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Saya, Community Relations Senior Manager at San Francisco 49ers : Advize Career Interview

Saya's journey to becoming a Community Relations Senior Manager at the San Francisco 49ers is an inspiring example of pursuing passions.

A winding career path, marked by experiences in community advocacy and international work, culminated in a role leveraging sports to create positive social change.

The position involves dynamic event planning, community engagement with Bay Area nonprofits, focusing on crucial causes such as mental health and domestic violence support.

Essential skills include strong communication, hyper-organization, and collaboration, with a focus on building relationships.

The most rewarding aspects involve collaborating with change-makers, witnessing impactful moments, and making a tangible difference.

While balancing numerous requests and prioritizing sustainable impact are significant challenges, the ability to combine a love for sports with a passion for community service makes this a truly fulfilling career.

Advice to aspiring professionals emphasizes pursuing what excites them, building relevant skills through diverse experiences, and treating everyone with kindness.

This journey from internship to senior management showcases the power of perseverance, strategic skill-building, and a genuine commitment to creating positive change.

Advizer Information

Name

Job Title

Company

Undergrad

Grad Programs

Majors

Industries

Job Functions

Traits

Saya Lindsay

Community Relations Senior Manager

San Francisco 49ers

Trinity College, 2012

N/A

International Relations & Affairs

Sports

Communication and Marketing

Student Athlete

Watch all of this Advizer's videos below

Career Path of a Community Relations Senior Manager at San Francisco 49ers

Saya's career path to becoming a Community Relations Senior Manager at the San Francisco 49ers was "a winding road," combining a passion for community advocacy with a love of sports. This journey, marked by experiences such as working with Habitat for Humanity, a legal firm in Cape Town, and a soccer team in Tanzania, ultimately led Saya to a role using "sports as a vehicle for change," leveraging the unique ability of sports to connect diverse communities and create impactful social change.

Career Path of a Community Relations Senior Manager at San Francisco 49ers

Main Responsibilities of a Community Relations Senior Manager at San Francisco 49ers

Saya, a Community Relations Senior Manager for the San Francisco 49ers, orchestrates events connecting players with Bay Area communities, focusing on "health and wellness, including mental health, cancer awareness, and supporting domestic violence survivors," among other crucial causes. This involves managing numerous initiatives, including the NFL's Crucial Catch program and the 49ers Family program, while also facilitating corporate citizenship and supporting the team ownership's community vision.

Main Responsibilities of a Community Relations Senior Manager at San Francisco 49ers

A Day In The Life Of A Community Relations Senior Manager At San Francisco 49ers

Saya's role as Community Relations Senior Manager at the San Francisco 49ers involves a dynamic mix of event planning—"quite literally, I am in the throes of planning three different events this month"—and community engagement, including meetings with nonprofits to explore collaborative initiatives supporting underserved youth, such as providing "mental health resources and access so that they can be successful in life."

A Day In The Life Of A Community Relations Senior Manager At San Francisco 49ers

Skills for a Community Relations Senior Manager at San Francisco 49ers

Saya, a Community Relations Senior Manager, highlights communication ("both written and being able to speak with someone...with a completely different background") and hyper-organization as crucial skills, emphasizing the behind-the-scenes event planning nature of the role. The ability to collaborate effectively ("working with people from all different socioeconomic backgrounds"), demonstrate creativity ("proactive and a go-getter"), and leverage interpersonal skills to build strong relationships within and outside the organization are also essential for success.

Skills for a Community Relations Senior Manager at San Francisco 49ers

Favorite Parts of Being a Senior Community Relations Manager at San Francisco 49ers

Saya's favorite aspects of her role as Community Relations Senior Manager for the San Francisco 49ers involve collaborating with "nonprofits and change makers," pursuing diverse passions across numerous "cause areas," and witnessing the "magic moments" — from impactful player interactions to legislative change — that create lasting memories and inspire positive change. These experiences highlight the significant, positive community impact of their work.

Favorite Parts of Being a Senior Community Relations Manager at San Francisco 49ers

Biggest Challenges For A Community Relations Senior Manager At San Francisco 49ers

Saya's greatest challenge as Community Relations Senior Manager for the San Francisco 49ers is balancing the numerous requests for assistance, "figuring out how to say no," while striving to create the most sustainable impact. The organization prioritizes finding alternative ways to help, shifting focus from grand gestures to sometimes "a little bit lighter touch" to best serve community members and nonprofits in need.

Biggest Challenges For A Community Relations Senior Manager At San Francisco 49ers

Favorite Parts of Working in the Sports Industry as a San Francisco 49ers Community Relations Senior Manager

Saya's favorite aspect of the sports industry is its unique ability to "bring people together from all different walks of life" and use this platform "to create real change," aligning perfectly with their passion for community engagement and their athletic background. The San Francisco 49ers' shared values further enhance this fulfilling career, allowing Saya to combine their love for sports and community impact.

Favorite Parts of Working in the Sports Industry as a San Francisco 49ers Community Relations Senior Manager

What Type Of Person Thrives In The Sports Industry, According To A 49ers Community Relations Manager

Saya, a Community Relations Senior Manager at the San Francisco 49ers, believes the sports industry offers diverse roles, from public-facing positions to behind-the-scenes analysis, but emphasizes that a "passion for what you do" is crucial for success because the hours are long and demanding. The common thread among successful professionals in this field is a deep love for the work, making it "not just a job but...our life."

What Type Of Person Thrives In The Sports Industry, According To A 49ers Community Relations Manager

What a Community Relations Senior Manager at San Francisco 49ers Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Sports Industry

Saya's eight seasons with the San Francisco 49ers highlight a key career lesson: "you really can do something that you love," finding fulfillment in a job, even a demanding one, is achievable; the advice is to "pursue what you love," embracing change when needed to find that fulfilling path.

What a Community Relations Senior Manager at San Francisco 49ers Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Sports Industry

Entry-level Positions for Aspiring San Francisco 49ers Community Relations Staff

Saya's journey from an intern with "no guarantee of a job past four months" to a Community Relations Senior Manager highlights the importance of persistence and acquiring relevant skills. The advice to pursue "linear jobs or parallel jobs" that build applicable skills, such as working for a nonprofit to understand "how a nonprofit operates," demonstrates a strategic approach to career advancement in a competitive field.

Entry-level Positions for Aspiring San Francisco 49ers Community Relations Staff

Significant Career Lesson From A Community Relations Manager At 49ers

Saya's most significant career lesson, learned early on, was the importance of treating everyone with kindness and getting to know them as human beings, not just job titles— "ask them how they're doing and mean it," building stronger working relationships and a more positive work environment across the many departments at the 49ers. This approach has been invaluable in Saya's career, fostering collaboration and leading to personal connections.

Significant Career Lesson From A Community Relations Manager At 49ers
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