Gaining Experience with Chelsea Scott
I am originally from Prince Georges County, Maryland. My interest in the sports industry varies from player representation to front office executive operations in player development and management.
Last weekend I was afforded the opportunity to work the Southeastern Conference (SEC) football championship at the Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA. I learned about this opportunity through the WinningEdgeX platform that connects Game Changers with opportunities to work in the sports industry.
I applied to volunteer in September and a few weeks later I received an email from Jill Skotarczak, Assistant Director of Communications of the SEC, that I was accepted to be a Media Assistant. I began to communicate with Jill via email and LinkedIn to learn more about the position and obtain career advice.
Leading up to the event I experienced many emotions. As a student at Georgetown University and alumna of St. John’s University, all of my involvement with collegiate athletics has been connected to the Big East Conference. However, I was extremely optimistic about the opportunity and was sure to make the best of it.
“Chase your passion not a paycheck.”
SEC Commissioner, Greg Sankey
When I arrived in Atlanta the Friday before the game, I offered to help Jill and a few other volunteers prepare media packets for the various media personnel that would be present for the game. I continued to network and learn more about the other volunteers’ backgrounds and experiences at their respective universities.
The following morning, all of the volunteers attended a mandatory meeting with the SEC Commissioner, Greg Sankey where he shared encouraging words and career advice to start the day. Sankey’s advice ranged from book suggestions to resume building tips. Sankey ended his conversation by giving each volunteer two cards that listed career advice and quotes we should take into consideration as we are continue our journey in the industry. Once we were dismissed, I was able to connect with a previous NFL Players Association Intern over breakfast who was also volunteering. We discussed our amazing experiences within the organization and the connections we have built within the union.
Once we arrived at the Mercedes Benz Stadium on game day, Jill hosted a meeting to review roles and rules for the game. I was assigned to provide statistics to the media throughout the game. Each quarter I did just that! I also had a chance to network with professionals before and after the game.
Overall, I believe this was a unique experience. I am grateful to the Winning Edge Leadership Academy and the SEC for providing this opportunity for students to get involved and build on our experience. The most important thing that I learned over the weekend is, “Networking on all levels is key.” Aside from producing quality work, building healthy relationships and having a great reputation are extremely important in such a small industry. Moving forward, I will continue to put my best foot forward in each opportunity I am presented along with maintaining my network.
Chelsea is a member of the 2019 Game Changing Retreat cohort.
She will graduate from Georgetown University in May 2020, with a Masters of Professional Studies in Sports Industry Management. She is also working with the NFLPA in Marketing and Business Development.
