1 answer
Briana
Student
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
1
Question
Asked
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How will a degree in Business Administration prepare me for the sports marketing field in today's job market #Spring26?
Hello,
My name is Briana, I am a high-school senior going into the Business Administration major with a focus on Sports Marketing and a minor in Communications. I am very interested in learning more about the role of a marketer as well as any things to know about the sports industry in terms of management. I am especially interested in learning how organizations operate and how strong leadership can create positive change within teams and workplaces. As a student-athlete and team captain, I have already developed a passion for leadership, accountability, and teamwork, and I want to continue building on those strengths in a business setting.
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1 answer
Katie Latham
Career Coach
5
Answers
Asheville, North Carolina
Updated
Katie’s Answer
Hi Briana,
I love how you're bringing your experience and leadership from your athletic experience to the business world! Those skills will serve you well wherever you go. Here's my perspective as a career coach who has helped a recent graduate navigate the sports industry (plus I have a business degree with a focus on leadership development!).
Business administration is a degree that offers you lots of flexibility in the long term - it's great for sports management, marketing, and even if you decided to pivot to something different later in your career it would likely be good for that too!
Here's the other thing you need to know - in the sports industry, your professional network is more important than your degree for securing a job after graduation. Your degree may be a requirement (and you'll learn a lot of important things while getting it!) but it's the sports industry contacts you make along the way that will open doors for you. My advice is to really leverage your student status to make connections early and consistently - people love talking with leaders of the future! Do cold outreach, ask for introductions, learn from sports/marketing leaders' advice and experience, keep in touch with folks you meet, and connect with peers who've secured internships to learn how they did it. It sounds like your have a lot of relationship-building skills already as team captain, so you're starting from a solid foundation!
Lastly, keep in mind today's internship/job market is competitive - especially in professional sports. You may have to start by getting internships at smaller organizations before larger ones. You may get a lot of rejections when you start applying for roles. Embracing your athlete's mindset -that sometimes you win and sometimes you loose and that's just part of the process, will be essential for achieving your career goals. Best of luck, rooting for you!
I love how you're bringing your experience and leadership from your athletic experience to the business world! Those skills will serve you well wherever you go. Here's my perspective as a career coach who has helped a recent graduate navigate the sports industry (plus I have a business degree with a focus on leadership development!).
Business administration is a degree that offers you lots of flexibility in the long term - it's great for sports management, marketing, and even if you decided to pivot to something different later in your career it would likely be good for that too!
Here's the other thing you need to know - in the sports industry, your professional network is more important than your degree for securing a job after graduation. Your degree may be a requirement (and you'll learn a lot of important things while getting it!) but it's the sports industry contacts you make along the way that will open doors for you. My advice is to really leverage your student status to make connections early and consistently - people love talking with leaders of the future! Do cold outreach, ask for introductions, learn from sports/marketing leaders' advice and experience, keep in touch with folks you meet, and connect with peers who've secured internships to learn how they did it. It sounds like your have a lot of relationship-building skills already as team captain, so you're starting from a solid foundation!
Lastly, keep in mind today's internship/job market is competitive - especially in professional sports. You may have to start by getting internships at smaller organizations before larger ones. You may get a lot of rejections when you start applying for roles. Embracing your athlete's mindset -that sometimes you win and sometimes you loose and that's just part of the process, will be essential for achieving your career goals. Best of luck, rooting for you!