• Loading stock data...
Thursday, October 10, 2024
The Best Employers in Sports survey is now open! Take the survey

Matt Kittle, Building Your Network

This interview is presented to you by the University of Nebraska — Lincoln Master of Arts in Business with a Specialization in Intercollegiate Athletics Administration

By: Richalyn Miller, @RLMiller4_92

Matt Kittle, Chief Operating Officer of TeamWork Online

Front Office Sports is pleased to have sat down with Matt Kittle, Chief Operating Officer of TeamWork Online. TeamWork Online is a talent recruiting company, focused on connecting employer to candidates in the business of sports and live events.

Employed with the company for seven years, Kittle’s main responsibilities include overseeing all aspects of the business including sales, service, marketing and technology. Individually, he spends his time marketing the consumer platform and the system redevelopment.

Unlike most in the industry, Kittle’s journey into sports started late. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a focus in marketing and finance and started his career in inside sales, leveraging partners.

It wasn’t until he spoke with a friend, who at the time worked for the Cleveland Cavaliers, that working in sports sparked his interest. Listening to his friend’s stories of all the fun experiences she had, Kittle realized that he wanted more out of his work life, and sports might be the way to achieve that. Matt asked around to the people in his network for advice on what path he should take and his mentor set up a call with one of his contacts. Unbeknownst to Kittle, it turned out to be an interview for the Master’s program at Ohio University (OU).

Kittle knew that internships were pretty much inevitable so the summer before his second year at OU, he was introduced to Buffy Filippell, Founder and President of Teamwork Online, but would decline the opportunity to work at a sports and events group based in Cleveland. Around graduation, Kittle was reacquainted with Buffy, not about a job, but regarding water polo, which Kittle had played and coached in college. This conversation would segue in to the current state of her business in which Kittle pitched the idea of advising Buffy on building the company. This would eventually lead to his first job at TeamWork as Director of New Business & Marketing Partnerships.

Not immune to overcoming challenges, Kittle views challenges as a positive, looking at them as an opportunity and how he can take advantage of them. He recalled the time where he juggled his time between San Francisco (the location of TeamWork Online’s then second office) and Cleveland (where his wife and current position still were).

Kittle acknowledges the importance of networking, especially in the sports business, but explained that it’s more about building key relationships.

“Our company was founded on establishing an equal playing field for those who desire to work in sports.”

“There used to be that sense of a fraternity, where you had to know someone and there still is that aspect today, but we wanted to provide a platform for people who have the right skillset to be matched with those jobs.”

Not only does Teamwork Online allow users to build their own profile and connect with industry contacts, but they also hold networking events around the country, allowing people to build their network.

He stresses the idea that there are 10+ touch points to really establishing a relationship including follow up emails, handwritten notes, but also going out for coffee or meeting up for lunch. Although sending a LinkedIn connection might be a good step, it’s definitely not the only step and will not automatically lead to a job.

For Kittle, there are three essential traits people should have when considering a career in sports business: the unwavering tenacity to work hard, realizing it’s a competition yet having fun and not being too serious and, third, if they want to truly be successful, they have to be flexible. This applies not only in thinking about location, but also in timing, the type of work and wanting to outwork others.

What would he look for in a candidate?

“I want someone who can very succinctly tell me what they’re good at and why they’re really good at it. We always tell people to lead with your successes and quantify that. It’s also important to be able to engage succinctly in a cover letter or a resume, your social media accounts and LinkedIn pages. If it’s private, it gives off the idea that you’re trying to hide something and applicants should really be aware of that when applying for jobs.”

What’s Kittle’s parting wisdom?

“People have to have an honest conversation with themselves about whether the sports industry is something they’re really interested in because it’s sexy and appealing. The reality is, in this industry, you’re working nights, weekends and holidays and the pay isn’t much especially early in your career. If people understand that and are willing to make sacrifices, then it can be an extremely rewarding career.”

Kittle also stresses the importance of maintaining a great work ethic at your current job.

“A lot of people spend their time pursuing their next job and don’t handle their business in their current one. If people kill it in their current job, their next one will find them as long as they build their network.”

A special thank you to Matt Kittle for all of his sound advice! You can follow him at @mattkittle as well as the company at @TeamWorkOnline on Twitter.


This interview was presented to you by the University of Nebraska — Lincoln Master of Arts in Business with a Specialization in Intercollegiate Athletics Administration

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

UM SIC 2016

Want to work in sports? Don’t miss the chance to make key…

Jay Bilas Skills Camp Seeking Social Media Marketing Intern

Each June the Jay Bilas Skills Camp is held at Queens University…
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

Patriots Hit Rock Bottom; WNBA Finals Begin

0:00

Featured Today

Duante' Abercrombie News Ch.4 interview

Tennessee State’s Ambitious Plan to Launch an HBCU Hockey Program

TSU has big plans, but the university is facing an existential dilemma.
October 8, 2024

Ryan Smith Sees Salt Lake City As Next Vegas-Like Sports Town

Utah Hockey Club’s owner says all the pieces are falling into place.
October 8, 2024

How the WWE’s Farm Circuit Became a Primetime Draw

NXT produces generational talent—and it occupies a new prime-time network slot.
A DraftKings sign
October 7, 2024

A DraftKings Exec Left for Fanatics. Then the Bitter Legal Battle Began

Mike Hermalyn has been sidelined at Fanatics for nine months now.
The stands at the Solheim Cup

LPGA Apologizes for Solheim Cup Fan Bus Debacle That Left Stands Half-Empty

The USA-Europe women’s team golf event teed off Friday morning.
October 3, 2022

Real Madrid President Renews Call for Super League

Real Madrid’s president believes that soccer is losing ground.
May 20, 2024

Top Sports Business Jobs This Week (May 2024)

Each week, our staff combs through the thousands of job listings from…
Sponsored

How UBS Crafts Impactful Partnerships Across Sports, Arts, and Culture

As UBS continues to expand its impressive array of sports and entertainment partnerships, the company solidifies its position as a leader in wealth management.
August 10, 2022

PGA Tour Touts Projected Earnings to Keep Players

The PGA Tour is asking its players to consider their potential futures.
August 10, 2022

Bayern Munich to Make Growth Push in U.S. Market

Bayern Munich is looking to expand its reach in the U.S.
Nintendo-logo
August 3, 2022

Nintendo Profits Underwhelm, Switch Sales Decline

Nintendo failed to meet expectations in the company’s latest earnings report.
manfred_at_microphone
August 19, 2021

MLB Owners Propose $100M Salary Floor

Major League Baseball owners have proposed a $100 million payroll minimum for MLB’s 30 teams and a lower luxury tax threshold.