College Experiences That Helped a Business Development Director at Exos Succeed
Mariah's undergraduate success stemmed from saying "yes to everything" within the sports industry, strategically positioning herself to network and learn from those she admired. This proactive approach, combined with a genuine effort to build personal connections—"every single person I encounter, I try to get to know on a personal level"— proved invaluable, leading to a career trajectory significantly shaped by these early relationships.
Networking, Leadership, Mentorship, Communication, Career Exploration
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Mariah Martin
Director of Business Development, Sport
Exos
University of Arizona, 2014
N/A
Business Management & Admin
Sports & Fitness
Business Strategy
Greek Life Member
Video Highlights
1. Said yes to all opportunities in sports to surround herself with people she wanted to learn from and emulate.
2. Proactively sought leadership roles by arriving early and taking initiative on tasks.
3. Focused on building genuine relationships with people she encountered, recognizing the long-term value of networking and mentorship.
Transcript
What did you do in undergrad to set you up for success in your career?
I said yes to everything. Any job within sports, anything. I didn't know what it was; I just said yes.
I knew that when I was at that office, when I was at these events, they were the people I wanted to be around eventually. I found a group of people I wanted to be around and relentlessly went for it.
I was always someone who was there early. I tried to be the first one and see how I could prove leadership. If you're there early, you usually get some of the beginning tasks, and you can show little glimmers of leadership. That was a trick I had in undergrad.
But you also need to have a connection with somebody. Years down the road, you might want to reach out to them for their experience or to learn from them. If you were rude, unkind, or didn't give them the time to connect, they won't want to help you.
Even when I was a kid, my parents always said, "You never know who somebody will be in your life." I did this all throughout college and my career: every single person I encountered, I tried to get to know on a personal level. I learned about them, who they are as a person.
That has carried me so far. Every job I've had, I've been lucky, but every job has been a connection through someone I met in high school or college. It's wild that everyone's connected in that way.
You have to be a people person and make those connections as early as you can because you never know who someone will be.
Advizer Personal Links
https://www.linkedin.com/in/martinmariah/, @exossports