Career Path Of A Merchandise And Marketing Manager At Major League Table Tennis
Jordan's career path began with a kinesiology degree, initially driven by the perception of physical therapy as a stable career, but after realizing it wasn't a long-term fit, began exploring diverse roles in retail, customer service, and parks and recreation to identify strengths and weaknesses. This exploration eventually led to a role at a local table tennis club, sparking a passion for the sport and identifying a need for greater professionalization in the US, leading to a sports management graduate degree and ultimately a position as a Merchandise & Marketing Manager at Major League Table Tennis, helping build the foundation for "something that's never been here in the US before."
Sports Management, Merchandising, Marketing, Career Transition, Program Development
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Jordan Yee
Merchandise & Marketing Manager
Major League Table Tennis
CSU Long Beach
CSU Long Beach MA Kinesiology Sport Management
Medical, Sciences & Related
Sports & Fitness
Sales and Client Management
None Applicable
Video Highlights
1. Exploration of different industries: Jordan gained experience in various roles like retail, customer service, and telemarketing to identify strengths and weaknesses, showcasing adaptability and a willingness to learn.
2. Community engagement and program development: Experience in parks and recreation involved creating programs for diverse age groups, highlighting skills in community building and engagement, applicable to any field involving people.
3. Combining passion with business acumen: Pursuing a graduate program in sport management to understand the business side of table tennis demonstrates the importance of combining personal interests with practical skills to advance a career.
Transcript
Could you walk me through your career path, starting with your experiences in college? Please include any internships or jobs you had before your current role.
Absolutely. I started college at Cal State Long Beach, majoring in kinesiology with a focus on exercise science. In high school, I thought physical therapy sounded like the right career path to please my parents and it seemed like a growing industry.
I enjoyed my major in college, but I didn't do much volunteering or internships. It wasn't until after I graduated and started working that I realized, after a year and a half, that physical therapy wasn't a career I could see myself doing long-term. I was still passionate about helping people, but I knew I wanted a different career that relied on other strengths, not just medical and health specifics.
After that, I worked in various places, trying to get experience in different industries. I worked in retail, customer service, and even as a telemarketer for six months. I approached these roles, which others might avoid, as opportunities to identify and confront my weaknesses, pushing myself to learn and see if I could succeed.
During that time, I was also working in parks and recreation, developing programs for children, the community, and seniors. I enjoyed finding ways to engage people and offer a distraction from their everyday busy lives. I was there for about four years before transitioning to a local table tennis club.
I liked the sport and thought it would be cool to work at a club. I fell in love with it. While there, mentors connected me with youth organizations across LA County, helping schools form teams for competitions. I also got involved with the Collegiate League, a nationwide program with schools like UCLA, USC, NYU, and others. It's rewarding to see the pipeline from youth participation to college competition.
However, something was missing. I felt there was an opportunity in table tennis. It's one of the biggest sports globally but not as popular in the US. I wondered why and went back to Long Beach for a graduate program in sport management to better understand the business side and sharpen my skills. This helped me realize my career goal was in table tennis.
I'm not a great player, but I enjoy introducing people to the sport and building community, much like I did in parks and recreation, but focused on table tennis. My project was about creating a professional league in the US, which was my dream. After graduating, I discovered someone with a similar idea: Major League Table Tennis. He started it in 2023, and I was hired. I've been working there for the past couple of years, building it from the ground up and laying the foundation for something entirely new in the US.