Meet the Rising 25 Class of 2018: Mike Allen

1. Tell Us About Yourself and Your Current Role

As a fan of tech, sports, and marketing I have the unique opportunity to do what I love. I’m passionate about contributing to the evolving digital landscape of sporting events and venues while providing a new form of fan engagement using technology.

As Director of Digital Marketing, I singlehandedly oversee the execution of my company’s award-winning marketing tool, known as the Aggregated Marketing Platform (AMP), which was recognized by the American Business Association and International Business Association as the “Best Mobile App/Website” in Sports for 2017.

In my role, I foster and create relationships with key sponsors and event coordinators to ensure efficiency and statistical success for the thousands of people utilizing the platform. Additionally, I create digital marketing assets and signage for international clients and venues including the New York Islanders and Brooklyn Nets at the Barclays Center in New York, and major brands like Microsoft, K-Swiss, Lyft, and Entrepreneur, among many others.

2. Where do you see yourself in 15 years/dream job?

This is a tough question to answer, as the changes we’ve seen in sports-related digital content over the past few years make it hard for me to envision how much the landscape will change in the future.

In 15 years, I would love to be working as a digital marketing executive at Sports 1 Marketing, helping to drive change in the digital landscape of sports, while also inspiring and mentoring young entrepreneurs who are pursuing their own passions and having a lot of fun in the process.

3. Who is your mentor at this point?

At this point in my young career, I am extremely fortunate to have two different mentors, one for inspiration and another for execution. The CEO of Sports 1 Marking, David Meltzer, provides me with a wealth of situational knowledge that he’s gained in his years within the sports and tech industries, while also inspiring me to pursue my potential through the four core values that the company operates by; gratitude, empathy, accountability, and effective communication.

The company’s COO, Derek Shaw, has also played a fundamental role in the development in my digital marketing skills. He’s provided me guidance on the depth and impact of analytics while providing me the support and confidence to push myself within my role. He has given the tools and guidance to succeed while inspiring me to follow his path of leadership. 

4. What’s one thing you’ve learned early in your career that you didn’t know until you started working in the industry?

In my young career, I have quickly learned the value and importance of perspective. Whether it be understanding and tailoring the message to a client through their personal perspective or simply viewing how my actions are perceived from my team, perspective is a powerful tool to understand yourself and the impact it has on those around you.

5. What does winning the Rising 25 Award mean to you?

I’m grateful to the Front Office Sports team, because winning the Rising 25 Award has forced me to stop for a second and take stock of my present, past, and future. The recognition has made me think about things like how lucky I am to be in a position with such responsibility at a young age, the unique experiences my job affords me, the people whose support has helped me along the way, and the many possibilities that lie ahead. I’m grateful to share this award with my team and family, especially my wife and daughter.