Turning sports passion into business success

Q: What did you do before pursuing your full-time MBA? 

A: I've always been passionate about sports and once imagined becoming an athlete. But over time, I realized I was more drawn to the business side of the industry. During an internship with the Pittsburgh Penguins hockey team, I worked on community engagement and inclusion initiatives, which opened my eyes to the powerful impact sports can have beyond the field. 

That experience inspired me to launch Sport for Community, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting equity in underserved communities through the power of sport. 

I knew I wanted to build a career in sports, but I was unsure of the right path. Pursuing an MBA felt like the next step to help me turn my passion into a purposeful direction. 

Q: What made you choose D'Amore-McKim? 

A: Boston was a big draw for me because it's a hub for both sports and technology, and I wanted to be in a city where I could grow personally and professionally. What really set the D'Amore-McKim MBA apart was the corporate residency. The opportunity to gain real-world experience while earning my degree was something I didn't see in other programs. 

I was also drawn to the program's accelerated format. Studying full-time, I liked that I could earn my MBA in two years. I was ready to jump in, earn my degree, and start building my career.  

Q: How has D'Amore-McKim's faculty supported you? 

A: The faculty really challenged me to think more critically and approach problems from different angles. I had initially planned to concentrate on marketing and leadership because that's where I had experience. However, a few finance professors helped me discover how much I enjoy working with patterns and solving complex problems. I realized finance was a better fit. I hadn't expected to go in that direction, but once I started, it felt natural. Their guidance helped me stay on track to graduate on time. 

Q: What was your corporate residency at Acquia like, and what experiences stood out to you? 

A: My residency at Acquia was an incredible opportunity to work in corporate development, focusing on mergers, acquisitions, and strategic partnerships. It was exciting to apply classroom learning to real-world financial modeling and company valuations. 

One highlight was leading a strategic project that I presented to the C-suite. One of the companies I recommended later became a partner. I was also involved in a live acquisition, gaining firsthand experience of the entire deal process. The team treated me like a full-time team member, which helped me grow professionally. 

Q: How did you gain experience in sports management? 

A: I sought out a part-time marketing internship in athletics because of my strong interest in sports, and I wanted to explore how I could blend that with business and finance. This provided me with the opportunity to gain experience in sports management. I helped with everything from game day operations, mascot coordination, to in-game activations.  

Over the summer, I focused on marketing strategy for women's soccer, hockey, and basketball. I worked on ways to boost student attendance through theme nights, giveaways, and promotions.  

It was a fun and creative challenge that showed me how to build a career blending business and sports. 

Q: Tell us about your rotational fellowship with Take the Lead? 

A: Take the Lead has been a transformative experience. It's a highly competitive fellowship that selects one student each year to rotate through the front offices of Boston's major professional sports teams, including the Patriots, Revolution, Fleet, Celtics, Bruins, Boston Common Golf, and Boston Red Sox. I found out about the opportunity through the Graduate Career Center and applied. After a series of interviews, I was selected as the fellow. 

This experience has brought together everything I've worked toward in my MBA. My corporate residency at Acquia helped me develop confidence leading strategic projects and working with senior leadership. My athletic internship gave me hands-on experience in game day operations and fan engagement. Take the Lead has allowed me to apply those skills across a range of settings, from live events to behind-the-scenes planning. 

Each rotation lasts about six weeks and aligns with the team's active season, which means I've had the chance to contribute during live games and events. I've spent the most time with the Red Sox, since they lead the program, but every rotation has offered a different perspective. Most of my work has focused on marketing, community relations, and partnerships. For example, with the Patriots, I worked closely with the sponsorship sales team, helping manage sponsorship leads and player interactions for sponsored events.

This fellowship has helped me connect my passion for sports with my business background, and it's shown me how I can build a career that brings both together in a meaningful way. 

Q: Where do you see your career taking you? 

A: After I complete the Take the Lead fellowship, I definitely plan to stay in the business side of sports. I've built a lot of connections within the industry, so I feel like I hold the key to my own future, which is really empowering. Whether it's professional sports or an athletic brand, I have plenty of options to consider, and I'm excited about what's ahead.