Another Big Win for Students Interested in the Business of Sports

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.