1. Tell Us About Yourself and Your Current Role
I currently serve in a dual role as Dean of Students and Marketing Manager for Manhattan Sports Business Academy – an innovative career development platform designed for college students seeking career acceleration in the sports industry. Each year, our flagship summer immersion program delivers a comprehensive learning experience to an intimate group through internship placement, mentorship pairing, a speaker series, office field trips and other professional development curriculum; I joined the organization in September 2015 following my own completion of the MSBA program.
As Marketing Manager, I lead the planning and execution of all MSBA marketing efforts including content generation, market research, CRM and social media management. As Dean of Students, I work hand-in-hand with MSBA’s Program Director and collaborate with our industry’s most prestigious and innovative organizations to deliver the best possible programming elements to our participants. Further, my unique perspective as a former MSBA participant puts me in a prime position to spearhead the professional development of our students – leading initiatives such as resume writing assistance, interview coaching and business etiquette training surrounding their summer in New York and beyond – and manage the quality control of their MSBA experience. In short, my role provides me with the unique opportunity to change the lives of young people who – much like myself – have a deep passion for the business of sport.
Born and raised in Buffalo, New York, I’m a diehard Cincinnati sports fan (I can explain) who now resides in Midtown Manhattan and spends much of her free time attempting to master the Big Apple foodie scene, one Intagrammable meal at a time.
2. Where do you see yourself in 15 years/dream job?
The sports landscape is so expansive and dynamic that I’ve identified several different areas where I see myself making an impact down the line, and with the way the industry is constantly evolving, I wouldn’t be surprised if what I’m doing 15 years from now doesn’t even exist yet today. Whatever that does turn out to be, I know with certainty that it will continue to involve positively affecting the lives of others, as this is what ultimately gives me the extreme fulfillment I feel in my job today.
What truly excites me is the fact that there are so many different opportunities out there to utilize sport as that vehicle, and I look forward to continuing to lend my skill set and expertise to that mission for years to come.
3. Who is your mentor at this point?
There are countless people I could thank here for their willingness to serve as a resource, provide invaluable guidance and go to bat for me throughout my journey in this industry, particularly Lorne Segall (MSBA), David Oestreicher (MSBA), Mark Zablow (Cogent Entertainment Marketing) and Dawn Aponte (National Football League) to name a few.
All told, my father, Mark Weigel, has consistently been the most important mentor in my life to date. He’s a career coach by trade and one of the greatest relationship builders I’ve ever met; from an early age, he taught me how to properly conduct myself within the professional world while simultaneously leading by example with his extraordinary business savvy and true heart of gold. As someone who now works in an industry where genuine and authentic relationships are everything, I’m grateful to have a mentor like him to help guide me through the ongoing process of forging my own personal brand.
4. What’s one thing you’ve learned early in your career that you didn’t know until you started working in the industry?
As a student or young professional looking to break into sports, one of the main things you hear about over and over again is the competitiveness of the industry. When I was younger and still on the outside, I was somewhat intimidated by this sentiment because I inherently associated competitiveness with an unwelcoming or hostile environment. Once I started to break in, however, I realized that the competitiveness fueling this industry isn’t the “destroy your opposition” type, but rather the “challenge each other to be the best possible versions of yourselves” type. There’s an innate camaraderie surrounding this industry that truly surprised me at the beginning of my career, and I can’t stress enough how important it is for students and young professionals to recognize and tap into that early on.
People in this business are willing to help – it’s important to remember that networking is a marathon and not a sprint, but if you’re careful, genuine and authentic in your correspondences then you’ll have great luck in finding countless individuals who are eager to connect and share their insight.
5. What does winning the Rising 25 Award mean to you?
It’s difficult to put into words. After reading through the criteria for this award, it’s incredibly humbling to realize that the Front Office Sports staff, this year’s panel of judges and – most importantly – my nominators have recognized those qualities in me. It’s even more humbling when you consider the incredibly impressive group of honorees I’m being recognized alongside, and I’m grateful to be granted membership into that community.
Above all else, I’m extremely encouraged to see so many young people making an impact – not just in the 25 who were selected for this year’s class, but in what I’m sure was an extremely impressive nomination pool as a whole. It’s clear our industry is in great hands, and I’m beyond excited to witness (and possibly even help facilitate) the future accomplishments of my peers.
