College Experiences That Helped A Creative Manager Social Media At ESPN Succeed
Mitchell's college success stemmed from proactive pursuit of sports media experience outside the political science major coursework; "everything I did outside of the classroom had everything to do with sports media," including radio work, directing KCSB sports, and internships culminating in a fortuitous opportunity with UC Santa Barbara Athletics. This proactive approach, and being "at the right place at the right time," ultimately launched Mitchell's career.
Networking, Career Exploration, Communication, Overcoming Challenges, Real-World Examples
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Mitchell Clements
Creative Manager, Social Media
ESPN
University of California, Santa Barbara (2013)
UCLA Anderson School of Management (2026)
Political Science, American Studies
Arts, Entertainment & Media, Sports & Fitness
Creative
Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Get involved with campus media organizations to gain practical experience (e.g., sports radio, broadcasting).
2. Seek out internships in your field of interest to build your resume and network (e.g., local television stations).
3. Take initiative and be open to opportunities; sometimes the right place at the right time can lead to unexpected career advancements.
Transcript
What did you do in undergrad to set you up for success in your career?
Everything I did outside the classroom had everything to do with sports media. I was a poli sci major but was obsessed with sports media and knew exactly what I wanted to do in life. I wasn't sure of the specific aspect of the sports media machine I'd be a part of.
I did sports radio with KCSB, including play-by-play and color commentary. I also became the director of KCSB Sports, which was a significant learning year for me.
Then, I took on internships through the UCDC program. I interned in Washington D.C. at the local Fox station, covering professional Washington D.C. sports for an entire summer. I even received a job offer afterward.
The only issue was that I was a rising junior, still two years away from wanting to accept the job as I still needed to get my degree. I also interned at the local ABC station in Santa Barbara. I filled my free time with sports or news media opportunities, hoping something would shake out and provide my first step into the sports media world.
As it turned out, that opportunity came through UC Santa Barbara Athletics. The sports information director left halfway through the women's basketball season, during which I was the play-by-play voice for the team. So, I happened to be in the right place at the right time, and everything unfolded from there.