What a Director of Business Intelligence at Houston Rockets Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Sports Industry
As a Director of Business Intelligence for the Houston Rockets, Michael learned that the team's performance significantly impacts the focus and priorities of the role, noting that if the team is "doing really well, you may not have to do as much to sell tickets" and can instead shift focus to other areas of the business; Michael wishes someone would've told them that "a lot revolved around the encore product, the sports product" earlier in their career.
Industry Realities, Data Analysis, Communication, Problem-Solving, Executive/Leadership
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Michael Wing
Director of Business Intelligence
Houston Rockets
Northeastern University
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MBA
Engineering - Mechanical
Consulting & Related Professional Services, Sports & Fitness
Data and Analytics
None Applicable
Video Highlights
1. The performance of the sports team (winning/losing, playoff runs) directly impacts business priorities and analytical focus, requiring adaptability in your role.
2. Understanding the sports product (on-court performance) is crucial, as it significantly influences areas like ticket sales and overall business strategy.
3. It takes time (a couple of years, in Michael's experience) to fully grasp the impact of the team's performance on the analytical and business intelligence role within a sports organization.
Transcript
What have you learned about this role that you wish someone had told you before you entered the industry?
Something I wish I knew, and that isn't typical of many analytical or data roles, is that a lot revolves around the Encore product and the sports product. What's happening on the court directly affects what you're thinking about.
For example, whether a team is winning or advancing in the playoffs definitely influences your week-to-week focus. If a team is doing well, you might not need to focus as much on selling tickets.
Then you'd shift your focus to different areas of the business and prioritize your time differently. It’s very interesting to see this, and I wish I had known it beforehand. It definitely took a couple of years in the role to figure that out.