Major:
Journalism
Year Graduated:
2017
Hometown:
Oxford, CT
Current City:
Los Angeles, CA
Current Employer:
NFL Network Podcast Producer, Head of Sports Content at PodcastOne Sportsnet
Top played song on your playlist?:
Anything by Ariana Grande
Where has your CI degree taken you?:
The day after graduation I moved to Los Angeles to start a summer internship with SportsCenter at ESPN. From there I got a job working at NFL Network as a podcast producer – solo producing the weekly NFL Network Pick ‘Em Show as well as Fantasy Live. During the offseason while I still worked for NFL Network I got a second job starting up the sports department of PodcastOne. There I do everything from running social media to reporting on the ESPYs Red Carpet.
What is your favorite thing about your job?:
Meeting such talented athletes and getting to tell their unique stories in a different way.
What¹s the most valuable thing you learned in CI?:
The most valuable thing I learned is the importance of networking. I learned very early on that building relationships with people you work with, people in your field, people you admire, etc. can go a VERY long way. As large as the field of sports broadcasting may seem I can tell you first hand that it’s not! Being able to connect with and learn from other people in your field is one of the keys to success in this business.
What advice would you give to current CI students?:
My first piece of advice piggybacks on my last answer; always network! That’s how you hear of new job openings, it’s how people will vouch for you, it’s how you learn and grow and develop your own craft, it’s how you make meaningful relationships with others in your field. When I was in school (and even today) I would go on LinkedIn and add hundreds of people from all areas of sports broadcasting; from print to television to digital media. I would set up networking calls where I would pick their brain of how they got to where they are and advice they could give me as I make my way into the industry. Those phone calls, coffee meetings, skype sessions, etc. all helped me to get where I am today.
My second piece of advice would be to never accept no as an answer. How you deal with rejection especially from a job/position you really wanted is telling of how important your career is to you. I applied to all 30 ESPN internships my junior year of college and was rejected from every single one. So I told myself I would get the best experience and I would work harder than anyone else my senior year to ensure I got one of those internships the next time I applied and I did. Just because you’re told “no” doesn’t mean it’s a definitive answer. Work hard and prove you’re worth it!