By Jess Sanborn

I will never forget watching Michael Phelps win his 18^th career gold medal and 22^nd overall during the 2012 Olympic Games and being completely awestruck by such an achievement. Since that moment, I have always dreamed of attending an Olympic Games to experience those outstanding sport performances firsthand. Thanks to my study abroad experience, in which I learned all about the business of sports in London, I got a step closer to fulfilling my Olympic dream. Even though Michael Phelps was not there sprinting down the lap pool, I was still standing in the spot where he became the most decorated Olympian and I could imagine just what it was like.

We were at Olympic Park to (believe it or not) watch an England Rugby game. Ask anyone in my group, we were all hesitant heading into the game. We questioned the rules and regulations (Why do they lift one player up to catch a ball? How can they not wear any padding?). We headed into the game with a mindset of leaving 10 minutes early to beat the crowd. Ten minutes into the game, one of my classmate’s made an epic one-handed catch when the rugby ball came our way. We were all captivated and we all ended up LOVING the rugby game. In fact, we became so fascinated by the stadium environment and the fans around us that everyone wanted to stay until the very end.

I promise we did learn while attending awesome sporting events (we also went to England vs Czech Republic at Wembley Stadium and Man City vs Fulham at the pristine Craven Cottage). During our week-long class, I learned just as much, if not more, than in a regular 10-week course. Throughout our trip, we spoke with 32 professionals in various aspects of the sports industry. Our first company visit was at Pinsent Masons, a full-service international law firm with a powerful sector in sports law. After visiting 12 other businesses we concluded at Hill+Knowlton, a global public relations and integrated communications agency. With 32 outstanding speakers, who were all willing to connect with us afterwards and answer numerous questions, I gained tremendous insight on many different aspects the business of sports, as well as advice that translates into any other business. My top takeaway was from James Worrall, founder and CEO of Leaders. He worked with us to decipher the top upcoming trends that are shaping today’s business and emphasized the importance of building and maintaining relationships, stating, “those with the best networks have the most success.”

While I could go on and on about the different memories from this trip, the one that truly sticks out is the strong connection our group had. Maybe it was because of our entertaining and packed schedule’ or maybe it was because of our two great leaders: Andy Clark and Karen Burgard. Still whatever the reason, our group dynamic was irreplaceable. My favorite memory from the entire trip was dinner on the last night (and no it was not at my beloved 24-hour diner VQ that was attached to our hotel). This nice restaurant overlooked the river with the sun setting, and we sat on the patio just returning from the Man City vs. Fulham football match. I remember looking around and seeing everyone just talking, laughing and having a good time. In that moment I knew that I had made some long-lasting friendships on this trip.

Don’t just take my word for it though! Hear from my classmates about their favorite memory from the trip.

“One night we all went to a pub playing live music and sang along to “Valerie”. It was honestly such an epic moment” – Caterina Parola

“Going to the horse races at Kempton Park, and sitting in the Jockey Club. Their hospitality was amazing, and I will never forget it.” – Asala Musa

“My favorite memory was the lasting connections that I made personally and professionally. Professionally we were able to get our foot in the door to some of the world’s largest organizations. Personally, I walked away with a new family who will always have my back.” – Kevin O’Brien

Originally published on The Sojournal.

By Annika Pallasch

Sports connect us. The passion and atmosphere are a language anyone can understand no matter where they are in the world. Unfortunately, during the Covid-19 pandemic stadiums were empty and games were played in silence. As fans like myself had to cheer on our favorite teams from home, those of us who are students also had to cheer ourselves on as we attended our classes far away from campus. Yet, this past March, my classmates and I in the International Business Seminar were lucky enough to virtually travel to the world of London sports and immersed us in every aspect of it.

Literally beyond the pitch, we explored everything from the business models of the Premier League and Liverpool FC, to the KIA Oval (home of the Surrey County Cricket Club), and the history of Wimbledon. During a thrilling match pitting Arsenal against West Ham that we watched together on Zoom – fully dressed in personalized Arsenal gear – we came as close as most people could during the pandemic to experiencing the joys of live sports. Experts from the most popular sports in England guided us through the week and did a tremendous job of creating a live seminar atmosphere for us.

Of course, the week had more to offer than a sense of London’s rich (sports) history and traditions. Every day was filled with knowledge and advice shared by some of sports’ most successful people, all of whom work behind the scenes to ensure the success of their organization or client. We listened to Jimmy Worrall whose company LEADERS hosts networking events for the biggest names in sports provide invaluable career insights. Trevor Watkins and his colleagues at the leading London law firm Pinsent Masons sports division shared legal expertise with us. And Neil Wood MBE, the CFO of the 2012 Olympic Games, walked us through the full process of how an Olympic event is organized and executed start to finish. Each one of them and every other speaker we had the privilege to meet went above and beyond to share valuable information with us that we will be able to apply in our careers and beyond.

Memories were made as a class when we worked in teams to pitch workforce diversity and inclusion plans to Alex Eckhout at the Premier League office. The weeklong project allowed us to work on a real initiative within the organization and gave everyone a chance to get creative and bring their own ideas and strengths to the table. Our second project of the week was a “hackathon” with students at Loughborough University. Together we collaborated with the West Ham Foundation and were challenged to brainstorm and present an idea for charity programs within less than an hour. Both projects were as much fun, as they were a great opportunity for us to test our business skills for the future.

There was just so much to learn during our digital trip to London, from the rules of cricket, to the marketing strategies of the London offices of the NBA and MLB, to the many insights we had not anticipated to gain going in. The week was an absolute win despite us being benched by Covid-19.

Personally, I was most inspired by every guest speaker’s story about how they got to where they are, why they love working in sports, and what they enjoy most about living in London. It made a dream job in sports feel like a real possibility and reminded me of why I love sports so much. Yet, it also became clearer that sports are a business above all. What most of us experience is the joy of the game, the victories and losses, and the unforgettable moments, but what we do not see is the people who are working hard to ensure that each team and each player are as successful as we want them to be.

The International Business Seminar taught my peers and me what it takes to work in sports, and that the people who do are ultimately driven by their passion for it. It was impressive to see how many people are involved in running a league, team, or event, and my admiration for them has grown exponentially. This deep dive into the world of sports has also helped me to think about where my place in it might be after my time at DePaul. And, of course, my desire to visit London again is even greater now than it was before. So, the next time I fly into Heathrow it will hopefully be to actually set foot into London. I cannot wait to fondly retrace the steps through its sites of sports and business that I was able to take virtually this past March.

Originally published on The Sojournal.

By Marisa Farella

Well, sports fans, the “Behind the Scenes with Chicago Sports Organizations” class has done it again, and this time, virtually.

For those of you who aren’t aware, the Driehaus College of Business offers a class to both Kellstadt and undergraduate students looking to explore careers in the sports business industry. Andy Clark, director of the sports management programs at the Driehaus College of Business, developed this course to bring students deep into the offices of the most powerful companies in Chicago sports, including Gatorade, McDonald’s, Intersport, the Chicago Cubs, the Chicago Bears and many more.

If you are a student who has heard about this class, you know about the long-awaited anticipation for it to be offered each year. I was one of those students waiting eagerly to take it, so when I heard it was going to be offered during the December intercession as an accelerated, two-week course, I was ecstatic. But like most students, I was also a bit disappointed that the experience would be virtual due to the pandemic. I was skeptical about how impactful the virtual learning experience would be, but my nerves were put to rest very quickly.

Learning From Some of the Best in the Game

Throughout the duration of the course, we had the opportunity to connect with top industry professionals as they discussed their education and varying career experiences that have contributed to where they are today.

Class speakers included Molly Carter, DePaul University alumna and former president of Kobe Inc., as well as Kelly Flatow, executive vice president of events for the NBA, who discussed their experiences navigating their careers as women in sports. We also had a session with the Chicago Bulls organization, which was highlighted by a special appearance by their president Michael Reinsdorf. In addition, the class had the honor of connecting with Bonner Paddock Rinn, a triathlon athlete and World Record holder, a New York Times best-selling author, and founder of One Man Foundation— all things he accomplished as a man with Cerebral Palsy.

We also had the honor of meeting many accomplished DePaul alumni who currently hold positions in the sports industry, including Mike Gordon, general manager at Northwestern Sports Properties and Diego Chadha, account executive at Corporate Partnerships at Marquee 360., among others. We also got to hear from DePaul’s new athletic director, DeWayne Peevy, as well as DePaul Women’s Basketball Coach Doug Bruno, who joined us to discuss the power of hard work and persistence. I was truly inspired by all the guest speakers in this course.

Learning by Doing: A Chance to Play

The game didn’t stop there.

We had the opportunity to gain real-life experience while working with 4Front, a Chicago-based sports marketing agency, on a class project that involved developing a marketing strategy that was then pitched and presented to 4Front’s team. We were put into groups and each group did a phenomenal job outlining their proposed strategies to 4Front, who later relayed our ideas back to their real-life clients.

All in all, this course ended up being one of the most valuable courses I have taken in my five years as a Blue Demon, regardless of whether I pursue a career in sports upon graduating in June. I was able to learn so much from this opportunity to connect with powerful, intelligent and generous professionals, and I’m sure anyone who has taken this course before would confidently agree.

The Value in the Virtual Experience

In the end, I was happy that the online format still provided a seamless experience. If anything, being virtual allowed us to connect with a wider range of speakers and panelists. Yes, the office and venue tours of past classes would have been a cool experience, but the value of this class lies in the connections, networking opportunities and insights we gained from each guest speaker.

If you are a DePaul student interested in learning more about the sports industry, this course will be of great value to you. Contact your academic advisor for more information about DePaul’s Sports Business program.

Thank you for everything, Coach Clark! Great game.

Marisa Farella is a current MBA candidate and graduate assistant at Kellstadt Graduate School of Business. She graduated from DePaul University in 2018 with her BA in public relations and advertising, making her a proud soon-to-be Double Demon. In addition to her studies, Marisa has taken her love for writing and creativity a step further. She is the self-published author of her debut collection, “Truth or Dare: Poetry,” which is available on Amazon. 

Originally published on the Inside Kellstadt blog.

By Jess Lazo

All college students hear from their teachers and peers nowadays is to network. Well, they are not wrong! On Wednesday night, I had the opportunity to attend DePaul University’s Careers in Sports networking event held at Wintrust Arena. Although I went into the event not knowing what to expect, I left feeling satisfied and glad that I attended. Not only did I gain an abundance of knowledge through the different sports organizations and people that were present, but I also gained contacts that will be helpful for me for my future career endeavors within the sports industry.

Because it was my first networking event, I was feeling a little anxious. Even though I was prepared with questions to ask the different representatives, I was worried that I wouldn’t get the opportunity to show them my true self and why I would be a perfect candidate to represent their organization. Clearly, I was overthinking. Every single person I had the chance to interact with made me feel comfortable and free to ask a variety of questions regarding their specific position. By the end of the event, I had a better understanding of the different career routes that interested me.

I began my night speaking to Chicago Bulls Ticket Sales Senior Manager, Anthony Horton. After going into depth about the different responsibilities that are required in the ticket sales industry, I developed a better appreciation of the position. I also got a different outlook on sales from Nick Fetchik, the Manager of Inside Sales at the Chicago White Sox Organization. Through the competitive drive required to succeed in this type of field, to the overall fast paced environment that they are engaged in every day, I was very intrigued by the sales positions that both Mr. Horton and Mr. Fetchik described.

Additionally, I had the opportunity to take a look at what it is like to be a part of the sponsorship/marketing side of sports. Alex Teodosi (BUS ’16), Senior Director of Sponsorships for the Chicago Sky was very helpful in explaining what he does and how he got to where he is today. It was very interesting to hear his take on sponsorship activation at the WNBA team along with the marketing efforts they do to represent their partners and the Chicago Sky to the best of their abilities. I also explored the marketing side of sports through the agency, 4FRONT. Graeme Jones (MBA ’19), Manager of Corporate Partnerships provided me with great insight on the different routes you can take within the 4FRONT organization and how they all work together to succeed with the different projects that are thrown at them. Overall, it was very interesting to get perspectives on both the in-house and agency side of sports marketing.

When I reflect on my experience at the Careers in Sports networking event, the one thing that resonated with me the most is that these people were in our shoes at one point in their lives and are willing to come out and help us reach our career goals as well. And the fact that a lot of the representatives that attended were DePaul Alumni made it even more significant. I am overjoyed with the amount of support we have from the DePaul Sports Business Program, the Career Center, and the DePaul community as a whole.

Originally published on the Go Lazooo blog.

By Robin Florzak

It was an unconventional summer for the Chicago Cubs and for a popular DePaul University business course that explores global branding and the professional baseball team’s marketing strategies.

The Cubs pandemic-shortened season began July 24 with fans watching from home. The course, Chicago Cubs Brand Insights, began the week before with students studying remotely via Zoom. But neither change in format stopped students from getting an insiders’ look at marketing strategies directly from Cubs marketing and sales managers.

Students in the five-week class met virtually with managers in the team’s marketing, fan insights, human resources and partnerships units to learn how the team’s brand has evolved. They also studied what makes global brands – both sports and non-sports – compelling and distinctive through online meetings with brand executives from Geometry Global and 4Front. Then, students formed mock consulting teams and applied what they learned to analyze various global brands. The students presented their insights via Zoom to the Cubs marketing managers, who provided their professional feedback.

Andy Clark, director of sports business programs at the Driehaus College of Business, who teaches the class, says the course provides practical experience that any business graduate can use, whether they work in sports business or not. “The final project is designed to give students a tangible, ‘real world’ business project that will stand out on a résumé and in an interview setting.”

The Cubs marketing team also gained insights from their interactions with the students, says Daniel Green, assistant director of creative & content in the Cubs marketing department. “As we continually strive to enhance our marketing and branding efforts, it’s important that we find opportunities to validate our direction,” he says. “The students, whom themselves represent an important subset of our target audience, were able to do just that. While developing critical research and presentation skills, they provided us with an invaluable set of findings that will allow us to continue down our path with confidence.”

Senior marketing student Jillian Hampston took the course because she’s interested in pursuing a sports marketing career. “This class not only offered the chance to learn from knowledgeable people in the industry, but we got to see how their insights apply first-hand through our consulting project.” she says. “Working directly with the Cubs was extremely valuable to me because it was a great way to get my foot in the door, as many teams cannot offer a hands-on experience like an internship right now. I was also able to gain an understanding of what a career in professional sports would look like, not just from a marketing perspective, but across all departments.

“I think the biggest thing I took away from this project was confidence,” she adds. “My team and I successfully led conversations and pitched our ideas to the Cubs, which is something not every student can say.”

Her classmate, MBA student Jeremy Abramson, says the course provided him with a unique perspective. “Professor Clark does an amazing job of taking his classes and putting you in real business situations,” he says.

“I gained a lot from this experience. I gained knowledge about a first-class sports organization and how they try to stay ahead of the curve. I learned how organizations like the Cubs are trying to get out ahead of just being good on the field and how they try to maintain and grow their fan base for years to come. It was a very rare opportunity to get the chance to work with and present to an organization of the Cubs magnitude, and that will help me build confidence the next time I am in a business pitch or presenting to upper management.”

Hampston and Abramson said they are both big fans of the Cubs, which made the class even more appealing. “For me,” Abramson says, “it was so cool getting the chance to present my brand insights to my childhood favorite team, the Cubs.”