland – but your story took a turn, can you take us through what happened after your freshman season?2: I’ve worked with many athletes over the years and one of the things I believe that makes the greats SO great, is their singular focus on their craft. For you, that craft that took so much of your attention and future plans was gone in a blink – how did you recapture and recalibrate your goals and dreams? 3: How much did your personal experience/tragedy help form your desire to get into player development? 4: Ok, so you have a traumatic brain injury, fractured skull, playing career over – and in a few years you’re featured in Forbes Magazine’s 30 under 30. That’s a big story – let’s start at graduation, you get your degree from Bowie State, how and why did you end up at the NFLPA?5: A job opens in player development at the NFLPA and I imagine a lot of people apply – be honest, don’t be humble, why do you think the NFLPA chose you to be part of their team?6: Explain your role in player development, how are you tasked with helping NFL players improve themselves?7: I read a quote from you in the Undefeated -- “I’m not working with the Tom Bradys and the Odell Beckhams; I’m working with the guy that’s going to need a second career. I’m one person in their ecosystem of friends and managers and agents.

The Extra Steps Necessary to Land Your Dream Job in Sports – Work in Sports Podcast e097 Jul 02, 2018

I know you want to work in sports, but are you willing to do everything it takes? Listen in to this podcast episode and learn how to separate from the pack. Hi everybody I'm Brian Clapp, Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast!Let's jump into today's question from Wyatt Phillips:I hope this message finds you well and ready to start your day after completing your morning meditation and listening to your hype-up playlist (proof I'm staying up-to-date on the show).I've been passionate about pursuing a career in sports for about a year now. When I first started out, my professors and other mentors told me I needed to conduct informational interviews with accomplished professionals, volunteer where I could, and obtain a full-time internship for the summer. I'm thrilled to share I've accomplished all of those things. However, it seems that many other people in my position have as well.What can I do in addition to all of this to make myself appealing to an employer in the future? Although I'm very proud of what I've achieved thus far, I feel all of that has been expected of me. Is there something I can do that would go above and beyond what employers are looking for to separate myself from the competition?Wyatt great question, and since my youngest son is also named Wyatt, I feel it is my moral imperative to answer your question. My Wyatt is 6 years old and entering 1st grade so other than your names you have nothing in common.He’s also currently running around my house talking about how his dinosaur is misbehaving and needs to go to time out…but hey it’s summer vacation and he’s 6 so he can’t get a job or an internship yet. So instead if you listen closely you may hear him in the background. Anyway, I digress.What else? Isn’t that the big question?First things first, I don’t want you to discount the fact you have conducted informational interviews, volunteered and interned. That’s big, and it puts you ahead of about 50 percent of the people out there.I know your instinct is saying I feel like that is what everyone is already doing and in a way you are right, the best are.The top notch people you will be competing with for the best jobs are doing these things. There are also thousands of people who want to work in sports who are doing next to nothing except watching Sportscenter and expecting magic to happen.You are way ahead of them.Before we get into new ideas, let’s go a little deeper on the old ones.Resist the temptation to view suggestions as things on your to do list.Professor told me to do informational interviews – checkInternships – check!Volunteer – check!All done, what’s next.I don’t want to assume you aren’t, but just as a reminder to everyone, you want to do all these things thoroughly and completely.Here’s what I mean. When you do an informational interview, this is step one of building a relationship with someone in the industry. Step 1.You need to build off of this interaction. Send a hand written thank you card, if you find an article related to their industry send it to them within an email saying hey I was just reading this and it reminded me of some of the subject we spoke about in our conversation – hope all is well.Set up a google alert for their name or their business, and be aware of what is happening with them – be ready with congrats, or just saw this news that is so awesome! Stuff like that. Start a dialogue, not by asking for things but by providing them.If they are the right people, they will be firmly entrenched in your network, and that is much better than spending just 30 minutes with them one time over coffee.Same with internships – while you are on the internship are you taking the time to get to know the people at all levels of the organization, are you following up with them, are you taking on extra tasks, are you building your professional reputation?Are you still talking to the people you have met at your internship? If not,

The Best #SportsBiz Career Advice of 2018 Part 2 – Work in Sports Podcast e096 Jun 27, 2018

I went back and listened to our last 10 expert podcasts and picked out the best pieces of sports career advice. This is all the great actionable advice you can put to work for your sports career, right now!Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…I wonder all the time… is it working?Is the advice I share really getting in there with you and making a difference, am I helping flatten your learning curve so that you are more efficient and successful in finding opportunities in your sports career, or nailing an interview, or hustling for a networking opportunity, or building a relationship with someone in the industry.Obviously, it’s worked for me, and it’s worked for the people I’ve hired… because that’s where I get my concepts from…my real life over 20 years in the sports industry.But does it work for you? That’s the real rubber meets the road question.Many of you have posted on our private facebook group to say thanks, I’ve received cards in the mail to say you liked something I had to say, and others have told me I’ve made their road trip better.That’s all great. But I wanted to hear someone say – your advice, it helped me get a job.I know, maybe I’m needy, which would be true…I am a bit needy, but in reality we are all inspired by something and for me, the opportunity to make a difference for all of you out there listening…is really motivating.And then it happened. I received an email yesterday from Jackson Amos a student at the University of Florida…and he shared a story:“The main reason for reaching out is that I want to thank you and let you know that your advice really does work! See, I have a huge creative side that most people that know me have no knowledge of. I have been using programs like Photoshop for a few years now but have never published my work (which seems very silly to me now.) After to listening to your show I created a professional Twitter (@Jax_Graphics) and started posting my creative content for the world to see and the craziest things have happened. I have reached over 8,000 views on some of my videos and it actually landed me a job. The Gator Basketball team reached out to me through Direct Messages asking if I wanted to join their team as their Graphics Coordinator. It has been about 3 weeks with them and I have completely run away with it. I want to seize this opportunity and never look back. My hobby has now turned into a job and I couldn’t be more excited to walk into work everyday. Just wanted to share this with you and let you know how much you are appreciated and how your podcast really does help students! Looking forward to hearing more of your content and putting your advice to work." The idea here isn’t to say ‘hey look at me, my advice works!’ --- everyone will pull something different from our content, every one of you will find something that speaks to you and makes you take action…so find that thing, and act on it.I was at a conference once, and I was feverishly taking notes… and a friend leaned over to me and said 20%. Since that didn’t feel like a complete thought I asked – what the hell do you mean? And he explained, you’re never going to act on 100% of what this dude says, so just pick out 20% that really resonates with you, a few topics, and really lean into them.That meant a lot and put a laser focus on actionable items. Now I present to you 100% of my ideas and you guys get to figure out your 20%...and it’ll be different from person to person.Let’s get to the rest of this episode – I went back over my last 10 interviews, listed to them all again – cringed at some of the points I babbled – and picked out my 20%...the actionable items from our guest expects that really resonated with me.Episodes used in this episode:Chris Valente, Boston Red SoxDeandra Duggans, Baltimore RavensKarl Keating, NikeAndrew Howard, NFLScott Rego, Philadelphia 76ersAmie Wells, Tennessee TitansJack Mills, NFL agentDr. Samuel Todd,

Bombing Job Interviews? Here’s How to Fix It. Work in Sports Podcast e095 Jun 25, 2018

If you are getting job interviews but not getting the job, it's time to do an analysis of your interview technique. Listen in, we'll show you how it's done.Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, Director of content for WorkinSports.com and this is the work in sports podcast… It’s a Monday QA session!Here's this week question from Delaney in Missouri:Hi Brian, I love the podcast and have learned so much from listening to you and the other experts you bring on. You make road trips better and walking my dog much more entertaining. [Delaney, you rock] On to my question – I’m a recent college graduate, like within the last few weeks, but I’ve been looking for jobs for the last 3 months to be ready for this point. I’ve had two interviews, both for jobs I was really excited about, but I think I bombed. I felt caught off guard and unprepared and basically blew it. I’m worried that if I don’t turn this around I’m going to miss out on opportunities I am a good match for. Panic is setting in. Can you help?!Delaney – congrats on finishing college! That is a huge step in itself, and deserves to be celebrated.My first instinctual response isn’t related to the interview process itself, it’s related to you. You are losing the battle of nerves, and this effect is steamrolling you.The worst thing you can do is have the pressure multiply on you.Think of each event as an individual event, rather than the end of the line or the “one”Stop fortune telling, you don't know what is going to happen A few ways to boost your confidence:Get comfortable with rejection.Meditate/breatheVisualization – (including humanize them)Now let’s get into some interview techniques to help you out.First impressions and charisma matter more than you think. If you got the interview, they know you have the skills.Smile, make eye contact, get comfortable, don’t fidget.Practice – if it’s video this is especially important. Find a friend.Know your resume. Most interviewers will ask questions right off your resume. So tell me about a time you struggled with a decision while at company X? Get comfortable with you, that’s what this whole thing is about.In advance think of real world experiences and examples you can weave into the discussion. You’ve looked at the job description, if it’s a marketing job you know they are going to ask about your experience on a campaign or something, so have examples ready. If it’s a sales job you’re going to be asked about a time when you dealt with an unruly or upset customer – so have an example ready.Change your thinking – so many people go into an interview expecting to be grilled and hated and loathed and embarrassed. Get that out of your head – the person on the other side wants you to be a match! They want you to be the one!If I told you to call me tomorrow and practice an interview, you wouldn’t feel the pressure of the result, so you’d probably put a very comfortable “you” out there. You need to think during each interview this person is on my side, they aren’t out to get me.It’s funny I had a job interview a few years back, it was for a great job, high level, but I had already determined beforehand I wasn’t going to take it if it was offered. I took the interview anyway, and because there was no rreal pressure, I was loose, relaxed, confident, speaking comfortably…and probably did the best I had ever done in an interview. They not only made me an offer, it was 10% above the range they had previously given me.The point is, being nervous and tight doesn’t represent you well – being the king or queen of calm, confidence will. MUST HAVE: follow up questions.Leave with the right impression, have follow up questions ready in advance so you don’t have to think about them on the spot.

Karl Keating: Exploring the World of Sports Brand Marketing – Work in Sports Podcast e094 Jun 20, 2018

Karl Keating, Brand lead for Nike's House of Hoops joins the show to discuss international sports marketing, the challenges of leading teams and the various corporate cultures in sports apparel and lifestyle. Hi everybody I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…The Silicon Valley is a pretty well-known technology hub in California, maybe you’ve heard of it. Google, Adobe, Apple, Facebook, Cisco, Oracle, Netflix, PayPal, Yahoo and hundreds more tech companies all residing in the southern San Francisco bay area.The region has become identified for their tech personality. And their expensive real estate. The average sale price of a home sold is about $1.440 million – that is nuts.That right there is enough to tell me, no thanks, I don’t want to start a career in tech and be forced to live in an area that’ll put me in debt for the next two generations.Now let’s put that same lens on the sports industry – is there a region that you think of when you think of sports?With teams spread out across the nation, it’s hard to pinpoint an area that is synonymous to the sports industry. Say New York and LA is gonna get pissed. Claim Dallas and Chicago is going to revolt.Most leagues and major organizations have corporate headquarters in New York so they may have the best argument, but I’m going to go in a different direction with the discussion. Just up the coastline from the Silicon Valley is what could be called the Sporting Goods Forest.Portland, Oregon.Home to Nike, Adidas, Under Armour, Columbia Sportswear, Keen footwear and many other sports lifestyle brands.The northwest has become the hub for a very large segment of the sports industry. Walk down the street on a weekend, or go to a high school or college campus -- look around how often do you see Nike, Under Armour or Adidas gear…pretty often right?Nike made 32 billion in sales revenue in 2016Adidas 14 billionUnder Armour 4.3 billionNike is the supreme leader…but the other two are in the billions so don’t shed a tear.The point is, if you want to work in sports product marketing, branding, design, digital marketing, public relations, media relations and a host of other big business sports jobs – the Portland area may be worth migrating towards.Oh and the extra good news – the average price of a home in Portland is 430k…much more affordable.All this brings us to today’s guest – Karl Keating, Brand Lead for the House of Hoops Nike joint retail venture with Foot Locker.Karl has worked in Portland for both adidas and Nike… two of the big boys…but his experience isn’t limited to just Portland…or even just the US…Karl has ventured abroad to work in Germany and the Netherlands, adding international marketing experience to his portfolio – he’s a wealth of information, so let’s get to it already – here’s Karl Keating:Inspirational Videos Shares by Karl Keating:The Art of Innovation: Guy Kawasaki: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mtjatz9r-VcCreativity: Sir Ken Robinson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iG9CE55wbtY&t=410s Warsaw Sports Marketing Center, University of Oregonhttps://sportsbusiness.uoregon.edu/warsawQuestions for Karl Keating, Nike Brand Lead for House of Hoops1: Let’s start with the basics – tell us a little more about your journey to end up in sports marketing on a global stage, and specifically why you entered the world of sports apparel & lifestyle brands like adidas and Nike.2: You received your MBA from University of Oregon with an emphasis in sports marketing – The Northwest, and more specifically the Portland region, has turned into a hub of sorts for the sports lifestyle and apparel brands adidas, Nike, Columbia, Keen and many others are in the area – you got your start at adidas, how much of an asset was it to get your MBA right in the backyard?3: Let’s talk about that first role with adidas – you interned there and then were offered a full time role as a Brand Marketing Communication Specialist -- why do you th...

The Importance of Stimulating Your Creativity – Work in Sports Podcast e093 Jun 18, 2018

Creativity is the essence of sports jobs, learn how to stimulate your creativity and productivness while separating yourself from the stimuli that deplete it.Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast.Everybody wants to talk about eSports. And that makes sense, it’s the current rage.As I like to do here is some perspective:In 2016 Worldwide revenue for esports was 493 million dollars – nothing to sneeze at.By 2018, worldwide revenue is projected to reach 906 millionBy 2020 – projections have it as an over 1 billion dollar a year industry. That is crazy growth but to put some numbers rather than just adjectives behind that… that’s a compound annual growth rate of 32%.Here’s the deal, I don’t get it, but I don’t have to, the fact is it’s growing incredibly in popularity and is a huige growth sector in the sports world.To be honest, esports kind of reminds me of going to Atlantic City casinos while I was in college. I’d spend hours there, playing blackjack with my friends, often losing money… but we’d get there at 11pm, and leave at 7am the next morning.You’d be in this dark enclave, pumped with oxygen to help you keep awake, bright lights and neon everywhere, sencory overload in many ways… then all of a sudden you’d walk outside and be like “what just happened to the last 8 hours?!”Of NFL Sundays at a sports bar… it could be a beautiful day outside, but you’d enter some dark sports bar at noon, spend hours and hours there, watching eating and drinking and then when you finally left it was like you were entering a foreign world…like, where the heck am I?That’s what I see when I see eSports events. But again, I don’t have to get it, to respect it and see it as a growth sector of the industry, and I know many of you are passionate and interested in it.But there are concerns.The World Health Organization just classified “Gaming Disorder” as a mental health condition. I’ve heard parents call it “digital heroin”.In a statement Dr. Vladimir Poznyak, a member of WHO's Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse said there are three major diagnostic features or characteristics of gaming disorder."One is that the gaming behavior takes precedence over other activities to the extent that other activities are taken to the periphery," he said.The second feature is "impaired control of these behaviors," Poznyak said. "Even when the negative consequences occur, this behavior continues or escalates." A diagnosis of gaming disorder, then, means that a "persistent or recurrent" behavior pattern of "sufficient severity" has emerged.A third feature is that the condition leads to significant distress and impairment in personal, family, social, educational or occupational functioning, Poznyak said. The impact is real, he said, and may include "disturbed sleep patterns, like diet problems, like a deficiency in the physical activity."Overall, the main characteristics are "very similar" to the diagnostic features of substance use disorders and gambling disorder, he said. For a diagnosis to be made, the negative pattern of behavior must last at least 12 months: "It cannot be just an episode of few hours or few days.So now let’s flip this into a conversation about the issue at hand.You are all people who want to work in the sports industry, and it is imperative for you to be creative, free-thinking, communicators.I’m not here to tell you video games are bad!I am here to tell you, you need to manage yourself and your creativity, because those are the elements that will lead to dutiful employment.Creativity shows itself in all sports jobs, not just marketing. In sales, you need to be a creative communicator, fast on your feet and comfortable in public environments. In operations, you need to be able to creatively solve business problems. In scouting, coaching, agency – the creative parallels are obvious.Deandra Duggans, Baltimore Ravens Manager of Advertising and Branding says to get i...

How To Nail Your Summer Sports Internship – Work in Sports podcast e092 Jun 15, 2018

Listen in We're Digging Deep into Your Approach for Your Summer Sports InternshipHi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast –Quick update, this past Wednesday after releasing our latest podcast with Dr. Samuel Todd a researcher on the subject of sports job seekers, (i.e. all of you) we had our best day for podcast downloads ever.This podcast is growing, and it is because of you. So thank you. I can’t tell you enough how humbled I am to have you all listening and engaging with our content.For those of you who like what we are doing, and are new to the podcast, a couple more ways you can engage with our community.We have a private facebook group – there are about 500 members in the group and they are sports passionate people around the country of all ages and experience. College students looking for the answers to their questions, career changers looking to start fresh in sports …and many of our talented experts guests like Andrew Howard Communication Manager for the NFL.It’s a great group, and if you haven’t joined yet, you should, just search for the Work in Sports podcast on facebook, answer three easy questions and you are in!Another way you can be involved is through our site WorkinSports.com – since 1999 we’ve been the number one job board for the sports industry. Sports employers tell us constantly how much they like , value and respect our members, because they are serious, talented, ambitious people willing to do what it takes to work in the sports industry. If you are here listening to this podcast, you are more than just a sports fan, you are sports ambitious, and that is why employers love our members. You are legit.Looking right now there are over 7500 available jobs – here’s one for a performance marketing manager for a major sports lifestyle brand… another for a marketing coordinator with a major pro sports league… and another for an associate director, social media for the athletic department of a major west coast university. And that was just the first three listings of 7,500!And if you like me personally, I respond to everyone in the facebook group, I accept linkedin invitations from people who aren’t creepy and I’m pretty darn responsive to questions…which gets us to today’s question:This is from Bobby in Springfield, Massachusetts – home of the Basketball Hall of Fame.Hi Brian, big fan of the podcast, thanks so much for all that you do. I just finished my sophomore year of college, I’m a sports management major and I have an internship with a local minor league baseball team this summer. I’m very excited, this is my first big internship and I want to make sure I nail it. Do you have any advice for the way I should approach my summer sports internship?Bobby – this is awesome, what a great question. Before I jump into it, for all of you newbies to the podcast, you can send in a question to me at podcast@workinsports.com – if you have your question answered on the show, I’ll give you a free month of access to our site! So bobby – you are getting this hook up.Now on to your question –There are three major things you should get out of every internship, and I’m going to break them down in great detail. Summer internships are special, you can usually dedicate more time to them, you are less distracted and can really give your entire focus… so I’m glad we are talking about how to take them really seriously.1: This is your time to be proactive –Here’s the honest truth about internships – many organizations view them as a way to get cheap labor to do the jobs no one else wants to do. They call it an internship which sounds really beneficial to you the student, but in reality you are a benefit to them.Not all internships are created the same, I did some internships that were awesome, and others where I didn’t do squat.But here’s the straight truth. You have an opportunity.If you were working at this mall this summer there is literally a zero percent c...

Finding the Right Fit For Your Sports Career – Work in Sports Podcast e091 Jun 13, 2018

Dr. Samuel Todd researches the human resources side of the sports industry and shares his vast experience crunching the data regarding sports careers. Lots to learn in this episode!Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast.Data, Data, Data!For those of you born in the 1970’s or fans of old reruns you probably recognized that was an awful rendition of a classic moment in Brady Bunch history.I hated the Brady Bunch so I’m not sure why I did that, other than to focus in on the truth of today’s sports world.We are finally a data driven industry.For decades the business world has relied on data to inform their decision making, vast spreadsheets with forecasts and projections and ROI, AOV and EBITDA …but in the world of sports we so often rely on instincts, gut reactions and experience to forge our path.Sometimes this works magic.As the clock wound down on Super Bowl 49 between the Seahawks and Patriots – with the Seahawks driving for what would be a game-clinching touchdown, data said “Coach Belichick, call a timeout to preserve as much time as you can, allowing tom brady a chance to return serve.”But he didn’t.He says he saw panic, indecisiveness on the Seahawks sideline, so he forced them into action rather than giving them time to relax. His gut told him their frantic condition may result in a bad decision.It did. You probably remember the rest. Russell Wilson to Malcolm Butler… game over, it what I still think to this day was the best super bowl I’ve ever watched. We can debate that later if you dare.Then again, look at the data world. Teams like the Astros, Spurs, Red Sox and Falcons have used it masterfully to help put their teams in position to win more often than not.Actual results used to project future occurrences.Every team in sports employs analytics staff to help them find that hidden formula of success. Marketing teams pour through data to find out why a campaign worked or didn’t. Sales teams use dynamic ticket pricing to maximize revenue…again by manipulating and understanding data.The quest to collect and manipulate data is all around us.But you know where it isn’t used enough? In human resources. What if there was data to understand where you fit in the sports industry. Or how an employer could quickly and efficiently find the right match for their job opening. Or find out exactly why one person succeeds in a role and another fails.This, in a roundabout way is the plight of our guest this week. Dr. Samuel Todd studies the HR side of the sport industry; in particular, exploring the way in which the job searches of sport industry hopefuls are different than those for non-sport industry jobs. His findings thus far are fascinating, and will help you form your perspective and expectations and you dive deep into your sports industry career. You’ll notice I geek out a little in this interview because his concepts and analysis are exciting and I know will help you understand yourself a little better. It put many things in focus for me.So let’s get to it – here is Dr. Samuel Todd Associate Dean at the University of South Carolina!Questions for Dr. Samuel Todd About Your Fit in the Sports Industry1: We live in a much more data driven world than ever before, or at least it appears that way ever since Moneyball, analytics and Brad Pitt made it cool – as a researcher you focus on the way in which job searches of sports industry hopefuls differ from those in non-sports industry jobs.We’ll get into the weeds, but just as an overview in an over-arching sense, what has the data told you about this difference between sports jobs seekers and non—sports industry job seekers?2: About 10 times a week I get emails from people saying “I am passionate about working in sports” Have you ever looked into this passion for the sports industry? Does it change the way people look for jobs and is this passion and approach unique to sports?

What does the 2026 World Cup Mean for Sports Jobs? Work in Sports Podcast e90 Jun 11, 2018

If North America secures the bid for the 2026 World Cup - what does that mean for sports jobs seekers? A lot. Hi everybody I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast.Happy Monday everyone, we’ve got a pretty big week ahead – later this afternoon I am interviewing Dr. Samuel Todd from the University of South Carolina. The reason Dr. Todd and I are talking is because his research is focused on the differences between sports job seekers and other industry job seekers.In fact, he helps sports employers streamline their hiring process, has studied how happy people are in sports careers and how people find their right fit in the sports industry.I’m very excited about this, and I think you should be too. That’ll publish this Wednesday so keep an eye out for that.In the meantime, today’s QA question comes from an expert in their own right. For the last 10 years Karl Keating has worked for adidas in their Brand Marketing department…then shifted over to Nike moving to the Netherlands to be their global brand manager.He wrote to me on Linkedin asking me a question… which I’ll be honest, took me back a bit for obvious reasons. Karl is going to be an expert guest on the show, but first I owe him an answer to his question.Karl asks -- if North America gets the 2026 WC on Thursday, what do think the immediate impact will be on sports jobs in the US?Karl I love the immediacy of this question.For those of you who are not soccer buffs a bit of background. The World Cup is the largest sports event in the world. Period.Let’s add some perspective: the 2014 World Cup final was watched by 1.01 billion people.The 2014 super bowl was watched by 114 million.That was just the World Cup final – there were 64 games total in 12 venues throughout Brazil.This is a huge event.For more on Brian's perspective on the sports jobs related to the 2026 World Cup listen to the podcast!

Scott Rego: The Life of an NBA Equipment Manager – Work in Sports Podcast e89 Jun 06, 2018

Scott Rego, Head Equipment Manager for the Philadelphia 76ers explains his role, major responsibilities and the grind of traveling with the team on this edition of the Work in Sports podcast!Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for Workinsports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast.If I worked in real estate, I think I would spend a great majority of my day admiring other people’s homes on the market. I could see myself coming home wanting to buy a new different house weekly.Honey I’m home – guess what I saw today, this awesome 4 bedroom house in the perfect neighborhood with a pool, you’re going to love it!And fo course my wife would laugh tell me I’m nuts and then I’d go on with my day.Well, now, in my role with WorkinSports you know what I see all day long – sports jobs. You know who I talk to all day long – cool people in sports with fun jobs.Now, my bosses are listening so I’m here to convince them that I am not constantly admiring other people’s job openings, but I do envision certain roles and think to myself… man that would have been cool.Take today’s guest for example – Scott Rego, Head Equipment Manager for the Philadelphia 76ers – for the last 32 years Scott has worked with the Sixers, he’s built relationships with players, become a trusted advocate of the coaching staff, and been instrumental in orchestrating travel, practices, game prep, team needs and more.Scott goes untra deep explaning his role and what he loves about it in this interview…and I have to say, there is a lot to love and admire about what he has accomplished.So let’s get to it – here’s Scott Rego, Head Equipment Manager for the Philadelphia 76ers!Questions for Scott Rego, Head Equipment Manager for the Philadelphia 76ers1: For nearly 32 years you’ve been with the 76ers as a part of the equipment staff, I noticed from your bio that you started with the team while in high school – how did you get your first opportunity?2: I remember going to Celtics games as a kid – sorry, Boston native here – and being so jealous of the kids on the court, even if they were just rebounding and passing the ball to Larry Bird or Kevin McHale – you were that kid! Looking back did you fully appreciate how cool that was?2a: What was it like being around the players back then?2b: Is that where you got the bug and knew – this is what I have to do for a living? 3: So you are in high school and college, working the Sixers home games as a team attendant, at what point did you figure out the next logical step was to progress into equipment management?4: It’s not like there is a major in college for equipment management – how did you learn the skills necessary to thrive in this role?4a: did you have any mentors, and what kind of advice did they give you?5: When you were the Assistant Equipment manager, what were the key day-to-day priorities of your role?6: What’s it like travelling with the team – it’s an 82 game season, you are all over the place all the time… do you enjoy that part of the job, or is that a grind?7: For the last 19 years you’ve been the Head Equipment Manager for the 76ers – I imagine your challenges are much different now than they were when you were the Assistant Equipment Manager – what are the hardest parts of your role, and what are the parts that you really enjoy?8: We have a private facebook group full of fans of this show and before each interview I ask them what questions they’d like me to ask…so this one comes to you from Vincent Wong who is in college at Florida State and really wants to be an equipment manager someday – Vincent asks “What advice would you give to someone who wants to start building their career in equipment management?9: Vincent had another – I got to meet the head EQ guy at FSU, I asked him what time of the year is busiest for him and he said summer. Is that the same for the NBA and getting new inventory?10: Dylan Burson wanted to know – with such a long season and day to day grind how do you maintain your st...

The Fundamentals of Breaking into Sports with Randy Just Jun 04, 2018

WorkInSports.com Director of Customer Service, Randy Just, gets ambushed by Brian and answers the questions he hears most often from our premium membersI had this idea, which was completely unfair. Our Director of Customer Service Randy Just is a fascinating guy, giving, lovable, and still attends EDM concerts in his mid-40's. At WorkinSports.com we have a small intimate, family oriented crew, and in many ways he's the heart of our operation. Everyday he handles questions from our members, talks to professors in sports management programs and leads our sales team. When you call our help line, he answers.Not some call center overseas, my man Randy picks up the phone. When people call, he spends time with them. He doesn't just hurry them off the phone and try to get on to the next thing on his to-do list.He informs, because he cares.On this call we talk about:The fundamentals of Breaking into SportsHow he goes about helping people on their search for sports jobsHow he got his sports career launched with the Phoenix CoyotesHow sales are the main entry point into the sports industryThe way to network, and build your personal brandSo much fun on this call, Randy didn't know I was calling...but he figured out i was recording about 8 minutes in. Give it a listen!

How to Gain the Respect of Your Bosses, Professors and Co-Workers Jun 01, 2018

What type of person are you? The kind who solves problems, or who blames others? Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the WorkInSports podcastJust a quick update before we get into today’s topic on being the type of employee that your bosses respect, your professors admire and your co-workers rely on.We’ve had a ton of new people joining our private facebook group this week, which is awesome, we’re up to about 500 people now who are seriously interested in networking, sharing advice, asking questions and leaning on our expert guests – yeah you heard that right, many of our expert guests who you have listened to, like Chris Valente Director of Sales for the Boston Red Sox, Carl Manteau, Sr, Director of group Sales with the Milwaukee Bucks, Gina Miller, VP of Content and Communication for FC Dallas, Loretta Kerner Community relations manager with the San Antonio Spurs, Mike Judge Recruiter and Inside Sales Manager with the Cleveland Browns…. They are in the group, sharing and answering questions. It’s really cool.Here’s the deal --- I ask three very simple questions in order for you to enter the group. What is you favorite episode, who would you like to see as a guest in the future, and have you given us a positive review yet.Now, I do that just to make sure you are a real person. You could literally say, I haven’t listened to an episode yet, I think you should get Kobe Bryant as a guest and I haven’t given you a review yet… and this would prove to me you are a real person and I would let you in.The reason I bring this up, is because there is a queue of 83 people right now, who asked to get into the group, but didn’t answer my simple questions. So I don’t know you are legit.Answer the questions, that’s how you get in.I also wanted to quickly promote next weeks guest --- I have Scott Rego Head Equipment Manager for the Philadelphia 76ers coming on the show, and I’m very excited because Scott has been doing this for over 20 years…and has a ton to share about the industry.So tune into that episode on Wednesday – if you haven’t listened to this weeks interview with jack mills, agent to baker Mayfield, you are nuts. Even if you don’t want to be an agent, Jack has been in the sports industry for 50 years and shares so much advice, you really don’t want to miss it.Ok, on to today’s question.“Hi Brian, this is Cherie from Boston, I love the podcast and am so happy to submit a question to you. I’ve heard so many people on your show talk about the soft skill they look for in employees, that “it” factor. You’ve mentioned many times that you managed a large staff, what do you personally look for when hiring?”Cherie – great to have your question, because I love talking about my views. No, that didn’t come out right sounded a little narcissistic, let me rephrase, I love sharing and helping.I’m going to take this to a very macro discussion to start.For the first 8 years of my career I was what you would call an individual contributor.Then I was applying for a job with Fox Sports Northwest as a Coordinating producer where I would manage a staff of 8, eventually I would become news director and have a staff of 35. I believe in a “Solve the Problem” mindset. Most of the people you meet in life are blamers, something goes wrong for them and they look for someone to pin the blame on.This happened because “they’ did something.I didn’t get an A on the test because my coach had practice go too late.I didn’t get the star in the play because the teacher likes them better.I didn’t get the job because the applicant tracking system is biased.I didn’t get a promotion because they are better at kissing ass.I hate that stuff. I really, really, really despise blamers.You will face problems throughout your life, you can blame someone else for their existence, or you can go to work figuring out solutions.So let me run out a scenario that isn’t “real” per se, but could happen daily:We have a live post-game TV sho...

Jack Mills: The Secret to Becoming a Successful Sports Agent – Work in Sports podcast e086 May 30, 2018

Jack Mills, agent for Baker Mayfield, joins the podcast to share the secrets he has learned over his 50 years representing NFL players. I’ve long held this belief that if you are a sports fan you should work in sports. I know, revolutionary, but hear me out.All the people out there who are accountants, administrators, human resources reps, sales account executives, marketing coordinators – all of these jobs exist in the sports industry, so rather than selling tires, why not sell tickets. Rather than marketing the worlds largest concrete museum, why not market sports events.Analyze spreadsheets for some ecommerce site, or analyze game film?Community relations for JP Morgan Chase, or Community Relations for the Toronto Blue Jays Just about every job in the business world can be done in the sports world. They are simpatico!But then there are the glamour jobs in sports too.Sports anchor.Coach.Scout.General Manager.Agent.These are the jobs that are very unique to the sports industry, and require special focus and talent. Let’s hone in on that last one. Agent. Since Jerry Maguire the idea of becoming an agent has grown massively in popularityThere are about 830 agents certified by the NFL Players Association — more than one for every three players in or around the league. Roughly 75 percent of NFL players are represented by just 17 percent of all certified agents, according to NFLPA statistics.The Super Agents rep about 75% of the NFL, then the rest battle it out for who is left.Guys like Tom Condon – who represents Drew Brees, Eli Manning, JJ Watt and Matthew Stafford amongst others – accounts for 1.4 billion in contracts alone.That is insane.But, that doesn’t mean the business is closed out for people trying to break in. These super agents don’t work alone, they have huge agencies. There are Undrafted free agents, like Patriots Super Bowl hero Malcolm Butler who is represented by little known Derek Simpson. There are ways to make a name for yourself in this side of the sports industry if you truly want it.But how? What is the answer? What should you learn? What should you focus on? How do you land clients?Well, I have just the person to answer that for you. Jack Mills from Capital Sports Advisors – don’t know Jack? Well, you should. He’s the agent for #1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft Baker Mayfield. When Tom Condon and Drew Rosenhaus and Jimmy Sexton came knocking on Bakers door, it was Jack who stole the show.Jack’s been around the block more than a few times. He represented 4 1st round picks in the 1970 draft. He’s represented Eric Dickerson, Tony Boselli, Rod Smith and a bevy of other top line, pro bowl, hall of fame type players.And he’s here, to share it all with you. So let’s get to it.Questions for NFL Agent Jack Mills1: Over the years it appears that agency has consolidated into a few major big players – all the biggest and brightest get represented by a handful of names, or agencies. As someone with decades of experience, but maybe not as much of a household name as let’s say Drew Rosenhaus -- how do you cut through huge competition to still land players like Baker Mayfield and 3rd round pick Michael Gallup? 2: I found it very interesting that Tom Brady and Jimmy Garapollo are represented by the same agent Don Yee – how does that work? How can you possibly do your fiduciary best by your client if another client is in competition for the same position on the same team?3: How would you describe the art of being an agent – is it a relationship job? Or more of a CBA / contract negotiation job?4: You and I were connected by a mutual friend Zach Gross, and I give Zach a lot of credit, you were a panelist at the Sports Management Worldwide NFL Combine Career Conference and he identified you as someone he wanted to meet, and he struck up a conversation and has built a relationship with you since. How vital is it to be that personality type, the aggressive fearless, talk to anyone type, to be a successful agent?

Finding Early Success in Your Sports Career with Chris Valente, Director of Sales Fenway Sports May 23, 2018

Chris Valente Director of Sales for Fenway Sports Management joins the podcast to discuss what it's really like to work in sports sales and what people should expect, honestly, when they start their career in the sports industryHi everybody I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…So what should I do?This is a question I get a lot. People email in or message me on linked in with a broad question of … I want to work in sports what should I do? I love sports I know everything about sports – what should I do?I hate to burst your bubble – but I can’t answer that. No one can answer that question but you. And do you know why? Because you aren’t a formula with a mathematical equation and a black and white answer.You have hopes and fears and dreams and ideas that enthuse you…and I don’t know any of them. No one does.I get frustrated, when people try to tell the world you need to have a morning routine exactly like the top 50 CEO’s and that will turn you into a person on the rise. That if you follow my formula you’ll become one of the greats.Greatness awaits if you just follow this outline in my book – just 14.99 on amazon, and attend my conference just $299!Well, if the top 50 CEO’s all get up at 5am and read a book, or go for a walk or meditate… but you aren’t a morning person at all…trying to cram their concept of what works into your sensibilities doesn’t make any sense.In fact it’ll probably make your grouchy and less productive. But alas, the concept of not having all the answers doesn’t sell any books, or increase download numbers.Honesty doesn’t sell as well as an informercial. But that’s what you are going to get here anyway.Honesty.I find the older I get the less apt I am to follow anyone’s lead blindly. Now, don’t read that as being a stodgy old man, who thinks he knows it all… quite the opposite, I may be stodgy but I’m not that old, and I definitely don’t think I know it all.I read and observe and ingest information more than ever – but I think I have a stronger sense of me, and what works for me than ever before. I read more than ever, and listen to podcasts, but I probably also question more than ever.I am attuned to what works and what inspires, and I take nuggets from everything I read and learn – rather than saying “well, this thought leader said I should do this, so that is my new world order”F-that.But like I said, I read all the time, because I want to take in perspectives different than mine. Or sometimes it’s something that validates my own wonders.The point is, you have to be you. Do you the best you can, strive for what works for you, be open to learning and questioning and being curious and thoughtful…and you’ll find your purpose.To bring this back around, just last week I read an article on LinkedIn titled “Working in Sports – 5 things to be successful in year one” …my first thought was, here’s someone playing on my side of the street let’s see what they have to say!And as I read, I found myself saying – yep, that’s right, oh yeah I totally agree with that, and Ok I can see that being potentially true. Bottom line, I was impressed, this person nailed what it’s like working in the sports industry, while adding some flair for storytelling.It wasn’t until I finished, that I looked up to see who wrote it.It was today’s guest – Director of Sales for Fenway Sports Management – yes, that Fenway, as in the Boston Red Sox, Chris Valente.Neither one of us can tell you who you should be or where you should go, but we can give you perspective, a blueprint that may work for you, concepts that have worked for others and environments you should consider for your possible growth – the rest well, that’s up to you to take the reigns of your own journey.Guys like Chris and I can be sherpas on the trail, but you have to get yourself to the actual peak.Grab your pen and paper – there is a lot of information in here you can put to work today – so let’s get to it!

What is that Sports Job? Field Producer – Work in Sports podcast e084 May 21, 2018

A fan of the show asks: "Who is that guy working with Lisa Salters on her ESPN live shot?" We explain what a field producer is, their role, responsibilities and the way to become one, on this podcast episode. Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the workinsports podcast.I’ve been checking out our download stats lately and there are a lot of new people listening! Welcome, this gets me excited!On Mondays and Friday’s I answer fan questions – you can email me your questions at podcast@workinsports.com, or you can connect with me on linkedin etc.If you have your questions answered – free month at workinsports.com!We also have this really cool private facebook group so consider signing up there.So let’s get into this weeks question – it comes from Jill Foster Koch to our private facebook groupThis might sound odd, but if anyone would know it'd be this group. I'm trying to find out what a certain job position is called. Lisa Salters, with ESPN, has a man named Greg that assists her on the field. Not makeup, not one that holds the lights on her for when she goes live, but directs her where to be. Does anyone know what his position is called?Before I get into the nuts and bolts of her answer, I just want to say I like the idea of this question. So often I’m giving advice on interviewing or interning or building your brand…stuff like that, but this is more of the “hey who is that guy, that looks like a fun job”So if more of you have question like – hey, so who is the person who does that thing that looks interesting – send them along, I think it can make for some fun and informative conversations.Now on to Jill’s question.Without personally knowing Greg – not sure how you know his first name by the way – I’m assuming he is the field producer assigned to Lisa.Listen to the podcast to understand more about what a field producer does in sports!

A View From Inside the NFL with Andrew Howard, NFL Communications Manager May 16, 2018

Andrew Howard, Communications Manager for the NFL joins the podcast to discuss his role in the league, building relationships, networking and what it looks like behind the scenes of the NFL draftHi everybody I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast – I’ve always been impressed by calm people.People who can be in the midst of an urgent situation but appear outwardly as if they are patiently awaiting a train to take them downtown for a casual lunch date. Their voice stays even, their facial expression exudes confidence and their palms are not allowed to sweat.I am not this person. I’m overly excitable, especially in urgent situations.That’s why I was in the TV industry, I love the urgency and the quick processing and mental gymnastics you have to go through during the day. But in these situations my voice changes, probably goes up an octave, my face looks intense, I’ve had people take pictures of me and laugh as I enter intense mode.My speech increases in speed. I have to consciously meditate and think about my breathing in order to regain some sense of calm every day. I think to myself, release your muscles and it’s amazing my shoulders will drop like 2 inches.I’m always tense and in ready to pounce mode. And then I get around someone really calm…and I’m in awe.That’s how I felt in this interview with Andrew Howard Communication Manager for the NFL – here’s a guy with a huge laundry list of responsibilities.Not just a lot of responsibilities….big responsibilities, and yet his demeanor is so in control and matter of fact. After this show go look at his linkedin profile and see all the things he is in charge of on a day to day basis – I just read his bio and start to have the excited shortness of breath. He’s go go go, but you’d never know it.He’s measured, articulate, well-thought out and so incredibly impressive. I can’t wait for you all to listen in to this interview because there is so much to learn from Andrew Howard, Communication Manager for the NFL – so I’ll stop talking so fast… and get to AndrewQuestions for Andrew Howard, Communications Manager, NFL1: I’m always really curious about origination stories, you’re the communications manager for the NFL, a massive job with huge responsibilities and cool experiences many would dream of… but just a few years ago you were a student at UCLA studying History. When and why did you decide – I think I want to pursue a career in sports? 2: What was the draw of being on the publicity/communication side of the industry?3: While in college you conducted internships with the San Jose Earthquakes and with the Golden State Warriors – how much did those experiences influence your career choices and direction moving forward?4: You started with the NFL in 2010 as a Public Relations Coordinator…I’m guessing hundreds of people applied for that job, why do you think you got it? What was it that you did to stand out for the right reasons? 5: I had a general manager once who had a background in sales, so he always leaned into the sales side of our business and let me have my way on the journalism/content side…. for you, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has a background in PR, was it any more daunting to know the big boss may very well be keeping an eye on all of your work?6: Take us through your current role as Communication Manager for the league – what are the main roles and responsibilities of your day to day?7: It sounds like a great deal of your role relies not just on sharing valuable league information, but also in creating buzz and promotion for various league events and NFL network media members throughout the year. With such a huge global brand like the NFL you probably don’t have to struggle much with establishing your brand, but everyone has challenges, what are some of the big challenges you face?8: One of the biggest events of the NFL off-season is the Draft, I’m an addict I’ll admit it – during that event,

Handling Tough Job Interview Questions – Work in Sports Podcast e082 May 14, 2018

The standard job interview questions may seem old and tired, but you need to nail them to get the job. We give you a strategy to nail two of the most common, and tricky, job interview questions. Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast… A few weeks back I had a QA session where I handled how you should answer the interview question “What is your biggest weakness” It’s one of the cliché questions that comes up in just about every job interview ever… and it’s a tough one to answer. I gave you a strategy to attack that question and many of you really liked that discussion. How do I know? Because that episode had a lot of downloads…and many of you have asked follow up questions about that subject. So let’s do this again shall we? This time the question comes in from Mike in Connecticut: Hi Brian, Love the podcast I’ve learned so much from listening to you. You guys should really make t-shirts, I would definitely wear one around town. Anyway, my question, there are two questions I’ve really been struggling with during the interview process, and they seem to be common so I want to strengthen my approach. 1: Where do you want to be in five years? 2: Why should we hire you? Can you help me with a strategy on these questions? Mike this is good stuff – and yes we are working on some t-shirt designs. The hope is to give them out to people who ask questions, but also to the expert guests we have on the podcast. And me. I get one too. In the meantime – I will give you a free month to workinsports.com, where as of right now we have 7378 sports jobs, and nearly 500 internships. Looking real quick – here is a marketing coordinator for a major sports network, game operations intern for an NBA team still in the playoffs that may or may not be my hometown team, and director of event services for one of those crazy course challenges through the mud and over fire pits to test your strength type deals. These guys are growing like crazy. Anyway, back to your question – The “where do you want to be in 5 years” question is the equivalent of asking someone at a bar what their sign is. It’s lacking any originality or creativity, but, no offense to the HR people in the audience, so are most of the people that conduct interviews. Alas, it gets asked all the time – so let’s discuss. What does the hiring manager want to know with this question? Three things really – do you have ambition? Is it realistic? Does this job match up with your long term goals and planning? Ambition is so important in hiring, but it’s also a bit of a double-edged sword. Ambition means you’ll take on challenges, you are determined, you’re not adverse to hard work and chance are you are pretty dependable because you understand that all of your efforts now will lead to your big dreams. On the flip side – ambition can also be a red flag if you have a company without much growth opportunity or something that isn’t aligned with your big goals. So hiring managers are trying to get someone who is ambitious and has plans, but at the same time isn’t going to leave them in the lurch ina few months so they have to start this over again. Also, they want to know if you are realistic about your goals. Sure it’s great to dream big, but to be starting an entry level sales job and saying in 5 years you want to own the team is a little ridiculous don’t you think? A hiring manager hears this and they think – this person is a little daft, or we’ll never be able to satisfy their wants. Finally, if someone is applying for a job in the sales department but saying their 5 year goal is to be a football scout, I mean you’re kind of playing your cards a little heavy aren’t you? That may be an over the top example, but you get the idea, they’re trying to see if you line up with their role and their department. So how do you answer? Think realistically about 5 years.

Don’t Know Anyone? Here’s How to Start Building Your Network May 11, 2018

No matter what industry you are in, you can build a network of great contacts if you put in the work. Here is the work you need to do. Hi everybody I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast --- As many of you know I was out earlier this week, no podcast on Monday or Wednesday because I was in Phoenix at our corporate offices for our quarterly summit. We get together from all corners of the country and work up strategies and tactics for our business moving forward. I can’t really tell you what we are up to, because we aren’t there yet, but it was an exciting week. I will tell you this, much of the feedback I have received through this podcast, through our private facebook group and the podcast@workinsports.com email inbox was discussed and embraced. You folks gave us some good ideas that we are putting into action and I can’t wait to tell you about. Some very cool features, tools and well some other stuff, that’ll add so much value to you in your job search. I’m excited. This is my excited voice. My first day back the northeast office, which is just me and my podcast studio north of philly, I interviewed Andrew Howard Communications Manager for the NFL and it is going to be an awesome episode come Wednesday. If you are into the behind the scenes inner workings of NFL events – think combine, draft, super bowl, playoffs – you are going to be really into this discussion. My conversation with Andrew lined up very very well with a question we received this week from Ellen, a junior in college who is struggling with building her network. Now, as you know Ellen will get a free month at Work in Sports.com for having her question read on the air – which means she will gain immediate access to our over 7,000 active sports jobs, our matching technology, our resume database that is available to our over 8,000 employment partners – it’s a gift that will help Ellen! You can send your questions to podcast@workinsports.com – or join our private facebook group by searching for the WorkinSports podcast on facebook. Being a part of that group will get you an incredible network of contacts – many people I’ve interviewed on the show are in that group…and there are hundreds of sports areer minded people, helping each other out in the battle to get hired – so join in. Also, I probably don’t mention this enough but – subscribe to this podcast, and tell your friends and fellow students… we love growing our audience and sharing all this great information with all of you! So subscribe already…don’t miss an episode! Alright on to Ellen’s question: HI Brian, love the podcast I’ve listened to all of your expert interviews, often more than once and I love you QA sessions which is why I am writing in. In the expert interviews you consistently ask how someone got started in their career, and I listen anxiously hoping to hear someone who didn’t have an “in” in the industry. Alas, it seems so many of your experts say – we’ll I knew such and such which led to a chance. Just being honest here, I don’t really know anyone. I’m worried my lack of connections will really hurt me getting a job in my near future – what do you suggest? Ellen great question and one that many people struggle with so let’s dig into it. First I want you to know there is hope, I got my first job without knowing anyone. Truly, I knew no one. But my skill profile helped me get noticed and then it was up to me to nail the interview and sell them on me. And that is a really important disclaimer here – even if you have all the connections in the world, you have to have the right skills, you will not be hired for just knowing people or having a relative in the business, you need the skills and the ability to sell yourself. Knowing people just gives you a chance, you still have to deliver. But let’s get to your networking question. The reason I said this meshed up well with my interview of An...

Deandra Duggans: The Art and the Science of Sports Marketing May 02, 2018

Baltimore Ravens Manager of Advertising and Branding Deandra Duggans joins the show to discuss why she got into sports marketing, the challenge of creating unique visions and how to Ravens marketing mirrors the team and the community at large. Hi everybody I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the work in sports podcast… A fan of the show said too me recently, I know you focus primarily on jobs in sports marketing and sales, but maybe you’d consider interviewing this person I know on the legal side of sports. Her suggestion was a good one, and I’m already connecting with her person and getting them on the show. But I was taken aback a bit. Have I been leaning too much into jobs in sports marketing and sales? I’m trying to be as diverse as I can – in jobs, in genders, in race – but maybe I have fallen into a pattern. You can tell I’m kind of a paranoid person. Anyway I went back and categorized our expert interviews and it breaks down like this: Broadcasting/Sports Media: 4 Public Relations: 4 Professor: 4 Team operations: 3 Sports marketing: 3 Sales: 2 HR/recruiter: 2 Community Relations: 2 College Athletics: 2 Digital Content/Social media: 2 Athlete: 1 Student: 1 Coaching: 1 Security: 1 Mascot: 1 This made me feel a little better, our content and our guests are balanced. If I noticed any blind spot on my part it’s that only 9 out of our 33 guests have been women. That’s just 28% and that’s not really indicative of what is happening in the sports industry at large. There are more women than ever in power roles in sports – Athletic Directors like Sandy Barbour at Penn State, Michelle Roberts the executive director of the NBA players association, Dawn Hudson the CMO of the NFL – the list goes on. And that brings us to today’s guest – and up and comer in the world of sports marketing Deandra Duggans is the manager of Advertising and Branding with the Baltimore Ravens and shares some incredible career advice during our interview. She’s not just a woman in the sports industry, she’s one of the brightest minds in the business of sports. Question for Baltimore Ravens Deandra Duggans 1: On this podcast when I talk about sports marketing I get a lot of buzz – people love the idea of working in marketing for a sports team – but marketing is a pretty broad term, there are many roles within the marketing department. You’ve been with the Ravens for a little over two years now, tell us a little more about the specifics of your role with the team. 2: Prior to the Ravens you worked as a Marketing Manager for Events DC in the sports and entertainment division – how different was it working on the individual event side of marketing vs. a huge globally recognized organization like the Ravens? 3: When I worked at Fox Sports Northwest, we had a mission statement posted on the front wall as you entered the office, it was basically our call to action, our mission and our brand identity all wrapped into one. How would you articulate the brand vision of the Ravens – who are you striving to be and how do you want to be represented in the public eye? 4: We hear all the time about how coaches, right after a win, don’t take any time to celebrate it’s right onto the next game. Is it the same way in marketing – you come up with a great idea, execute on it…and them just have to move along to the next idea? 5: We have a private Facebook group and before every interview I ask that group what questions they have for our guest – you blew up the feed, lots of people had questions to ask. We’ll start with Kirsten Nelson, because her question pivots perfectly off of what we were just talking about… basically, Kirsten wants to know… how do you keep coming up with new fresh ideas and campaigns? 6: My guy James Price was very excited to hear from you, he has his eyes on getting into sports marketing at the pro level,

Negotiating Salary as an Entry Level Employee – Work in Sports e078 Apr 30, 2018

The dreaded salary negotiation question is here. We dive into how you should approach your salary negotiation even as an entry level candidate. Listen in! Hi everybody I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the work in sports podcast. We’re closing out the month of April and I think April is an underrated sports month. The draft, the NBA playoffs, the Stanley Cup finals, baseball is getting into a groove – I love having options. I was sitting around watching the draft, couple of cold beers in the fridge (yes I am a beer snob) and swinging between NBA games, NHL games…and a little bit of Thor: Dark World…all in all a very good time. Since I’m pretty NFL addicted, I signed up for a few new podcasts this weekend – started off with Pro Football Talk PM. Now I like the pro football talk site, even though it is basically an aggregator, they don’t really report anything, they take the hard work of other reporters and repurpose the content, but I get all the news in one spot and then go to the original story link when I need or want more detail. Have to say, I was really annoyed with the podcast. Mike Florio must have mentioned hashtag PFT posse about 20 times in the first 5 minutes, and then talked about his marathon running and favorite movies. Why not just call it the Mike Florio getting to know you hour? I don’t know, kind of bored and bothered me. Self-indulgent. Then again, he’s a millionaire and I’m a thousandaire so maybe I need to be more self-promotional and tell you what I had for breakfast and share my top ten albums of all-time. Public Enemy Fear of a Black Planet would be high on that list btw. So if anyone has any good podcast recommendations – I’m talking sports, true crime, history, biography, science – I’m up for it. I love good content. So share. Go on to our private facebook group and tell me your favorite podcasts. I need some new stuff on the dial, and I cant listen to myself. It’s weird. Before I jump into today’s question from Hannah Carson – I have a success story from fan of the podcast and member of our private facebook group Carson Mason. I wanted to let you know I have accepted a New Media internship with the Pittsburgh Penguins for this summer! I want to thank you for your counsel and guidance in my summer internship search. I did a Skype interview for this internship and listened to your podcast on video interviews the night before. The podcast helped calm my nerves and made me more confident for the interview. I have learned so much about the sports industry and job process from your podcast episodes and cannot thank you enough. Thanks again for your help and for keeping up the awesome podcast. I’ll take a moment to be self-indulgent here – you guys probably notice there are no ads on this show. We at work in sports.com aren’t using this platform to generate revenue, I’m not saying we never will, but that wasn’t the plan with this concept. We wanted to help. We wanted to share information that can drive you further in your career – we wanted to help you be successful. It is working. I’m getting emails like this 2-3 times pper week and it gives all of us at WorkinSports.com great joy and satisfaction. Good luck Carson – and thank you. You made my day. Now let’s switch Carson’s and go to today’s question from Hannah Carson, a student at Xavier University who is jumping into the entry level job market and wants to know about salary negotiation: My question is related to asking those awkward questions relating to salary. As someone who is entering the full-time job search, it's a tough situation. For years, I've worked internships and graduate assistantships just to gain experience, regardless of what I got paid. I'm at the part in my life now where that is simply impossible to do anymore. I've seen a lot of job descriptions that ask you to list your salary expectations and I don't want to ask for too much for an entry-level ...

The Power of Networking: A Real World Example with Zachary Gross Apr 27, 2018

Aspiring sports agent Zachary Gross recently had two opportunities to meet important industry people. He didn't let the opportunity pass him by, and it's made a huge difference in his career arc. Hi everybody I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for Workinsports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast – As I mentioned a few weeks back, I want to tell the stories of some of the up and comers in the sports industry in addition to all of the established experts we have on the show. This week I talk with Zachary Gross, an aspiring sports agent who has networked his way into some major contacts in the sports agency world, including Jack Mills the agent for Baker Mayfield – heard of that guy? And since we’re talking NFL draft – we also have a promotion right now at WorkinSports.com for 75% off a premium membership. That’s full access to our over 7,00 available sports jobs – I’m scanning right now and I see a production coordinator with an NFL team, a marketing intern with an NHL team, an account trainee with a major sports agency – massive opportunitites you may not be able to finanywhere else. If you are interested in this offer email me – podcast@workinsports.com – hit me up on LinkedIn or join our private facebook group “the work in sports podcast” and message me there – I’ll send you a code you sign up, you get 75% off – that simple. Listen in to hear how Zachary Gross changed his career trajectory by seizing the opportunity to network

Amie Wells: Getting Hired in Pro Sports – Work in Sports Podcast e077 Apr 25, 2018

Amie Wells, Tennessee Titans Broadcast Coordinator joins the show to discuss how she got hired in pro sports, the challenges of covering the NFL Draft, what she'd get tattooed on her face and much more about working in pro sports.Hi everybody I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast – It’s NFL draft week, which is probably the most exciting non-event moment in the sports calendar, then again, maybe I’m just an insatiable sports dork. I have analyzed this draft phenomenon and I think it’s a parallel to life – stick with me here as I turn into creepy meditation guy – but think about it, why do we love the draft? It’s a microcosm of hope. These athletes that are available give you hope your team will improve and make them better for the next year. The draft is a major part of the enjoyment algorithm for the upcoming season – current roster + free agency + draft = potential! And potential means exciting! Plus, it’s an immersive thing. Free Agency is cool because you don’t really know what will happen and it’s all play money anyway… but it’s all just hitting refresh on your phone throughout the day and seeing what happens next. Breaking News banner, after Adam Schefter report, after Ian Rapoport buzz. But in the draft there is a sense of order, or dominoes that affect one another and so it plays out with more drama and build up. Team X does this, and that changes the move your team is going to make. Hope in this example is a tease – you go in expecting something, and then it all gets thrown out of whack when the Browns draft Baker Mayfield #1. Am I going to far with this? I don’t think so – I love the draft because I love the NFL and the season never really stops. We aren’t in the game season, we’re in the team building season and it’s nearly as exciting. So what happens when you work in the NFL? It’s a dream job for many, but what is the day to day like? What is the off-season like? What is game day like vs NFL Draft day? I’m fascinated by this world, and I think many of you are as well. Which is why I brought on Amie Wells, Broadcast Coordinator for the Tennessee Titans. She’s the swiss army knife of the Titans broadcast team – doing on camera reports, hosting a radio show, hosting a podcast and telling the players stories from an embedded world behind the scenes. I’ll be honest – her job is awesome, and I’m jealous. That may come through a bit during this interview as we talk about everything from draft coverage to building relationships and trust with the athletes she covers. We also dig into how she started in PR but transitioned to the content side… and a whole bunch more. So here she is, Amie Wells (@TitansAmie) broadcast coordinator for the Tennessee Titans!Questions for Amie Wells, Tennessee Titans Broadcast Coordinator1: You have a big week this week with the NFL draft coming up, I know you are traveling down to Dallas as part of your role as a Broadcast Coordinator with the Titans, so first off thanks for squeezing this in. Let’s talk about your role with the Titans, you’ve been there for just about 5 years now, what are the responsibilities of your job and how have they changed since you first started? 2: Let’s talk about the draft, it’s the biggest event of the NFL off-season, what do your responsibilities look like this week? 2a: tons of unique content – how do you enjoy that challenge of coming up with unique content? 3: Were you able to attend last years draft in Philadelphia – what did you learn from that event that will prep you for this year? We’re you able to start building relationships and trust with some of the players that were drafted? 4: As someone who has worked in the sports media for two decades I find building trust and a personal relationship with players can be hard – how do you go about making the players feel comfortable talking with you and getting the best out of them? 5: I want to pivot back to your early career a bit – you worked as a ...

Do I Really Need to Relocate for a Sports Career? Work in Sports Podcast e076 Apr 23, 2018

Two big sports career questions today - do you really have to relocate for sports careers and is it OK to network with people you've interviewed with but who didn't offer you a job? Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast… Happy Monday everyone – big week this week. First off tonight I am interviewing Amie Wells, Broadcast Coordinator for the Tennessee Titans. I’m excited about this for a few reasons – she is just 4 years into her career, all with the Titans, so I think she’ll provide great insight into getting started in sports and the efforts she took to get noticed and hired. Also, on Wednesday she’s headed to the NFL draft to work for the Titans coverage – which is very exciting and timely. I’m going to turn around the interview quickly and publish on Wednesday – and move Deandra Duggans from the Baltimore Ravens back a week. Deandra was awesome, but you’ll have to wait, I want to hit on the draft stuff right now. Next – tomorrow am also speaking to class at the University of Florida , so if we have any Gators listening hopefully I’ll meet some of you virtually tomorrow! Alright , now that we have that out of the way … let’s get to today's big question comes from Ramon Sanchez A student in the University of San Francisco sports management program. First of all, I just want to say thank you for developing this podcast. As a current Sport Management student, this podcast has been spot on and I have learned so much! I just finished listening to the podcast where you interviewed Dan Rossetti and two questions popped into my head... 1. I recently had a job interview and unfortunately did not get the job. Usually, people just move on after the interview and never speak to each other again. Is it okay to keep in touch with the interviewer (he was the manager of operations) for future opportunities and as a networking opportunity? 2. I heard Dan and others you have interviewed talk about looking out of state to find a job in the sports industry. If I was single, there is no doubt I would keep this in mind, however, my girlfriend and I have been together for 4 years and she is a recent graduate and has started her career so it would be tough to consider moving somewhere else. I would like to stay local to prevent any relocation issues or something worse. What is your thought on this? Looking forward to reading your response, Ramon Sanchez Ramon congrats to you and your girlfriend, you are a good man for thinking of her first. Trust me, this singular fact will get you far in life. Let’s start with your first question on staying in touch with someone who has interviewed you. Listen in to the podcast to get Brian's take on relacting for sports careers and networking with people who have interviewed you.

What You Need to Know About Careers in Minor League Baseball – Work in Sports Podcast e075 Apr 18, 2018

Bob Moullette Assistant General Manager of the New Orleans Baby Cakes joins the show to talk about life in minor league baseball, changing careers at 28 years old and his favorite minor league promotions. Hi everybody I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast… Baseball is getting a bit of a bad rep in our current just add water societal demands. We want results now! We want our action fast and furious – with a ground and pound mentality, a cheetahs speed and a roller coasters intensity. That is not baseball. Baseball takes time. Everything about the sport is methodical and strategic. While a basketball game will be done in about 2 hours and 20 minutes a baseball game… well if the Yankees and Red Sox are playing, it could take up half a work day or longer. In the early 2000s I worked in Seattle for Fox Sports Northwest, we had the Mariners broadcast deal and the team was winning an insane amount of games. Ratings were off the hook, everyone, sports fans and commoners alike watched every moment breathlessly, and loved the players – Jay Buhner, Ichiro, Bret Boone, Kaz Sazaki – these were local, national and international superheroes. But something has changed over the last 18 years, maybe it’s just our temperament, maybe the social second screen live sports phenomenon just meshes better with other experiences or maybe it something entirely different. I don’t have that answer. What I can tell you is, when you drive by a baseball field, whether it’s an American legion game, or a minor league park you feel something pure. A special energy. A connection to history, of young men and women putting on stirrup socks for the first time. Of the smell of leather and breaking in a glove, of grass and green and spring and the sound of bat meets ball. All the while, as major league baseball teams struggle with a perception of being old, slow and boring – minor league baseball has thrived. Class AA teams that 30 years ago were worth $500,000 are now worth $16 million to $25 million in some markets. Some Class AAA teams are valued at more than $30 million. According to Forbes, minor league baseball’s 20 most valuable teams are worth an average of $37.5 million, up 35% from 2013. The Class AAA Sacramento River Cats are the most valuable ($49 million). The El Paso Chihuahuas, who also play in the Pacific Coast League, are valued at $38.7 million. The Charlotte Knights of the Class AAA International League, who, like El Paso, moved to a new ballpark in 2014, have an estimated value of $47.5 million. This is what growth look like. Why? Because minor league games are affordable, family friendly, wildly entertaining and community oriented. And they’ve really figured out this branding thing – teams are changing their names to more unique and marketable concepts and selling out merchandise and apparel like hotcakes. Minor league baseball is where inventions are happening. They’re speeding the pace of play, coming up with new ways to entertain, focusing on the fans and changing the perception of what a day at the game costs. It’s not longer half a mortgage payment to take a family of five to the old ballpark. You know what else is great about the minors – career opportunities. Which is why I brought Bob Moullette, Assistant General Manager of the New Orleans Baby Cakes on the show to discuss what life is like in minor league baseball – Questions for New Orleans Baby Cakes Assistant General Manager Bob Moullette 1: In 2013 you joined the Modesto Nuts, Class A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners, as a Sales and Marketing trainee – why did you pick minor league baseball as your direction in sports? 2: I tell people all the time sales programs with a team are a great way to get your feet wet in the sports industry and if you thrive, your career opportunities open up. For you personally, after just 7 months in the sales and marketing program you were ...

Advice from an MLB Director of HR: Job Searching Mistakes You Can’t Afford to Make Apr 16, 2018

A Major League Baseball human resources director shares the most common mistakes people make when applying for jobs with her team. Make sure these aren't in your repeat offender file! Hi everybody I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast… I’ve been doing some crazy outreach lately for podcast guests – I get pretty excited when I book a big guest, and I’ll admit the chase is part of the fun. I message through linkedin, hit up a contact I know, make soe calls do some begging and try to present our podcast experience as a fun and informative conversation – a great deal of the time it works. Of course I hit some dry spells, or get some non answers – that’s part of the deal 0 I’m prepared for rejection, it happens. I don’t take it personally. This week something kind of new and fun happened, I reached out to an HR director with an MLB team someone really in charge of the hiring for this team and incredibly connected. And they said basically, I love your podcast, I’ve heard people in the industry talking about it, and while I’d love to be on… I’m not comfortable with public speaking and I think I wouldn’t’ come off that well. First off – she said she’s been hearing industry buzz about the podcast – she could have told me she was the Greek god of war sent directly by Zeus to murder me and I’m not sure I would have heard it. I was kind of stunned and took a second to catch my breathe. I mean, I love the podcast, I know the information is great, I know the guests have loved being involved, I know the fans are growing and awesome…but there is something about being told by someone you don’t know, who is in a high ranking position with a team you have no connection too, that they’ve heard of me and this podcast. That’s bonkers. Anyway, enough about my ego – I completely understood her conundrum, she wanted to help, but wasn’t confident enough to go on the show. I get that. So I pivoted and asked—well, can we just chat for a second about some of the biggest mistakes you see people make in their job search – and she said totally. She’s going to remain anonymous, because if we had done the podcast interview she would have needed to get approval from her communications team…but in this instance we just figured her advice was the part we wanted to get out there. First off she said she and her team are directly responsible for hiring between 50-100 people per year in all departments. That’s a lot of interviews, So she knows her stuff. Listen in to the podcast to hear Brian's great sports career advice! Episodes referenced: Colleen Scoles Don Costante Cover Letters Follow up questions

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