Sports & Entertainment Equity Network (SEEN)

SEEN #NextGen mentees continue to level 🆙 👏🏽👏🏽

Today marks my one-year anniversary in the United States, and what a remarkable journey it has been! I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the incredible support and opportunities that have shaped my experience. A heartfelt gratitude to the Mark H. McCormack Department of Sport Management and Sports & Entertainment Equity Network (SEEN) families—your support has been invaluable. I am especially grateful to Prof. Will Norton, Dr. Nicole Melton, and Melcolm Ruffin. Your guidance has opened doors to enriching experiences. A dear friend recently reminded me of how much I have embraced adventure over the past year, and I am truly thankful for the opportunities that have fed my curiosity. One of my latest adventures was my summer internship at the PGA TOUR. Working in the international media department provided me with profound insights into expanding a sports property’s audience, fostering accessibility, building meaningful stakeholder relationships, and generating sustainable revenue through shared value. This experience was made even more memorable by the amazing people I had the privilege of working with. The internship cohort was also a priceless part of this journey. The quality of executives I networked with during this internship was unparalleled. This was my eighth internship and I can confidently say this one was the best. I highly recommend this experience to anyone seeking a comprehensive understanding of sports business. I was also fortunate to have lunch with one of my mentors, Sara Toussaint- always a delight. As I approach my final year of schooling (hopefully), I carry with me all the lessons learned and I am excited to explore new strategic growth opportunities in the sports industry. My sincere thanks to Stephanie A. Delgado, Neera Shetty, Len Brown, Marsha Oliver, and Pornchai (Ponch) Chantha for their exceptional support and for making me feel so welcome at the PGA TOUR. Here’s to continuing this incredible journey and embracing the adventures that lie ahead!

RSVP to reconnect with industry friends and expand your network in SEEN’s community #SummerSendOff 🌴 RSVP: https://lnkd.in/g3_ZVZpF

It's been an incredible year+ at Excel! I'm excited to share my journey where I had the privilege of working alongside some of the top professionals in the agency world, as well as elite clients across different sports. I appreciate Excel for giving me the freedom to contribute and have a seat at the table, finding wins for our team. I'm especially thankful for the mentorship, invaluable learning experiences, and the lifelong connections I made along the way. #exceling

You won’t want to miss this one! Connect with some of the best in the business 🔥 RSVP at the link in the comments below ⬇️

Investing time in mentoring is valuable. Two years ago, I was matched with Theo Daniels-Kolin to be his “mentor” via the Sports & Entertainment Equity Network (SEEN). (I used “” due to me learning as much from him). At the time, Theo was early in a partnership sales role learning the ins-and-outs of the sales process, while building his network. After the first call, I knew he could do whatever he wanted in this industry. Throughout the last 24 months in regular communication, Theo exhibited traits all mentees should emulate to maximize mentor relationships. -provided value based on his expertise -applied the given advice in his craft -communicated openly -took the initiative -set clear goals Which led to one of the easiest reference calls with his current employer. Because I knew his passion points, expertise, leadership qualities, and interpersonal skills. Theo is entering a new chapter with FIFA working with a talented commercial team on the world’s largest sporting and cultural events. For the mentees: Be You. Be Kind. Be Bold. ♻ PS – any advice you would add for mentees?

Today, I became the first person in my family to graduate with a Masters degree. The first person to earn a Bachelors AND Masters degree. And the first daughter to accomplish these achievements. I’m proud to say that I received my Master of Science degree at the #1 ranked Mark H. McCormack Department of Sport Management at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. This program pushed me in so many ways I can’t imagine. I was a young 22 year old woman when I applied to this rigorous program. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do in sports but there’s 1 thing I knew I wanted to accomplish: giving back to my community through sports and providing every single individual the access and opportunity to experience physical activity & sports. I’m so grateful that I’m able to do that everyday at Special Olympics New York ! Sports shaped who I am today.Growing up plus size had a negative impact on my body confidence and self esteem so when I discovered sports, it allowed me to be confident in the body Allah gave me and allowed me to showcase my competitive spirit on and off the field. Rugby athlete now turned model, clearly shows how I continue to break barriers everywhere I go! This degree is for all the young brown and black girls who never thought their dreams could become reality. The ones who never thought they could never be their authentic self when they enter new spaces. And the ones who just needed representation and someone who understood what it was like to be them to believe and have hope that their struggles and setbacks do not define them at all. “Be the Hero you didn’t have” 👑 - Fatoumata Ouattara M.S.

Last weekend I officially secured my Masters (MS) in Sport Management from the distinguished Mark H. McCormack Department of Sport Management 🎓! I am extremely grateful for all I learned within my 9 months at the University of Massachusetts Amherst about the sport industry. From developments on the Name, Image & Likeness (NIL) front, to the growth of investment and interest in womens sports, to the increased use of AI in the industry, I couldn’t have imagined a better time to be immersed in such a program. It was a pleasure to connect with current and future sport leaders throughout. Looking forward to seeing my classmates become major players in the field soon. It wouldn’t have been possible without the support of my village and the Sports & Entertainment Equity Network (SEEN) Fellowship. Thank you Melcolm Ruffin and Tristan Mitchell for trusting me to represent SEEN and further the relationship with UMass to provide more opportunities for people that look like me in the sports industry.

What a night! The Spring NYC Happy Hour was our biggest yet with 2️⃣5️⃣0️⃣ community members showing up to connect, decompress and enjoy good vibes 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 📸: Ciara Ingram

From coast to coast❗️Get ready for SEEN's Spring Happy Hours in NYC and LA 😏 Shout out which city we'll see you in! RSVP through the link in bio 🔗