2014 sports launch thirty under 30 magazine
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YOUR STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE FORBREAKING INTO SPORTS
Was $27. Now Only $17http://sportslaunch.net/subscribers-book/
It is a true honor to
recognirecognize and celebrate the next generation of leaders and innovators within the sports busi-ness industness industry.
Welcome to the 2014‘Inspire Issue’Dear Future Sports Executive:
Thank you for downloading Sports Launch magazine.
Announcing the winners of the Sports Launch Thirty Under 30 Awards is one of my favorite times of the year. It is a true honor to recognize and celebrate the next generation of leaders and innova-tors within the sports business industry.
In addition to getting to know this year’s winners, you will also meet Val Ackerman, the first female commissioner of the Big East athletic conference. Lauren McGee, our very own “Women in Sports” con-tributor, goes one-on-one with Val in this Sports Launch exclusive.
You will also find several other inspiring stories including a profile of Michael James, president of the Sports and Entertainment Law Society at Penn State. Plus a business profile of AthletePrenuer, a start-up company co-founded by one of this year’s Thirty Under 30 winners, Michael Fingado. And a unique piece on Zachary Al-drich and how he won Major League Baseball’s “Break Into the Business Competition.”
It’s a privilege to serve you. I hope you find the 2014 “Inspire Edi-tion” truly inspiring.
As always, I’m in your corner!
Chris McKinneyPresident, Sports Launch
P.S. Don’t forget to get the latest and greatest edition of my book, LAUNCH: How to Land Your First Job in Sports in 7 Simple Steps
by Lauren McGee
Val AckermanBig East Commissioner
One-on-One withBig East CommissionerVal Ackerman
Lauren McGee goes
Val Ackerman has achieved enough accolades in her25-year career to write a “how to” book on becoming a 25-year career to write a “how to” book on becoming a CEO in the sports business industry. She has essentially created the blueprint for young professionals looking to take the sports industry by storm. But what truly makes her exceptional is how she did it in an industry that is dominated by men. From the hardwood floors of John Paul Jones From the hardwood floors of John Paul Jones Arena at the University of Virginia to the hallways of the Big East Conference in New York, Ackerman has continuously found a way to set her self apart. Ackerman was a four-year starter, a three-time captain, and two-time Academic All-American as a member of the Cavaliers Women’s Basketball team, as well as the first ever 1,000-point scorer in program history. This accom-plished college career catapulted Ackerman’s basketball career to France, after graduating with high honors with a degree in Political and Social Thought. After a year full of experiences in Europe, beaches, palm trees, and blue skies became Ackerman’s scenery as she attended UCLA law to become an attorney. Once she received her degree in 1985, Ackerman began her legal career as a banking and corporate associate for New York law firm Simpson Thacher and Bartlett. In 1988, In 1988, Ackerman received her first position in the sports industry for the National Basketball Association as a staff attorney. She spent a good portion of time working with the NBA, eventually moving on to become an execu-tive for eight years, special assistant to Commissioner.
David Stern, and Vice President of Business Affairs. It wasn It wasn’t until 1996 that Ackerman crossed over into women’s sports becoming the President of the WNBA where she managed day-to-day operations for its first eight seasons. She then became the President of USA Basketball from 2005 to 2008, where the US boasted an outstanding record of 222-23 and both the Men’s and Women’s basketball teams brought home gold medals from the 2008 Olympic games in Beijing. from the 2008 Olympic games in Beijing. Val is now the newly founded Big East Commissioner of the new Big East Conference and she is also an adjunct professor at Columbia University for their graduate sports management program. She has received a plethora of personal awards over the years such as SportsBusiness Journal Champion’s Award, the University of Virginia’s Alumna Award, International Scholar-Athlete Hall of Fame, the Naismith Hall of Fame’s John Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award, and as a contributor into the Women’s Hall of Fame to name a few. I had the opportunity to speak with Commissioner I had the opportunity to speak with Commissioner Ackerman via phone about her many accomplishments as a female working in sports. Below are excerpts from our conversation:
Q. How did your time as a female college athlete help you transition into your role as a sports executive?
A. I think anyone who plays college sports gets a special A. I think anyone who plays college sports gets a special
A. I think anyone who plays college sports, gets a special benefit in terms of their education. Not only are they getting the academic experience, they also get to experi-ence being on a team. When you’re playing sports in college you have to learn how to manage your time and become a really good juggler. You have to learn how to fit your classwork in to the practices and games and that’s not always easnot always easy. For me, I was a captain for three years on my college team and I was thrust into a leadership position. That was an extraordinary experience and for me, I went to college at a time when women’s sports were just getting off the ground and title nine had only been passed only five years before I started college and it was kind of slow to get going. So I was able to be apart of the ground floor of my college program and that had it owns rewards.my college program and that had it owns rewards. In many ways that experience not only helped me with my later career in sports, it really shaped the bigger path of my life and I continue to have very strong and positive feelings about my experiences at the University of Virginia.
Q. As a follow up, would you say that participating in college sports, as a female looking to get into the industry is imperative?
A. No, not at all. No more so than women than on the A. No, not at all. No more so than women than on the men’s side. There are lots of men who work in sports that didn’t play. David Stern didn’t play sports in college when he at Rutgers, but he’s gone on to become one of the most effective Commissioners of all time, therefore I wouldn’t consider it to be a prerequisite. But, for any woman who is now a successful business But, for any woman who is now a successful business woman or has been a high achiever, chances are that she might have played sports when she was in high school or college and there has been some data to show that there is a correlation between women who play key sports at a high school or a higher level. As I mentioned before, I think if you play in college especially, again for all the reasons I said earlier, there is an addition layer of leadership training that can very much come in handy and come into play later on [in life].
Q. Has theQ. Has there ever been any moments in your career where you felt like you had to work harder to receive respect from your colleagues simply because you were a woman working in a male dominant field?
A. I would say the time where I probably felt that the A. I would say the time where I probably felt that the most is when I was coming back from maternity leave. I
have two daughters that are now in college and I was working at the NBA when both of them were born – they are about two years apart. At that time, there were very few women if any in my company that were having kids and coming back. I had to work very hard to overcome the perception that I was not going to return to work after having kids. My husband worked and he was a lawye My husband worked and he was a lawyer, so the sense was that it was going to be the end for me and that was not the case. I had full intentions of resuming my career, but when I came back from maternity leave I felt like had something to prove and that [having kids] was not going to slow me down professionally. It was hard to do that by the way, no woman will tell you that its easy – being a working motheworking mother. But again, the prediction was that I wasn’t coming back and I had to work hard to overcome that.
Q. I know that you attended UCLA law after coming back from playing overseas in France and shortly after graduation you took a job with a New York Law firm as a corporate and banking associate. When did you realize that really wanted to work in sports? And what steps did you take in getting hired with the NBA as an attorney?
A.A. Well, interestingly, I wanted to be a sports lawyer right out of law school but that opportunity did not present itself. I tried very hard to get a job then with the NBA and a lot of other leagues and I got a lot of rejection letters. It’s not surprising because I had no experience. I had played sports and had a law degree, but I didn’t have any experience practicing law and that was fatal. The advice that I got was, hey look, if you want to be a lawyer in sports, get that work experience at the best place you can and maybe that will turn the tide for you and that’s what happened. That was the advice and that’s what I did. I went to work at the big firm that had nothing to do I went to work at the big firm that had nothing to do with sports at all, but it was a very prestigious firm with corporate clients and the work was very challenging, and it was really a resume enhancer to do it. After I had I done that for two years, coincidentally an opportunity presented itself at the NBA as an in house lawyer and had I not had that two years of work on Wall Street I would have never of gotten that job.have never of gotten that job. It was a combination of having gotten that work experience and then the lucky piece, which I think – sometimes life is about luck and timing. Things just break sometimes. You try and try and try and nothing happens
and then all of a sudden you get your break and that’s kind of what happened with me. I had a colleague that worked at the NBA and he was the one who called and told me, ‘Hey, something is opening up here, might you be interested?’ and I said of course. So I had an inside track on the job because I knew someone inside. He came to me and got my name into the hopper and I think the combination of the fact that I had played, that I had combination of the fact that I had played, that I had worked for a couple of years, had some experience and worked at a really good firm – I think it did help that I was a woman because they wanted to diversify their staff, all of those things kind of came together, but my path was not direct, I had to go through Wall Street to get to the NBA.
Q. Majority of the women that we see working in the sports industry are seen working in the sports industry are working the sideline at NBA and NFL games or are the host on various ESPN shows. What other advice would you give to young women who are seeking to become more so corner office CEOs rather than maybe being in front of the camera?
A.A. The advice is no different than it would be if you were asking advice about any other career. If you had said: how do I become a University President? How do I become a US senator? How do I become a partner at a law firm? Or how do I become a tenured faculty at a college? Its all the same…it no difference. There’s no short cuts; you have to pay your dues; you have to climb the later; you have to work hard; you have to be really the later; you have to work hard; you have to be really good at what you do; you have to get along with people…its all of that. It’s no different in sports, not at all. You have to take the fun parts of the job with the hard parts of the job. You have to travel and that’s sometimes glamorous, but a lot of times it just really tiring and I travel a lot and it’s a grind sometimes. You have to work long hours – I’ll probably be here until 10 o’ clock tonight. Why? Because I have to travel tomorrow for a week and if I don’t stay here late tonight I’m not going to get the work done. here late tonight I’m not going to get the work done. You’re looking at your Blackberry or your iPhone 24/7 because emails just keep coming in and its just really hard word.
There’s no short cuts; you have to pay your dues; you have to climb the later; you have to work hard; you have to be really good at what you do; you have to get along with people…its all of that.
People in the sport business get a lot of what I call physic income because working in sports is cool and it is everything you might think, but you make a lot of sacri-fices. The people who are at the top of these leagues or networks or marketing partners have all paid their dues. So any books you buy on how to be successful – just apply them to you because that’s what you’re going to need to do to be successful in sports. Itneed to do to be successful in sports. It’s not a lot differ-ent than what you’ll see for any other career.
Q. I’ve had someone tell me before ‘Your network is your net worth.’
A. That’s true, it’s very helpful. Sports are a people business, and relationships and reputations really matter in the business. So if you’re not good at that it’s a tough business to be in and you probably won’t make it. Don Don’t get discouraged if things don’t happen right away. I often tell people who are trying to break in, it took me from the time I graduated from college to the time I first got my first job in sports, and it was seven years. Sometimes things just don’t happen over night and life takes twists and turns.
DonDon’t get discouraged if things don’t happen right away. I often tell people who are trying to break in, it took me from the time I graduated from college to the time I first got my first job in sports, and it was seven years.
It isn It isn’t always a straight line and if you are realistic about that and can embrace the twist and turns of life and gain experience while you’re not in sports, that’s pretty fun or pretty cool that’s all apart of this journey. So don’t get worried or discouraged if things don’t happen as quickly as your might like. Sometimes things just happen for a reason.
In closing...In closing... It goes without question that It goes without question that Val Ackerman is one of the most talented women we’ve ever seen in sports industry history, which is why her story needs to be uncovered for those who are aspiring to achieve even a fraction of her success. Hopefully, someone in the near future will convince her to write that “how to” book to guide the sports executive of the coming generations. For nonow, take heed of these words of wisdom and good luck paving your own way into the sports industry.
MICHAELJAMES
Meet
President, Sports and EntertainmentLaw Society at Penn State
What does the Sports and Entertainment Law Societyprovide for Penn State?
The organization provides a forum for students to debateThe organization provides a forum for students to debate and discuss legal and business issues as they arise in the current, ever-changing arena of sports. From free agency to Donald Sterling, we cover as many relevant topics aspossible. The organization also provides valuable net- working opportunities for students. As an organization, we attract speakers of distinction in the field to share theirexperience and knowledge in an attempt to make break-experience and knowledge in an attempt to make break- ing into the sports industry more accessible to Penn State students. We also do charitable initiatives such as our annual softball tournament that raises money for localcharities.
What are some good programs that your organizationhas held?
To start off the year we put on our annual softball tourna- ment, which was a great success and a lot of fun for the participants. We also held programs such as, “Breaking Into the Sports and Entertainment Law Industry” with Jason Cruz, Jaia Thomas, and Eric Sable; “The Ins & Outs of Representing a Professional Athlete” with BretKanis and Raynell Brown; and “NCAA and Amateur Ath-letic Issues” with Claire Zovko. Besides our more formal programs, we held a professor’s night with Stephen F.Ross and Geoffrey Scott. All of these programs were in-credibly informative and were great networking opportu- nities for students.
How did you advance your career in sports while notbeing in a major city?
Years ago a family friend, Garnett Morris, said, “blossom where you are planted.” When I arrived at Penn State I had an opportunity to put this philosophy to the test.Social media, primarily Twitter, was instrumental in al- lowing me to reach sports industry professionals all over the country, and even the world. It allowed me to be apart of the most current sports industry conversations and learn from much more experienced professionals. Sociallearn from much more experienced professionals. Socialmedia even led me to an internship with a sports and enter-
tainment law firm. I also took time (and money) to attendindustry conferences, such as the Sports Lawyers Confer-ence, IVY Sports Symposium, Black Sports and Entertain- ment Lawyers Conference, and Vegas Summer League Basketball Career Conference. All of them have led to great insight and connections within the industry.
How have you managed to do this while serving aspresident of the organization?
Time management and good team members are key. I’veTime management and good team members are key. I’ve had the pleasure to work with great people who are very efficient and dedicated to what we do. Drew, Kelsey, Sean and Kim have all taken their responsibilities seriously and executed the game plans that we’ve developed. As a leader, I’ve learned that good people on your team can make all of the difference.
What is your best career advice you have for studentsWhat is your best career advice you have for studentslooking to advance their career?
“Lazy hands bring poverty, but hard-working hands leadto wealth” (Prov. 10:4 ISV). There are many ways to suc- cess, and all of them require hard work. Develop your goals and a plan of achieving them. Write them down and read them daily.
NBA Commissioner
Andrew Brandt, NFLBusiness Analyst, ESPN
Billy King, GMNBA's Brooklyn Nets
David FalkNBA Sport Agent
We are supporting athlete’s pursuits during and aftertheir athletic
careers. Helpingcareers. Helping mentor, sponsor and fund the next generation ofworld classathletes to beentrepreneursand CEOs.and CEOs.
Networking Opportunitiesfor
Entrepreneurial-minded
Athletes
“
Most athletes don't plan for life after athletics. Michael Fingado, a former athlete at Florida State University, and a winner of the 2014 Sports Launch Thirty Under 30 Awards, wants to change this.
He along with 2x Olympian Brian Dzingai,He along with 2x Olympian Brian Dzingai, co-founded AthletePreneur to help facilitate morenetworking opportunites for entrepreneurial- minded athletes.
As a serial entrepreneur himself, Michael hasAs a serial entrepreneur himself, Michael has helped numerous startups and athletes tranisiton and grow their business ventures. AthletePreneur is a professional network and lifestyle brand for collegiate and professional athletes. It provides anexclusive athlete networking platform, crowdfund- ing opportunities, and relevant business perks to its members.
You can learn more at AthletePreneur.com
YOUR STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE FORBREAKING INTO SPORTS
Was $27. Now Only $17http://sportslaunch.net/subscribers-book/
How Zach Aldrich WonMajor League Baseball’s“Break Into the Business”CompetitionDESCRIBE THE MLB BREAK INTO THE BUSINESS COMPETITION
Bentley University sponsors two interns who aspire to Bentley University sponsors two interns who aspire to start a career in Major League Baseball. One intern spends the summer in New York City with Major League Baseball Advanced Media, and the other with the Boston Red Sox. I was given the opportunity to work for MLB Advanced Media.
HOW DID YOU FIRST HEAR ABOUT IT?
As a senior in high school, while applying to colleges, I As a senior in high school, while applying to colleges, I not only researched each institution's academic agenda, but its ability to place students in internship positions. I read a few articles on students who were able to secure internships in the sports industry, and reached out to them on Facebook. I asked them about their experience obtaining their internship, and how the university was
How Zach Aldrich WonMajor League Baseball’s“Break Into the Business”Competition
Val AckermanBig East Commissioner
able to help them. I was making my first connections in the sports industry, and in the fall, one of the college students that I contacted sent me a link to the Break into the Business application.
HOW LONG DID THE ENTIRE PROCESS TAKE?
I submitted my application in September of 2012 and was I submitted my application in September of 2012 and was interviewed in January 2013. It felt like a long process, but was definitely worth the wait.
HOW MANY COMPETITORS?
I’m not sure of the exact number of students who applied for the internship, but I believe it was around one thousand. It was truly an honor to be selected.
WHWHY DO YOU THINK YOU WERE SELECTED OVER SO MANY?
My internship at MLBMy internship at MLB Advanced Media wasn’t my first experience working in baseball. I worked as a Video Production intern with the Syracuse Chiefs during the summer after my junior year of high school. I believe I stood out because of my past experiences which showed how driven I am to start a career in the game.
HASHAS THE POSITION STARTED? IF SO, WHAT'S IT LIKE?
The internship was for the summer of 2013. A few days after my high school graduation, I moved to New York City and started. The experience was great from the get
go. Everyone was welcoming and happy to teach me my new responsibilities. MLBAM is a great place to work. There’s a lot of work to accomplish, and everyone is dedicated to their responsibilities. They allowed me to work on meaningful, productive and interesting projects that taught me a lot about MLBAM and the sports industry in general.
WHWHAT'S JOB TITLE/DUTIES?
I was a Sponsorship Intern. My main responsibilities were to support national advertisement campaigns with a variety of companies. Furthermore, I was responsible for monitoring advertisement delivery, and creating wrap up decks for our clients.
WHWHAT'S THE PAY? (WOULD YOU DO IT FOR FREE?)
I was paid by Bentley after the internship was finished.
ARE YOU AT MLB HEADQUARTERS?
I was at MLBAM headquarters in the Chelsea neighbor-hood of New York City.
WHO DO YOU REPORT TO?
Quite honestly, I reported to everyone who had work for me to do. From my first day, I let it known that I was
I submitted my application inSeptember of 2012 September of 2012 and was inter-viewed in January 2013. It felt like a long process, but was definitely worth the wait.
willing to take on any challenge that could help me to learn more about MLBAM, and the sports industry.
WHAT DO YOU SEE FOR NEXT YEAR IN TERMS OF INTERNSHIPS OR WORK EXPERIENCE?
I’m currently applying for summer positions. My career I’m currently applying for summer positions. My career goal is to work for a Baseball Operations Department; therefore, I’m seeking positions that allow me to learn about advanced analytics, player development, or any related field.
WHAT WOULD BE YOUR IDEAL JOB AFTER YOU GRADUATE?
Any job that helps to pay back my college loans. In all Any job that helps to pay back my college loans. In all seriousness, I’m very passionate about a career in an MLB front office. Since high school, I have researched possible career paths to take in order to work for a team’s Baseball Operations Department.
NAME: Zach Aldrich
COLLEGE: Loyola University Chicago
MAJOR: Business Management. Dual MAJOR: Business Management. Dual minor in Economics and Business Infor-mation Systems
GRADUATION DATE: 2017
LAUNCH YOUR SPORTS CAREER TODAY!A Proven 7-Step Plan
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Q&A with Zak KurtzAchievement(s)Helping get college athletes drafted in the NFL and professional sports leagues and assisting them to achieve their dreams
My first job in sports:My first job in sports:Other than coaching soccer, I was an Intern for Dynasty Athlete Representa-tion
Most inspiring/influential sports executive(s):Donald Dell, Mark Cuban and Sir Alex Ferguson
My dream sports job:Working as an Attorney for the NFL Management Council or the MLS
My ultimate career goal:Striving to work hard eveStriving to work hard every day to work at my dream sports job
My advice to aspiring sports executives:Get experience in the sports industry and find out what you want your niche to be. Work hard every day and keep moving toward that area until you achieve your goal.
My favorite book(s):Donald Dell- Never Make the First Offer and Illegal Procedure- Josh Luchs
THIRTYUNDER
2014WINNER
SPORTS LAUNCH
Age: 28College: Columbia U, Michigan State College of Law, Roanoke CollegeMajor: Sports Mgmt (Columbia), Sports Law & Intellectual Property (MSU)Employer: Under Armour / Price Benowitz LLPJob Job Title: Attorney, Sports & Entertain-ment Consultant
