What Type Of Person Thrives In The Sports Industry, According To A Sport Business Development Director At Exos

First off, you have to have a passion for sports. Everything you do is around the game. So, from the jump, you need to have that passion and be competitive.

Everyone I work with is either a former athlete or has a similar background. We're all competitive with each other, which I think helps the camaraderie of the office.

You also need to be confident. As I alluded to earlier, you have to be willing to put yourself out there for what you believe in and for solutions you see as beneficial. Athletes are known for being chatty, and sometimes the loudest ones get the farthest. I have to remind myself of that too; you have to be loud sometimes and stick up for yourself. That confidence and willingness to take risks is huge.

Thinking outside the box is also important. Traditional business structures rarely work in the athletic world. A lot of people I work with are former athletes, so they didn't go through very structured corporate jobs. Many of the things we do are probably uncommon compared to a corporate company, but that's just because it works for us, and we're leaning into that.

So, be an outside-the-box thinker, willing to adapt to whatever weird process or project comes your way. You have to be flexible.

Specifically for women in sports, which is huge, it's about knowing your worth. You should be in that room. There are so many times where having both men and women with different perspectives is a good balance. Whether it's an event or a recruiting visit, understanding how parents might react versus how the athlete would react is important. Having that balance is key.

You're supposed to be there, you're allowed to be there, and you should be there. So, have the confidence to walk into that room and say, "Hell yeah, I'm going to sit down and be a part of this."