Game Changer Catch Up: Brianna Gladney
Brianna Gladney is from San Antonio, Texas and a graduate of Xavier University. Gladney majored in sports administration and management while competing on the women’s basketball team. She was a member of the 2019 Game Changing Retreat cohort and currently works as the coordinator of executive operations for the Orange Bowl Committee. Growing up very active and participating in a handful of sports translated into her abilities to manage a handful of opportunities and experiences through The Winning Edge that have stuck with her.
Tell me a little about your athletic background.
I was a shooting guard at Xavier playing from 2013 to 2015. My whole family played basketball or did some sport in college, so it kind of trickled down to me and I started playing basketball when I was four. I also played four sports in high school--basketball, soccer, volleyball, and track. So I never really had an offseason. If you’re always busy, then you don’t really know anything different.
How did you end up as the coordinator of executive operations for the Orange Bowl?
I graduated from Xavier in 2017 and have had internships since then. This is actually my first full-time position but after working the College Football Playoffs. With my sport management degree, I knew I wanted to work in operations but I didn’t know what sport. I thought about basketball, football, or maybe operations on a college campus. With that, you’re doing operations for all types of sports. My foot in the door with football came from interning with the College Football Playoffs. From there I fell in love with the games, stadiums, team operations. Luckily the Orange Bowl called the College Football Playoffs looking for someone saying, “Hey, do you have any candidates to do executive operations for the Orange Bowl,” and they recommended me. I was very excited and I’ve been here since. I learned that if you do your job and do it well while also just being a good person, then doors will open up for you. As more doors open, I’d like to do basketball and maybe some other sports operations.
Brianna and her retreat mentor Will Baggett
How exactly did you hear about The Winning Edge?
I actually hadn’t heard about it until I was working with the College Football Playoffs. I lived in Dallas and 2018 Retreat cohort member, Reggie Jennings brought it to my attention. He sent me a text saying that I should apply because it’s an amazing program. I looked into it and thought The Winning Edge had an amazing initiative. The person who turned out to be my mentor, Will Baggett, actually worked at the College Football Playoffs with me, and he took me under his wing and helped me throughout the time I was there. Will was also my mentor at the Game Changing Retreat.
How do you think the Game Changing Retreat helped you in addition to already being in the field?
I think that it was super beneficial. I think it’s great for people still in college or who are about to graduate still trying to figure out what they want to do and see professionals in that type of atmosphere. For me I was a bit more established and I think it was great for me to see different people from all walks of life doing things that they want to do. It was inspiring for me to see people of color out working and achieving success. The most important part for me were the mentors, the presentations and speakers I saw met that helped people who were established, who were just starting out or who didn’t know what their next step was supposed to be. It allowed people to find their purpose within themselves in just three days; it was just amazing. As soon as I left the retreat I knew what my next steps were and I executed them.
“It was like we were connecting on one level and teaching each other on another.”
What’s the best thing you experienced about Game Changing Retreat?
It’s crazy because everyone that went stayed connected after it was over. It really helped because they were student athletes and hadn’t pieced together their identities without sports yet were able to talk to each other and share their stories. It was like we were connecting on one level and teaching each other on another. People always send messages saying, “I heard you got a new position and I wanted to say congratulations.” The support helps you keep focused.
All of the panelists and presenters were amazing; meeting Maria Taylor and her talking to every one of us was super memorable, but one presentation that really hit me was Dr. Shaw. Hers was just more about a mentality that is necessary to have in the industry. It was such an easy presentation and very hands on. She helped us envision how putting your mind to things and keeping a better attitude allows you to go far beyond what you think you can. It made an impact on me that I still remember and I’m grateful for it.
Feature by Victoria Powell
Victoria is a recent graduate of Baylor University and is currently pursuing a master’s degree with a concentration in emerging media at the University of Georgia. Victoria is on the UGA Women’s Track and Field team and affirms the importance of The Winning Edge’s vision to “increase diversity in sports business.”
