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Sports Biz Mom: Megan Eisenhard, Learfield IMG College

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Megan Eisenhard is the Vice President of Campus+ at Learfield IMG College, a position she has held since July 2018, where she is focused on creating best-in-class university partnerships for Learfield IMG College clients.  She also plays a vital role in the Learfield IMG College female-focused initiative – The W.O.W. Factor.

Previously, she served as the VP of Talent Acquisition for Learfield and oversaw the development of the company’s new talent acquisition structure. From 2014 to 2017 she held the title of West Region Vice President, providing senior leadership and guidance to select collegiate partners. 

Before her VP appointment, Megan spent five years as General Manager leading Learfield’s Buffalo Sports Properties team, representing CU in Boulder.  Her experience prior to joining Learfield in 2009 includes working with UC-Berkeley and Cal State-Sacramento.

Megan resides in Plano, TX with her husband, Eric, and sons Owen (6) and Henry (4).  Connect with her on LinkedIn. 

Can you tell us more about the Campus+ program and your day-to-day responsibilities at Learfield?

Campus+ is a division that started three years ago because we were receiving questions from both our university and brand partners about ways we could use our experience in the sports space to develop partnerships and generate revenue for their institutions.  In higher education there are a lot of federal and state funding cuts right now. Costs are escalating and universities are feeling a lot of pressure to reduce costs and increase revenues while still providing a meaningful educational experience for students, faculty and staff.  Lately there have been more business minded people who realize they need to sharpen the pencil and be more creative when it comes to revenue generation.  

We also heard of the need for campus-wide partnerships from our sports division – eventually our local sales team may run out of inventory to sell.  So we started to think about how we develop broader and deeper partnerships and expand what we have available to offer. When our company started Campus+, I was a Regional VP, overseeing the sales staff, so I saw the need and the value of campus-wide partnerships.  There was a change in leadership in Campus+ about a year ago, and in July I joined the Campus+ team because I missed the sales side of the business.  We are a small, nimble team, with only three people running the program.  With over 200 properties, we have to think carefully about what we’re prioritizing and how we are managing our time. I work with a portfolio of over one hundred schools, as well as our partner brands, to help to clarify and develop our Campus+ strategy.  My priority is anything that generates revenue. 

The fact that we’ve been on some of these campuses for ten to twenty years means we have a great connection.  The brands want to be on campus, market to students, faculty, staff, and alumni beyond game day. We were already able to do that socially and digitally, but we as a company decided to develop a campus-wide marketing program to navigate through the waters of campus.  Campuses are siloed and are not set-up to manage sponsorships, and brands need help to navigate those waters. Two examples of Campus+ partnerships are AT&T and Wells Fargo.

For AT&T, we’re not exactly doing marketing campaigns for their brand on campus, rather we’re making introductions so they can grow their business there.  They’ve been a long standing partner of Learfield and they were looking to expand their campus sales. So we discussed their key markets and priorities, and then I worked with the local Learfield General Managers to get the campaigns up and running. 

Wells Fargo sees the value in sports marketing and also being the official bank of the selected universities, including the University of North Carolina.  Their presence on campus includes doing financial literacy programs, recruiting students, and creating meaningful relationships with students, faculty, and staff to best support them financially as they transition throughout life.  Our team helps Wells Fargo decide what schools they work with, what those packages look like, and how they will execute.

You’ve helped to establish the W.O.W. Factor (Winning Our Way) at Learfield IMG which is focused on highlighting the success and sharing the stories of Learfield IMG College women.  Can you tell us more about this program and why you decided to become involved?

I always had a passion for women in sports.  When I became a salesperson I realized we needed more female sellers and I’ve been especially passionate about that.  As a General Manager at Colorado, I was always looking to help on a grassroots level and I often put together calls with the other women GM’s and would mentor sales coordinators who may want to get into sales roles.  When I moved to the corporate office as a Vice President I wanted to continue to do some grassroots things, such as meeting monthly or quarterly with women within our office.  

The actual program hasn’t been specifically defined, as we’ve never really had an official person to manage it.  However, it’s been a mix of networking, mentorship, camaraderie and professional development. Now that we’ve merged, we’re revamping that program so there’s more structure behind it.  I’ve enjoyed it being grassroots and some of it’s just what the women involved want it to be – whether it’s coffee or just telling someone about being a parent. I’ve also been very vocal about our maternity policy – it seems as though whenever someone gets pregnant in the field, they call Megan!  I love inspiring women and believe if you love to work, you’ll love to come back. 

I’ve found that routines are key to keeping the family on track, no matter the time of year or the demands of work. What routines have you set for your family to keep things moving when life gets crazy?

I wish I had more routines and structure.  Lately, what my husband and I have worked out is that I tend to get the kids ready for school and do the morning drop-off.  My husband does the pick-up from school. A lot of time I have happy hours or meetings in the office that take a bit longer; however, my goal is to be at home in the morning and then back by 6:00 PM.   

Our kids do have a routine at night: they take a shower, watch a little TV, brush teeth, say a prayer, and then go to bed. 

It’s taken awhile for us to come to this place.  I became Vice President when I was pregnant with my second child.  It was December and I was due in March. I traveled a bit, then I had a baby, and three months later we picked up and moved from Colorado to Dallas.  I had a two year old and a 3 month old and then I was on the road and gone a lot. We didn’t have any family in Dallas and it was really hard.  

Eric, my husband, was in a career transition, so when we first moved here, he didn’t have a job lined up.  He was taking care of two kids in a corporate apartment and then we rented a house for a year. It was a crazy, hard, time on our family, marriage and workload.  But, it’s interesting, because I was so into climbing the corporate ladder. I was a seller, then a General Manager, and finally Vice President. I wanted to prove that a female could be a VP with a family and kids.  That was my mindset.  

After a year of it, I took a step back and was wondering if it was really worth it.  I love being a leader of people, but I also needed to lead my family, so I shifted to a VP role in Talent Acquisition, which was just as challenging but didn’t require as much travel.  It’s funny, the higher up you get and the more you think you want something, you realize it’s not always what it seemed as you sit there in that position.  

When I was in Talent Acquisition I was in all these leadership meetings and in the know with what the company was doing.  However, it was super intense, and while I loved the opportunity, it was stressful and not where I saw my future career path headed.   So, last summer I moved to the Campus+ team and am back in sales.  

I love being back in a sales leadership role, but this time it’s different.  My boss is not based in Plano, I don’t have a team to manage and I’m not going to be in all these leadership meetings.  I was okay making another lateral move and I’m sure at some point I’m going to want to get back up there and have a seat at the table.  There are times in your career where you can take a step back and take a break. 

What project or professional accomplishment are you most proud of?

One is my time leading the Talent Acquisition team.  I’m proud on one hand because the leadership of the company thought I’d be a good fit for a role outside of my background and that was flattering; but, I had to build an entirely new department.  This included the team, our processes, figuring out metrics to measure, and managing up. It felt like I was building a plane while it was flying in the air, as recruiting never stops. There’s always turnover and jobs that need to be filled.  It’s the hardest job I’ve ever had. I’m glad I did that, and no one probably knows what went into that. I was glad I was able to do something totally outside my comfort zone, and do it well enough to leave it in a good place when I moved to Campus+.  I was able to hand it off to someone that I hand-selected to run the program. There aren’t a lot of times when you’re able to do that within a year and a half. 

In addition, while at Colorado, we developed a partnership with Safeway to increase breast cancer awareness at a football game.  It’s been done a million times since, but it means a lot to me because my Mom died of breast cancer when I was eighteen. Anyone who sells sponsorships has put together an idea, executed, and seen it come to life – it’s an amazing part of our job. I was able to sell the game, activate, and have survivors meet the team and be on the field.  I have a picture of all the survivors lined up on the end zone and it’s an experience I will always cherish.

Do you have other “Mom Mentors” or Moms working in sports to help guide you through parenthood and professional life?   

I wish I had more.  I’ve actually talked to my husband about this.  I have a few mentors, but they’re more like colleagues.

I am on the executive board of the WISE (Women in Sports & Events) chapter here in Dallas.  There’s a group of us that have been meeting unofficially for two years. There’s a few Moms on our board, and when we meet every month, I’ll end up talking to them about life and work outside of WISE.  They’re becoming my sports Mom group. I’ve met some really cool Moms working in sports that I wouldn’t have met without my involvement on the WISE board. 

Within Learfield there are a few women’s leaders in Director or VP roles.  They’re dealing with the same challenges, so we do sometimes get together in a safe space to talk about what it’s like.  

I love seeing women thriving in sales.  I think it’s a very big corner of the industry most women don’t automatically gravitate toward.  Have you seen more women starting in Account Executive and General Manager roles since you first started? If not, how can we encourage more women to pursue this track?

From a global perspective, Learfield IMG is involved in Women Leaders in College Sports, and we’ve developed a revenue generation track for their convention.  We make sure to focus on telling women there are opportunities other than being a SWA (Senior Woman Administrator) in college athletics.  The goal was to get more women to understand the opportunities available in revenue generation positions – including sponsorship sales, ticket sales and fundraising. It’s such a necessary skill if you want to be a leader.

I personally encouraged two women within Learfield whom I love dearly to take sales jobs – I saw a lot of my younger self in them. Originally, I didn’t think I would be in sales.  I was comfortable in activation, but someone pushed me outside my comfort zone and I’ve been in sales ever since.  Women are great salespersons. So these two women in our corporate office left to take sales positions at two of our Power Five schools; however, neither of them liked it. One came back to corporate and one took a job elsewhere.  I then realized that sales is not for everyone, but I’m going to keep encouraging others to try it. 

We absolutely need more women in sales and I know there are many that could be very good sellers.  You do have to like and enjoy sports and be excited about the sales process. I took the Talent Acquisition role because I wanted to hire more women in these roles.   

How has being a Mom made you better at your job?

Number one, I’m more protective of my time, and that forces me to be more efficient and prioritize better.  Number two, I love working. Being a Mom has forced me to not work so much. It’s given me the balance to have a happy home and a happy marriage, but it’s helped me realize that value in my life.  You can still be really good at your job, but you don’t always have to be working all the time. 

What non-traditional benefits do you think would help to make the sports industry more family-friendly?

It’s all down to your leader and how they’re going to set that expectation.  It’s about flexibility and autonomy. I’ve been so blessed that my bosses have given me the flexibility to do my business.  Whatever the case may be, having a culture of flexibility, autonomy and trust is extremely important. If you have that, I don’t think anything else matters.  Clearly, maternity leave matters, or maybe providing some additional perks like a housecleaning service for a newly returning mom; but, I think a boss that trusts you and knows your family is most important. 

No matter what industry you work in, that’s going to make it more family friendly.  The ability to bring your kids to a game and have your boss come over and meet your family, and really get to know them.  That’s why I’ve stayed at Learfield for ten years. I’ve been lucky to have great bosses and work at a company with a great culture. 

Being a Mom who works is not easy, no matter the industry.  However, the competitiveness and irregular hours can make sports extremely challenging for parents.  What motivates you to continue to pursue professional growth amidst some of these challenges?

Feeling like you’re making a difference and having sanity because I’m not dealing with six and four year olds all day.  God Bless the stay at home Moms! It is not in my DNA to stay at home. 

It’s also about doing something bigger than yourself and trying to teach my kids the right thing, especially with everything going on right now between the male and female culture.  I’ve always thought I’d be a cool girl Mom and now I have boys. It’s so important to tell the boys (if not more than the girls) that your Mom is working in a really cool industry because she can do what she wants.  This is what a healthy family looks like and you can have two jobs in your family. When you find your mate he/she can have a job, and you can treat women like the equals they should be.  

WNBA Fan Girl: Committing to Women’s Sports

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Like the rest of the country, over the past month, I’ve been captivated by the USWNT and their World Cup run.   The team’s win was inspiring for so many reasons, and once again provides renewed hope that their success will lead to greater equality, pay, and publicity for women’s sports.

However, I feel like we as a country express the same sentiment and have the same conversation every few years after the World Cup or Olympics.   Impressive women capture our attention for a brief moment, but then as we all inevitably get busy, their day-to-day athletic performances tend to fade into the background and we refocus on the men’s sports that still receive the majority of the airtime, despite the overwhelming dominance of our country’s female athletes.

Even though I would like to think of myself as a fan of women’s sports, outside of following Nebraska Volleyball and sometimes Women’s Basketball, as well as the major tennis tournaments, I rarely devote any of my time to watching/following any other women’s sports.  All the conversation following the World Cup has given me the chance to reflect on that fact and realize that my own personal lack of support is in fact, a contributing factor to the continued representation gap in sports.   Ouch.

So, what am I going to do about this new realization?

Meet your newest WNBA fan! I am committing to watching every nationally televised game for the Atlanta Dream (NBA TV, CBS Sports Network, and Twitter) through the end of the 2019 season.   I want to find a favorite player.  I want to find an opposing player I can’t stand because she’s so good. I want to better understand the companies supporting this league.  Perhaps most importantly, I want to put my time, and eventually money (their colors are outstanding, so no doubt, I’ll be buying some gear), where my mouth is AND demonstrate to my son that women are also phenomenal athletes worthy of our support.

If I can’t watch a game because of work, family obligations, etc., I am now set-up to receive all the team alerts and will be actively following their social media accounts.  If you run into me, I beg of you to ask me how the team is doing.  Just one person asking me about the WNBA and the Dream as a result of this post would provide more of a boost than I have ever personally given the league. 

Why the WNBA?

I remember being incredibly excited about the launch of the WNBA in 1997.  I was ten years old, had just started playing organized sports, and was an avid Sports Illustrated for Kids reader.  I’d written letters to Sheryl Swoopes and Lisa Leslie, started watching a ton of women’s college basketball, and by Junior High, had dreams of playing in the league myself.   While that dream obviously didn’t pan out, the WNBA showed me as a young girl that you could be a strong, female, athlete.  It encouraged me to keep playing, and had I not continued playing sports through high school, I know I wouldn’t have ended up working in the sports industry today.

Side Bar – I STILL have dreams about playing high school basketball.  I have always forgotten my shoes, shorts, sports bra, etc., and am running incredibly late for a big game.  If I do manage to play in the dream game, I have lost the limited athletic ability I once had, and it’s a painful thing to watch as I struggle down the court.   Let’s realize, that I am 32, and there’s a part of this WNBA dream that still won’t die.

Why the Atlanta Dream?

Earlier this year I was fortunate enough to have been introduced to the Dream’s Head Coach, Nicki Collen.   She and I spoke in the spring and the culmination of the Women’s World Cup and our interview going live last week spurred me to act.   She’s a mom to three, incredibly genuine, and I can’t help but cheer for someone who so generously gave their time to me.  Not to mention, the Dream’s 2019 season hashtag is #DreamOn, which also happens to be my all-time favorite song (do yourself a favor and enjoy some classic Steven Tyler) AND the track that I listened to prior to every single basketball game my senior year of high school.   It was meant to be.

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So, as a woman in sports, that hopes to see just as much equality in the board room as on the court, this is the small step I’m taking today to contribute to the cause.  If I truly believe in equality for women in the workplace, this seems like the least I can do. I hope my new fandom spurs an interest in the other amazing female athletes and leagues across the country.  I know this won’t make an immediate difference, and that it will take many more sports fans tuning in to make real progress; but, I’m excited to learn and support a league that continues to inspire young athletes all over the world. #DreamOn

How are you supporting female athletes? What else can we do to make a difference?

Sports Biz Mom: Nicki Collen, Atlanta Dream

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Nicki Collen was named head coach of the Atlanta Dream on October 30, 2017.  In her first season at the helm, Collen led the Dream to franchise-best 23-11 record and the No. 2 overall seed entering the 2018 WNBA Playoffs. The first-year head coach was named WNBA Coach of the Year for her work.

Collen came to the Dream after pair of successful seasons as an assistant coach for the Connecticut Sun. Working for 2017 WNBA Coach of the Year Curt Miller, Collen helped the Sun compile an impressive 21-13 record and finished with the fourth-best regular season record in the WNBA, earning the franchise’s first postseason appearance since 2012. 

Prior to moving to Connecticut, Collen served under head coach Karl Smesko at Florida Gulf Coast. Joining the staff in July of 2014, Collen helped guide the Eagles to consecutive 30-win seasons.  Before moving to FGCU, Collen enjoyed great success as an assistant coach at Arkansas, Louisville, Ball State and Colorado State. During her nine seasons as an assistant coach at the collegiate level, Collen helped teams reach three NCAA tournaments and five WNITs.

Collen played one year of professional basketball with the BCM Alexandros team in Greece.

As a player at Purdue, Collen was a member of Big 10 championship teams that advanced to the Final Four in 1994 and the Elite Eight in 1995. Collen transferred to Marquette as a junior, competing in two more NCAA tournaments while also securing a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering.

Collen and her husband Tom have three children, Connor, Reese and Logan. Follow her on Twitter at @NickiCollen.

Of all the jobs in the sports industry, coaching has the reputation of being one of the most demanding in terms of your time and focus. Can you provide some context into where you were in your career when you started your family and what that experience was like in such a travel-heavy profession?  

I’m obviously unique because my spouse was also in the women’s basketball coaching world.  I kind of followed his career path and we knew we wanted to have a family. My husband is 21 years older than me, so we wanted to do it sooner rather than later, and we honestly did have a lot of problems getting pregnant.   We went through in vitro, and that takes its toll mentally and physically. The plan was never not to continue to coach, but I did switch from on the floor to more of an operations type of position.  

Fortunately, after having twins, my parents were at a time in that they were slowing down and able to help us care for our children.   We didn’t have to worry about that. Yet, when I went back to work, I realized not being on the floor, not coaching, I just wasn’t happy.  Being around the game was great, but I made the decision at that point that if I wasn’t on the floor, I’d rather be at home.  

Originally, it wasn’t a long-term choice, but it turned into one.  The twins were 18 months old when I got pregnant and I thought that I was ready to go back. Then my husband got a job at Arkansas. We moved from Louisville when I was seven months pregnant with our younger daughter. 

It’s a unique dynamic in a coaching family, and there are only so many coaching jobs.  I had always worked for him and the entire staff followed, so I wasn’t making a conscious choice, it was just our situation. I kept reminding myself that there are so many women who would love to have the opportunity to stay home and that don’t have the financial means to do so.  Many times with two year old twins and an infant it was hard, but I tried to embrace it. 

You took a break from coaching while your kids were young and have experienced tremendous success since.  What helped you stay sharp during your time away? How did you know you were ready to come back?

Because my husband was so involved in the game, I could almost be in a consulting role. A lot of time, I would prep video and send it in for his staff.  I worked with some of them and knew all of them, so I at least stayed connected to what was going on in the NCAA and at Arkansas. I’m truly a basketball junkie, so I was always watching the game; college women, college men, and doing some broadcasting work.  

At one point I was wondering if I was crazy to want to get back into coaching and pondering if broadcasting was the better route. I’d still be around the game, but not be as invested in the outcome of the game.  In broadcasting you do a good job when the game is on, but there’s no “we won/we lost” when you go home. You don’t have an emotional investment in the outcome. Sometimes that’s wonderful, but you miss that when you’re competitive or your trying to play the perfect game.  I started to question those things.  

What got me back involved was that Tom had an assistant take a job at Texas State and another at Boston College.  After six years of being fully staffed, he had two openings, and he told me, “I want you to come back. I want you to run my defense.”

It was very much a tipping point and we realized we had to set some parameters. Being a two coach family, going two different directions in recruiting, we had to be organized going into this.  We were lucky enough to be in a position to be able to hire a nanny. At this point in time, we had two kids in elementary school and one in a full-time preschool. I needed that person to pick them up from school or take them to sports – all of those little things.

When I was at home, I was very much in charge of our family’s life; food, grocery shopping and things like that.  You get so into a routine as a Mom so it’s hard to keep the kids in that routine when everything is starting to change. Part of the transition was sitting down and saying, “Okay, I’m going to need some help now.  My responsibilities are changing. How are we going to do this together? What can you do and what can I do? How do we realign this routine so it works for everyone?”  

I was so consumed with getting someone who had great experience and who would love on my kids that I put very little expectations on what I wanted for this person.  I was thinking about what I would pay them, whether or not they could they stay the night, etc. Later, after I changed nannies, I suddenly realized that my kids are really resilient and they know we love them.  The second time around, I realized I need someone who makes MY life easier. I’m not asking for a cleaning person; but someone who will put wet clothes in the dryer, do the dishes, or prep for dinner if I’m going to be late.   

While most working in sports do not have a “typical” day,  it seems that daily and weekly routines are key to keeping the family on track.  What sort of routines have you developed for your family during the season?

Collen family picture

Our family is very much calendar based, especially now with two thirteen year olds and an eleven year old. We have competitive cheer, horseback riding, lacrosse, and are super active at church.  We’re both probably guilty at not being able to say “no”, especially to the things that we think make them happy or keep them active. We definitely rely on our family calendar.  

We also have learned to be willing to ask for help.  When I was coaching for two years in Connecticut we were still living  in Florida. Having that support system and a friend that could take my kids somewhere they needed to go was huge.  We had to rely on our neighbors and friends. It truly takes a village. We’re now developing those relationships through lacrosse and our new neighborhood – for us, that’s everything.  

My situation now is so different from when I was a college coach because my personal calendar is so different.  The beauty of the WNBA, and why I love it, is that there really is an off season. In college, the off season means your recruiting or running camps.  It’s a really different dynamic. Now, I can continue to connect with my players easily via Whatsapp and keep those relationships headed in the right direction, but we have two stay-at-home parents during the off season.  

However, in-season is a way bigger grind than the college season.   We go on ten day road trips. My kids now know what that what the pattern looks and feels like.  For me, I appreciate that I’m at least more present now than I could ever be as a college coach. It’s so hard in the college game to never not be multitasking.   [In the WNBA} It’s not like the off season doesn’t have reason to travel – free agency or scouting – but I’m firmly in control of that travel. 

What support can professional teams or collegiate athletic departments provide to best serve coaches with families? 

For me, we never had to ask for a lot. I certainly always felt that I worked in family-friendly environments. I’ve absolutely loved it when I’ve had athletic directors or bosses who have girls.  I think sometimes with men, when they have daughters, they approach things differently. I’ve been pretty lucky.  

To me, the most supportive bosses are the ones who bring their kids or nanny on the road trip.  When you think about that level in college and you’re chartering, the school is paying a charter price, not a per person price.   I think there are ways to truly support women in coaching when it’s also a bus league. You can easily pop your kids on the bus – there’s always room in that situation.  

Being allowed to bring your kids into the workplace, when it’s appropriate it, is key.  There’s a fine line if you don’t have the space or the place and your young child is going to disrupt other people while they’re trying to do their jobs.  Yet, my kids have fun memories of spending three to four hours every Saturday running through Bud Walton Arena, playing hide and seek with the other coaches families. 

One of the cool things now as my kids have gotten older is that they can come into the locker room after the game our hang out in the press room. In some ways, they can take great pride in what I do for a living, and the opportunity to be connected to the players and what’s going on throughout the season.  

Who have you looked to for support and parenting advice while also navigating your coaching career?

My parents and my Mom.  I was closest to my dad growing up, but I didn’t realize how important my Mom was until I was older.  I grew up in a traditional home and my Mom went to work when I was in 7th grade. My parenting style, how I think, and questions I have, are always going to go back to them.   

The one thing I learned when I became a parent and I wasn’t working, was how dependent I became on friends.  You need that peer group. I never pictured myself being that Mom in a “stroller group”, getting exercise in at the park.  Yet, I had a friend who had four kids under 6, and we would run at 5:00 AM before the kids got up. It was therapeutic. 

I didn’t have a lot of people my age in coaching.  I was in a unique situation because of the age difference between Tom and I, and his peers versus my peers.  One of the Assistants on our staff at Arkansas was a single Mom and actually had a former player who was her daughter’s nanny.  

I think I learned a little bit from everyone.  The more I learned, the more I realized that as women, we have this desire to feel like we’re getting it all right and we have it all figured out.  The thing is, everyone has questions and issues. When you finally sit down and talk to someone and say, “I can’t believe I’m dealing with this.”, the other person usually says they’re going through it or have gone through it too.  When you share that, “Yeah, I had trouble conceiving and I went through in vitro.”, suddenly you realize that you’re not alone. We’re all fighting the same battles and we’re just afraid to talk about it. I think we need to use each other as resources. 

I don’t believe in the myth of “work-life balance” and think “work-life integration” is a much more accurate depiction of what’s possible for working parents.   How do you integrate your family into your work-life?

When they were younger and we were together coaching, I would always take them with me.  When I was at home, I would take them to practice and they never missed a home game. It’s a little harder to take three kids under the age of three on the road.  They don’t care enough at that point.  

It has been fun to see the ages and stages.  Early on, they’re just there to run around and now we’re to the point to where they pay attention and have a favorite player. 

My son plays very close attention, but is very quiet about it.

His twin sister loves her Mom, hopes I win every game, but doesn’t really know what I do everyday.  She’s in competitive cheer and horseback riding, but she doesn’t know what a pick and roll is if you ask her.

My eleven year old daughter lives and breathes it. She watches Atlanta Hawks games at night because she knows I know that staff and has gotten to go to games.  She knows all the players in the WNBA and plays attention to the details and wants to be around it.  

You have to figure out as a parent how much each child wants to be involved in what you do.  I know they all think it’s kind of cool that Mom is famous and that I have a WikiPedia page.  They can Google me and find pictures.   When I took this job and went from being an assistant to a head coach, I remember my youngest daughter saying to me, “Now you’re a real coach”.  You can see how proud they are of you.

Nicki Collen and children in front of Atlanta Dream backdrop.

We try to integrate them in different ways.  They don’t come to a lot practices now. They certainly could, as I’ve made my practices open to anyone, but they’re in their own world.  I think they miss me when I’m gone and when you get home they want to give you a hug, but then they go back into their own world. Their worlds don’t revolve around my clock anymore. 

How has being a Mom made you a better basketball coach? 

“People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.” 

When I first got back into college coaching after becoming a Mom, I really thought I became a better recruiter. I suddenly understood from a totally different perspective.  You become a surrogate parent to your team. I’ve taken a relationship based approach, not that I wasn’t always that way, but you understand what kids mean and how badly you want them to be happy.  It makes you realize everyone you coach is somebody’s child.  

Being a Mom gave me a different prism to look through, and made me take a step back and think about how I say things.  Now that I’m working with adults, I don’t have to worry about their grades. However, I’m still a mentor and I like that part of it. I like to get to know them.  I want to know that when they’re done playing basketball that they’re prepared for life after sports. I genuinely care what’s going on with their friends and partners.  My personal motto is, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” 

What advice would you give to the women currently coming up in coaching who also want to start their own family?  

I was one of those people growing up who didn’t dream of my wedding or how many kids I was going to have.  I loved sports and I wanted to play basketball. I’m forty-three now, and if I could still play basketball, I’d be playing and not coaching.  

Everyone needs to be themselves and figure out what they want from life.  I think about how much more whole my life feels with little people in it. I watched my kids walk out to the bus stop today at the end of the driveway and realized that they’re now 5’10” and 5’5” tall.  It seems just like yesterday they were chasing each other around the yard.  

In many ways it gives you a reason to do your job.  I want my son to respect women and not have any reason to think anything other than that women can be successful in the workplace.  I want my girls to know they can do anything. My boss was my husband, so he was obviously supportive and I realize it’s easy for me to say; but, you have to be passionate about your family and chase it like you would your job. Whether it’s one or two kids, or adoption, you can’t be afraid.  I wouldn’t ever have stayed in a role that didn’t have people supporting me being a Mom.  

I am also super lucky because my assistant coach is married to the head coach at Georgia. They have a two year old and newborn and they found a way to make it happen.  Everyone has to do it their way. You have to know what your policies and expectations are or find a different place. I’ve never heard anyone say, “I wish I wouldn’t have done it [have kids].”  

My resume doesn’t read the same as everyone else’s – I stair stepped my way to the top.  I was in and out and at various levels; but, I got here. If you’re good at what you do, you can figure out what you’re supposed to be.  I’m probably not for everybody, but this job was a great job for me because I got it so organically. I didn’t chase it, they chased me.  

Moving to the Motor City

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Six weeks as a single parent and our new adventure

Six weeks of single parenthood. That’s what I’ve been up to since you last heard from me.

Yes, this was all planned.  Yes this was all done for good (and happy) reasons!  

Save a few weekend reunions with Dad, it was just me and my small human for all of May and the first part of June.  During that time we called poison control once; made approximately eight trips to Chipotle for dinner; Face Timed Daddy at least twice a day; spent countless evenings “snuggling in Mommy’s bed” on demand; and developed a mildly concerning addiction to Thomas and Friends.  In the midst of our day-to-day survival, we also sold our house, packed up all of our possessions, and then two weeks ago, left Milwaukee and moved-in with my in-laws in Michigan.

I did not force this. Snuggling in Mommy’s bed was often a daily request. Be still, my heart…

You see, not only did I decide to pursue a career in the sports industry, but I also happened to marry someone who wanted to do the same.  Since we’ve been together my husband has moved twice for me, and when an amazing opportunity came up with his hometown team, we couldn’t pass up the chance for him to make a great career move that also brought us closer to family.  

So, my “Sports Biz Dad” is now a Corporate Partnership Activation Manager for the Detroit Tigers and I am searching for my next professional opportunity.  My last day at DICK’s Sporting Goods was June 7th, and after coordinating our move, I am now a full-time parent, job-seeker, and part-time Coursera student working on a Digital Marketing Specialization.

When your house has a tight staircase, this is how you move furniture out/in from your 2nd floor. No movers or dressers were harmed in the taking of this picture. I spent this time distracting my nervous self by weeding our garden…

I’ve spent much of the last few weeks searching for a new daycare, pediatrician, and scouting potential neighborhoods. Once I do find the right fit, we’ll be off to the races on the home search – something I am both dreading and can’t wait to begin!

It’s been a crazy exciting, tiring, emotional, and yet hopeful transition.   One that I know we’ll be glad we’ve made once we’re officially settled. It was much tougher than I expected to say goodbye to our first home in Milwaukee, the friends we had made there, and my job and the awesome people I worked with at DICK’s Sporting Goods. It was NOT hard to say goodbye to being a single Mom. This entire experience has made me that much more appreciative of my husband and I’ve developed a whole new level of respect for any parent who is raising kids on their own full-time. RESPECT.

While the uncertainty for me in this transition has sometimes been scary, I am excited about the future and grateful that Ben has landed in such a great organization. The people there have been incredibly willing to help me in my search (including past interviewee, Molly Wurdack-Folt). I have to remind myself constantly that some part of this craziness is all a big lesson in patience – a lesson that some days I’m absorbing better than others.  In the meantime, I’ll be soaking up the extra time with our sweet two year old and re-engaging with the many projects for Sports Biz Mom that were put on the back burner while we attempted to sort through the messiness of our move.  

I could write a whole post on self-forgiveness, mental health, and my guilt about not keeping up with the blog for the past 6 to 8 weeks.  I was pretty hard on myself early on, and eventually I realized I was the only one setting those expectations. My theme while flying solo was “one day at a time”; and between working, house-selling, and toddler parenting,  there were just not enough hours in those days. I thought anyone reading this could easily understand and emphasize with my reduced capacity.

With that, you have your official Jacobs family job and location update.   Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you ever find yourself in Michigan.   Shamelessly, I’d also appreciate any personal or professional connections in Detroit.  Not only do I need a job, I also need friends – so please send them my way!

Sports Biz Mom: Gina Lehe, College Football Playoff

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Gina Lehe is the Senior Director of External Relations and Branding for the College Football Playoff.  She spent 16 years working in the college football bowl industry prior to joining the College Football Playoff in 2014, most recently as Director of Media for the Rose Bowl Game. Lehe served in similar capacities for the Insight Bowl and Fiesta Bowl.

She is a member of the Association for Women in Sports Media (AWSM), College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), National Football Foundation (NFF) and the Football Bowl Association (FBA).

In 2017, she was named to the Sports Business Journal (SBJ) Game Changers: Women in Sports Business.

Lehe graduated from the University of Arizona with a bachelor of arts in communications. Originally from Pacific Grove, California, she is married to husband, Adam. The Lehe’s have two daughters, Adriana (4) and Natalia (18 months).  Connect with her on LinkedIn.

What are your daily responsibilities with the College Football Playoff?

My title was recently changed from Communications to External Relations to better capture how the industry and environment evolved over the years. I recently celebrated 20+ years in college football and when I started “branding” didn’t exist.  People don’t really understand what branding is.  I think folks that do have proven to be successful because they’re looking outside of what some people just view as a logo.  Along with my title in college football shifting, so has my focus.  The same goes for the Sports Information Directors on campus.  We’ve had to evolve what we do, and those of us that have, have reaped some of the benefits of not getting left behind with social and digital media.

For us, external relations is anything that’s leaving our office walls; press releases, programs, game banners, commercials, tweets, logos. Anything that speaks to who and what the College Football Playoff is.  This includes items generated internally and externally.  We also handle all of the traditional media relations functions like credentialing.  All of these ties into the perception, trust and likeability of our company. It’s all about how people are digesting your content and interacting with you as a company.

We have a pretty lean team.  I have an assistant that works with our department specifically and a seasonal intern.  We work very closely with vendors, but only have two people solely dedicated to the department.

While most working in sports do not have a “typical” day, it seems that daily and weekly routines are key to keeping the family on track.  What sort of routines have you developed for your family throughout the work week?

My husband and I both travel for work, so I think the biggest thing is that we have a joint family calendar. It’s a basic, color coded, calendar in Excel.  Fortunately, for at least my side of the travel, we have a fairly robust planning system for the site visits for the national championship games.  I know in January/February what my calendar will look like for the rest of the year and my husband plans his trips around that.  This calendar is the bible of our household operations.  We don’t have family in Dallas and with two kids and two parents that travel, making sure we have care scheduled in advance is really important.

It’s also a perspective piece. We use the calendar to plan what are we going to do when we’re not traveling.  We still need to have fun with our kids when we’re not on the road.  I think looking at it from a full year perspective is what does it for me. I sit back and I look at it, and I’m like, “Man, we need to make sure we do stuff with our family and not just work.” 

Working in sports, I think we all have those “pinch me” moments, where you can’t believe you’re being paid to do what you’re doing.   What is your biggest “pinch me” moment to date?

Having an opportunity to be in the room with the selection committee from day one and seeing the different people who have been in those seats.  Just knowing their backgrounds and having the opportunity to side bar with them during lunch or breaks.  How often do you get to learn about the career path of someone like Condoleezza Rice?

In the first year, outside of the fall for rankings, we met two times per year.  My real “pinch me” moment would be when Tyrone Willingham, Barry Alvarez, Archie Manning, and Condi sang “Happy Birthday” to me.  In what world would that happen? These are iconic coaches and a hall of famer – I would have never imagined in a million years those folks would be in the room together, let alone singing “Happy Birthday” to me.

If you could go back and tell your pre-children self-one thing, what would it be?

Appreciate the now for what is.  I’m extremely Type A, and I’m always worried or thinking about what’s next and what I’m going to do.  I wish I would have stopped to value more and appreciate what is now, and I can pinpoint when that shifted for me – when I lost my Mom to cancer. It changed my whole perspective on time and living in the moment.  I hate it took that for me to accept that message and receive it, but I have to look for glimpses of the silver lining from that experience.

In your SBJ Game Changers feature, you mentioned that our constant news cycle and the need for immediacy has a detrimental impact on credibility and productivity.  How do you ensure that your team does not fall into this trap during the high-pressure moments surrounding the CFP?

First, respect yourself and respect the people that you work with when it comes to communicating.  If somebody takes time out to reach out to you, you need to do so in return.  When we have new staff and interns, we establish a pretty well outlined communication process.   For example, with our social media guidelines, it covers what we post, how we post it, when, and on what we post.

For a lot of 20-year-olds, especially ones that have worked in social media, they’re coming from a school where they’re promoting every single athlete and every sport.   If you look at our platforms, we don’t talk about specific athletes or teams.  If we talk about one conference, we’re talking about all of them, and that’s intentional.  We have to remain neutral, fair and balanced.  We created these best practices and guidelines in the beginning, and we stick to that to this day.

We’ve had consultants come in tell us what we could get more followers, but that’s not our goal.  Our goal is to match our brand philosophy/best practices philosophy.  This helps us not get into a frenzy during the busy times, because we’re not trying to be somebody we’re not.  We’re not creating unauthentic content for the rest of the year and people trust us.  If you choose to stray from this for five to seven days because everyone thinks you should do something else, you’ve just lost all the trust you have built.

People get so excited about being reactive to comments.  The news cycle is so short anymore. It’s not to say I ignore it or don’t listen; but, if we were to jump onto every piece of criticism, you’d lose your mind. When people stop talking about college football, then we’re in trouble. We don’t need to make the news cycle. We can be the news cycle.

We don’t need to make the news cycle. We can be the news cycle.

Who have you looked to for support and parenting advice while also navigating your career?

There are not a lot of women who work in sports who have kids.  At least not a lot that I know.  Many people suggested I read Lean In, but no offense, if I had a nanny and a chef, this would be easier (maybe!).   I don’t have the financial means to do those things and it’s not real to me.  It’s not a fair comparison.

I was talking to my mother in law in Florida about this recently.  Every now and then I need to break down.  I try to do so much, and I’m not looking for credit, but I need a break every now then.  We don’t have family here or any relatives or friends with kids that we can call for a date night.  It has to be a huge orchestrated plan for us to do anything together. That’s not always fun as a married couple.

I talk to my mother in law a lot. She was a teacher.  I like to hear her opinion and seek her advice.  She grounds me a lot. I make a bigger deal out of things, and she shoots straight with me and can level set me when I’m breaking down.

In your recent D Magazine feature, you spoke of integrating your young daughter into your work and not asking if it was OK to do so.  Did/do you receive any push back when doing this? How can we make that a more acceptable practice across the industry?

This is one of those things that I didn’t see as doing something revolutionary.  I was just trying to find a way to make it work, given that my husband and I were both working and traveling.

I didn’t want to sacrifice – I don’t believe in that – integration was always part of my mindset.  If I choose to have a family, I better choose to support my family as much as my job.  The first time it happened my daughter was three or four months old and my husband had a work trip the same time I did.  I was going to Arizona and Atlanta and I brought her to the meeting because it was her nap time.  In Atlanta I carried her around in a Baby Bjorn during a walk through for an site visit.  I’ve been creative. I tell them she’s going to be with me, and I don’t really ask if it’s okay.

My 2nd daughter was born in September, and that winter I was going to the Rose Bowl Game for the semifinal, and I took her with me because I was breastfeeding. I hired a babysitter when she couldn’t come with me and then I took a red eye from Los Angeles to Atlanta with a three-month-old so I could be Atlanta for the championship. It’s one of those stories I think about now and I think it’s crazy.

People make comments.  I can name names and certain places, and I can tell there are super old school people who wonder what the hell I think I’m doing.  Until I don’t do my job effectively or I don’t get the job done, I’m going to continue to do it. I know myself well enough to know that I’ll get it done and do it well. I’m not going to sacrifice my job or my family if I know I can make it work.

The women who I’ve encountered, whether they have kids, or are younger, have all thanked me for doing it.   I don’t’ think I need to be, because I’m not doing something revolutionary for the working Mom and I haven’t asked to do it, because I don’t feel like I am jeopardizing my job. I am just adapting to the situation so I can give my best to my personal and professional life so they both get equal due and what they deserve.

My mother in law has also met me on work trips and taken the kids from me.  If you really want to have a family, you’ll figure out a way to have a family. If you want to have a family and work, you’ll figure that out too.  There’s always a way to figure it out, it may be unconventional, and people may judge you, but you’re going to figure it out.


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SPORTS BIZ MOM KEYS TO THE GAME:

  1. Schedule family activities: Yes, this sounds super regimented and not fun, but it’s easy to get wrapped up in the day-to-day rush throughout the week. I know I’ve found myself sitting on the couch during a day off wishing we were doing something fun together as a family, instead of just watching TV or cleaning up the house. Sometimes, we have to conciously work to make time for fun activities, even if it’s just going to get donuts on a Saturday morning. I couldn’t agree more with Gina about how important this time can be and am personally trying to schedule fun family time with as much care as I do my professional schedule.
  2. Don’t compromise your brand for short-term gain: I think this mindset is so easy to lose site of in a world with such a short attention span and news cycle. Whether it’s your personal brand or your company’s being authentic and trustworthy sholud always be our first priority.
  3. Don’t apologize for being unconventional: Even if you are not able to bring your baby/child with you when you travel, that doesn’t mean you can’t get creative in how you integrate your family into your work-life. Depending on the circumstances, your partner or another caregiver may need to come along to help, but I fully believe that having clients, coworkers, etc., see that your family is also a priority humanizes you and sets a precedent for the other future parents in your workplace. Yes, a two year old is not going to be appropriate in an important meeting or even; but, he could be a huge hit in a suite with a sponsor who has grandchildren of the same age. If you’ve proven that you’re going to get the job done and do it well, and you’re working for a supportive organization, you’ll be in a position to be able to bring your whole self to work and let her shine.

Sports Biz Mom: Molly Wurdack-Folt, Detroit Red Wings/Detroit Tigers

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Molly Wurdack-Folt was promoted to Vice President, Partnership Activation in March 2019. In her new role, Molly is responsible for leading the Corporate Partnerships’ activation group across the Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Tigers and Entertainment arms of the business; ensuring world-class experiences for partners through exceptional service, cutting-edge activation plans and flawless execution.  She also drives renewal sales efforts and developing cross-venue, multi-platform deals that leverage the sports & entertainment group’s unparalleled portfolio of properties.

Previously, Molly held the role of Director of Marketing Strategy for Olympia Entertainment. In that role, Wurdack managed the Corporate Partnership Marketing department, which she oversaw for more than seven years as the Director of Ticket Service and Corporate Partnership Marketing. She also sought out new opportunities for Red Wings sponsorships, working closely with the NHL and fellow NHL teams to grow revenue and expand relationships with key partners. Additionally, Molly managed two departments within the Marketing & Communications umbrella – Community Relations / The Detroit Red Wings Foundation and Guest Experience, which oversaw the Guest Connect Program focusing on guest experiences at Little Caesars Arena, the Fox Theatre, Comerica Park, and three outdoor amphitheaters.

Wurdack started with the Red Wings in May 2008 as the Manager of Ticket Service and Retention. In that role, she developed and implemented a new business unit, the Ticket Service and Retention department, which assisted in growing ticket retention and increased season ticket holder satisfaction. Wurdack was promoted to Director of Ticket Sales and Corporate Partnership Marketing in 2010 and oversaw client retention for all Red Wings season ticket holders, providing servicing, retention and upselling to these clients, along with overseeing the corporate partnership marketing team to fulfill and execute all sponsorship contracts. Prior to joining the Red Wings, Wurdack served as a Marketing Partnership Staff Assistant for the Miami Dolphins where she assisted in the execution and fulfillment of marketing partnership contracts.

Wurdack earned a Bachelor of Arts with a major in psychology and a minor in business from Ohio University and went on to earn her Master’s degree in sports and business administration from Ohio University as well. Wurdack currently resides in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., with her husband, Jason, son, Beckett and is expecting her second child this spring.  Connect with her on LinkedIn.  

Can you describe a “typical” day in the life for you and your family on a game-night or event day?

Every day is different for me.  A lot of that is driven by my husband’s work schedule. He’s a physician and his hours vary greatly – it could be afternoon, morning, or night shifts – so we are in constant communication about who is picking up, taking to preschool, swimming, etc.

I’m normally the one that gets Beckett up and makes breakfast in the morning.  I am more of a morning person than my husband and it’s nice to spend the time together.  We’re only ten minutes from daycare, so if I am dropping him off we leave around 7:45 AM. Then, I’m off on my thirty to forty minute commute to downtown Detroit.

On game days my husband normally picks up my son, and then I’m home around 10:00 PM.  There are times we have to get a sitter who picks Beckett up from school and watches him until my husband or I get home.  We don’t have family in the area, so that makes it a little more challenging. However, we’ve found some really great sitters who can pick-up [Beckett] early if need be.  

What project or professional accomplishment are you most proud of?

Being a part of the construction and opening of Little Caesars Arena. We worked really hard in the years leading up to that date to make sure the building was ready when the doors opened in September 2017. I was involved with both season ticket and corporate partnership planning throughout that process.

With season ticket holders, I played a significant role in the relocation process, pricing strategy, and go-to-market plan. Our process for relocating season ticket holders was very different than other new arenas or stadiums. We elected to bring every single season ticket holder, individually, through the preview center over eighteen months – all 3,500 accounts.  A lot of times when buildings are preparing to open, the organization sends out a link with information about comparable seat options and pricing. Then, season ticket holders have the opportunity to electronically accept or decline the offered seat location. However, we needed people to understand how drastically different the new building was; so, we felt we needed to have those (sometimes) difficult discussions, and talk about their options, prices, and benefits in person.

For sponsorship, I worked very closely with the Director of Partnership Sales to develop new rate cards and assets, our go-to-market strategy, and then tier the partnerships accordingly.  At the Joe we had a lot of a little with no differentiation between a $1 million and $50,000 partners. We established a hierarchy with Landmark, Cornerstone, and Foundation partners, worked with outside agencies to evaluate those numbers, and then developed the strategy to ultimately go to market. Our staff was also trained to ask for dollar amounts that our team had never even imagined we could ask for, and we created talking points to help with the justification behind that ask.

When you open a new building, you have the opportunity to learn the good, bad, and ugly from previously opened stadiums and arenas. We made countless trips to other areas to research things like wayfinding, concession stand branding, etc. It was a two to three-year process. Ironically, I was on maternity leave with Beckett when we first broke ground in 2014. I can recall sitting in my bed while he was sleeping next to me and I streamed the groundbreaking. We’ve come a long way since then!

What is next for the Red Wings and Olympia Entertainment now that Little Caesars Arena is open and started to find its place in downtown Detroit?

Little Caesars Arena 2.0 – which is continuing to build and improve upon year one within the building and the additional development opportunities in and around The District Detroit.

As we continue to host events in the building, we’ve realized that there are things that aren’t working or that need to be adjusted for one reason or another.  We’re constantly looking at how our building operates; how sponsors are integrated; and how we interact with season ticket holders.

In the sponsorship world specifically, it has been a learning process since we opened. Many of the deals we executed were sold 2+ years in advance of opening the arena. Therefore, we didn’t have a full understanding of how everything would come together. We are proactively working with partners to continuously improve upon their activation, integration and overall experience.

The guest experience is also a huge area of focus because that’s such a controllable element in all the venues we manage (Little Caesars Arena, Comerica, Fox Theatre, and our outdoor amphitheaters).  We’re thinking about what the overall guest experience means across all our venues and how the feedback of our guests drives business decisions. We have a lot of insight into what guests are saying and are trying to build consistency across venues.

There is also a strong focus on development in and around The District Detroit, which is a fifty block area around the arena. You’ll start to see a lot of groundbreaking in the next year to year and a half, led by our sister company Olympia Development.

How has being a Mom made you a better employee or leader?  

Being a Mom has given me more patience, better listening skills, and a stronger appreciation for the differences that everyone has in their life and what they may be going through.

I think back to my younger professional years, before I had Beckett, and it was all about just getting the job done and I don’t think I appreciated the true sense of living in the moment.  It was just about checking the box, and maybe that was a function of having a large workload. I worked endless hours, went in early and left late, and always questioned why people needed to leave early.  Untill I walked in their shoes, I didn’t understand the need for flexible hours. Now, due to my responsibilities outside of work, I spend much more time being strategic and thinking things through.

Have you noticed more or less difficulty in being away from home now that Beckett is older?

I may be unconventional, but I didn’t have a hard time going back to work. Of course, the first day was tough but I feel as though I am a better Mom because I work.  However, as I look to the future – the next year and beyond, I do struggle with what happens when school gets out at 3:30 or 4:00 PM and activities start to happen between 4:00 and 6:00 PM. How do you manage it all?

Do you have other “Mom Mentors” or parents working in sports to help guide you through parenthood and professional life?

I have had some tremendous female mentors in the sports industry but only a few of them have been moms themselves. There have been so few who have been moms, and while I have learned a ton from their leadership and guidance, it’s probably a major contributing factor as to why I waited longer to have children. I had a strong focus on my career in the early years.

Even over a decade after starting my career there are still not a lot of female mentors who are moms that I do business with in the industry. Hopefully, the next generation of women can have more females to emulate within the business.

What advice would you give to someone managing (or who works closely with) a Sports Biz Mom or soon-to-be Mom – particularly one who is not a parent themselves?  

Your employees shouldn’t be treated differently whether they’re a Mom, an elderly person who doesn’t like to drive at night, or a millennial.  We need to change our approach to how we look at colleagues. Of course, not every exception will be applicable to every individual; but in my opinion, we don’t need to approach work hours as we have historically within sports and entertainment.  

A year ago we [Olympia Entertainment] rolled out a flexible hours and work from home policy.  Not everyone is eligible and not everyone can participate – for example, someone who works at a box office window. However, our company is conservative and the fact that Olympia Entertainment was able to look at things differently and determine that this is the way of the world and it’s where companies are going is a great thing.

It’s a great benefit.  It helps in recruitment when we’re looking to attract talent and it allows for unconventional ways to get the job done.  There may be someone who works really well at night compared to in the morning. I’m probably getting more out of that person allowing them to work 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM than 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM.   If you’ve done your job as a manager to hire the right people and be the best manager for them, they will go to work for you.

What non-traditional benefits do you think would help to make the life of a Sports Biz Mom easier?

The first thing that stands out is that companies need to have better family leave.  Just because I’m a woman and I deliver a baby does not mean the person next to me who adopts should not have the same benefits.  This also goes for fathers and paternity leave. The partner’s responsibilities at home after bringing home a new baby are just as important as those that delivered the child.

One other benefit that would make life easier is an at work concierge program. One of our sponsors provides this service to their colleagues and has seen tremendous returns and gratitude from colleagues.  The company fronts the cost of two employees who are concierge specialists, meaning they do errands for the colleagues that work there. They’ll pick-up the dry cleaning, make a return at Target, etc. Outside of work, the time spent on minute tasks is endless.  If I had someone to do those things while I’m at work it would be priceless.

Lastly, I believe companies need to do a better job of training Moms to go on maternity leave.  There should be a process in place to educate both men and women on preparing for leave. For example, basics on paperwork, what to expect when you come back, and what services the company provides when you return. This would alleviate a lot of stress for new parents.

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SPORTS BIZ MOM KEYS TO THE GAME:

Molly was one of the first people I approached with my idea for this blog, and I am so excited to finally share her story. Her encouragement helped give me the boost I needed to make this site happen and I hope her story helps another Mom believe that exceling in her career and growing her family are not mutually exclusive. Here are my key takeaways from our conversation:

  1. We need more family leave training/education: This idea seems like a no-brainer to me for most companies, but is one that is often overlooked. The process for filing for maternity leave, short-term disability, signing your child up for benefits, etc., is confusing and often comes with tight deadlines. We can help parents better prepare for a major life transition by providing full support and instruction. I also think it’s important to make sure anyone with supervisory responsibilities is trained in how to best support a new parent at the office.
  2. No family nearby? You can make it work! Having little to no family nearby is a challenge many parents in the sports industry face and has been something that I have personally had to overcome. I was encouraged to hear Molly’s success in finding sitters to pick-up her son when she and her husband are both working late. If this is cost prohibitive, consider an “babysitting swap” with a friend or other parent you trust. When you’re able, their kids can come over for a play date so they can also get a break. It may take some planning, but you can make it work!
  3. There’s no shame in wanting to work: I loved that Molly so honestly shared that she didn’t struggle with going back to work and that it’s helped to make her a better leader. If you’re excited to go back to work after leave, that doesn’t mean you don’t love your child, and that you should feel guilty. It means you’re going to set an awesome example for your family of what hard work and passion can accomplish. We have to quit “should-ing” on ourselves!

Sports Biz Mom: Alex Simons, Cincinnati Bengals

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Alex Simons was named the Director of Partner Services & Community Engagement for the Cincinnati Bengals in June 2018.  She has worked for the Bengals since 2015 and previously held the role of Suite Services Manager & Community Relations Representative.

A graduate of Miami University (OH), Alex has also worked as a Private Events Manager for Paul Brown Stadium and a Marketing & Communications Manager for Resident Home Corporation.

Alex lives in the Cincinnati area with her husband and four sons, Tyler (9), Bentley (6), Bryson (5), and Hig (2). Connect with her on LinkedIn.

What are your day-to-day responsibilities with the Bengals?

My primary responsibility is overseeing our partnership activation team, entertainment and activation on game day and establishing our community engagement strategy.  While no two days are exactly the same, my crew and I ensure that our partners’ expectations are met and exceeded.  We want their brands to be one of the top five things our fans remember when they leave our stadium, website, social channels, etc.  Our activation team supports about 160 partners with five full-time employees and three interns.

Can you describe a typical day in the life for you and your family during the season?

We say teamwork makes the dream work all the time at home!  There are 4 kids and 2 parents— everyone has to pitch in!  The typical day means getting up way too early!  My alarm goes off at 5:15 AM.  Getting a full night’s sleep in our house is typically easy—we’re blessed with four boys who LOVE TO SLEEP.   I fully anticipate a future of boys who, if they had way cooler parents, would sleep until noon.

We’re very boring. We stick to the routine every day.  The kids need the structure – we all thrive with it. Once the boys are up, some get our help in the morning, some don’t.  If you’re in school, Mom doesn’t need to help you brush your teeth, get dressed, etc.  If you forget to put your library book in your book bag – I hope you’ll remember next week.  My husband takes the younger two to daycare shortly before 7:00 AM and I take the older two to school by 7:30 AM.  

You were promoted to your current role prior to the start of the 2018 season.  Has this new opportunity required any major changes to your schedule with your family?

I get home between 6:00 or 6:30 PM and dinner is usually on the table (thanks to my amazing man).  Some nights half of us are out the door for a practice of some sort.  And now that we have two in school, we have to find time for homework, reading, doing flashcards, etc.  Then, because they’re boys and they’re disgusting, we will do baths if they have time – but, sometimes it’s just a baby wipe bath.  We try to have the kids in bed by 8:30 PM, and then it’s doing dishes, laundry, and getting ready for the next day.  By the time we are able to slow down its after 10:00 PM and we just want to fall in bed.

I’ve been very fortunate, because for the most part, it’s been very similar – or at least now it is.  When I took the new role it was less than a month before our season started, and I took on a role that really, I felt I had no business taking. I don’t have a sponsorship background, other than working alongside those in sponsorships at the Bengals, and I still have a lot of learning to do.  The first few months I wasn’t at home much. I was working a lot of hours to keep all the balls in the air at work.  I had to rely on my husband a lot to help.  We’re kind of back to normal now which is really appreciated. 

Previously, I was on the suite services side, which at our organization, is tied to the corporate partner world.  It [Suites] still aligns somewhat with our ticketing department, but our corporate partnership team is responsible for selling those spaces. It makes a lot of sense in my mind because you don’t have a lot of individuals or families purchasing suites. It’s the business community.

Do you have a favorite event or project from your time with the Bengals?

One of my favorite things about working at the Bengals is that we’re a tight knit organization.  This affords many of us the opportunity to be involved in things that we’re interested in or those areas outside your wheelhouse.  So, when there are unique one-off projects going on, you’re able to engage. 

2017 was our 50th season, and we focused on engaging our longtime season ticket member base and reengaging our Legends (The NFL has started calling former players Legends).   I felt very privileged to be tasked with managing the Legends portion of our 50th season.  I had the responsibility of finding out a way to connect with the 800+ former players across the country.  How could we connect with them and encourage them to come back?

We honored fifteen to twenty-five Legends at each home game that season. We held activities and events with them the day before that also engaged our fan base.  The night before every home game, we had a Legends Storytelling Dinner.  We invited Legends, their guests, season ticket members, and corporate partners.  These were small – never more than seventy-five people. 

The Legends told stories the whole night and engaged with the guests directly.  I swear, there must be some unspoken requirement that you have to be a good storyteller to be a Legend!  They were phenomenal stories, and as a football fan, I was able take off my work hat and just enjoy the evening.  These dinners will be memories I keep forever!  On game day, we created opportunities for just the Legends to just enjoy themselves and each other’s company.  It was such a memorable season!  Definitely one for my book!

Do you have other “Mom Mentors” or Moms working in sports to help guide you through parenthood and professional life?

This was tough question for me. I have mentors on the business side.  I never really looked at them as mentors because of being parents – more for their business savviness or their reputation in the community. 

There is a woman I work with and while I’ve never officially thought of her as a parent mentor, she’s always been an industry mentor.  She and her husband have two adult daughters, and she’s been with the company for over 20 years.

I know how hard she works; I see her there every day for hours.  As Moms, we put self-inflicted guilt on ourselves, because we work so much.  That guilt is relentless.  I choose to work in an industry that isn’t 40 hours a week.  I’m constantly wondering if the time I’m spending here at work is going to lead to my kids resenting me.  I don’t play with them as much as other Moms, or go to the zoo, classroom parties, or on field trips. 

I’ve had the opportunity to experience my colleague’s daughters over the years and they’ve always been close to their Mom.  I look at the girls now, as adults, and how close they still are with their Mom.  They don’t live in Cincinnati anymore but when they’re home, they’re always here at the stadium or taking their Mom to lunch.  They just want to hang out with their Mom. 

I see this and know I don’t need to feel guilty.  As much as two people work, you can still have a close relationship with your kids. I think your kids will respect you for it and love you regardless.

One of my goals for the blog is to be a resource both for working Moms but for sports industry leaders who work with or manage Sports Biz Moms.  What advice would you give to someone managing (or who works closely with) a Mom or soon-to-be parent – particularly one who is not a parent themselves?

The first thing that came to mind for me is offering grace; because, life is messy.  Especially when you have two parents that work. Kids get sick and you have to adjust schedules.  There’s already enough self-inflicted guilt.  As a manager, offer grace and don’t add to that already self-inflicted guilt that your staffer is inevitably feeling.  

Sometimes that can be hard to do as a manger, because you’re thinking , “I need you here to get your job done.” When you’re busy in our own world trying to lead and get done what you need to do, if you’re a (wo)man down it can be so easy to forget that your employees have stuff too.

What sort of example do you hope to set for your kids as a Mom who works?

Hard work pays off. I want to instill in my kids that you have to work hard to be successful. The world will not give you what you want, just because you want it.  I want to see my kids work hard and reap the rewards.  They know the toys in their room are because their parents work hard (Santa doesn’t get all the credit at the Simons house).

We want our kids to know life is not easy and you do not get things handed to you.  You have to earn them and work hard for them – whiners are wieners comes out of my mouth at least once a day! You don’t get anywhere in life by bitching about your situation.  If you don’t like what’s going on…change it.

Do you have any final thoughts or additional questions you’d like me to ask other women that I speak with?

I always feel like I’m hearing Moms talking about the guilt. I hate that word.  It’s there and it sucks.  At the same time, I think it’s important to not feel guilty when you just have a day when you want to come home, feed the family frozen pizza, watch TV and just veg out (and maybe force one of your kids to cuddle on the couch with you).  Nope, Mom needs time for Mom, I haven’t had any time for myself and I don’t feel bad about it. 

Your kids need you to be mentally healthy – whatever that means to you.

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SPORTS BIZ MOM KEYS TO THE GAME:

  1. Offer Grace: Kids get sick, schedules change, basements flood – life happens. We should offer grace to all employees, regardless of their parental status; but, those of us who have personally experienced the unpredictability of children should be especially careful to not pile on to anyone’s personal guilt party.
  2. Teach Accountability: I LOVED that Alex’s school-aged boys are responsible for getting themselves dressed, brushing their teeth, packing their bags, etc. As parents, it’s so hard not to try to manage every part of our child’s lives, because, well, we could certainly do it faster. However, I think it’s important to remember that our job is also to raise capable adults who understand how to learn from their mistakes. This piece of the interview stuck out to me in a big way, even though my 2 year old isn’t quite ready for it…
  3. If You Don’t Like It, Change It: I think this is another important lesson for our kids, and one that I still have to remind myself of on a regular basis. We have to work hard for the things we want/need in life – whiners are weiners!

What To Pack When You’re Pumping

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I stared at the intimidating, pale yellow, contraption before me.   Tubes, cones, cords – this was supposed to do what to where? Did people actually, REALLY, use these things? It looked like a torture device. Nope.  Not doing that today.  Back in the closet it goes.

For the first 4 to 6 weeks of my maternity leave, this was the conversation I had with myself on a regular basis.  I eyed my pump, sitting in the same box it shipped in.   There were too many rules, too many pieces, and I was too tired.   But, as I approached the halfway mark of my time at home, I knew we had to become acquainted.  Little did I know, that other than my child, Ms. Medela would become my most constant companion for the next few months.  Our relationship lasted approximately a year, and while we parted ways amicably (for which I am forever grateful), I was not sorry to see her go.   

Pumping – while valuable – SUCKED.  I don’t think I was prepared for how truly awful it could be.  WHY DID NO ONE MENTION THIS TO ME!?!

It was noisy, messy, and an extraordinary logistical feat to manage throughout the workday.   Did you pack all the pieces? How early do I have to leave for my meeting so I have time to pump on the way and clean up in the parking lot? What random stranger will I talk to about my boobs today? Will anyone on this conference call notice my wheezing friend, Ms. Medela, if I have to unmute myself and say something? (The answer is yes by the way…)

Seriously.  Did I mention pumping SUCKS? Honestly, if it was an appropriate interview question, I’d definitely give a job candidate bonus points in the “attention to detail and managing their time wisely” category if I knew they pumped for any time at all after maternity leave.   There’s no question that the event planning and project timelines I’ve learned to do in sports and events helped prepare me for balancing work and the milk guzzling little creature I left a daycare every day.

You’re probably wondering, “Abby, if you hated it so much, why did you do for so long?”

Here’s the deal, while I hated pumping, once the small human and I got the hang of it, I truly enjoyed the experience of breastfeeding. Yes, it’s sometimes annoying to be the primary food source for another human being; but, at the end of the day, I appreciated the one-on-one time with my son and was proud of the fact that I was the only one that could provide what he needed at that moment.  I strapped myself in to my least favorite contraption on a daily basis so that I could still have that opportunity when I came home every day.

In full transparency, I was also incredibly fortunate to have a relatively easy time breastfeeding and top-notch resources at my beckon call.  I did not experience many of the common issues new Moms have (except for cluster feeding – also something NOBODY told me about), plus my sister is a Certified Lactation Consultant (Fraser’s Dairy God Mother) and my Mom birthed six babies. So, I had two experts on speed dial.   I am absolutely aware that so many women out there would gladly pump the day away to be able to breastfeed their child.   At the end of the day, a well-fed and well-loved baby is most important.  This is what worked for me and my family THIS time.  I know I may have to take a different approach should we be blessed with another child in the future.

I also know that a lot of the success I had in pumping was due to the fact that I have a job that affords me a lot of autonomy.  I didn’t have to explain to someone where I was going when I needed to pump.  I could shut the door of my office or take care of business in the car between meetings. It would have been much more difficult to keep this up in a traditional office environment, when everyone could have seen my comings and goings.  If you’re able to make this work, I have so much respect for you AND your employer, and I want to hear about it – email me!

So, anyway, this long-winded rambling was my attempt to provide some background on my experience with the topic at hand – What to Pack When You’re Pumping.  I always feel more calm and ready for a challenge when I can create an actionable list, so if I haven’t scared you off yet, here’s a handy checklist to help prepare you for your adventures with Ms. Medela – or whatever torture device is your baby’s flavor.  

Packing for a picnic? Scuba diving lessons? Nope. Just Tuesday morning.

WHAT TO PACK WHEN YOU’RE PUMPING: 

This list is specifically created with the Medela Pump In-Style model in mind. Most other major pump brands have similar accessories available.  

  • Pumping Bag: I just used diaper bag, but some pumps come with their own bag, or you can find a specialty case that is specifically created to make pumping on the go easier.
  • The Pump: This seems like a no brainer, but may be an easy thing to forget when you’re first figuring out the schedule to get yourself and your small human out the door. The Affordable Care Act requires that private health insurance plans cover the cost of your breast pump, so be sure to contact your insurance company about the ordering process. My son was born in March and I ordered my pump in January.
  • Pump Pieces: These are the items that generally come with the pump and are essential to making that milk move! You don’t necessarily need to purchase any of these items separately, but I’d recommend having spare valves and membranes in your bag just in case one of the membranes tears.
    • Power Cord/AC Adapter
  • Quick-Clean Steaming Bags: If you have access to a microwave and water you can steam and clean your parts throughout the day.  Each bag can be used up to 20 times.   These are handy if you’re on the road or in hotels and won’t be home to wash things by hand
  • Quick Clean Breast Pump and Accessory Wipes: If you’re like me and pumping on the go, these are a must have.  If you don’t have immediate access to water/microwave, use these wipes to clean your pump between sessions.
  • Zip Lock Bags:  I typically transported all of my various parts in a gallon zip-lock bag.  It’s helpful to have a few extras on hand in case you’re not able to clean your parts and want to keep the clean away from the dirty.
  • Car Adapter:  I used this on a daily basis.  Even if you don’t travel for work, I’d recommend having one on hand in case you’re ever in a bind and need to give the girls some relief on the go.
  • Battery Pack:  I only used this 3 or 4 times total, but was a great back-up in case you don’t have access to an outlet.  Unfortunately, using this likely meant I was in a bathroom somewhere that didn’t have a space for nursing mothers (looking at you DTW). 
  • Cooler/Ice Pack: Most breast pumps come with a cooler and ice pack to keep your liquid gold at an acceptable storage/serving temperature throughout the day.   This is especially important if you won’t have access to a refrigerator.  More information on breastmilk storage can be found here.  Also, my husband was very proud to discover the Medela cooler + ice pack can also fit exactly four beers. It’s the perfect party pack! You’re welcome.
  • Nursing Cover: I travel by car a lot throughout the day for work, so I pumped while driving (shhhh) at least once a day.  I used the nursing cover to keep the contraption and my flesh colored pumping bra out of the line of site of anyone at traffic lights or in parking lots.  They may have never noticed, but it made me feel like I had at least a little dignity.  If I wasn’t in the car, I sometimes put this on my lap in the office or car in case of any drips/leaks.
  • Hands Free Pumping Bra: This is a must have if you’re a car pumper. I also used my pumping time to catch-up on email – multitasking at its best!
  • Storage Bottles + Lids: This should seem obvious, but is an easy one to forget (see below).  I have more bottles than I know what to do with because I would forget the lids at home and have to buy full new sets over lunch. 
  • Manual Breast Pump: I know, what you’re thinking, I need TWO breast pumps in my bag? Perhaps not every day, but this is something to think about if you’ll be on the run and you’re not sure when and where you’ll be able to pump (big events, unfamiliar venues, tight flight connections, etc.). The manual breast pump can allow you to squeeze in a quick session without a tangle of cords.  Personally, I didn’t feel it was as efficient as its noiser cousin; but, it provided some relief, and as my breastfeeding class instructor liked to say, “it places the order at the bakery”, so your body continues to produce more milk for your baby later.
  • Milk Storage Bags:  Yes, I had these at home already for my freezer stash, but I initially didn’t carry these with me to work.  However, I took an extended business trip and some ended up buried in my bag, and they ended up being a life/milk saver.  If you someday forget to bring the caps to your pumping bottles (yup, did that twice) or the bottles (I think I only did that once…) You can MacGyver a solution using the bags and a hair tie.
No bottles or lids? No problem! Pump straight into your storage bags! Photo from the last ever business trip I took with my pump. You think I would have known better by then…
  • Hair Tie: For reasons that I hope are now obvious…
  • Sharpie Marker: If you’re storing milk in bags, be sure to mark the date/time of your session on the bag BEFORE you start pumping.
  • Mamava App:  I used this extensively while traveling for work.  It’s super handy in airports and other public places.   The app will provide you geo-specific locations of Mamava Nursing Pods or other Mothers’ Rooms near you.   If you’re reading this and work for a team or venue that does not have a nursing room, please share the Mamava page with your leadership team immediately.  Not only is it the right thing to do for your fans, it’s possible sponsorship inventory.
  • Sprout App: Sprout is the app I used to track feeding and pumping sessions until my son was about a year old.  It tracks how much you pump, how long you pumped, and can push you a reminder when it’s time to get back at it.  I also used this while breastfeeding, and in those early weeks, it was much needed record of when my son needed to eat and which side was most in need of action. 

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Did I scare you into not pumping? Are you immediately running to the store to buy formula? If you think pumping may be for you, I hope the What to Pack When You’re Pumping list helps you feel more prepared to make the best decision possible when the time comes.

Are you a past pumper or already pumping? Did I miss anything? I’d love to hear from you about what was in your bag and what kept you motivated while pumping.   This was honestly one of the most difficult parts of my first year of motherhood, and I have so much respect for anyone who is willing to take it on – but also applaud any of you who decide keeping up with the circus is not for you.  No matter how you feed your baby, know that you are not alone in your struggle, and it can be hard to adjust to your family’s new routines those first few weeks/months back at work.   I am serious when I say I would be happy to talk about pumping and how you can make it work for you, where you work.   Please email me at sportsbizmom@gmail.com if you’d like to chat! 

Sports Biz Mom: Erin Kraebber, UAB Athletics

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We’re kicking off the New Year and closing out the college football season with a Mom whose team experienced a lot of excitement in 2018! Erin Kraebber is the Associate Athletic Director for Marketing at UAB Athletics, which just completed a historic year on the football field, going 11-3 in only their 2nd year back after the program was elimnated in 2014.

Erin and I connected on LinkedIn in the fall, and after I noticed she was running a parenting related website of her own (more on that below), I knew our common interests meant we had to talk and that I wanted to know her story. Not only has she shared with me a few tips to better manage my time with this page, she also knows past Sports Biz Mom interviewee, Corrie Schantz. It never ceases to amaze me just how small this industry is, and I continue to be grateful for that as it has given me the opportunity to meet so many women who are generous with their time and genuine in their intentions.

If you have been following this blog, I encourage you to check out Erin’s – I know I’ll be keeping a close watch!

Erin Kraebber joined the UAB Athletics staff in 2016 as Associate Athletic Director for Marketing.  She is responsible for the operations of the sports marketing department including branding, advertising, in-game promotions, game production and community engagement. 

Kraebber joined the UAB staff following three years at the NCAA National Office. Working in the Championships Marketing, Broadcast and Alliances area,  Erin served as the primary liaison to NCAA Corporate Champions and Corporate Partners: AT&T, Infiniti, Lowes, Scott’s Miracle Grow, UPS and Werner Ladder. She developed fan engagement programs and assisted corporate partners in their activation of the NCAA platform at key events including Men’s College Cup, Women’s Volleyball Championship, Men’s Final Four, Women’s Final Four and Women’s College World Series. 

Prior to moving to the NCAA National Office, Kraebber served as the Director of Marketing at Bradley University from 2010 to 2013 and the Assistant Director of Promotions and Advertising at Purdue University from 2006 to 2010.

A two-time Purdue University graduate, Kraebber earned a bachelor’s degree in management in 2004 and master’s degree in organizational leadership in 2006. She is a board member of the National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators and has been recognized with several national awards for her successful marketing efforts.

Erin is also the creator of Her Generation Project, a site focused on connecting mothers of daughters with other mothers of daughters to build a network of #GirlMoms.  Her Generation Project was recently recognized as one of the “33 Best Mom Blogs You Haven’t Read Yet” by the Stay Sane Mom.

A native of Oshkosh, Wis., she resides in Hoover, Alabama with her husband Karl and daughters Allyson and Hadley.  Connect with her on LinkedIn.

What are your day-to-day responsibilities with UAB Athletics?

In my role as Associate Athletics Director of Marketing, I have oversight over a variety of different operational elements within the UAB Athletics department. I am responsible for the branding, advertising and ticketing strategy that directly impacts how we position our program in the community and on campus. My team works to determine advertising campaigns, creative concepts, sales opportunities, ticket packages, fan experiences, community engagement, campus engagement and more. I determine how our budget is allocated to reach our ticket sales, event attendance and fan engagement goals.

My marketing team also manages the live event operations for our 8 ticketed sports (football, volleyball, men’s soccer, women’s soccer, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, baseball, softball). I have direct oversight of every piece of the fan experience for football and men’s basketball, and oversee the two staff members handling this for the other six programs. This is everything from the music that gets played to the use of band and cheer to fireworks, to fun contests for fans during the games and the scripting of the game for the announcer.

What sort of daily or weekly routines have you established to keep your family on track?

Now that the girls are both in elementary school and very close to the same daily schedule, this has gotten a lot easier to manage. My husband is a major piece of this puzzle and we have a pretty set routine we try to stick to on the school days. Luckily we both have somewhat flexible schedules (on average) and aren’t racing around as much these days. We also use a shared Google calendar for everything for all of us – this includes game days, the kids’ school events, their sports, work travel, etc…

Our girls wake at 6:15 AM and I do the dressing while Dad does breakfast and packs lunches (we have one that straight up refuses school lunch). Breakfast at our house is a microwave Eggo product of some kind or peanut butter toast. After breakfast they do teeth and hair brushing while I close up backpacks. They are out the door for the bus to arrive at 6:50 AM. It’s quick but we find that giving them the minimal amount of time works best. This way, they can’t ask for playtime or expect to watch TV before school. Once they are out, I get myself going and to work by 8:30 AM. I am not an early morning person at all!

After school its much of the same. If I do not have an event, I try to get home by 5:45 PM and my husband usually is about the same or earlier. We try our best for no work between the time we leave the office and the kids go to bed. Dinnertime is critical family time for us. My husband does all the cooking. ALL THE COOKING. Every dinner we go around the table and share about our day.

After dinner we go through backpacks and try to do as much as we can to be ready for the next day. They both now have activities –  so it’s dance two nights every week and then volleyball is seasonal. I typically do all things related to dance and try to pick days for activities that align with our schedules the best. On those nights we might just meet out for dinner and everything does get a bit rushed.

Once the kids go to bed, I’m back on my laptop; creating game scripts, working on graphics, sending emails and getting myself prepped for the next day. Often times, I have so many meeting during the work day that I feel like I get nothing done. My husband often hates it that I work late at night but I just haven’t figured out another way to be more efficient during the day hours. I don’t like to feel the stress of unfinished projects and deadlines weighing me down. I also enjoy the quiet of my home to do work at night from the comfort of my couch.

If it’s an event night for me, their routine doesn’t change but it is all on Dad to execute. I get home when I get home and catch up with them in the morning to do it over again.  Weekends are different and a toss up as to how much family time we get.

How do you integrate your girls into your busy sports lifestyle?

Honestly, they just don’t know any other way. They were born into it and have always been around college sports. Their grandparents are highly involved at our alma mater (My husband is a 3rd generation Boilermaker – which is also where we met) so they have a love of all things Purdue and know a lot about the different sports. My husband and I both love sports, so naturally it’s on a lot at home and they are big Purdue, Wisconsin, UAB, and Packer fans. They also pick up random teams based on wins, jersey color and mascot.

But on a more serious note, they don’t always get integrated. We have learned that it’s best for them not to really see me at games. They know when they come to football or basketball, Mom can wave but they can’t really come down to the score table/field and spend time with me. I can’t do my job and keep track of them at the same time. It caused issues when they were younger and didn’t understand “Mommy is working” so sometimes they just didn’t come. Now that they are older they like being fans but coming to games that start at their school day bedtime is not an option.

As they get older, they do want to come to more, and they will ask to go to weekend events to help. If my husband is out of town or just one of them wants to come, they are good enough to entertain themselves or be helpful to me while Im working. They like handing out programs or rolling posters. I really don’t let them around the sidelines, be ball kids or anything like that. I probably could but I just don’t want them taking away a spot for a fan or getting too much special treatment.

My staff becomes part of our family so people I work closest with are really great to my kids and my kids enjoy seeing them more than me most of the time!

The sports industry, and in particular collegiate athletics, is notorious for its demanding schedule and long hours.  As a leader in your organization, how would you suggest women and/or parents approach the subject of flexibility with their supervisors?

This is a tough one because every organization has its own culture and cycles of demanding times. I’m a proponent of flexibility for all employees, not just those with kids. It’s tough when you are just starting out in a career to make any type of demands but I think with experience comes more flexibility.

You learn how you work best and can create a system that allows you to get your work done and still do the other things that are important to you. The best piece of advice I can give is to be honest and realistic with your asks for flexibility. I didn’t start out saying I refuse to work from 5:00 – 8:30 PM on school nights, but that has evolved over time because I have shown I am someone that gets work done and that family time is important. Start with the things that are the most important and show that you can fulfill your responsibility to earn flexibility.

You also need a really good support system to parent in this career. I could not do this without my husband and his flexible schedule and the help of neighbors, babysitters, co-workers, etc… Our closest family is over 400 miles away so it’s not easy. When a kid gets sick, or has an appointment during the day, or an activity at school they want you to be a part of, we have to find a way to make it work. I have to ask for help and support when it’s important to me. As a supervisor, my staff knows this stuff is important to me and I know what’s important to them. We can advocate for each other.

What motivates you to continue to pursue your career in sports?

I really seem to gravitate towards challenging positions. I enjoy the process of building/rebuilding, so seeing small successes over time is fulfilling. It is true that our jobs are easier and more enjoyable when our teams win but we have little to do with that.

I love the brand-building side of things and also watching the programs, individual athletes and members of my marketing team grow. The traditions and fan loyalty of college programs cannot be found everywhere. Those things are unique to college sports and I enjoy working hard to keep improving them.

What professional accomplishment are you most proud of?

I’ve had a lot of memorable experiences over the years, but not much can compare to the re-birth of UAB Football in 2017. I came to UAB after the program was shut down in 2014, amid some major backlash from the community and a lot of local politics. The program was reinstated but still had 2 years with no games and not much of a team when I arrived. Coach Clark stayed and a lot of people worked tirelessly to build a new brand and a totally new identity for UAB football. We shattered every record from a ticket sales, attendance, national media, on-field performance standpoint that had ever existed for UAB and Conference USA.

Watching what this team has done for the community and the brand of UAB as an institution has been amazing. No one believed it but those of us working on it from the inside. The team was picked to finish dead last in all of college football in 2017, went on to a program best season until just this year when we went 10-3 and won the program’s first conference title in just its 2nd year back. It’s a truly amazing story and I have no doubt it will be made into a movie someday.

Outside of work, you also run, author and maintain the Her Generation Project website/blog. Can you tell us more about what lead you to create this site and what you hope it can provide to other parents?

I launched this passion project in March of 2018 as a result of some conversations with other mothers I spend time with – when I do have the time to spare. We are all mothers with daughters, going through different struggles on how to do “the right thing” as parents. Kids are growing up in a much different world these days!

The more I listened, I learned that all moms, no matter what they do or how they parent, are struggling with something. We all want to know that there is someone out there that can relate to our insecurities and tell us it’s all going to work out. To tell us they have been there and we aren’t going to screw our kids up for life. It’s a legit fear!

The website itself is a blog based repository of stories and experiences targeted at mothers of daughters. Its real life situations and how I or another mother has handled them. A blueprint of sorts that a mom can read and take pieces from and apply it to her own situation. It covers a variety of age groups and some things are light-hearted and fun and others are more serious.

The other component, and the most special I think is the social network that goes with it. Readers are invited to join the Project Network which is a closed Facebook group of moms that share advice, seek feedback, answer questions and more. It’s a safe space for judgement-free conversation with the goal of easing fears and connecting to moms in similar situations. It’s about real life things and nothing is off-limits.

I hope to push out quality content that is relatable for parents. To let them know that it’s all going to be okay and that they are doing a good job – whatever that looks like for them and their current situation. I want to grow this network to give Moms a place to come to for honest feedback from other Moms that are doing it in real time.  They can take a little bit from everyone in the group and find something that will work for them. There is no one way or best way to parent and that is absolutely okay.

If anyone would like to join the Her Generation Project community, how should they get in touch with you?

The Her Generation Project Network is a closed Facebook group but access is available to any Facebook member that would like to join. The page can be searched and is also linked directly from the Her Generation Project website or the Her Generation Project Facebook account. When you request to join the page via Facebook, you will be prompted to answer a couple of questions about yourself. I field all the requests and typically get them processed in less than 24 hours.

The closed group is really where the networking and real conversations happen. Its a judgement free zone where members are invited to post comments, share experiences and ask for advice on any parenting topic. No matter what it is, silly or serious, chances are very good that someone in this great group of ladies has been there and done that. If a member is ever uncomfortable asking a question or sharing feedback under their own name, they are welcome to use the messaging feature to send it to the Her Generation Project account and it will be posted anonymously on their behalf.

You can also follow along on the public Facebook page or on our Instagram Account (@hergenerationproject).

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SPORTS BIZ MOM KEYS TO THE GAME:

  1. Use routines to help keep your family on track – Control what you can to limit surprises. Eliminate distractions in the morning, make your lunch the night before, pick out your clothes before you go to bed, etc. – your kids wil take comfort in knowing what to expect and you will all get out the door in a less chaotic form.
  2. Fulfill your responsibility to earn your flexibility – Life happens and we all want to work for an organization that respects our time outside of the office. Prove that your work and word is reliable before you need the flexibility and you’re much more likely to receive it.
  3. Build a support system and don’t be afraid to ask it for help – Whether it’s a spouse, grandparents, a back-up babysitter, or even your co-workers – you’re going to need some help to take care of your family every once in awhile in this business. Your toddler will undoubtedly come down with pink eye the week of your team’s big rivalry game. Make sure you have a plan with your village AND your boss to before you’re all quarantined.