BY: EMILY FRAJDOFER, NASHVILLE ‘20 PROGRAM PARTICIPANT & MARKETING COMMITTEE MEMBER
My Living Sport journey started a little bit differently from a lot of other alumni. After I graduated in May 2019, I started a new position with my hometown’s National Football League (NFL) team, the Buffalo Bills. After the season ended, so did my position. I went back to the drawing board to figure out my next opportunity. This was when I was first introduced to Living Sport.
A 10-day Sport Business Program to London, England sounded too good to be true. A program that offers the chance to travel and continue your growth in the sports industry is very rare. It was something I never knew existed, but glad I had found it when I did.
After applying, I received news for an interview the following week. It was a one-on-one phone call and very straightforward. We talked about my qualifications, aspirations, and any questions that I had. I remember my interviewer was very helpful and made me feel comfortable about the opportunity to go overseas for the first time with 20 strangers. After being accepted and preparing for my first trip to London, the world shut down due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. My career and many others were put on hold while the world adjusted to our new normal.
I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. So, after approximately five long, uncertainty-filled months I received an Instagram notification by Living Sport... “Just Announced: Nashville Program”, it felt like my prayers were answered. I immediately applied without any real knowledge about what the program entailed. The pandemic left a lot of unanswered questions. It was when I was being interviewed on Zoom by Alicia Marinelli, Co-Founder and President of Living Sport, with several other candidates, she made me feel reassured and thrilled for the new opportunity. The whole process was swift and in just over three weeks I was on a flight to Music City!
It didn’t matter that I was on a three-hour flight to Tennessee rather than a 13-hour flight to England. I had never been to Nashville before and was just as excited as I would have been for London. Once the program started, it was all about living in the now and consuming as much culture, knowledge, and advice that was humanly possible. I love the fact that I was a part of Living Sport's history and was a participant on their first domestic program!
Every second of my time in Nashville was precious. But one thing I really enjoyed was talking to all of the sport business professionals. We talked to 3 different Nashville teams, the Sounds, Predators, and Titans. Hearing their journey in sport was not just for fun, I took a lot of useful advice from them. One key piece of information that was mentioned just about everywhere we went, was the importance to do the little things. The difference between candidates can be those small tasks that are overlooked. If you are the person to take the extra steps along the way it will pay off in the end. This was just one of many takeaways I learned from those conversations. I also learned, Jim Rice, Senior Manager of Ticket Sales, for the Tennessee Titans was from Western New York and went to a rival college of mine! It was inspiring to hear something that hit so close to home.
When I think of Living Sport the next word that comes to mind is family. Before the trip, the people you talked to always mentioned once the program is over you inherit this new family. Let me tell you, you truly don’t understand what that means until you experience it for yourself. In Nashville, where one of us went the other 20 followed! Being connected through Living Sport gives you friends that you can laugh and have a good time with but also friends that you can call up and ask for help with your resume, cover letter, or anything else!
My roommate, Kiersten Stiers, is from Texas and one of my favorite memories was when we were all outside this restaurant waiting to get some good ole southern BBQ food. The music was flowing through the window and she taught some of us how to 2-step right on Broadway Street! We talk almost daily since our program in August and she knows exactly the right thing to say to make sure I conquer my days filled with new work applications, interviews, and everything else!
I am a classic example of the phrase “you get what you put in.” One of my goals I set for myself after the program was to make sure I continued my involvement with the Living Sport community. So, I decided to join the Ambassador Program. I currently participate in themed monthly videos, share and answer questions about my story to new program participants and anyone interested in Living Sport. Being an advocate for the program that helped me reignite my passion for the sports industry was the least I could do. Due to my quality involvement with that program, at the end of 2020, I was personally asked to join the alumni marketing committee for the upcoming year. Now on top of my ambassador work, I also attend bi-weekly zoom calls to create internal and external content and marketing tactics on the Alumni Board for the company. I give Living Sport my best and in return, it continues to lead me to new roads, endless connections, and an ever-growing family.
The program is designed to push you, challenge you, and enlighten you to opportunities, employment possibilities, and chances that you didn’t know existed. There are assets that you just can’t learn in a classroom and Living Sport gives you the tools to unlock your potential.
Living Sport is more than the location the program takes place in. No matter where the company goes you recognize the high-quality content that always follows. It's not the place nor the setting, it’s the people that make it so special. From Alicia Marinelli, your mentors, junior mentors, and your new peers that you meet.
The matter of fact is international or domestic Living Sport is a top-tier program for any individual looking for a step up in the sports industry.